NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Inverness, Beauly and Fortrose school builds approved

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Through the Highland Investment Plan a new generation of community facilities is being planned across the Highland Council area, changing the way council services are delivered through a new way of operating across the partnership.

    The Highland Investment Plan (HIP) confirms phase one of its capital funding allocation to enable a new school for Beauly Primary, and extensive refurbishment projects at Fortrose Academy, Charleston Academy, and Inverness High School.

    Approval for the allocation of funding for the first phase of proposed projects for 2024/25 to 2029/30, which will help improve local public facilities and sustain local communities was agreed at the meeting of The Highland Council on 27 March 2025.

    Housing & Property Committee Chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair said: “At the meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday 27 March 2025, Members agreed capital funding allocation for phase one of the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) for developing its Learning Estate.

    “The Highland Investment Plan is helping to tackle major capital challenges to deliver new schools and extension/refurbishment programmes to our ageing Learning Estate. The capital funding allocation agreed for prioritised phase one projects includes Beauly Primary, Charleston Academy, Fortrose Academy and Inverness High School. The HIP sits alongside the ongoing new school build for Tornagrain Primary school and replacement schools at Tain Campus and Nairn Academy supported by Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). These projects are area specific and part of a wider pan Highland commitment to continue to develop and improve the learning environments for our young people, staff and wider community.”

    Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson added: “The Highland Investment Plan will see much needed improvements to our operational school estate which over time will support bringing the ageing school estate to a standard that will best support the educational needs of all our young people.

    “As Councillors who represent both our own Wards and also the wider Highland community, we are confident that the HIP delivered with phased methodology offers real tangible improvements for our young people and staff that will substantially improve their learning environments.”

    The Council’s Learning Estate Strategy (LES) aligns with the local priorities set out within the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) vision for developing the Highland learning estate. The Learning Estate Strategy provides the vision and methodology for creating spaces that will enhance and sustain communities across the Highlands. It will support children and young people through their learning journey from early years through to primary and secondary education, including delivering for Additional Support Needs and enhanced provisions to meet the needs of all learners.  This is not only important to equip our young people with skills for life and work, but also to develop the workforce for the future to grow the Highland economy and sustain our communities across the whole Council area.

    The full report can be accessed here (Item 5).

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Highland Investment Plan will deliver two new schools for Skye

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    A new generation of community facilities is being planned across the Highland Council area to focus on how this investment will change the way council services are delivered through a new way of operating across the partnership.

    The Highland Investment Plan (HIP) confirms phase one of the capital funding allocation will enable a new school at Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. This is in addition to the ongoing development of the new Broadford Primary School.

    Approval for the allocation of funding for the first phase of proposed projects for 2024/25 to 2029/30, which will help improve local public facilities and sustain local communities was agreed at the meeting of The Highland Council on 27 March 2025.

    Education Committee Chair and Local Area Committee Chair for Skye and Raasay, Cllr John Finlayson said: “I’m delighted that the Highland Investment Plan capital funding allocation for phase one has an additional five new school builds or extension/refurbishment projects across Highland and includes the much awaited and needed Dunvegan Primary School.

    “Subject to planning and contract award, the new Dunvegan Primary School construction work will look to commence in 2026 with a completion date of May/ June 2027. The school build is part of a masterplan investment that will change the way council services are delivered through a new collaborative operating model and will include new affordable housing and a sports pitch which are being developed in partnership with Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association and Dunvegan Community Trust. Road and enabling works for the different elements have already been completed.

    “These exciting developments sit alongside the plans for the new Broadford Primary School and a community sports pitch which are currently being progressed to design and tender stage, which will also bring much improved learning and community facilities to another area of Skye.

    “I would like to thank the Skye community, Stakeholders and Council Officers who have worked tirelessly with me and other Members over a number of years to get to this stage, they should be proud of their efforts to date, and they like I will be looking forward to the first phase of the Highland Investment Plan being delivered, with excitement and optimism.”

    The Council’s Learning Estate Strategy (LES) aligns with the local priorities set out within the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) vision for developing its learning estate. The Learning Estate Strategy provides the vision and methodology for creating spaces that will enhance and sustain communities across the Highlands. It will support children and young people through their learning journey from early years through to primary and secondary education, including delivering for Additional Support Needs and enhanced provisions to meet the needs of all learners.  This is not only important to equip our young people with skills for life and work, but also to develop the workforce for the future to grow the Highland economy and sustain our communities across the whole Council area.

    The full report can be accessed here (Item 5).

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Empowering Indigenous policing services

    Alberta’s commitment to supporting Indigenous-led policing emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive law enforcement and community-driven safety measures. This investment will help ensure First Nations police services have the modern facilities needed to provide effective policing and keep their communities safe, while promoting empowerment and self-determination within Indigenous communities.

    That is why Budget 2025 invests $6.9 million over three years to expand the existing Lakeshore Regional Police Service detachment building, ensuring it can better serve the five First Nations surrounding Lesser Slave Lake. This expansion project will increase their capacity to effectively address the unique needs of their communities and foster stronger relationships with the residents they serve.

    “Alberta wants to improve public safety through new approaches to local policing. This funding will help ensure Lakeshore Regional Police Service has the modern facilities needed to provide effective policing and keep its communities safe. No one knows a community better than the people who live there. By investing in this expanded building, we are strengthening public safety and supporting the long-term growth of First Nation police services. We are excited to work with them and empower them in true reconciliation.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    “It is important for Indigenous communities to have responsive law enforcement. An Indigenous police service can provide families with safe places to grow and strengthen their communities, which is the goal for every community across Alberta. With this $6.9-million investment, our government reaffirms its commitment to protecting communities and creating opportunities for all Albertans to live in a save community, no matter where they live in our province.”

    Nolan Dyck, parliamentary secretary for indigenous and rural policing

    In total, Budget 2025 provides $30.9 million to support policing in First Nations communities with new and expanded facilities, as well as operational support. With this investment, Alberta’s government is reaffirming its commitment to empowering Indigenous policing services and ensuring First Nations communities have access to reliable, well-resourced police services.

    “This commitment from the Government of Alberta affirms what we have always known—our people have the inherent right and responsibility to protect our own, as our ancestors intended when Treaty was made. Self-administered Indigenous policing is an expression of our sovereignty, our laws, and our way of keeping our communities safe. We lift up this investment as a step toward honoring the true spirit and intent of Treaty, and we acknowledge Alberta for walking with us on this path toward self-determination and safety rooted in our own ways.”

    Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta

    “Today’s announcement is a positive step forward to ensure all First Nations receiving these policing services are a step closer to a healthy, vibrant and secure community, as desired by all communities in Canada.”

    Chief Dwayne Laboucan, Driftpile Cree Nation

    “The expansion is more than just the addition of space and facilities; it is a testament to the government’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the nations we serve. It reflects government’s understanding that First Nations policing plays a critical role in ensuring that our communities remain secure, and that we have the resources necessary to serve effectively.”

    Dean Syniak, Chief, Lakeshore Regional Police Service

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts:

    • The three-year funding breakdown includes $1.8 million in 2025-26, $3.6 million in 2026-27 and $1.5 million in 2027-28.
    • The Lakeshore Regional Police Service covers five First Nations surrounding Lesser Slave Lake including Driftpile Cree Nation, Kapawe’no First Nation, Sawridge First Nation, Sucker Creek First Nation and Swan River First Nation.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Danielle Smith’s subservient Florida trip flouts the Team Canada approach to fighting Trump

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Junaid B. Jahangir, Associate Professor, Economics, MacEwan University

    Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and media personality Ben Shapiro at a PragerU event in Florida on March 27, 2025. (@DanielleSmith, X)

    Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is facing fierce criticism for using taxpayer money to meet American far-right pundit Ben Shapiro in Florida as part of a recent fundraiser for conservative think tank PragerU.

    At the event, Smith and Shapiro reportedly joked about U.S. President Donald Trump annexing Canada.

    Smith also praised the United States for turning away from 2050 climate targets, spoke of a “net zero ideology” and promoted the importance of Albertan oil and gas to Americans.

    Smith was initially opposed to retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., but eventually acquiesced. Nonetheless, she recently scoffed at a poll that showed a majority of Canadians (68.1 per cent), even in the Prairies (58.8 per cent), support retaliatory tariffs on oil and gas.

    Those defending her Florida appearance argue that Smith intended to reach out to a conservative American audience to present Alberta’s case in the face of Trump’s tariffs.

    She appeared to attempt a balancing act as she stressed the harms of tariffs without strongly pushing back against Trump’s annexation rhetoric.

    The problem with subservience

    I’ve argued that a better response to Trump’s tariffs would be countervailing power, not abject subservience. Additionally, Smith’s approach to Trump’s anti-Canada actions doesn’t reflect the will of Canadians who are pushing back democratically through consumer boycotts of American goods.



    Read more:
    Boycotting U.S. products allows Canadians to take a rare political stand in their daily lives

    Smith’s critics also argue that she cannot achieve more than social pleasantries in her forays to the U.S. to hobnob with right-wing personalities. Generally, the approach of talking to the far right is contingent on various factors, including subject matter and timing, to be successful.

    The benefits of Smith exchanging social pleasantries and pleading her case with the far right in the U.S. comes at the cost of breaking rank from the united stand Canadians need given the perceived existential threat to their country.

    Additionally, Smith shared a platform with those who hold hardcore beliefs about women’s autonomy, LGBTQ rights and who peddle pseudo-academia in the “intellectual dark web,” sending a troubling message to many Canadians.

    The economics of Smith’s approach

    Understanding Smith’s response on retaliatory tariffs requires understanding the economics behind it.

    Smith has an undergraduate degree in economics. But textbook neoclassical economics itself is problematic. I’ve already addressed the shortcomings of mainstream neoclassical economics on climate change in both mainstream and academic work.

    In his book Economism, American law professor James Kwak highlights the problems with Economics 101 as it’s taught at universities around the world. He argues it leaves students with simplistic soundbites long after they’ve graduated that informs their political thinking in later life.

    This could explain Smith’s approach that rests on free market fundamentalism (based on unfettered trade with smaller government and more private entrepreneurship).

    Her economic approach complements her libertarian approach that apparently involves courting right-wing groups that are often small government proponents.



    Read more:
    What Danielle Smith’s remarkable comeback means for Canada

    Neoclassical economics on tariffs

    When it comes to tariffs, textbook economics extols the benefits of free trade without addressing serious issues of environmental degradation and working conditions. Those studying this mainstream economic school of thought may have been left with the overwhelming impression that when the U.S. imposes tariffs, it only hurts itself.

    Harvard economist Gregory Mankiw’s bestselling principles textbook shoots down arguments about how tariffs save jobs, protect infant industries, strengthen national security and prevent unfair competition.

    Several Canadian economists don’t see economic merit in retaliatory tariffs and relegate the issue to politics. Trained within the mainstream neoclassical model, they also view tariffs as categorically harmful.

    Doing nothing in response to tariffs then becomes the default response, based on the argument that governments would make things worse by intervening in the market.

    Australian economist Steve Keen has pointed out that mainstream economics did not have much to say about the global financial crisis in 2008. This is partly because of the belief in what’s known as the “efficient market hypothesis” that contends stocks always trade at fair value.

    In terms of this “do nothing” approach in neoclassical economics, Smith’s response on retaliatory tariffs is therefore not surprising.

    Steve Keen in an interview on the problems with neoclassical economics.

    Alternative economics approaches

    My approach to teaching economics is aimed at prioritizing worker rights, equality, environmental standards and local resilience, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic when supply chains were disrupted. I also believe unanimity is required for retaliatory economic sanctions and boycotts to work.

    That’s because retaliatory tariffs and separate radical responses work when co-ordination difficulties and the “free rider” problem — meaning an individual benefits from collective effort without contributing — are minimized. A united front is required, which Smith is violating when she goes rogue in courting the American far right.

    Alternative economic approaches critical of mainstream perspectives are already promoted in Canada by academics like Rod Hill and Tony Myatt.

    These perspectives don’t categorically reject tariffs. Instead, they highlight the role of targeted tariffs and focus on local resilience and workers’ rights, offering an alternative to the status quo.

    Overall, these new models are a better alternative to Smith’s style of subservience, or do-nothing approaches based on inertia that has seeped into mainstream economics. Both of these outdated responses to American tariffs seem particularly dangerous during this tumultuous period in Canada-U.S. history.

    Junaid B. Jahangir 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. Danielle Smith’s subservient Florida trip flouts the Team Canada approach to fighting Trump – https://theconversation.com/danielle-smiths-subservient-florida-trip-flouts-the-team-canada-approach-to-fighting-trump-252371

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Mountain America Credit Union Names Nanette Graviet Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    SANDY, Utah, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mountain America Credit Union recently announced the promotion of Nanette Graviet to senior vice president and chief risk officer. In her new role, Graviet will oversee governance, risk, compliance, and legal, as well as Mountain America’s risk management strategy. She will be responsible for overseeing the compliance management system and collaborating on all compliance risk-related tasks.

    “Nanette’s extensive expertise and effective leadership make her the perfect candidate for this role,” said Sterling Nielsen, president and CEO at Mountain America. “Her vision and dedication to our organization will be crucial in advancing our risk management strategy, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of regulatory compliance and financial security for our members.”

    Graviet began her career at Mountain America 31 years ago as a part-time teller. She steadily advanced through a variety of roles, leading teams in mortgage sales, member services, training, technology, public relations, quality control, and compliance.

    “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow and learn throughout my career at Mountain America. I’ve been supported every step of the way by leaders who believed in me,” Graviet said. “What I love most about working here is the strong sense of purpose and the commitment we share to serve and protect our members. It’s an honor to continue that work in this new role.”

    In November 2022, Graviet joined the executive leadership team as the senior vice president of enterprise risk management. In this role, she developed, communicated, and executed Mountain America’s risk management strategy, overseeing the compliance management system, and collaborating on all risk-related components for new initiatives, products, and services. Graviet also ensured all team members received education on regulations and compliance requirements that are critical to Mountain America’s continued success.

    Prior to her credit union career, Graviet joined the U.S. Army Reserve in high school, completing basic and advanced training after graduation. Graviet is also an avid golfer and loves to spend time with her husband Jeff and their children.

    About Mountain America Credit Union
    With more than 1 million members and $20 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union helps its members define and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, over 100 branches across multiple states, and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain America—guiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Babe at 30: why this much-loved film is one of the best cinematic translations of a children’s book

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kiera Vaclavik, Professor of Children’s Literature & Childhood Culture, Queen Mary University of London

    This spring, Babe is returning to cinemas to mark the 30th anniversary of its release in 1995. The much-loved family film tells the deceptively simple but emotionally powerful story of a piglet who saves his bacon through intelligence, kindness and hard work.

    Babe becomes the trusted ally of both farmer and farmyard animals and, like so many Hollywood heroes before and since, he refuses to stay in his lane.

    It’s a film which, on paper, really shouldn’t work and which sounds alarm bells to any self-respecting children’s literature scholar like me. It takes an expertly crafted English children’s book with tasteful black-and-white illustrations – Dick King-Smith’s The Sheep Pig (1983) – and turns it into an all-singing, all-dancing technicolour extravaganza.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The film inserts new episodes and characters – an evil cat, a plucky duck and (most alarmingly) a brace of brattish kids. And it replaces a perfectly good, does-what-it-says-on-the-tin book title with the cutesy moniker of the piglet star.

    It shouldn’t work … but it really, really does. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it’s one of the most successful film adaptations of a children’s book of all time.

    It met with both commercial and critical success, making over US$254 million at the box office and being nominated for no less than seven Academy Awards, one of which it secured for visual effects.

    So, what exactly is so special about Babe? It was one of the first films which, thanks to the then-cutting edge combination of animatronics and visual effects, delivered convincing talking animals who, endowed with the gift of speech, could themselves “look like movie stars”. But with all the jaw-dropping technological advances of the last 30 years, how has this film managed to stand the test of time so well?

    The answer in part is that its source material is exceptionally strong. The Sheep Pig is written with restraint and economy, but also great warmth and relish. King-Smith has immense fun, wallowing in words like the proverbial pig in muck, and putting it all to the service of a story whose core values are easy to get behind. The Sheep Pig is a soft-power parable which advocates for brains over brawn, for respectful communication and common decency.

    But the excellence of a film’s bookish bedrock is no guarantee of success. Indeed, the brilliance of a book can often be something of a liability. Think of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, or any of the film and TV adaptations of Noel Streatfeild’s superb Ballet Shoes. With Babe, though, the book is catalyst rather than straitjacket, an enabling prompt which initiates a new work of equal strength and quality.

    The pacing is well judged, the look of the film lush, and there are several actual laugh-out-loud moments – including the duck’s panicked realisation that “Christmas means carnage!” Above all, it’s a film with immense emotional intelligence and power.

    Recognised for its visual effects, it also succeeds in large part because of the strength of its soundscape and score. There’s one scene in particular which really soars, and which takes on the elephant in the room: the human habit of eating pigs.

    Babe is so shocked and upset on learning this fact from the evil cat (who else?) that he loses the will not just to win in the sheepdog trial, but to live at all. The supremely taciturn Father Hoggett must act to make amends and save his pig protégé.

    In an astonishingly moving act of love, this man of few words takes the sickly and sick-at-heart pig onto his lap and sings to him. At first a gentle crooning, the farmer’s expression of care and affection soon swells to an out-and-out bellow, accompanied by a wild, caution-to-the-wind dance.

    It’s difficult to imagine a more lyrically apt song than the 1977 reggae-inflected hit based on the powerful tune of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C Minor: “If I had words”, it begins. It’s a moment of huge emotional force and intensity, in which the gaping abyss of age and species difference are bridged through music and dance.

    James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett, here and throughout the film, is tremendous, his reserved performance a key factor in its success. The role – which he almost didn’t take because of the paucity of lines – was career-defining, and prompted personal epiphanies which flow naturally from this scene.

    First, Cromwell never ate meat again. Second, he has spoken (with visible emotion) of the delivery of the film’s final pithy-but-powerful line of approbation – “That’ll do pig, that’ll do” – as a moment of communion with his father on catching sight of his own artificially aged reflection in the camera lens. “My life changed, and I owe it to a pig,” the actor concludes.

    Babe is a film and an adaptation with many qualities. It’s wholesome without ever being sickly. But above all, it has an emotional force which worked on actors and audiences alike and which, 30 years later, remains undiminished.

    Kiera Vaclavik 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. Babe at 30: why this much-loved film is one of the best cinematic translations of a children’s book – https://theconversation.com/babe-at-30-why-this-much-loved-film-is-one-of-the-best-cinematic-translations-of-a-childrens-book-253290

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five ways to improve net zero action – our new research highlights lessons from the past

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Karen Bickerstaff, Professor in Human Geography, University of Exeter

    Cycling is not only a way to reduce carbon emissions, it also has huge health benefits. LeManna/Shutterstock

    The current UK government and its recent predecessors have shown a reluctance to encourage and enable lifestyle changes that reduce our collective demand for energy.

    Fearing a backlash from voters, many UK politicians neglect key weapons in the fight to mitigate climate change. These include directing investment away from building roads to public transport, establishing reliable infrastructure for the charging and repair of electric vehicles, and making reduction of car travel a key priority for urban planners.

    As researchers focusing on how to accelerate climate action, we argue that shying away from changing the way we live is counterproductive. Conflict and disagreement are part of social change, but there are positive ways forward.

    The problems and, critically, the solutions have overwhelmingly been presented by UK governments as technological. But many of these technologies are still only in development.

    Practical use of nuclear fusion (the energy-generating mechanism that powers the sun), for example, has long been spoken of as “30 years away”. The efficacy of direct air capture (a set of technologies that extract CO₂ directly from the atmosphere) remains a matter of conjecture.

    Meanwhile, demand reduction and lifestyle changes – solutions we know make a difference – are being left in the background.

    In the run-up to the 2024 UK general election, we conducted a survey of almost 3,000 UK citizens – of which just over half (51%) expressed support for a net zero carbon emissions target. Given the apparent indifference or outright opposition of a substantial proportion of voters, it is not surprising that politicians seek to minimise objections to net zero policy by downplaying any suggestion of personal disruption.

    Our survey also asked about people’s willingness to make specific lifestyle changes (to home energy, diet and travel) for climate reasons. On average, 43% were already acting or firmly planning to do so. Another 28% said they might be prepared to make such changes in the future.

    Willingness to make climate-related lifestyle changes:

    This ties in with other research which indicates that people are open to significant changes in their lifestyle to support net zero, if the conditions are right. So, how can this potential for change be realised?

    The answer, we argue, lies in the recent past. Over the last year, as part of a social science taskforce on net zero, we looked back at a diverse range of case studies of societal change to draw lessons for future policy. We now propose that five key steps are needed for effective net zero action.

    1. Galvanise people

    When seeking to build support for contentious change, it is vital to identify issues that can galvanise people. These will often relate to other (non-net zero) benefits. For instance, “school streets” projects have been successful, where other traffic reduction policies have failed, because they emphasise the benefits to the health and wellbeing of children.

    Similarly, the rapid switch from coal heating to gas central heating in the 1960s and ’70s was partly connected to a popular movement for cleaner, “decent” homes.

    Identifying issues that unify people can galvanise support from local communities.
    Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

    2. Focus on fairness

    In our survey, just 37% of people saw a fairer society as a likely outcome of net zero actions, while 63% identified individual finances as a major challenge to achieving net zero. Regulation needs to establish a close connection between net zero measures and equity, so that no groups are unfairly burdened or advantaged. This requires an honest discussion about downsides and trade-offs.

    Measures that focus on cheaper bills, affordable devices, accessible transport and the alleviation of fuel poverty will build optimism. In the successful Danish transition to district heating from the mid-1970s, ensuring affordable and reliable energy was vital in gaining support, as was giving residents a say in decision-making.

    3. Make the policy process relatable

    We noticed that survey participants expressed a lot of cynicism and uncertainty about government action on net zero. Nearly half (46%) doubted that the net zero target was achievable, while most people (62%) had serious concerns about vested interests, under-resourced local authorities (59%), and a lack of government investment in infrastructure (59%).

    People also feel disconnected from decision-making. Many said they had little or no influence on climate policy (59%), and felt there was a lack of power in communities (51%).

    Local authorities, businesses, community groups and other third-sector organisations can help bridge these gaps between national government and everyday life. They should play a key role delivering net zero policies that fit with local needs and issues.

    When Denmark switched to district heating, the delegation of powers to municipal authorities was crucial in supporting community ownership models and empowering residents and community groups. Properly resourced local climate commissions – town- and city-wide groups that bring together local organisations and businesses – can provide an independent, trusted voice to help drive climate action at a local level.

    4. Listen to other people

    People need the chance to listen to and engage with each other. If they doubt their opinions and concerns are recognised, or if their worries are viewed as nothing more than obstacles, conflict becomes more likely.

    Proper dialogue through collaborations like climate citizens’ assemblies can improve understanding of different positions, aspirations and capabilities. Once legitimate concerns and unintended consequences have been identified, potential solutions can be explored.

    There is certainly support for this more interactive approach: 40% of people in our survey felt that affected communities should have a considerable influence on climate policies, alongside local authorities (40%) and elected MPs (42%).

    Without these ongoing conversations, projects can fail. A Dutch carbon capture and storage project, using a depleted gas field under the town of Barendrecht to store CO₂ from a nearby refinery, was cancelled in 2010 following intense local opposition. The government and industry had failed to get public engagement right from the start.

    5. Accept some opposition

    Change to net zero is going to be difficult, and no step the UK government takes will completely eliminate the possibility of disruption and conflict. In our survey, nearly a quarter of respondents were opposed to the UK net zero target. So, politicians need to be more robust and interventionist in making a positive case for net zero, recognising that not everyone is going to agree.

    However, there are grounds to be optimistic that action itself may help unlock support for net zero. Research that has followed school streets projects, for example, shows that once schemes are in place, support among residents and parents increases when anticipated problems (such as traffic displacement) do not materialise – and when the benefits, in terms of children walking and cycling more, become clear.


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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Karen Bickerstaff receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust and ESRC.

    Alice Moseley receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council

    Patrick Devine-Wright receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

    – ref. Five ways to improve net zero action – our new research highlights lessons from the past – https://theconversation.com/five-ways-to-improve-net-zero-action-our-new-research-highlights-lessons-from-the-past-244195

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Parliament adopts 2025 budget framework

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, April 2, 2025

    Parliament has voted to adopt the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals, following a debate in the house.

    Parliament also debated on and adopted the report of the Standing Committee on Finance related to the national budget, on Wednesday afternoon.

    Members of Parliament voted as follows:
    •    182 members voted against
    •    194 voted in favour
    •    there were no abstentions.

    “The question that the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals and the report of the Standing Committee is thus adopted,” Presiding officer Cedric Frolick said after the votes were counted.

    Earlier in the debate, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance Mkhacani Maswanganyi outlined the steps taken since Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the Budget Speech in March.

    “The Minister, together with the commissioner of SARS [South African Revenue Service], briefed the committee on the 14th of March. On 18 March…the committees of Finance, both in the NCOP [National Council of Provinces] and the NA [National Assembly] received the post-budget input from the Parliamentary budget office and the financial and fiscal commission.

    “The committee issued adverts for public hearings…on websites, social channels and print media. The committees held public hearings on 25 March 2025 [and] we received 51 submissions – 29 written and 22 orally.

    “National Treasury and SARS responded to the issues raised during the public hearings and engaged with the committees and stakeholders on the 28th of March 2025,” he said.

    Following that, the committee secretariat sent out a draft report and set an agenda meeting for both the Standing and Select committees on Finance to consider and adopt the report.

    “The report…is a result of an extensive process,” Maswangayi explained. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: GROUPIRA Introduces New Feature on Cutting-Edge Platform to further Transform the Automatic IRA Rollover Process for TPAs with Microsoft Azure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TACOMA, Wash., April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GROUPIRA®, INC (GROUPIRA®), a leader in financial technology innovation, proudly announces the launch of a new service feature that enhances the efficiency of the automatic rollover process for Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) by prepopulating recordkeeper required participant rollover forms. GROUPIRA’s innovative and proprietary platform streamlines the rollover process by automating data uploads, lost participant searches, and customized distribution mailings—all at no cost to TPAs.

    The latest GROUPIRA® 6.0 enhancement simplifies the rollover process by automatically filling in essential participant data across all major Recordkeeper Platforms required rollover forms to process rollovers, reducing administrative burden and minimizing the risk of errors. With this innovation, TPAs can now process rollovers faster and with greater accuracy while also improving operational efficiency.

    “GROUPIRA is committed to providing cutting-edge solutions that make automatic rollovers and plan terminations efficient,” said Yannis Koumantaros, Co-Founder & President at GROUPIRA. “By automating and prepopulating recordkeeper required rollover forms, we are eliminating redundant tasks for TPAs, allowing them to focus on higher-value services.”

    The launch of this feature underscores GROUPIRA’s ongoing commitment to innovation in the retirement industry. TPAs and their plan sponsors clients can now leverage this enhancement to optimize their workflows.

    About GROUPIRA®, INC.
    GROUPIRA®, Inc. is a pioneering financial technology company committed to bringing the benefits of 401(k) plans to IRA investors. To discover more about GROUPIRA® and its innovative solutions, visit www.groupira.com.

    Media Contact: Yannis Koumantaros, yannis@groupira.com, 253-592-6687

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Energys Group Announces Closing of $10.125 Million Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BILLINGSHURST, WEST SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Energys Group Limited (NASDAQ: ENGS) (“Energys Group” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions provider for the built environment, today announced the closing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 2,250,000 ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”) at a public offering price of US$4.50 per Ordinary Share, for total gross proceeds of US$10,125,000 before deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses. The Offering closed on April 2, 2025 and the Ordinary Shares began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 1, 2025, under the ticker symbol “ENGS.”

    The Company has granted the underwriters an option, within 45 days from the date of the prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 337,500 Ordinary Shares at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any.

    The Offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis. American Trust Investment Services, Inc. (“American Trust”) acted as the representative of the underwriters for the Offering. Schlueter & Associates, P.C. acted as U.S. counsel to the Company, and DeMint Law, PLLC acted as U.S. counsel to American Trust, in connection with the Offering.

    The Company intends to use the proceeds from this Offering 1) to expand its operating network in the United Kingdom; 2) for inventory procurement; 3) to establish operating subsidiaries in the United States; 4) to identify and pursue merger and acquisition opportunities; 5) to expand research and development capabilities; 6) to repay certain bank borrowings; and 7) to use as general working capital.

    A registration statement relating to the Offering, as amended (File No. 333-275956), was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and was declared effective by the SEC on March 14, 2025.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus related to the Offering may be obtained from American Trust, Attn: Syndicate Department, 1244 119th Street, Whiting, IN 46394, via email at ib@amtruinvest.com, or via telephone at (219) 473-5542. In addition, a copy of the final prospectus can be obtained via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    About Energys Group

    Founded in 1998 as an energy conservation consultancy, Energys Group Limited (NASDAQ: ENGS) (“Energys Group” or the “Company”) has since transitioned into a vertically integrated energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions provider for the built environment. Serving organizations from both the private and public sectors, including schools, universities, hospitals and offices, primarily in the UK, the Company’s vision is to deliver innovative solutions that reduce carbon emissions, lower costs and support Net Zero agenda – alongside improving the wellbeing of building users within the built environment.

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    For more information, please contact:
    DLK Advisory
    Phone: +852-2857-7101
    Email: ir@dlkadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The Most Profitable Bitcoin Cloud Mining Platform on Mobile: SpeedHash App Creates a Passive Crypto Income Tool for Android & iOS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — If you’re looking for the most worthwhile cryptocurrency investment opportunity in 2025, but don’t want to constantly monitor the markets, engage in frequent trading, or take on high volatility risks, then this legally compliant cloud mining app might be the solution you’re looking for. It’s not only suitable for users who want to enter Bitcoin investing with low barriers but also ideal for those who care about asset security, stable returns, and ease of use. Instead of blindly chasing price fluctuations, using an intelligent tool to build a “passive income stream from crypto” that works anytime and anywhere seems to be a more rational approach for long-term wealth management.

    Scene One: On the subway, you’re scrolling through your phone, and the system is silently “mining BTC for you”

    Kevin, an Australian designer, opens the SpeedHash App every morning during his commute to check how much Bitcoin he earned the previous day. He doesn’t own mining equipment, nor does he track Bitcoin prices, but his account steadily grows with Bitcoin every day.

    This is the passive income solution provided by SpeedHash—an easy-to-use Bitcoin investment tool that requires no equipment, supports both Android and iOS, and provides real-time payouts. All you need to do is register, and the platform will give you $18 worth of free hashrate, no deposit required, with earnings that are instantly available for withdrawal. It’s as simple as “earn Bitcoin passively with your phone.”

    What is it? A Legally Compliant Bitcoin Cloud Mining Platform Powered by Cloud Hashing

    The SpeedHash App combines the computing power of a cloud mining platform with the convenience of mobile users, allowing ordinary people to easily and safely participate in the accumulation of crypto assets:

    • No need for mining machines, wallets, or technical knowledge
    • Register and get free hashrate instantly, view daily Bitcoin earnings at any time
    • Legally compliant cloud mining platform with operational licenses in the US, Bhutan, and Kazakhstan
    • All earnings are automatically settled daily
    • Available for both Android and iOS users, globally accessible

    Rather than just being a “mining tool,” it functions as a mobile passive income generator, your digital wealth-building assistant for Bitcoin.

    What’s the best Bitcoin cloud mining configuration if you have $100,000 to invest?

    Many investors prefer not to bet all their funds on price speculation but instead seek to earn steady returns through mining. SpeedHash offers short-term high-return contract plans, making it ideal for investments in the $10K to $100K range.

    Investment (USD) Duration (Days) Daily ROI Daily Earnings Total Return (USD)
    $10,000 2 3.5% $350 $10,700
    $24,000 3 4.2% $1,008 $27,024
    $100,000 3 7.8% $7,800 $123,400
    $138,000 3 8.2% $11,316 $171,348

    These plans are suitable for investors seeking fast returns + stable cash flow, especially in a long-term Bitcoin bull market, as this approach helps mitigate market volatility.

    These Users Are Earning Bitcoin Easily with Their Phones

    • Bitcoin investment beginners: Those looking to enter the crypto market with low risk
    • Finance-focused users: Prefer steady cash flow rather than market speculation
    • Overseas users looking for a legally compliant cloud mining platform: Those concerned about platform legitimacy or regulatory issues
    • Digital workers looking to create passive income via their phones: Students, freelancers, or regular office workers
    • Middle-class users looking to allocate $100K in crypto assets: Those aiming to diversify their investment portfolio

    No Need to Predict Market Moves – Earn Crypto Passively

    In the crypto world, many people associate “making money” with market speculation; however, with SpeedHash, your earnings come from the system, from the power of hashing, and from a well-structured contract mechanism.

    You don’t have to watch price charts, chase trends, or worry about risk management. All you need is a phone and a hashrate contract, and you’ll see Bitcoin steadily accumulate. This is a true form of passive income, and the entry point is simply the app.

    Why Is This App Different from Others?

    • Supports global users with both Android and iOS platforms
    • Register to receive $18 free hashrate, no cost to start, and earnings are instantly available for withdrawal
    • Short-term, high-return contracts with daily payouts
    • Data centers use green energy, ensuring eco-friendly mining operations
    • Fully compliant with operational licenses, safe, and sustainable
    • Referral system with up to 6% commission for inviting others

    If You’re Looking for a Reliable and Profitable Way to Invest in Bitcoin

    SpeedHash offers a low-barrier, compliant, and sustainable Bitcoin investment solution, where you don’t need any equipment, don’t need to monitor the markets, and can easily start earning passive income from your phone.

    Compared to the uncertainties of crypto trading, SpeedHash helps users steadily accumulate crypto assets through its legally compliant cloud mining platform and cloud hashrate contracts. The platform supports Android and iOS, with fully automated operations, making it ideal for most users looking to build cash flow in the digital era.

    Whether you’re a Bitcoin beginner or a seasoned investor planning to allocate $10K to $100K in assets, SpeedHash is a trustworthy choice.

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: People with dementia could stay in the workplace longer – with the right tech

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By James Fletcher, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Management Information, Decisions & Operations at the Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, University of Bath

    Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

    For Paul, a finance administrator, things came to a head when his report mistakenly included £7,000,000 of costs rather than £700,000. Fearing accusations of fraud, Paul disclosed his recent dementia diagnosis to his boss.

    Six weeks of sick leave became six months, and then a stepping stone to early retirement. Several years later, Paul regrets his unwanted unemployment, but at the time there didn’t seem to be an alternative.

    Paul was participating in an unrelated study about public transport when he told us about his unemployment. As researchers, we had heard many similar accounts – so we decided to dig down into the research on work and dementia. We were curious about how typical Paul’s experience was of the trajectories of people diagnosed while working.

    The ageing of populations around the world is influencing our lives in many ways. More people are extending their working lives beyond traditional retirement ages, and many more are being diagnosed with dementia. Around 9% of the world’s 55 million people with dementia are under 65, with around 370,000 new cases of young-onset dementia annually.

    It is striking then, that despite government and business commitments to support longer working lives and inclusive employment practices, workers with dementia are largely ignored. What little evidence we have paints a picture of widespread and unwanted unemployment.

    For some, this takes the form of redundancy or retirement. For others – like Paul – a period of temporary leave gradually evolves into a permanent exit.

    Alongside workforce ageing, digital transformation is perhaps the single most important development in modern industry. Almost all our working lives are now shaped by digital technologies in some form.

    Older people are often stereotyped as technologically incompetent. This can be even worse for people with dementia. When exciting digital innovations are discussed in relation to them, the focus is almost always on providing care. But someone diagnosed with dementia in their 60s today might have been blogging in their 30s, scrolling social media on a phone in their 40s and using a smart home assistant in their 50s.

    The tech is here already

    The reality is that many people with dementia use digital tools every day. This ranges from familiar products like Google Maps to more cutting-edge technologies. A person with dementia recently introduced us to their voice-activated AI companion, with which they watch and discuss films. These companions can provide vital social interaction for people fearing judgement or isolation because of their cognitive decline.

    Far from being a barrier, digital technologies could offer ways to help people with dementia to enjoy positive working lives, just as they help workers who don’t have dementia. The trick is to use them to tailor work and workplaces to the individual.

    For example, if a worker is struggling to remember appointments, automated and shared calendar scheduling can take care of that. If a worker has impaired wayfinding, mapping apps can be tailored to working environments and live location data can be used to guide staff around complicated sites. This is hardly futuristic tech. Many of us would struggle without our online calendars and maps.

    Research shows that touchscreens can be particularly challenging for older people with dementia. To make interfaces more suitable, developers could encourage the integration of voice-operated smart assistants into employee workstations (think of Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri).

    While discussions of dementia often focus on memory loss, the various types of dementia are associated with a wide range of symptoms. One very common symptom is the struggle to find the right words. But recent developments in generative AI (like OpenAI’s ChatGPT) are proficient at predicting and expressing the next word in a sequence.

    These tools are also excellent at transforming text into different formats. Guidance on dementia-friendly information recommends features such as large fonts, single-clause sentences and single-syllable words.

    A generative AI tool could quickly transform documents into dementia-friendly formats. The integration of these tools into emailing and writing applications could make a lot of work far more accessible to people with dementia.

    These days, it makes little sense for workers to be manually entering costings into a spreadsheet. Dementia or no dementia, these practices are ripe for human error. By outsourcing them to digital technologies, we can free up our ageing workforces to use their unmatched skills, such as networking and experience.

    Getting the balance right can free an employee with dementia from tasks they find challenging to maximise their other skills and experience.
    fizkes/Shutterstock

    In practice, employers will likely be responsible for supporting positive working lives with dementia in the future. The best way to do this will be to develop strategies, in consultation with people with dementia, that identify interventions suitable for the workplace. Then, when an employee is diagnosed, they can pick and mix a personalised collection of tools to address their needs.

    Right now, we are not aware of any workplace that has such a strategy. But many organisations already have robust policies for other conditions. Our own employer, the University of Bath, has a repository of reasonable adjustments that can be tailored to support staff and students experiencing mental illness. Dementia could be approached in much the same way.

    The UK government is currently attempting to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in the labour market. It is simultaneously driving an agenda to increase the use of AI throughout the country.

    The potential of a digital working life for people with dementia highlights both promise and peril. Simply forcing every person into work is a surefire way of turning challenging situations into real problems. But providing tailored support for those who want to work can enrich organisations and workers alike.

    James Fletcher receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.

    Olivia Brown 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. People with dementia could stay in the workplace longer – with the right tech – https://theconversation.com/people-with-dementia-could-stay-in-the-workplace-longer-with-the-right-tech-253370

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Travelling to the U.S.? Here’s what you need to know about the risks and your rights

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Frédéric Dimanche, Professor and Director, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Toronto Metropolitan University

    Recent reports of European and Canadian tourists being detained at the United States border have many questioning whether travel to the U.S. is safe.

    As the Trump administration moves forward with plans for mass deportations, immigration officers have reportedly been encouraged to question travellers, putting many travellers on high alert.

    The parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic are notable. During the crisis, media coverage contributed to widespread fear of travel, even after borders reopened and health experts deemed it safe. Today, similar discourse is emerging. But how much of this concern is based on real risk, and how much is driven by heightened media attention?

    As experts in tourism and travel, we are here to explain the current risks associated with travelling to the U.S., the rights of travellers if they are stopped at the border and safety tips for those who still choose to make the journey.

    What are the risks?

    Research has long shown that perceptions of risk impact people’s intentions to travel internationally. These intentions are determined by their levels of travel anxiety and their sense of perceived safety in a certain destination.

    Detainment at airports and border crossings is perhaps one of the greatest fears for travellers to the U.S. While the incidents so far have seemed random, many worry about their smart phones being confiscated and social media or emails being checked.

    While some of those affected are Americans returning from vacation or business trips, anyone can be stopped, including foreign students with visas, Canadians and Europeans, even with valid documentation.

    These fears, along with reports of travellers being delayed at land border crossings, have resulted in a decrease in the number of Canadians crossing the Canada-U.S. border. In February, cross-border vehicle trips hit their lowest levels since the pandemic, with many cancelling reservations or making fewer travel bookings to the U.S. for spring and summer.



    Read more:
    When Canadian snowbirds don’t flock south, the costs are more than financial

    The current situation aligns with research showing that risk perceptions about travel can impact a country’s image as a travel destination, which, in turn, affects whether people want to visit it.

    Other concerns relate to local resident negative sentiment. While many Americans are sharing their support of Canada and continuing to head north, there is still concern for how some in the U.S. may react to Canadian travellers.

    Recent studies have shown that while Americans see Canadians as friendly, they no longer view Canada as a close ally. Several countries have cautioned their citizens about stricter measures at U.S. points of entry.

    Know your rights as a traveller

    What rights do travellers have when crossing the border? Very few. While travellers have the right to refuse to answer questions from immigration officers, doing so can result in increased suspicion and being denied entry.

    Canadians should be aware that U.S. border officials have broad inspection powers, which can include requesting passwords to digital devices. These powers apply not only at border crossings but also in customs-controlled areas — designated zones in a border crossing area or airport.

    Both the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have the authority to examine any digital device.

    Once at a land border, Canadians are under the exclusive jurisdiction of U.S. laws, not Canadian laws or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If questioned, travellers can ask if they are being detained, or if they are free to leave. If they are not free to leave, the agent needs reasonable suspicion to justify the detention.

    Tips for reducing risk while traveling

    Following customs and immigration laws generally means travellers are unlikely to encounter any issues. However, there are some things that could set off red flags at the border, including staying longer than intended, failing to declare goods to a border officer or not having the proper documentation.

    If you intend to travel, be respectful of local customs, even if political perspectives differ. Avoid political messaging on clothing, offensive behaviour or sparking political conversations with locals.

    While electronic device searches are rare, it is best to be cautious about the content on your devices, including social media posts and profile, political views and other personal information.

    Here is a brief guide to international visitors’ rights. In particular, people should know about how to protect their computers, phones and how to safeguard their data privacy at the U.S. border. The Canadian government also offers advice for travellers to the U.S. regarding privacy issues.

    It’s important to stay updated on government travel advisories related to geopolitical conflicts because they are rapidly evolving. Be sure to follow recommended travel precautions, like these ones for the U.S.

    ‘Antipathy’ to U.S. has real impacts

    Reports of increased detainments, stricter border enforcement and heightened security screenings demonstrate that the risk for travellers at the border is real.

    These incidents have not only created fear among travellers but have also started to take a toll on the U.S. tourism industry.

    Industry analysts announce a significant drop in visitation — down about 15 per cent — and about a 12 per cent drop in revenue due to travellers choosing to boycott the U.S.

    Global geopolitical tensions have fuelled growing resentment toward the U.S., with many international travellers choosing not to travel for political and economic reasons.



    Read more:
    Does cancelling a trip to the U.S. really send a political message, or is it just hurting local tourism?

    Canada, on the other hand, could end up benefiting from a tourism perspective. International visitors are opting for Canada as a safer and more affordable alternative than the U.S. for leisure and business travel.

    The question now is whether this trend will last. The geopolitical situation has led many around the world to feel antipathetic towards the U.S., and reversing those attitudes will take effort and time.

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

    – ref. Travelling to the U.S.? Here’s what you need to know about the risks and your rights – https://theconversation.com/travelling-to-the-u-s-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-risks-and-your-rights-253210

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement From Governor Hochul on Trump Tariffs

    Source: US State of New York

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    A lock icon or https:// means you’ve safely connected to a ny.gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    You are leaving the official State of New York website.

    The State of New York does not imply approval of the listed destinations, warrant the accuracy of any information set out in those destinations, or endorse any opinions expressed therein. External web sites operate at the direction of their respective owners who should be contacted directly with questions regarding the content of these sites.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Centrilogic Partners with CrewAI to Accelerate Multi-Agentic AI Adoption in Canada

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Centrilogic, a global provider of IT transformation solutions, has entered a strategic partnership with CrewAI, the leading AI multi-agent platform. This partnership enables Centrilogic to offer a comprehensive suite of agentic AI solutions that empower businesses to build, deploy, and iterate on complex AI agents across a wide range of business functions, automate tasks, improve decision-making, and enhance operational efficiency. With this partnership, companies can work with Centrilogic to leverage AI and unlock greater value from existing systems and data, driving innovation and optimizing business outcomes.

    Through CrewAI’s Enterprise platform, Centrilogic can now help customers fully harness the power of agentic AI across the full application, data, and infrastructure stack. The platform’s intelligent agents automate complex tasks, integrate seamlessly with systems like CRM, ERP, and custom applications, and deliver actionable insights in real-time. This enables businesses to improve customer experiences, enhance sales and financial oversight, streamline operations, and achieve deeper insights into their data.

    “This partnership with CrewAI marks a pivotal moment in our journey to revolutionize how Canadian businesses leverage AI,” said Robert Offley, CEO of Centrilogic. “By integrating CrewAI’s multi-agentic platform into our service offerings, we are now equipped to deliver AI-powered solutions that will transform business operations at scale. We are excited to help our customers unlock new efficiencies, improve productivity, and innovate in ways that were previously impossible.”

    Additionally, Centrilogic’s platform-agnostic approach ensures that AI solutions can be deployed across a variety of multicloud environments, giving businesses the flexibility to use the best infrastructure for their needs while maintaining the security and scalability required for growth.

    “We are thrilled to be partnering with Centrilogic to accelerate the adoption of multi-agentic AI solutions in Canada,” said Joao Moura, CEO of CrewAI. “Companies of all sizes across Canada are launching AI agent use cases to production that drive both operational efficiency and value creation. Centrilogic’s deep experience in digital transformation for enterprises will help companies move more confidently and successfully.”

    As a long-time advocate for AI innovation in the Canadian market, Centrilogic continues to lead the way by sponsoring key events such as the Global AI Bootcamp and the Toronto DevOps User Group. The partnership with CrewAI marks the next step in Centrilogic’s mission to help Canadian businesses modernize operations, gain a competitive edge, and drive growth in the digital economy.

    Centrilogic is also a gold sponsor at CrewAI’s Enterprise AI Agent Week in New York, March 31–April 4, 2025.

    ABOUT CrewAI
    CrewAI is the leading AI multi-agent platform. Built to fully leverage LLM’s reasoning capabilities and allow agents to work together, CrewAI’s open-source framework and enterprise platform powers more than 10 million agents monthly and 150 customers. With CrewAI, organizations can easily deploy and manage AI agents to automate complex tasks with a fast speed to value across a wide range of use cases, from research and analysis to coding and reporting. For more information, visit https://www.crewai.com/.

    ABOUT CENTRILOGIC
    Centrilogic is a global provider of IT transformation solutions that empower organizations to realize their full digital potential. Armed with capabilities that span the stack – including multicloud management, application innovation, data & analytics, and IT advisory – Centrilogic delivers resilient end-to-end digital solutions that help companies reshape the role of their technology platforms as business-driving assets. With regional headquarters in Canada, USA, and the United Kingdom, Centrilogic delivers solutions to innovative companies worldwide. For more information, visit www.centrilogic.com.

    MEDIA CONTACT
    Matt Callahan

    VP, Marketing – Centrilogic

    pr@centrilogic.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Nick Langworthy Introduces Bill to Support the Wellbeing of Family Caregivers

    Source: US Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) introduced the bipartisan H.R. 2560, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, which would extend funding for programs that provide short-term relief to unpaid caregivers who look after people with disabilities or chronic conditions. Congressman Langworthy is joined by co-lead Rep. Tokuda (D-HI) in introducing this bill. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the companion to this bill in the Senate. 

     

    “Too often we see family members who are full time caregivers on top of the other responsibilities of life. While this is selfless and heroic work, it is often financially and emotionally taxing on the entire family,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Respite care helps to reduce mental stress and physical health issues that family caregivers may experience, keeping them healthy and families intact.”

     

    Specifically, the bill reauthorizes funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year 2029. The Lifespan Respite Care Program plays a crucial role in supporting caregivers and enhancing the overall quality of life for individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. By providing funding opportunities to states and programs, these programs offer caregivers a temporary break from the heavy physical, mental, and financial tolls associate with caregiving that, all too often, go unnoticed. This can, in turn, improve the quality of life for both caregivers and individuals living with chronic illness. 

     

    “In rural areas, where access to healthcare and respite services can be very limited, caregivers go above and beyond to provide essential care to loved ones with disabilities and chronic conditions. The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act provides much-needed support to the unsung heroes of our communities,” said Rep. Tokuda. “I’m proud to join Rep. Langworthy in introducing this bill to ensure caregivers continue to receive the resources and relief they deserve. By reauthorizing this program, we are helping to keep families together, reduce caregiver burnout, and strengthen our rural health safety net.”

     

    This legislation has also received support from thirty-five organizations, including: AARP, Access Ready Inc., ACCSES, Aging Life Care Association, Alzheimer’s Association, ALS Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Caregiving Youth, American Association on Health and Disability, American Music Therapy Association, American Therapeutic Recreation Association, Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Speaks, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, CommunicationFIRST, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation of America, Generations United Inc., Lakeshore Foundation, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National Adult Day Services Association, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Council on Aging, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Federation of Families, National Military Family Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Respite Coalition, The Arc of the United States, The Sibling Leadership Network, United Spinal Association, United States International Council on Disabilities, USAging, Well Spouse Association.

     

    Christopher Banks, President and CEO of the Autism Society, said that the organization,“supports the reauthorization of the Lifespan Respite Care Act, recognizing it as a crucial step toward ensuring families in the autism community have access to essential respite services. By offering caregivers the opportunity to rest and recharge, this legislation not only honors the tireless efforts of those supporting individuals with autism but also plays a vital role in preventing caregiver burnout. Sustaining access to respite care is fundamental to the well-being of both families and the individuals they care for, ultimately contributing to the creation of stronger, healthier communities for all.” 

     

    “Over 11 million Americans are providing unpaid care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s, providing an estimated 18.4 billion hours of care valued at nearly $350 billion. The bipartisan Lifetime Respite Care Reauthorization Act will provide our nation’s caregivers with necessary relief and support, helping care for these individuals who care for others,”said Robert Egge, AIM president and Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer.“Thank you to Reps. Langworthy and Tokuda for introducing this critical bipartisan legislation and supporting America’s caregivers.”

     

    “Respite is a lifeline for millions of family caregivers who provide essential support for loved ones across the country. The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 is a step towards recognizing the critical role caregivers play in our communities and economy, ensuring they have the resources needed to sustain their well-being,”said Jason Resendez, President and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving.

     

    “Caregivers play an essential role in the lives of many autistic people—often providing around-the-clock support that goes unpaid and under-recognized,” said Keith Wargo, President & CEO of Autism Speaks. “We’re grateful to Representatives Nick Langworthy and Jill Tokuda for championing the reauthorization of the Lifespan Respite Care Program. By offering caregivers a break from the physical, emotional, and financial demands they face, this legislation helps protect their well-being—and, in turn, the well-being of the people they care for.”

     

    “Everyone needs a break sometimes. That is especially true for caregiving. Caregiving can take its toll,”said Alexandra Bennewith, Vice President, Government Relations, United Spinal Association.“The Lifespan Respite Care Program helps ensure we keep caregivers healthy with appropriate rest.  United Spinal represents the nation’s 5.5 million wheelchair users who most often require caregivers in order to lead a fuller quality of life. That number is projected to grow and the graying of America is only going to increase the need for this program.  Already, 5 million children, those under 18, are serving as caregivers for their parents or grandparents. These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. We need to give caregivers some space and supports to be able to recuperate before the whole system breaks. Congress should pass and fund the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act now.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller-Meeks and Ag Secretary Rollins Tour Iowa Farms, Unveil Landmark Biofuels Investments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

    Davenport, Iowa – Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) welcomed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to Iowa to highlight the state’s leadership in biofuels. Rollins and President Trump announced the release of $537 million for 543 biofuel infrastructure projects across 29 states, including Iowa, under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).

    “It was an honor to host Secretary Rollins and showcase how Iowa’s farmers and biofuels producers are powering America,” said Miller-Meeks. “This investment expands access to higher ethanol blends, strengthens energy independence, and supports our farm families.”

    Speaking at Elite Octane in Atlantic, Sec. Rollins emphasized the program’s impact. “This funding helps retailers offer higher ethanol blends, ensuring a greater market for Iowa’s corn and soybean growers,” she said. “President Trump is delivering on our commitment to farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.”

    Rollins made the announcement alongside Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig, and Elite Octane CEO Nick Bowdish.

    Out of the 543 projects receiving funding, six biofuel infrastructure projects will be in Iowa’s First District:

    • ICC Motor Fuel 1 LLC – $1,842,000: Installing 30 E15 dispensers and 13 ethanol storage tanks at 13 locations, including Eldridge and Davenport Expected to increase ethanol sales by 3,775,358 gallons per year.
    • R.A.M. Inc. – $834,000: Installing nine E15 dispensers, two B20 dispensers, two ethanol storage tanks, and one biodiesel storage tank at two fueling stations in Davenport. Expected to increase biofuel sales by 908,523 gallons per year.
    • Mac’s Convenience Stores LLC – $4,705,500: Installing 111 E15 dispensers and 23 ethanol storage tanks at 23 fueling stations, including Burlington (3), Clinton, Muscatine, and Rock Island. Expected to increase ethanol sales by 12,064,378 gallons per year.
    • D&D Marion LLC – $915,000: Installing eight E15 dispensers, 10 B20 dispensers, one ethanol storage tank, and one biodiesel storage tank at a fueling station in Marion. Expected to increase biofuel sales by 3,943,000 gallons per year.
    • Generational Fuel LLC – $177,750: Installing two E15 dispensers, two E85 dispensers, and two B20 dispensers at a fueling station in Sully. Expected to increase biofuel sales by 291,004 gallons per year.
    • County Automotive Services LLC – $517,500: Installing three E15 dispensers, three E85 dispensers, one B20 dispenser, one ethanol storage tank, and one biodiesel storage tank at a fueling station in Tipton. Expected to increase biofuel sales by 280,819 gallons per year.

    These investments ensure greater access to renewable fuels, benefiting both Iowa’s economy and America’s energy security.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Reintroduces the Protect TANF Resources for Families Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today reintroduced the Protect TANF Resources for Families Act to prevent states from improperly allocating Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to fill shortfalls in state budgets.

    Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-4) is an original cosponsor of this legislation.  

    Currently, some states are using TANF to finance activities that previously had been state and local responsibilities. In fact, a recent GAO report stated that unused TANF funds more than doubled to $9 billion from FY 2015-22, yet many states could not explain how unspent funds were used. This legislation will ensure TANF funds are used to enhance existing state funding rather than replace it.

    “We must ensure that TANF is used to assist those it was intended to serve and that states do not abuse the generosity of taxpayers. To prevent states from diverting TANF funds to cover budget shortfalls, the Protect TANF Resources for Families Act will implement strict oversight and reporting mechanisms. We must safeguard this valuable resource for the families who need it most,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Alerts Businesses: It Remains Illegal to Bribe Foreign-Government Officials

    Source: US State of California

    Wednesday, April 2, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a legal alert reminding businesses operating in California that it is illegal to make payments to foreign-government officials to obtain or retain business — regardless of the Trump Administration’s order temporarily suspending federal enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Violations of the FCPA remain actionable under California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL), and businesses are expected to follow the law. 

    “Illegal activity is still illegal. Paying bribes to foreign officials is not only unethical, it’s also bad for business. Bribery erodes consumer confidence in the market and rewards corruption instead of competition. As the fifth largest economy in the world, California has a vested interest in defending honest business,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Despite the Trump Administration’s actions, I remind businesses in California that bribing foreign officials is illegal under California law and will not be tolerated.” 

    The FCPA prohibits U.S. businesses and citizens from offering or paying anything of value to a foreign-government official, foreign political party or politician, or official of a public international organization in order to attempt to obtain or retain business.

    On February 10, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order purporting to pause enforcement of the FCPA for at least 180 days and directing the U.S. Attorney General to update guidelines and policies governing the FCPA within 360 days to “restore proper bounds on FCPA enforcement and preserve Presidential foreign policy prerogatives.”

    In the alert, Attorney General Bonta reminds businesses and individuals to continue complying with all applicable laws, including the FCPA, regardless of the federal administration’s pronouncements. Violations of the FCPA are actionable under California’s UCL, which was enacted to preserve fair business competition and protect consumers. Accordingly, businesses should continue to ensure that they and their agents do not offer or pay anything of value to foreign officials to obtain or retain business.

    The full legal alert can be found here. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Edinburgh joins Core Cities UK

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Edinburgh has become the 12th member of partnership-led organisation with a 30 year track record of implementing policy change across the UK.

    Edinburgh has joined Core Cities UK, becoming the organisation’s 12th member city, its third national capital, and expanding the UK-wide reach of the group as it prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday later this year.

    Edinburgh will join Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield to become a member of an organisation that has a 30 year track record of implementing policy change across the UK.

    Edinburgh is one of the most economically successful places in the country but, like other Core Cities, has areas of the city where overall health, earning potential and life expectancy fall well below national averages.

    The Scottish capital will play a key role in the group’s thinking around inclusive economic growth and other members hope to learn from its development of a tourism levy, which will come into effect in Edinburgh next Summer.

    Cllr Jane Meagher, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said:

    I’m delighted that we’ve joined Core Cities UK and look forward to sharing our knowledge, ideas and experiences with other member cities.

    Edinburgh continues to perform well as a place to live, work, visit and invest in, but we still face many of the same urban challenges as our partners. Growing populations are creating ever increasing demand for homes, public services and infrastructure, while many of our residents are struggling with the cost of living – meaning poverty, homelessness and economic inactivity remain the biggest challenges of our time.

    From my early discussions with the Chair and other member cities, it’s been clear how much we have in common – both in terms of these challenges, but also our priorities. I have no doubt that this collaboration will help us to solve our collective problems while growing more sustainably for the benefit of all of our residents.

    Cllr James Lewis, Chair of Core Cities UK and Leader of Leeds City Council, added:

    Edinburgh joining us is an historic moment for Core Cities and solidifies our position as the authoritative voice of urban Britain. We have always argued that cities have certain things in common, no matter which nation – either within the UK or abroad – they are situated in and we look forward to getting Edinburgh’s unique perspective on our policy discussions.

    Core Cities’ mission is to unlock the full potential of our great city regions to create a stronger, fairer economy and society. With the addition of Edinburgh, Core Cities will generate more than 25 per cent of the economy and will be home to more than 22 million people.

    Core Cities UK is a leading voice in policy around devolution and decentralisation and its reports with organisations including OECD and RSA are used as benchmarks within the sector. It also has strong private sector relationships with a variety of companies including Landsec and Lloyds Banking Group and works closely with the English Combined Authority Mayors as well as local Government in London.

    Founded by a number of English councils in 1995, it is headquartered in Manchester and will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: “New partnership” between defence and private sector set to boost UK defence sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    “New partnership” between defence and private sector set to boost UK defence sector

    Major venture capitalists from across Europe can help unlock billions of pounds of private investment into UK technology and defence firms, as part of a “new partnership” between defence and private investors, the Defence Secretary has said today. 

    Defence Secretary John Healey at a table speaking with investors.

    • Influential investors convened in London to discuss future routes to defence financing.
    • Government’s record spending uplift and reforms will help unlock private-sector investment into UK defence, Defence Secretary said.
    • Defence “is an ethical investment” as Government set to back Britain’s high-growth companies with new innovation funding.
    • Comes alongside up to £250 million of Government investment into UK firm to help boost missile defence.

    In a first-of-its-kind meeting between venture capital firms and a UK Defence Secretary, John Healey MP spoke at a breakfast roundtable at Plural’s offices in central London. The meeting was convened by Plural co-founder Khaled Helioui, and Grace Cassy of Ten Eleven Ventures who has supported the development of the Strategic Defence Review as part of the Defence Review Team.

    In a changing world, with increasing threats and war in Europe, the group discussed how to incentivise greater private investment into defence and deep technology, to help deter Britain’s adversaries, secure the UK economy, protect the incomes of hard-working families up and down the country and support European security. 

    The Defence Secretary set out how the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War – with 2.5% of GDP spend by April 2027 and a commitment to hit 3% in the next Parliament – coupled with defence reforms, can unlock private sector investment into high-growth British firms – boosting jobs and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change by making defence an engine for growth across the UK. This includes:

    • A new ambition to unlock more private defence investment, supported by long-term certainty of rising Government defence investment over the next decade, alongside the new Government direct expenditure target for SMEs including start-ups and scale-ups to give high-growth companies more certainty and sight of future investment.

    • Turbocharging innovation with a new £400 million ringfenced budget for UK Defence Innovation, announced by the Chancellor last week, alongside a commitment to spend 10% of the MOD equipment budget on novel technologies.

    • Making clear that “defence is an ethical investment” in deterring conflict and preventing the huge human and economic costs caused by conflicts such as Ukraine. It comes as some funds look to renegotiated Limited Partner Agreements to better enable investment into defence.

    In a sign of the Government backing British firms with long-term public investment, the meeting comes as the Government confirms up to £250 million investment across the next six years with UK defence tech firm Roke – supporting around 150 jobs and delivering analysis, trials and technology development against ballistic and hypersonic missile threats.

    Roke – based in Hampshire and focused on innovation and AI development – have been awarded a contract up to six-years in length, known as Science and Technology Oriented Research and development in Missile defence (STORM). The framework streamlines crucial research into innovative technologies, helping enhance the UK’s ability to detect, identify, and defeat ballistic and hypersonic missile threats – work that is essential to safeguarding the UK and its allies. 

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    In this new era of rising threats, national security isn’t just a military imperative. It’s the foundation for economic growth, securing Britain’s future and our Government’s Plan for Change.

    As Defence Secretary, I am determined to bring together investors, innovators and industry in a new partnership that drives British jobs and growth. We want to mobilise private investors to take a fresh look at defence, alongside the certainty of our Government’s record long-term uplift in defence spending.

    With countries across Europe facing new threats stepping up to take more responsibility for our continent’s defence is an ethical investment, and it’s good to see increasing numbers of private investors recognising that. There is no more important investment than in our European security.

    As a government we are determined to tackle any blockers which are preventing private finance from flowing into UK defence, which is why today’s landmark meeting is so important. 

    The Defence Secretary also said the government is bringing “a clear mandate to bring innovative technology to the frontline at speed and enable the defence sector to create high-growth British success stories that deliver investor returns and national security.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: By Building Wealth, Investors Power U.S. Economy

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) today announced, as part of April’s National Financial Literacy Month, it will highlight the key role investing plays in both powering the U.S. economy and preparing U.S. investors for their own financial future.

    Investing is an important tool for individuals and families in achieving their financial goals, such as affording higher education, supporting retirement, or simply building wealth for the future. While building for their own financial future, investors are also playing a key role in powering the innovation-based U.S. economy by providing capital to businesses of all sizes.

    “Financial Literacy Month provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of investors saving and investing for their financial future. From stocks, bonds, and funds to newer products in the marketplace, investing ultimately supports our nation’s overall economy,” said Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda. “All investors have an opportunity to reach their personal financial goals while also playing a role in capital formation, which makes our economy so dynamic.”

    During the month of April, SEC regional and headquarters staff will encourage investors to take advantage of  the free saving and investing tools and resources available on Investor.gov. OIEA’s “Ten Investment Tips for 2025 Investor Bulletin” provides investors with information on how to avoid investment scams, the importance of diversification, how to be an informed investor, and more. Investors can also test their investing knowledge by taking April’s Financial Literacy Month Quiz.

    “Whether you’re new to investing or a seasoned investor, Investor.gov has resources that can help you build wealth for a strong financial future,” said Lori Schock, Director of the SEC’s OIEA. “Starting early and creating a long-term diversified saving and investing plan that considers your risk tolerance can help you build wealth to live the life you want to lead.”

    SEC outreach events in April include financial education activities for teachers and high school and college students; webinars and events providing investor education and fraud prevention information to older investors; and presentations to military service members focusing on building wealth, avoiding scams, and discussing the benefits of tax-advantaged retirement plans, like the Thrift Savings Plan. In addition, Ms. Schock posted a new Director’s Take article, entitled “Ten Building Blocks to Building Wealth.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra tourism industry wins big at national awards

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Staffed by VisitCanberra, the CRVC at Commonwealth Park offers an exceptional experience for visitors and locals alike.

    The ACT has won seven awards at the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

    Gold awards

    The Canberra Region Visitors Centre (CRVC) was named best Visitor Information Service in Australia, leading the awards for the Territory’s tourism industry.

    Staffed by VisitCanberra, the CRVC at Commonwealth Park offers an exceptional experience for visitors and locals alike.

    It attracts 220,000 visitors each year, many of whom head to the CRVC as their first port of call.

    Two other local entrants won gold at the Awards. They are:

    • the National Capital Authority for the Lights on the Lake event, in the Events and Festivals category
    • the Royal Australian Mint in the Cultural Tourism category.

    Silver awards

    • The Museum Shop at the National Museum of Australia took home silver in the Tourism, Retail and Hire Services category
    • Alivio Tourist Park won silver for Caravan and Holiday Parks
    • Jamala Lodge won silver for Unique Accommodation

    Bronze award

    • The National Arboretum was awarded bronze in the Ecotourism category.

    Ongoing success

    Canberra’s tourism industry is unique. The past year has seen record leisure and visiting friends and family (VFR) numbers, and the Territory’s events, venues and business continue to provide new and enticing experiences for visitors.

    As a result of the industry’s hard work, Canberra is on track to grow the value of tourism to the ACT economy to $4 billion by 2030.

    This focuses on the ACT Government’s tourism 2030 strategic vision of a thriving, sustainable destination that benefits Canberrans.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Father and Son Executives Charged with Defrauding Sports Park Bondholders

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Former Chairman and CEO Raised More Than $280 Million Using Forged Documents and Fake Revenue Projections

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging RANDY MILLER, former Chairman and President of Legacy Sports, and his son, CHAD MILLER, former CEO of Legacy Sports, with engaging in a scheme to defraud investors of more than $280 million in two municipal bond offerings. RANDY MILLER and CHAD MILLER were arrested today and will be presented tomorrow in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Randy Miller and Chad Miller swindled investors out of over a quarter of a billion dollars by selling municipal bonds they knew were backed by forgeries and lies. Municipal bonds fund critical public projects and investors rely on accurate financial disclosures to make informed decisions. This Office is committed to protecting the integrity of the public finance system. When individuals abuse that system and investors’ trust, we will hold them accountable.”

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Fathers and sons have found shared bonds in sports for generation. Randy and Chad Miller allegedly chose to use a planned sports complex as a means to exploit and defraud investors.  The Millers allegedly executed the scheme using fraudulent documents to lie about the status of the proposed project in order to raise hundreds of millions of dollars which they used to enrich themselves.  The FBI will continue to ensure a level playing field by holding fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]

    From November 2019 through May 2023, RANDY MILLER and CHAD MILLER engaged in a scheme to defraud investors in municipal bonds used to fund the development of a major sports complex in Mesa, Arizona called Legacy Park. The defendants worked together and with others to lie to potential bond investors about the interest sports organizations and other potential customers had in using or relocating to Legacy Park. The defendants and their associates forged and altered purported “binding” letters of intent and other documents from those potential customers to make it appear that the customers were committing to holding many events at Legacy Park, with a significant number of spectators, and agreeing to pay large fees – all far beyond what the organizations were considering, if they were considering Legacy Park at all. In some instances, RANDY MILLER and CHAD MILLER signed and directed others to sign customers’ names without the customers’ knowledge or permission. At other times the defendants copied and directed others to copy the signatures of other customers onto the fabricated letters, again without the customers’ knowledge or permission. As part of their scheme, the defendants forged documents on behalf of numerous persons and organizations, including an organization that promotes sports for disabled athletes.

    RANDY MILLER and CHAD MILLER presented the fraudulent documents to prospective bond investors and incorporated them into their solicitation materials by claiming that Legacy Park would be 100% occupied at opening and would generate nearly $100 million in revenue in its first year of operations, more than enough to cover the bond payments. 

    After the Legacy Park bonds were sold to investors, RANDY MILLER and CHAD MILLER used some of the proceeds to pay for personal expenses such as a home and SUVs. The defendants also paid themselves inflated salaries and withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars in addition to their salaries.

    While the defendants enriched themselves, Legacy Park struggled to survive. The park opened in 2022, but within months failed to generate enough revenue to make the monthly bond payments, and by October 2022 it was in default. On May 1, 2023, the project filed for bankruptcy and was later sold for less than $26 million. Of those proceeds, less than $2.5 million went to repay the approximately $284 million owed to Legacy Park bondholders. Accordingly, because of the defendants’ fraud, bondholders were left with near total losses.

    *               *                *

    RANDY MILLER, 70, and CHAD MILLER, 41, both of Phoenix, Arizona, were both charged in the Indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.

    The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. 

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a parallel civil action. 

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution.

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Iranian Company and Two Iranian Nationals Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and for Scheme to Procure U.S. Technology for Iranian Drones

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    CEO and Commercial Manager of Iranian Company Charged in Connection with Conspiracies to Provide Material Support, Violate Export Control Laws and Commit Money Laundering

    BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Iranian nationals Hossein Akbari and Reza Amidi, and an Iran-based Rah Roshd Company (“Rah Roshd”), with conspiring to procure U.S. parts for Iranian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (“UAVs”), also known as drones, conspiring to provide material support to the IRGC, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and conspiring to commit money laundering.  Akbari is the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of Rah Roshd. Amidi is the company’s commercial manager and was previously the commercial manager of Qods Aviation Industries (“QAI”), an Iranian state-owned aerospace company.  They are both citizens of Iran and remain at large.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges.

    “As alleged in the complaint, the defendants conspired to obtain U.S.-origin parts needed to manufacture drones for military use in Iran and send those parts to Iran in violation of export control laws,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “The charges filed today demonstrate the commitment by my Office and our law enforcement partners to dismantle illicit supply chains and prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology in support of a foreign terrorist organization.  The IRGC and Qods Aviation Industries have been core players in the Iranian military regime’s production of drones, which threaten the lives of civilians, U.S. personnel, and our country’s allies.  These charges should serve as a warning to those who violate U.S. export control laws and who unlawfully seek to aid Iran’s drone program.”

    Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the FBI and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) for their work on the case.  Today, OFAC sanctioned Akbari, Rah Roshd, and other companies and individuals for their roles in the sanctions-evasion scheme described in the complaint.  OFAC previously sanctioned Amidi.

    “Today’s charges lay bare how U.S.-made technology ended up in the hands of the Iranian military to build attack drones,” stated Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.  “The Justice Department will continue to put maximum pressure on the Iranian regime. We will relentlessly dismantle illicit supply chains funneling American technology into the hands of Iran’s military and terrorist organizations and pursue those complicit in operations that threaten our country.”

    “Hossein Akbari and Reza Amidi allegedly engaged in a multi-year conspiracy to obtain U.S. technology for use in Iranian made drones in violation of export laws and to provide material support to the IRGC—a designated terrorist organization,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “The Iranian government has repeatedly demonstrated they are willing to violate the laws of our nation—this time utilizing dishonest businessmen who deliberately misrepresented themselves—in order to further their treacherous goals.  The FBI will continue to protect the national security and interests of the United States through vigorous enforcement of export control laws put in place to prevent sensitive U.S. technology from being obtained by hostile foreign governments.”

    As set forth in the complaint, Akbari and Amidi operate Rah Roshd, which procures and supplies advanced electronic, electro-optical, and security systems to the Government of Iran and designs, builds, and manufactures ground support systems for UAVs.  Akbari serves as the CEO and Managing Director of Rah Roshd, and Amidi serves as the Commercial Manager.  Rah Roshd’s clients include the IRGC and several Iranian state-owned aerospace companies and drone manufacturers, including QAI, Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (“MODAFL”), Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center (“SAIRC”), and Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group (SBIG).

    Between January 2020 and the present, Amidi and Akbari used Rah Roshd in furtherance of a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions and procure U.S.-origin parts for use in Iranian-manufactured UAVs, including the Mohajer-6 UAV.  At least one of those parts was manufactured by a Brooklyn, New York-based company (“Company-1”).  In September 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force shot down an Iranian-made Mohajer-6 drone used by the Russian military in Ukraine.  The drone recovered by the Ukrainian Air Force contained parts made by several U.S. companies, including Company-1.

    To facilitate their scheme, Amidi and Akbari falsely purported to represent companies other than Rah Roshd, including a company based in the United Arab Emirates (“Company-2”) and a company based in Belgium (“Company-3”).  The defendants used a “spoofed” email address with a misspelled version of Company-2’s name to communicate regarding the procurement of parts, including parts manufactured by U.S. companies.  The defendants also used various “front” or “shell” companies to pay for UAV parts and to obfuscate the true end destination and the true identities of the sanctioned end users, including QAI and the IRGC, which were acquiring U.S.-made parts through Rah Roshd.  Amidi and Akbari also used aliases to obfuscate their true identities in furtherance of the scheme.

    Additionally, the defendants conspired to provide material support to the IRGC by providing goods and services for the benefit of the IRGC’s military campaign. This included constructing military shelters, providing cameras and drone field hangers, and conspiring to procure drone parts as well as parts to operate drones, including “servo motors,” “pneumatic masts,” which are a component of the operation of the Mohajer-6 drone, and engines.  The investigation uncovered correspondence from the IRGC, signed by the head of the UAV Command for the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, thanking Rah Roshd for its work on behalf of the IRGC and praising Rah Roshd’s achievements in designing and manufacturing servo motors for defense equipment.  The letter included a quote from the Supreme Leader of Iran regarding the importance of self-sufficiency and domestic production to strengthen Iran’s economy and “disappoint the enemies of the Islamic Republic.”  The letter also noted continued efforts of Rah Roshd “in strengthening the defensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”  Both Amidi and Akbari possessed documents indicating that they had purchased servo motors for delivery to Iran, including a servo motor contained in the Mohajer-6 drone.  Akbari also emailed supply companies located in China and noted that he was purchasing parts for drones to be shipped to Iran.

    Finally, Amidi and Akbari conspired to commit money laundering.  They used at least three shell companies, all based in the United Arab Emirates, to pay a China-based company that sent invoices to Rah Roshd for the sale of motors.  Those payments were processed through U.S.-based correspondent bank accounts. The defendants also used two of these shell companies to pay a separate China-based company for the sale of pneumatic masts.

    Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.

    The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Nina C. Gupta and Lindsey R. Oken are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Rebecca Roth, along with Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Trial Attorney Charles Kovats of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 

    The Defendants:

    HOSSEIN AKBARI (also known as “Danial Yousef” and “Danial White”)
    Age: 63
    Iran

    REZA AMIDI (also known as “Ali Rahmani”)
    Age: 62
    Iran

    RAH ROSHD COMPANY
    Tehran, Iran

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-114

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel CEO Andy Ross to Appear on South Florida Television Morning Shows on NBC-TV Channel 5 West Palm Beach and 39 WSFL – Home of the Florida Panthers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Television Appearances and Potential Investor Meeting at Mar-a-Lago Signal Big Moves for the Nations Fast-Growing Beer Brand, American Rebel Light Beer.

    Nashville, TN, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), is excited to announce that its CEO Andy Ross will appear on two south Florida morning shows on NBC-TV Channel 5 West Palm Beach and 39 WSFL – Home of the Florida Panthers. Andy’s segments will be taped for airing later in the week. Andy will also meet with potential investors at Mar-a-Lago.

    Florida: A Cornerstone in American Rebel Beer’s Strategic Growth and CEO’s Investor Relations Outreach

    “I’m looking forward to getting back to south Florida to meet with potential investors and tell the American Rebel story,” said Andy Ross. “Maybe second only to New York, south Florida is home to many important investor contacts for American Rebel and the opportunity to meet with potential investors at Mar-a-Lago will be a great experience.”

    “Sharing the American Rebel story on television is a great way to expand American Rebel awareness with potential customers and grow our distribution network,” continued Andy Ross. “Florida is one of our next states to add to our rapidly growing list of states where American Rebel Beer is available. We’re looking forward to opening Florida in the next couple of months as a lot of beer is sold in Florida.”

    “Earlier this year I appeared on the ABC-TV outlet in Tampa on their morning show Morning Blend and later that week performed a concert at the Bradenton Motorsports Park at the conclusion of the SCAG Power Equipment Pro Shootout,” said Andy Ross. “Florida is going to be a great state for American Rebel Beer since Florida is a great racing state and our sponsorship of the Matt Hagan Funny Car for Tony Stewart Racing opens a lot of doors for American Rebel Beer.”

    For more information on American Rebel Beer, go to americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

    About American Rebel Light Beer

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a premium domestic light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro

    As tenacious as Stewart is in the cockpit of a racecar, he’s proven equally adept at providing cars and equipment for racing’s elite. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion can also list 31 owners’ titles to his resume, from NASCAR to USAC to the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. In 2023 Stewart earned his 31st owner title when Matt Hagan and the TSR Funny Car team earned the championship on November 11th. His team, Tony Stewart Racing, fields a powerhouse lineup in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series with Tony in Top Fuel and Matt Hagan in Funny Car. After more than four decades of racing around in circles, Stewart has embarked on a straight and narrow path, albeit at more than 300 mph. For more information on TSR Nitro go to tsrnitro.com.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

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

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of marketing outreach efforts, actual placement timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contact:
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    Media Contact:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@PrecisionPR.co

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  • MIL-OSI: Convening of the Annual General Meeting of Euronext N.V.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Convening of the Annual General Meeting of Euronext N.V.

    Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 2 April 2025 – Euronext today announced that the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) will take place on Thursday 15 May 2025 at 10.30 CEST at Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

    The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

    1.   Opening
    2.   Presentation by the Chief Executive Officer (discussion item)
    3.   Annual Report 2024
    a)   Explanation of the policy on additions to reserves and dividends (discussion item)
    b)   Proposal to adopt the 2024 remuneration report (voting item 1)
    c)   Proposal to adopt the 2024 financial statements (voting item 2)
    d)   Proposal to adopt a dividend of € 2.90 per ordinary share (voting item 3)
    e)   Proposal to discharge the members of the Managing Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2024 (voting item 4)
    f)   Proposal to discharge the members of the Supervisory Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2024 (voting item 5)
    4.   Composition of the Supervisory Board
    a)   Re-appointment of Piero Novelli as a member of the Supervisory Board (voting item 6)
    b)   Re-appointment of Olivier Sichel as a member of the Supervisory Board (voting item 7)
    c)   Appointment of Francesca Scaglia as a member of the Supervisory Board (voting item 8)
    5.   Composition of the Managing Board
    a)   Re-appointment of Delphine d’Amarzit as a member of the Managing Board (voting item 9)
    b)   Appointment of René van Vlerken as a member of the Managing Board (voting item 10)
    6.   Proposal to amend the remuneration policy with regard to the Managing Board (voting item 11)
    7.   Proposal to amend the remuneration policy with regard to the Supervisory Board (voting item 12)
    8.   Proposal to appoint the external auditor (voting item 13)
    9.   Proposal regarding cancellation of the company’s own shares purchased by the company under the share repurchase program (voting item 14)
    10.   Proposal to designate the Managing Board as the competent body:
    a)   to issue ordinary shares (voting item 15); and
    b)   to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights of shareholders (voting item 16)
    11.   Proposal to authorise the Managing Board to acquire ordinary shares in the share capital of the company on behalf of the company (voting item 17)
    12.   Proposal to authorise the Supervisory Board or Managing Board (subject to approval of the Supervisory Board) to grant rights to French beneficiaries to receive shares in accordance with Articles L225-197-1 and seq. of the French Code of commerce (voting item 18)
    13.   Any other business
    14.   Close

    The AGM will be conducted in English.

    Registration date AGM

    Pursuant to Dutch law and Euronext N.V.’s Articles of Association, the persons who will be considered as entitled to attend and vote at the AGM are those persons who are registered as such in the administrations held by their financial intermediaries (the “Shareholders”) on 17 April 2025, after processing of all settlements on that date (the “Registration Date”).

    Registration and voting instructions

    Shareholders holding their shares through Euronext Securities Milan (i.e. the public) who wish to attend the AGM, provide instructions or grant a power of attorney to vote on their behalf, must complete the form (voting form / attendance card request) provided for this purpose by their financial intermediary or by Euronext Securities Department – Uptevia. The Shareholders should be aware that these documents must be received, no later than on Thursday 8 May 2025 by their financial intermediary for receipt no later than on Friday 9 May 2025 by Uptevia, Assemblées Générales, 90-110 Esplanade du Général de Gaulle 92931 Paris La Défense Cedex, France. The financial intermediary should deliver to the Shareholder a certificate of holding containing: name and city of residence of the Shareholder; number of shares; name and city of residence of the attendee (if different from the Shareholder) and declaration that the shares were in custody with the Euroclear France-admitted institution on the Registration Date. This certificate will serve as the admission certificate for the AGM for the Shareholder.

    Shareholders holding their shares through Euronext Securities Porto in Portugal who wish to attend the AGM, provide instructions or grant a power of attorney to vote on their behalf, must complete the form (voting form / attendance card request) provided for this purpose by Euronext Securities Department – Uptevia Corporate Trust. The Shareholders should be aware that these documents must be received, no later than on Thursday 8 May 2025 by their financial intermediary for receipt no later than on Friday 9 May 2025 by BNP Paribas Securities Services, PT Local Team, Edificio ART’S – Av. D. Joao II – Lote 1.18.01, Bloco B, 1998-028 Lisboa, Portugal. The financial intermediary should deliver to the Shareholder a certificate of holding containing: name and city of residence of the Shareholder; number of shares on the Registration Date; name and city of residence of the attendee (if different from the Shareholder). This certificate will serve as admission certificate for the AGM for the Shareholder.

    Persons without a valid admission certificate will not be given access to the meeting. Attendants may be asked for identification prior to being admitted.

    At the time of the publication of this convening notice, Euronext’s total issued share capital in number of issued shares and in voting rights is published on Euronext’s website:
    https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations/capital-and-shareholding

    Webcast

    There will be a live broadcast of the AGM via
    https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/euronextwebcast/20250515_1/

    AGM Documentation

    The AGM Documentation (i.e. this convening notice, the agenda and the explanatory notes thereto including the information on the persons to be appointed to the Supervisory Board and the Managing Board, as well as the 2024 Annual Report) is available:

    • at the registered office of Euronext N.V.: Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • by email request to EuronextCorporateSecretary@euronext.com
    • on Euronext’s website https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations/shareholder-meetings
    • at Uptevia – Assemblées Générales – 90-110 Esplanade du Général de Gaulle 92931 Paris La Défense Cedex, France – + 33 1 57 43 02 30

    Managing Board and Supervisory Board of Euronext N.V.
    Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, under number 60234520

    CONTACTS  

    ANALYSTS & INVESTORS – ir@euronext.com

    Investor Relations        Aurélie Cohen                 

            Judith Stein        +33 6 15 23 91 97          

    MEDIA – mediateam@euronext.com 

    Europe        Aurélie Cohen         +33 1 70 48 24 45   

            Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13 

    Belgium        Marianne Aalders         +32 26 20 15 01                 

    France, Corporate        Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella        +33 1 70 48 24 45                 

    Ireland        Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13                 

    Italy         Ester Russom         +39 02 72 42 67 56                 

    The Netherlands        Marianne Aalders         +31 20 721 41 33                 

    Norway         Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund        +47 41 69 59 10                 

    Portugal         Sandra Machado        +351 91 777 68 97                

    About Euronext  

    Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

    As of December 2024, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host over 1,800 listed issuers with around €6 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.

    For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    Disclaimer

    This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided “as is”, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext’s subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

    © 2025, Euronext N.V. – All rights reserved. 

    The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the “Purpose”). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Euronext publishes its detailed dividend payment schedule for 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Euronext publishes its detailed dividend payment schedule for 2025        

    Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 2 April 2025 – In line with the dividend distribution policy of Euronext, it is proposed to distribute 50% of 2024 reported net profit. As a consequence and subject to approval of shareholders at the Company’s Annual General Meeting to be held on 15 May 2025, the annual gross dividend on the 2024 results to be paid in 2025 amounts to €292.8 million, corresponding to a dividend per share of €2.90 (based on the total number of eligible shares).

    Payment of the annual dividend will occur as follows:

    Ex-dividend date: 26 May 2025

    Record date: 27 May 2025

    Payment date: 28 May 2025

    CONTACTS 

    ANALYSTS & INVESTORS – ir@euronext.com

    Investor Relations        Aurélie Cohen                 

            Judith Stein        +33 6 15 23 91 97          

    MEDIA – mediateam@euronext.com 

    Europe        Aurélie Cohen         +33 1 70 48 24 45   

            Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13 

    Belgium        Marianne Aalders         +32 26 20 15 01                 

    France, Corporate        Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella        +33 1 70 48 24 45                 

    Ireland        Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13                 

    Italy         Ester Russom         +39 02 72 42 67 56                 

    The Netherlands        Marianne Aalders         +31 20 721 41 33                 

    Norway         Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund        +47 41 69 59 10                 

    Portugal         Sandra Machado        +351 91 777 68 97                                 

    About Euronext  

    Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

    As of December 2024, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host over 1,800 listed issuers with around €6 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.

    For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    Disclaimer

    This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided “as is”, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext’s subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

    © 2025, Euronext N.V. – All rights reserved. 

    The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the “Purpose”). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WENDEL: Shareholders’ Meeting set for May 15, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Shareholders’ Meeting set for May 15, 2025

    Wendel informs its shareholders that the Shareholders’ Meeting will be held on Thursday May 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. (Paris time) at the Auditorium Cézanne Saint-Honoré, located at 2-4, rue Paul-Cézanne, 75008 Paris.

    The notice of meeting, being worth convening notice, is published today in French in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales et Obligatoires (www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/balo/). It includes notably the agenda, the draft resolutions which will be presented to the Meeting and the conditions to take part in the Meeting. It is also available on the Wendel website.

    Other documents and information concerning this Meeting will be available to shareholders and published as from April 24, 2025, under legal and regulatory conditions, on the dedicated page of the Wendel website www.wendelgroup.com/en/annual-general-meetings.

    The Meeting will be available by webcast in its entirety, live and replay. All information about the Meeting is available on the dedicated page of Wendel website: www.wendelgroup.com/en/annual-general-meetings.

    Agenda

    Thursday, April 24, 2025

    Q1 2025 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of March 31, 2025 (post-market release)

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    Annual General Meeting

    Wednesday, July 30, 2025

    H1 2025 results – Publication of NAV as of June 30, 2025, and condensed Half-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)

    Thursday, October 23, 2025

    Q3 2025 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of September 30, 2025 (post-market release)

    Friday, December 12, 2025,

    2025 Investor Day

    About Wendel

    Wendel is one of Europe’s leading listed investment firms. Regarding its principal investment strategy, the Group invests in companies which are leaders in their field, such as ACAMS, Bureau Veritas, Crisis Prevention Institute, Globeducate, IHS Towers, Scalian, Stahl and Tarkett. In 2023, Wendel initiated a strategic shift into third-party asset management of private assets, alongside its historical principal investment activities. In May 2024, Wendel completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in IK Partners, a major step in the deployment of its strategic expansion in third-party private asset management and also announced in October 2024 the acquisition of 75% of Monroe Capital. Pro forma of Monroe Capital, Wendel manages more than 33 billion euros on behalf of third-party investors, and c.7.4 billion euros invested in its principal investments activity.

    Wendel is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris.

    Standard & Poor’s ratings: Long-term: BBB, stable outlook – Short-term: A-2 

    Wendel is the Founding Sponsor of Centre Pompidou-Metz. In recognition of its long-term patronage of the arts, Wendel received the distinction of “Grand Mécène de la Culture” in 2012.For more information: wendelgroup.com

    Follow us on LinkedIn @Wendel 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Launches New Campaign to “Save Our Schools”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 02, 2025

    Warren Launches New Campaign to “Save Our Schools”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) launched the Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America. 

    As part of the campaign, Senator Warren will amplify the real-life impacts of cuts to ED; lead investigations to hold the Trump administration accountable, including ED Secretary Linda McMahon and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); and bring students, teachers, parents, and unions into the fight to protect access to public education.

    “If Donald Trump and Elon Musk dismantle the Department of Education, teachers will be fired, class sizes will go up, after-school programs will be cut, and young people who need access to financial aid to be able to go to college will lose that on-ramp to a stronger future,” said Senator Warren. “Taking that away from our kids so that a handful of billionaires can be even richer is just plain ugly, and I will fight it with everything I’ve got.” 

    Save Our Schools is the latest action Senator Warren is taking as part of her longstanding leadership and work to defend public schools, students, and working families, building on her rigorous oversight of the Trump administration’s attacks on public education. 

    Senator Warren’s oversight of Donald Trump’s efforts to end public education as we know it has already led to tangible results. Senator Warren’s pointed questions led to Secretary McMahon’s first public admission that she “wholeheartedly” agreed with Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education. Notably, this response is now being used by Somerville Public Schools, Easthampton Public Schools, AFT Massachusetts, and AFT National in their lawsuit against Trump’s executive order to abolish ED. 

    Additionally, following Trump’s actions to cut ED’s workforce in half, another key step towards his plan to dismantle the agency, the financial aid application for millions of students applying to college went dark. Senator Warren immediately opened an investigation into these firings and urged Secretary McMahon to reinstate employees critical to the federal student aid process. The next day, the Department began to rehire Federal Student Aid workers and soon afterwards, the financial aid application came back online.

    “We’ve got to fight for an America where it’s not just the kids of billionaires who get a good education but it’s every kid in every community who gets a great education,” said Senator Warren.

    MIL OSI USA News –