NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Small Business Week, Governor Stein Visits Marshall, Calls for More Western NC Small Business Support

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: During Small Business Week, Governor Stein Visits Marshall, Calls for More Western NC Small Business Support

    During Small Business Week, Governor Stein Visits Marshall, Calls for More Western NC Small Business Support
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Yesterday, during Small Business Week, Governor Stein and North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley visited downtown Marshall to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Governor Stein has proclaimed May 4 – May 10, 2025 as Small Business Week to celebrate the impact of entrepreneurs and small businesses on North Carolina’s economy. 

    “Small businesses are the beating heart of our economy, and I am proud to recognize them this week. In particular, western North Carolina is open for business, and it is more crucial than ever to support its economic recovery,” said Governor Josh Stein. “With the help of private partners, $55 million is now on the way to more than 2,100 small businesses. Unfortunately, it’s not nearly enough. I am calling on the General Assembly to dedicate more funding to support small businesses so they can keep providing jobs and bolstering local economies.”

    “Small businesses are foundational in our communities, employing nearly 45 percent of the private-sector workforce across the state,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “As we continue our recovery from devastating storms and federal impacts, our focus remains on creating an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.”

    Governor Stein remains committed to ensuring that businesses in western North Carolina have the resources and infrastructure they need to rebuild. Last week, Governor Stein announced that the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment, and the State of North Carolina have distributed $55 million to more than 2,100 businesses in western North Carolina. In his second Helene budget request, Governor Stein will call on the General Assembly to invest more in small business grants so that western North Carolina businesses can keep their doors open to serve their communities.  

    Governor Stein and the North Carolina Department of Commerce also launched an additional $55 million state infrastructure program, which allows local governments to apply for up to $1 million to rebuild public infrastructure. Small businesses rely on this infrastructure, such as sidewalks and sewers, to do business. The Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions has also made the $500,000 “Hurricane Helene Business Edge Fund” available to local workforce boards serving the counties that were most impacted by the storm, with a particular focus on minimizing layoffs from small businesses. 

    North Carolina’s small businesses account for more than 99 percent of the state’s businesses, employing 1.7 million people statewide. More than 9,600 North Carolina small firms exported merchandise, generating $8.2 billion of the state’s exports as of the latest report from 2022. North Carolina is proud to support small businesses through services such as NCWorks, community college small business centers, the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Center, SCORE, the Veterans Business Outreach Center, the Rural Center, and a toll-free information and referral service known as the Small Business Advisors hotline. 

    Click here to read Governor Stein’s full proclamation.  

    May 9, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Hyra Network Co-Hosts TOKEN2049 VC Summit and Showcases Decentralized AI Infrastructure at GITEX Asia Singapore

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyra Network, the world’s first decentralized AI infrastructure platform, has accelerated its global expansion by co-hosting VC Connect at TOKEN2049 Dubai and unveiling its Smart Data Economy vision at GITEX Asia Singapore. The events brought together over 10,000 tech leaders, investors, and policymakers across two of the most influential technology gatherings of 2025.

     

    Hyra Network x Agora Group co-host successful VC Connect Dubai, gathering 40+ top Web3 investors and founders.

    At TOKEN2049 Dubai, Hyra Network partnered with Agora Group to co-host VC Connect as a Diamond Sponsor. This premier investor forum welcomed over 40 leading venture capital firms, including Animoca Brands, Spartan Group, Hack VC, Borderless Capital, and DWF Ventures.

    Mr. Gerard, Co-founder of Hyra Network, played a leading role in facilitating direct pitch sessions, strategic roundtables, and investor briefings — showcasing the company’s Layer-3 blockchain-powered infrastructure that leverages edge computing and federated learning to democratize AI deployment.

    With over 10,000 participants at TOKEN2049, Hyra Network captured investor attention and positioned itself as a rising leader in the global DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure) and AI ecosystem.

    Building on its Dubai momentum, Hyra Network also showcased its decentralized AI platform at GITEX Asia Singapore, the Southeast Asia edition of the global GITEX series. The inaugural event featured 700+ tech companies and delegates from over 110 countries.

    Hyra Network featured at GITEX Asia 2025, with 700+ tech leaders from 110+ countries.

    Hyra Network’s CTO and technical leadership demonstrated how individuals and enterprises can contribute unused device capacity — such as smartphones, routers, and edge nodes — to participate in decentralized AI networks and earn tokenized rewards. This infrastructure unlocks scalable, inclusive, and user-powered AI systems.

    Hyra also joined industry forums, public-private workshops, and tech showcases — reinforcing its leadership in building next-generation, decentralized AI infrastructure.

    GITEX organizers announced strategic expansion into Southeast Asia, naming Singapore and Vietnam as digital economy growth hubs, aligning with Hyra Network’s regional roadmap.

    About Hyra Network

    Hyra Network is the world’s first decentralized AI infrastructure platform, enabling scalable, low-cost artificial intelligence through edge devices and Layer-3 blockchain. As a core initiative of Hyra Tek, the company combines federated learning, edge computing, and decentralized participation to power the Smart Data Economy — making AI accessible, ethical, and community-owned.

    Media Contact

    Mei Nguyen
    PR & Communications Lead – Hyra Holdings
    Email: press@hyra.network
    Website: https://hyra.network

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/583760b2-2c2d-40e5-b1e6-8a1f050b02cc

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb0be94a-a492-418d-b976-9f40683b134a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 100x Leverage, No KYC, $50 Welcome Bonus, and Double Deposit Bonus — Trade Crypto Futures on BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin breaking past the $100,000 milestone and Ethereum surging over 20% in just 24 hours, many analysts agree that a new crypto bull market has officially begun. In this environment, smart investors are turning to high-leverage futures trading to amplify their gains with minimal capital.
    Recognizing this shift, BexBack is doubling down on its trader-first approach by offering powerful promotional incentives: a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and up to 100x leverage on over 50 major cryptocurrencies. These tools are designed to help traders capture the full potential of the bull cycle with precision and flexibility.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $60,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $63,000, your profit will be (63,000 – 60,000) * 100 BTC / 60,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP,and 50+ others futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC and 1M USDT in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users (available after making a deposit of at least 100 USDT or 0.001 BTC and completing one trade within one week of registration), giving you the edge to become a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign up on BexBack now, claim your exclusive bonus and start accumulating more BTC today!

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8756246-a0d7-43d5-8997-7ba914797447

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8749dbbd-c9f1-4f84-875c-b0a2c4b74344

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e07e5d3-9447-497a-9fa1-738d3cab6c36

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9303617e-2546-4ca1-8a3f-e7b2f0406d6a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fireweed Upsizes Financing to $60 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FIREWEED METALS CORP. (“Fireweed” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF), is pleased to announce that, due to strong institutional investor demand, it has entered into an agreement with Ventum Financial Corp. as co-lead agent and bookrunner, alongside Haywood Securities Inc., as co-lead agent, on behalf of a syndicate of agents, to increase the Company’s previously announced brokered and non-brokered financing from $45 million to up to $60 million. See press release of the Company dated May 8, 2025.

    Pursuant to the amended terms of the financing, the brokered private placement (“Brokered Offering”) will now consist of:

    • 12,545,000 critical mineral charity flow-through common shares (“CM FT Shares”) of the Company at a price of $2.79 per CM FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $35,000,550.
    • 4,281,000 non-critical mineral charity flow-through common shares (“NCM FT Shares”) of the Company at a price of $2.57 per NCM FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $11,002,170.

    The Company has also decided to increase the size of the non-brokered private placement (“Non-Brokered Offering”) which will now consist of:

    • 7,777,800 common shares of the Company (“Shares”) at a price of $1.80 per Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $14,000,040.

    In all other respects, the terms of the Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering remain as previously disclosed in the original press release of the Company related to the financing dated May 8, 2025, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com.

    The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States.

    About Fireweed Metals Corp.

    Fireweed is an exploration company focused on unlocking value in a new critical metals district located in Northern Canada. Fireweed is 100% owner of the Macpass District, a large and highly prospective 985 km2 land package. The Macpass District includes the Macpass zinc-lead-silver project and the Mactung tungsten project. A Lundin Group company, Fireweed is strongly positioned to create meaningful value.

    Fireweed trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “FWZ”, on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol “FWEDF”, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “M0G”.

    Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Company’s website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com

    ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.

    “Ian Gibbs”

    CEO

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Cautionary Statements

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking” statements and information (“forward-looking statements”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering, timing thereof, completion and use of proceeds thereof, statements relating to interpretation of drill results, targets for exploration, potential extensions of mineralized zones, geophysical anomalies, future work plans, and the potential of the Company’s projects, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results “will”, “may”, “could”, or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include but are not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Company’s operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward‐looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law.

    Contact: Alex Campbell

    Phone: +1 (604) 689-7842

    Email: info@fireweedmetals.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China bolsters service consumption, elderly care financial support via relending facility

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

    China bolsters service consumption, elderly care financial support via relending facility

    BEIJING, May 9 — China’s central bank announced on Friday that it has set up a relending facility for service consumption and elderly care, aiming to guide financial institutions in strengthening support for these sectors.

    The relending facility quota for service consumption and elderly care is 500 billion yuan (about 69.35 billion U.S. dollars), and features an annual interest rate of 1.5 percent and a term of one year, according to the People’s Bank of China.

    Eligible applicants for the facility include 21 national financial institutions, such as policy banks and state-owned commercial banks, as well as five city commercial banks including Bank of Beijing and Bank of Shanghai, the central bank noted.

    This relending facility will be in effect until the end of 2027, the central bank said, while adding that it will encourage and guide financial institutions to beef up support for key areas in the service consumption sector — such as accommodation and catering, culture, sports and entertainment, and education, as well as the elderly care industry.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Financial Stability Council Meets – 8 May 2025

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    The Financial Stability Council (FSC/Council) met on 8 May 2025 to discuss the prevailing state and outlook of financial stability, including related risks emanating from the domestic and global environments as well as appropriate policy responses to avert the buildup of vulnerabilities. Members also deliberated on prospective developments affecting the financial sector and ongoing FSC work programme. These include harmonisation of corporate governance principles, and enhancement of resolution and crisis management frameworks for the financial sector.

    Read detailed Press Release below:

    Press Release – Financial Stability Council Meets – 8 May 2025.pdf

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/7/2025 Blackburn Confronts NBA on Its Shady Ties to Communist China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) pressed National Basketball Association (NBA) executive, William Koenig, on the league’s shady ties to Communist China. Estimates show that the NBA’s media rights in China are worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year and that team owners have invested more than $10 billion in the country all while the Chinese Communist Party has violated human rights and censored speech. Koenig refused to disclose how much the NBA has profited off investments in China.

    Click here to download video of Senator Blackburn’s remarks during the Senate Commerce Committee hearing. 
    On the NBA’s investments in China:
    Blackburn: “Why don’t you tell me what the broadcast rights in China are worth and how much NBA owners have invested in China?” 
    Koenig: “The NBA does have a very long history of distributing our games and content in China for more than 30 years.”
    Blackburn: “I’m not asking about the length of time you’ve been in China. I’m asking, ‘What are the media rights worth?’ You’re the president of global content and media distribution so what are those rights worth and how much have the NBA owners invested in China?’
    Koenig: “The NBA does not comment publicly on the financial terms of our relationships in the U.S. or abroad.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: HTX DeepThink: Liquidity Window Confirmed — Bitcoin Hits $100K Again, What’s Next?

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX DeepThink is a flagship market insights column created by HTX, dedicated to exploring global macro trends, key economic indicators, and major developments across the crypto industry. In a world where volatility is the norm, HTX DeepThink aims to help readers “Find Order in Chaos.”

    Last week, Chloe (@ChloeTalk1) from HTX Research accurately predicted that a liquidity window could emerge in early May, driving capital back into crypto markets. On May 8, Bitcoin surged past $100,000 for the first time in three months—confirming her forecast. How long can this momentum last, and what are the implications of the latest U.S.-UK tariff deal? In this bonus update, Chloe provides fresh analysis of the evolving landscape.

    UK–U.S. Tariff Agreement Signals Reduced Risk and Policy Support

    On May 8, the United Kingdom and the United States reached a breakthrough trade agreement. The UK agreed to open its agricultural market for U.S. products in exchange for a reduction in U.S. tariffs on British automobile exports. Tariffs on British steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. were reduced to zero, while a 10% “reciprocal tariff” remains in place on U.S. imports.

    Although the UK already runs a trade deficit with the U.S. and the economic impact of the deal may be modest, it signals a willingness by the U.S. government to re-engage diplomatically and release policy tailwinds.

    U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick further indicated that the next major trade agreement could involve a large Asian economy, suggesting that the U.S. administration is preparing to offer structural trade incentives on a broader geopolitical scale.

    Bitcoin’s Market Structure Shifts From Speculative Trading to Institutional Capital Allocation

    Concurrently with these easing policy conditions, Bitcoin’s capital flow dynamics have undergone a fundamental shift. Over the past three weeks, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded substantial net inflows totaling $5.3 billion——the highest quarterly inflow since their launch.

    Notably, this increase has been driven by institutional participants, including the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, the Swiss National Bank (via MicroStrategy equity purchases), and increased allocations by BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. This signals a structural transition in Bitcoin’s pricing logic—moving from short-term, volatility-driven speculation towards long-term capital allocation. BTC is evolving beyond a high-risk asset; it is gradually forming an independent capital ecosystem, increasingly viewed by institutional investors as a “supra-sovereign asset”—somewhere between gold and U.S. Treasuries.

    Bitcoin Volatility Remains Contained; Market Awaits Macroeconomic Catalysts

    Despite BTC’s recent rally to $100,000, the market has not yet exhibited signs of speculative exuberance. Implied volatility (IV) in Bitcoin options remains stable in the 50%–55% range, far below the extreme levels of 80%+ typically seen at the peak of past bull markets. CME Bitcoin futures open interest currently stands at $14.8 billion, well below the $20 billion peak observed during the 2020 U.S. presidential election period, indicating that leverage is still manageable. Meanwhile, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has repeatedly failed to break above 4.60%, now hovering around 4.40%, which remains a neutral-to-supportive zone for risk assets.

    Overall, as long as yields do not climb back above 4.8% and ETF inflows remain steady, Bitcoin is likely to consolidate in the $105,000–$115,000 range while awaiting the next breakout trigger.

    Hidden Risk: Breakdown in China–U.S. and EU–U.S. Trade Talks Could Reignite Tariff Battles

    Nevertheless, investors should remain vigilant about geopolitical risk. While U.S. negotiations with China and the EU are ongoing, significant unresolved tensions persist—particularly over tariffs, export controls, and industrial subsidies.

    President Trump has explicitly stated he has no intention of lowering the current 145% tariff on Chinese goods as a prerequisite for restarting trade negotiations. Meanwhile, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič warned that if discussions with the U.S. fail, the EU is prepared to launch retaliatory tariffs, potentially targeting up to €100 billion worth of American goods.

    A breakdown in these negotiations could lead to the re-imposition of aggressive tariffs, reigniting global trade friction. This would likely dampen investor sentiment and place renewed pressure on risk assets, including Bitcoin. As such, the hidden risk of renewed tariff wars remains a key macro variable that should be incorporated into all forward-looking risk assessments.

    *The above content is not investment advice and does not constitute any offer or solicitation to offer or recommendation of any investment product.

    About HTX Research

    HTX Research is the dedicated research arm of HTX Group, responsible for conducting in-depth analyses, producing comprehensive reports, and delivering expert evaluations across a broad spectrum of topics, including cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and emerging market trends.

    Connect with HTX Research Team: research@htx-inc.com

    Contact:
    Ruder Finn Asia
    glo-media@htx-inc.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by HTX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5c15cb3-3c1d-450c-9226-e9a09951388a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Procedure for the payment of AB Amber Grid dividends for 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The general meeting of AB Amber Grid shareholders held on 30th April 2025 adopted a decision on the distribution of the company profit for 2024 and the payment of an EUR 0,0599 dividend per share.

    Dividends are paid out from 26th May 2025 in the following order: 

    •    to the shareholders, whose AB “Amber Grid” shares are accounted by a financial brokerage company or credit institutions, which provide securities accounting services, the dividend amount, after deduction of Personal or Corporate withholding income tax applicable by the laws of Lithuania, will be transferred to the shareholders’ accounts held with a respective financial brokerage company or credit institution;
    •    to the shareholders, whose AB Amber Grid shares on behalf of the company are accounted by the authorized custodian AB SEB bankas, the dividend amount, after deduction of Personal or Corporate withholding income tax applicable by the laws of Lithuania, will be transferred to the shareholders’ accounts with AB SEB bankas or the accounts (IBAN) with other bank or financial institution as indicated by the shareholders (requests with account indications should be submitted to any branch of AB SEB bankas).

    Dividends paid in 2025 will be taxed as follows: 

    •    dividends paid to natural persons–residents of the Republic of Lithuania and natural persons–residents of foreign countries are subject to withholding Personal income tax of 15 per cent;
    •    dividends paid to legal entities of the Republic of Lithuania and legal entities–residents of foreign countries are subject to withholding Corporate income tax of 16 per cent, unless otherwise provided for by the laws.
    Residents of the foreign countries, which have concluded agreements on Avoidance of Double Taxation with the Republic of Lithuania, could take advantage of reduced tariffs provided by such agreements by submitting Claim for Reduction or Exemption from the Anticipatory Tax Withheld at Source, form FR0021 (DAS-1). The form should be completed following the law requirements and presented to AB Amber Grid together with the broker’s confirmation by 19th May 2025.

    For additional information on pay out of the dividends please contact AB SEB bankas, phone number +370 5 268 28 00 (web page: www.seb.lt).

    More information:
    Laura Šebekienė
    Head of Communications  
    ph. +370 699 61 246
    e-mail: l.sebekiene@ambergrid.lt  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ozwald Boateng OBE steals the spotlight at Met Gala 2025, celebrating 40 years of dazzling design

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

    NEW YORK, United States of America, May 9, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The red carpet just got a seismic glow-up! British-Ghanaian fashion legend Ozwald Boateng OBE storms the 2025 Met Gala, marking his 40th year as a global style icon with a breathtaking showcase of bespoke looks for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. With his signature blend of African authenticity, Savile Row craftsmanship, and fearless innovation, Boateng dresses a roster of cultural titans who light up the night with pure, unfiltered magic. 

    Picture this: Jaden Smith owning the carpet in a futuristic suit that screams tomorrow, with oversized shoulders and flowing wide-leg trousers that channel ancestral wisdom. Tems redefines elegance in a jaw-dropping ball gown suit, its tribal jacquard skirt billowing like a royal tapestry. And Ncuti Gatwa, serving Harlem Renaissance realness in a gold silk jacquard jacket that swings with soulful rhythm. This is Boateng’s world, and we’re all just living in it. 

    Road to the Met: A Love Letter to Legacy 

    Boateng’s Road to the Met is no mere moment- it’s a movement. For 40 years, this visionary has woven African heritage into the crisp lines of Savile Row, shattering conventions and redefining what tailoring can mean. As the first eponymous black designer on the iconic street and the first British menswear designer to strut at Paris Fashion Week in 1994, Boateng’s journey is a masterclass in staying true to your roots while rewriting the rules. 

    “This is my heart on the red carpet,” Boateng says, his eyes sparkling with purpose. “Every stitch carries a story of heritage, rebellion, and joy. This Gala isn’t just about fashion; it’s about who we are and who we’ll become.” Dive into Boateng’s world. 

    From his game-changing 2019 AI: Authentic Identity show at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre to his boundary-pushing designs for The Matrix and Black Panther, Boateng has always been ahead of the curve. Tonight, he channels the lion-hearted spirit of the Harlem Renaissance, the precision of bespoke craftsmanship, and the soul of African artistry into looks that don’t just turn heads – they start revolutions. 

    The Lineup: Icons in Ozwald’s Finest 

    Boateng’s Met Gala looks are a love affair between past and future, each outfit a story spun in silk, wool, and Kente. Here’s the dazzling lineup: 

    • Ozwald Boateng: The maestro himself, resplendent in a tribal jacquard suit that radiates regal confidence. 
    • Hanna Hultberg (Boateng): A goddess in a tailored gown, its vibrant hues dancing under the Gala lights. 
    • Oscar & Emilia Boateng: The next gen, slaying in custom looks that echo their father’s bold legacy. 
    • Hope Smith: Looking stunning in a striking royal gold-yellow silk jacquard suit, elevated by the house’s iconic Kente cloth. 
    • Omar Sy: Quietly commanding in a deep green wool mohair double-breasted suit featuring the House’s Authenticity Adinkra symbol.  
    • Burna Boy: Burna Boy commands in a royal red wool tuxedo paired with a dramatic oxblood eel skin cape.  
    • Issa Rae: Issa Rae wears a long, black tailored 3 piece suit featuring the House’s Tribal pattern in a silk jacquard. 
    • Jaden Smith: A fut.uristic warrior in a sharply contoured suit, oversized shoulders meeting ancient craft. 
    • Ayra Starr: A tuxedo dress from the 2022 Black AI collection, with slits and blue lining that scream fierce elegance. 
    • Tems: A revolutionary ball gown suit in blue-to-teal jacquard, its puff skirt a bold ode to feminine majesty. 
    • Ncuti Gatwa: Wearing the House’s signature colour, purple, rendered in a richly textured silk jacquard Kente cloth. 
    • Henry Golding: A wears a rich gold silk jacquard three-piece suit, woven with the House’s Adinkra symbol for Knowledge.   
    • Colin Kaepernick: Colin in a royal red silk suit with a fiery orange overcoat. 

    The Exhibition: A Celebration of Black Style 

    The Costume Institute’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, curated by Monica L. Miller, is a seminal tribute to Black dandyism’s indelible mark on fashion. From 18th-century trailblazers to today’s visionaries, the exhibit showcases Boateng’s pivotal role with pieces from his 2019 Apollo Theatre show and iconic Savile Row designs in vibrant Vlisco fabrics. Opened by Coleman Domingo, his pink silk jacquard morning suit, his matt black beret, their nod to the struggle still endured and the power of a culture always rising… Step into the exhibit (https://apo-opa.co/4k9NSJh). 

    Creative Collaborators: Adding Sparkle and Vision 

    Boateng’s Met Gala triumph is amplified by electrifying partnerships: 

    Hirsh London Luxury Jewels: “Working with Ozwald has been a true creative adventure,” says Sophia Hirsh. “We instinctively understood each other’s passion for colour and design. These jewels are full of life and character- capturing both of our spirits in a strikingly original way.” The result? Statement jewelry that pops with Boateng’s vibrant aesthetic, adding fire to every look. Discover Hirsh London (https://apo-opa.co/3GNxcc7). 

    Odette Lunettes: Eline De Munck, founder of Odette Lunettes, beams about their first full collection with Boateng: “London Savile Row style meets Antwerp design.” Boateng grins, adding, “Tailoring, but for your face.” After featuring Odette eyewear in his New York and London shows, this collaboration births frames that fuse bold elegance with cutting-edge cool, perfectly framing the Gala’s stars. Explore Odette Lunettes (https://apo-opa.co/4jLW6HE). 

    Afreximbank: Highlighting the Bank’s Commitment to Africa’s creative economy, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank said, “The doubling of the Bank’s credit commitment to the Global African Creative industry to $2 Billion marks a very important step towards empowering African creatives and building a globally competitive creative industry, with strong participation of Africans.” He pointed to the Bank’s support to renowned designer , Ozwald Boateng’s 40th design anniversary at the Met Gala as a powerful example of how Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) is helping global African talents to gain international recognition and inspire a new generation of designers across the continent.Discover Afreximbank (https://apo-opa.co/43l5Ann). 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Psychopaths would spark a financial crisis for profit

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Clive Roland Boddy, Anglia Ruskin University

    Would you want a psychopath looking after your pension? Or what about your shares? In a recent talk at the Cambridge Festival, I spoke about the latest research relating to a psychopath’s love of money, greed for power, and willingness to harm other people financially for personal gain.

    Since I began researching corporate psychopaths and the global financial crisis, the idea of the financial psychopath, an employee in the financial sector acting ruthlessly, recklessly, greedily and selfishly with other people’s money, has gained traction.

    The theory won support because psychopaths are more commonly found in financial services than in other sectors. It has even been argued that up to 10% of employees in financial services could be psychopathic. That is to say they have no empathy, care for other people, conscience or regrets for any damage they do.

    These traits make them ruthless in pursuit of their own agendas and entirely focused on self-promotion and self-advancement.

    But my ongoing research goes even further. It has found that psychopaths are willing to knowingly cause financial harm to the entire global community, in order to receive a financial bonus for themselves. Personal greed outweighs the immense social and community costs of implementing that greed.

    This aligns with earlier perceptions of some captains of finance or leading politicians as psychopaths. Previous research found they are freed by their selfish philosophy of life and their trivialising of other people from the restraints of being evenhanded, truthful or generous.

    This new research also shows that a majority of psychopaths would even be willing to cause a global financial crisis – if they personally would profit from, for example, falling stock prices. This willingness holds true even when they could be personally identified as being the source of the crisis. Only a tiny minority of non-psychopaths would be willing to do this.

    Race to the top

    Financial insiders appear to agree with the assumption that psychopaths have always been prevalent in the sector. Many psychologists and other management commentators have come to the same conclusion.

    Researchers have also found that interpersonal-affective psychopathic traits – such as deceitfulness, superficial charm and a lack of remorse – were associated with success in the finance sector.

    Employees at financial institutions in New York scored significantly higher on these traits than people in the wider community. They also had significantly lower levels of emotional intelligence (as would be expected of psychopaths).

    What’s more, having psychopathic traits has also been linked to higher annual incomes – as well as a higher rank within the corporation.

    In other words, it looks like the more psychopathic an employee is, the further up the corporate finance ladder they will go. This corresponds with findings that show there are more psychopaths at the top of organisations than at the bottom.

    Creating destruction

    This is not to say that personal success in climbing the corporate ladder equates to professional success when someone reaches the top job. Quite the opposite. In fact, my research has shown that psychopathic leadership is associated with organisational destruction.

    This includes a greater propensity to take risks with other people’s money, a greater willingness to gamble with someone else’s money and lower returns for shareholders.

    In one study over a 10-year period, psychopathic fund managers were found to generate annual returns that were 30% lower than their less psychopathic peers.

    The research team concluded that among elite financial investors, psychopathy and its appearance of personal dominance and competence, may enable people to rise to the top of their profession. But this does not translate into improved financial performance at the organisational level, where the presence of the psychopathic is actually counterproductive.

    Fraud has always been associated with the psychopathic – so much so that in one study 69% of auditors believed they had encountered corporate psychopaths in relation to their investigations.

    Years ago, one bank reportedly used a psychopathy measure to recruit staff. But I would advise against hiring people who score very highly, because they are totally concerned with personal success. They are not bothered about long-term organisational growth or sustainability. As such, decisions will be made to suit the psychopathic worker, and not the organisation.

    For example, new hires would be likely to be people who can help the psychopath achieve their personal aims and objectives rather than aid the company. Anyone astute enough to potentially be a challenge to the psychopathic employee would not be hired by them in the first place.

    Without exception, psychopathic people love money and they are more motivated by it than other people are.

    Unlike the rest of the population, psychopaths are uninterested in higher values such as close emotional connections with family and friends, and much more focused on money and materialism. Seen through this lens, the appeal of the corporate banking sector – and the salaries and bonuses it offers – to people with these traits soon becomes clear.

    Clive Roland Boddy, Deputy Head, School of Management, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Notice to Improve: Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Notice to Improve: Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School

    A notice to improve issued to Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School by the Department for Education.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Notice to Improve: Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School

    PDF, 240 KB, 7 pages

    Details

    This letter and its annex serve as a written notice to improve financial management at Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: AB Amber Grid Operating Results for the 1st Quarter of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AB Amber Grid, legal entity code: 303090867. Address: Laisvės pr. 10, LT-04215 Vilnius, Lithuania.

    AB Amber Grid delivers results for the 1st quarter of 2025 prepared according to the International Financial Reporting Standards:
    • Revenue for the 1st quarter of 2025 EUR 20.8 million (the 1st quarter of 2024 EUR 20.6 million);
    • Net profit for the 1st quarter of 2025 EUR 4.2 million (the 1st quarter of 2024 EUR 4.0 million);
    • EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) for the 1st quarter of 2025 EUR 8.9 million (the 1st quarter of 2024 EUR 9.0 million);
    • Average return on equity (ROE) for the last 12 month as of 31 March 2025 4.6% (as of 31 March 2024 8.3%).

    AB Amber Grid adjusted financial indicators for the 1st quarter of 2025:
    • Adjusted net profit for the 1st quarter of 2025 EUR 3.8 million (the 1st quarter of 2024 EUR 3.4 million);
    • Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) for the 1st quarter of 2025 EUR 8.3 million (the 1st quarter of 2024 EUR 8.2 million);
    • Average return on equity (ROE) for the last 12 months as of 31 March 2025 5.6% (as of 31 March 2024 4.7%).

    The adjustment of regulated income, costs and profitability indicators is carried out due to temporary regulatory difference from the regulated profitability approved by National Energy Regulatory Council (NERC). When calculating adjusted indicators, the correction of income is assessed due to previous periods, which is already approved by the decision of NERC in determining the regulated prices of transmission services for the reporting period. Also, the indicators are adjusted by the deviation of the NERC approved (regulated) and actual profitability of the reporting period, which NERC will evaluate when determining the transmission service prices for the coming period. Non-recurring (one-off) transactions are also eliminated.

    Attached:
    1. AB Amber Grid condensed interim financial statements for 3 months period ended 31 March 2025;
    2. Press release.

    More information:
    Laura Šebekienė, Head of Communications  
    ph. +370 699 61 246, e-mail: l.sebekiene@ambergrid.lt  

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Export bar placed on £10 million Botticelli painting

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Export bar placed on £10 million Botticelli painting

    A temporary export bar has been placed on a painting of the Virgin Mary by Italian painter, Sandro Botticelli

    • The work has been valued at £10.2 million 
    • The export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the painting for the nation

    An export bar has been placed on a painting by Italian master, Sandro Botticelli, which is at risk of leaving the UK.

    Botticelli was one of the leading Florentine painters of the second half of the fifteenth century and one of the most recognisable names in art history. Botticelli became well-known for his mythological and religious paintings, often with a focus on beauty and harmony. His most famous works include The Birth of Venus and Primavera. 

    Valued at more than £10.2 million (£9,960,000 + £272,000 VAT) the painting depicts an image of the Virgin Mary enthroned with the Christ Child and is believed to have been painted in the 1470s, early in Botticelli’s career. If saved by a cultural institution, the painting would represent a significant addition to the body of work by Botticelli in UK collections. Very few early Botticelli’s remain in the UK and it would provide a richer and more detailed understanding of his work and the development of Florentine painting in the later fifteenth century.

    The Virgin and Child Enthroned exemplifies Botticelli’s ability to combine radiant humanity and powerful spirituality. The shape and angle of the Virgin’s face bear similarities to the central Venus in Botticelli’s celebrated Primavera, painted in the late 1470s or early 1480s. 

    The artist has also given exceptional attention to the Virgin’s features, with the light catching her upper eyelids, the tip of her nose and the cupid’s bow of her lips.

    Arts Minister, Sir Chris Bryant said: 

    This painting is a perfect example of Botticelli’s genius and a unique part of history. 

    I hope that a UK gallery is able to save this work so that it can be enjoyed by the public for generations to come.

    Christopher Baker, Committee member:

    Dating from the early 1470s, this affecting devotional work, demonstrates the sophistication of Botticelli’s painting early in his career in Florence. Probably intended to inspire private prayer in a domestic setting, it is an image that has a wider resonance as it delicately explores the power of maternal love.

    The cult of, or enthusiasm for Botticelli, of which it formed a part, had grown during the Victorian era and the painting arrived in Britain in 1904; it was acquired by Lady Wantage and entered the renowned Lloyd collection.

    Further research on the placement of Botticelli’s work in his career and the organisation of his workshop, as well as links with the wider context of Florentine Renaissance art would all be of enormous benefit. In view of these intriguing possibilities every effort should be made to try and secure this beguiling painting for a British collection.

    The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.

    The RCEWA Committee found that The Virgin and Child Enthroned painting met the third Waverley criterion for its outstanding significance for the study of western art and its reception in later periods, Botticelli, the process and practice of Florentine workshops, and the history of collecting in the UK. 

    The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 8 August 2025 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 business days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £9,960,000 (plus VAT of £272,000, which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

    Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

    Notes to editors

    1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the panel should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
    2. Details of the item are as follows: Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, called Sandro Botticelli (1444/5–1510) The Virgin and Child enthroned, early 1470s Tempera on panel, 83.3 x 44.9 cm
    3. Provenance: Oratorio of San Giuliano, in the Convent of San Giuliano, which was later bought and rebuilt by the Calasanzian order, via Faenza, Florence, by the early 19th century; Placed in the chapel of a convalescent home for the sick bretheren of the Calasanzian Order or Scuole Pie of Florence, Comezzano, near Vaggio, Figline Valdarno, Province of Florence; By inheritance with the property to the Graziani family, remaining in situ until about 1900; Giovanni Magherini Graziani (1852–1924), Poggitazzi, Terranove Bracciolini, near Arezzo, and via Pinti, Florence; By whom sold, in November 1903, to the dealer Elia Volpi, Florence; From whom bought by Harriet Sarah Jones Loyd, Lady Wantage (1837–1920), in May 1904; Thence by descent at Lockinge House, Wantage, and after 1944 at Betterton House, near Wantage, Berkshire.
    4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an  independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for  Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Economic Review: German manufacturers struggle under US tariffs amid growing global uncertainty

    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

    BERLIN, May 9 (Xinhua) — Germany’s manufacturing sector, long the backbone of Europe’s largest economy, is feeling the impact of new U.S. tariffs, with small and medium-sized exporters sounding the alarm over rising costs, shrinking profits and growing uncertainty.

    At the medium-sized gearbox manufacturer Tornado Antriebstechnik GmbH in northern Berlin, the production lines are running non-stop. In 2024, the company delivered 160,000 custom-made units, of which around 15 percent were destined for the US market. However, the recent tariff hikes have disrupted this flow, increasing cross-border costs and complicating investment planning.

    “We simply cannot cover these costs indefinitely,” said CEO Norbert Mensing, noting that the company has been forced to shift some of the burden onto its customers. “We were planning to develop in the American market, but now we are moving in a different direction,” he explained.

    Despite having a subsidiary in the US, some key components of the Tornado were subject to high tariffs, significantly increasing the overall cost of production. The company’s plans to expand production in the US are now on hold.

    “Due to the unpredictability of US trade policy, we are considering the possibility of curtailing our activities in this country and reorienting investments to the domestic market,” explained N. Mensing.

    Tornado’s predicament reflects broader concerns among German manufacturers, many of whom see unpredictable trade policies as a major threat to stability. The latest tariffs, dubbed “equivalence tariffs” by the Donald Trump administration, have introduced new risks into long-established transatlantic supply chains. German companies say the tariffs, intended to address trade imbalances, have actually increased uncertainty and dampened investment appetite.

    LOWER MARGINS, SLOWER GROWTH

    Germany’s export-oriented economy remains highly vulnerable to external shocks. While industrial giants like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have the flexibility to shift production around the world, smaller manufacturers like Tornado have far less ability to cope with the fallout.

    The fears are spreading across Germany’s industrial heartland. The country has a vast ecosystem of so-called “hidden champions” – small and medium-sized companies that have succeeded in niche markets. These companies thrive on precision engineering, long-term strategic planning and robust cross-border supply chains.

    For many of them, massive tariff hikes by the US and increasingly unpredictable trade policies are not just a blow to profits. They are shaking the foundations of the global production and supply chains on which these companies rely to remain competitive.

    Economist Hermann Simon, who coined the term “hidden champions,” noted that in today’s world, tariffs are no longer just price mechanisms — they have become structural disruptors. “Supply chains are so tightly intertwined that even small disruptions can have far-reaching consequences,” he told Xinhua.

    For companies built on trust, stability and global connectivity, uncertainty itself is more damaging than regulation, Simon warned.

    BREAKING TRUST

    Recent data confirms the growing concerns. In April, 28.3 percent of German companies surveyed by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research reported a deterioration in business conditions, the highest figure since late 2022. US trade policy was cited as the main external risk.

    That same month, Germany’s federal government cut its 2025 GDP growth forecast to zero, after falling in 2023 and 2024. If confirmed, it would mark the country’s first three-year economic contraction since World War II. Officials cited U.S. tariffs as a major factor in the revised forecast.

    According to estimates by the Institute of German Economy, if current tariffs remain in place until 2028, Germany’s total losses could reach 290 billion euros (about 325.48 billion US dollars), which is about 1.2 percent of annual GDP.

    The report notes that such tariff policies are becoming a catalyst for global economic turmoil, undermining investment confidence and hindering the coordinated development of industrial ecosystems around the world.

    “Many companies’ investment projects are being postponed or cancelled,” says G. Simon. “When companies stop expanding and start waiting, it sets off a chain reaction that can become a systemic brake.”

    INTERDEPENDENCE AND RISK

    Despite rising tensions, economic ties between the United States and Germany remain strong. In 2024, the United States accounted for 10.4 percent of German exports, the highest level since 2002. Last year, Germany also posted a record trade surplus with the United States of €69.8 billion.

    But German executives warn that unpredictable trade policy is undermining trust in the global rules-based trading system. In a world of tightly interconnected supply chains, sudden changes not only cause disruptions, they threaten the foundations of long-term industrial cooperation.

    This is particularly acute for mid-sized manufacturers like Tornado, which are often referred to as the “backbone” of the German economy. Unlike global multinationals, such firms cannot easily relocate production or overcome geopolitical upheavals. Their competitiveness depends on a stable environment, long-term investments and deeply integrated supplier networks.

    In the current circumstances, Germany faces significant challenges: it must uphold open market principles, restore confidence in industry and support its manufacturing sector in a world where economic certainty is increasingly difficult to find.

    While the US justifies its “equivalence tariff” policy on the principle of fairness, critics argue that this approach puts national interests above global stability. This could have the opposite effect, disrupting supply chains and harming American consumers. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Endeavor Bancorp Declares 2% Stock Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Endeavor Bancorp (OTCQX: EDVR) (the “Company,” or “Bancorp”), the holding company for Endeavor Bank (the “Bank”), today announced its Board of Directors has declared a 2% stock dividend to be distributed on May 22, 2025, to shareholders of record on May 9, 2025 (the “Record Date”).

    Shareholders will receive two additional shares of common stock for every 100 shares currently owned. A cash payment will be made in lieu of fractional shares in an amount equal to the product of (a) the fair value of a share of common stock on the Record Date, multiplied by (b) the applicable fraction of one share of common stock owned by the shareholder.

    “As our franchise continues to deliver strong earnings, we are pleased to be able to pay a stock dividend to our loyal shareholders,” said Dan Yates, CEO. “We view this stock dividend as a means of improving trading liquidity by increasing the number of shares available.”

    About Endeavor Bancorp 

    Endeavor Bancorp, the holding company for Endeavor Bank, is primarily owned and operated by Southern Californians for Southern California businesses and their owners. The bank’s focus is local: local decision-making, local board, local founders, local owners, and relationships with local clients in Southern California.

    Headquartered in downtown San Diego in the Symphony Towers building, the Bank also operates a loan production and executive administration office in Carlsbad, a branch office in La Mesa, and an office in LA/Inland Empire. Endeavor Bank provides traditional business banking services across a broad spectrum of industries and specialties. Unique to the bank is its consultative banking approach that partners our business clients with Endeavor Bank’s senior management. Together, we build strategies and provide resources that solve problems, plan for the future, and help clients’ efforts to grow revenues and profits. Endeavor Bancorp trades on the OTCQX® Best Market under the symbol “EDVR.” Visit www.endeavor.bank for more information.

    Endeavor Bank is rated by Bauer Financial as Five-Star “Superior” for strong financial performance, the top rating given by the independent bank rating firm. DepositAccounts.com awarded Endeavor Bank an A rating.

    EDVR Shareholders 

    With many of our shareholders transferring their EDVR shares to their brokerage companies, along with ongoing trading taking place, Endeavor Bancorp may not have the most current shareholder contact information. If you are an EDVR shareholder and would like to receive information via a more timely method, please complete the Shareholder Communication Preference Form on our website: https://www.bankendeavor.com/investor-relations so we can keep you updated on EDVR news, and invite you to various shareholder networking events throughout the year. 

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements,” as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of the Company’s directors and executive officers (collectively, “Management”), as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s Management. All statements regarding the Company’s business strategy and plans and objectives of Management of the Company for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to the Company or the Company’s Management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations (“cautionary statements”) are loan losses, rapid and unanticipated deposit withdrawals, unavailability of sources of liquidity, additional regulatory requirements that may be imposed on community banks or banks generally, changes in interest rates, loss of key personnel, lower lending limits and capital than competitors, regulatory restrictions and oversight of the Company, the secure and effective implementation of technology, risks related to the local and national economy, the effect on customers, collateral value and property insurance markets of the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and similar events in the future, changes in real estate values, the Company’s implementation of its business plans and management of growth, loan performance, interest rates, and regulatory matters, the effects of trade, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation, and changes in accounting policies and practices. Based upon changing conditions, if any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, or intended. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    Endeavor Bancorp Contact Information:
    (858) 230.5185
    Dan Yates, CEO
    dyates@bankendeavor.com

    (858) 230.4243
    Steve Sefton, President
    ssefton@bankendeavor.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nasa’s planned budget cuts could set back space science, but show how to future-proof the agency

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Loizos Heracleous, Professor of Strategy, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick

    Illustration of the Orion spacecraft. Nasa

    The 2026 Nasa budget proposal would slash around US$6 billion (£4.4 billion) in funding. This is a huge reduction, amounting to around 25% of recent Nasa budgets. The savings would mainly come from Nasa science programmes, potentially devastating high profile missions and international collaborations.

    However, the budget proposal also represents an intentional redirection of Nasa’s focus by government through resource allocation. The state has long supported the development of a robust commercial space sector, and this budget is a further step in that direction.

    Congress will have the final say and the cost to science could be high if the budget goes through without major amendments. One casualty could be Mars Sample Return (MSR), a joint endeavour with the European Space Agency that is intended to retrieve Martian soil and rock collected by the Perseverance rover and deliver it to laboratories on Earth.

    An audit of MSR released in February 2024, suggested that the mission’s overall cost could exceed US$7.5 billion (£5.6 billion). The timescale for the mission was also slipping into the 2040s.

    Nasa agreed to look at quicker and cheaper ways of carrying out the mission, a process which is ongoing. But as a big ticket item under the agency’s Science Directorate, MSR could nevertheless be cancelled if the proposed budget were to be passed.

    Other projects likely to be affected include the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which aims to investigate dark energy and exoplanets, and the DaVinci mission to Venus, which seeks to study the planet’s dense atmosphere and surface composition. Since the James Webb Space Telescope is already constructed and operating, it is expected to continue doing so.

    However broader funding reductions for Nasa’s Science Mission Directorate, from US$7.3 billion (£5.4 billion) to US$3.9 billion (£2.9 billion), may limit the scope of future projects and the pipeline of early innovations.

    The Nancy Grace Roman telescope could be one casualty of the budget proposal.
    Nasa

    The proposed budget could also lead to an accelerated retirement for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule. These are the vehicles designed to carry US astronauts to the Moon under a Nasa programme called Artemis.

    This programme aims to establish a permanent US base on the Moon, allowing astronauts to carry out science and to learn how to make use of lunar resources –such as the abundant water ice sitting in craters at the poles.

    This ice could be turned into water for life support and chemically split to provide propellant for spacecraft. This could bring down the cost of space exploration because it would avoid having to transport supplies from Earth.

    The retirement of the SLS and Orion would happen after the Artemis III mission, which is planned to be the first to land astronauts on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. This decision suggests that the administration has heeded those who warn that if China gets to the Moon’s surface before the US, it could damage American space leadership.

    But it also implies that White House officials are in no hurry to build up a sustained presence on the lunar surface, as laid out under the Artemis plan, since finding replacements for Orion and the SLS will take time.

    With each SLS launch costing upwards of US$4 billion, the rocket’s longer term financial sustainability has been repeatedly called into question. Cancelling the SLS and Orion could also lead to thousands of job losses. These concerns are valid. However, in a robust industry, there is opportunity for people.

    Globally, the space industry is growing fast, with a value of US$570 billion (£427 billion) in 2023, having grown 7.4% from the previous year. A flexible and vibrant industrial sector could offer ample opportunity for displaced workers.

    Other commercial players such as Blue Origin, Rocket Lab and Sierra Space are developing their own launch systems, crewed vehicles, and – in some cases – space stations. This competitive ecosystem accelerates innovation and reduces costs, which ultimately benefits the broader economy and the country.

    Having said all that, critics say an extended hiatus in crewed lunar exploration while commercial companies develop these spacecraft may hand China the advantage when it comes to establishing a dominant presence on the Moon.

    Past precedent

    The White House budget proposals are a request and not law. Congress has the final say in whether these programs are retired and when. There are precedents: in 2010 the Obama administration proposed the wholesale cancellation of the second Bush administration’s Constellation program to return to the Moon. However, Congress intervened to rescue the Orion spacecraft.

    While Constellation’s two rockets – the Ares I and Ares V – were technically cancelled, the SLS (which in many ways resembles the Ares V) was conceived as a compromise.

    If approved, the proposed budget cuts would usher Nasa more strongly towards an orchestrator or “systems integrator” role. This would see the agency convening and coordinating a complex web of commercial, academic, and international participants. Nasa would therefore shift towards focusing on oversight, seeding innovation, and ensuring mission coherence.

    The agency already has experience of public-private partnerships such as the programs that resupply the International Space Station with cargo and crew. The Artemis programme also aims to involve private companies as partners rather than simply contractors.

    The proposed cuts would indeed disrupt the agency, but they are also emblematic of a shift in national priorities toward support for the development of space capabilities by private companies. Many Nasa programmes carry high symbolic or scientific value – sometimes both.

    But in some cases, their costs are difficult to defend when commercial alternatives could be developed for either the full mission or parts of the mission at a fraction of the cost.

    As Nasa shifts toward an orchestrator role and the commercial space sector matures, these changes, though painful in the short term, may serve the interests of US leadership in space over the long term.

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

    – ref. Nasa’s planned budget cuts could set back space science, but show how to future-proof the agency – https://theconversation.com/nasas-planned-budget-cuts-could-set-back-space-science-but-show-how-to-future-proof-the-agency-256103

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Germany’s new government wants to be a foreign policy power

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gabriele Abels, Jean Monnet Professor for Comparative Politics & European Integration, University of Tübingen

    When the CDU/CSU and the SPD sealed their coalition agreement to form the next German government, the would-be chancellor Friedrich Merz proudly announced: “Germany is back on track”. Against a backdrop of considerable geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, the partners wanted to send clear signal not only to the German public, but also to the European and international partners. After three years of intense government infighting, a new, stable administration was in charge in Germany.

    However, a very different message was ultimately sent when a routine vote to confirm Merz as chancellor became an unprecedented fiasco.

    Merz failed to gain enough support to be confirmed as chancellor, having lost votes from his own coalition. Merz did manage to secure the parliament’s nomination in a second round of voting, but there is now plenty of gossiping about who was responsible for this disaster. Who in his coalition was taking “revenge” by voting against him in this secret ballot – and on what grounds?



    Read more:
    Friedrich Merz confirmed as Germany’s chancellor – but betrayal by MPs in a secret ballot means he starts from a position of weakness

    Merz will have to work to move beyond this early blow to his authority and implications in the domestic and international arena. His first action was to embark on a multi-capital tour to meet his fellow European leaders. This is a strong sign of his intentions as chancellor – to look outward, emphasising foreign policy.

    Prioritising defence and consolidating power

    For a long time, continuity has prevailed when it comes to Germany’s policy towards Europe. However, relations with neighbours are currently undergoing a period of transition due to a changing international environment. A big step came under former social democratic chancellor Olaf Scholz, who overturned post-war policy by announcing a €100 million investment in the military in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Merz now wants Germany to become a “leading medium-size power”. The coalition agreement signed between Merz’s CDU/CSU and the social democratic SPD, grants the chancellor a stronger role in order to achieve this aim.

    The 144-page document, entitled “Responsibility for Germany” (Verantwortung für Deutschland), prioritises defence, deterrence and strengthening resilience — in military, economic, political and social terms.

    EU partners expect leadership from the new German government and a stronger commitment from Merz in particular, because of his first-hand experience as a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1994. Merz is certainly committed to European integration and to the EU, which is mentioned in the coalition agreement as “a guarantor of freedom, peace, security and prosperity”.

    The coalition agreement emphasises closing ranks with the European partners. Merz cemented this commitment by visiting Paris and Warsaw the day after taking office to announce a reboot of the “Weimar triangle” – a regional allegiance between France, Germany and Poland created in 1991 – as a commitment to what he sees as Germany’s two most important European partners.

    There are strong elements of continuity between this government’s approach to Europe and that of its predecessor. There remains an unwavering commitment to the EU and NATO and comprehensive support for Ukraine. What is, however, new, is the strong emphasis on defence in the coalition agreement.

    “We want to be able to defend ourselves, so that we don’t have to defend ourselves,” the document states.

    With this in mind, a long-held conservative ambition is being realised — the creation of a national security council (Bundessicherheitsrat) within the federal chancellery. This gives the chancellor a stronger role in foreign policy.

    In addition, the new minister for foreign affairs, Johann Wadephul, is a Merz loyalist from the CDU. Traditionally, this was a role held by the junior coalition partner. This new situation, in which the chancellor and minister for foreign affairs are from the same party, plus the new national security council, means that power is concentrated in the chancellery.

    Further afield

    Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, positioning Germany towards the US, China and Israel are high on the agenda. In line with the German “Staatsräson” – an element of foreign policy that recognises Israel’s right to exist and sees Israeli security as a German national interest.

    Merz announced in February 2025 that he is willing to find “means and ways” to welcome the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Berlin. This despite the the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against him. Such a visit would be a breach with the strong German tradition of rule of law and the respect for multilateral institutions.

    Merz is also known to be a transatlanticist and his camp had already reached out to the US administration before taking office. Tariff wars are detrimental to the German economy given the strong dependence on exports to the US. It is similar for China, another important trading partner, but also a “systemic rival” which requires a sound “de-risking” strategy.

    Yet, given the destructive Trump presidency and the insecurity when it comes to the US commitment to European security, a policy towards the US will be paramount. Strengthening relations with the UK in cooperation with the EU partners is meant to go some way to balancing the lack of US support, especially in relation to Ukraine.

    Merz appears willing to take up these challenges and to focus his chancellorship on EU and foreign policy. It helps that the conservative European People’s Party (of which the CDU/CSU is a member) currently dominates the European Parliament and that the powerful position of European Commission president is currently held by a German, in the form of Ursula von der Leyen.

    Yet the ballot fiasco in the national parliament shows that Merz is more vulnerable at home than he would like to be. This may end up frustrating his ambition to lead change in Europe.

    Merz also still needs to win the trust of ordinary Germans, too. He is not a popular chancellor. Less than 40% Germans have trust in him and women especially dislike his style. In addition to efficient policymaking, he will need to improve on his pointed and polarising communicative style if he is to reach out to the people.

    Gabriele Abels is a member of the Europa-Union Deutschland which belongs to the Union of European Federalists.

    – ref. Germany’s new government wants to be a foreign policy power – https://theconversation.com/germanys-new-government-wants-to-be-a-foreign-policy-power-256190

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Major brands don’t need to kowtow to Trump: they have the power to bring people together

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Beverland, Professor of Brand Management, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex

    Whatever you think of his personality or politics, it’s impossible to deny the success of Donald Trump as a brand. Supporters and detractors across the world are transfixed by his second term as US president.

    And so far, many corporate brands appear keen to get alongside him. The leaders of Tesla, Amazon and Meta were all prominent guests at Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.

    By then, Mark Zuckerberg had already shifted company policy on fact checking to be more aligned with the political wind. Weeks later, retail giants Walmart and Target had rolled back diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

    Even the NFL, which had so infuriated Trump in his first term with its support for diversity, has come to heel.

    So now that Trump is back in town, is the only option available to big US organisations to swing to the right? Well, not necessarily.

    Our research suggests that the rise of populism actually represents an opportunity for brands to rebuild a sense of shared national identity.

    And the most well-known brands are the best placed to do this. Their familiar place in people’s everyday lives gives them huge power as non-political agents of collective identity which can cross divides of race, class, geography and age.

    A great example of this was during the presidential election campaign when Trump’s team wanted to organise a publicity stunt involving the Republican candidate “working” at a branch of McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

    Trump’s love of the golden arches is well known, but McDonald’s is a strongly non-political brand. So what should it do? Refuse and risk a backlash, or accept and be accused of taking sides?

    In the end, the company’s response was a masterclass in neutrality.

    McDonald’s told its employees that the company was neither red (Republican) nor blue (Democrat), but golden. Referring to both presidential candidates’ love of McDonald’s, the company made it clear that the permission granted to Trump illustrated one of their core values, stating: “We open our doors for everyone”.

    The plan worked. And this was partly down to McDonald’s being widely thought of as an authentic brand which connects people.

    Research has shown that people really value a company’s place in local communities. And McDonald’s is a place which hosts children’s birthday parties, where you can catch up with friends, where you might even have had your first ever job.

    This kind of power to unify is something other brands can do too. As something our earlier research shows, brands can benefit from bringing people together, by creating a sense of shared identity.

    Brand new

    In New Zealand for example, ANZ Bank was widely applauded for a campaign featuring Indian immigrants. The advert tells the story of a father and son and their mixed cricketing loyalties (the parent to India, the child to New Zealand).

    It is a tale of immigrants achieving their version of the national dream, through hard work and trademark Kiwi humour. This kind of narrative-driven campaign does not pitch one side against another, but instead highlights the things that bind people together.

    Similarly in the UK, the department store John Lewis has become a seasonal advertising staple as it reminds customers of their shared rituals over Christmas. And Kraft’s “How do you love your Vegemite” campaign allowed new immigrants to participate in local snacking rituals, helping them feel Australian.

    In the US, a 1971 Coca Cola commercial (one of the most lauded adverts ever) presented a united multi-cultural collection of young people as a response to the anti-Vietnam war counter-culture.

    So far, American brands have struggled to navigate the ever-shifting pronouncements coming from the White House in Trump’s second term. Amazon for example, quickly went back on its decision to list the cost of tariffs on products after it was branded a “hostile move”.

    But one brand does stand out. And that’s Ford.

    Perhaps it was inevitable that the car maker which came to symbolise successful 20th century American manufacturing would get this right. And the company’s decision to extend employee discounts to all consumers in what it describes as “unprecedented times” is a clever move.

    Some might call it a cynical tactic to embrace Trump’s tariffs and encourage Americans to buy American. But the firm (which will likely take a huge hit from more expensive imported parts and materials) is doing much more than that.

    Its new campaign (with the slogan “From America for America”) reminds US citizens that the brand is part of their lives, regardless of their political home. Supportive full-page print ads go further, setting out the firm’s long history spent backing the people of America.

    One Ford executive says that the campaign is about “authenticity” and Ford being a brand “that all consumers can rely on, especially in these uncertain times”.

    Authenticity is much prized when the political landscape is so polarised. And while divisions cannot be healed solely by brands, they can help to remind us of shared values and a sense of community. And in doing so, dial down those political tensions.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Major brands don’t need to kowtow to Trump: they have the power to bring people together – https://theconversation.com/major-brands-dont-need-to-kowtow-to-trump-they-have-the-power-to-bring-people-together-249401

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: To fend off Reform, mainstream parties must address the tangible decline of British towns

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thiemo Fetzer, Associate Professor in Economics, University of Warwick

    Reform UK’s surge in recent local elections is not an isolated incident but a culmination of long-term economic and social shifts that have reshaped British society. It is the latest chapter in a narrative that includes the 2016 Brexit referendum and reflects a broader disillusionment with mainstream politics.

    To respond to their losses in these elections and the wider trend, Labour and the Conservatives must not treat the Reform vote as a transient protest but as a symptom of systemic challenges.

    Structural forces, digital disruption, demographic shifts and austerity have all eroded trust in institutions and fuelled demands for radical change. Reform UK’s success lies in its ability to channel these grievances, often thanks to the crafty use of social media, into a political platform. It’s imperative for mainstream parties to address the root causes of discontent if they wish to fend off Reform as an electoral threat.

    The structural roots of discontent

    Reform’s rise is deeply tied to a series of interconnected crises that have left communities feeling abandoned. Digital disruption has transformed the economy, with e-commerce and automation eliminating jobs in local retail and manufacturing. This has led to the decline of high streets, which have become symbols of economic marginalisation.

    At the same time, demographic shifts have seen younger, more skilled workers move to major cities, leaving behind ageing populations in rural and smaller towns. This exodus has created a sense of neglect.

    The 2008–2009 financial crisis further exacerbated these trends, as economic downturns hit already vulnerable regions hard. Unemployment spiked, and austerity measures introduced in the aftermath of the crisis deepened the divide. Public services such as libraries, youth clubs and adult education centres faced severe budget cuts. The notable worsening of public service delivery made it very tempting for politicians to attribute blame for faltering services on pressures arising from immigration.

    Reform taps into this “geography of loss” and offers a political platform that promises to address the pain of marginalisation, albeit, never from a position of actual political responsibility.

    The daily experience of decline

    The erosion of community infrastructure has become a visceral experience for many. Closed community centres have reduced opportunities for social interaction, leading to increased isolation and, in some cases, rising gang activity. Shuttered shops and the decline of local businesses have weakened the sense of place in towns and cities, removing vital “third spaces” where people gather, connect, and build relationships. These spaces, once the heart of local life, have given way to empty storefronts and underused public areas.

    At the same time, shrinking council budgets have left local governments struggling to maintain basic services. Public spaces that once served as hubs for civic engagement are now in disrepair, becoming visible signs of institutional failure. This physical decay has become a metaphor for systemic neglect, reinforcing the perception that mainstream parties have abandoned these communities. The result is a deepening sense of disillusionment, as residents feel that their needs are not being met and their voices are not being heard.

    Possible healing shocks on the horizon

    Emerging trends may offer opportunities to reverse some of the damage caused by structural forces. Remote work, which gained momentum during the pandemic, has the potential to reshape regional economies. It enables skilled workers to relocate to smaller towns and rural areas, bringing with them spending power and civic capacity. If sustained, this shift could help revitalise peripheral communities by reducing the concentration of economic activity in major cities.

    The adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) also presents both challenges and opportunities. While AI threatens some high-status cognitive and licensed roles, it may also compress the wage premiums that have favoured big-city professionals. This could slightly ease the sharpest edges of inequality, as the benefits of AI-driven productivity are more evenly distributed. However, the transition must be managed carefully to avoid exacerbating existing divides.

    Digitally enabled public services, such as chatbots for benefits and predictive maintenance for infrastructure, could improve service quality even under fiscal constraints. These tools could improve the performative state capacity, increase the state’s presence in areas where it has felt absent, rebuilding trust in institutions. Yet, it may also require a renegotiating of the informational boundaries of the state as AI thrives on interconnected data. By leveraging these shocks, mainstream parties could begin to address the spatial and skill gaps that populists exploit.

    To reclaim legitimacy and counter populist momentum, mainstream parties must adopt targeted, evidence-based policies. Protecting communities that have been left behind during economic transitions is critical.

    Workers displaced by retail automation need support to retrain, and funding is needed to repurpose high streets for new uses such as community workshops, health hubs and community centres. These initiatives would not only create new opportunities but also restore a sense of agency for those who have felt excluded from the economy.

    Planning reforms to convert empty retail spaces into co-working hubs and housing would further support this transition, creating vibrant, inclusive communities.

    Rebuilding social infrastructure is equally vital. Restoring per-capita funding for youth clubs, libraries and adult education centres would revive community spaces and foster social cohesion. Making grants conditional on measurable outcomes such as reducing crime rates and increasing volunteering participation would add an extra layer of benefit for local populations.

    Populism in Britain is not a cultural accident, but the political expression of decades of skill-biased, place-biased, and age-biased shocks, culminating in an austerity programme that localised pain. Reform UK surfs this wave, but the tide can turn. By cushioning ongoing transitions (remote work, AI), visibly reviving public spaces, and sharing new sources of economic value with smaller towns and younger generations, mainstream parties can reclaim legitimacy.

    The challenge is not only to respond to populist demands but to reimagine the role of the state in fostering social cohesion and economic opportunity. The path forward lies in proactive, inclusive policies that address the tangible, everyday experiences of decline and restore faith in the political system.

    Thiemo Fetzer has benefited from research funding from ESRC, CAGE, UKRI, and the European Research Council.

    – ref. To fend off Reform, mainstream parties must address the tangible decline of British towns – https://theconversation.com/to-fend-off-reform-mainstream-parties-must-address-the-tangible-decline-of-british-towns-256249

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ministry Confirms International Joint Bookrunners for Upcoming Íslandsbanki Share Offering

    Source: Government of Iceland

    Yesterday, Alþingi approved amendments to the Act on the Disposition of the State’s Holding in Íslandsbanki hf. The offering is scheduled to take place during the first half of the year through a fully-marketed offering, with individuals given priority access. The legislative framework, established last year for the sale of the state’s remaining shares, ensures that due consideration is given to objectivity, efficiency, equality, and transparency. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that the entire process earns and maintains public trust.

    On 30 April, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs solicited expressions of interest from parties to assist with the share sale, with the application deadline on 2 May. The project attracted strong interest, particularly from international parties.

    Following this process, the Ministry has decided to enter into agreements with four international firms to manage the sale of shares in the upcoming offering as joint bookrunners. The domestic firms that will take part in the offering will be announced shortly. The appointed international firms are Arctic Securities AS, JP Morgan SE, UBS Europe SE, and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (in cooperation with ODDO BHF SCA.) As previously announced Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, and Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG and Kvika banki hf. have been mandated to act as joint global co-ordinators and joint bookrunners to plan and oversee the offering, as well as manage the order books.

    All selected parties are licensed to place offerings of financial instruments without underwriting, in accordance with Icelandic financial market legislation. They will operate under the terms of the offering structure and will receive a sales commission amounting to 0.75% of the value of the shares they place.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hertfordshire waste boss to pay £79,000 gained from illegal sites

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Hertfordshire waste boss to pay £79,000 gained from illegal sites

    Quarry director let waste mountains pile up way beyond legal amount. Enough waste at one site to nearly fill the Royal Albert Hall 3 times

    Codicote Quarry, near Stevenage, was one of three locations at the centre of this illegal waste operation

    A former teacher who filled 2 quarries in Hertfordshire with illegal waste has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds following an investigation into proceeds of crime.

    Liam Winters presided over the illegal disposal of assorted rubbish at Codicote Quarry, near Stevenage.

    An investigation by the Environment Agency found approximately 200,000 cubic metres of household, commercial and industrial waste, as well as electrical items, car parts, furniture, food packaging, wood and metal. It could have filled the Royal Albert Hall nearly 3 times over.

    An Environment Agency investigator inspects waste hidden in a futile attempt to avoid it being found

    Winters, of Warwickshire, also ignored the Environment Agency’s instructions to stop filling Anstey Quarry, at Buntingford, near Royston, with banned waste such as plastic, wood, metal and packaging, all broken into tiny pieces.

    The waste piled up at Anstey Quarry scaled the height of 5 double-decker buses

    He was given 17 months in prison in October 2023 for dumping the illegal waste at the 2 sites and a nearby shooting ground.

    The piles of waste at Anstey reached 20 metres into the sky, the height of 5 double-decker buses. 

    The Anstey Quarry Company Ltd, of which Winters was a director, leased the quarry, with a permit from the Environment Agency to treat and dispose of up to 10,000 cubic metres of clean soil waste a year.

    Investigators estimated as much as 250,000 cubic metres of harmful biodegradable materials was buried there.

    Soil was used at all 3 sites to cover some of the waste in an attempt to avoid detection.

    Judge Caroline Wigin, sitting at Luton crown court on 8 May, ordered Winters, to pay £78,835. This followed an proceeds of crime investigation by the Environment Agency’s national economic crime unit.

    The money will be split between His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Environment Agency. Winters faces 2 more years in prison if he doesn’t pay within 3 months. The 48-year-old, of High Street, Hillmorton, Rugby, also has to pay a victim surcharge of £120.

    Barry Russell, environment manager for the Environment Agency in Hertfordshire, said:

    “We are determined that waste operators who break the law don’t benefit from their crimes

    “It was clear every time we visited the sites, there was no substantial change to the illegal way they were being run.

    “Operations like Anstey and Codicote are damaging in many ways, including the potential or actual harm caused to the environment by inappropriate and illegal storage of waste materials, and the financial impact on businesses who follow the rules, pay their way and protect the environment.

    “Despite warnings from the Environment Agency to stop, Winters and the other men carried on bringing in more illegal waste.”

    The Environment Agency served an enforcement notice, ordering the business to stop taking in material at Anstey that could do damage to the ground if left in landfill.

    Codicote Quarry had a permit to treat and store a small amount of soil waste, but not hold it in huge quantities. The quarry went far beyond what was authorised by the Environment Agency.   

    Nicholas Bramwell, now 45, of Shepherds Close, Royston, was fined £1,450 and told to pay £8,000 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to burying large quantities of potentially harmful waste at Anstey Quarry and a shooting ground at Nuthampstead.

    The Environment Agency found more plastic, wood and metal in sizable quantities at the firing range, where it was used to build a 10-metre high embankment.

    Both men admitted to 5 counts of breaching regulation 38 (2) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 in relation to Anstey Quarry and Nuthampstead shooting ground.

    Winters faced four more charges under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in relation to Codicote Quarry.

    Judge Wigin said no costs would be awarded against Winters because he had served a custodial prison sentence.

    Winters’ brother, Mark Winters, 50, of Bangor Erris, in County Mayo, received 12 months in prison in 2023, suspended for 2 years, and told to carry out 200 hours unpaid work over the waste at Codicote.

    The brothers were also banned from being company directors for 8 years.

    Luton crown court will sit on 9 July to decide on proceeds of crime payments and costs against Mark Winters and to sentence Codicote Quarry Ltd, of which the brothers were also directors.

    There is no suggestion the owners of the 3 locations played any part in the criminal activity.

    Contact us:

    Journalists only: 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: /Economic Review/ China’s Foreign Trade Maintains Steady Growth Despite External Challenges

    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 9 (Xinhua) — China’s foreign trade has shown resilience and steady growth since the beginning of the year despite challenges from the external environment, official data showed on Friday.

    According to the General Administration of Customs (GAC) of China, in April 2025, China’s total import and export volume of goods increased by 5.6 percent year-on-year.

    China’s exports rose 9.3 percent year-on-year to 2.27 trillion yuan (about $314 billion) in April 2025, while imports rose 0.8 percent to 1.57 trillion yuan.

    “Thanks to the concerted efforts of various regions and departments, China’s foreign trade has maintained steady growth since the beginning of the year in the face of external shocks,” said Lu Daliang, director of the Statistics and Analysis Department of the National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China.

    In the first four months of this year, China’s total foreign trade in goods in yuan terms increased by 2.4 percent year-on-year to 14.14 trillion yuan.

    According to the data from the State Customs Administration of China, during the reporting period, China’s exports grew by 7.5 percent year-on-year to 8.39 trillion yuan, while imports fell by 4.2 percent to 5.75 trillion yuan.

    As noted by Wan Zhe, an expert from Beijing Normal University, the stable growth of China’s foreign trade in January-April fully reflects the stability of the country’s economy.

    The particularly impressive growth in foreign trade in April this year highlights China’s ability to quickly adapt to trade disputes and supply chain shocks, she added.

    According to the data from the General Customs Office of China, the growth rate of China’s trade turnover in April accelerated by 4.3 percentage points compared with the first quarter.

    As Wan Zhe emphasized, China’s recent foreign trade performance, exceeding market expectations, has confirmed the indispensability of China’s manufacturing sector in global supply chains.

    Data from the National Customs Office of China also shows that the structural improvement of foreign trade continues. In January-April 2025, China’s exports of electromechanical equipment increased by 9.5 percent year-on-year to 5.04 trillion yuan, accounting for 60.1 percent of the country’s total merchandise exports during the period.

    According to Lyu Daliang, high-tech products showed outstanding results, with their total trading volume in the four months amounting to 1.52 trillion yuan, up 7.4 percent year on year.

    ASEAN retained its status as China’s largest trading partner in January-April this year. During this period, trade turnover between China and ASEAN countries reached 2.38 trillion yuan, up 9.2 percent year-on-year.

    During the same period, China’s trade turnover with the EU grew by 1.1 percent to 1.78 trillion yuan, and with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative by 3.9 percent to 7.25 trillion yuan.

    According to the data, China’s trade turnover with the United States fell by 2.1 percent year-on-year to 1.44 trillion yuan during the reporting period. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s central bank to enhance financial services to boost consumption

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

    BEIJING, May 9 — China’s central bank will implement a series of measures to improve financial services aimed at stimulating consumer spending, according to a report released Friday by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).

    According to the PBOC’s first-quarter 2025 monetary policy report, it will better implement the moderately loose monetary policy. At the same time, it will explore the application of structural policy tools. These tools will be used to guide financial institutions to better support consumption across key sectors, such as tourism, catering, entertainment and education.

    According to the report, the PBOC will introduce a comprehensive package of financial policies to stimulate consumption, with emphasis on supply-side support.

    Financial institutions will be encouraged to optimize credit products and services for key consumption scenarios, major strategies and priority groups, and the central bank will support auto finance companies and consumer finance firms in issuing financial bonds, said the report.

    Additionally, the central bank aims to build an efficient and convenient payment ecosystem while improving payment convenience for foreigners visiting China.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at Europe Day 2025 reception (English only) (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at Europe Day 2025 reception today (May 9):

    Ambassador Harvey Rouse (Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    Good evening.

    It is a great pleasure to join you this evening to celebrate Europe Day — a day that honours the enduring commitment to unity and shared prosperity on the European continent.

    On this very day 75 years ago, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman delivered a visionary declaration, proposing the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. It laid the foundation for the European Union (EU).

    From the ruins of post-war Europe, nations once divided by conflict came together to build mechanisms of co-operation that would avert future wars and ensure long-term peace. As Schuman memorably said, and I quote: “World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.” Those words remain as relevant today as they were in 1950.

    Today, we are once again confronted by rising geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation, now exacerbated by unilateral tariffs unseen for generations.

    History teaches us that protectionism and unilateralism were among the factors that led to some of the 20th century’s most devastating conflicts. We must never forget those lessons. Collaboration among nations is essential to ensuring lasting peace and prosperity.

    As the Confucian saying goes, “和而ä¸�å�Œ”, harmony in diversity. We may differ in our histories, cultures and systems, but we can still work together in pursuit of common goals.

    Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges we face today, from protracted conflicts and climate change to widening development gaps, are complex and inter-connected. They cannot be resolved by a divided world. That is why the global community must stand by its commitment to multilateralism, and support the institutions and efforts to address these and many other issues.

    These are values that China, our country, firmly embraces. We advocate for an equitable multipolar world and inclusive globalisation, striving to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    At a time of uncertainties in the global economy stemming from escalating tariff measures, our country’s message and actions are clear and consistent: China welcomes global business, remains committed to high-level opening-up, and will continue to be a source of stability and growth in the international system.

    Hong Kong, under the “one country, two systems” principle, has long served as a “super connector” between China and the rest of the world. This role demands that we remain what we have always been: an open, diverse and vibrant international city, a free port and a staunch supporter of free trade. No less important, we are committed to the rule of law backed by a judiciary exercising powers independently, firmly protecting the rights of our residents and businesses.

    I’m pleased to say that the international business community recognises our commitment, as reflected in numerous surveys and the growing number of companies choosing Hong Kong to establish their base.

    Allow me to highlight a few key areas where Hong Kong and Europe can work together to seize opportunities in today’s evolving global trade and financial landscape.

    First, as the Mainland continues to open its economy, Hong Kong serves as a strategic gateway for European companies to access the immense opportunities offered by the Greater Bay Area and the broader Chinese Mainland market. And with supply chains undergoing significant realignment, our deep ties with ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) make Hong Kong an ideal connector to those markets as well.

    In the financial sector, there’s an increasing demand from global investors to diversify their asset allocation. Hong Kong’s capital market provides unparalleled access to investment opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Hong Kong is also a global leader in asset and wealth management, providing huge opportunities for European firms in the industry.

    Climate action is another area of promising collaboration. Hong Kong is firmly committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. But more than that, we are keen to work with the EU to contribute to global decarbonisation, in such areas as technology partnership, green finance, climate risk disclosures and green taxonomies.

    As Ambassador Rouse noted just now, the annual Green Way conference on sustainability, organised by the EU Office in Hong Kong, advances dialogue and co-operation. And we are happy to explore more partnerships with you in this connection.

    Beyond business and finance, we continue to treasure and welcome cultural co-operation. This includes longstanding partnerships in cultural exchange, like the annual French May Arts Festival, which is now on. Italy, let me add, is this year’s country partner for Business of Design Week.

    And, I’m glad to hear more good news: the first Europe Day Festival in Hong Kong will take place this Saturday at PMQ. The family-focused event will feature live performances. Plus plenty of fine food and drinks, dance workshops and all the cultural richness and diversity that the EU’s 27 member states offer. For that, and so much more, my thanks to the EU Office and all the EU member state Consulates General.

    Ladies and gentlemen, the opportunities for deeper co-operation between Hong Kong and the EU are long-term and far-reaching. Let us work together to seize that promise for our economies and our peoples.

    May our longstanding ties continue to flourish. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Standard Lithium Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced its financial and operating results for the three month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025.

    “2025 will be a pivotal year for us, marked by several key milestones that will shape the future of Standard Lithium, our joint venture, and impact the industry as a whole,” said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. “We started with a strong first quarter by finalizing our $225 million grant from the US Department of Energy, advancing our subsurface understanding through extensive reservoir testing, completing the derisking of our DLE technology with a final pilot field test at South West Arkansas, and continuing to expand our leasehold footprint in East Texas. Together with our South West Arkansas project’s recent designation as a priority transparency critical mineral project by the Trump administration and the approval of our first brine production unit, these achievements reinforce our conviction that our projects in the Smackover will deliver significant value to our shareholders, the communities that we work in, and will help secure critical mineral production in the United States. While much remains to be done ahead of a final investment decision at SWA, as well as further advancing East Texas, we are energized by the momentum we have built and we are focused on our next project development milestones.”

    Highlights Subsequent to the Three Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025

    All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

    • Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas Project receives special designation. Smackover Lithium announced that its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project had been selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects to be advanced under Executive Order 14241 – Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, announced by the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council.
    • Approval of brine production unit for Phase I of the SWA Project. On April 24, Smackover Lithium announced the brine production unit, formally named the Reynolds Unit, for Phase I of it’s SWA Project was unanimously approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission with no objections or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community. Approval of the unit was a necessary statutory requirement as Smackover Lithium seeks to establish a royalty rate for the unit by the end of the second quarter.
    • Submission of royalty application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for the SWA Project. On May 6, Smackover Lithium announced that SWA Lithium LLC had submitted a royalty application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to establish a lithium royalty for the Reynolds Unit for Phase I of its SWA Project.

    Highlights From Three Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025

    • Finalized $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) for the South West Arkansas Project. The grant will support construction of Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The SWA Project is expected to be one of the world’s first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) facilities.
    • Undertook extensive field and reservoir testing program at the SWA Project.  Completed drilling of new well and multiple well re-entries into the Smackover Formation to conduct detailed reservoir testing and brine sampling work to further support front end engineering design and definitive feasibility studies.
    • Completed final test of field-pilot plant at the SWA Project.  In partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, successfully operated a field-pilot plant at the SWA Project as the final DLE derisking step prior to commercialization. Lithium recovery far exceeded design criteria, with over 99% recovery from brine sourced from the project’s International Paper Company well.
    • Launch of Smackover Lithium. On January 29, 2025, at a community townhall in Stamps, AR, the Company and Equinor announced Smackover Lithium as the new name for their joint venture developing DLE projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas.
    • Continued strategic additions to board of directors. The Company announced on March 19, 2025 the appointment of Karen G. Narwold, as an independent member of its board of directors.
    • Provided corporate update demonstrating continuous advancement and derisking of corporate objectives. Announcement made on March 26, 2025 provided highlights on certain developmental project milestones for the Smackover Lithium joint venture as well as updates on the Company’s progress at its demonstration plant and on the Lanxess Projects.
    • Cash and working capital of $31.6 million and $31.3 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2025.
    • The Company has no term or revolving debt obligations as of March 31, 2025.

    Consolidated Financial Statements

    This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the three month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025, which are available on the Company’s issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

    Three-Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025 Call and Webcast

    The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its three-month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025 on Friday, May 16th at 3:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial.

    Conference Call and Webcast Details
    Standard Lithium Fiscal Q1 2025 Earnings Call and Webcast
    May 16, 2025 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)

    Participant Information:
    Conference ID: 6017900

    USA / International Toll +1 (646) 307-1963
    USA – Toll-Free (800) 715-9871
    Canada – Toronto (647) 932-3411
    Canada – Toll-Free (800) 715-9871

    Attendee Webcast Link:
    https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/929712112

    About Standard Lithium Ltd.

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated DLE and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

    Investor and Media Inquiries

    Chris Lang
    Standard Lithium Ltd.
    +1 604 409 8154
    investors@standardlithium.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BDO Unibank, Inc. to Present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank ADR Virtual Investor Conference May 15th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MANILA, Philippines, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO, BDOUY) based in the Philippines, and focused on providing financial products and services, today announced that BDO Unibank, Inc. Executive Vice President, Luis S. Reyes will present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank American Depositary Receipt (ADR) Virtual Investor Conference on May 15. This virtual investor conference is aimed exclusively at introducing global companies with ADR programs to investors.

    DATE: May 15th
    TIME: 2:00 PM ET
    LINK: REGISTER HERE

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.  

    Participation is free of charge.

    About BDO Unibank, Inc.

    BDO is a full-service universal bank in the Philippines, providing a complete array of industry-leading products and services including Lending (corporate and consumer), Deposit-taking, Foreign Exchange, Brokering, Trust and Investments, Credit Cards, Retail Cash Cards, Corporate Cash Management and Remittances. Through its local subsidiaries, the Bank offers Investment Banking, Private Banking, Leasing and Finance, Thrift Banking and Microfinance, Life Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance Brokerage, and Online and Traditional Stock Brokerage services.

    BDO’s institutional strengths and value-added products and services hold the key to its successful business relationships with customers. On the front line, its branches remain at the forefront of setting high standards as a sales and service-oriented, customer-focused force. The Bank has the largest distribution network with over 1,800 operating branches and more than 5,800 teller machines nationwide. BDO has 16 international offices (including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore) spread across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

    The Bank also offers digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.

    Through selective acquisitions and organic growth, BDO has positioned itself for increased balance sheet strength and continuing expansion into new markets. As of December 31, 2024, BDO is the country’s largest bank in terms of total resources, customer loans, deposits, assets under management and capital, as well as branch and teller machine network nationwide.

    BDO is a member of the SM Group, one of the country’s largest and most successful conglomerates with businesses spanning retail, mall operations, property development (residential, commercial, hotels and resorts), and financial services. Although part of a conglomerate, BDO’s day-to-day operations are handled by a team of professional managers and bank officers. Further, the Bank has one of the industry’s strongest Board of Directors, composed of professionals with extensive experience in various fields that include banking and finance, accounting, law, and business.

    For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:
    BDO Unibank, Inc.
    Investor Relations (IR) Team
    (632) 8840 7000
    irandcorplan@bdo.com.ph

    Katherine T. Tan
    Senior Assistant Vice President
    (63 2) 8840-7000 ext 37609
    tan.katherine@bdo.com.ph

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Philip Hackney, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh

    Getting into Harvard University is hard, and so is getting rid of its charitable status. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, and some media outlets have reported that the Internal Revenue Service is taking steps in that direction.

    Harvard President Alan Garber says this would be “highly illegal.” Several U.S. senators, all Democrats, have urged the IRS inspector general to see whether the IRS has begun auditing Harvard or any nonprofits in response to his administration’s requests or whether Trump has violated any laws with his pressure campaign.

    The Conversation U.S. asked Philip Hackney, a nonprofit law professor who previously worked in the office of the chief counsel of the IRS, and Brian Mittendorf, an expert on nonprofit accounting, to explain what it would take for the federal government to revoke a university’s tax-exempt status.

    Can Trump order the IRS to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status?

    No.

    First, the IRS rarely revokes an organization’s charitable tax-exempt status for failure to operate for a charitable purpose.

    Before the IRS can do that, tax law requires that it first audit that charity. And it’s illegal for U.S. presidents or other officials to force the IRS to conduct an audit or stop one that’s already begun. Even doing either of those things indirectly is a crime. The punishment can include fines and imprisonment.

    Congress strengthened constraints on presidential power after Richard Nixon resigned in the midst of the Watergate investigations. At the time, evidence indicated that he had used the IRS as a weapon to punish his perceived political enemies.

    Worried that future presidents or officials might abuse the IRS, a Republican-led Congress later passed Section 7217 of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.

    That provision prohibits presidents and vice presidents, as well as other officials and their staff, from instructing, “directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.”

    President Richard M. Nixon holds a tax bill he signed into law in 1970, four years before he resigned. Part of his legacy is that it’s now more clearly illegal for presidents to use the IRS as a political weapon.
    Bettmann/Getty Images

    What does it take for a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status to be revoked?

    This can’t happen on a whim. The IRS first has to audit the nonprofit. If it obtains evidence of wrongdoing – and a court upholds that finding – the IRS can proceed.

    The government has to find that the nonprofit’s operations have a “substantial nonexempt purpose.” That’s because these tax exemptions are provided only to organizations that are organized and operated primarily for charitable purposes, such as education, religion or scientific research.

    Any audit of Harvard would involve a large team of IRS agents familiar with higher education, which would work on this probe for months. The process could take years.

    If, after completing that audit, that team were to determine that Harvard violated the rules, the IRS would have to send Harvard a proposed revocation letter. Harvard then would have 30 days to file an appeal with the IRS. Were the IRS to propose such a revocation, we would be shocked if Harvard didn’t take that step.

    If the IRS Office of Appeals were to uphold the revocation, the IRS would send a revocation letter to Harvard. But Harvard would have the right to challenge that official revocation in court under Section 7428 of the tax code.

    How often does this happen?

    Very rarely. Almost never for private schools. The only legal precedent the Trump administration could perhaps invoke is Bob Jones University v. United States.

    That litigation got underway in the 1970s after the IRS had, following years of civil rights litigation, stopped allowing private schools to have charitable status if they discriminated on the basis of race.

    That policy put the small Christian university on the spot because it barred the admission of Black students until 1971. At that point, it began to accept Black students but only if they were married to another Black person. The school justified this restriction by voicing its belief that the Bible forbids interracial marriage and dating. In 1970, the IRS had notified the university that it intended to cancel Bob Jones’ tax-exempt status.

    The IRS issued a final revocation in 1976 after determining that Bob Jones University continued to discriminate with the ban on interracial dating and marriage. And in 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the IRS’ action in an 8-1 decision.

    The court’s majority wrote that an institution should be denied charitable status “only where there can be no doubt that the activity involved is contrary to a fundamental public policy.”

    Harvard President Alan Garber responds to Trump’s threats in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

    What’s the Trump administration’s rationale?

    Many signs indicate the Trump administration would try to use the fundamental policy limitation to revoke Harvard’s status. We’re unaware, though, of what alleged violation of a “fundamental public policy” the IRS might invoke if it were to carry through on Trump’s threat to strip Harvard of its charitable status. The Trump administration has signaled that it might rest its case on Harvard’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

    In a related case, a majority found in a 2023 ruling that affirmative action admissions programs violated the Constitution. The case, known as Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, also considered the University of North Carolina’s policies.

    Harvard subsequently enrolled fewer new Black students, indicating that it had changed its admissions policies. Regardless, there are many precedents finding elements of diversity, equity and inclusion to be activities that do further a charitable purpose.

    We believe the Trump administration would be unlikely to prevail in the courts with an anti-DEI argument should it try to use one to justify stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status.

    What happens if a big nonprofit loses its charity status?

    Losing nonprofit status can do a lot of damage.

    An organization that loses its status, whether it’s a university like Harvard, a food bank, a homeless shelter or any other kind of charity, is suddenly subject to federal income tax. It also loses the ability to receive tax-deductible gifts from donors who are eligible to make them.

    Because many state and municipal tax breaks are tied to federal tax status, losing tax-exempt status can also lead to local tax penalties. One compelling local tax break afforded to many charities is an exemption from property tax. Universities with large amounts of buildings and land – as Harvard has – would especially feel the pain.

    Without charity status, organizations that rely on grants from local, state and federal government sources, as well as private sources such as other charities, will find many of those sources of funding largely cut off. This is because many grant providers require all recipients to have tax-exempt status.

    The Internal Revenue Manual, which guides IRS agents in carrying out their work, indicates a number of other problems that would arise after revocation. For instance, an agent is required to consider the impact on the organization’s deferred compensation plans and tax-exempt bonds.

    Does the government appear to have a strong case against Harvard?

    There’s been little concrete information about the basis for Harvard losing its status. Most of what we know comes from social media posts and media interviews.

    The Trump administration has attacked Harvard for its efforts to increase its diversity and its response to antisemitism on its campus. In response to concerns about these issues, Harvard has retooled its DEI office and begun to roll out reforms to combat both antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.

    But it is hard to argue that these issues would be central to Harvard and its educational mission, let alone warrant it losing its tax-exempt status.

    What’s the impact then?

    Given the steep climb it would be to prove that the organization has strayed from its educational mission, and not just taken some actions the White House dislikes, we find it hard to imagine a viable path toward the IRS revoking Harvard’s charitable status.

    That doesn’t mean there will not be any consequences from the administration’s campaign against Harvard.

    The daily onslaught of public attacks coupled with the ongoing legal battles are a drain on Harvard officials’ time and energy.

    The administration has put Harvard and other universities on the defensive in many other ways too. It has cut federal funding for scientific research, sought to revoke international student visas, expressed an interest in reducing federally funded student loans and grants, and floated proposals to increase what is today a small tax on the income some higher education endowments earn.

    If there’s a silver lining for Harvard, we think it’s that Trump’s attacks could spur giving to the nation’s wealthiest university, at least in the short run. Harvard’s supporters stepped up their donations after the administration’s initial efforts to punish Harvard. And giving-as-activism has been a frequent theme in both of Trump’s terms.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way – https://theconversation.com/can-trump-strip-harvard-of-its-charitable-status-scholars-of-nonprofit-law-and-accounting-describe-the-obstacles-in-his-way-255072

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: I’m a business professor who asked dozens of former students how they define success. Here are their lessons for today’s grads

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Patrick Abouchalache, Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation, Boston University

    As the Class of 2025 graduates into an uncertain and fast-changing working world, they face a crucial question: What does it mean to be successful?

    Is it better to take a job that pays more, or one that’s more prestigious? Should you prioritize advancement, relationship building, community impact or even the opportunity to live somewhere new? Sorting through these questions can feel overwhelming.

    I am a business school professor who spends a lot of time mentoring students and alumni in Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012. As part of this effort, I’ve surveyed about 300 former undergraduate students and spoken at length with about 50 of them.

    Through these conversations, I’ve watched them wrestle with the classic conflicts of young adulthood – such as having to balance external rewards like money against internal motivations like wanting to be of service.

    I recently revisited their stories and reflections, and I compiled the most enduring insights to offer to the next generation of graduates.

    Here’s their collective advice to the Class of 2025:

    1. Define what matters most to you

    Success starts with self-reflection. It means setting aside society’s noise and defining your own values.

    When people are driven by internal rewards like curiosity, purpose or pleasure in an activity itself – rather than outside benefits such as money – psychologists say they have “intrinsic motivation.”

    Research shows that people driven by intrinsic motivation tend to display higher levels of performance, persistence and satisfaction. Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile’s componential theory further suggests that creativity flourishes when people’s skills align with their strongest intrinsic interests.

    The alternative is to “get caught up in society’s expectations of success,” as one consulting alum put it. She described struggling to choose between a job offer at a Fortune 500 company or one at a lesser-known independent firm. In the end, she chose to go with the smaller business. It was, she stressed, “the right choice for me.” This is crucial advice: Make yourself proud, not others.

    One related principle I share with students is the “Tell your story” rule. If a job doesn’t allow you to tell your story – in other words, if it doesn’t mirror your vision, values, talents and goals – keep looking for a new role.

    2. Strive for balance, not burnout

    A fulfilling life includes time for relationships, health and rest. While many young professionals feel endless pressure to hustle, the most fulfilled alumni I spoke with learned to take steps to protect their personal well-being.

    For example, a banking alum told me that business once dominated his thoughts “24/7.” He continued, “I’m happier now that I make more time for a social life and paying attention to all my relationships – professional, personal, community, and let’s not forget myself.”

    And remember that balance and motivations can change throughout your life. As one alum explained: “Your goals change and therefore your definition of success changes. I think some of the most successful people are always adapting what success means to them – chasing success even if they are already successful.”

    3. Be kind, serve others and maximize your ‘happy circle’

    “Some people believe to have a positive change in the world you must be a CEO or have a ton of money,” another alum told me. “But spreading happiness or joy can happen at any moment, has no cost, and the results are priceless.”

    Many alumni told me that success isn’t just a matter of personal achievement – it’s about giving back to society. That could be through acts of kindness, creativity, innovation, or other ways of improving people’s lives. A retail alum shared advice from her father: “When your circle is happy, you are going to be happy,” she said. “It’s sort of an upward spiral.”

    Your “happy circle” doesn’t need to consist of people you know. An alum who went into the pharmaceutical industry said his work’s true reward was measured in “tens of thousands if not millions of people” in better health thanks to his efforts.

    In fact, your happy circle doesn’t even need to be exclusively human. An alum who works in ranching said he valued the well-being of animals – and their riders – more than money or praise.

    4. Be a good long-term steward of your values

    Success isn’t just about today – it’s what you stand for.

    Several alumni spoke passionately about stewardship: the act of preserving and passing on values, relationships and traditions. This mindset extended beyond family to employees, customers and communities. As one alum who majored in economics put it, success is “leaving a mark on the world and creating a legacy that extends beyond one’s quest for monetary gain.”

    One alum defined success as creating happiness and stability not just for herself, but for her loved ones. Another, who works in hospitality, said he had a duty to further his employees’ ambitions and help them grow and develop – creating a legacy that will outlast any title or paycheck.

    In an analysis by the organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry, Gen Z employees were found to be more prone to burnout when their employers lacked clear values. These findings reinforce what my students already know: Alignment between your values and your work is key to success.

    Final words for the Class of 2025

    To the latest crop of grads, I offer this advice: Wherever life takes you next — a family business or corporate office, Wall Street or Silicon Valley, or somewhere you can’t even imagine now — remember that your career will be long and full of ups and downs.

    You’ll make tough choices. You’ll face pressures. But if you stay grounded, invest in your well-being, celebrate your happy circle and honor your values, you’ll look back one day and see not just a job well done, but a life well lived.

    Bon voyage!

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

    – ref. I’m a business professor who asked dozens of former students how they define success. Here are their lessons for today’s grads – https://theconversation.com/im-a-business-professor-who-asked-dozens-of-former-students-how-they-define-success-here-are-their-lessons-for-todays-grads-256189

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How William Howard Taft’s approach to government efficiency differed from Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Laura Ellyn Smith, Assistant Teaching Professor of History, Arizona State University

    Elon Musk and his son board Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 13, 2025. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

    For four months, the world’s richest man has played an unprecedented role in U.S. government. At the start of his 2025 term, President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk to cut government “waste and fraud.” That translated into the Musk-driven firing of 121,000 federal workers, essentially closing entire government programs and departments.

    Many Americans protested Musk’s work. His unsupervised access to sensitive government materials and unchecked influence over the firing of federal employees represents an unprecedented moment in the United States. An unelected billionaire sought to overhaul the federal government, empowered and legitimized not by Congress but only by the president.

    There are two individuals intrinsic to any presidential effort to restructure government: the president himself and the person he entrusts with the task.

    In 2025, Musk has been the person designated to carry out the president’s aims.

    In 1910, it was Frederick Cleveland, an academic, who was President William H. Taft’s designated head of his effort to streamline government.

    Both presidents, Taft and Trump, have said they wanted to improve how government functioned.

    But while Taft worked with Congress to launch his effort, Trump hasn’t followed that route. And the men each president asked to lead their efforts were vastly different in the responsibility given to them, and different in values as well as temperament.

    Power on Pennsylvania Avenue

    Among the many historic attempts by presidents to streamline federal government, Taft’s administration provides a distinct parallel to an administration attempting to make government more efficient.

    The Taft administration’s early 20th-century equivalent to the Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was called the Commission on Economy and Efficiency.

    Unlike DOGE, created by presidential fiat via an executive order, Taft’s efficiency commission was funded by Congress.

    Taft also delegated the work of this reorganization to trusted Cabinet subordinates, rather than an outsider who was not confirmed by Congress. Other presidents of Taft’s generation would have found it unthinkable to delegate such consequential work to someone outside of the bureaucracy to the extent that Trump has empowered Musk.

    The work of Taft’s commission took place during a time of turmoil for the role and power of the president, as the country itself became more powerful and its governance more complex, calling for increased efficiency through streamlining.

    Studying and streamlining government

    Taft organized his commission in 1910, a year into his presidency. It lasted until his divided party led to his election defeat in 1912.

    The commission’s aims were tied to economy and efficiency – as the commission itself was named. Indeed, Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer, one of Taft’s trusted Cabinet members, concisely explained how the “main object was the establishment of a system which would enable the Secretary to administer his office efficiently and economically, with the advice of responsible expert advisers, ensuring continuity of policy for the future.”

    Taft came to the presidency in 1909 with clear concepts of how the nation’s top office needed to become more powerful to meet the growing country’s burgeoning needs.

    The presidency, he believed, also needed to expand its power to meet the modernizing demands of the Progressive Era in early 20th-century America. This era put new demands on government to be responsive to the country’s expanding needs, from grassroots demands by voters for greater government activism to professionals seeking more efficient support for their businesses from the government.

    Taft was critically aware of existing inefficiency, with bureaucratic work overlapping at expense to the government, without any clear mandate, job description or hierarchy. The vision of the commission is clear in a diagram for the War Department that sought to streamline the bureaucracy, conglomerating the existing 18 divisions into eight.

    A chart of the Taft commission’s proposed streamlining of what was then called the ‘War Department.’
    archive.org

    The Commission on Economy and Efficiency focused on providing solutions for this clearly defined problem of government inefficiency. At the time of Taft’s final message to Congress in 1913, the commission had submitted 85 reports to Taft encouraging the reorganization of executive departments, including new and specifically defined roles for government employees.

    One of the reports from Taft’s commission, which he delivered to Congress.
    Google Books

    Long-term, targeted changes

    Unlike the radical unilateral actions taken by DOGE, the Taft commission recommended action to Congress for the long term, while making more targeted changes to the executive bureaucracy behind the scenes.

    Despite Taft’s pleas stressing the need to sustain these changes beyond his tenure, Congress was tired of the empowerment of the executive by Republican presidents Theodore Roosevelt, followed by Taft, and had no incentive to support reorganization.

    This is in direct contrast to Trump and Musk’s less substantiated concerns over “fraud and abuse” or ongoing vague concerns over the size and cost of the federal government. That phrasing may inspire more consensus over the problem, but not necessarily the solution.

    President William Howard Taft at a desk in the Oval Office in 1909.
    Corbis Historical/Getty Images

    Empowering the executive

    Taft’s choice to head his commission, Frederick Cleveland, was a kindred spirit who believed in a strengthened presidency. Cleveland was an academic with past affiliations with the University of Pennsylvania and New York University. Congress accepted Cleveland’s nomination, seeing him as a pioneer in the realm of public administration.

    Cleveland fit the Progressive Era’s mantra of employing experts. As a professional but not a member of the wealthy elite, and having been considered by Congress, Cleveland represents a clear distinction from Musk, who appears to have little understanding of what an average American may need from an operative federal bureaucracy.

    Cleveland reflected the Taft administration’s approach of wanting to remold the government without animosity toward federal workers specifically or the government more broadly. He embraced the Progressive Era ethos in seeking to rectify inefficiency.

    Streamlining did not equate to big cuts. The priority remained ensuring the American government could meet the increased demands of the new century.

    Similar to DOGE, the White House was the command center for the Commission on Economy and Efficiency. That enabled Taft to manage reorganization of the executive branch from the Oval Office.

    Not all of the modernizing and streamlining of the federal government would come at the behest of Taft’s commission.

    Impatient to implement change while awaiting the commission’s reports, and with the commission hampered by a decrease in congressional funding in 1912, Taft had immediately sought improvement within his own administration.

    But when the commission’s reports were finally available, Taft was in the unfortunate position of being a lame duck and could do little besides emphasize the need for further action.

    While limited in the short term, the commission’s reports were later credited for major changes: “Although the report fell on deaf ears in Congress, it would become an essential roadmap for the budget reforms of 1921. The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 addressed and mirrored the concerns and proposals of the Commission’s Report,” as described by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.

    Unlike DOGE, the approach of Taft and his commission focused on streamlining rather than gutting federal bureaucracy.

    That approach was reflective of an era when experts were revered and sought after rather than maligned. As an experienced bureaucrat, Taft characteristically directed that the problem of government inefficiency be studied. This secured his legacy, as his agenda was eventually put into practice and embraced, proving his reflective approach to be ahead of its time.

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

    – ref. How William Howard Taft’s approach to government efficiency differed from Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics – https://theconversation.com/how-william-howard-tafts-approach-to-government-efficiency-differed-from-elon-musks-slash-and-burn-tactics-249891

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