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Category: Entertainment

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commercial Aviation Work Group meeting May 22 at Paine Field

    Source: Washington State News 2

    OLYMPIA – The state Commercial Aviation Work Group will host its second public hybrid meeting of 2025 at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Paine Field Airport Administration Office in Everett.

    This will be the group’s fifth meeting overall since it was created by the state Legislature in 2023. The work group was formed to evaluate the long-range commercial aviation and transportation needs of the state. Members are asked to research alternatives for more aviation capacity and expanding the use of existing airports and multimodal opportunities. The work group is not tasked with searching for or building a new airport.

    There will be a public comment portion during the meeting for those in person and online via Zoom. Additionally, the public can submit public comments at any time by filling out the work group’s online contact form.

    The public is encouraged to subscribe to the work group’s email updates.

    Commercial Aviation Work Group hybrid meeting details

    When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 22. 

    Where: Paine Field Airport Administration Office at 9901 24th Pl W, Suite A, Everett, WA. Parking is free and does not require a permit. 

    Participants also may attend the meeting online via Zoom (pre-registration is required), or people can watch a live stream on TVW.

    Details: People who wish to provide public comment should note that:

    • Comments are accepted anytime submitted through the online contact form.
    • For the May 22 meeting, there will be 30 minutes on the agenda for public comment. Meeting facilitators will accept requests to speak from participants online and in person. People who wish to comment will be allowed no more than two minutes to provide input. 

    Free, temporary internet access is available for those who do not have broadband service at locations throughout the state. To find the nearest access, visit the drive-in WiFi hotspot list.

    Previous Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission

    The work group is separate from the previous Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission that researched locations to meet the state’s forecast demand for commercial passenger service, air cargo and general aviation. At its final meeting in 2023, the commission focused on providing information to be used by the Commercial Aviation Work Group. The commission released its final report (PDF 613KB) June 15, 2023. The work group has different members and a different mission.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: U.S. Hospitals and Health Systems Hit with Long-running Increases in Medical Supply and Drug Expenses, Bad Debt and Charity Care, According to New Strata Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hospitals and health systems nationwide saw notable growth in medical supply and drug expenses and increases in bad debt and charity care in recent years — all factors that could be exacerbated in the coming months as the healthcare industry feels the effects of federal tariffs and other policy changes, according to a new report from Strata Decision Technology.

    Non-labor expenses have long been on the rise for U.S. hospitals, with total non-labor expense increasing year-over-year (YOY) each month for more than three years, according to Strata data. Medical supply and drug expenses have steadily grown as a share of overall expenses. Medical supply expense as a percent of total expense increased from 7.2% in the first quarter of 2023 to 8.0% in Q1 of this year. Drug expense as a percent of total expense rose from 4.1% in Q1 2023 to 4.4% in Q1 2025. 

    “Hospitals and health systems have battled persistent expense increases for years,” said Steve Wasson, Strata’s chief data and intelligence officer. “Now — with more than two-thirds of medical devices used in the U.S. manufactured outside of the country — tariffs and other federal policy changes could further drive up costs for pharmaceuticals, syringes, personal protective equipment, and other medical supplies and devices that healthcare professionals rely on every day to care for patients.”

    U.S. health systems also saw growth in charity and bad debt deductions in recent years. The median charity deduction for health systems increased 5.4% from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, and jumped 21.4% in Q1 2025 versus Q1 2023. The median health system bad debt deduction increased 9.2% from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025 and 16.9% versus Q1 2023. 

    For hospitals, charity deductions for the first quarter rose 7.6% from Q1 2024 and jumped 24.5% versus Q1 2023. Bad debt deductions at hospitals decreased slightly at 0.9% from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, but rose 15.3% versus two years ago. 

    Possible changes to Medicaid being discussed in Congress could contribute to further increases in bad debt and charity care. As of Q1 2025, the data show that Medicaid accounts for 12% or more of revenue for most U.S. hospitals, depending on the region. Hospitals in the Midwest have the lowest share of Medicaid revenue at 11.1%, while hospitals in the West have the largest at 14.4%. 

    About the Data 
    The report uses data from Strata’s StrataSphere® and Comparative Analytics database. Comparative Analytics offers access to near real-time data drawn from more than 135,000 physicians from over 10,000 practices and 139 specialty categories, and from 500+ unique departments across more than 1,600 hospitals. Comparative Analytics also provides data and comparisons specific to a single organization for visibility into how their market is evolving. StrataSphere is a unique and comprehensive data-sharing platform that helps providers leverage a network that represents approximately 25% of all provider spend in U.S. healthcare. This report incorporates data from more than 600 hospitals with StrataJazz® Decision Support.

    About Strata Decision Technology 
    Strata Decision Technology provides a cloud-based platform for software and service solutions to help organizations better analyze, plan, and perform in support of their missions. With the combination of Syntellis Performance Solutions’ Axiom solutions, more than 2,300 organizations rely on Strata to provide their financial analytics, planning, and performance solutions. Strata has been named the market leader for Business Decision Support for 18 consecutive years. By uniting these two industry leaders, Strata continues to deliver market-leading solutions and world-class service, with an increased focus on accelerating innovation. For more information, please go to www.stratadecision.com.

    Strata Social Networks 
    LinkedIn: Strata Decision Technology
    Media contact: 
    Sally Brown, Inkhouse 
    strata@inkhouse.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A new pope is chosen: A look back on the jostling for the papacy and the conclave’s history

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Colin Rose, Associate Professor of European and Digital History, Brock University

    Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States is the new pope, succeeding Pope Francis, and taking the name Pope Leo XIV. He’s been elected following a millennium-old ceremony known as the papal conclave. During the conclave, the 135 eligible Cardinal Electors of the Catholic Church sequestered themselves and elected the new pope in isolation.

    During that time, they had no contact with the outside world and they voted repeatedly, in written ballots and verbal declaration, until one of them achieved a two-thirds majority.

    Every failure brings sighs from the crowds in St. Peter’s Square as the votes, burned with a chemical admixture, send up a plume of inky black smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. White smoke, signalling a new pope has been elected, provokes cheers and celebrations and the beginning of a new papal era, as was the case after the election of Leo on May 8, 2025.



    Read more:
    How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave

    The history of the conclave, especially during the Italian Renaissance that I teach and research, tells us a lot about how the papacy is both a religious and a political office.

    The pope is at once the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church as well as the absolute monarch of Vatican City. He is both bishop of Rome and head of state of the smallest sovereign state in the world.

    Politics of the papacy

    In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the Vatican was the capital of a much-larger Papal State. This territorial buffer around Rome at its height bordered the territories of Florence, Naples, Milan and Venice, and covered much of northern Italy.

    Popes wielded great influence in the dramatic politics of famous Italian families like the Medici: it was a Medici pope, Clement VII, who helped negotiate the installation of the first Medici duke in Florence.

    Apocryphal accounts persist of Julius II, the so-called “Warrior Pope,” leading a charge over the walls of Bologna in 1506.

    At the same time popes, and Catholic policy, had profound consequences for European and global politics: Clement’s successor Paul III excommunicated England’s King Henry VIII, cementing the English break with Rome in 1538.

    A portrait of Pope Alexander VI Borgia circa 1495.
    (Vatican Museums)

    Alexander VI was more audaciously imperial: he sponsored the treaty that arbitrarily divided the entire world outside of Europe between Spain (his home country) and Portugal in 1494.

    Alexander VI’s historical infamy is perhaps outdone only by his son, Cesare Borgia, made famous by his mention is Niccolo Machiavelli’s book The Prince.

    Becoming pope was a big deal for a cardinal and his family. Leading candidates known as papabili (pope-ables) began strategizing and negotiating even before popes died.

    When a pontiff died, those cardinals abroad began their travels to Rome, construction began on the temporary cells that would house them all during the sequestration and the real work of electing a pope began.

    Enea Silvio Piccolomini left a detailed memoir of his election as Pius II in 1458. In it he describes a process of negotiating, threatening, cajoling and strategizing that make the scheming in the recent movie Conclave look unsophisticated.

    Renaissance Italy wrestled with and ultimately reconciled itself to the political nature of the papacy.

    Many, including popes such as Pius II, expressed discomfort with the political power of the papacy. While it was a clear factor in the schism of European Christendom that led to the emergence of the Protestant churches in the 16th century, in early modern Italy the political power of the papacy was a reality of the diplomatic milieu.

    The empty throne

    The conclave marks a special place in early modern history as a time when ordinary political order was overturned for a brief period known as the sede vacante (the Vacant See).

    The Vacant See was a time when identities were swappable and when, as one Paolo di Grassi told a judge in 1559, “in Vacant See [Romans] are the masters. The People are the Masters.” Di Grassi had, during the Vacant See of November 1559, pursued his own longstanding grudges against his enemies and been involved in at least one armed brawl.

    While they waited for a new pope, Romans and everyone else might have passed the time with another favourite vice: gambling on the conclave’s outcome.



    Read more:
    Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders

    European princes and other potentates of the church paid close attention to conclaves, tried to smuggle information in and out and steer the conclave in favour of their preferred candidate.

    In 1730, for instance, Cardinal Lambertini smuggled a letter out of his conclave thanking a benefactor for their donations to his future ordination as Pope Benedict XIV.

    The election held everyone’s attention as a rare and unusually impactful event in the Roman calendar.

    While Rome’s streets thrummed with tension during the chaotic days of a Vacant See, the conclave proceeded serenely and secretly within the Vatican’s walls.

    The use of white smoke to mark the election of a pope only began in the 20th century. During the Renaissance, the sound of bells would be a more effective way to spread the news through Rome, before the new pope was announced to the city and the world.

    Much turns on that announcement now, as much did in previous centuries. The conclave elects both a pope and a head of state. While Vatican City is magnitudes smaller than the Papal State of the past, it remains a sovereign state.

    Papal pronouncements shape not just religious thought but political action, through voting, advocacy and more. The crowds who awaited the announcement of the new pope might be less raucous than Renaissance Romans, but they were nonetheless invested in the results.

    Colin Rose receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. A new pope is chosen: A look back on the jostling for the papacy and the conclave’s history – https://theconversation.com/a-new-pope-is-chosen-a-look-back-on-the-jostling-for-the-papacy-and-the-conclaves-history-255492

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s peace movement offers a ray of hope amid the pain of Gaza conflict

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yuval Katz, Lecturer in Communication and Media, Loughborough University

    The first thing I do when going back to Israel for a visit is go for a run. After more than two years abroad, it is a good opportunity to refamiliarise myself with the home I left to pursue my academic career more than eight years ago.

    I knew things would not feel the same. On October 7 2023, Hamas militants breached the fence surrounding the Gaza Strip, killing over 1,000 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostage. It was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and a resounding blow against the founding idea of the state of Israel, which was established as a safe haven for the Jewish people, who have been persecuted for millennia.

    But in the 18 months that have passed since this catastrophic day, I have grown increasingly critical of the path Israel has taken. It has become a path of revenge, in which Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians through ruthless air strikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip.

    Now, as many government officials openly declare that there are “no innocent people in Gaza”, plans are in the making to cleanse Gaza of Palestinians through “voluntary immigration”. Although it has not been recognised as such by international law (charges of genocide are currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice), the Netanyahu government has been accused of premeditated genocide, carried out by Jews only 80 years after the Holocaust ended.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    In the meantime, Israelis are frustrated and exhausted. Their security has not improved, and 59 hostages remain in Gaza (only 24 of whom are thought to be alive). Those who returned from captivity alive report that military operations kill rather than save them – many of them urge the government to stop the war.

    During my run, I was amazed by the mesmerising advocacy campaign to release the hostages. Faces of the hostage and their stories are omnipresent across the public sphere – in posters hung on walls and fences, on flags, bumper stickers and slogans sprayed in graffiti on highways.

    One cannot escape the simultaneous presence (absence) of the hostages. When driving across the country, I listened to radio hosts mentioning those left behind in the Gaza tunnels at the beginning of every hour. Lest we forget.

    Yet, with all the yearning to bring them home comes a devastating helplessness. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, whose intelligence failures were responsible for October 7 and the endless war, is still in power – and many ordinary people feel there is little they can do to change this reality.

    Perhaps it was my indefatigable search for hope that led me to an organisation that embodies the alternative to endless cycles of conflict.

    My academic work focuses on how media forms – whether that be popular television shows, digital activism, or mainstream journalism – generate spaces where Palestinians and Jews meet each other. Where they can process their traumas together creatively through art and storytelling in ways that offer new possibilities for a life worth living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

    But I completed collecting the data for my book project before October 7. Now, returning, I felt an urgency to discover whether a vision for peace was still possible amid this unbearable despair.

    Standing together

    The movement, Standing Together, was founded in late 2015 in the wake of a series of violent incidents. Witnessing the incompetence of left-wing parties and human rights organisations to protect Palestinian citizens of the state from growing racism, a few dozen activists decided to organise a joint demonstration for Palestinians and Jews, so they set up a Facebook page to invite people to join.

    Trailer for No Other Land.

    The movement has expanded significantly since then; from a group of roughly 20 activists, it now consists of over 6,000 registered members, operating in 14 local centres across the country and is a leading organiser of political activities on Israeli campuses.

    I visited its headquarters in Tel Aviv – where the movement has expanded from a couple of rooms to a whole floor of an office building, with paid staff managing its data, media content, finances, and student relations.

    I conducted several interviews with Standing Together’s managers in which they indicated that membership and donations have grown exponentially since the war started. They told me many Palestinians and Israelis are looking for a political home to advance a vision of peace, equality and solidarity.

    The activities of Standing Together include operating information booths which also collect humanitarian aid for Gaza and send it across the border. They screen events and movies for members that reflect the harsh reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while offering an alternative to perpetual violence.

    A series of national screenings was dedicated to the Oscar-winning documentary, No Other Land, which depicts the dispossession of the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank.

    The movie had been banned from commercial screening in Israel, but the filmmakers, peace activists for whom changing the political reality in Masafer Yatta is more important than anything else, have made it free to screen – they want all Israelis to see it.

    It also screened the joint Memorial Day service, a ceremony that has been staged for years now to allow bereaved families from both sides to meet and grieve together and call for a political change in which no more people join this community of pain.

    People who attended a screening of the Israeli-Palestinian memorial day ceremony at a synagogue in the city of Ra’anana at the end of April were attacked by right-wing activists. There was no response or condemnation from government officials.

    As darkness threatens to consume the people of Israel and Palestine with little regard for human life, movements like Standing Together spread light and bring hope.

    Yuval Katz 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. Israel’s peace movement offers a ray of hope amid the pain of Gaza conflict – https://theconversation.com/israels-peace-movement-offers-a-ray-of-hope-amid-the-pain-of-gaza-conflict-256030

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Four records that embody the joy of the double album – from the Beatles to Outkast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester

    In the summer of 1966, a race was on between two very different opponents. On one side was Bob Dylan, the established and bestselling folk artist. On the other was new act The Mothers of Invention, a genre- (and mind-) bending band led by avant garde composer Frank Zappa. The aim? To release the first “double album” (four-sided LP) in popular music.

    On June 20, Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde prevailed, pipping The Mothers of Invention’s Freak Out! by a single week. But the outcome was largely unimportant – not least because the first double album had actually been released six years prior, in the form of R&B singer Jimmy Clanton’s Jimmy’s Happy/Jimmy’s Blue.

    But the “race” did at least demonstrate there was interest in the double album as a format – and that, with the commercial success of Blonde on Blonde (Freak Out! unsurprisingly failed to trouble the charts), the public weren’t put off by the inflated price of a two-LP set.

    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 double album may have subsequently gone through a rocky patch in the 1970s when “self-indulgent” prog rockers used it to unleash interminable dreary eternities – but it remains a crucial, albeit uncommon, part of pop music. Here are some of the standouts that you may or may not have come across.

    1. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast (2003)

    Rumours of a falling out between Outkast members Big Boi and André 3000 were rife in the lead-up to the release of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in September 2003. The fact thia project was essentially two solo albums stuck together didn’t help matters.

    Roses by Outkast from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

    Whatever the circumstances it was recorded under, the result was synapse-popping, gut-reorganising, breathtakingly adventurous music. It’s not perfect and, like many double albums before and since, critics have suggested it would have been better served trimmed down and issued as a single disc. But the benefit of the double album format is that it allows artists the time and freedom to experiment.

    Across its two-and-a-half-hour running time, Big Boi and André push boundaries and create a space for hip hop to embrace its weirdness.

    2. Blinking Lights and Other Revelations by Eels (2005)

    American alt-rock band Eels’ sixth studio album saw songwriter-singer-producer Mark Everett (known as “E”) in reflective mood, taking stock of his entire life up to this point.

    Given that his life had included his sister’s 1996 suicide, his mother’s death from cancer soon after, his father’s alcoholism and the death of his cousin in 9/11, it would have been reasonable to expect one of the most depressing albums of all time. And yet, somehow, it’s anything but.

    Described by the Guardian as “one of the best albums to have arisen out of grief” and by E as “a love letter to life itself, in all its beautiful, horrible glory”, Blinking Lights manages to take all that pain and misery and turn it into something genuinely positive and life-affirming.

    Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living) by Eels from Blinking Lights and Other Revelations.

    Recorded over several years, mostly in E’s Los Angeles basement, the album’s production veers between intricate and lo-fi. E’s singing voice – a unique combination of gruff and tender – is its only constant.

    Having spent 90 minutes going through every conceivable emotion (and perhaps several more besides), we make it to the final line of the final track, Things the Grandchildren Should Know, where E tells us: “If I had to do it all again, then it’s something I’d like to do.”

    After all the struggles, all the devastation and trauma, the fact he still considers life sweet enough to live all over again is goosebump-inducing: an extraordinary moment from an extraordinary album.

    3. Aerial by Kate Bush (2005)

    For whatever reason, the number of double albums released by male artists dwarfs those released by females. Donna Summer, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé are among the few, and Taylor Swift almost had one with The Tortured Poets Department (technically its 15-song “second instalment” was a separate release from the first). But these are relatively uncommon examples.

    As for a double album that’s been written and produced solely by a female artist – well, replace “uncommon” with “almost non-existent”.

    King of the Mountain by Kate Bush from Aerial.

    “Almost” because in 2005, Kate Bush did it with Aerial. Her first album in over a decade, Aerial saw Bush at her idiosyncratic best. In her hands (and voice), commonplace events are made to sound extraordinary – and they’re sung to a constantly shifting palette of musical styles, ranging from baroque to dance.

    It’s impossible to predict what’s going to come next, and that is joyous. Just to show how nothing is ever perfect, though, two of the tracks feature disgraced Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, whose contributions Bush removed from the 2018 re-issue.

    4. The Beatles/The White Album by The Beatles (1968)

    On May 30 1968, almost exactly one year after the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the fab four returned to Abbey Road studios to begin work on their next album, a self-titled affair which will forever be known as the White Album.

    But where do the most important band in the world go after they’ve just hit a “musically ground-breaking, hyper-influential career high-water mark”? They go bigger, of course.

    Millions of words have already been written about the brilliance of the Beatles, but their prolific artistry around this period still can’t be overstated. When the White Album was released in November 1968, the band had produced a staggering 53 songs in just 18 months, spread across two albums (one a double), a double EP and four chart-topping singles. Thirty of those songs appear on this album, most of them written during the band’s meditation retreat to Rishikesh in India in early 1968.

    While My Guitar Gently Weeps by the Beatles from the White Album.

    It’s the least collegiate of all the Beatles’ albums and Harrison, Lennon and McCartney would often work on their own tracks in three different studios. But it’s also their most experimental and diverse, taking in everything from hard rock and blues-rock to saloon satire, pastoral folk, vaudeville, and avant-garde sound collage.

    Its stark, plain white cover may have been designed to contrast with the colourfully trippy artwork of Sgt. Pepper’s, but it shares its acclaim, regularly making “best album cover of all time” lists.

    The Beatles may have been coming apart as a group when they were making it – and the sound collage track Revolution 9 may make beginning-to-end listens a bit of a challenge – but for many of us, the White Album is still the biggest and best album from the biggest and best band.

    Do you have a favourite double album? We’d love to hear about it. Let us know your pick in the comments below.

    Glenn Fosbraey 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. Four records that embody the joy of the double album – from the Beatles to Outkast – https://theconversation.com/four-records-that-embody-the-joy-of-the-double-album-from-the-beatles-to-outkast-255244

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Zombie knife attacker guilty of attempted murder at Carnival

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager who carried out at a zombie knife attack during Notting Hill Carnival has been found guilty of attempted murder.

    Rumarni Tuitt, 19 (01.12.05) of Sutherland Road, Walthamstow was charged on 29 August 2024 with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

    He stood trial at the Old Bailey and was convicted on Thursday, 8 May.

    The court heard that shortly before 20:00hrs on the Monday evening of Carnival – 26 August 2024 – Tuitt was in Canal Way, off Ladbroke Grove.

    Officers who were on duty as part of the policing operation recounted how they saw him appear agitated as he argued verbally with someone in a crowd, before taking a huge knife from his waistband and thrusting it into a group in front of him.

    A 19-year-old man who was in the crowd was stabbed no fewer than five times causing multiple serious injuries including some to his abdomen that required life saving surgery. He and Tuitt did not know each other and a motive for the attack has never been established.

    Officers intervened immediately, arresting Tuitt at the scene and providing vital medical treatment to his victim until paramedics could reach them.

    The knife used, which was at least 10 inches in length, was recovered from the scene.

    Acting Detective Inspector Sophie McLoughlin, who led the investigation, said: “This was a savage and senseless attack. The victim was very lucky to survive his injuries.

    “Hundreds of thousands of people, including the victim in this case, go to Carnival to have a good time and enjoy the music and entertainment. Those who would choose to turn up armed with a 10 inch zombie knife clearly have no such intentions.

    “It is thanks to the vigilance of officers on duty that day and the hard work of my team in the months since that we were able to build the case that saw Tuitt convicted at court.

    “It is also thanks to officers’ immediate medical intervention at the scene, as well as the specialist further care by paramedics, that we’re talking about a conviction for attempted murder and not worse.

    “I hope the victim can now move forward and begin to put this experience behind him.”

    Tuitt was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 27 June.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Girls’ voices are needed to tackle misogyny and the manosphere – but they are being ignored

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chiara Fehr, PhD Candidate in Gender and Sexuality Studies, UCL

    yunulia/Shutterstock

    The Netflix series Adolescence has sparked important conversations about the role of social media in spreading harmful content. It has widened the public’s understanding of the rampant uptake of digitally disseminated misogyny, the legacies of Andrew Tate and those like him, and the violence perpetuated by the manosphere. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has even supported a plan to show the series to young people in schools.

    But when the term “misogyny” is brought up in reference to the manosphere, girls and women often become abstract representations of victimhood. Their voices are missing. Conversation around Adolescence, as well as wider coverage on the online misogyny, tends to prioritise the opinions, behaviour and experiences of boys and how they can be supported.

    Very little so far has been said about how those victimised feel towards the cultural uptake of misogyny. We need to know how this is playing out in real time in and around schools for girls, and what structures of support are necessary for them.

    The crux of online misogyny lies in the systemic dehumanisation of women and girls. We need this to be a part of the discussion and to find solutions.

    In 2021, in the wake of COVID-19, an Ofsted review explored sexual abuse in schools and colleges. Girls were asked about the types of sexual behaviour they experienced among their peer group. 92% of girls mentioned sexist name calling, and 88% said that they or their peers had received unsolicited explicit pictures or videos.

    Similarly, one of us (Jessica) has carried out research with colleagues on over 600 young people on their experiences of sexual violence online and at school. The research found that 78% of all participants had experienced harms that included misogynistic, sexually harassing or homophobic comments, and image-based sexual abuse.

    For almost all the young people in the study – 98.5% – these experiences had increased during COVID-19.

    The other of us (Chiara), is conducting doctoral research into teenage girls’ online experiences. So far this research has found that most participants had been negatively affected by rhetoric of online misogyny influencers, both online and offline. For most, these negative experiences involved behaviour from their male peers at school.

    Misogyny is normalised as ‘lad banter’.
    Tsuguliev/Shutterstock

    The girls recounted seeing a lot of manosphere content online and hearing discussions at school, which they found “unsettling” and “scary” as they promoted harmful body image and toxic sexual scripts. Much of this related to the standards boys in their schools would set for girls’ appearance.

    The girls also discussed how boys at their school did not understand the seriousness of their misogynist behaviour. “They do it to wind us up, to get a reaction from us … to them it’s all a joke,” one girl said.

    This aligns with previous research by Jessica and her colleagues on manosphere messages and the sharing of nude images in school. Misogyny is legitimised as part of lad banter. “It’s normalised with boys to like to behave that way, I think,” a year-nine girl (aged 13-14) in one study said.

    An everyday reality

    Young people are already very familiar with, and regularly deal with, the mundane reality of misogyny in their everyday lives. They do not need to be shown a television show, like Adolescence, which sensationalises and dramatises misogyny through the murder of a young girl. This show was not intended for educational purposes and would do little to change misogynist attitude of boys while potentially terrify girls.

    When addressing the radicalisation of boys online, the experiences of those who have been victimised need to be included. Young people should be taught to recognise patriarchal power structures and to be critical of online media, so they can better identify manosphere type messaging that legitimises misogyny.

    Unfortunately, although relationships and sex education is now a compulsory subject in UK schools, it is often poorly resourced and low priority. It does not necessarily cover issues such as sexual violence and misogyny, nor does it typically connect the dots to how sexual violence is normalised in digital and non-digital environments. Jessica and colleagues have co-produced relationships and sex education lessons that cover the complexity of online and offline sexual harassment, abuse and misogyny.

    Politicians across the UK need to make a systematic and concerted effort to support and regulate high-quality relationships and sex education. Training for teachers is necessary to address issues of sexual violence in a wider and more comprehensive way.

    Relying on a TV show that sensationalises misogyny and the manosphere, re-centres masculinity and erases the experiences of those victimised including girls and gender diverse youth, will not solve any of the pressing contemporary issues around the influx of digitally exacerbated misogyny.

    Jessica Ringrose receives funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council

    Chiara Fehr 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. Girls’ voices are needed to tackle misogyny and the manosphere – but they are being ignored – https://theconversation.com/girls-voices-are-needed-to-tackle-misogyny-and-the-manosphere-but-they-are-being-ignored-254626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: STATEMENT: CanREA members sign agreements to build new wind power projects in New Brunswick

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: STATEMENT: CanREA members sign agreements to build new wind power projects in New Brunswick

    NB Power has selected CanREA member companies to develop four new wind energy projects

    Fredericton, May 7, 2025— The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) congratulates three member companies for signing Power Purchase Agreements representing just over 450 MW of wind energy, as announced by NB Power today.

    Each of these four new wind energy projects is being developed by First Nations communities, in partnership with CanREA members Eolectric, ABO Energy and Natural Forces. The projects, totalling 452 megawatts (MW) of new generation in New Brunswick, are expected to be in service in 2027/28. 

    “The partnership between First Nations communities and developers is a critical component of all these projects, which will help contribute to New Brunswick’s low-carbon future,” said Jean Habel, CanREA’s Senior Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.  

    Specifically:  

    CanREA Gigawatt member Eolectric was selected for a project providing 92 MW of capacity, the Astuwicuwon Wind Project, developed in partnership with the Sitansisk First Nation. 
    CanREA Gigawatt Member, ABO Energy, was selected for a project with 60 MW of capacity, the Papoqji’jg Wind Project, developed in partnership with the Pabineau First Nation. 
    CanREA Megawatt Member, Natural Forces, was selected for two projects with 300 MW of total capacity: the Salmon River Wind Project (200 MW, to be developed in partnership with Wolastoqey Resource Developments Inc., representing all six Wolastoqey communities), and the Paqt’smawei Sipu Wind Project (100 MW, which will be developed in partnership with the L’nui Menikuk First Nation (Indian Island) and Mi’gmaq United Investment Network). 
    “Wind power is an affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable electricity generation technology,” said Eddie Oldfield, CanREA’s Manager for Atlantic Canada. “CanREA will continue to work hard in Atlantic Canada to maximize the value of this tremendous energy resource.” 

    Quotes

    “The partnership between First Nations communities and developers is a critical component of all these projects, which will help contribute to New Brunswick’s low-carbon future.”  
    —Jean Habel, Senior Director, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    “Wind power is an affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable electricity generation technology. CanREA will continue to work hard in Atlantic Canada to maximize the value of this tremendous energy resource.”
    —Eddie Oldfield, Manager, Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) 

    For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact: 

    Communications Canadian Renewable Energy Association 613-227-5378 communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

    About CanREA 

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. 

    The post STATEMENT: CanREA members sign agreements to build new wind power projects in New Brunswick appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Peacekeeping Ministerial: Investing in Prisons to Secure Long-lasting Peace

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This story was written by the Justice and Corrections Service at the UN Department of Peace Operations, which supports the work of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as well as other UN entities, to strengthen the rule of law and criminal justice systems, including courts and prisons. 

    In some peacekeeping settings, armed groups attack prisons as a deliberate strategy. Their aim may be to release dangerous inmates and destabilize communities or to free their own members and bolster their ranks by coercing newly released inmates to join them. In others, prisoners are breaking free to escape appalling conditions. Regardless of the reasons, a single mass escape can significantly set back what peacekeeping has taken years to accomplish.  

    “Peacekeepers risk their lives to oppose armed groups and protect civilians, but without a functioning prison system, high-risk prisoners can sometimes simply walk away,” warns Robert Pulver, Chief of the Justice and Corrections Service at the UN Department of Peace Operations. 

    Effective, well-managed prisons are essential to public safety and long-term peace. When prisons are not secured, they can become targets for armed groups. When they are overcrowded, under-resourced or inhumane, they can become flashpoints for violence, mass escapes and radicalization, undermining already fragile peace efforts.  “Without safe, secure and humane prisons, there can be no law and order and no rule of law, the lives of civilians are put in danger and peace remains at risk,” says Pulver.  

    The cost of inaction 

    In January, armed group offensives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) resulted in prison breaks, including in the cities of Goma, Bukavu and Kabare. Over 7,000 prisoners escaped, of which more than 4,500 were high-risk inmates. Some were members of armed groups, some had been convicted of crimes against humanity, war crimes and conflict-related sexual violence. Some remain at large, making threats against victims and those who were involved in the legal proceedings against them. Some have rejoined armed groups, including in command positions.  

    In Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), Ngaragba Prison was housing more than five times its intended capacity, causing food shortages, deaths from malnutrition and heightened security and health risks.  Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, DRC, was designed to hold 1,500 inmates but was holding close to 10 times that when an escape occurred last September.  Prisons like these “are time bombs waiting to explode,” says Pulver, facing much higher risks of mass escapes.   

    In conflict-affected settings, prison breaks undo the hard work missions have undertaken to remove dangerous individuals from communities and hold them accountable. They erode confidence in state capacity to maintain order and exacerbate cycles of violence – especially when armed actors exploit prison breaks to advance their agendas.  

    Building safe prisons 

    With support from Member States, UN peacekeeping missions are helping national authorities in conflict-affected countries improve prison management and security. In the DRC, UN peacekeeping has supported the installation of surveillance systems, like CCTV and drones, the improvement of infrastructure and the development of emergency response protocols. In the CAR, we have supported health screenings for over 2,000 detainees, helping them get treatment for illness and malnutrition through the International Committee of the Red Cross. In Kosovo, we have supported rehabilitation programmes for inmates.  

    Currently, 28 Member States provide corrections personnel to peacekeeping and special political missions to help in these efforts. These officers help train national prison staff in key areas including the prevention of violent extremism and prison escapes. However, many challenges remain due to insufficient resources, jeopardizing the very security goals peacekeepers strive to achieve.  

    Stepping up support 

    Canada, Rwanda and Sweden co-chair the Group of Friends of Corrections in New York to draw more political support, expertise and resources for this often-neglected aspect of peace operations.  

    The upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin offers a key opportunity for Member States to strengthen this work. Participants are expected to pledge vital resources, including trained corrections personnel and equipment such as protective gear and metal detectors.  

    This support will help transform at-risk prisons from security liabilities into pillars of peace and public safety. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange Brings Crypto’s Elite Influencers Together For Exclusive TOKEN2049 Yacht Experience

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link.

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, the world’s longest-serving crypto exchange, hosted an exclusive VIP yacht party that brought together cryptocurrency’s most prominent voices following TOKEN2049 Dubai on May 2, 2025. The luxurious event, set against the backdrop of Dubai’s coastline on the Arabian Sea, created a premier networking space where the industry’s leading content creators could connect in a more relaxed setting.

    The exclusive after-party attracted the crypto world’s most influential voices, with top-tier Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) who collectively reach millions of followers across various social media platforms. Guests enjoyed perfect Dubai weather while cruising at sea, with live DJ music creating an energetic atmosphere that encouraged open conversation and networking.

    “Our goal is to create moments that matter—beyond charts and screens,” said Erik Gjergji, Head of Business Development at BTCC. “This yacht party isn’t just a celebration; it’s about turning online connections into real relationships and gaining insights that give us a competitive edge.”

    The exclusive event featured thrilling jetski sessions along Dubai’s coastline, live DJ performances, and exquisite Japanese cuisine prepared by Mr. Nishimura Yukou, the Head Chef from Umi Kei at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, one of Dubai’s premier dining destinations. As evening approached, guests enjoyed a scenic cruise showcasing Dubai’s iconic skyline at dusk, adding a magical backdrop to the networking experience.

    Unlike traditional conference settings, the yacht party provided a relaxed atmosphere where influential voices in the crypto space could engage in candid conversations about market trends, technological innovations, and the future of cryptocurrencies.

    BTCC Exchange has consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering community connections through events alongside major industry conferences. By bringing together content creators in distinctive settings like yacht parties and desert safari tours, the exchange positions itself as a trusted name in the cryptocurrency space where meaningful dialogues flourish.

    As TOKEN2049 Dubai concludes, the relationships forged during these immersive experiences and on the conference floor will continue to thrive online, building trust, creating opportunities to collaborate, and ultimately enhancing the exchange’s services in meaningful ways.

    About BTCC Exchange

    Founded in 2011, BTCC is one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, offering secure and user-friendly trading services to millions of users globally. With a commitment to security, innovation, and community building, BTCC continues to be a trusted platform in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

    Website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

    X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

    Contact: press@btcc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Lists USD1, Accelerating Global Stablecoin Innovation with World Liberty Financial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it will list World Liberty Financial USD (USD1) in the Innovation Zone on May 9, 2025 (UTC). The USD1/USDT trading pair will also open at 08:00 on May 8, 2025 (UTC), and the MEXC Convert feature will be available from 09:00 on May 8, 2025 (UTC), offering users a seamless asset conversion experience. This listing expands the range of digital assets on the platform and further demonstrates MEXC’s commitment to advancing the global stablecoin ecosystem.

    USD1: A New Era in Stablecoins and Financial Transparency

    USD1 is World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin that provides secure and transparent digital asset services for global users. The stablecoin is backed 1:1 by the US dollar, with its reserve assets custodied by BitGo, held by Fidelity and subject to regular audits by third-party accounting firms to ensure transparency and stability. Currently, USD1 is deployed on both Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BSC), with plans to expand to additional blockchains in the future to enhance interoperability.

    Furthermore, USD1 has made significant strides in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. For example, ListaDAO has launched a USD1 lending vault on BNB Chain, providing liquidity support for 20 million USD1. Renowned market maker DWF Labs has also deployed USD1 liquidity across multiple platforms, further enhancing its availability and market depth. According to the data from CoinMarketCap, USD1’s market capitalization has surpassed USD 2.12 billion, demonstrating strong market demand.

    Special Promotion to Celebrate the Listing

    To celebrate the successful listing of USD1, MEXC is launching a series of special offers to thank its users for their support. Starting May 8, 2025, at 08:00 (UTC), users can enjoy the following benefits:

    • Zero Trading Fees: The USD1/USDT spot trading pair will have 0 trading fees.
    • Zero Withdrawal Fees: Users will enjoy 0 withdrawal fees when withdrawing USD1.

    MEXC Drives the Evolution of Stablecoins Through Ecosystem Empowerment

    As a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, MEXC has earned the trust of 36 million users across 170+ countries worldwide, thanks to its fast token listing process, diverse asset offerings, deep liquidity, and robust security. At the same time, MEXC continues to empower quality projects and partners, actively promoting the healthy development of the global digital asset and stablecoin ecosystem.

    Looking Ahead: A Shared Vision for the Future of Stablecoins

    MEXC’s listing partnership with World Liberty Financial further drives innovation in the development of stablecoins. Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to strengthen its support for stablecoin projects, promoting the widespread adoption of stablecoins globally. At the same time, the platform will keep iterating its products and services to provide users with a more secure and seamless trading experience.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 36 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15818921-c5b2-4fbf-93a6-e7e0c7d6fdf6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Study: Music therapy helps brain-injured children

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Music could provide a breakthrough in assessing consciousness levels in children who have suffered significant brain injuries, according to new research published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

    Children with disorders of consciousness rely on those caring for them to provide all aspects of their daily living, including hydration, nutrition, washing and dressing.

    There is currently a lack of tools to assess consciousness in children aged between two and 18, and assessing awareness in children is complicated by neurodevelopmental changes that occur as the child ages.

    To tackle this, researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), The Children’s Trust and Temple University have developed the MuSICCA (Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness) tool, which involves using musical stimulation to enable the patient to show how conscious they are.

    The music is specially selected for the patient and a qualified music therapist performs this live to the patient, manipulating different aspects of the music depending on how the patient responds. The idea is to give the patient the best chance of showing what they can do.

    The music therapist observes the child’s behaviours and records these observations against a set of scales. MuSICCA then produces a diagnosis of the level of consciousness.

    As part of the study, researchers invited a group of participants including music therapists, family members of children affected by brain injuries, and healthcare professionals to evaluate MuSICCA.

    Participants in the study took part in question and answer sessions following a demonstration of the tool and were asked to rate how much they agreed or disagreed with two statements: On initial review, MuSICCA appears to be an assessment of consciousness and awareness; and on initial review, MuSICCA appears to be suitable for use with children and young people. Participants were also asked to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of MuSICCA.

    All participants agreed with both statements, with 85% strongly agreeing with each.

    “Children with disorders of consciousness are often almost completely dependent on others to meet their needs. Their therapists, nurses and caregivers must interpret very subtle behaviours to help them understand their needs.

    “There is often great uncertainty when determining this, which makes it so important to find a reliable way of assessing levels of consciousness in these young people. Currently, there are very few ways of doing this.

    “MuSICCA allows the music therapist to conduct a rigorous assessment of the patient’s response to various musical stimuli, giving the therapist a picture of the patient’s level of consciousness and the strengths and weaknesses of their responses. The information from MuSICCA is easy to communicate to the rest of the care and medical teams and can support families in understanding what they can do to support their child’s recovery.

    “This study strongly suggests that MuSICCA is a suitable and comprehensive assessment method, highlighting its strengths in providing guidance, involving caregivers, and supporting clinical teams.”

    Lead author Dr Jonathan Pool, Senior Research Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research

    The full, open access paper can be read here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1441178/full

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Baltic Horizon Fund consolidated unaudited results for Q1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Management Board of Northern Horizon Capital AS has approved the unaudited financial results of Baltic Horizon Fund (the Fund) for the three months of 2025.

    Our strategic ambitions
    Over the past years, our focus has been on reshaping our strategy to foster sustainable value in a very demanding environment, concentrating efforts on avenues that promise reliable and consistent growth for our investors.

    We firmly believe that the execution of the ‘Modern City Life’ strategy, introduced to investors in 2024, is paramount to their best interests. This strategy emphasizes developing centrally located, multi-functional properties with adaptable spaces designed to inspire, uplift, and enhance the lives of modern citizens and communities. Our value proposition is built on quality, flexibility, sustainability, and exceptional service, supported by strategic locations that cater to the evolving needs of our tenants, visitors and neighbours.

    The Fund management team has implemented and specified its key performance indicators (KPIs) as a means to effectively measure and track performance because we acknowledge that clear and measurable benchmarks are essential for evaluating progress towards the Fund’s objectives. By defining specific KPIs, the team aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and facilitate decision-making processes.

    In 2025 the Fund will focus on four KPIs:

    • Occupancy of not less than 90% by the year end. We aim to decrease the current vacancies across the portfolio. At the end of Q1 occupancy rate (based on handover date) was 82.3%
    • Attaining a net operating income (NOI) of EUR 130 per square meter by 2027. Due to possible divestments, from 2025 the management has a new target of NOI/sq.m. rather than total NOI p.a.
    • Loan to value ratio not exceeding 50%. The Fund recently introduced its divestment strategy with the aim to reduce financing costs and decrease LTV levels. In March 2025 the Fund disposed the Meraki business centre in Vilnius. Proceeds of the disposal were used to repay the outstanding loan and early repay the bonds in the amount of EUR 3 million.
    • Optimizing the property portfolio by considering the disposal of non-strategic assets if deemed strategically beneficial.

    Leasing performance
    During the 3 months of 2025, the Fund signed new leases for approx. 2,000 sq. m. Moreover, leases of approx. 5,500 sq. m. were prolonged. 7 new tenants have been attracted to our buildings, while 8 existing tenants have decided to continue their cooperation with us.

    As of the end of March 2025, the portfolio occupancy rate based on handover date stood at 82.3%, while occupancy calculated according to lease signing date reached 86.9%, marking significant progress toward the target of 90%.

    Notably, less than 14% of leases are set to expire during the next 9 months, while the vast majority expire in 2026 and later. We aim to spread our lease terms evenly so that no more than 20% of our leases expire each year.

    Recent successful leasing activity is reflected in the increase in the weighted average unexpired lease term until the first break option, which was 3.6 years as of 31 March 2025 (compared to 3.4 and 2.9 years as of 31 December 2024 and 2023).

    Outlook
    In 2025 the Fund will focus on flexible and sustainable solutions to meet tenant demands and market conditions. Our key goals are increasing the occupancy of the portfolio and decreasing the LTV by way of repaying part of the bonds.

    In 2025, we will continue advancing our social and environmental commitments. All our assets have been BREEAM-certified, and by the end of Q1 2025, we achieved 95% green leases across our portfolio, with a target to further increase this share in the coming year.

    In a challenging leasing market, the Baltic Horizon Fund is focusing on minimizing administration expenses to offset reduced income. By regularly reviewing overhead costs, investing in technology upgrades, and negotiating fees, the fund aims to enhance operational efficiency and improve long-term investment returns. These strategies are essential for maintaining financial health and maximizing results despite limited income opportunities.

    Simultaneously, to reinforce its financial position, the Fund is committed to improving its debt service ratio and reducing loan-to-value levels. By focusing on increasing occupancy rates and optimizing property concepts, we aim to enhance asset performance and maximize net operating income. Adaptive leasing strategies, property repositioning, and targeted investments in high-demand segments will remain key priorities. These initiatives are designed to create long-term value for investors while ensuring the Fund remains resilient in a dynamic market environment.

    Baltic Horizon achieves a 100% BREEAM certified portfolio
    Our portfolio is 100% BREEAM certified.

    GRESB benchmarking
    In 2024 the Fund received a 3-star GRESB rating. During 2024, the Fund has implemented a GRESB improvement plan and aims to receive 4-stars again in the year 2025.

    Net result and net rental income
    The Group earned consolidated net rental income of EUR 3.0 million in Q1 2025 (Q1 2024: 2.8 million). The results for Q1 2025 include two months of net rental income of the Meraki office property (EUR 0.2 million), which was sold on 13 March 2025.

    The portfolio net rental income in Q1 2025 was 6.3% higher than in Q1 2024, mainly due to higher occupancy in Galerija Centrs since the complex was undergoing a transition period of certain tenants in the buildings in Q1 2024, as well as higher occupancy in Meraki as the international office furniture company NARBUTAS fully moved in to the premises at the end of 2024.

    In Q1 2025, the Group recorded a net loss of EUR 968 thousand compared with a net loss of EUR 624 thousand for Q1 2024. The result was mainly driven by the losses on disposal of investment properties. Earnings per unit for Q1 2025 were negative at EUR 0.01 (Q1 2024: negative at EUR 0.01).

    Investment properties
    At the end of Q1 2025, the Baltic Horizon Fund portfolio consisted of 11 cash flow generating investment properties in the Baltic capitals. The fair value of the Fund’s portfolio was EUR 226.2 million at the end of March 2025 (31 December 2024: EUR 241.2 million) and incorporated a total net leasable area of 110.7 thousand sq. m. During Q1 2025 the Group invested approximately EUR 1.4 million in tenant fit-outs.

    Gross Asset Value (GAV)
    As of 31 March 2025, the Fund’s GAV was EUR 243.2 million (31 December 2024: EUR 256.0 million). The decrease compared to the prior year was mainly related to the disposal of the Meraki office building, which had contributed approx. EUR 16.4 million to the GAV.

    Net Asset Value (NAV)
    As of 31 March 2025, the Fund’s NAV was EUR 97.2 million (31 December 2024: EUR 98.1 million). The NAV decrease was mainly due to losses on disposal of Meraki. As of 31 March 2025, IFRS NAV per unit amounted to EUR 0.6769 (31 December 2024: EUR 0.6833), while EPRA net tangible assets and EPRA net reinstatement value were EUR 0.7209 per unit (31 December 2024: EUR 0.7267). EPRA net disposal value was EUR 0.6736 per unit (31 December 2024: EUR 0.6797).

    Interest-bearing loans and bonds
    As of 31 March 2025, interest-bearing loans and bonds (excluding lease liabilities) were EUR 138.9 million (31 December 2024: EUR 149.0 million).
    As of 31 March 2025, the Fund’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 12.8 million (31 December 2024: EUR 10.1 million).

    Cash flow
    Cash inflow from core operating activities in Q1 2025 amounted to EUR 1.3 million (Q1 2024: cash inflow of EUR 1.9 million). Cash inflow from investing activities was EUR 14.3 million (Q1 2024: cash outflow of EUR 1.3 million) mainly due to the sale of Meraki in March 2025 for EUR 16 million. Cash outflow from financing activities was EUR 12.8 million (Q1 2024: cash inflow of EUR 5.7 million). In Q1 2025, the Fund repaid the BH Novus UAB (previously BH Meraki UAB) loan amounting to EUR 10.3 million and paid interest on bank loans and bonds.

    Key earnings figures

    EUR ‘000 2025 Q1 2024 Q1 Change (%)
    Net rental income 2,970 2,794 6.3%
    Administrative expenses (548) (585) (6.3%)
    Other operating income (expenses) 18 10 80.0%
    Losses on disposal of investment properties (905) (367) 146.6%
    Valuation losses on investment properties (5) (4) 25.0%
    Operating (loss) profit 1,530 1,848 (17.2%)
    Net financial expenses (2,673) (2,497) 7.0%
    (Loss) profit before tax (1,143) (649) 76.1%
    Income tax 175 25 600.0%
    Net (loss) profit for the period (968) (624) 55.1%
           
    Weighted average number of units outstanding (units) 143,562,514 119,635,429 20.0%
    Earnings per unit (EUR) (0.01) (0.01) –

    Key financial position figures

    EUR ‘000 31.03.2025 31.12.2024 Change (%)
    Investment properties in use 226,220 241,158 (6.2%)
    Gross asset value (GAV) 243,208 256,048 (5.0%)
           
    Interest-bearing loans and bonds 138,914 148,989 (6.8%)
    Total liabilities 146,035 157,953 (7.5%)
           
    IFRS Net asset value (IFRS NAV) 97,173 98,095 (0.9%)
    EPRA Net Reinstatement Value (EPRA NRV) 103,496 104,333 (0.8%)
           
    Number of units outstanding (units) 143,562,514 143,562,514 –
    IFRS Net asset value (IFRS NAV) per unit (EUR) 0.6769 0.6833 (0.9%)
    EPRA Net Reinstatement Value (EPRA NRV) per unit (EUR) 0.7209 0.7267 (0.8%)
           
    Loan-to-Value ratio (%) 61.4% 61.8% (0.4%)
    Average effective interest rate (%) 6.5% 6.7% (0.2%)

    During Q1 2025, the average actual occupancy of the portfolio was 82.7% (Q4 2024: 81.0%). The occupancy rate increased to 82.3% as of 31 March 2025 (31 December 2024: 82.1%).

    Overview of the Fund’s investment properties as of 31 March 2025

    Property name Sector Fair value1 NLA Direct property yield Net initial yield Occupancy rate
    (EUR ‘000) (sq. m)  20252 20253
    Vilnius, Lithuania            
    Europa SC Retail 36,106 17,127 2.7% 3.1% 81.6%
    North Star Office 19,550 10,740 5.6% 6.2% 90.3%
    Total Vilnius   55,656 27,867 3.9% 4.7% 85.0%
    Riga, Latvia            
    Upmalas Biroji BC Office 19,241 11,204 3.4% 4.3% 64.1%
    Vainodes I Office 15,936 8,128 6.2% 8.5% 100.0%
    LNK Centre Office 11,641 7,452 (2.4%) (3.7%) 0.0%
    Sky SC Retail 4,910 3,260 8.7% 9.3% 100.0%
    Galerija Centrs Retail 60,863 19,441 3.4% 4.5% 84.7%
    Total Riga   112,591 49,485 3.3% 4.4% 70.8%
    Tallinn, Estonia            
    Postimaja & CC Plaza complex Retail 21,876 9,232 3.1% 5.2% 100.0%
    Postimaja & CC Plaza complex Leisure 13,195 7,877 6.4% 5.8% 100.0%
    Lincona Office 13,110 10,767 6.7% 8.3% 92.6%
    Pirita SC Retail 9,792 5,425 6.6% 8.5% 97.1%
    Total Tallinn   57,973 33,301 4.9% 6.6% 97.1%
    Total portfolio   226,220 110,653 3.9% 5.0% 82.3%
    1. Based on the latest valuation as of 31 December 2024, recognised right-of-use assets and subsequent capital expenditure.  
    2. Direct property yield (DPY) is calculated by dividing annualized NOI by the acquisition value and subsequent capital expenditure of the property.
    3. The net initial yield (NIY) is calculated by dividing annualized NOI by the market value of the property.

    Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income

    EUR ‘000    
    01.01.2025
    – 31.03.2025    		 01.01.2024
    – 31.03.2024
    Rental income 3,794 3,846
    Service charge income 1,332 1,048
    Cost of rental activities (2,156) (2,100)
    Net rental income 2,970 2,794
         
    Administrative expenses (548) (585)
    Other operating income 18 10
    Losses on disposal of investment properties (905) (367)
     Valuation losses on investment properties (5) (4)
    Operating profit (loss) 1,530 1,848
         
    Financial income 42 4
    Financial expenses (2,715) (2,501)
    Net financial expenses (2,673) (2,497)
         
    Profit (loss) before tax (1,143) (649)
    Income tax charge 175 25
    Profit (loss) for the period (968) (624)
       
    Other comprehensive income that is or may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges 51 (219)
    Income tax relating to net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (5) 27
    Other comprehensive income (expense), net of tax, that is or may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods 46 (192)
         
    Total comprehensive income (expense) for the period, net of tax (922) (816)
         
    Basic and diluted earnings per unit (EUR) (0.01) (0.01)
           

    Consolidated statement of financial position

    EUR ‘000   31.03.2025 31.12.2024
    Non-current assets      
    Investment properties   226,220 241,158
    Intangible assets   2  4 
    Property, plant and equipment   2 5
    Derivative financial instruments              – 1                      
    Other non-current assets   845 1,225
    Total non-current assets   227,069 242,393
           
    Current assets      
    Trade and other receivables   2,848 2,800
    Prepayments   444 802
    Cash and cash equivalents   12,847 10,053
    Total current assets   16,139 13,655
    Total assets   243,208 256,048
           
    Equity      
    Paid in capital   151,495 151,495
    Cash flow hedge reserve   (374) (420)
    Retained earnings   (53,948) (52,980)
    Total equity   97,173 98,095
           
    Non-current liabilities      
    Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   83,896 98,491
    Deferred tax liabilities   1,742 1,898
    Other non-current liabilities   1,143 1,446
    Total non-current liabilities   86,781 101,835
           
    Current liabilities      
    Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   55,259 50,736
    Trade and other payables   3,331 4,473
    Income tax payable   – 14
    Derivative financial instruments   303 317
    Other current liabilities   361 578
    Total current liabilities   59,254 56,118
    Total liabilities   146,035 157,953
    Total equity and liabilities   243,208 256,048

    For additional information, please contact:

    Tarmo Karotam
    Baltic Horizon Fund manager
    E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com
    www.baltichorizon.com

    The Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund that is managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS. 

    Distribution: GlobeNewswire, Nasdaq Tallinn, Nasdaq Stockholm, www.baltichorizon.com

    To receive Nasdaq announcements and news from Baltic Horizon Fund about its projects, plans and more, register on www.baltichorizon.com. You can also follow Baltic Horizon Fund on www.baltichorizon.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.

    This announcement contains information that the Management Company is obliged to disclose pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the above distributors, at 17:45 EET on 08 May 2025.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The Victory Bank to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Horsham Branch with an Exclusive CD Special, Business Offers, and Grand Prize Trip to Maui, Hawaii

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HORSHAM, Pa., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Victory Bank will celebrate the grand opening of its second retail branch, located at 100 Gibraltar Road, Horsham, PA 19044, with a week-long series of events from June 2 through June 6, 2025. The celebration features daily prize giveaways, family entertainment, business seminars, and exclusive offers—including a CD Special of 4.5% APY* for 22 weeks and special promotions for new business accounts opened in person at the Horsham location.

    Special Promotions and Contests

    Starting June 2, participants can text “Victory” to 527-955-7422 to receive a unique “Game” code. When they visit the Horsham branch during the week of June 2–6, they’ll have their code decoded on-site to reveal an instant prize—which could include a KitchenAid Mixer, Samsung Smart TV, Phillies tickets, propane grill, and more.

    All codes must be redeemed by 4 PM EST on Friday, June 6. Click here for full Game rules.

    The week culminates with a separate Grand Prize “Sweepstakes” Drawing for a trip for two to Maui, Hawaii. To be eligible, participants must open an account** and submit their entry by 3 PM EST on June 6. The winner will be announced at 5:45 PM, and must be present to win. Click here for full Sweepstakes rules.

    Available All Week

    • CD Special: 4.5% APY* for 22 weeks (opened in person at Horsham branch)
    • New Business Account Offers: Special incentives available exclusively for businesses opening accounts in person at the Horsham branch
    • Money Machine: One turn per guest to grab as much cash as possible
    • Popcorn Machine: Free fresh popcorn served daily
    • Sweet Treats: Cool off with complimentary frozen treats (available all summer!)
    • Hospitality Tent: Open daily with refreshments and opportunities to meet bank staff
    • The Victory Bank Foundation: Learn more about the Foundation’s mission and community initiatives

    Daily Schedule of Events

    Monday, June 2 – Opening Day Kickoff!

    • Big Prize Giveaway: KitchenAid Mixer
    • 12:00 PM: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
    • 1:00 – 4:00 PM: Family entertainment including a visit from Bluey, face painting, balloon artist, and goody bags

    Tuesday, June 3 – Phillies Day

    • Big Prize Giveaway: Two tickets to four Phillies games with parking
    • 4:00 PM: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony with the Greater Bucks-Mont Chamber of Commerce

    Wednesday, June 4 – Financial Wellness Focus

    • Big Prize Giveaway: Samsung – 55″ Class Q60D Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV
    • 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM: Adult Financial Literacy Course with lunch, presented by Bill Vitiello and Rosalia Hoffman of The Victory Bank (registration required). Space is limited.

    Thursday, June 5 – Business Owner Spotlight

    • Big Prize Giveaway: 3-Burner Propane Grill
    • 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Business Seminar with Alan Scholnick, PCC, CPC, CPA, CGMA, MST, MAOL, ELI-MP. Includes lunch (registration required). Space is limited.
    • 2:00 PM: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony with the Chamber of Greater Montgomery County

    Friday, June 6 – Grand Finale!

    • Grand Prize Drawing: Trip for Two to Maui, Hawaii (5:45 PM – must be present to win)
    • 4:00 – 6:00 PM: Food from Nick’s Roast Beef Food Truck
    • 5:00 PM: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony with the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
    • Bluey returns, along with face painting and balloon artistry

    *The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) provided is accurate as of 06/02/2025 and is subject to change. This offer expires on 06/06/2025. Early withdrawal may incur a substantial penalty. Fees associated with the account could reduce actual earnings.

    A minimum deposit of $500.00 required to open. All rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Call 610-948-9000 for current rates. Accounts must be opened in person at the Horsham branch.

    Valid for both regular and IRA certificates of deposit.

    **No purchase necessary. For full sweepstakes and game details, and event registration, visit www.victorybank.com/grand-opening-celebration-horsham-pa.

    FDIC-Insured – Equal Housing Lender

    CONTACT:

    Owen Magers
    Administrative Assistant to the CEO, Investor Relations
    610-948-9000 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) unveils third edition of short film competition

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

    Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) unveils third edition of short film competition Filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 35 years can enter the competition for a chance to win a cash prize of $2,000 for outstanding work in each of the competition’s three categories: Best Fiction, Best Documentary, and Best Animation CAIRO, Egypt, May 8, 2025/APO Group/ — Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an intervention by African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has announced the third edition of its vibrant short film competition, CANEX Shorts, that is designed to recognise and celebrate talents of young filmmakers from Africa and the Diaspora.   Filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 35 years can enter the competition for a chance to win a cash prize of $2,000 for outstanding work in each of the competition’s three categories: Best Fiction, Best Documentary, and Best Animation. To be eligible, they must be Africans living on the continent, in the diaspora or the Caribbean. Each filmmaker can only enter one film for which they must hold all rights. The entered films should have been produced in 2023 or after and can be in any language.   Besides the cash prize, CANEX Shorts winners will also get an opportunity to participate and have their films screened at CANEX at IATF2025, which will take place in Algiers, Algeria, from 4 – 10 September 2025. This will also provide them with a chance to connect with potential investors and partners in what has become the largest gathering of creatives on the continent.  To enter the competition, filmmakers are required to submit their films, not more than five minutes long, via the Film Freeway digital platform (https://FilmFreeway.com/CANEXShorts). From all entries, the selection committee will curate a shortlist of 30 films – 10 films per category for submission to the jury that comprises, well-respected film experts from across the continent. The jury will then select a winning film in each of the categories during CANEX at IATF2025.  The 2024 CANEX shorts winners were unveiled at CANEX WKND 2024. The winning films were: Silent Screams by Esenaga Mbwe (Botswana) in the CANEX Shorts Best Fiction category; We Shall Not Forget by Brian Obra (Kenya) in the CANEX Shorts Best Documentary category; and Room-5 by Francis Y. Brown (Ghana) in the CANEX Shorts Best Animation category. According to the jury, the quality of films submitted during CANEX WKND 2024 was exceptionally high, necessitating award of two Special Mentions: Vodoun Nouminssin and Rain Is Not the Cloud’s Last Parade.  CANEX at IATF2025, where the winners will be unveiled, will provide a unique platform for nurturing business, investment opportunities, collaboration, partnerships and inspiration amongst the creatives fraternity across value chains of diverse creative and cultural industries from film, music, and fashion to culinary arts, sports, and visual arts amongst others. The event participants will include creatives, policymakers, financial institutions, business and political leaders, development partners, thought leaders as well as some of the most respected names in the Creative and Cultural Industries from across the continent and the diaspora.   Highlighting the importance of the competition, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank said: “Africa’s film industry, estimated at over $5 billion is thriving and brimming with untapped potential,” adding, “At Afreximbank, we are committed to unlocking this immense value by supporting platforms like CANEX Shorts that aim to propel African storytelling to the global stage. By investing in our creatives, we are not only creating jobs and economic opportunities; we’re actively ensuring Africa’s vibrant culture and talents gain global recognition.”  To enter the 2025 CANEX Shorts competition, please visit Filmfreeway: https://FilmFreeway.com/CANEXShorts. To register to attend CANEX at IATF for free: Canex.Africa (https://apo-opa.co/3GK4Bo8).   Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Media contact:  Vincent Musumba  Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)  Email: press@afreximbank.com About CANEX: Given the relevance and opportunities provided by the creative economy as a key driver for development and job creation, Afreximbank has developed the Creative Africa Nexus programme to facilitate the development and growth of the creative and cultural industries in Africa and the diaspora. The initiative provides a range of financing and non-financing instruments /interventions aimed at supporting and developing Africa’s production, trade, and investment in the creative sector. The key strategic objectives under the CANEX Programme include increasing Africa’s share of global cultural trade flows through trade and investment promotion activities, deploying specialized financial products to support the CCI ecosystem, facilitating technical capacity programs that enable export-grade production, facilitating market access to high-value demand hubs (through partnerships) and advocating for harmonized regulatory reform, especially concerning IP rights and incentives  About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.  About the Intra-African Trade Fair: Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development. 

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Launches Full Support for Sei Network, Announces $700K Ecosystem Initiative

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, now offers full support for the Sei network — expanding its multi-chain capabilities and making it easier for users globally to access and interact with the Sei ecosystem.

    With this integration, Bitget Wallet now supports native Sei token transfers, in-app trading, and live price tracking. Users can bridge assets from major blockchains like Solana and BNB Chain into Sei through Bitget Wallet’s cross-chain infrastructure, which spans over 30 networks. Trading is powered by Super DEX, Bitget Wallet’s aggregator connecting liquidity across more than 130 blockchains — allowing users to securely access the Sei ecosystem and interact with other networks from a single wallet interface.

    “We’re excited to support direct access to Sei through Bitget Wallet,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “By making Sei more accessible to our global user base, we’re not only expanding the reach of one of the fastest-growing L1 networks, but also reinforcing our mission to make Web3 simpler, faster, and more rewarding for everyone.“

    Sei is a Layer-1 blockchain combining the best of Ethereum and Solana — the developer tooling, mindshare, and network effects of the EVM, with the performance and scalability of next-generation blockchains like Solana. Its architecture achieves block finality in under 400 milliseconds, making it one of the fastest blockchains currently available.”Expanding user access and improving ecosystem onboarding are key priorities,” said Justin Barlow, Executive Director at Sei Development Foundation. “This integration with Bitget Wallet lowers the barriers for users to explore and interact with applications across the network.“

    As part of the rollout, Sei Ecosystem Month — a $700,000 initiative — is being launched to spotlight applications building on Sei and drive ecosystem engagement. The program will include trading competitions, quest-based activities, and new product experiences, all accessible through the Bitget Wallet app.

    For more information, visit the Bitget Wallet blog and Bitget Wallet Sei Ecosystem Month website.

    About Sei

    Sei is a Layer-1 blockchain that combines the advantages of Ethereum and Solana: the dominant development standard of Ethereum with the performance of Solana. Sei launched its mainnet in 2023, and has since processed billions of transactions across more than 18 million wallets. Currently on Devnet, Sei’s V3 Giga update will make Sei 50x more performant than any existing EVM chain, serving as a groundbreaking new scaling approach for the Ethereum ecosystem. The team is backed by Multicoin, Jump, Coinbase Ventures, and many more

    To learn more about Sei, please visit https://www.sei.io/

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, secure, and accessible for everyone. With over 60 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43f5d030-7803-4dfa-9749-14c9ab517325

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Azerion publishes Notice of Annual General Meeting 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Azerion publishes Notice of Annual General Meeting 2025

    Amsterdam, 8 May 2025 – Azerion Group N.V. has today published the Notice of Annual General Meeting 2025 (AGM), which will be held on 19 June 2025. The notice, agenda and accompanying explanatory notes, as well as the 2024 Annual Report and other relevant documentations have been published on our website www.azerion.com/agm/

    The agenda of the AGM includes, amongst other proposals, the proposal to adopt the 2024 financial statements. Additional information on resolutions and board recommendations for voting are available in the Notice of AGM.

    Further information regarding the registration and attendance of the AGM, as well as instructions and deadlines on how to vote and submit questions can be found on our website http://www.azerion.com/agm/.

    About Azerion

    Founded in 2014, Azerion (EURONEXT: AZRN) is one of Europe’s largest digital advertising and entertainment media platforms. Azerion brings global scaled audiences to advertisers in an easy and cost-effective way, delivered through our proprietary technology, in a safe, engaging, and high-quality environment, utilizing our strategic portfolio of owned and operated content with entertainment and other digital publishing partners.

    Having its roots in Europe and with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Azerion has commercial teams based in over 21 cities around the world to closely support our clients and partners to find and execute creative ways to make a real impact through advertising.

    Contact:

    Investor Relations
    ir@azerion.com

    This communication contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: RTI Connext® Named “Best Overall Connected Healthcare Solution” by MedTech Breakthrough Awards Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the software framework company for physical AI systems, today announced that RTI Connext® has been selected as the winner of the “Healthcare Overall Best Connected Healthcare Solution” award conducted by MedTech Breakthrough. This marks RTI’s second win in the program, underscoring its leadership in providing AI-enabled connectivity solutions to leading MedTech companies across surgical robotics, patient monitoring, critical care, and medical imaging. Connext provides a real-time, data-centric software framework that accelerates the development of interoperable, intelligent, and secure medical systems.

    “We’re honored to receive this award that recognizes our contributions in enabling the next wave of innovation in medical technology,” said Stan Schneider, CEO of RTI. “With Connext, development teams can focus on building intelligent architectures without worrying about managing complex infrastructure. As a trusted partner to many industry leaders, RTI is proud to provide the foundational software that enables the future of connected, AI-powered healthcare.”

    As organizations increasingly shift toward AI-driven capabilities, RTI delivers the foundational software infrastructure to support this transformation. Most recently, RTI introduced Connext® AI, a suite of LLM-powered tools designed to build robust, scalable real-time systems. By offering intelligent assistance with system design, coding, and debugging, Connext AI accelerates time to market, streamlines development workflows, and enhances overall system reliability.

    Notably, Connext plays a pivotal role in enabling NVIDIA Holoscan to integrate AI into existing healthcare systems—bridging legacy infrastructure with the future of intelligent care. Connext is also a foundational component in advanced surgical robotics, supporting more than 15 commercial programs that integrate diverse surgical elements. This versatility is exemplified in applications ranging from remote surgery—such as Monogram Orthopaedics’ world-first fully remote total knee arthroplasty—to powering minimally invasive platforms like Levita Magnetics’ MARS system.

    “The healthcare industry requires smart, connected devices to process high-speed data and leverage interoperable applications and systems across components, platforms, and networks,” said Steve Johansson, Managing Director, MedTech Breakthrough. “RTI’s technology delivers on this need, providing a data-centric framework where distributed applications can seamlessly access data flowing anywhere in the system. We extend our sincere congratulations to the entire RTI team for taking home our ‘Healthcare Overall Best Connected Healthcare Solution’ award.”

    To learn more about RTI in MedTech, please visit the RTI website: rti.com/healthcare.

    About RTI

    RTI is the software framework company for physical AI systems, with a mission to run a smarter world. RTI Connext® provides the data architecture for over 2,000 designs in Aerospace and Defense, Medtech, Automotive, and Robotics – running in more than $1T of total deployed systems worldwide. Only RTI combines decades of technical expertise with industry-leading software and tools to develop smarter systems, faster. Learn more at www.rti.com.

    Media Contacts:

    Tiffany Yang
    Public Relations, RTI

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Eyes $100K: BexBack Calls on Traders to Ride the Bull Market with 100x Leverage and Zero KYC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin steadily approaches the historic $100,000 milestone, analysts and investors alike are turning increasingly bullish on the next phase of the crypto market. With momentum building across the industry, BexBack, a fast-growing cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, is urging global traders to seize the opportunity using 100x leverage, no-KYC trading, and exclusive deposit bonuses.

    Offering perpetual contracts on 50+ major cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and ADA, BexBack is positioning itself as the go-to platform for those looking to maximize gains in the upcoming bull run.

    “The market is heating up again, and we believe traders deserve the right tools to take full advantage of it,” said David, Operations Director at BexBack. “With high leverage, zero spread, and no identity checks, we’re removing the barriers between our users and their trading potential.”

    Why Now Is the Time to Trade on BexBack

    • Bitcoin Nears $100,000
      With BTC on track to break six figures, the market is entering a new bullish phase — ideal for leveraged trading strategies.
    • 100x Leverage on 50+ Crypto Pairs
      Amplify positions across BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and other top altcoins with up to 100x leverage.
    • No KYC Required
      Get started instantly with just an email address. Trade anonymously and freely without verification delays.
    • 100% Deposit Bonus
      Double your trading power. BexBack matches your first deposit dollar-for-dollar (used as margin only).
    • $100 Trading Bonus
      Make a deposit of 0.01 BTC or 1000 USDT and receive $100 to jumpstart your trading journey.
    • Zero Spread & Deep Liquidity
      Trades are executed without price difference between buying and selling — no slippage, no hidden costs.
    • Risk-Free Demo Account
      Practice and test strategies with 10 BTC or 1M USDT in virtual funds.

    The Bull Run Is Here — Trade It Smart

    With the market showing renewed strength and Bitcoin leading the charge, leveraged trading offers unmatched capital efficiency. BexBack’s platform is built to help both seasoned traders and ambitious newcomers ride the waves of the crypto bull market — all while maintaining full control and privacy.

    About BexBack

    BexBack is a global crypto derivatives trading platform offering up to 100x leverage on perpetual contracts for 50+ digital assets. Headquartered in Singapore and fully compliant with U.S. FinCEN MSB regulations, BexBack combines security, speed, and simplicity for traders around the world. With no KYC requirement, powerful bonuses, and institutional-grade infrastructure, BexBack is redefining the next generation of crypto trading.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users (complete one trade within one week of registration), you can be a winner in the new bull run.

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

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f491764-a3f6-4ee7-8f00-8efe053f4b2b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb1451cb-bf38-4a8d-bb38-cdfc7136f539

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1935621-1a2c-47e1-af44-994e63d735ac

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2763ecea-6b93-49fd-a4c4-b655f2fd2eda

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oma Savings Bank Plc – Managers’ transactions – Volotinen

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 8 MAY 2025 AT 16.30 P.M. EET, MANAGERS’ TRANSACTIONS

    Oma Savings Bank Plc – Managers’ transactions – Volotinen
    ____________________________________________

    Person subject to the notification requirement
    Name: Volotinen, Juha
    Position: Member of the Board/Deputy member
    Issuer: Oma Savings Bank Plc
    LEI: 743700LE1ECAPXC5UT18

    Notification type: INITIAL NOTIFICATION
    Reference number: 107584/5/4
    ____________________________________________

    Transaction date: 2025-05-08
    Venue: XHEL
    Instrument type: SHARE
    ISIN: FI4000306733
    Nature of the transaction: RECEIPT OF A SHARE-BASED INCENTIVE

    Transaction details
    (1): Volume: 1188 Unit price: 0.00 EUR

    Aggregated transactions
    (1): Volume: 1188 Volume weighted average price: 0.00 EUR

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

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

    DISTRIBUTION: 
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vantage Drilling International Ltd. Schedules First Quarter of 2025 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dubai, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vantage Drilling International Ltd. (“Vantage” or the “Company”) today announced that it will host a conference call at 10:00 AM Eastern Time / 4:00 PM Oslo Time / 6:00 PM Dubai Time on May 15, 2025 to discuss operating results for the first quarter of 2025. Vantage will release earnings before the call on May 15, 2025. Vantage’s earnings release will be posted to the Vantage website at www.vantagedrilling.com.
    To access the conference call, click on the Call Link following the instructions below.

    1.Click on the Call Link and complete the online registration form.

    2.Once the registration is complete you will receive an email confirmation with the call details (dial-in and a unique PIN to join the call).

    3.You will have two options to join the call.
    i.Dial-In Option: A dial in number and unique PIN are displayed to connect directly from your phone.
    ii.Call Me Option: Enter your phone number and click “Call Me” for an immediate callback from the system.

    Please call five minutes ahead of time to ensure proper connection. A replay of the conference call will be available following the call and can be accessed via Webcast Link.

    About the Company
    Vantage, a Bermuda exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor. Vantage’s primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells globally for major, national and independent oil and gas companies. Vantage also markets, operates and provides management services in respect of third party-owned drilling units. For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company’s website, www.vantagedrilling.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Catch the High-Speed Action Again! American Rebel Light Beer NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Replay on FS1 – May 8, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Buckle up, crack open a cold American Rebel Light Beer, and get ready for pure NHRA excitement on the FS1 telecast!

    Nashville, TN, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light 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 racing fans get another chance to witness the adrenaline-pumping excitement of NHRA’s 4-Wide Nationals, presented by American Rebel Light Beer, airing Thursday, May 8, 2025, on FS1’s NHRA Sportsman Series (check your local listings). Total combined television audience viewership was over 700,000 on the original broadcasts and is expected to exceed 900,000 viewers once the audience totals are finalized.

    Following a record-breaking weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s zMAX Dragway (April 25–27, 2025), viewers can relive the historic 1,000th Top Fuel race, featuring four-wide drag racing at speeds over 300 mph – the fastest accelerating machines on the planet! American Rebel Light Beer, America’s fastest growing beer was featured prominently as the title sponsor and is a perfect match with the NHRA and our sponsorship with TSR Nitro Racing (tsrnitro.com).

    What to Expect on FS1 NHRA Sportsman Series Replay:

    • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
    • Network: FS1
    • Featured Racing: Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Top Sportsman

    American Rebel Light Beer: A Bold and Growing Presence in Motorsports

    The official title sponsorship of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals marked a major milestone for American Rebel Light Beer, reinforcing its event-driven, patriotic brand identity. The beer’s trackside activations, promotional tents, and sampling stations helped expand its presence in North Carolina, fueling racing fans with America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    Marketing Highlights:

    • Original Broadcast Audience: Nearly 700,000 viewers
    • Expected Final Viewership: Up to 1 million, including FS1 Sportsman Series replays
    • NHRA Social Media Reach: Over 9.2 million impressions
    • Live Concert Experience: American Rebel CEO Andy Ross performed a patriotic rock ‘n’ roll show between Nitro Qualifying Sessions

    Don’t Miss the Replay and look for the American Rebel Light Funny Car driven by Matt Hagan and the American Rebel Light Pro Stock Motorcycle driven by John Hall. Tune in Thursday, May 8, 2025, on FS1, and experience the raw horsepower, side-by-side battles, and all-American racing energy of NHRA’s Sportsman Series, powered by American Rebel Light Beer.

    American Rebel Light Funny Car

    The American Rebel Light Funny Car, driven by four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan, is a high-horsepower, American-made beast that embodies the bold, patriotic spirit of American Rebel Light Beer.

    Car Specs & Performance:

    • Supercharged Hemi engine, pushing over 11,000 horsepower
    • Capable of 330+ MPH in under 4 seconds
    • Patriotic design wrap, featuring American Rebel Light Beer’s bold branding
    • Drew massive fan engagement with trackside meet & greets, beer promotions, and live music from American Rebel CEO Andy Ross

    With Matt Hagan behind the wheel, the American Rebel Light Funny Car isn’t just a race car—it’s a high-speed symbol of freedom, power, and unapologetic American pride just like American Rebel Light Beer.

    Fast, fearless, and fueled by the spirit of American Rebel Light Beer—this Funny Car is built to win!

    American Rebel Light Pro Stock Motorcycle

    The American Rebel Pro Stock Motorcycle, piloted by John Hall, is a high-performance, all-American machine built for speed, power, and precision on the NHRA drag racing circuit.

    Bike Specs & Performance:

    • V-Twin engine, delivering high-horsepower acceleration
    • Capable of 6-second quarter-mile runs at speeds exceeding 200 mph
    • Wrapped in the American Rebel Light Beer brand symbolizing bold, stand-your-ground energy

    NHRA Sportsman Series

    • The NHRA Sportsman Series on FS1 features Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events, showcasing amateur and semi-professional racers competing in various sportsman-level categories. These races include Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Top Sportsman, among others.
    • FS1 and FS2 air NHRA Sportsman Series events throughout the season, often as part of NHRA national event weekends. The broadcasts highlight grassroots drag racing, giving fans a look at up-and-coming drivers and regional competitors.
    • For the 2025 season, FS1 is scheduled to air multiple NHRA Sportsman Series events.

    About American Rebel Light:

    American Rebel Light is more than just a beer—it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

    For more information about American Rebel Light and its sponsorship of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, visit American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals | Events | Charlotte Motor Speedway or follow us on social media @AmericanRebelBeer

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or follow us on our social media platforms.

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium 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 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 americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit 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 a launch party, actual launch 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, 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

    For more details on American Rebel Light Beer and upcoming events, visit www.AmericanRebelBeer.com or follow @AmericanRebelBeer on social media.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Powers Next-Gen Content Creation at Dude Perfect Headquarters

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics America has partnered with viral entertainment group Dude Perfect to bring cutting-edge display technology to their new, state-of-the-art DPHQ3 headquarters, an immersive creative space in Frisco, Texas, designed to power the next generation of content creation and collaboration.
    Dude Perfect is a renowned sports and comedy entertainment group made up of five friends: Tyler Toney, Coby Cotton, Cory Cotton, Garrett Hilbert and Cody Jones. What started as a simple backyard bet captured on a single camera has skyrocketed into a global phenomenon. With over 61 million subscribers and 18.5 billion views on YouTube, “the Dudes” have redefined family-friendly content, blending jaw-dropping trick shots, sketches and larger-than-life challenges into one of the most well-known digital brands on the planet.
    When designing the DPHQ3 headquarters, the Dude Perfect team wanted a robust technology infrastructure to support content creation, editing and daily operations. Central to this vision was Samsung display technology, which was selected to elevate the visitor experience while enhancing team collaboration and video production.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Oma Savings Bank Plc – Managers’ transactions – Gillberg-Hjelt

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 8 MAY 2025 AT 16.15 P.M. EET, MANAGERS’ TRANSACTIONS

    Oma Savings Bank Plc – Managers’ transactions – Gillberg-Hjelt
    ____________________________________________

    Person subject to the notification requirement
    Name: Gillberg-Hjelt, Irma
    Position: Member of the Board/Deputy member
    Issuer: Oma Savings Bank Plc
    LEI: 743700LE1ECAPXC5UT18

    Notification type: INITIAL NOTIFICATION
    Reference number: 107543/5/4
    ____________________________________________

    Transaction date: 2025-05-08
    Venue: XHEL
    Instrument type: SHARE
    ISIN: FI4000306733
    Nature of the transaction: RECEIPT OF A SHARE-BASED INCENTIVE

    Transaction details
    (1): Volume: 1188 Unit price: 0.00 EUR

    Aggregated transactions
    (1): Volume: 1188 Volume weighted average price: 0.00 EUR

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

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

    DISTRIBUTION: 
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: How the Industry of Drones is Evolving Rapidly with New Trends and Technologies Emerging Regularly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Experts in the drone industry are excited about its future. One such player said: “As we soar into a new era of technological innovation, drones are rapidly becoming a significant part of our everyday lives. From aerial photography to package delivery and from environmental monitoring to emergency response, drones are revolutionizing numerous industries.” They continued: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are at the forefront of drone technology advancements. Companies… are leading the way in this area with drones that can navigate complex environments autonomously using AI.  The market for AI in drones is expected to grow significantly, impacting sectors like agriculture, construction, and security. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the market size for drones with AI is expected to grow from $2.1 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion by 2027. The trend towards increased autonomy in drone technology is gaining momentum.  Companies are developing drones that can perform complex tasks without human intervention, such as detecting leaks, inspecting pipelines, and even charging themselves. This increased autonomy is expected to boost efficiency and productivity in various sectors, including agriculture, construction, and logistics. For example, autonomous drones can be used for precision agriculture, where they can monitor crop health, apply fertilizers, and even harvest crops. The enormous commercial potential is why the global precision agriculture market size is expected to reach $19.24 billion by 2030.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT).

    MarketsandMarkets added: “Drone swarming, the coordinated operation of multiple drones, is another emerging trend. Each drone in a swarm operates autonomously yet in harmony with the others, allowing the swarm to cover larger areas and perform tasks more efficiently than a single drone. Companies… are pioneering this technology, using it to create stunning light shows at live events. However, the potential applications of drone swarming extend far beyond entertainment. For example, in search and rescue operations, a swarm of drones can cover a large area to search for signs of life, allowing rescue teams to locate and reach victims more quickly. This technology could prove invaluable in the aftermath of natural disasters, where time is of the essence. The world of drones is evolving rapidly, with new trends and technologies emerging regularly. These advancements are opening up new applications and markets, from agriculture and construction to healthcare and entertainment. As we continue to explore the potential of these versatile machines, it’s clear that drones will play an increasingly important role in our future.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Tests Proprietary Camera Enabling IQ Nano Drone Swarms for US Defense Applications and Blue UAS Submission – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its subsidiary ZenaDrone is testing a new proprietary specialized camera that enables more efficient indoor applications such as inventory and security management, when utilizing IQ Nano drone swarms for commercial and US defense applications. The new camera prototype developed by its Taiwan component manufacturing subsidiary, Spider Vision Sensors, in collaboration with its certified electronics manufacturing partner, Suntek Global, will enable faster and more precise collection of data including multiple bar codes simultaneously scanned by multiple drones in a drone swarm. The company plans to apply for Blue UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) certification that lists and validates drones for military and government use.

    “Our Spider Vision Sensors subsidiary in collaboration with Suntek Global, has helped us speed up development of customized and specialized cameras required for our innovative drone swarm applications for commercial and defense customers. This partnership will continue to be invaluable as we develop our NDAA-compliant supply chain and received Blue UAS certification which will allow military and federal agencies to directly purchase our drones.,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    Military and Defense departments use small autonomous indoor drones like the 10X10 inch IQ Nano for various applications such as inventory management, indoor building reconnaissance, search and rescue, training simulations, and explosives detection. ZenaDrone is also engaged in a paid trial which includes developing drone swarm applications for inventory management and security applications with a multinational auto parts manufacturer customer.

    A drone swarm is a coordinated group of autonomous drones that communicate and work together using AI and real-time data sharing, to perform tasks collaboratively without direct human control. Drone swarms enhance efficiency, accuracy, automation, and performance compared to a single drone. Autonomous drones can rapidly scan thousands of bar codes or RFID tags per second with high accuracy, providing real-time visibility into inventory without disrupting workflows. A drone swarm can also cover more ground simultaneously, dramatically reducing inventory audit times and manual labour while providing near-total inventory visibility.

    An AI drone swarm for indoor security and surveillance enhances coverage, response time, and efficiency by autonomously patrolling large areas, detecting threats, and providing real-time situational awareness. Unlike stationary cameras or human patrols, drone swarms can dynamically adapt to security breaches, track intruders, and coordinate movements to eliminate blind spots. AI-driven analytics enable them to identify anomalies, recognize faces, and detect unauthorized activity with high precision, reducing false alarms and improving security decision-making. Their autonomous nature minimizes human labor costs while ensuring 24/7 monitoring in complex environments like warehouses, data centers, or commercial facilities.

    The ZenaDrone IQ Nano is available in 10×10 and 20×20-inch sizes, designed to perform regular and frequent inspections such as bar code or RFID scanning, facility maintenance inspections, security monitoring, 3D indoor mapping and other applications inside a warehouse, distribution, or plant facility. It is designed for autonomous use featuring integrated sensors, high-quality cameras, data collection and analysis including AI methodologies. Weighing 1.5kg and with a flight time of at least 20 minutes before utilizing the automatic battery recharging station, it is designed for hovering stability and safety with obstacle avoidance capabilities.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Ireland Office Offering Drone as a Service (DaaS) Including Precision Agriculture to a European Market Growing at 28.6% Annually – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces it will be expanding operations and opening a new, larger office and its European Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. The new hub will facilitate the Company’s drone sales and DaaS drone services — including precision agriculture solutions — to a growing UK and European market. The Company anticipates the official grand opening during the summer of 2025.

    Strategically located near Dublin Airport and accessible via all major motorways, the new office location will serve a growing customer base in Ireland and enable growth across Europe, catering to agriculture as well as construction, renewable energy — including wind and solar farms — golf courses, racecourses, and warehouse and logistics.

    “Expanding our Dublin office and establishing a European HQ marks a new chapter in our strategy to scale our drones and DaaS offerings globally while servicing the fastest growing agricultural drone markets located in Europe. Our AI-powered drone solutions are designed to boost crop yields while reducing operational costs and provide smart, data-driven insights — empowering crop monitoring and health assessment, nutrient and resource optimization, and profitability,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    The European agricultural drone market was valued at approximately USD 4.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 43.23 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.58% according to Market Data Forecast . This growth is fueled by the adoption of drones for crop spraying, mapping, pest control, seeding, and remote sensing, which enhance productivity and resource efficiency in farming. Growth is also supported by favorable European government policies and a strong focus on sustainable farming practices.    Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    To meet the emerging air threats of today and the rapidly evolving threats of tomorrow, AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently announced Titan 4, the next generation of its battle-proven, warfighter-trusted Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology. Titan 4 is a smaller, lighter, more powerful, highly extensible Radio Frequency (RF)-based solution to detect and defeat Group 1 and 2 drone threats.

    Titan 4 is portable and mission-adaptable—supporting mobile, dismounted, or fixed-site use—and can deploy in under five minutes to identify and neutralize threats, creating a protective dome around personnel and infrastructure. Titan 4 is 17% lighter and 73% smaller than its dual-chassis predecessor, now integrated into a single compact chassis as compared to its dual-chassis predecessor. It offers nearly 250% more transmit power with 540W of total output over six RF bands to address both current and emerging threats. For enhanced airspace awareness, AV has integrated its Titan-SV system within Titan 4 to provide operators with AI/ML-backed passive, long-range precision threat detection.

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), a leading provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions, recently announced it has secured a $3.4 million order for its Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAS system from renowned European defense contractor for their governmental end client. This marks the initial deployment of the Iron Drone Raider in Europe and represents a major milestone in the global expansion of Ondas’ counter-UAS business.

    “Ongoing geopolitical instability and the rapid proliferation of hostile drone technologies have intensified the urgency for effective counter-UAS capabilities across NATO-aligned and partner nations,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas. “This order reflects the rising global demand for autonomous aerial defense systems that can be rapidly deployed, scaled, and adapted to modern threat environments. Iron Drone Raider delivers a differentiated solution for military and homeland security operators charged with safeguarding critical infrastructure and civilian populations from increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.”

    Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently announced a significant testing milestone in their ongoing collaboration—the completion of an autonomous, cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.

    During this most recent testing, which leveraged Red Cat’s Teal 2 and Black Widow drones and the Palladyne™ Pilot AI software, each platform operated using onboard edge computing and constrained communication protocols without reliance on centralized infrastructure to communicate. The system enabled real-time, distributed detection and tracking of multiple dynamic and static ground objects—including humans and vehicles—in different regions of interest, providing a single operator with comprehensive situational awareness. The two companies previously announced a successful two-drone flight operation in January 2025, and Palladyne AI announced a single-drone testing scenario in December 2024 to autonomously identify, prioritize, and track terrestrial targets.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may,” “future,” “plan” or “planned,” “will” or “should,” “expected,” “anticipates,” “draft,” “eventually” or “projected.” You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beam Global Reports 23% Increase in Q1 2025 Orders for its EV ARC™ Off-Grid Solar-Powered Charging Units Over Previous Quarter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, today announced a broad range of new orders for its EV ARC™ off-grid solar-powered charging units, despite a reduction in federal demand. The 23% quarter-over-quarter increase in orders reflects growing demand for clean, resilient infrastructure solutions across a wide variety of sectors and regions.

    Recent orders were placed by a mix of municipal and county governments, state and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and private sector companies including those in construction, clean energy, and technology. The orders came from multiple states including California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, and Washington.

    “This increase in quarter-over-quarter orders is at almost exactly the same rate as the growth of electric vehicle sales in the U.S. and demonstrates the success of our shifting focus toward commercial customers rather than the federal government following the recent election, even as we continue to receive orders from federal entities, albeit at a reduced rate,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “It also proves that while we are focusing heavily on growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, we are still performing strongly in the U.S. We look forward to this growth continuing throughout the year on a global scale.”

    As demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, with global EV sales up 29% in 2025 and a 16% increase in North America alone, Beam Global remains at the forefront, delivering innovative, sustainable solutions that help public and private sector organizations meet their climate and operational goals.

    To learn more about Beam Global’s solutions, visit www.BeamForAll.com.

    About Beam Global
    Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Beam Global is headquartered in San Diego, CA with facilities in Broadview, IL and Belgrade and Kraljevo, Serbia. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. These statements relate to future events or future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Beam Global’s actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Beam Global expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Media Contact
    Andy Lovsted
    +1-858-335-8465
    Press@BeamForAll.com

    Investor Relations
    Luke Higgins
    +1-858-799-4583
    IR@BeamForAll.com

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5e6095f-b0ab-4cb4-8793-e5fc32cc9e33

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump speaking poorly of other presidents is uncommon, but not unheard of, in American presidential history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Peter Kastor, Professor of History & American Culture Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

    While most former presidents do not speak out about their successors after they leave the White House, Donald Trump is not the first president to criticize his former political opponents while in office. Trigger Photo/Getty Images Plus

    Former presidents don’t criticize their successors in public.

    Or do they?

    Former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have all criticized President Donald Trump in recent months.

    In April 2025, Obama, for example, spoke about the importance of preserving the international order, meaning the system of rules, norms and institutions that have been active since World War II. He said: “And this is an important moment, because in the last two months, we have seen a U.S. government actively try to destroy that order and discredit it. And the thinking, I gather, is that somehow, since we are the strongest, we’re going to be better off if we can just bully people into doing whatever we want.”

    Biden also offered his own negative comments on April 15: “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage,” he said in his first public remarks since leaving office.

    Some commentators have called these former presidents’ remarks “unprecedented.”

    Many Americans are accustomed to former presidents not speaking about – let alone criticizing – the current president.

    As a scholar of the presidency, I know that most presidents stay quiet about their successors, regardless of what the current president does or says. They do this to avoid undermining both their own reputations as well as the stability of the presidency itself.

    But I am also struck by the fact that this tradition is not as entrenched as former presidents might claim or as many Americans believe.

    President Jimmy Carter and his Republican challenger, Ronald Reagan, shake hands as they meet on a debate stage in 1980.
    Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

    Presidents who bucked the norm

    President George Washington established the precedent that presidents retire after two terms and steer clear of public statement. John Quincy Adams, the sixth U.S. president, established a different model.

    After Adams lost his bid for reelection in 1828 to Andrew Jackson, he served in the House of Representatives from 1831 through 1848. Congress is an unusual perch for a former president, but it’s a place where criticizing sitting presidents and their policies is part of the job. Adams had plenty of criticism there for his successors, including Jackson and James K. Polk.

    Nearly half a century later, President Teddy Roosevelt was disappointed that his hand-picked successor, William Howard Taft, failed to live up to Roosevelt’s vision of reform. Roosevelt went from criticizing Taft privately in political circles to campaigning against him publicly in 1912, aiming to win a nonconsecutive second term. Democrat Woodrow Wilson eventually won that election, beating out Taft and Roosevelt.

    Richard Nixon, who, in 1974, became the only president to resign from office, wrote a series of books in the 1980s and 1990s that sought to redeem his own sullied image by casting himself as a visionary statesman. Nixon’s books also included plenty of unsolicited advice – and implicit criticism – for Democratic and Republican presidents alike.

    Before becoming the beloved elder statesman of the former presidents club in 1980, Jimmy Carter earned the ire of his successors for his outspokenness. He said that President Ronald Reagan’s administration was an “aberration on the political scene” and said that one of Clinton’s political pardons was “disgraceful.”

    With the exception of Roosevelt, these former presidents who criticized their successors all felt they had something to prove. Anxious to redeem their legacies, they did not retire quietly.

    A healthy foray into retirement

    So why don’t we all know these stories, and instead believe that past presidents simply keep their mouths shut?

    Americans have long treated presidential retirement as a symbol of a healthy democracy. And that story of retirement emphasizes how former presidents often leave politics behind them.

    The trajectory of presidents finding peace and contentment in retirement, surrounded by friends and family, is an appealing way for presidential biographers to end a story. These stories have included narratives about Harry Truman taking a cross-country road trip only months after leaving the White House in 1953, and George W. Bush taking up painting.

    In reality, former presidents have led complex lives of happiness and loss, withdrawal and engagement. The energy and ambition that brought them to the White House often make retirement difficult. And, over the long history of the presidency, former presidents have become increasingly public figures.

    Former Presidents Bill Clinton, left, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are seen with Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush at the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.
    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    A shifting role

    Another important factor in the growing prominence of former presidents is how their roles have recently changed.

    Beginning in the 1990s, former presidents and first ladies tried to publicly show friendship and agreement with their counterparts.

    George H.W. Bush and Clinton, for example, teamed up to raise money for disaster relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in South and Southeast Asia. In 2017, Bush’s son George W. Bush, himself a former president by that time, called Clinton his “brother with a different mother.”

    Former first lady Michelle Obama and Barack Obama have publicly thanked George W. Bush and Laura Bush for helping their family adjust to life in the White House. Michelle Obama has also become known for her personal friendship with George W. Bush.

    And as medical advances enabled former presidents to live longer than ever, the relationships within a growing former presidents club became the subject of books, movies and television segments.

    All of these stories had the same message – that all presidents are committed to their country. Likewise, the amiable relationship between former and sitting presidents shows that if party leaders could overcome partisanship in the name of unity and friendship, so too could other Americans.

    In a remarkable moment, for example, three presidents from two different parties – Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama – came together for a video before Biden’s 2021 inauguration to call for unity in a moment of crisis.

    Following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, they used their connection as presidents to tell a national story. As Bush said, “Well, I think the fact that the three of us are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of power speaks to the institutional integrity of our country.”

    “America’s a generous country, people of great hearts. All three of us were lucky to be the president of this country,” Bush continued.

    The Republican former president looked at the Democrats on either side of him and smiled.

    Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton speak together in 2021.

    A new kind of presidential relations

    While friendships between presidents became more common in the 1990s and 2000s, Clinton and especially Trump were doing something different by the 2016 election.

    In 2016, Clinton became an active partisan in support of his wife, Hillary Clinton, during her unsuccessful bid for president.

    Both Clintons remained public critics of Trump long after he assumed office in 2017.

    For his part, Trump as a politician and then president immediately dismissed the notion of friendship with his predecessors and former competitors. He was quick to condemn Hillary Clinton – and especially Obama – in the early years of his first presidency.

    No sooner did Trump lose the 2020 election than he was heaping public scorn on Biden with an energy that only increased after Trump entered the 2024 race.

    Trump’s criticism of Biden did not stop after his 2024 victory, with the White House issuing statements like a pledge “to turn back the economic plague unleashed by the Biden Administration.”

    Trump has escalated attacks on other presidents. But he was not the first to criticize his successors or predecessors.

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

    – ref. Trump speaking poorly of other presidents is uncommon, but not unheard of, in American presidential history – https://theconversation.com/trump-speaking-poorly-of-other-presidents-is-uncommon-but-not-unheard-of-in-american-presidential-history-255568

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Recycling asphalt pavement can help the environment − now scientists are putting the safety of recycled pavement to the test

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jingtao Zhong, Ph.D. Student in Civil Engineering, University of Tennessee

    The composition of the asphalt mixture making up a road can determine how safe it is for cars to drive on. Tarik Seker/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    More than 90% of paved roads in the U.S. are made of asphalt, which is constructed with nonrenewable materials such as petroleum. One way to make paving more sustainable is to recycle old pavement. When roads break down and need repaving, transportation agencies can recycle their old pavement into a reusable material called reclaimed asphalt pavement, or RAP. This method reduces carbon emissions and conserves natural resources.

    Nearly 95% of new asphalt pavement projects in the U.S. incorporate RAP.

    However, researchers don’t know as much about the long-term safety and durability of RAP as they do about new pavement.

    So, can engineers make roads more sustainable without compromising safety? As civil engineering researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, we’re working with our state’s transportation department to help answer this question.

    RAP and friction

    Asphalt pavement is composed of asphalt binder and aggregates. Asphalt binder is typically sticky and black petroleum-based material that acts as glue, holding the pavement together.

    Aggregates are solid materials, such as crushed stone, gravel or sand. The pavement manufacturers coat these aggregates with asphalt to bind them together and create a durable road surface. But both of these materials are nonrenewable.

    One way to reduce the demand for new aggregates is by recycling old pavement. Contractors use a milling machine to grind up the existing pavement surface. The milled material is then reused: The old aggregates and asphalt binder from the road become part of the new mixture. These old materials are often blended with new binder and additional aggregates to make sure they can perform well.

    Why study RAP’s properties?

    One challenge with using RAP is that its properties vary significantly. RAP typically look black, since they are fully coated in asphalt. Researchers have a hard time visually inspecting them to identify the aggregate types, shapes or textures. But we developed testing procedures to measure these properties.

    The road’s ability to grip the tires, known as skid resistance, keeps vehicles from skidding or hydroplaning during wet conditions. Skid resistance is typically quantified by measuring a coefficient of friction between the tire and the pavement surface.

    Pavement friction is the force that resists the motion between a vehicle’s tire and the pavement’s surface. More friction means a vehicle is less likely to skid.

    Understanding RAP’s skid resistance-related properties is important because these attributes affect how safe the pavement is, especially when it’s wet.

    Nearly 75% of weather-related accidents occur on wet pavement. At low speeds, most of the skid resistance between a tire and the pavement comes from the texture of the aggregates.

    Most friction research has tested new aggregates. RAP needs to maintain good frictional properties to be as safe as the original, but until now, researchers haven’t fully investigated whether it does.

    How we study RAP’s properties

    Our research team developed a two-step process to better understand RAP’s safety performance. First, we extract the aggregates from the RAP. Then, we measure the frictional properties of those aggregates, since they play a key role in pavement skid resistance.

    To remove the black asphalt coating and expose the actual surface of the aggregates, we use two simple methods. The first is a mechanical method, where we crush the RAP using a hammer to expose the surface inside. The second is a chemical procedure, where we use a solvent to dissolve asphalt and leave the aggregates for further testing.

    Once we’ve cleaned the aggregates, we analyze their chemical composition and see how it relates to friction. One factor we look for is the hardness of the minerals in the aggregate. Harder minerals, such as silica, provide better friction as they keep their texture better over time instead of wearing down under traffic.

    We also use an aggregate image measurement system, which takes high-resolution images and analyzes the shape, angularity − the sharpness of the aggregate particles − and surface texture of the aggregates. These properties relate directly to skid resistance.

    Understanding the frictional properties of RAP − and, specifically, how silica content affects skid resistance − helps engineers determine whether an RAP mixture is safe for a road’s curves or intersections. These insights can guide how much RAP transportation departments can use, and where, without compromising safety. We hope our research will lead to solutions that reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural resources and keep roads safe over time.

    Jingtao Zhong receives funding from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (State project number RES2023-15).

    Baoshan Huang receives funding from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (State project number RES2023-15).

    – ref. Recycling asphalt pavement can help the environment − now scientists are putting the safety of recycled pavement to the test – https://theconversation.com/recycling-asphalt-pavement-can-help-the-environment-now-scientists-are-putting-the-safety-of-recycled-pavement-to-the-test-252348

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Pacvue Appoints Ross McNab as Chief Revenue Officer to Accelerate Global Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacvue, the leading commerce acceleration platform that integrates retail media, commerce management and measurement, today announced the hiring of Ross McNab to Chief Revenue Officer, where he will continue to drive the company’s overall growth strategy and expansion. Most recently, McNab was Chief Revenue Officer at Vistar Media, and has held executive roles at Cardlytics and MediaMath.

    “Our vision of connecting and powering the global retail media ecosystem is bold—and achieving it requires exceptional talent that can help us scale with speed and impact,” said Rahul Choraria, CEO of Pacvue. “Ross has a proven track record of scaling revenue and leading high-performing teams around the world. His expertise will be instrumental in our next phase of growth.”

    Under McNab’s leadership, Vistar Media’s US and international revenue grew 50%, ultimately leading to a $650M acquisition by T-Mobile. Through his work at Cardlytics and MediaMath, McNab has driven profitable growth by evolving businesses from transactional sales to long-term partnerships. Cardlytics revenue almost doubled during his tenure, despite turbulent market conditions, by creating proven value for both Marketer and Financial Institution partners. At MediaMath, he focused the US commercial model on SaaS, winning industry-leading clients like AT&T and P&G against category giants.

    “Pacvue has played a significant role in driving innovation in commerce and retail media forward,” said McNab. “Their ability to stay ahead of market shifts and deliver tangible results for clients is unmatched. I’m thrilled to combine my experiences with the talented team at Pacvue to keep pushing boundaries. Our focus will remain on putting clients first while scaling smart, high-impact commercial strategies that drive outsized results.”

    In addition to the hiring of McNab, Pacuve is promoting Sunava Dutta to Chief Product Officer. Previously the Senior Vice President of Product for Pacvue’s Enterprise Division, Dutta was instrumental in bringing new AI-powered tools to market. Pacvue also promoted Zoe Lu to Executive Vice President and General Manager of Helium 10. She previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, where she led the product and commercial teams.

    “At Pacvue, we invest in game-changers, and Sunava and Zoe are prime examples,” said Melissa Burdick, Co-founder and President. “They’ve been instrumental in our growth, and we’re excited to see them take on new challenges and lead Pacvue to even greater heights.”

    Visit Pacvue.com to learn about its latest commerce solutions and recent company developments.

    About Pacvue:
    Pacvue is the leading commerce acceleration platform that integrates retail media, commerce management and measurement. The company’s first-to-market platform drives incrementality, profitability and market share for brands, while turning insights into actionable recommendations. Backed by a global team of experts, Pacvue works with over 70,000 brands and agencies across 95+ retailers worldwide including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Instacart. With the incorporation of Pacvue’s enterprise solution with Helium 10 for SMBs, Pacvue is now the most comprehensive commerce and retail media platform available in the market. Founded in 2018, their global presence includes locations in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, London, Shanghai and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.pacvue.com.

    Media Contact:
    Scott Samson
    SamsonPR
    scott@samsonpr.com
    415.781.9005

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5682e899-95bb-49f0-8a71-b6a848e2b30a.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Allied Energy Corporation Advances Gas Supply Infrastructure to Support Bitcoin Mining Partner at Thiel Site

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • AGYP advances gas-to-power site for sustainable Bitcoin mining operations
    • Trapped gas converted to energy for off-grid AI & data infrastructure
    • Thiel site prepares final testing and computing equipment delivery
    • Natural gas solutions support decentralized computing and edge centers

    CARROLLTON, Texas, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allied Energy Corporation (OTC: AGYP) (”AGYP”), a Texas-based energy company focused on revitalizing underutilized domestic oil and gas resources, is pleased to provide a project update from the Thiel site where AGYP and its partner, Louis Energy Inc., are building out the infrastructure to deliver natural gas to support off-grid computing applications for Louis Energy Inc.

    Key Infrastructure Achievements: Turning Trapped Gas into a Strategic Asset

    AGYP and Louis Energy Inc. have been actively preparing the Thiel site to safely and efficiently channel natural gas to mobile containers for high-density computing. Completed milestones include:

    • Delivery of second modular computing container
    • Installation of on-site mobile office
    • Electrical installation preparation between Generator 2 and Container 2
    • Perimeter security fencing underway
    • Gas supply systems under validation
    • Generator test scheduled (pending P-5 approval)
    • On-site technicians conducting diagnostics and testing

    Planned Operational Advancements: Preparing for Final Integration

    AGYP is entering the final phase of its infrastructure buildout at Thiel, including:

    • Final cable installations and system optimization
    • Delivery of 10 pallets of computing equipment scheduled for next week
    • Wi-Fi connectivity via Starlink
    • Generator testing and operational clearance
    • Surveillance system installation
    • Gas system gauges and fittings to be pressure tested

    Once regulatory approvals are received, the site will begin formal gas-to-power operations.

    The Bigger Picture: Trapped Gas – An Untapped National Resource

    Stranded and flared gas—once considered a waste byproduct—is rapidly gaining traction as a sustainable, low-cost power source for decentralized infrastructure. AGYP’s work at the Thiel site is part of a broader push to transform U.S. energy usage:

    Use Cases for Trapped Gas Beyond Data Mining:

    • AI & Machine Learning Compute Farms – Powering high-density GPU systems
    • Agritech – Supporting controlled-environment agriculture in remote areas
    • Hydrogen Production – Fueling clean hydrogen from hydrocarbon sources
    • Remote & Emergency Operations – Delivering mobile energy to military and disaster response sites
    • Rural Electrification – Bringing energy to underserved communities through microgrids
    • Data & Edge Centers – Supporting low-latency applications with local infrastructure

    National Opportunity:

    • Over 1.4 billion cubic feet/day of gas is flared or vented in the U.S.
      (Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024)
    • Enough trapped gas exists to power over 10,000 MW of digital infrastructure
      (Source: Digital Wildcatters & Giga Energy)

    States like Texas, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Wyoming are seeing regulatory and ESG-driven momentum to utilize this untapped energy source.

    “We’re positioning AGYP at the center of a new energy economy—where natural gas isn’t wasted but redirected toward powering real-world innovation,” said George Montieth, CEO of AGYP.

    What’s Next for AGYP?

    With Thiel nearing full operational status, AGYP is actively exploring additional partnerships and deployment models to expand its gas-to-power strategy to other high-potential sites. In addition, further updates regarding the company’s carbon capture, gas monetization, and off-grid computing ventures will be provided in the coming months, as previously outlined in AGYP’s February 27, 2025 update.

    AGYP remains committed to turning America’s trapped gas into a strategic energy advantage.

    About AGYP:

    Allied Energy Corp. is an energy development and production company acquiring oil & gas reserves in some of the most prolific hydrocarbon bearing regions of the United States. The Company specializes in the business of reworking & re-completing ‘existing’ oil & gas wells located in the thousands of mature oil & gas producing fields across the United States. The Company applies its knowledge, experience, and effective well-remediation technologies to achieve higher production volumes, longer well life, and more efficient recovery of the proven and available oil and gas reserves in the fields/projects in which it has acquired an ownership interest. The Company will utilize updated technologies such as hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), drilling of lateral (“horizontal”) legs in productive zones, and utilizing new cased hole electric logging to locate bypassed pays, all to enhance daily rates and oil & gas recoveries. By acquiring interests in a growing number of selected projects in various regions, Allied Energy Corp. is diversifying its exposure and effectively minimizing risk as it pursues corporate growth, top line & bottom-line revenues to the benefit of all stakeholders. There are proven, recoverable reserves contained in the many aging oil & gas fields that have been bypassed by companies moving away from these fields in search of deeper, more plentiful, but more costly reserves. The Company plans to concentrate on bypassed oil and gas as there is less competition and, as mentioned above, the costs are considerably less. Additionally, the company will acquire interests in marginal wells that can be acquired at minimal cost, of which there are 420,000 wells in the U.S. Quoting Barry Russell, President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (“IPAA”) – “With approximately 20 percent of American oil production and 10 percent of American natural gas production coming from marginal wells, they are America’s true strategic petroleum reserve.”

    Safe Harbor Statement:

    This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “potential” and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release, including such forward-looking statements.

    Contact:

    Allied Energy Corporation
    Phone: 972-632-2393
    Email: info@alliedengycorp.com
    X: https://x.com/AlliedEnergyCo1

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/805afac9-47b6-422a-a74e-41ed9df311b3

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bf09204b-baac-49fe-974f-47b7e199e3a5

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11283726-53b0-48cf-9160-09bcd53a59ec

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a26cbf3-3990-4f81-8304-8e79d831567a

    The MIL Network –