Category: Economy

MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Montana Private Nonprofits Affected by July Winds

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Montana of the May 23, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the straight-line winds occurring July 24, 2024.

The disaster declaration covers the Montana counties of Missoula and Powell.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than May 23.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Revitalizing Historic Landmarks in Western New York

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the Historic Post Office at One East Avenue in the City of Lockport after a comprehensive historic rehabilitation and renovation as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The $9.7 million project included a rehabilitation of the interior and exterior historic fabric of the building together with renovations to improve the facility for modern use. Before and after photos of the project are available here.

“I’m working to revitalize historic landmarks and the communities that they define, and the revitalization of the Historic Post Office will allow Lockport’s rich history to live on through generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. “As the first Governor from Western New York in over 100 years, I’m committed to providing resources and investment so that all of our extraordinary communities can live up to their full potential.”

The One East Avenue Historic Post Office was opened in 1902. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The three-story, red brick and terra cotta building combines Beaux Arts massing with sculptural detail inspired by classical and Renaissance design. The historic rehabilitation and renovation undertaken by Iskalo Development Corp. included meticulous restoration of the building’s historic features and modernization improvements including new electrical, plumbing, mechanical and sprinkler systems and elevator installation. Iskalo purchased the building in 2015 and served as the Architect and Construction Manager for the project.

The 31,600-square-foot building offers “move-in ready” boutique retail and office suites for lease and is anchored by Big Ditch Brewing which recently opened a Tap Room and Innovation Brewery. The Grigg Lewis Foundation was the first tenant to occupy space in the building.

New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “As a round three winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Lockport is really harnessing its Canal history and heritage as a catalyst for future growth and rejuvenation. The completion of the renovated Historic Post Office continues the City’s momentum toward becoming a world-class destination for residents to live, work and play, and for visitors from all over to enjoy.”

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Governor Hochul’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects are strengthening city centers throughout the state. Seeing new life breathed into the century-old Historic Post Office as part of Lockport’s reenergization is a testament to investing in our downtowns.”

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “As we reflect on 200 years of the Erie Canal, we continue to contemplate ways to elevate the communities that have risen along its banks over these last two centuries. The completion of the Lockport post office, made possible in large measure by Governor Hochul’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, is the perfect illustration of how this program works to bring positive change to downtown centers throughout the state. It is just one of many examples of how the DRI program is bringing positive change to communities from across the Erie Canal.”

City of Lockport Mayor John Lombardi III said, “What an exciting time for the City of Lockport. I sincerely thank the New York Department of State for being in our great city today and for creating a much-needed initiative for the Revitalization of our Downtown Corridor. The Historic rehabilitation and renovation of the ‘Historic Post Office,’ the former Niagara County Courthouse, and the establishment of the anchor tenant ‘Big Ditch Brewing,’ has created a much-needed catalyst for our city. And has provided a destination point for many new visitors, hopefully generating some interest in the gifts Lockport has to offer. What better place for the Big Ditch than within a hundred yards of The Big Ditch? Thank you, Paul Iskalo and Matt Kahn, for creating another reason to love Lockport.”

Founder and President of Iskalo Development Paul B. Iskalo said, “The historic rehabilitation and renovation of the Historic Post Office is a great accomplishment for Iskalo Development and downtown Lockport. And its completion would not have been possible without assistance from the State of New York, City of Lockport, Five Star Bank and Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.”

The City of Lockport was named the Western New York Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Round 3 winner in October 2018. The Historic Post Office received $1.795 million from the DRI, as well as state and federal historic preservation tax credits. In addition to the Historic Post Office, other projects awarded DRI funding include $2.2 million to create rooftop and outdoor event space at the Spalding Mill; $1.35 million to redevelop the F&M Building to house a mix of residential and commercial uses; $955,000 to support the development of commercial space as part of the Harrison Lofts project; $865,000 to enhance connectivity on Pine Street; $800,000 for the renovation of the Tuscarora Club including a boutique hotel; $600,00 for the renovation of the Historic Palace Theatre; $275,000 for additional sculptures as part of the Lock Tenders Tribute; $230,000 for reconstruction of South Street; and $630,000 for a Small Project Grant Fund to support smaller, commercial and mixed-use projects.

The City of Lockport has been chosen as a featured field visit during the World Canals Conference in Buffalo in September. The Department of State will be presenting a panel at the Conference on the ways that the Downtown Revitalization Initiative has helped spark a renaissance in downtown revitalization in over 20 Canal corridor communities. In advance of the conference, DOS produced a case study on the subject entitled, “Downtown Revitalization Along the Erie Canal.”

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

MIL OSI USA News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Statement from Minister Burke

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

23rd April 2025

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said:

“I continue to engage with Intel, supported by colleagues in IDA Ireland, ahead of the company’s Q1 financial results being announced tomorrow night. We have a very strong relationship with management in Intel, both in Ireland and the US, with the company investing significantly here over the last 35 years, most recently opening Fab 34 in 2023 with an investment of €17 billion.

“Ireland continues to play an important role in Intel’s plans as the European hub for manufacturing semiconductors, and we don’t see speculation around headcount reduction changing this. We continue to partner with Intel in areas of research and innovation and our upcoming National Semiconductor Strategy launch will further enhance this important sector. I appreciate speculation is very difficult for staff in Leixlip, and we will continue our engagement with management over the coming weeks and months.”

ENDS

Back to Department News

Back to Top

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Botswana Vice President Lauds African Development Bank’s 60-Year Legacy, Urges Economic Resilient Africa

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

GABORONE, Botswana, April 23, 2025/APO Group/ —

Botswana’s Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe has urged African leaders to build an economically viable and resilient continent amid global funding challenges, geopolitical tensions, and increased tariff regimes.

Speaking at an event marking the African Development Bank Group’s 60 years of transformative impact across Africa and 53 years of its operations in Botswana, Gaolathe envisioned a new Africa as a “value definer” rather than a “price taker” in finance, energy, minerals, and technology.

He highlighted the African Development Bank Group’s development impact, noting it has remained the continent’s partner of choice not merely as an institution but “a beacon of Africa’s own dream.”

“We have seen the Bank not only as a builder of roads and dams, but also as a partner in thinking, reforming, and reimagining. Whether through technical assistance in procurement reforms, lines of credit to our development institutions, or policy advisory during our most difficult transitions, the African Development Bank has walked quietly, consistently, and strategically with us,” Gaolathe stated.

“From the construction of the Lobatse-Kanye Road in the 1970s to the Nata-Maun Road, the Gaborone-Lobatse Water Supply, and the Morupule B Power Plant, this Bank’s footprint is woven into the story of our progress,” he said. “As we celebrate these past six decades, I am especially inspired by the bold and courageous conversations that the African Development Bank is leading today, which challenge the world to rethink Africa, not as a continent of scarcity, but as the richest cradle of life on earth.”

Gaolathe expressed concern about the “systematic undervaluation of Africa’s natural resources.” “When African carbon credits are traded for a fraction of their true value, that is not commerce; it is quiet violence,” he stated, echoing African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina’s call to stop “carbon grabs” across the continent.

Since 1972, the Bank Group has supported transformative projects in Botswana across multiple sectors, including agriculture, finance, power, transport, and industry, with investments exceeding $2.6 billion across 67 projects.

Gaolathe praised a proposal by the Bank for a Critical Minerals-Backed African Currency, and its push to include natural capital in national balance sheets as “unapologetically African, innovative, and sovereign” leadership. “Africa holds over 30% of the world’s critical minerals. From lithium to cobalt, we power the world’s batteries, yet all too often, we are still exporting dust while importing debt. That must end,” he emphasized.

Leila Mokaddem, the Bank’s Director General for Southern Africa, highlighted the impact of the Bank’s work in Southern Africa, including the Kazungula Bridge connecting Botswana and Zambia, which she described as “a gateway of integration across SADC.” She also cited the Pandamatenga Agriculture Infrastructure Project that transformed 40,000 hectares of farmland and increased cereal production by 46%.

“As we mark this Diamond Jubilee, we do so to honor the past and embrace the future. Let us build the next decade of partnership with purpose, optimism, and shared commitment,” she said.

Angola’s Ambassador to Botswana and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Beatriz Morais, took the audience on a memory lane to September 1964, when 25 countries converged in Khartoum with a singular vision—to create a financial institution by Africans for Africans. “Today, 61 years later, we take pride in what that vision has become.”

Mothobi Matila, a retiree who joined the Bank from Botswana’s Ministry of Finance in 2005, delivered an emotional speech. He described the Bank as an “equal opportunity place” that became his employer and second home.

Moono Mupotola, the Bank’s Country Manager for Botswana and Deputy Director General for Southern Africa emphasized its five-decade partnership with Botswana, which began in 1972 with the first loan extended in November 1973 to support telecommunications infrastructure.

She outlined the Bank’s 2022-2026 strategy for Botswana, which focuses on building economic resilience through improved economic governance, private sector development, and infrastructure development to enhance competitiveness and productivity.

MIL OSI Africa –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Kindcard, Inc. Launches Payments Marketplace

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BOCA RATON, Fla., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kindcard, Inc. (OTC Markets: KCRD) (“Kindcard” and the “Company”), an innovative FinTech and PayTech company which provides alternative payments solutions to businesses across a wide variety of merchant verticals through its wholly owned subsidiary, Deb, Inc. (“DEB”) (www.debpayments.com), today announced that the Company through its strategic partnership with Bloxcross, Inc. (www.blox.global) (“Blox”) has onboarded its initial merchant accounts utilizing the Blox worldwide digital technology platform.

Michael Rosen, CEO of Kindcard, stated, “Our Deb platform in combination with Blox has actively been introducing our all-in-one Payments Marketplace to industry resellers, referral partners and end user clients.” Mr. Rosen continued, “We have experienced an enthusiastic response to our ‘Deb powered by Blox’ approach to provisioning a platform that encompasses traditional card processing with the ability to offer digital payments online and in-store, business and consumer wallets, currency conversion, and payouts worldwide.”

Diego Baez, CEO of Blox, stated, “Having focused our efforts on the buildout of our Blox digital payments platform with a focus on B2B transactions worldwide, our launch of this strategic partnership with Deb, including Deb’s introductions to its payments industry partners and clients under Deb’s all-in-one Payments Marketplace, has been exciting for our organization, and we look forward to continued mutual growth as strategic partners.”

To learn more about DEB, please visit: www.debpayments.com

About Kindcard, Inc.:

Kindcard, Inc. (OTC Markets: KCRD) (“Kindcard” and the “Company”) is engaged in designing, partnering and taking to market safer, faster, and more competitive and secure ways for businesses and consumers to transact business in the ever-growing world economy. www.kindcard.com

Kindcard is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, in accordance with the Exchange Act, the Company files periodic reports, documents, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) relating to our business, financial statements, and other matters. These filings are available to the public on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

About Bloxcross, Inc.:

Bloxcross, Inc. (www.blox.global) (“Blox”) is a fintech innovator redefining cross-border payments through a blockchain-integrated network that prioritizes speed, security, and accessibility. With operations spanning over 32 countries and more than $350 million in total payment volume processed to date, Blox delivers robust solutions including Blox Pay and Blox Trade Finance. These services empower businesses and institutions with real-time settlement capabilities and seamless international trade.

Safe Harbor Provision

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” or “believes” or the negative thereof or any variation thereon or similar terminology or expressions. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results proposed in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2024 and its other filings and submissions with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. This press release includes forward-looking statements concerning the future performance of our business, its operations and its financial performance and condition, and also includes selected operating results presented without the context of accompanying financial results.

These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to our objectives and strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from the assumptions, estimates or expectations reflected or contained in the forward-looking information, and that actual future performance will be affected by a number of factors, including economic conditions, technological change, regulatory change and competitive factors, many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what we currently foresee. We are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: Kindcard, Inc. (888) 888-0708

Info@kindcard.com

Investor Relations:

Info@kindcard.com

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

Following the death of Pope Francis, we’ll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave – a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals – is due to meet in a matter of weeks to elect a new earthly head.

The word conclave is derived from the Latin con (together) and clāvis (key). It means “a locked room” or “chamber”, reflecting its historical use to describe the locked gathering of cardinals to elect a pope.

Held in the Sistine Chapel, the meeting follows a centuries-old process designed to ensure secrecy and prayerful deliberation. A two-thirds majority vote will be needed to successfully elect the 267th pope.

History of the conclave

The formalised papal conclave dates back centuries. And various popes have shaped the process in response to the church’s needs.

In the 13th century, for example, Pope Gregory X introduced strict regulations to prevent unduly long elections.

Pope Gregory X brought in the rules to prevent a repeat of his own experience. The conclave that elected him in September 1271 (following the death of Pope Clement IV in 1268) lasted almost three years.

Further adjustments were made to streamline the process and emphasise secrecy, culminating in Pope John Paul II’s 1996 constitution, Universi Dominici gregis (The Lord’s whole flock). This document set the modern framework for the conclave.

In 2007 and 2013, Benedict XVI reiterated that a two-thirds majority of written votes would be required to elect a new pope. He also reaffirmed penalties for breaches of secrecy.

The secrecy surrounding the conclave ensures the casting of ballots remains confidential, and without any external interference.

The last known attempt at external interference in a papal conclave occurred in 1903 when Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria sought to prevent the election of Cardinal Mariano Rampolla. However, the assembled cardinals rejected this intervention, asserting the independence of the electoral process.

How does voting work?

The conclave formally begins between 15 and 20 days after the papal vacancy, but can start earlier if all cardinals eligible to vote have arrived. Logistical details, such as the funeral rites for the deceased pope, can also influence the overall timeline.

Historically, the exact number of votes required to elect a new pope has fluctuated. Under current rules, a minimum two-thirds majority is needed. If multiple rounds of balloting fail to yield a result, the process can continue for days, or even weeks.

After every few inconclusive rounds, cardinals pause for prayer and reflection. This process continues until one candidate receives the two-thirds majority required to win. The final candidates do not vote for themselves in the decisive round.

The ballot paper formerly used in the conclave, with ‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff’ written in Latin.
Wikimedia Commons

How is voting kept secret?

The papal conclave is entirely closed to the public. Voting is conducted by secret ballot within the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope’s official residence.

During the conclave, the Sistine Chapel is sealed off from outside communication. No cameras are allowed, and there is no live broadcast.

The cardinals involved swear an oath of absolute secrecy, and face the threat of excommunication if it is violated. This ensures all discussions and voting remain strictly confidential.

The iconic white smoke, produced by burning ballots once a pope has been chosen, is the only public signal that the election has concluded.

Who can be elected?

Only cardinals who are under 80 years of age at the time of conclave’s commencement can vote. Older cardinals are free to attend preparatory meetings, but can not cast ballots.

While the total number of electors is intended to not exceed 120, the fluctuating nature of cardinal appointments, as well as age restrictions, make it difficult to predict the exact number of eligible voters at any given conclave.

Technically, any baptised Catholic man can be elected pope. In practice, however, the College of Cardinals traditionally chooses one of its own members. Electing an “outsider” is extremely rare, and has not occurred in modern times.

What makes a good candidate?

When faced with criticism from a member of the public about his weight, John XXIII (who was pope from 1958-1963) retorted the papal conclave was “not a exactly beauty contest”.

Merit, theological understanding, administrative skill and global perspective matter greatly. But there is also a collegial element – something of a “popularity” factor. It is an election, after all.

Cardinals discuss the church’s current priorities – be they evangelisation strategies, administrative reforms or pastoral concerns – before settling on the individual they believe is best suited to lead.

The cardinal electors seek someone who can unify the faithful, navigate modern challenges and maintain doctrinal continuity.

Controversies and criticisms

The conclave process has faced criticism for its strict secrecy, which can foster speculation about potential “politicking”.

Critics argue a tightly controlled environment might not reflect the broader concerns of the global church.

Some have also questioned whether age limits on voting cardinals limit the wisdom and experience found among older members.

Nonetheless, defenders maintain that secrecy encourages free and sincere deliberation, minimising external pressure and allowing cardinals to choose the best leader without fear of reprisal, or of public opinion swaying the vote.

Challenges facing the new pope

The next pope will inherit a mixed situation: a church that has grown stronger in certain areas under Francis, yet which grapples with internal divisions and external challenges.

Like other religions, the church faces secularisation, issues with financial transparency and a waning following in some parts of the globe.

One of the earliest trials faced by the new pope will be unifying the global Catholic community around a shared vision – an obstacle almost every pope has faced. Striking the right balance between doctrine and pastoral sensitivity remains crucial.

Addressing sexual abuse scandals and their aftermath will require decisive action, transparency and continued pastoral care for survivors.

Practical concerns also loom large. The new pope will have to manage the Vatican bureaucracy and interfaith relations, while maintaining the church’s stance on global crises such as migration and poverty – two issues on which Francis insisted mercy could not be optional.

The cardinal electors have a tough decision ahead of them. The Catholic community can only pray that, through their deliberations, they identify a shepherd who can guide the church through the complexities of the modern world.

Darius von Guttner Sporzynski 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. How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave – https://theconversation.com/how-will-a-new-pope-be-chosen-an-expert-explains-the-conclave-250506

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens call for end to King’s property tax break

Source: Scottish Greens

23 Apr 2025 Finance

The Monarchy is an costly and archaic institution.

More in Finance

Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has tabled proposals to end the King’s exclusive 100% tax exemption when buying property in Scotland.

Mr Greer has lodged proposals to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that would close the loophole allowing the King to purchase property in Scotland without paying any Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

Any other family buying a property worth over £145,000 would pay LBTT at 5-12%, depending on the value of the property.

This is one of several tax exemptions enjoyed by the monarchy. They are also exempt from taxes reserved to the UK Government including corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

Mr Greer said:

“It’s simply unjustifiable that one of the richest men in the country gets a free pass from paying tax because of the family he was born into.

“The Scottish Greens would obviously scrap the monarchy in a heartbeat, but even royalists must agree that this is an absurd and undeserved perk for someone more than capable of paying his fair share towards our public services.

“The Crown is an expensive relic, and an insult to democracy. One family should not be allowed to exempt itself from whichever laws it doesn’t want to follow.

“The Scottish Parliament may not have the power to end every tax perk enjoyed by the Windsors, but we can end this one and set an example for the UK Government to follow.

“My proposals are a modest but important step towards a fairer Scotland. If Parliament agrees, it would be a powerful statement against entrenched power and privilege.

“It’s long past time that we challenged rather than pandered to elites who want one rule for themselves and another for the rest of us.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: XRP News: XenDex Announces $XDX Token Sale As SEC Drops Ripple (XRP) Lawsuit
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SYDNEY, Australia, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex is thrilled to announce the first AI-powered all-in-one decentralized exchange (DEX) built on XRP, combining non-custodial lending and borrowing, AI copy trading, and DAO governance in a single user-centric platform.

Currently, excitement grows across the crypto industry amid SEC dropping the XRP Ripple Lawsuit. A new decentralized finance project, XenDex is seizing the moment to reshape the XRP Ledger ecosystem. With XRP (which is designed for speed, scalability, and community participation) gaining mainstream attention once again and institutional capital eyeing the asset class, XenDex is poised to become a major infrastructure player on the XRP Ledger and is set to redefine how users trade, earn, and govern on-chain.

Buy $XDX Token Now

The new Ripple based DeFi is ready to offer its native token for sale, ready to raise major funds in record time for advancement and further development of the project. The new XRP project has become the talk of the XRP community and investors are already jumping onboard, convinced XDX will deliver massive returns and position itself as XRP’s breakout altcoin by 2025.

XenDex promotes itself as a transformative platform combining the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an ultra-fast and low-fee XRP Ledger (XRP).

Join XenDex Presale

XenDex has officially revealed that the $XDX token is ready for sale through its website XenDex.net, offering early adopters first access to one of XRP’s most ambitious DeFi platforms to date. The $XDX token serves as the utility and governance currency powering all features across the XenDex ecosystem.

The token sale begins when Ripple Labs officially concludes its long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which marks a monumental moment for both XRP holders and the broader cryptocurrency industry. This has fueled optimism across the Ripple community. Institutional interest, growing liquidity, and infrastructure upgrades are aligning — and XenDex is launching at the perfect time to capture this surge in demand.

Features of XenDex
- Lending & Borrowing – Access liquidity or earn passive income via secure, smart contract-based loans.
- AI Copy Trading – Automatically mirror top traders in real-time using our AI-powered copy engine.
- Spot & Perpetual Trading – Trade instantly via an embedded AMM with zero custodial risk.
- Liquidity Farming & Staking – Earn $XDX rewards for providing liquidity or staking tokens.
- DAO Governance – Every $XDX token holder can vote on key upgrades, listings, and ecosystem decisions.
- Cross-Chain Compatibility – Future support for Ethereum, BNB, Cardano, and more.
Tokenomics at a Glance
- Token Ticker: $XDX
- Total Supply: 1,000,000,000
- Presale Allocation: 300,000,000 XDX
- Utilities: Governance, staking, platform fees, airdrops, and more.
Buy XDX Tokens

Smart contracts are currently undergoing comprehensive audits, and the platform will be fully non-custodial with transparent DAO-based governance. Early adopters participating in the presale will benefit from staking rewards, airdrops, and priority access to upcoming product launches.

As the market looks toward a possible XRP ETF launch, projects like XenDex are building the infrastructure needed to support this wave of adoption. With its blend of automation, community empowerment, and high-speed execution, XenDex is positioning itself as the primary DeFi gateway for XRP-based assets.

Join the Movement Now!

Website: xendex.net
Presale – https://xendex.net/presale/
Telegram: t.me/XenDexCommunity
Twitter/X: https://x.com/xendex_xrp

Contact:
Frank Richards
Frank@xendex.net

Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. 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.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f59d62f-81ec-4c60-a99b-145716270a5a

The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: CORRECTION – Middlefield Global Dividend Growers ETF Distributions

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a release issued today by Middlefield Sustainable Global Dividend ETF (TSX: MDIV), please note the source should have read as Middlefield Global Dividend Growers ETF. The corrected release follows:

Middlefield Global Dividend Growers ETF (TSX: MDIV) (the “Fund”) is pleased to announce that distributions for the second quarter of 2025 will be payable to unitholders of Middlefield Global Dividend Growers ETF as follows:

Record Date Payable Date Distribution Per
Trust Unit

April 30, 2025 May 15, 2025 $0.06

May 31, 2025 June 13, 2025 $0.06

June 30, 2025 July 15, 2025 $0.06

The trust units trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol MDIV.

The Fund offers a distribution reinvestment plan (“DRIP”) for unitholders which provides unitholders with the ability to automatically reinvest distributions, commission free, and realize the benefits of compound growth. Unitholders can enroll in the DRIP program by contacting their investment advisor.

Middlefield

Founded in 1979, Middlefield is a specialist equity income asset manager with offices in Toronto, Canada and London, England. Our investment team utilizes active management to select high-quality, global companies across a variety of sectors and themes. Our product offerings include proven dividend-focused strategies that span real estate, healthcare, innovation, infrastructure, energy, diversified income and more. We offer these solutions in a variety of product types including ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, Split-Share Funds and Flow-through LPs.

For further information, please visit our website at www.middlefield.com or contact Nancy Tham in our Sales and Marketing Department at 1.888.890.1868.

This press release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on historical information concerning distributions and dividends paid on the securities of issuers historically included in the portfolio of the Fund. Actual future results, including the amount of distributions paid by the Fund, may differ from the monthly distribution amount. Specifically, the income from which distributions are paid may vary significantly due to: changes in portfolio composition; changes in distributions and dividends paid by issuers of securities included in the Fund’s portfolio from time to time; there being no assurance that those issuers will pay distributions or dividends on their securities; the declaration of distributions and dividends by issuers of securities included in the portfolio will generally depend upon various factors, including the financial condition of each issuer and general economic and stock market conditions; the level of borrowing by the Fund; and the uncertainty of realizing capital gains. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results are described under “Risk Factors” in the Fund’s prospectus and other documents filed by the Fund with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes the Fund’s current estimate, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered hereby. Investors and others should not assume that any forward-looking statement contained in this press release represents the Fund’s estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE views Hangzhou’s I&T sector

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met leaders of Zhejiang Province, visited local medical facilities, and engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives of innovation and technology (I&T) companies in Hangzhou.

In the morning, Mr Lee and the delegation visited the headquarters of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine to learn about its operations and the latest developments in applying healthcare technology.

These included the hospital’s achievements in developing a new therapy for malignant haematological diseases, the application of robotic technology in drug preparation and reform of medical logistics models, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for precise clinical diagnosis.

Later, Mr Lee viewed the Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City Urban Exhibition Center to gain insights into Hangzhou’s advancements in areas including smart city development and AI, as well as achievements in developing the Chengxi Sci-tech Innovation Corridor.

He also met representatives of Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” I&T enterprises, namely Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co, Hangzhou Yushu Technology Co (Unitree Robotics), Hangzhou Youke Interactive Technology Co (Game Science), Manycore Tech Inc, Hangzhou Yunshenchu Technology Co, and BrainCo.

Mr Lee toured the special exhibition arranged for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation, and engaged with the representatives to understand the developments and features of the six iconic and influential I&T companies in areas such as large language models, robotics, AI, game development, and Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technologies.

They also discussed the development of a new technology ecosystem, and the relationship and collaboration between enterprises and governments.

Mr Lee also attended a luncheon hosted by CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee Secretary Wang Hao.

The Chief Executive noted that Zhejiang, as a vital province in the Yangtze River Delta, boasts a strong foundation in technological development, private economy, and digital economy, while Hong Kong is a core city of the Greater Bay Area and an international financial, shipping, and trade centre.

The two places play significant roles in driving the country’s high-quality development and have a broad room of collaboration, Mr Lee added.

He also took the opportunity to visit two of the “Six Little Dragons”, BrainCo and Unitree Robotics.

Mr Lee gained a deeper understanding of BrainCo’s achievements in developing non-invasive BCI technology and its applications in fields such as medical rehabilitation and education, as well as Unitree Robotics’ achievements and advancements in developing civilian robots for use in agriculture, industry, power inspection, survey and exploration, and public rescue.

Mr Lee then toured the Black Myth: Wukong Art Exhibition. Based on a game developed by Game Science, one of the “Six Little Dragons”, the exhibition showcased the behind-the-scenes details of game development through recreations of scenes, characters and items from the game.

Noting the rapid development of I&T enterprises represented by the “Six Little Dragons”, Mr Lee said that Hangzhou has been promoting the I&T industry over the years, creating a vibrant industrial ecosystem and a favourable investment environment.

He said Hong Kong is dedicated to developing into an international I&T centre, and that he will strive to promote collaboration and exchanges between I&T enterprises in Hong Kong and Hangzhou, with a view to leveraging their comparative advantages. He also welcomed I&T enterprises in Hangzhou to set up in Hong Kong to pursue development together.

Mr Lee later attended a dinner hosted by Zhejiang Governor Liu Jie, to exchange views on deepening co-operation and exchanges between Hong Kong and Zhejiang, in addition to gaining insights into the development experiences and directions of local cultural performances.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: XRP News: XploraDEX Enters Day 2 of Token Distribution—Presale Still Open as Early Investors Rush to Join XRPL’s Smartest DEX
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ZURICH, Switzerland, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The second day of $XPL Token distribution is underway, and momentum is only accelerating. As wallets across the XRP community continue to receive their allocations, a final wave of investor activity is sweeping into the XploraDEX presale window—still open for a limited time.

After kicking off its token distribution just 24 hours ago, XploraDEX has triggered a new surge of excitement across social media, wallet trackers, and trading circles. With over 76% of $XPL tokens already allocated, this moment marks the final phase of the presale and the official transition into XRPL’s first live AI-powered DEX ecosystem.

Buy $XPL Token Now

While early adopters are already seeing tokens in their wallets, new investors still have time to join at presale pricing—but not for long. This is the last stretch before $XPL lists on decentralized exchanges at a higher price point and staking, governance, and dashboard access go fully live.

Here’s what’s happening today:
- Batch 2 of $XPL token distribution is now in progress
- Presale window remains open during the 7-day distribution phase
- Thousands of wallets already activated for staking and governance
- Community buzz and whale wallet activity continue to climb
Participate in $XPL Presale

XploraDEX isn’t just delivering tokens—it’s delivering access. The platform blends real-time AI insights with on-chain execution, giving users:
- Automated trading strategies based on machine learning
- Early access to Launchpad deals for new XRPL projects
- Smart portfolio management and live performance alerts
- Staking pools, rewards programs, and discounted trading fees
With each day of distribution, the window to be early grows smaller. Traders joining now aren’t just buying into a vision—they’re gaining direct access to infrastructure already rolling out in real time.

Join $XPL Presale

Why this matters:

Most projects wait until post-launch to deliver utility. XploraDEX is building in public—and distributing tokens while opening platform features step by step. Investors who secure $XPL during this window will have first-mover access to DeFi’s most intelligent trading protocol on XRPL.

This is more than a presale update. It’s a countdown.

Secure Your $XPL Tokens Before the Presale Closes: https://sale.xploradex.io

Live Updates on Launch: Website | $XPL Token Presale | X | Telegram

Contact:
Oliver Muller
oliver@xploradex.io
contact@xploradex.io

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the XploraDEX. 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.

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/3efe82bd-887c-4b49-99f2-7e444e3aee59

The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Radware Finds 57% of Online Shopping Traffic Now Bots, Not Buyers
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MAHWAH, N.J., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware^® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, today released its “2025 E-commerce Bot Threat Report.” The report found that automated bots—good and bad bots—accounted for 57% of e-commerce website traffic during the 2024 holiday season. It marks the first time that automated, non-DDoS generating bots drove more traffic than human shoppers, signaling a critical shift in the cybersecurity landscape for e-commerce providers and online retailers.

“Bad bots are no longer just based on simple scripts—they’re sophisticated, AI-enhanced agents capable of outsmarting traditional defenses,” said Ron Meyran, vice president of cyber threat intelligence at Radware. “E-commerce providers and online retailers that rely on conventional security measures will find themselves increasingly exposed, not just during the holidays but year-round.”

The report highlights major bot attack trends and real-world attack data observed during the 2024 online holiday shopping season. In addition, it offers insights into the distributed, multi-vector attacks e-commerce providers and retailers can expect to battle this year.

Key findings and insights
- AI-generated bots with human-like behavior gain dominance: According to the report, bad bots made up 31% of total internet traffic during the last holiday season. Nearly 60% of the malicious traffic employed advanced behavioral techniques to evade traditional, signature-based detection. Combating these bots requires accurate AI-powered detection of attack patterns, including rotating IPs and identities, distributed attacks, CAPTCHA farm services, and other advanced anomalies, without causing false positives.
- Mobile-focused attacks surge: Malicious bot traffic directed at mobile platforms rose 160% between the 2023 and 2024 holiday shopping seasons, representing a fundamental shift in attacker focus. Security strategies need to be shored up and tailored for vulnerable mobile platforms and attackers using more sophisticated techniques, including mobile emulators, mobile-specific proxies, and headless browsers with mobile user-agent strings.
- Attacks leveraging distributed infrastructures and residential proxy networks increase: The proportion of holiday attack traffic originating from and blending in with ISP networks increased 32% between 2023 and 2024. Attackers are leveraging wider network and residential proxy services to evade rate-limiting, geo-based, and IP-based blocking mechanisms, creating even greater mitigation challenges for security teams working without advanced, multi-layered protections.
- Coordinated multi-vector attack campaigns escalate: To maximize their success, attackers are targeting applications by combining bot attacks with web application vulnerability exploits, business logic attacks, and API-focused attacks. Protecting already burdened security systems requires an integrated application security strategy that uses the latest threat intelligence and cross-correlates security threats across security modules.
Radware will be addressing the new report and advanced protection strategies during the RSA 2025 Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco (booth #S-1227). The event takes place April 28–May 1, 2025.

Radware’s complete bot report can be downloaded here.

About Radware
Radware^® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on: Facebook, LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, and YouTube.

©2025 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

THIS PRESS RELEASE AND 2025 E-COMMERCE BOT THREAT REPORT ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INDICATOR OF RADWARE’S BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OR OPERATING RESULTS FOR ANY PRIOR, CURRENT, OR FUTURE PERIOD.

Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” For example, when we say in this press release that e-commerce providers and online retailers that rely on conventional security measures will find themselves increasingly exposed, not just during the holidays but year-round, we are using forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan, financial and credit market fluctuations (including elevated interest rates), impacts from tariffs or other trade restrictions, inflation, and the potential for regional or global recessions; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cybersecurity and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, or if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; our use of AI technologies that present regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; risks related to the fact that our products must interoperate with operating systems, software applications and hardware that are developed by others; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns; our net losses in the past and the possibility that we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cybersecurity and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; complications with the design or implementation of our new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system; our reliance on information technology systems; our ESG disclosures and initiatives; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: XRP News: XenDex Presale Begins As XRP ETF Builds Momentum
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SYDNEY, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex is thrilled to announce the first AI-powered all-in-one decentralized exchange (DEX) built on XRP, combining non-custodial lending and borrowing, AI copy trading, and DAO governance in a single user-centric platform.

Currently, excitement grows across the crypto industry amid increasing speculation of a pending XRP Spot ETF launch, a new decentralized finance project, XenDex is seizing the moment to reshape the XRP Ledger ecosystem.With XRP (which is designed for speed, scalability, and community participation) gaining mainstream attention once again and institutional capital eyeing the asset class, XenDex is poised to become a major infrastructure player on the XRP Ledger and is set to redefine how users trade, earn, and govern on-chain.

Buy $XDX Token Now

The new Ripple based platform is ready to offer its presale, ready to raise major funds in record time, the new XRP project has become the talk of the XRP community and investors are already jumping onboard, convinced XDX will deliver massive returns and position itself as XRP’s breakout altcoin by 2025.

XenDex promotes itself as a transformative platform combining the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an ultra-fast and low-fee XRP Ledger (XRPL).

Join XenDex Presale

XenDex has officially revealed its $XDX token presale will commence on April 22, 2025, offering early adopters first access to one of XRP’s most ambitious DeFi platforms to date. The $XDX token serves as the utility and governance currency powering all features across the XenDex ecosystem.

The buzz around a potential XRP ETF approval has fueled optimism across the Ripple community. Institutional interest, growing liquidity, and infrastructure upgrades are aligning — and XenDex is launching at the perfect time to capture this surge in demand.

Features of XenDex
- Lending & Borrowing – Access liquidity or earn passive income via secure, smart contract-based loans.
- AI Copy Trading – Automatically mirror top traders in real-time using our AI-powered copy engine.
- Spot & Perpetual Trading – Trade instantly via an embedded AMM with zero custodial risk.
- Liquidity Farming & Staking – Earn $XDX rewards for providing liquidity or staking tokens.
- DAO Governance – Every $XDX token holder can vote on key upgrades, listings, and ecosystem decisions.
- Cross-Chain Compatibility – Future support for Ethereum, BNB, Cardano, and more.
Tokenomics at a Glance
- Token Ticker: $XDX
- Total Supply: 1,000,000,000
- Presale Allocation: 300,000,000 XDX
- Utilities: Governance, staking, platform fees, airdrops, and more.
Buy XDX Tokens

Smart contracts are currently undergoing comprehensive audits, and the platform will be fully non-custodial with transparent DAO-based governance. Early adopters participating in the presale will benefit from staking rewards, airdrops, and priority access to upcoming product launches.

As the market looks toward a possible XRP ETF launch, projects like XenDex are building the infrastructure needed to support this wave of adoption. With its blend of automation, community empowerment, and high-speed execution, XenDex is positioning itself as the primary DeFi gateway for XRP-based assets.

Join the Movement Now!

Website: xendex.net
Presale – https://xendex.net/presale/
Telegram: t.me/XenDexCommunity
Twitter/X: https://x.com/xendex_xrp

Contact:
Frank Richards
Frank@xendex.net

Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. 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/60b77089-cac2-4335-91ba-8e81462cc098

The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s Press Encounter on Climate

Source: United Nations secretary general

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, may I first express to the Government and people of Türkiye my full solidarity in this difficult moment.

President Lula of Brazil and I just concluded a unique meeting with a cross-section of world leaders focused on climate action and a just transition.

The gathering included 17 participants at level of heads of state and government representing some of the world’s largest economies — including China and the European Union — and some of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries.

We also had leaders currently chairing important regional partnerships — the African Union, ASEAN, and the Alliance of Small Island States and CARICOM, along with many others.

It was among the most diverse meetings of heads of state focused exclusively on climate in some time.

Yet I heard a unifying message.

Yes, our world faces massive headwinds and a multitude of crises.

But we cannot allow climate commitments to be blown off course.

We must keep building momentum for action at COP30 in Brazil — and today was an important part of that effort.

We don’t have a moment to lose.

No region is being spared from the ravages of accelerating climate catastrophes.

And the crisis is deepening poverty, displacing communities, and fuelling conflict and instability.

At the same time, countries are waking up to a clear fact:

Renewables are the economic opportunity of the century.

Dissenters and fossil fuel interests may try to stand in the way.

But as we heard today, the world is moving forward. Full-speed ahead.

No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution.

Science is on our side — and economics have shifted.

Prices for renewables have plummeted and the sector is booming — creating jobs and boosting competitiveness and growth worldwide.

The pathway out of climate hell is paved by renewables.

They offer the surest route to energy sovereignty and security, and ending dependence on volatile and expensive fossil fuel imports.

We also know collective climate action works.

Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the projected global warming-curve has been bent down — from over four degrees of temperature rise within this century, to 2.6 degrees if current national climate action plans are fully implemented.

But that is catastrophic so we must go further and faster.

Today, I urged leaders to take action on two fronts.

First — to step up efforts to submit the strongest possible national climate plans well ahead of COP30.

And leaders today committed to put forward ambitious and robust plans as soon as possible what was a strong message of hope.

These new climate plans offer a unique opportunity to lay out a bold vision for a just green transition over the next decade.

They should align with 1.5 degrees and set emissions-reduction targets that cover all greenhouse gases and the whole economy as several today mentioned clearly.

Most importantly, they should help speed-up a just transition away from fossil fuels to renewables…

Link national energy and development strategies with climate goals…

And signal to policymakers and investors alike a total commitment to achieving global net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Second — as leaders turbocharge their own transitions, I urged them to scale-up support for developing countries.

Those least responsible for climate change are suffering from its worst effects.

Africa and other parts of the developing world are experiencing faster warming —and the Pacific islands are seeing faster sea-level rise — even while the global average itself is accelerating.

Meanwhile, despite being home to 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources, Africa has only around 1.5 per cent of installed solar capacity – and receives just two per cent of global investment into renewables.

We need to change this — fast.

At COP30, leaders must deliver a credible roadmap to mobilize $1.3 trillion a year for developing countries by 2035.

Developed countries must honour their promise to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year, by this year.

And we need significantly increased contributions and innovative sources of finance to support the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage.

Across all these fronts, we will keep up the push — including at a special event in September in the final weeks to COP30.

As today’s meeting made clear, we cannot, must not, and will not let up on climate action.

Thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: WISeKey Expands Implementation of Digital Identity Solutions from Seychelles to Africa: Empowering Nations with Secure National ID Systems

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WISeKey Expands Implementation of Digital Identity Solutions from Seychelles to Africa: Empowering Nations with Secure National ID Systems

Geneva, Switzerland – April 23, 2025 — WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, today announces that following the successful implementation of “SeyID” in the Seychelles, it is extending proven digital identity solutions to other African nations to help them modernize and secure their national identification systems.

Since 2022, WISeKey has collaborated with the government of Seychelles to launch SeyID, a comprehensive, secure, and user-friendly digital ID platform. Designed to integrate seamlessly with both public and private sector services, SeyID is now serving as a model for other African nations looking to establish or upgrade their national identity infrastructure.

A Blueprint for Digital Transformation

The SeyID platform leverages WISeKey’s trusted WISeID digital identity technology, which provides citizens with a mobile-accessible, secure virtual ID linked to key public services. These include healthcare, government portals, and the tourism industry, vital economic pillars for Seychelles.

Through SeyID, citizens are able to complement their traditional physical ID cards with a virtual identity stored securely on their smartphones, making authentication easier and services more accessible. Tourists visiting Seychelles can also generate a digital Tourist ID using SeyID, which offers a frictionless digital experience while allowing visitors to access local services. This innovation has positioned Seychelles as a digital pioneer in the African region, providing a strong example of how national digital identity platforms can support economic growth and government efficiency.

Scaling the Model Across Africa

WISeKey is now in discussions with several African governments to replicate the SeyID model, tailoring it to meet local needs and regulatory frameworks. These next-generation digital ID solutions aim to:

Promote Financial Inclusion by enabling secure digital onboarding and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance for banking services;
Streamline Public Administration by digitizing identity verification for social programs, healthcare, and education;
Enhance Tourism and Cross-Border Travel with digital tourist ID systems similar to that of Seychelles; and,
Protect Citizen Data with robust Swiss-grade cybersecurity and encryption.

Use Cases: National Digital IDs as Catalysts for Economic Growth

Digital Financial Services:
A national digital ID allows unbanked populations to open bank accounts, access credit, and use mobile payment platforms securely, boosting participation in the formal economy and reducing reliance on cash.
e-Government Services:
Digital IDs facilitate efficient delivery of public services such as tax filing, business registration, land ownership verification, and social welfare programs, increasing transparency and reducing corruption.
Agricultural Supply Chains:
Farmers can register digitally to receive subsidies, track inputs, and access markets. This fosters trust, increases productivity, and reduces fraud in government support schemes.
Healthcare Access:
Verified digital IDs help in creating unified health records, ensuring that citizens receive timely, targeted, and secure healthcare, even across borders through regional interoperability.
Job Market Activation:
With a verifiable identity, citizens can access vocational training, apply for jobs online, and participate in gig economy platforms, driving workforce participation and economic inclusion.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation:
Startups and SMEs can benefit from streamlined licensing and easier access to investment through identity-based digital platforms, reducing bureaucratic delays and stimulating innovation.
Tourism Growth:
Digital tourist IDs simplify visa issuance, hotel check-ins, and tourist service access, creating a smoother visitor experience and increasing tourism revenues.
Education & Youth Empowerment:
Digital IDs allow students to enroll in programs, access e-learning platforms, and validate academic credentials, enhancing skills development for the digital economy.
A Human-Centered, Privacy-First Approach

WISeKey’s approach is grounded in respecting human dignity and data privacy. All identities created under its platforms are anchored in the OISTE.ORG Root of Trust, a globally recognized cryptographic trust model that guarantees sovereign control over digital identities.

With the support of international development agencies and local governments, WISeKey is set to deliver customized digital ID solutions that are interoperable, future-proof, and aligned with international standards for data protection and digital governance.

As Africa accelerates its digital transformation, WISeKey’s expansion beyond Seychelles marks a critical step in ensuring that secure, inclusive, and innovative identity solutions are at the heart of the continent’s technological and economic future.

For more information, visit www.wisekey.com or follow WISeKey on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About WISeKey

WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

Press and Investor Contacts

WISeKey International Holding Ltd
Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
Chairman & CEO
Tel: +41 22 594 3000
info@wisekey.com

WISeKey Investor Relations (US)
The Equity Group Inc.
Lena Cati
Tel: +1 212 836-9611
lcati@equityny.com

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: Coop Pank held an investor webinar to introduce unaudited results of Q1 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

On Wednesday, 23 April 2025 at 9 am (EET), Coop Pank held an investor webinar, where the Chairman of the Board Margus Rink and the Chief Financial Officer Paavo Truu introduced the bank’s unaudited financial results of First Quarter of 2025. Webinar was held in Estonian language.

Coop Pank would like to thank all participants. Webinar recording is available here:
https://youtu.be/pWHBsVjOwUI

Coop Pank’s report for unaudited results of Q1 2025 and the presentation is available here:
https://view.news.eu.nasdaq.com/view?id=bbb5642fa5392e27df29e013b9455d65a&lang=en

Coop Pank, based on Estonian capital, is one of the five universal banks operating in Estonia. The number of clients using Coop Pank for their daily banking has reached 213,000. Coop Pank aims to put the synergy generated by the interaction of retail business and banking to good use and to bring everyday banking services closer to people’s homes. The strategic shareholder of the bank is the domestic retail chain Coop Eesti comprising 320 stores.

Additional information:
Katre Tatrik
Communication Manager
Tel: +372 5151 859
E-mail: katre.tatrik@cooppank.ee

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: FlexShopper, Inc. Reports 2024 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Financial Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Ongoing DTC and B2B growth strategies drove a 19.5% year-over-year increase in annual revenue

Operating income for 2024 increased 66% to $22.8 million, and adjusted EBITDA increased 43.1% to $33.3 million, as a result of higher revenue, controlled expenses and favorable asset quality

BOCA RATON, Fla., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FlexShopper, Inc. (Nasdaq: FPAY) (“FlexShopper”), a leading national online lease-to-own (“LTO”) retailer and payment solution provider for underserved consumers, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

Russ Heiser, Jr, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “As expected, 2024 was a transformative year for FlexShopper highlighting the successful technology investments we made over the past two years and the progress of our DTC and B2B growth strategies. During 2024, we grew our market share and expanded FlexShopper’s LTO offerings to 7,900 locations, a ~250% increase. In addition, 2024 was the first year of our retail revenue strategy on our flexshopper.com marketplace, which added incremental revenues and profits to our model. The success of our growth strategies generated $22.8 million of operating income, a 66% year-over-year increase.

“We pursued opportunities that leverage our expanding financial performance to improve our balance sheet. This included raising $12.2 million in proceeds since the beginning of November 2024 through the beginning of 2025 through our previously mentioned rights offering. We continue to look for strategic opportunities to repurchase 91% of our series 2 convertible preferred stock at a 50+% discount to its liquidation preference, which we believe will be highly accretive to FlexShopper’s common shareholders,” Mr. Heiser continued.

“We expect our growth strategies to continue to drive positive momentum in 2025, and for the first quarter of 2025, lease originations increased 49.7%, relative to the same period in 2024. In addition, we believe profitability will improve further in 2025 as we benefit from higher sales on flexshopper.com, stable operating expenses and credit quality, and the contribution of payments on leases that were originated in 2024,” concluded Mr. Heiser.

Results for the Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2024⁽¹⁾vs. the Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2023 (unaudited):

Total lease funding approvals increased 65.6% to $142.4 million from $86 million
Total revenues increased 17.3% to $35.5 million from $30.3 million
Gross profit increased 29.8% to $20.4 million from $15.7 million
Gross profit margin increased from 52% to 58%
Operating income of $5.8 million, compared with operating income of $5.6 million
Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ increased by 5.7% to $8.6 million from $8.2 million
Net loss attributable to common stockholders of ($1.9) million, or ($0.09) per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of ($715) thousand or ($0.03) per diluted share

Results for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024⁽¹⁾vs. the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 (unaudited):

Total lease funding approvals increased 79.3 % to $382.8 million from $213.5 million
Total revenues increased 19.5% to $139.8 million from $117.0 million
Gross profit increased 40.3% to $76.7 million from $54.7 million
Gross profit margin increased from 47% to 55%
Operating income of $22.8 million, compared with operating income of $13.7 million
Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ increased 43.1% to $33.3 million, compared to $23.2 million
Net loss attributable to common stockholders of ($4.7) million, or ($0.22) per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of ($8.3) million, or ($0.38) per diluted share

⁽¹⁾ FlexShopper’s independent auditor, Grant Thornton LLP, is still in the process of finalizing the review of management’s position on the lease classification of the lease portfolio and whether it meets the definition of an operating lease. Management believes that, regardless of Grant Thorton LLP’s determination regarding this classification, there will be no material impact to FlexShopper’s gross profit or net loss.

⁽²⁾Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the definition and reconciliation of this measure under “Non-GAAP Measures”.

2025 Forward Guidance
FlexShopper remains committed to executing its strategic plan, which centers on scaling its lease and loan business while maintaining strong asset performance and capitalizing on the growing opportunity within the online retail space. This strategy has already begun to deliver meaningful results.

Throughout 2024, FlexShopper achieved consistent year-over-year revenue growth, driven by improving asset quality and a reduction in bad debt. Additionally, FlexShopper enhanced product margins, which has had a material positive impact on its income statement. FlexShopper is also realizing operating leverage across both marketing and general expenses, contributing to improved overall efficiency.

As a result of these disciplined efforts, the company generated significant year-over-year EBITDA growth in 2024. Building on this momentum, FlexShopper anticipates continued progress in 2025, with the following performance expectations:

2025 full year gross profit between $90 million and $100 million which is a 17% to 30% increase from 2024
2025 full year adjusted EBITDA of $40 million to $45 million which is a 20% to 35% increase from 2024

10-K Filing and Nasdaq Compliance
FlexShopper plans to issue audited financial results as soon as it receives approval from Grant Thorton LLP. As a result of the delay in the audit, the Company received a notification from Nasdaq on April 17, 2025 that it is no longer in compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules. The Company intends to file the Form 10-K as soon as practicable and, if necessary, to submit a plan with Nasdaq to regain compliance. If Nasdaq accepts the Company’s plan, then Nasdaq may, at its discretion, grant the Company up to 180 days from the prescribed due date for filing the Form 10-K, or until October 13, 2025, to regain compliance. This notification has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock on Nasdaq.

About FlexShopper
FlexShopper, Inc. is a leading national financial technology company that offers innovative payment options to consumers. FlexShopper provides a variety of flexible funding options for underserved consumers through its direct-to-consumer online marketplace at Flexshopper.com and in partnership with merchants both online and at brick-and-mortar locations. FlexShopper’s solutions are crafted to meet the needs of a wide range of consumer segments through lease-to-own and lending products.

Forward-Looking Statements

The consolidated financial statements and related information contained in this press release for the year ended December 31, 2023, are audited. For the year ended December 31, 2024, they are unaudited and, although we believe they accurately reflect the values of each item, no assurance thereof can be given, or that our independent auditor may not adjust one or more of such values to be set forth in our completed 2024 audited consolidated financial statements. Grant Thornton LLP has not audited or reviewed, in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, any of the 2024 financial or other information contained in this press release.

All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” or other comparable terms. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expectations of lease originations, the expansion of our lease-to-own program; expectations concerning our partnerships with retail partners; investments in, and the success of, our underwriting technology and risk analytics platform; our ability to collect payments due from customers; expected future operating results and expectations concerning our business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including, among others, the following: our ability to obtain adequate financing to fund our business operations in the future; the failure to successfully manage and grow our FlexShopper.com e-commerce platform; our ability to maintain compliance with financial covenants under our credit agreement; our dependence on the success of our third-party retail partners and our continued relationships with them; our compliance with various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those related to consumer protection; the failure to protect the integrity and security of customer and employee information; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and FlexShopper assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

FLEXSHOPPER, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
	December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$	10,402,637		$	4,413,130
Lease receivables, net		72,191,028			44,795,090
Loan receivables at fair value		54,330,006			35,794,290
Prepaid expenses and other assets		4,433,570			3,300,677
Lease merchandise, net		29,358,305			29,131,440
Total current assets		170,715,546			117,434,627

Property and equipment, net		9,692,396			9,308,859
Right of use asset, net		1,042,954			1,237,010
Intangible assets, net		12,259,413			13,391,305
Other assets, net		2,589,533			2,175,215
Deferred tax asset, net		13,208,652			12,943,361
Total assets	$	209,508,494		$	156,490,377

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	5,589,866		$	7,139,848
Accrued payroll and related taxes		467,596			578,197
Promissory notes to related parties, including accrued interest, and net of unamortized issuance costs of $191,163 at December 31, 2024		10,730,853			198,624
Accrued expenses		6,955,810			3,972,397
Lease liability – current portion		287,412			245,052
Total current liabilities		24,031,537			12,134,118
Loan payable under credit agreement to beneficial shareholder, net of unamortized issuance costs of $1,007,182 at December 31, 2024 and $70,780 at December 31, 2023		143,934,508			96,384,220
Promissory notes to related parties, net of unamortized issuance costs of $649,953 at December 31, 2023 and net of current portion		—			10,100,047
Loan payable under Basepoint credit agreement, net of unamortized issuance costs of $54,496 at December 31, 2024 and $92,963 at December 31, 2023		7,358,109			7,319,641
Lease liabilities, net of current portion		1,034,166			1,321,578
Total liabilities		176,358,320			127,259,604

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value – authorized 250,000 shares, issued and outstanding 170,332 shares at $5.00 stated value		851,660			851,660
Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value – authorized 25,000 shares, issued and outstanding 21,952 shares at $1,000 stated value		21,952,000			21,952,000
Common stock, $0.0001 par value – authorized 100,000,000 shares at December 31, 2024 and 40,000,000 shares at December 31, 2023, issued 25,138,251 shares at December 31, 2024 and 21,752,304 shares at December 31, 2023		2,515			2,176
Treasury shares, at cost- 527,222 shares at December 31, 2024 and 164,029 shares at December 31, 2023		(563,991	)		(166,757	)
Additional paid in capital		46,911,459			42,415,894
Accumulated deficit		(36,003,469	)		(35,824,200	)
Total stockholders’ equity		33,150,174			29,230,773
	$	209,508,494		$	156,490,377

FLEXSHOPPER, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

	For the year ended December 31,
		2024			2023
Revenues:
Lease revenues and fees, net	$	106,959,906		$	91,943,729
Loan revenues and fees, net of changes in fair value		28,539,495			25,031,278
Retail revenue		4,301,331			–
Total revenues		139,800,732			116,975,007

Costs and expenses:
Depreciation and impairment of lease merchandise		56,634,623			56,288,128
Loan origination costs and fees		3,063,012			6,007,598
Cost of retail revenue		3,383,704			–
Marketing		8,571,696			7,620,795
Salaries and benefits		16,977,744			12,499,099
Operating expenses		28,391,424			24,547,729
Net change in fair value of promissory note related to acquisition		–			(3,678,689	)
Total costs and expenses		117,022,203			103,284,660
Operating income		22,778,529			13,690,347
Interest expense including amortization of debt issuance costs		(22,136,448	)		(18,913,773	)
Income/ (loss) before income taxes		642,081			(5,223,426	)
Income taxes (expense)/ benefit		(821,350	)		989,809
Net loss		(179,269	)		(4,233,617	)

Dividends on Series 2 Convertible Preferred Shares		(4,514,001	)		(4,103,638	)
Net loss attributable to common and Series 1 Convertible Preferred shareholders	$	(4,693,270	)	$	(8,337,255	)

Basic and diluted loss per common share:
Basic	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.38	)
Diluted	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.38	)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES:
Basic		21,534,674			21,705,406
Diluted		21,534,674			21,705,406

FLEXSHOPPER, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)


		2024			2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(179,269	)	$	(4,233,617	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and impairment of lease merchandise		56,634,623			56,288,128
Other depreciation and amortization		9,607,044			7,881,110
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1,166,302			571,538
Amortization of discount on the promissory note related to acquisition		–			236,952
Compensation expense related to stock-based compensation		888,380			1,677,708
Provision for doubtful accounts		34,333,462			42,505,647
Deferred income tax		(265,291	)		(929,533	)
Net change in fair value of promissory note related to acquisition		–			(3,678,689	)
Net changes in the fair value of loans receivables at fair value		(17,046,488	)		(10,217,854	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Lease receivables		(61,729,400	)		(51,760,694	)
Loans receivables at fair value		(1,489,228	)		7,356,068
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(1,254,627	)		177,169
Lease merchandise		(56,861,488	)		(53,869,127	)
Purchase consideration payable related to acquisition		–			208,921
Promissory note related to acquisition		–			283,266
Lease liabilities		(46,395	)		(30,268	)
Accounts payable		(1,549,982	)		627,905
Accrued payroll and related taxes		(110,601	)		267,377
Accrued expenses		2,956,805			(26,527	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(34,946,153	)		(6,664,520	)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software costs		(6,728,218	)		(6,335,276	)
Additions of intangible assets		(643,080	)		–
Purchases of data costs		(1,779,976	)		(1,225,983	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(9,151,274	)		(7,561,259	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from loan payable under credit agreement		48,486,690			18,050,000
Repayment of loan payable under credit agreement		–			(2,795,000	)
Repayment of promissory notes to related parties		–			(1,000,000	)
Repayment of loan payable under Basepoint credit agreement		–			(1,500,000	)
Debt issuance related costs		(1,605,446	)		(115,403	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		–			1,185
Principal payment under finance lease obligation		(4,601	)		(8,465	)
Tax payments associated with equity-based compensation transactions		(103,487	)		–
Proceeds from rights offering, net of transaction costs		3,711,012			–
Purchase of treasury stock		(397,234	)		(166,757	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		50,086,934			12,465,560

INCREASE/ (DECREASE) IN CASH		5,989,507			(1,760,219	)

CASH, beginning of period		4,413,130			6,173,349

CASH, end of period	$	10,402,637		$	4,413,130

Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	20,252,454		$	17,337,292
Noncash investing and financing activities
Due date extension of warrants	$	–		$	917,581

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We regularly review a number of metrics, including the following key metrics, to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions.

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest, stock-based compensation, taxes, depreciation (other than depreciation of leased merchandise), amortization, and one-time or non-recurring items. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides us with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes.

Key performance metrics for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

		2024			2023		$ Change			% Change
Gross Profit:
Gross lease billings and fees	$	140,887,693		$	131,634,768		$	9,252,925		7.0
Provision for doubtful accounts		(34,333,462	)		(42,505,647	)		8,172,185		(19.2	)
Gain on sale of lease receivables		98,179			2,814,608			(2,716,429	)	(96.5	)
Lease placement collections		307,496			–			307,496		–
Net lease billing and fees	$	106,959,906		$	91,943,729		$	15,016,177		16.3
Loan revenues and fees		11,493,007			14,813,424			(3,320,417	)	(22.4	)
Net changes in the fair value of loans receivable		17,046,488			10,217,854			6,828,634		66.8
Net loan revenues	$	28,539,495		$	25,031,278		$	3,508,217		14.0
Retail revenue		4,301,331			–			4,301,331		–
Total revenues	$	139,800,732		$	116,975,007		$	22,825,725		19.5
Depreciation and impairment of lease merchandise		(56,634,623	)		(56,288,128	)		(346,495	)	0.6
Loans origination costs and fees		(3,063,012	)		(6,007,598	)		2,944,586		(49.0	)
Cost of retail revenue		(3,383,704	)		–			(3,383,704	)	–
Gross profit	$	76,719,393		$	54,679,281		$	22,423,816		40.3
Gross profit margin		55%			47%

		2024			2023		$ Change			% Change
Adjusted EBITDA:
Net loss	$	(179,269	)	$	(4,233,617	)	$	4,054,348		(95.8	)
Income taxes expense/ (benefit)		821,350			(989,809	)		1,811,159		(183.0	)
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1,166,302			571,538			594,764		104.1
Amortization of discount on the promissory note related to acquisition		–			236,952			(236,952	)	(100.0	)
Other amortization and depreciation		9,607,044			7,881,110			1,725,934		21.9
Interest expense		20,970,146			18,105,282			2,864,864		15.8
Stock-based compensation		888,380			1,677,708			(789,328	)	(47.0	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	33,273,953		$	23,249,164		$	10,024,789		43.1

Key performance metrics for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 31,
		2024			2023		$ Change			% Change
Gross Profit:
Gross lease billings and fees	$	34,534,844		$	33,611,362		$	923,482		2.7
Provision for doubtful accounts		(8,959,977	)		(10,381,697	)		1,421,720		(13.7	)
Gain on sale of lease receivables		20,954			10,863			10,091		92.9
Lease placement collections		92,112			–			92,112		–
Net lease billing and fees	$	25,687,933		$	23,240,528		$	2,447,405		10.5
Loan revenues and fees		2,965,564			3,070,646			(105,082	)	(3.4	)
Net changes in the fair value of loans receivable		5,881,114			3,959,575			1,921,359		48.5
Net loan revenues	$	8,846,678		$	7,030,221		$	1,816,457		25.8
Retail revenue		973,683			–			973,863		–
Total revenues	$	35,508,474		$	30,270,749		$	5,237,725		17.3
Depreciation and impairment of lease merchandise		(13,613,272	)		(13,394,865	)		(218,307	)	1.6
Loans origination costs and fees		(667,232	)		(1,129,440	)		462,208		(40.9	)
Cost of retail revenue		(790,199	)		–			(790,199	)	–
Gross profit	$	20,437,771		$	15,746,344		$	4,691,427		29.8
Gross profit margin		58%			52%

	Three Months Ended December 31,
		2024			2023	$ Change			% Change
Adjusted EBITDA:
Net loss	$	(728,416	)	$	354,152	($1,082,568		)	(305.7	)
Income taxes expense/ (benefit)		605,800			195,438		410,362		210.0
Amortization of debt issuance costs		341,803			194,681		147,122		75.6
Amortization of discount on the promissory note related to acquisition		–			59,238		(59,238	)	(100.0	)
Other amortization and depreciation		2,472,471			2,206,179		266,292		12.1
Interest expense		5,580,802			4,813,168		767,634		15.9
Stock-based compensation		359,460			341,341		18,119		5.3
Adjusted EBITDA	$	8,631,920		$	8,164,197	$	467,723		5.7

The Company refers to Adjusted EBITDA in the above tables as the Company uses this measure to evaluate operating performance and to make strategic decisions about the Company. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful information which is widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in its industry in assessing performance.

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: Havila Shipping ASA: Annual Report 2024
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Today, the Board of Directors of Havila Shipping ASA has approved the financial statements for 2024 for both the Group and the parent company.

The numbers are in line with preliminary accounts released on 26 February 2025.

Contacts:

Chief Executive Officer Njål Sævik, +47 909 35 722
Chief Financial Officer Arne Johan Dale, +47 909 87 706

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Attachments
- HAVI2024
- 5967007LIEEXZXFJ8876-2024-12-31-no
The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: DeFi Tax Uncovers Systemic Failures in Crypto Tax Reporting Leaving Millions of U.S. Taxpayers at Risk Ahead of New IRS 1099-DA Regulations

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHERIDAN, Wyo., April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A multi-year investigation by crypto tax experts revealed pervasive, critical flaws in the current crypto tax reporting ecosystem in a newly published report, warning of dire consequences for traders, investors, and miners as the IRS prepares to enforce new 1099-DA regulations.

Researchers at DeFi Tax conducted an extensive, multi-year effort involving data validation, platform testing, and direct engagement with regulatory bodies. Their findings point to a widespread “systemic failure” across popular crypto tax platforms, including IRS-endorsed tools, in accurately calculating gains, losses, and taxable income.

Crypto Tax Tools Falling Short

From 2021 to 2024, DeFi Tax researchers manually reviewed hundreds of transactions using raw blockchain data and IRS cost accounting rules. Their analysis uncovered consistent miscalculations by leading platforms. These issues stem from incomplete data collection, flawed asset disposal methodologies, and incorrect transaction classifications.

Mainstream exchanges will likely further complicate matters when they issue inaccurate or contradictory 1099 forms, resulting in users unknowingly submitting false income tax returns.

“None of the platforms we reviewed could produce audit-ready reports with consistent accuracy,” said Janna Scott, Head of DeFi Tax. “This exposes taxpayers to enormous financial and legal risk.”

Scott reports that despite concerted outreach efforts to multiple crypto tax platforms and exchanges in an effort to sound the alarm, the responses were either dismissive or entirely absent. She explains that in mid-2023 many of the solutions quietly made tweaks to their algorithms in response to the feedback, but adds that these changes did not correct the errors. They did, however, change the numbers for all previous reports without ever informing their clients.

She adds that while federal agencies, including the SEC and IRS, acknowledged the accuracy of DeFi’s findings in multiple lengthy private meetings, they took no public action and instead contracted with a third-party provider to assist with crypto tracing, sidestepping the tax compliance issue altogether. They also tacitly acknowledged the strength of the research by suspending crypto audits in 2023 and 2024.

Unfortunately, one of the largest exchanges did not respond to DeFi Tax’s recent detailed Request for Comment. Coincidentally, however, that exchange did take action within 24 hours to update its terms of service, attempting to bar users of the platform from participating in class action lawsuits against the company. Tellingly, a search of our available records revealed that this is the first such emailed terms update for this exchange since prior to 2017.

Taxpayers Defenseless against Billions of Faulty 1099-DA Forms

As the IRS mandates new 1099-DA forms for 2025, it is clear that platforms are poised to distribute billions of documents, most of which are expected to be severely flawed. Worse, upon receiving one of these flawed 1099-DA forms, users of the exchanges will be faced with limited support, no clear mechanisms for correction, and very little accountability from the issuers. Alone, with nothing but their faulty DA-1099s and the unreliable data printed thereon, taxpayers will face audits they are guaranteed to fail, with automatic penalties and even criminal prosecution all but assured..

“It’s a perfect storm,” said Scott. “The IRS is arming itself with flawed data and aggressive enforcement tools, while taxpayers are left with platforms that can’t get it right.”

The Solution: A Transparent, Immutable, Blockchain-Driven Platform

To address these systemic vulnerabilities in crypto tax reporting, DeFi Tax has developed a groundbreaking, blockchain-driven platform that draws immutable data directly from APIs, eliminating the possibility of transaction manipulation and generating audit-ready reports.

This solution has been independently reviewed and validated by leading university professors who help shape national crypto tax policy, reinforcing its accuracy and integrity.

With billions in taxpayer dollars at stake and the 1099-DA form rollout approaching, DeFi Tax is calling on regulators, policymakers, and journalists to scrutinize the crypto tax software ecosystem before taxpayers begin to pay the consequences for the negligence of others.

Join the DeFi Tax waitlist today and be part of a solution built for transparency, security, and accountability.

About DeFi Tax:

DeFi Tax is a groundbreaking tax software platform created to address the widespread inaccuracies of digital asset tax filing tools. By utilizing rigorously validated blockchain data and custom-built APIs, DeFi Tax offers an audit defense guarantee and eliminates the inaccuracies commonly found in all the currently available mainstream tax solutions for digital asset trading. DeFi Tax supports individuals, businesses, and accountants with audit-proof reports, smart categorization of transactions (like NFTs and staking), and unmatched precision and legal compliance. DeFi Tax is the go-to solution for anyone looking to navigate the world of crypto taxes with confidence and transparency. Visit defitax.us to learn more.

Contact:

Mark Crawford

press@defitax.us

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: iManage Announces Revealing New Research Report Around Law Firms and LegalTech

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iManage, the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work™, today announced the availability of a new research report – Ground your legal AI strategy firmly in the basics – that distills survey responses from more than 1,200 legal professionals across the United States, UK, EMEA, and Asia Pacific, providing a strong global perspective on lawyers’ views regarding technology and legal operations. Notably, respondents crave a strong core set of foundational tools around document and email management. As firms advance in their technical sophistication, these tools can be enhanced with added capabilities like those promised by AI.

The survey, conducted by SA Market Insights, reveals that respondents prioritize fundamental technology features such as repositories for storing and retrieving precedents and templates; automated monitoring to ensure compliance; compatibility with e-discovery platforms; and internal real-time collaboration tools and workspaces.

This prioritization of bedrock competencies before looking to more advanced capabilities like generative AI indicates that there is still room for law firms to improve the effectiveness of existing technology investments and a need to make this a priority. A renewed commitment to promoting efficiency, security, and collaboration via foundational systems such as document management may be needed. This was identified as an essential bridge to enabling employees to achieve proficiency in applying any AI capabilities an organization introduces.

The report also reveals that many organizations invest in a document management system (DMS), only to find that low adoption makes it a challenge to realize the targeted ROI of their technology. Low user adoption stems from a variety of issues. Most of these can be resolved by using effective solutions and document management practices that allay pain points around cumbersome security requirements, ineffective search, or constant switching between tools. Research shows that customer success also relies heavily on the availability of training and ongoing support after new solutions are introduced.

“As law firms evaluate the potential of AI capabilities, it is equally critical for legal leaders to assess their foundational technology stack, with a keen eye on usage,” said Joy Ganvik
CEO at SA Market Insights. “This assessment should identify any gaps, determine the steps needed to fill them, and prioritize firm-wide adoption of current capabilities to be certain that any future investment in AI is maximally effective.”

The survey that informs the research report took place between December 2024 and January 2025. Respondents were evenly divided between firms with 50 or fewer employees, 51–250 employees, and more than 250 employees. Most of the respondents are lawyers with 5 to 20 years of experience, many of whom have been at their current firms for a significant portion of their careers.

“The insights in this new report provide a valuable roadmap for firms still contemplating how to invest in solutions that enable them to keep growing into the future capabilities that AI can offer,” said Laura Wenzel, Global Marketing & Insights Director. “Understanding what legal professionals need to efficiently manage their document workflows can help organizations make informed, strategic DMS investments that drive adoption, deliver lasting value, and set the stage for effective use of advanced technologies.”

About iManage
iManage is dedicated to Making Knowledge Work™. Our cloud-native platform is at the center of the knowledge economy, enabling every organization to work more productively, collaboratively, and securely. Built on more than 20 years of industry experience, iManage helps leading organizations manage documents and emails more efficiently, protect vital information assets, and leverage knowledge to drive better business outcomes. As your strategic business partner, we employ our award-winning AI-enabled technology, an extensive partner ecosystem, and a customer-centric approach to provide support and guidance you can trust to make knowledge work for you. iManage is relied on by more than one million professionals at 4,000 organizations around the world. Visit www.imanage.com to learn more.

Follow iManage via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imanage
X: https://x.com/imanageinc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iManage

Press contact:
Alicia Saragosa, iManage
press@imanage.com

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Double Deposit Bonus. 100x Leverage. No KYC. Crypto Futures Trading Made Easy on BexBack.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages. The platform now features a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing exceptional opportunities for investors.

Advantages of 100x Leverage Crypto Futures
1. Amplified Profits: Control large positions with a small amount of capital, capturing more profits from market fluctuations.
2. Low Capital Requirement: Participate in high-value trades with minimal investment, lowering the entry barrier.
3. Increased Market Opportunities: Profit quickly from price fluctuations, especially in volatile markets.
4. High Capital Efficiency: Leverage enables better use of your capital, expanding your investment potential.
5. Profit from Both Up and Down Markets: Adapt to any market conditions, with opportunities to profit whether the market goes up or down.
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 $100,000 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 $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 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, and XRP 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 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 (complete one trade within one week of registration), you can be a winner in the new bull run.

Sign Up Now on BexBack — Break the 100x Leverage and KYC Barriers, Get Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Welcome Bonus Instantly

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.
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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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The MIL Network –
April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: EverGen Infrastructure Corp. Announces Private Placement of Common Shares and Entering Into of Share Purchase and Reorganization Agreement

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (“EverGen” or the “Company”) (TSXV: EVGN) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share purchase and reorganization agreement (the “Agreement”) on April 22, 2025, with Ask America, LLC (the “Purchaser”), an arm’s length limited liability company existing under the laws of New Jersey. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Purchaser has agreed to act as the lead investor in a private placement of common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) for total gross proceeds of up to CAD$7,000,000 (the “Private Placement”). A copy of the Agreement will be accessible on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Private Placement

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company intends to complete the Private Placement of up to an aggregate of 11,666,667 Common Shares at a price of $0.60 per Common Share with the Purchaser and other subscribers for total gross proceeds of up to CAD$7,000,000. In connection with the Private Placement, Purchaser has agreed to subscribe for and purchase 8,333,333 Common Shares in the Private Placement, for gross aggregate proceeds of CAD$5,000,000 (the “Share Purchase”) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement. Upon execution of the Agreement, the Purchaser paid a deposit of CAD$1,800,000 to the Company for the Share Purchase, with the remaining CAD$3,200,000 to be paid by the Purchaser to the Company upon closing of the Private Placement. The Common Shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four month hold period. The Company anticipates using the proceeds of the Private Placement for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, subject to and concurrent with the closing of the Private Placement, the majority of the executive officers and directors of the Company will resign and be replaced with a new management team consisting of Chase Edgelow as Chief Executive Officer, Ron Green as Chief Operating Officer, with Sean Hennessey continuing as Chief Financial Officer and a new board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) consisting of: Chase Edgelow, Varun Anand, Blake Almond, and Mischa Zajtmann (collectively, the “Change of Management”). The foregoing changes will constitute a “Change of Management” (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange). The closing of the Private Placement may also result in the Purchaser becoming a new “Control Person” of the Company (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange). The completion of the Private Placement and the Change of Management is expected to occur in early May 2025.

It is also anticipated that, prior to closing of the Private Placement, 1,211,026 options, warrants and other equity settled incentive securities held by current and former members of the Company’s management and the Board will be surrendered for cancellation. Upon completion of the Private Placement, EverGen will have issued and outstanding up to 25,686,352 Common Shares (up to 25,806,225 Common Shares on a fully diluted basis).

New Management Team & Board

The new management team and board brings unparalleled knowledge of the Company and its assets, a focused strategy dedicated to improving operational efficiencies and cost structure, and a long-term vision to continue to grow EverGen into a highly strategic and valuable infrastructure platform.

Chase Edgelow (Director & Chief Executive Officer): Brings a direct hands-on approach as co-founder and former CEO of EverGen, along with 20 years of financial and operational expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He is the founding partner of Chase Capital, a private capital platform dedicated to investing in, advising and growing businesses with a focus on the circular economy and energy transition. He spent over a decade with Macquarie Group specializing in sourcing, structuring and managing private energy and infrastructure investments on behalf of Macquarie and other co-investment partners, in addition to providing traditional M&A, capital raising and advisory services for corporate clients. Holds a degree in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and Professional Engineer of Alberta (non-practising).

Ron Green (Chief Operating Officer): An accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in the energy & infrastructure sectors, specializing in operational excellence and team development. Proven track record of driving success in turnaround situations, with expertise in optimizing operations and aligning strategic incentives. Throughout his career, Mr. Green has held key executive roles, including CEO of Promeita Energy, Vice President of Rockwater Energy Solutions, Chief Operating Officer of Pure Energy Services Ltd., and Executive Vice President of Delaney Energy. In addition to his executive leadership roles, Mr. Green is a founding board member of Beyond Energy Services & Technology Corp, which he has guided from a start-up to a >$100m revenue business. He is a graduate of Queens University’s Executive Program and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. With extensive experience in operational leadership and people management, he is a trusted expert in driving sustainable growth and value creation.

Sean Hennessy (CFO): Sean is a chartered accountant with over 15 years of finance and accounting experience in the clean energy and infrastructure industries, which includes ten years at Altera Infrastructure (previously Teekay Offshore Partners), a global energy infrastructure group and a Brookfield Business Partners portfolio company. Sean obtained his Chartered Accountant designation at PwC New Zealand, where he worked in both the tax and assurance practices, before transitioning to Canada. He is experienced with financial reporting for public companies under both IFRS and US GAAP, on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Sean completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (Accounting, Finance and Commercial Law) degree and a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) degree at Victoria University of Wellington.

Varun Anand (Director): Varun serves as the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer and representative of ASK America LLC. He brings over a decade of global investment experience across public and private markets, with a strong track record of identifying and executing high-quality infrastructure opportunities. An award-winning portfolio manager, Varun has developed particular expertise in the renewable energy sector, having invested extensively in both Canadian and international renewable energy assets. During his tenure at Starlight Capital, he led the investment in the Company’s IPO in 2021 and built one of its largest shareholder positions by 2022. Varun holds a Bachelor of Mathematics with a Finance specialization from the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Blake Almond (Director): Blake has 17 years of experience in M&A and private & public capital markets including 8 years focused on organics, bioenergy and other circular economy infrastructure assets. He spent 10 years with Macquarie Capital in Sydney where he executed M&A and public & private capital markets deals in bioenergy and natural resources. Today he leads the financial advisory business Circ Partners where he advises global infrastructure private equity funds and industrial sponsor clients on circular economy infrastructure investments. Notably, while at Macquarie Capital, Blake advised on cross-border M&A transactions between Canada and Australia including Viterra Inc on the A$1.6bn acquisition of ABB Grain Ltd and Eldorado Gold Corporation on the A$2.1bn acquisition of Sino Gold Mining Limited. Blake is a Member of the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) and the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR).

Mischa Zajtmann (Director): Mischa has 15 years of experience providing consulting and executive management expertise for Canadian and American listed companies in the resource sector with projects in South America, Africa, and Asia. He is a co-founder of EverGen. Mischa was a corporate securities lawyer who began his career at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, focused primarily on corporate securities transactions, including M&A and corporate finance. He has advised both purchasers and target companies in a wide variety of M&A transactions—including issuers listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange and underwriters, in connection with public offerings and private placements of equity securities, regulatory compliance, and general corporate and commercial matters. Mischa has a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Saskatchewan Law School and is a member of the British Columbia Bar.

Corporate Strategy

With a strengthened balance sheet following the private placement and the appointment of the new management team and board, EverGen is strategically positioned to unlock substantial shareholder value. The Company’s immediate focus is on driving operational excellence, enhancing capital efficiency, and establishing a foundation for scalable growth through the following key pillars:

Operational Excellence to Maximize Returns: Deployment of performance-driven systems and accountability frameworks across core facilities to drive margin expansion and operational reliability.

Cost Optimization and Capital Discipline: Allocation of capital to high-impact optimization projects aimed at reducing operating volatility and improving unit economics. Overhead will be streamlined, and opportunities to lower financing costs will be actively pursued to reinforce a lean, agile cost structure.

Strategic Growth: Upon stabilization of core operations, the Company will leverage industry relationships and execution capabilities to re-initiate disciplined project development and pursue accretive partnership opportunities that support long-term growth and shareholder value creation.

Shareholder and Stock Exchange Approvals

Completion of the Private Placement and the Change of Management is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and disinterested holders of Common Shares holding more than 50% of the Common Shares giving consent to the Private Placement and the Change of Management, in accordance with the policies and requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange by executing a written consent (the “Shareholder Written Consent”).

EverGen Board Approval and Recommendation

EverGen previously announced on February 28, 2025 that the Board formed a special independent committee (the “Special Committee”) to evaluate and review potential strategic transactions with the goal of maximizing value for EverGen shareholders and other stakeholders of the Company. Based on the recommendation of the Special Committee, the Board has unanimously approved the Agreement and the Private Placement and has determined that the completion of the Change of Management and the Private Placement is in the best interests of EverGen. The Board recommends that the EverGen shareholders execute the Shareholder Written Consent. Any EverGen shareholder wishing to obtain and execute the Shareholder Written Consent should contact EverGen as set forth below.

About EverGen Infrastructure Corp.

EverGen, Canada’s Renewable Natural Gas Infrastructure Platform, is combating climate change and helping communities contribute to a sustainable future. Headquartered on the West Coast of Canada, EverGen is an established independent renewable energy producer which acquires, develops, builds, owns and operates a portfolio of Renewable Natural Gas, waste to energy, and related infrastructure projects. EverGen is focused on Canada, with continued growth expected across other regions in North America and beyond.

For more information about EverGen Infrastructure Corp. and our projects, please visit www.evergeninfra.com.

About ASK America LLC

ASK America LLC is backed by a multi-generational U.S. family office with several decades of investment experience across a broad spectrum of asset classes. The family office has amassed substantial assets under management, fueled by the success of its wholly owned consumer products business as well as the consistent growth of its investment portfolio. Through ASK America LLC, the group brings a combination of operational acumen and patient, long-term capital to its partnerships, with a steadfast commitment to fostering sustainable growth and delivering superior risk-adjusted returns.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “will”, “estimates”, “believes”, “intends” “expects” and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements and information concerning: the completion of the Private Placement and the terms thereof, including the issuance of Common Shares, the completion of the Change of Management, the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange of the Private Placement and the Change of Management, the offering price of the Common Shares, the cancellation of certain options, warrants and other equity settled incentive securities of the Company, and receipt of the Shareholder Written Consent. EverGen cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of EverGen, including expectations and assumptions concerning EverGen, the Private Placement, the Change of Management, the timely receipt of all required TSX Venture Exchange, shareholder and regulatory approvals and exemptions (as applicable, including the Shareholder Written Consent) and the satisfaction of other closing conditions. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of EverGen. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and EverGen does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law.

This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”)) or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirement of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither 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.

Contacts
EverGen Infrastructure Corp.
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer
Mischa Zajtmann
604-202-7004
mischa@evergeninfra.com

The MIL Network –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfE Update: 23 April 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Correspondence

DfE Update: 23 April 2025

Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.

Applies to England

Details

Latest for further education

Article	Title
Action	Further education (FE) college condition allocation for 2025 to 2026
Information	Advanced learner loans (ALL) – funding and performance management rules for 2025 to 2026, and maximum loan amounts
Information	Adult skills fund allocations for 2025 to 2026
Information	Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and further education free meals funding rate for 2025 to 2026
Information	Post-16 National Insurance contributions grant
Information	T Level uplift for 2025 to 2026
Information	Tailored Learning – new codes for cost contributions
Your feedback	Narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges – contribute to the public consultation
Your feedback	Changes to the financial data submissions process for independent training providers, special-post 16 institutions and non-maintained special schools

Latest information for academies

Article	Title
Information	Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and further education free meals funding rate for 2025 to 2026
Information	Allocations for the first payment of the breakfast club early adopters grant for the 2024 to 2025 academic year
Information	Grant allocations for academies for April to August 2025
Information	Budget forecast return (BFR) guidance and workbook update 2025
Information	Post-16 National Insurance contributions grant
Information	T Level uplift for 2025 to 2026
Information	Just launched – the new multi-academy trust (MAT) view on the ‘Plan technology for your school’ service
Your feedback	Narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges – contribute to the public consultation
Events and webinars	Q&A drop-in sessions: Academies chart of accounts and automation
Events and webinars	Introduction to the academies chart of accounts and automation

Latest information for local authorities

Article	Title
Information	Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and further education free meals funding rate for 2025 to 2026
Information	Allocations for the first payment of the breakfast club early adopters grant for the 2024 to 2025 academic year
Information	Launch of section 251 budget collection 2025 to 2026
Information	Advanced learner loans (ALL) – funding and performance management rules for 2025 to 2026, and maximum loan amounts
Information	Adult skills fund allocations for 2025 to 2026
Information	Post-16 National Insurance contributions grant
Information	T Level uplift for 2025 to 2026
Information	Tailored Learning – new codes for cost contributions
Your feedback	Narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges – contribute to the public consultation

Published 23 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 24, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s obsession with trade deficits has no basis in economics. And it’s a bad reason for tariffs

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nigel Driffield, Professor of International Business, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick

Those of us who study trade and investment for a living are, I suspect, becoming exasperated with both the White House stance on tariffs and the way that this is reported in much of the media. US president Donald Trump believes that if a country has a trade surplus with the US it is somehow playing unfairly and needs to be dealt with. But anyone who understands the basics of international economics will recognise the fallacy in both of these beliefs.

Trade takes place based on what economists call “comparative advantage” – countries import those goods that are otherwise relatively expensive for them to produce. And they export what they produce cheaply relative to other countries.

So the UK, for example, has a trade surplus in services but a deficit in goods that are made in low-cost locations. This is similar to the position of the US.

To understand what the US is seeking to achieve, the first questions must be: what are tariffs designed to do? And when are they typically applied? These issues lead to another point. If Trump is so convinced that his tariffs will produce a win-win, why haven’t they succeeded before?

Trade policy in the form of tariffs is designed to make imports more expensive and encourage buyers to switch to domestic producers. This may be an attempt to protect or support local industry, or as part of a bargaining strategy to access others’ markets.

But this assumes two things. First, that the demand for such imports is relatively price sensitive (that is, buyers will be put off by price rises). And second, that there are domestic producers able to fill this gap at an appropriate price.

But tariffs can also cause what is known as “trade substitution” – where the country imports the goods from alternative sources instead.

To illustrate how this can work in practice, the US has long applied tariffs on European whisky, ranging from 10% to 25% in recent years.

The US already produces various drinks that are considered to be similar to whisky. So the reason for importing is likely for variety, or possibly the allure of consuming a premium product like a Scottish single malt. As such, price increases may not encourage substitution away from imports – or it may trigger substitution to other imports with lower tariffs.

An alternative example of the case for tariffs is the steel industry. Many countries believe that they should have a steel industry for strategic reasons, but also because steel is an input into so many aspects of the economy.

There have also been concerns globally in the industry about the pricing of Chinese steel, and whether it should attract tariffs to balance what is seen as unfair competition. Chinese steel receives subsidies from the Chinese government, after all.

While this may be a valid concern, it also forces governments to make choices about what they see as “strategic industries”. A good example of this is the desire to protect steel jobs in richer countries, in contrast to the willingness to import cheap clothes from Asia in order to keep inflation down.

This is typically why, if tariffs are used at all, they tend to be targeted to certain industries.

The wrinkle in Trump’s plan

So will the US tariffs plan work? Unfortunately for Trump, the answer is probably not. This type of trade policy has been tried, but has seldom been shown to be effective.

The second point is whether the president of a large global power should be concerned about its trade balance with another country. Unless he believes that the country is engaging in large-scale subsidy in order to dump goods on foreign markets, the answer is almost certainly no.

Casual inspection of trade statistics for the US and Canada suggests that the most common exports from Canada to the US include crude petroleum, petroleum gas, refined petroleum and motor vehicle parts and accessories.

Tariffs on the first three will simply push prices up for US consumers. The last one demonstrates, often to the frustration of policymakers who seek to intervene on trade, that there is little that governments can do to influence modern supply chains, unless they seek to break them all together.

‘We don’t need anything Canada has.’

Firms will locate activities based on combinations of efficiency and where their customers are. So seeking to change these patterns through tariffs will simply increase the cost of imported inputs and make production in the US less competitive.

In simple terms, complaining that you have a trade deficit with one country is like complaining that you have a trade deficit with your corner shop. They sell you things, you give them money, but they never buy from you. They provide goods that you want for money that you earn elsewhere.

You could shop elsewhere (and have a deficit with the new shop), you can give up your job and even grow your own food. But were you to impose a “tariff” on your corner shop, it would simply put up the prices that you have to pay.

That the US has a trade deficit is not a sign that the rest of the world is “ripping it off”. It is a reflection of an affluent society with relatively high wages buying products from countries that can produce them more cheaply. Trump’s tariffs will hurt Americans first – basic international economics is clear on that too.

Nigel Driffield receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council. He is an inactive member of the Labour Party and an advisor to the mayor of the West Midlands

– ref. Trump’s obsession with trade deficits has no basis in economics. And it’s a bad reason for tariffs – https://theconversation.com/trumps-obsession-with-trade-deficits-has-no-basis-in-economics-and-its-a-bad-reason-for-tariffs-254512

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: zfstiftung.de: BaFin warns about ZukunftsFinanz Stiftung

Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

The financial supervisory authority BaFin warns against investment recommendations and investment offers from ZukunftsFinanz Stiftung, particularly via its WhatsApp group. Neither the allegedly Frankfurt-based ZukunftsFinanz Stiftung nor its representative, Dr Max Becker, have been granted a licence to conduct banking, financial and/or investment services in Germany.

Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation.

The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

Please be aware:

BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: US universities lose millions of dollars chasing patents, research shows

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joshua M. Pearce, John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation and Professor, Western University

Every year, American universities spend millions of dollars patenting inventions developed on their campuses. Big names such as Stanford and the University of California system lead the pack in patent activity, but hundreds of other universities are also trying to strike gold by monetizing intellectual property. The idea is simple: By investing in patents and selling or licensing them to industry, the university will profit.

But in practice, this strategy rarely pays off.

Indeed, the results of a recent study I conducted using full-cost accounting shows the average American research university is losing millions of dollars on patents annually. One school I examined as a case study lost a staggering $9 million on intellectual property investments in one year.

These findings come at a critical moment. Universities across the U.S. are under serious financial strain and at risk of losing federal funding under the current administration. Speaking as an engineer and innovation expert, I believe universities can no longer afford to be losing money on schemes meant to generate revenue.

How universities got into the patent business

The current system was born out of the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act, which standardized federal policy to encourage university grant recipients to patent their inventions. The goal was to commercialize taxpayer-funded research and to make universities money in the process.

One result was the rapid expansion of technology transfer offices at universities across the country. These offices are designed to support the commercialization of academic research and development.

On the surface, this strategy might seem promising. Years of data from the Association of University Technology Managers, which surveys tech transfer offices, suggested large, growing revenues from licensing intellectual property.

But there’s a major caveat: It costs money for a university to do all this, and the association’s figures don’t take all of those costs into account. They exclude big expenses such as the costs of running technology transfer offices and litigation. When these are included, previous research has shown, just under half of the tech transfer offices pay for themselves.

And even these analyses are incomplete, as they ignore the opportunity costs to faculty participating in the time-consuming patenting process. After all, every hour a professor spends on patenting is an hour not spent writing grant proposals.

This raises a crucial question: Do university investments in patenting, taking into account all the costs, actually deliver a positive return on investment?

To answer this, I developed a formula to determine exactly how much universities spend in patenting, including the costs of faculty time. I then applied that formula to an average R1 research university − about halfway down the list of annual National Science Foundation funding − using real numbers.

The hidden cost of faculty time

For the case study university, I found that every single cost category exceeded the intellectual property-related income. The opportunity cost for writing patents instead of grants was more than 33 times the income realized.

This means that the average U.S. university is literally losing millions of dollars pursuing patents. Research universities could increase research income by simply ignoring intellectual property entirely.

Using this full-cost accounting method is something university administrators would be wise to consider in their decision-making, given the real opportunity costs of faculty time.

Administrators may argue that because faculty are salaried, there’s no additional cost to making them spend time writing patents. But this ignores reality: Faculty are among the university’s most productive assets. They generate income through tuition and research grants. Their time isn’t free − and using it inefficiently can come at a steep cost.

My study looked only at one university that happens to have a very high invention disclosure rate and would, if viewed from afar, seem to be doing really well on intellectual property investment. When all costs are accounted for the university, it becomes apparent that its intellectual property policy is causing the school to hemorrhage money.

The easy-to-follow methodology I set up can be used by any university to determine its intellectual property’s real return on income. Each university will be slightly different, but for the vast majority, the return on investment will be strongly negative.

As the costs of university education become increasingly challenging for many Americans, I think it’s time to take a hard look at university “investments” in technology transfer with a negative return.

Joshua M. Pearce has received funding for research from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Mitacs, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the National Science Foundation. His past and present consulting work and research is funded by the United Nations, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and many companies in the energy and solar photovoltaic fields. He does not have any direct conflicts of interest.

– ref. US universities lose millions of dollars chasing patents, research shows – https://theconversation.com/us-universities-lose-millions-of-dollars-chasing-patents-research-shows-244270

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: From help to harm: How the government is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicole M. Bennett, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Assistant Director at the Center for Refugee Studies, Indiana University

DOGE has been key to attempts to consolidate Americans’ personal data for the government. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

A whistleblower at the National Labor Relations Board reported an unusual spike in potentially sensitive data flowing out of the agency’s network in early March 2025 when staffers from the Department of Government Efficiency, which goes by DOGE, were granted access to the agency’s databases. On April 7, the Department of Homeland Security gained access to Internal Revenue Service tax data.

These seemingly unrelated events are examples of recent developments in the transformation of the structure and purpose of federal government data repositories. I am a researcher who studies the intersection of migration, data governance and digital technologies. I’m tracking how data that people provide to U.S. government agencies for public services such as tax filing, health care enrollment, unemployment assistance and education support is increasingly being redirected toward surveillance and law enforcement.

Originally collected to facilitate health care, eligibility for services and the administration of public services, this information is now shared across government agencies and with private companies, reshaping the infrastructure of public services into a mechanism of control. Once confined to separate bureaucracies, data now flows freely through a network of interagency agreements, outsourcing contracts and commercial partnerships built up in recent decades.

These data-sharing arrangements often take place outside public scrutiny, driven by national security justifications, fraud prevention initiatives and digital modernization efforts. The result is that the structure of government is quietly transforming into an integrated surveillance apparatus, capable of monitoring, predicting and flagging behavior at an unprecedented scale.

Executive orders signed by President Donald Trump aim to remove remaining institutional and legal barriers to completing this massive surveillance system.

DOGE and the private sector

Central to this transformation is DOGE, which is tasked via an executive order to “promote inter-operability between agency networks and systems, ensure data integrity, and facilitate responsible data collection and synchronization.” An additional executive order calls for the federal government to eliminate its information silos.

By building interoperable systems, DOGE can enable real-time, cross-agency access to sensitive information and create a centralized database on people within the U.S. These developments are framed as administrative streamlining but lay the groundwork for mass surveillance.

Key to this data repurposing are public-private partnerships. The DHS and other agencies have turned to third-party contractors and data brokers to bypass direct restrictions. These intermediaries also consolidate data from social media, utility companies, supermarkets and many other sources, enabling enforcement agencies to construct detailed digital profiles of people without explicit consent or judicial oversight.

Palantir, a private data firm and prominent federal contractor, supplies investigative platforms to agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Internal Revenue Service. These platforms aggregate data from various sources – driver’s license photos, social services, financial information, educational data – and present it in centralized dashboards designed for predictive policing and algorithmic profiling. These tools extend government reach in ways that challenge existing norms of privacy and consent.

The role of AI

Artificial intelligence has further accelerated this shift.

Predictive algorithms now scan vast amounts of data to generate risk scores, detect anomalies and flag potential threats.

These systems ingest data from school enrollment records, housing applications, utility usage and even social media, all made available through contracts with data brokers and tech companies. Because these systems rely on machine learning, their inner workings are often proprietary, unexplainable and beyond meaningful public accountability.

Data privacy researcher Justin Sherman explains the astonishing amount of information data brokers have about you.

Sometimes the results are inaccurate, generated by AI hallucinations – responses AI systems produce that sound convincing but are incorrect, made up or irrelevant. Minor data discrepancies can lead to major consequences: job loss, denial of benefits and wrongful targeting in law enforcement operations. Once flagged, individuals rarely have a clear pathway to contest the system’s conclusions.

Digital profiling

Participation in civic life, applying for a loan, seeking disaster relief and requesting student aid now contribute to a person’s digital footprint. Government entities could later interpret that data in ways that allow them to deny access to assistance. Data collected under the banner of care could be mined for evidence to justify placing someone under surveillance. And with growing dependence on private contractors, the boundaries between public governance and corporate surveillance continue to erode.

Artificial intelligence, facial recognition systems and predictive profiling systems lack oversight. They also disproportionately affect low-income individuals, immigrants and people of color, who are more frequently flagged as risks.

Initially built for benefits verification or crisis response, these data systems now feed into broader surveillance networks. The implications are profound. What began as a system targeting noncitizens and fraud suspects could easily be generalized to everyone in the country.

Eyes on everyone

This is not merely a question of data privacy. It is a broader transformation in the logic of governance. Systems once designed for administration have become tools for tracking and predicting people’s behavior. In this new paradigm, oversight is sparse and accountability is minimal.

AI allows for the interpretation of behavioral patterns at scale without direct interrogation or verification. Inferences replace facts. Correlations replace testimony.

The risk extends to everyone. While these technologies are often first deployed at the margins of society – against migrants, welfare recipients or those deemed “high risk” – there’s little to limit their scope. As the infrastructure expands, so does its reach into the lives of all citizens.

With every form submitted, interaction logged and device used, a digital profile deepens, often out of sight. The infrastructure for pervasive surveillance is in place. What remains uncertain is how far it will be allowed to go.

Nicole Bennett is affiliated with Indiana University’s Center for Refugee Studies and the Indiana University Refugee Task Force.

– ref. From help to harm: How the government is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance – https://theconversation.com/from-help-to-harm-how-the-government-is-quietly-repurposing-everyones-data-for-surveillance-254690

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Justice Department lawyers work for justice and the Constitution – not the White House

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Cassandra Burke Robertson, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Professional Ethics, Case Western Reserve University

The U.S. flag flies above Department of Justice headquarters on Jan. 20, 2024, in Washington. J. David Ake/Getty Images

In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon tried to fire the Department of Justice prosecutor leading an investigation into the president’s involvement in wiretapping the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters.

Since then, the DOJ has generally been run as an impartial law enforcement agency, separated from the executive office and partisan politics.

Those guardrails are now being severely tested under the Trump administration.

In February 2025, seven DOJ attorneys resigned, rather than follow orders from Attorney General Pam Bondi to dismiss corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams. Adams was indicted in September 2024, during the Biden administration, for alleged bribery and campaign finance violations.

One DOJ prosecutor, Hagan Scotten, wrote in his Feb. 15 resignation letter that while he held no negative views of the Trump administration, he believed the dismissal request violated DOJ’s ethical standards.

Among more than a dozen DOJ attorneys who have recently been terminated, the DOJ fired Erez Reuveni, acting deputy chief of the department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, on April 15. Reuveni lost his job for speaking honestly to the court about the facts of an immigration case, instead of following political directives from Bondi and other superiors.

Reuveni was terminated for acknowledging in court on April 14 that the Department of Homeland Security had made an “administrative error” in deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, against court orders. DOJ leadership placed Reuveni on leave the very next day.

Bondi defended the decision, arguing that Reuveni had failed to “vigorously advocate” for the administration’s position.

I’m a legal ethics scholar, and I know that as more DOJ lawyers face choices between following political directives and upholding their profession’s ethical standards, they confront a critical question: To whom do they ultimately owe their loyalty?

President Donald Trump speaks before Pam Bondi is sworn in as attorney general at the White House on Feb. 5, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Identifying the real client

All attorneys have core ethical obligations, including loyalty to clients, confidentiality and honesty to the courts. DOJ lawyers have additional professional obligations: They have a duty to seek justice, rather than merely win cases, as well as to protect constitutional rights even when inconvenient.

DOJ attorneys typically answer to multiple authorities, including the attorney general. But their highest loyalty belongs to the U.S. Constitution and justice itself.

The Supreme Court established in a 1935 case that DOJ attorneys have a special mission to ensure that “justice shall be done.”

DOJ attorneys reinforce their commitment to this mission by taking an oath to uphold the Constitution when they join the department. They also have training programs, internal guidelines and a long-standing institutional culture that emphasizes their unique responsibility to pursue justice, rather than simply win cases.

This creates a professional identity that goes beyond simply carrying out the wishes of political appointees.

Playing by stricter rules

All lawyers also follow special professional rules in order to receive and maintain a license to practice law. These professional rules are established by state bar associations and supreme courts as part of the state-based licensing system for attorneys.

But the more than 10,000 attorneys at the DOJ face even tougher standards.

The McDade Amendment, passed in 1998, requires federal government lawyers to follow both the ethics rules of the state where they are licensed to practice and federal regulations. This includes rules that prohibit DOJ attorneys from participating in cases where they have personal or political relationships with involved parties, for example.

This law also explicitly subjects federal prosecutors to state bar discipline. Such discipline could range from private reprimands to suspension or even permanent disbarment, effectively ending an attorney’s legal career.

This means DOJ lawyers might have to refuse a supervisor’s orders if those directives would violate professional conduct standards – even at the risk of their jobs.

This is what Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon wrote in a Feb. 12, 2025, letter to Bondi, explaining why she could not drop the charges against Adams. Sassoon instead resigned from her position at the DOJ.

“Because the law does not support a dismissal, and because I am confident that Adams has committed the crimes with which he is charged, I cannot agree to seek a dismissal driven by improper considerations … because I do not see any good-faith basis for the proposed position, I cannot make such arguments consistent with my duty of candor,” Sassoon wrote.

As DOJ’s own guidance states, attorneys “must satisfy themselves that their behavior comports with the applicable rules of professional conduct” regardless of what their bosses say.

Post-Watergate principles under pressure

The president nominates the attorney general, who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

That can create the perception and even the reality that the attorney general is indebted to, and loyal to, the president. To counter that, Attorney General Griffin Bell, in 1978, spelled out three principles established after Watergate to maintain a deliberate separation between the White House and the Justice Department.

First, Bell called for procedures to prevent personal or partisan interests from influencing legal judgments.

Second, Bell said that public confidence in the department’s objectivity is essential to democracy, with DOJ serving as the “acknowledged guardian and keeper of the law.”

Third, these principles ultimately depend on DOJ lawyers committed to good judgment and integrity, even under intense political pressure. These principles apply to all employees throughout the department – including the attorney general.

Recent ethics tests

These principles face a stark test in the current political climate.

The March 2025 firing of Elizabeth Oyer, a career pardon attorney with the Justice Department, raises questions about the boundaries between political directives and professional obligations.

Oyer was fired by Bondi shortly after declining to recommend the restoration of gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, a known Donald Trump supporter. Gibson lost his gun rights after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in 2011.

Oyer initially expressed concern to her superiors about restoring Gibson’s gun rights without a sufficient background investigation, particularly given Gibson’s history of domestic violence.

When Oyer later agreed to testify before Congress in a hearing about the White House’s handling of the Justice Department, the administration initially planned to send armed U.S. Marshals officers to deliver a warning letter to her home, saying that she could not disclose records about firearms rights to lawmakers.

Oyer was away from home when she received an urgent alert that the marshals were en route to her home, where her teenage child was alone. Oyer’s attorney described this plan as “both unprecedented and completely inappropriate.”

Officials called off the marshals only after Oyer confirmed receipt of the letter via email.

Elizabeth Oyer, a former U.S. pardon attorney at the Justice Department, speaks at a Senate hearing on April 7, 2025, in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Why independence matters

In my research, I found that lawyers sometimes have lapses in judgment because of the “partisan kinship,” conscious or not, they develop with clients. This partisan kinship can lead attorneys to overlook serious red flags that outsiders would easily spot.

When lawyers become too politically aligned with clients – or their superiors – their judgment suffers. They miss ethical problems and legal flaws that would otherwise be obvious. Professional distance allows attorneys to provide the highest quality legal counsel, even if that means saying “no” to powerful people.

That’s why DOJ attorneys sometimes make decisions that frustrate political objectives. When they refuse to target political opponents, when they won’t let allies off easily, or when they disclose information their superiors wanted hidden, they’re not being insubordinate.

They’re fulfilling their highest ethical duties to the Constitution and rule of law.

Cassandra Burke Robertson 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. Justice Department lawyers work for justice and the Constitution – not the White House – https://theconversation.com/justice-department-lawyers-work-for-justice-and-the-constitution-not-the-white-house-254763

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: VAT hikes can raise tax without hurting the poor: an economist sets out the evidence

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Imraan Valodia, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa’s 2025-6 budget has been subjected to more comment than usual. This is due to the political tensions generated by a proposed increase in value added tax (VAT).

South Africa’s choices on how it manages the revenue and expenditure issues in the budget are critical for how the larger issues of the country’s debt and its economic policies are handled. As things stand, the economy is locked into a low-growth trajectory which make the debt, revenue and expenditure issues more difficult to deal with.

This piece draws on a longer article which explores these issues in greater detail. Here, I focus only on the VAT issue.

The finance minister originally tabled an increase of 2 percentage points, then changed it to 0.5 percentage points. Still, it is threatening to end the country’s government of national unity, which was set up after elections in 2024.

Read more:
South Africa’s finance minister wanted to raise VAT: the pros and cons of a tricky tax

Most commentators, including the political parties that have opposed the proposal, many academics, and non-governmental organisations claiming to represent low-income groups, have argued that an increase in VAT places an undue burden on low-income groups. This would make it regressive.

Based on work as an academic economist over the past three decades, I believe that the debate has been based largely on conjecture and ideological opposition to VAT, rather than on the evidence of its impact.

This is a pity as there is empirical evidence rooted in research that a VAT increase is, in fact, not regressive and is therefore a good policy decision.

Tax experts usually refer to the three Es in taxes – equity, efficiency and ease of administration – for evaluating tax policy proposals. New taxes should ideally promote equity (they should be progressive and not regressive), be efficient and be easy to administer.

An increase in VAT in South Africa ticks all these boxes.

First, contrary to what many commentators have been arguing, VAT isn’t always regressive – it depends on how it’s implemented. As proposed by the finance minister it would not be regressive because, while it would add to the burden of low-income households, most of the VAT would be collected from higher-income households. Added to this is that the proposed expansion of the existing list of zero-rated items would protect the lowest-income households.

Second, VAT is a very efficient tax. For relatively low increases in the rate, government is able to raise a large amount of revenue.

Finally, the system is easy to administer and adds very little cost to collection.

Key to its efficacy is the way VAT is implemented, including the choice of products to zero rate, and the political credibility of government.

The case for a VAT increase

VAT is a consumption tax, so it only affects the income that a household consumes.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), VAT is now the mainstay of tax systems in over 160 countries, raising on average one-third of total government revenues.

In theory, there are good reasons to be concerned about the impact of VAT. First, it can place a high burden on low-income households because they spend a large proportion of their incomes on consumption goods such as food.

Second, VAT may also place a heavy burden of tax on women. In South Africa and many other countries, women-led households tend to be clustered in the lower end of the income distribution. And women disproportionately take responsibility for feeding and caring for family members.

So, at least in theory, VAT is a regressive tax. But is it really so in practice?

Three studies that have explored this issue in some detail have concluded that, in South Africa, VAT is not regressive.

In 2008, I worked with colleagues in eight countries (South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Morocco, Mexico, Argentina, India and the United Kingdom) on the gender issues related to tax. In particular we looked at the burden of VAT on low-income and women-headed households.

Our findings were that, in general, VAT is regressive and discriminates against women, but it depends on how it is implemented.

In South Africa, the zero-rating of basic consumption goods is very effective, protecting low-income and female-headed households from VAT. It’s an example of a VAT system that is neutral – neither regressive nor progressive.

A more recent study by South African economist Ingrid Woolard and colleagues reached a similar conclusion in 2018.

A third study was done in the same year when VAT was increased from 14% to 15%. Following a similar emotive debate, the finance minister appointed an independent committee which I served on and which was chaired by Woolard, to advise on further zero-rating.

Our conclusion – again – was that zero-rating is highly effective at protecting low-income groups from the deleterious effects of VAT.

How it’s done matters

The challenge with zero-rating is that while low-income households benefit, high-income households benefit more (because they spend more, in absolute terms, on zero-rated goods). Large amounts of potential VAT revenue are lost to high-income groups that don’t need protection.

The trick is to find a basket of goods that low-income households consume a lot of, but which high-income households don’t consume in large quantities. Some typical examples are beans, canned pilchards and cabbage. These are all goods that low-income households consume and high-income households do not.

National Treasury’s proposals for increasing the basket of goods to be zero-rated are based on solid research.

A good example of the trade-offs to consider is the case of chicken. Chicken is an important source of protein for low-income households, but also for high-income households. So, if all chicken were zero-rated, this would protect poor households, but a large amount of VAT revenue would be lost.

In our 2018 zero-rating report, at 2018 prices and consumption patterns, we calculated that zero-rating all chicken products would be equivalent to R1.3 billion (US$67.6 million) but government would lose R4.6 billion (US$244.4 million) to high income households.

Not a good trade-off.

However, some chicken products, such as chicken heads and feet, are mostly consumed by low-income groups, and are therefore good candidates for zero-rating.

The two other Es – efficiency and ease of administration – of taxes are also key to consider.

On these two considerations, VAT has big advantages.

It’s very difficult to avoid or evade VAT because it’s collected along the chain of production. There’s evidence that South Africa has very little leakage in the system.

So it is relatively easy to increase the VAT rate without needing to invest additional resources to collect the tax.

Credibility is key

Apart from the economic considerations, tax policy has to be politically credible. People should believe that their tax contributions are being used effectively, and government should be seen to be acting in line with this.

If people don’t believe in government’s ability to spend wisely, resistance to taxes increases. Then tax avoidance and evasion increases.

It would be fair to say that, with the high levels of corruption in South Africa’s political system, government’s credibility is low.

Thus, if VAT is to be increased, government has to do a lot more to improve its credibility and reassure South Africans that the tax revenues will be well spent.

Imraan Valodia receives funding from a number of foundations and governments that support academic research.

– ref. VAT hikes can raise tax without hurting the poor: an economist sets out the evidence – https://theconversation.com/vat-hikes-can-raise-tax-without-hurting-the-poor-an-economist-sets-out-the-evidence-254213

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Could Trump be leading the world into recession?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Schifferes, Honorary Research Fellow, City Political Economy Research Centre, City St George’s, University of London

Carolyn Franks/Shutterstock

Growth forecasts for the US and other advanced economies have been sharply downgraded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the wake of dramatic swings in US president Donald Trump’s economic policy. But could the uncertainty and the turmoil in financial markets eventually be enough to push the world into a recession?

The IMF says that global growth has already been hit by the decline in business and consumer confidence as “major policy shifts” by the US unfold. These are leading to less spending and less investment.

It also predicts further damage from the disruption in global supply chains and inflation caused by tariff increases.

But while the IMF forecasts a sharp reduction in world economic growth in 2025 and 2026, it is not projecting a recession – for now. However, it says the chances of a global recession have risen sharply from 17% to 30%. And there is now a 40% chance of a recession in the US.

The head of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, has blamed the slowdown on the ongoing “reboot of the global trading system” by the US. She said this is leading to downgrades in growth estimates, while volatility in financial markets is “up” and trade policy uncertainty is “literally off the charts”.

As part of the IMF forecasts, growth projections for the world’s richest countries in 2025 have been sharply reduced. In the US it is down 0.5% to just 1.8%, while growth in the euro area is projected to be just 0.8%. Japan will be growing by even less at 0.6%. Germany – the EU’s largest economy – is projected to have no growth at all.

And for the UK, growth has been cut by 0.5%, to a very weak 1.1%, which is in line with forecasts from March. This is well below the 2% projected at the time of the last budget in the autumn. And despite the adjustments made in the UK’s spring statement, the downgrade is likely to mean more tax increases, spending cuts, or both.

Some developing countries are doing much better, with India projected to have one of the highest annual GDP growth rates at 6.2% in 2025. Meanwhile, China’s growth forecast has been cut sharply due to the effect of US tariffs. It is now projected by the IMF to be down by 1.3% to just 4%.

Other poorer developing countries will also be negatively affected, but most will continue to grow at a faster pace than major industrial nations.

What the forecast underscores is that the era of rapid globalisation, spurred by trade and integration of financial markets, seems to be coming to an end.

Its rapid spread since the 1950s, which accelerated in the 1980s, led to a huge expansion of the world economy. But it created winners and losers, both between nations and within them.

The Trump administration’s answer to this is massive tariff increases
hitting countries that stand accused of “ripping off America”. The tariffs have several contradictory objectives, including raising money pay for tax cuts; acting as a bargaining chip to open foreign markets to American goods; and encouraging manufacturers to relocate to the US.

Trump has swung between these objectives, and backed down when market reaction became too fierce. These swings have destabilised trade and investment, as well as business and consumer confidence.

Read more:
Trump has shown he will backtrack on tariffs. What does that say about how to wage a trade war?

Tariffs do not change the fact that many countries can produce the goods Americans want, more cheaply and often more efficiently. And the looming trade war could mean US exporters are hit with retaliatory tariffs, making it even harder to sell American goods abroad.

The inflationary effect of tariffs – raising the price of imported goods – could reverse the recent successes of central banks in taming inflation. It could even force them to raise interest rates – something Trump is fiercely against.

A more immediate effect of Trump’s erratic policy-making has been turmoil in financial markets. The US stock market has fallen sharply since Trump announced his tariff plan, currently down by nearly 15% (a loss of more than US$4 trillion (£2.99 trillion) for shareholders).

This matters for the US economy, as most Americans depend on their stock market holdings to pay for their defined-contribution pensions. But even more worrying is the effect on the US Treasury bond market, which has been a safe haven in times of trouble. Foreign investors are now shunning US bonds, driving up interest rates for US government debt and unsettling financial institutions.

Added to the problem is the sharp drop in the value of the US dollar. Trump says he wants a weaker dollar, presumably to make US exports cheaper. But it also raises the price of imported goods and could fuel inflation. Ultimately, it could threaten the role of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

Potentially, big swings in normally steady financial markets can presage some of the same wobbles that led to the global financial crisis of 2008. That crisis threatened the solvency of the global financial system – although we have not reached that point yet.

Winners and losers

So what is the most likely outcome of the trade war, and the loss of a single hegemonic economic power? One example is what happened when Britain lost its dominant role in manufacturing and finance after the first world war.

Attempts at rebuilding a global economic order failed, and other major countries (led by Germany and the US) reverted to autarky, stepping back from the international trading system and worsening the Depression of the 1930s.

Just as Trump is trying to do, countries reverted to competitive devaluations. Each tried to make its exports cheaper than those of its rivals, ultimately to no avail. The world was divided into rival trading blocs, and it is conceivable that the US, the EU and China could form three such blocs in future.

The last financial crisis, in 2008, was mitigated by prompt and cooperative action
by central banks and governments. They injected trillions to stabilise the financial sector, but even now the damaging effects of this crisis on national growth rates is plain to see.

The IMF has made it clear that it is not just the detail of the tariffs, but erratic US economic policy, that is the main culprit for the potential recession. The rising cost of servicing US debt as investors lose confidence is also raising the cost of the large public debts of other advanced economies, including the UK. This puts more pressure on public spending.

Let’s hope that whatever the turmoil, we will not be repeating the mistakes of the past.

Steve Schifferes 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. Could Trump be leading the world into recession? – https://theconversation.com/could-trump-be-leading-the-world-into-recession-255081

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 24, 2025

*Record Date*	*Payable Date*	Distribution Per Trust Unit
April 30, 2025	May 15, 2025	$0.06
May 31, 2025	June 13, 2025	$0.06
June 30, 2025	July 15, 2025	$0.06

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