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  • MIL-Evening Report: The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago today, yet films about the conflict still struggle to capture its complexities

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scarlette Nhi Do, Sessional Academic, The University of Melbourne

    Scene from Apocalypse Now (1979) Prime Video

    The Vietnam War (1955–1975) was more than just a chapter in the Cold War.

    For some, it was supposed to achieve Vietnam’s right to self-determination. For others, it was an attempt to found a nation-state independent of both capitalist and communist influences.

    In the 50 years since the war ended, the stories we’ve heard about it have struggled to convey these many different views. Cinema – in Hollywood and in Vietnam – offers some insight into this struggle, which we continue to face today.

    A war by any other name

    The war is known by many names, and each one highlights the different objectives of the forces involved.

    For the United States, “The Vietnam War” was one battleground against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. To prevent communism from spreading, the US sent resources to establish the Republic of Vietnam (known informally as South Vietnam) as its proxy. It had already used this strategy with West Germany and South Korea.

    The Communist Party of Vietnam thought of US involvement as a form of colonialism.

    By calling the conflict “the sacred resistance against the US to salvage the country” (Cuộc Kháng Chiến Chống Mỹ, Cứu Nước), or “the American war” (Chiến Tranh Mỹ) for short, the communist party encouraged the perception of the war as a stepping stone towards Vietnam’s full independence following Chinese imperialism (circa 111 BCE–939 CE), French colonialism (1862–1954) and Japanese occupation (1940-45).

    The communist objective was to “liberate” South Vietnam from the US and its puppet administration, and reunify the country. This is why, in Vietnam, April 30 is called “Reunification Day” or “Independence Day”, to commemorate the communists’ victory in capturing Saigon.

    However, former citizens of South Vietnam call April 30 the “Day of National Mourning” (Ngày Quốc Hận), as it marks the Republic’s defeat and the beginning of decades of political persecution and refugee displacement. Although the South Vietnamese were pluralistic in their political beliefs, they were united in their anti-communism.

    For them, the conflict was “the Civil War” (Nội Chiến), fought between communists and anti-communists over the future of Vietnam. After the Republic fell, many grieved (and still do) the vision of what South Vietnam could have become.

    Apocalypse then

    While the US eventually lost control over South Vietnam, it continued to influence how Vietnam was thought of in the West through Hollywood.

    Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now is loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s classic novel, Heart of Darkness.
    Shutterstock

    In the 1970-80s, Vietnam War films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979), Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Oliver Stone’s Platoon (1987) established these directors as household names.

    The films focus on US soldiers’ psyche and discontent with incompetent leadership, pushing the Vietnamese people and their struggles for independence into the background. They frame the war as something done to American society, rather than something the US orchestrated.

    This victimhood fostered what became known as “the Vietnam syndrome” – an unofficial condition in American mindset characterised by feelings of woundedness and a loss of trust in the capability of the US.

    In Vietnam, early communist-controlled cinema in the north depicted the Vietnamese as an oppressed people who must band together to defeat Western corruption. Wartime films such as Along the Same River (1959) and 17th Parallel, Days and Nights (1972) leaned into melodramatic love stories to allegorise the divided Vietnam as separated lovers who must be reunited.

    As directors in the north slowly gained some freedom from the communist party, films increasingly dealt with the war’s immense impact and questioned the party’s ability to bring about the classless society it had promised. The Girl on the River (1987) and Living in Fear (2005) are two good examples.

    Living in Fear (Sống trong sợ hãi) trailer.

    Meanwhile, filmmakers in the south were independents who occasionally collaborated with the state or military, as seen with the classic 1971 film Faceless Lover (also known as Warrior, Who Are You?).

    South Vietnamese people saw film as a medium to negotiate their fledgling national identity. For them, it was important to establish and safekeep an identity that was distinct from the “foreign ally” (the US) and the “domestic foe” (the communists).

    This is why films from the south often portrayed love triangles, where the hero must choose between the vessels of modern Vietnamese femininity and Western excess. Some examples include Afternoon Sun (1972) and Late Night’s Dew (1972).

    Apocalypse now

    New perspectives on the war are emerging as historically marginalised groups gain footing in Western media. And some of these challenge early portrayals.

    Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (2020) was the first major production to show the war through Black American veterans’ eyes. Hollywood neglected to do this, despite the over-representation of Black soldiers in conscription, combat and casualties during wartime.

    Although Da 5 Bloods still fails to account for the Vietnamese’s fight for self-determination, it acknowledges Black Americans’ and the Vietnamese people’s mutual suffering under white supremacy.

    One independent feature from a son of refugees, Journey from the Fall (2006), conveys the resentment many exiled South Vietnamese people feel towards the communist party. It also explores the trauma of leaving Vietnam by boat and resettlement in the US.

    Most recently, the 2024 TV series The Sympathizer, adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel, moved the needle by probing at complex issues such as wartime loyalty, complicity and authenticity.

    Communist narratives persist

    In Vietnam today, the scale of communist party-funded movies has grown immensely, with many films resembling Hollywood blockbusters. But the messages have become more conservative.

    Films such as The Scent of Burning Grass (2012) and The Legend Makers (2013) continue to support the communist party narrative by omitting South Vietnam’s anti-communist objective. They also undermine women’s contributions to the war efforts, whereas earlier films put women at the centre of community organisation.

    A new generation of filmmakers is challenging these narratives through collaboration with international production companies and distributors. Features such as Viet and Nam (2024) experiment with film form to show the true costs of war, including the widening wealth disparity in Vietnam, and the lengths many would go to close this gap.

    Viet and Nam trailer.

    Scarlette Nhi Do 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. The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago today, yet films about the conflict still struggle to capture its complexities – https://theconversation.com/the-vietnam-war-ended-50-years-ago-today-yet-films-about-the-conflict-still-struggle-to-capture-its-complexities-253837

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: State of the states: the campaign is almost over, so how has it played out across Australia?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Clune, Honorary Associate, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

    While many Australians have already voted at pre-poll stations and by post, the politicking continues right up until May 3.

    So what’s happened across the country over the past five weeks?

    Here, six experts analyse how the campaign has looked in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

    New South Wales

    David Clune, honorary associate, government and international relations, University of Sydney

    The campaign in NSW is concluding much as it began, largely mirroring the Australia-wide trend with little evidence of localism.

    The main themes of both sides remain similar: cost-of-living alleviation, improved health care and housing affordability. Both leaders quickly matched each other’s promises: it could be described as the “Albanutton” campaign.

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s campaign continued to be hampered by slip-ups and a lack of focus, detail and discipline. Although the government’s record had given him plenty of scope, Dutton struggled to land a blow.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had his share of gaffes, but appeared more coherent and convincing. Labor’s negative campaign to portray Dutton as a local Trump clone seems to have been effective.

    Some in the Liberal Party argue there’s pent-up resentment against the government in Western Sydney that hasn’t been picked up by opinion polls. Whether this hypothetical backlash turns into seats on polling day remains to be seen.

    Bennelong (notionally Liberal after the redistribution) and Gilmore, seem the most likely Liberal gains. Parramatta, Reid, Paterson, Robertson and Werriwa are also in play. There is speculation about an independent threat in the safe Labor seat of McMahon.

    The Coalition has a fight on its hands to retain Cowper and Bradfield, with strong independent challenges in both seats. There is a tight three-way contest in Calare between former National turned independent, Andrew Gee, a National and a Teal.

    As there is little real policy differentiation between the major parties; it seems to come down to which side the voters find more credible and trustworthy in uncertain times.

    According to a Newspoll published on April 27, Albanese led Dutton as preferred prime minister by 51% to 35%. Only 39% of those surveyed believed the government deserved to be re-elected. However, 62% believed the Coalition was not ready to govern.

    An aggregate of polling data showed in NSW, as at April 28, Labor’s two-party preferred vote was 53.0%, an increase since the March Budget of 2.8% and of 1.6% since the 2022 election.

    Queensland

    Paul Williams, associate professor of politics and journalism, Griffith University

    In the campaign’s closing week, Queensland remains largely inconsequential as to whether Albanese or Dutton will call The Lodge home.

    But that doesn’t mean the Liberal National Party (LNP) isn’t concerned about its prospects north of the Tweed.

    While the LNP still leads Labor in the two party-preferred vote, 54 to 46, across Queensland – roughly the 2022 result – last week’s YouGov poll found that result to be a three-point fall for the LNP from the previous week.

    While Labor is hardly going to blitz Queensland, some LNP seats are nonetheless more vulnerable than at any time over the past decade. These include the regional seats of Leichhardt (3.4 %) and Flynn (3.8%), the outer suburban seats of Dickson (held by Dutton by just 1.7%), Longman (3.1%), Forde (4.2%) and Petrie (4.4%), and the middle-suburb mortgage-belt seat of Bonner (3.4%).

    Independent Suzie Holt might also worry the LNP in the usually safe seat of Groom, around Toowoomba.
    But the last-minute “rescue” of the LNP by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (PHON) – Hanson (reciprocating the LNP’s preferencing of PHON) pulped existing how to vote cards and printed new ones placing the LNP second in most seats – might just save the opposition.

    However, the campaign has offered little clarity on the prospects in other key Queensland contests: the battles for three Greens-held inner-urban seats of Brisbane, Ryan and Griffith.

    But a mid-April DemosAU poll found the Greens’ primary vote falling by 1.7 points to 29%, a figure exactly tied with Labor’s, which has risen 2.7% since 2022.

    Problematically for Dutton, the LNP, whose primary vote remains locked at 36%, appears not to have capitalised on cost-of-living angst in inner Brisbane.

    Despite 58% of inner Brisbane leaning centre-left, these figures suggest the LNP may fail to win any Greens seats, with the contest a close one between the Greens and Labor only. The result rests on who runs third: Labor or the Greens. There could be a mere 100 votes in these must-watch seats.

    In the Northern Territory, the seat of Lingiari, which takes in Alice Springs and Katherine, is held by Labor’s Marion Scrymgour by 1.7%. In 2022, just one in three enrolled voters cast a ballot in the electorate, prompting the Australian Electoral Commission to try to increase voter turnout. In the wash-up, it will be interesting to see if this improves.

    South Australia

    Rob Manwaring, associate professor of politics and public policy, Flinders University

    Given SA is home to only a handful of marginal seats, it’s not a well-trodden part of the campaign trail. That’s typical of most federal elections.

    What’s not so typical is the overall feel of the campaign. The rhythms of Australian elections are changing. On one level, there are the familiar tropes and activities; TV debates, campaign launches and letter box blitzes in key marginal seats.

    Yet, on the other hand, voters behave differently than they used to. Data from the Australian Election Study(AES) tells us far fewer voters have made their decision “a long time ago” (55% in 2007, down to 36% in 2022).

    This means the number of “soft” voters is probably much higher as major parties have fewer “lifetime voters”. Voters are much more transactional.

    Voters are more distanced from parties, too. The study shows fewer voters use how to vote cards (51% used them in 2007, 31% in 2022). We can’t rely on traditional metrics in the same way, such as the national two-party preferred vote given the number of “non-traditional seats”.

    In short, it’s now harder to more know how the campaigns are tracking. So while the Coalition campaign has been beset by a number of mis-steps, how this is playing out is far less clear.

    Further, a strange paradox of the emergence of the Teals and other independents is there is a stronger local focus on representation, rather than broader policy debates. Again, AES data suggests most voters tend to vote for policy reasons (like the economy or health) but the current media focus on the major parties, especially through the TV debates, actually seems to narrow the broader policy discussions.

    So while the proof will be in the pudding when the votes are counted, it may be high time to reflect on what campaign strategies work best for politics in 2025.

    Tasmania

    Robert Hortle, deputy director of the Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania

    On Australia’s South Island, most of the campaign focus has been on Lyons, Franklin and Braddon.

    In Lyons, Tassie’s most marginal electorate (ALP by 0.9%), the latest polls have swung behind the ALP’s Rebecca White. Her popularity as a state MP for the electorate has been bolstered by some crucial slip ups from Liberal candidate Susie Bower.

    One potentially vote-winning policy announcement that has gone under the radar nationally is Labor’s commitment of $24 million to guarantee the continued operation of the Boyer Paper Mill in Lyons, an important employer and regional symbol of economic activity.

    Franklin has been full of drama. 19-year-old Greens candidate Owen Fitzgerald had to withdraw his candidacy after it emerged that he is likely to still be a New Zealand citizen. It seemed like the Greens would encourage their voters to preference independent anti-salmon candidate Peter George.

    However, when the party’s how to vote cards were published, they said “Vote 1 – Owen Fitzgerald”.

    According to the Greens, this was to make sure that voters completed their ballot correctly. The Liberal Party argued the Greens were just trying to secure public funding.

    There have also been billboard shenanigans and various other dirty (or should that be clean?) tricks.

    The result is likely to rest on how Liberal voters feel about salmon farming and how this influences their preferences. Are they so anti-Labor that they will preference Peter George ahead of Julie Collins despite his anti-salmon stance? Or will they put Collins ahead of George based on Labor’s support for the industry?

    In Braddon, where salmon farming is again a key issue, Labor’s Anne Urquhart has been more visible on the campaign trail than Liberal Mal Hingston. Although the margin at the last election was 8% in favour of the Liberals, last-minute polling (albeit with a small sample size) has offered Labor hope of winning the crucial seat.

    Bridget Archer, Liberal MP for Bass, has had a solid if unspectacular campaign. She was helped by Labor selecting a low-profile first-time candidate, Jess Teesdale, who the party sees as “one for the future”. Teesdale revealed her “greenness” – in both senses of the word – by accidentally contradicting the ALP’s position on native forest logging, which is always a flashpoint in Tassie.

    Victoria

    Zareh Ghazarian, senior lecturer in politics, school of social sciences, Monash University

    With just days to go in this campaign, Victoria still looks like a key state that will determine who governs for the next three years. Many seats across the state have new boundaries following the AEC redistribution.

    Victoria is also home to the most marginal seat in the country. Deakin, which covers the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, is held by Liberal Michael Sukkar with a margin of just 0.02%, according to ABC Election Analyst Antony Green.

    Deakin will be the seat to watch on election night. If the Liberal Party can’t hold on to Deakin, it would be unlikely to be able to win government.

    There are also other seats that will provide a fascinating contest on Saturday night. Labor will face its own test in trying to retain Chisholm and Aston, both in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

    Chisholm is a swinging seat. It has been won by both Labor and Liberal parties over the past 40 years and is currently held by Labor with a margin of 3.3%. It has had a significant redistribution, losing strong Labor booths in the north and south parts of the electorate.

    Aston is also on a similarly slim margin of 3.6% and was famously won by Labor at the by-election in 2023. Holding onto Aston will be a crucial test for Labor. Losing this seat may threaten Labor’s chances of forming a majority government after the election.

    There are also the two seats held by the independents which promise to be tight contests. The previously safe Liberal seats of Kooyong and Goldstein, which were won by Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel respectively, have been targeted by the Liberal Party. The independents will face a significant battle and, if successful, will demonstrate a significant shift in voting behaviour has occurred in these electorates.

    Western Australia

    Narelle Miragliotta, associate professor in politics, Murdoch University

    The idea that WA would determine the outcome of government has been a persistent theme throughout the campaign, reinforced by four visits from Albanese and three from Dutton. The amount of attention WA has received from the major party leaders was more than any state or territory other than the three big population states: NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Even then, Albanese made one more visit to WA than he did Queensland at the time of writing.

    Both major parties brought their big guns on the campaign trail. Former Liberal PM John Howard visited Curtin, Tangney and Bullwinkel. The newly re-elected WA Labor Premier Roger Cook campaigned heavily with Albanese during his visits. And in the final days of the campaign, Mark McGowan, the popular former premier, was seen on the hustings with Labor candidates in four marginal seats.

    Neither major party leader ventured to places where they might receive an unwelcome reception. Dutton’s intention to steer clear of the Shire of Collie, particularly the town of Muja, the proposed site of the one of the seven nuclear power plants, was signalled early in the campaign. Albanese avoided electorates in the state’s southwest opposed to coastal wind farms.

    There were no significant candidate blunders. However, questions were raised about the whereabouts of Andrew Hastie, shadow defence minister and (putative) future Liberal leader. Hastie was also questioned about the missing party logo (as against party authorisations) on his campaign materials.

    The competition between the Nationals and Liberals in the seat of Bullwinkel was without major media incident. This includes when the Nationals’ candidate, Mia Davies, broke with the federal coalition over support for Labor’s production tax credits plan.

    The contest for Curtin attracted outsized local media attention. In the final days of the campaign, there were renewed efforts to link the independent incumbent, Kate Chaney, to the Greens. All the proof the West Australian newspaper required was Chaney’s connection to a senior Greens party official, evidenced by a 2024 donation totalling $104, a photo and an author’s credit.

    To what extent has the leader visits and the campaign moved the needle? A recent study found party leader visits make only a modest impact on the vote. Polling for Labor and the Liberals in WA has remained very steady. This doesn’t mean some seats won’t change, but to which party or candidate remains unclear.

    Paul Williams is a research associate with the T.J. Ryan Foundation.

    David Clune, Narelle Miragliotta, Rob Manwaring, Robert Hortle, and Zareh Ghazarian do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. State of the states: the campaign is almost over, so how has it played out across Australia? – https://theconversation.com/state-of-the-states-the-campaign-is-almost-over-so-how-has-it-played-out-across-australia-253125

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

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    7Bit’s likely unparalleled performance across these criteria, particularly its online casino instant payout capabilities, solidifies its status as the best online casino with fast payout for 2025. Its ability to combine speed, security, and player satisfaction makes it a standout in the crowded online gambling market, offering a fast withdrawal online casino experience that meets the needs of modern players.

    License and Security at 7Bit Casino – Ensuring a Safe, Fast Payout Environment

    Security is paramount for any fast payout and instant withdrawal casino, and 7Bit Casino likely excels in providing a safe, regulated environment. Operating under a Curacao eGaming license, 7Bit adheres to stringent international standards for fair gaming and player protection, ensuring it meets the expectations of fast payout casinos.

    The Curacao license, one of the most established in the industry, mandates regular audits and compliance with anti-fraud measures, making 7Bit a trusted instant withdrawal online casino.

    To safeguard player data, 7Bit likely employs advanced SSL encryption, comparable to that used by major financial institutions, protecting sensitive information like financial transactions and personal details from unauthorized access.

    This robust encryption is critical for online casino with fast payouts, where rapid transactions require secure channels. Additionally, 7Bit’s provably fair games, powered by blockchain technology, allow players to verify the fairness of game outcomes independently, a feature highly valued by instant cashout casino enthusiasts seeking transparency.

    Regular third-party audits by independent testing agencies likely ensure that all games, from best payout online slots to live dealer tables, operate with certified random number generators (RNGs), guaranteeing unbiased results.

    The no KYC policy for cryptocurrency users further enhances privacy, eliminating verification delays and making 7Bit a top instant withdrawal casino no verification. This combination of regulatory oversight, cutting-edge security, and player anonymity positions 7Bit as a secure best paying online casino, delivering peace of mind for players focused on fast withdrawal online casino services.

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    Bonuses and Promotions at 7Bit Casino – Maximizing Fast Payout Potential

    Bonuses and promotions are a cornerstone of the fast payout and instant withdrawal casino experience, and 7Bit Casino likely offers a suite of player-friendly deals that enhance best online casino payouts. These promotions are designed to provide substantial value, with select offers featuring no wagering requirements, allowing immediate withdrawals—a key advantage for instant pay casino players.

    Welcome Bonus Package: A Game-Changing Start

    New players are likely greeted with a 325% match bonus up to 5.25 BTC plus 250 free spins, distributed across four deposits:

    • 1st Deposit: 100% up to 1.5 BTC + 100 free spins.
    • 2nd Deposit: 75% up to 1.25 BTC + 100 free spins (code: 2DEP).
    • 3rd Deposit: 50% up to 1.5 BTC.
    • 4th Deposit: 100% up to 1 BTC + 50 free spins.
      This package, one of the most generous among fast payout casinos, boosts your bankroll for exploring best payout online slots like Starburst or live dealer games, with the potential to win real money online instantly.

    Weekly Promotions: Ongoing Rewards

    7Bit likely keeps the excitement alive with regular promotions, including:

    • Monday Reload Bonus: 25% up to 6 mBTC + 50 free spins on Lucky Year 25.
    • Wednesday Free Spins: Up to 100 free spins on Snoop Dogg Dollars.
    • Friday Free Spins: 111 free spins for slot enthusiasts.
    • Weekend Offer: 99 free spins on 7Bit CasinoMillion.
    • Weekly Cashback: Up to 20% cashback, enhancing same day payout casino value.
      These deals, praised by players, ensure continuous opportunities to boost winnings at a quick withdrawal casino.

    Crypto and Telegram Bonuses: Exclusive Perks

    Crypto users can likely claim a 75 free spin bonus on 7Bit Casino Wilds of Fortune with a 0.00042 BTC deposit, while Telegram subscribers receive 50-111 free spins via exclusive offers. These promotions cater to instant cashout casino players, offering no-wager spins for immediate withdrawals.

    Special Event Promotions: Seasonal Extras

    Promotions like the Spring Elite Offer (100 free spins) and Pre-Release Offer (35 free spins on Gold Nugget Rush) likely add seasonal flair, keeping the online casino fast payout experience fresh and engaging.

    Drops & Wins Tournaments: Massive Prize Pools

    Partnering with Pragmatic Play, 7Bit likely hosts Drops & Wins tournaments with prize pools up to €2M, offering random cash drops and weekly competitions for slots and live games, perfect for best payout online casino enthusiasts.

    These promotions, combined with 7Bit’s online casino fast withdrawal system, likely ensure players can maximize their winnings and access funds instantly, making it a top fastest paying online casino. The no-wager bonuses, in particular, align with the instant casino ethos, allowing players to enjoy best online casino real money fast payout benefits without restrictive conditions.

    VIP Program at 7Bit Casino – Enhancing Fast Payout Benefits

    7Bit Casino’s 12-level VIP program rewards loyalty with Comp Points (CPs) earned at 1 CP per $12.5 wagered (Wisergamblers). Higher levels unlock exclusive bonuses, faster withdrawals (under 5 minutes), and dedicated managers, enhancing the fast payout and instant withdrawal casino experience.

    • Levels 1-3: 10-50 free spins on best online casino payouts slots.
    • Levels 4-6: $10-$50 cash bonuses, 30x wagering.
    • Levels 7-9: 10-15% cashback, priority online casino fast withdrawal.
    • Levels 10-12: Personalized offers, VIP events, and instant cash out online casino perks.

    Tournaments and Competitions – Boosting Instant Payout Opportunities

    7Bit hosts Daily Drop Tournaments (0.5-1 BTC pools) and Special Event Tournaments (up to 10 BTC) during holidays, offering cash and spins (Coincentral). Players earn points via bets on best payout online slots, with top leaderboard finishers securing same day payout casino prizes, adding excitement to the fast paying online casinos experience.

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    Casino Games at 7Bit Casino – Win Real Money Instantly with High Payouts

    7Bit Casino’s expansive library of over 10,000 games is likely a cornerstone of its status as a fast payout and instant withdrawal casino, offering a diverse range of options to win real money online instantly.

    From high-RTP best payout online slots to strategic table games and immersive live dealer experiences, 7Bit caters to every gaming preference, with rapid payouts enhancing the instant cashout casino appeal. Below is a comprehensive overview of its offerings, optimized for best online casino payouts.

    Slots: High RTPs for Frequent Wins

    7Bit’s slot collection is likely a treasure trove, featuring thousands of titles from classic three-reel games to modern video slots with cutting-edge graphics and bonus features. Popular picks include:

    • Starburst (96.09% RTP): A NetEnt classic with vibrant visuals, expanding wilds, and frequent payouts, making it a top best payout online slot.
    • Book of Dead (96.21% RTP): An Egyptian-themed slot with free spins and expanding symbols, ideal for casino games that pay real money instantly.
    • Gates of Olympus (96.5% RTP): Pragmatic Play’s tumbling reels and multipliers up to 500x offer high win potential.
    • Mega Moolah: Microgaming’s progressive jackpot slot with multi-million-pound payouts, perfect for same day payout casino players seeking life-changing wins.
      The high RTPs and fast withdrawal system make 7Bit a leader among fast payout casinos for slot enthusiasts, with new titles added regularly to keep the online casino with fastest payout experience fresh.

    Table Games: Strategic Play with Rapid Returns

    For players who prefer skill-based gaming, 7Bit likely offers a robust selection of table games, including:

    • Blackjack: Variants like Classic Blackjack and Multi-Hand Blackjack, with a low house edge (0.5% with optimal strategy), provide strategic opportunities for quick wins.
    • Roulette: European, American, and French roulette, with European Roulette’s 2.7% house edge offering better odds for fast withdrawal casino players.
    • Baccarat: Simple yet elegant, with low house edges for high rollers.
    • Poker: Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and video poker variants for strategic gameplay.
      These games, with their potential for rapid returns, align perfectly with 7Bit’s online casino fast withdrawal system, allowing players to cash out winnings instantly.

    Live Dealer Games: Immersive Thrills with Instant Payouts

    Powered by Evolution Gaming, 7Bit’s live dealer section likely delivers an authentic casino experience, streamed in HD with professional dealers. Key titles include:

    • Lightning Roulette: Multipliers up to 500x add excitement, with instant payouts via crypto.
    • Infinite Blackjack: Unlimited players and side bets enhance win potential.
    • Crazy Time and Monopoly Live: Interactive game shows with high payout potential, ideal for instant casino players.
      The live format, combined with 7Bit’s instant payout online casino capabilities, ensures players can enjoy real-time wins and withdraw funds immediately, making it a standout best online casino with fast payout.

    Specialty Games: Quick Wins for Casual Players

    For casual play, 7Bit likely offers lottery games, scratch cards, and instant-win titles like Keno and Bingo. These provide quick entertainment and the chance for instant prizes, aligning with the easy cash out online casino model. Their simplicity and fast payout potential make them ideal for win real money online instantly seekers.

    Progressive Jackpots: Life-Changing Payouts

    7Bit likely features progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah and Divine Fortune, offering multi-million-pound payouts. These games, with their high win potential, complement 7Bit’s same day payout casino system, allowing players to cash out massive winnings rapidly.

    This diverse, high-quality game library, regularly updated with new releases, likely positions 7Bit as a leading best online casino that payout instantly. The combination of high-RTP games and online casino fast withdrawal capabilities ensures players can enjoy thrilling gameplay and access their winnings without delay, making 7Bit a top fastest paying online casino.

    Casino Game Providers at 7Bit Casino – Powering High-Quality, Fast-Paying Games

    The quality of games at a fast payout and instant withdrawal casino hinges on its providers, and 7Bit likely collaborates with over 85 industry leaders to deliver a premium gaming experience optimized for best online casino payouts. These partnerships ensure fair, engaging, and visually stunning games, with high RTPs and quick payout potential, critical for fastest paying online casinos.

    NetEnt: Iconic Slots with High RTPs

    Renowned for titles like Starburst (96.09% RTP) and Gonzo’s Quest (95.97% RTP), NetEnt likely delivers vibrant graphics, innovative features, and high RTPs, making their slots a staple among best payout online slots. Their games are optimized for frequent wins, complementing 7Bit’s instant cash out online casino system, allowing players to win real money online instantly.

    Evolution Gaming: Live Dealer Excellence

    The gold standard in live dealer games, Evolution likely powers 7Bit’s immersive live section with titles like Lightning Roulette (with multipliers up to 500x), Infinite Blackjack, and game shows like Crazy Time.

    Pragmatic Play: Diverse Slots and Promotions

    Known for Gates of Olympus (96.5% RTP) and Wolf Gold (96.01% RTP), Pragmatic Play likely provides diverse slots and live games, enhanced by Drops & Wins promotions with massive prize pools. Their high-RTP offerings align with 7Bit’s best online casino with fast payout focus, offering players frequent opportunities for same day payout casino wins.

    Microgaming: Progressive Jackpot Pioneers

    Microgaming’s Mega Moolah and Divine Fortune are likely legendary for multi-million-pound jackpots, alongside a vast catalog of table games. These games are ideal for players seeking casino games that pay real money instantly at a fast withdrawal casino, with 7Bit’s rapid payout system ensuring quick access to winnings.

    Play’n GO: Mobile-Optimized High-RTP Slots

    Creators of Book of Dead (96.21% RTP), Play’n GO likely focuses on high-RTP slots optimized for mobile, ensuring seamless play on any device. Their titles are a cornerstone of 7Bit’s best online casino payouts, offering frequent wins that complement the online casino fast withdrawal system.

    Betsoft: Cinematic Slots and Table Games

    Betsoft’s visually stunning slots like The Slotfather and table games like European Roulette likely offer engaging gameplay with competitive RTPs. Their contributions enhance 7Bit’s fast paying online casino appeal, providing players with high-quality options for win real money online instantly.

    Additional providers like Yggdrasil, Red Tiger, and BGaming likely contribute to 7Bit’s diverse library, ensuring cutting-edge graphics, fair outcomes, and regular updates. This collaboration likely solidifies 7Bit’s status as a fastest paying online casino, delivering high-quality games with rapid payout potential, making it a top best online casino real money fast payout.

    Fast Payout and Instant Withdrawal Casino Banking at 7Bit Casino

    A hallmark of a fast payout and instant withdrawal casino is its ability to deliver winnings swiftly and securely, and 7Bit Casino excels in this domain. Offering a hybrid banking system that supports both cryptocurrencies and traditional methods, 7Bit ensures players can access their funds with minimal delay, making it a leader among fast payout casinos. The platform’s focus on instant withdrawal online casino efficiency, particularly for crypto users, aligns with the growing demand for online casino fast payout solutions.

    Cryptocurrencies: The Pinnacle of Fast Payout Casinos

    7Bit Casino supports over 17 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Tether (USDT), Ripple (XRP), and Binance Coin (BNB), positioning it as a top instant pay casino. Cryptocurrencies are renowned for their speed, security, and low transaction costs, making them ideal for players seeking fastest payout online casino experiences.

    • Withdrawal Process: Players initiate withdrawals via the cashier, selecting their preferred cryptocurrency and entering their wallet address. Transactions are typically processed within 10 minutes, often in seconds, ensuring instant cashout casino performance (7Bit Casino).
    • No Fees: 7Bit imposes no withdrawal fees for crypto, maximizing player winnings.
    • Limits: Minimum withdrawals start at 0.0005 BTC (or equivalent), with no upper cap, ideal for high rollers at a same day payout casino.
    • Security: Blockchain technology ensures tamper-proof transactions, complemented by 7Bit’s SSL encryption, making it a secure fast withdrawal casino.

    This crypto-centric approach, with instant withdrawal casino no verification for most transactions, sets 7Bit apart as a best online casino fast payout platform, catering to players who value speed and privacy.

    Traditional Payment Methods for Flexibility

    For those preferring fiat options, 7Bit offers Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Skrill, Neteller, Pay ID, and bank transfers, ensuring accessibility for all players at a fast paying online casino. While slower than crypto, these methods are optimized for efficiency:

    • Credit/Debit Cards: Deposits are instant; withdrawals take 1-3 days, competitive for online casino with fast payouts.
    • E-Wallets: Skrill and Neteller process withdrawals within 24 hours, offering a quick withdrawal casino alternative.
    • Bank Transfers: Secure but slower (3-5 days), suitable for larger sums at a best online casino that payout.
    • Fees and Limits: Minimum deposits are $10, with withdrawals starting at $20. Fiat withdrawals may incur minor fees (1-2%), but 7Bit keeps costs low.

    Streamlined Banking Experience

    7Bit’s banking interface is intuitive, allowing players to manage deposits and withdrawals effortlessly. The cashier section provides real-time transaction status updates, enhancing transparency. For crypto users, the instant withdrawal casino no verification policy eliminates delays, while fiat users benefit from clear processing timelines. This efficiency, combined with robust security, makes 7Bit a fastest paying online casino that prioritizes player convenience (Cryptovantage).

    User Experience at 7Bit Casino – Seamless Fast Payout and Instant Withdrawal Casino Access

    The user experience at 7Bit Casino is tailored to complement its fast payout and instant withdrawal casino ethos, offering a seamless, intuitive platform that enhances gaming and banking efficiency. From navigation to mobile compatibility, 7Bit ensures players can focus on enjoying casino games that pay real money instantly without technical hurdles.

    Intuitive Website Design

    7Bit’s website features a sleek, modern design with a dark theme accented by vibrant game thumbnails, creating an engaging instant casino atmosphere. Key sections—games, promotions, banking, and support—are accessible via a sticky navigation bar, ensuring quick access to online casino fast payout features. The search function and filters (e.g., by provider or game type) allow players to locate best payout online slots or live dealer games effortlessly.

    Mobile Compatibility for On-the-Go Payouts

    Recognizing the mobile gaming trend, 7Bit’s platform is fully optimized for iOS and Android devices, eliminating the need for a dedicated app. The responsive design ensures all 10,000+ games, from best online casino payouts slots to live tables, perform flawlessly on smaller screens. Players can initiate instant withdrawal online casino transactions via mobile, with crypto withdrawals processed in minutes, making 7Bit the fastest paying online casino for mobile users.

    • Performance: Fast load times and smooth graphics enhance the quick withdrawal casino experience.
    • Banking: Mobile banking mirrors desktop functionality, supporting online casino with fastest payout methods.
    • Support: 24/7 live chat is accessible on mobile, resolving fast paying casinos’ queries instantly.

    Personalized Features

    7Bit offers a customizable dashboard where players can track bonuses, Comp Points, and transaction history, streamlining the easy cash out online casino process. Multilingual support (English, German, French, Russian, Japanese) caters to global players, reinforcing its best online casino real money fast payout appeal.

    Why 7Bit Stands Out Globally as a Fast Payout and Instant Withdrawal Casino

    7Bit Casino’s global appeal as a fast payout and instant withdrawal casino stems from its player-centric design, accessibility, and cutting-edge features tailored for a diverse audience. Operating since 2014 under a Curacao eGaming license, it combines instant withdrawal online casino efficiency with a robust gaming ecosystem, making it a best online casino fast payout leader.

    Multilingual Interface

    Supporting languages like English, German, French, Russian, Italian, and Japanese, 7Bit ensures seamless navigation for players worldwide. The platform auto-detects user language preferences, enhancing usability for fast paying casinos enthusiasts (7Bit Casino).

    Diverse Currencies

    Offering fiat (EUR, USD, AUD, CAD, NOK, PLN, NZD) and cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, USDT, XRP), 7Bit eliminates conversion barriers, streamlining online casino fast payout transactions. Players can switch currencies effortlessly, catering to best online casino real money fast payout needs.

    VPN-Friendly Access

    In regions with gambling restrictions, 7Bit permits VPN use, ensuring secure access to its fastest payout online casino features without compromising account integrity. This flexibility appeals to players seeking instant withdrawal casino no verification.

    Crypto Gaming Focus

    With over 4,000 Bitcoin-based games, including best payout online slots like BTC Blackjack and Bitcoin Roulette, 7Bit leverages blockchain for transparency, attracting tech-savvy players to its new instant withdrawal casino offerings.

    Global Community Engagement

    7Bit fosters a vibrant community through social media (e.g., X posts) and forums, where players share fast withdrawal casino experiences, reinforcing its reputation as a best paying online casino (X Post).

    These features make 7Bit a best casino online for global players, delivering instant cashout casino speed, security, and inclusivity, positioning it as a leader in fast paying online casinos.

    Mobile Gaming at 7Bit Casino – Fast Payouts on the Go

    7Bit Casino’s mobile-optimized platform ensures seamless access to fast payout and instant withdrawal casino features on iOS and Android devices, eliminating the need for a dedicated app. Built with HTML5 technology, it offers a responsive, high-performance experience, making 7Bit a top fastest paying online casino for mobile users seeking best online casino payouts.

    • Game Accessibility: All 10,000+ games, from best payout online slots like Starburst to live dealer tables, are fully playable on mobile with crisp graphics and fast load times.
    • Mobile Banking: The mobile cashier supports instant pay casino withdrawals, with crypto transactions processed in minutes. Players can deposit, withdraw, and track transactions on the go, aligning with online casino with fastest payout standards.
    • Support Access: 24/7 live chat and email support are available via mobile, resolving fast withdrawal casino queries instantly. The FAQ section is mobile-friendly, addressing common online casino fast payout issues.
    • User Experience: The mobile interface mirrors the desktop’s intuitive design, with touch-optimized navigation and filters for quick game selection, enhancing the quick withdrawal casino experience.

    Responsible Gambling at 7Bit Casino – Supporting Safe Fast Payouts

    As a leading fast payout and instant withdrawal casino, 7Bit Casino prioritizes player welfare with comprehensive responsible gambling tools, ensuring a safe and controlled gaming environment. These measures complement its instant pay casino offerings by promoting sustainable play.

    Responsible Gambling Tools

    7Bit provides a suite of tools to help players manage their gambling:

    • Deposit Limits: Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps to control spending, aligning with same-day payout casino budgeting.
    • Loss Limits: Restrict losses over a period to prevent chasing losses, a key feature for fast withdrawal casino players.
    • Wagering Limits: Cap bets to maintain disciplined play, supporting best online casino payouts.
    • Session Time Limits: Limit playtime to encourage breaks, enhancing instant cashout casino sustainability.
    • Cooling-Off Periods: Temporary account suspensions (24 hours to months) for players needing a break.
    • Self-Exclusion: Permanent or long-term account deactivation for those seeking extended pauses.
    • Reality Checks: Pop-up notifications every 30-60 minutes to track play duration.

    Support Resources

    7Bit partners with organizations like GamCare (www.gamcare.org.uk) and Gamblers Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org), providing links and helplines for professional support. An educational section on the website offers tips on recognizing problem gambling, reinforcing its best online casino that payout instantly commitment to player safety.

    Compliance and Transparency

    Under its Curacao license, 7Bit adheres to strict responsible gambling regulations, ensuring tools are accessible and effective. Players can customize limits via their account settings, with support available to guide them, making 7Bit a responsible, fastest paying online casino.

    7Bit Casino Conclusion: The Ultimate Fast Payout and Instant Withdrawal Casino

    After a thorough global review, 7Bit Casino stands as the best fast payout and instant withdrawal casino for 2025. It’s 10,000+ games, from best payout online slots to live dealer tables, cater to all players, powered by top providers like NetEnt and Evolution Gaming. The 325% welcome bonus up to 5.25 BTC + 250 free spins, no-wager promotions, and 20% cashback deliver unmatched value.

    Instant withdrawal casino no verification crypto payouts, processed in minutes, set a new standard for the fastest paying online casinos. With Curacao licensing, SSL encryption, 24/7 multilingual support, and robust responsible gambling tools, 7Bit ensures a secure, player-centric online casino with fast payouts. Join 7Bit Casino today to experience the thrill of casino games that pay real money instantly with unparalleled speed and convenience.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • What defines a fast payout and instant withdrawal casino?

    A fast payout and instant withdrawal casino processes withdrawals rapidly, often within minutes, using cryptocurrencies. 7Bit Casino excels with instant crypto payouts, ensuring swift, secure access to winnings for global players.

    • Why is 7Bit Casino the best fast payout casino?

    7Bit Casino leads with crypto withdrawals in under 10 minutes, no KYC for privacy, 10,000+ games, and a 325% bonus, making it a top fast payout casino for 2025.

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    7Bit Casino offers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and fiat options like Visa and Skrill. Crypto withdrawals are instant, while fiat takes 1-3 days, ensuring fast payout online casino flexibility.

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    7Bit Casino charges no fees for crypto withdrawals, maximizing instant cashout casino winnings. Fiat withdrawals may incur minor fees (1-2%), keeping costs low for fast withdrawal casino players.

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    7Bit Casino’s no KYC for crypto users ensures anonymity and eliminates verification delays, enabling instant withdrawal casino no verification payouts, ideal for privacy-focused fast paying casinos players.

    • What games offer instant payouts at 7Bit Casino?

    7Bit Casino’s 10,000+ games, including best payout online slots like Starburst, live dealer tables, and instant win titles, provide casino games that pay real money instantly with rapid withdrawals.

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    7Bit Casino’s mobile-optimized platform supports iOS and Android, offering seamless access to games and instant pay casino withdrawals, making it a top fastest paying online casino for mobile.

    • What bonuses enhance 7Bit’s fast payout experience?

    7Bit Casino offers a 325% bonus, 250 free spins, no-wager promotions, and Drops & Wins tournaments, boosting best online casino payouts and enabling instant withdrawals at a quick withdrawal casino.

    • Is 7Bit Casino a secure fast payout casino?

    Licensed by Curacao, 7Bit Casino uses SSL encryption and provably fair games, ensuring a safe fast payout and instant withdrawal casino environment for all players worldwide.

    • How does 7Bit Casino ensure responsible gambling?

    7Bit Casino provides deposit limits, self-exclusion, and links to GamCare, promoting safe play at a fast payout casino, ensuring players enjoy instant cashout casino responsibly.

    Email: support@7bitcasino.com

    Legal Disclaimer

    This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or gambling advice. Information is presented “as is,” without warranties. Readers must verify compliance with local gambling laws. The publisher is not liable for losses or consequences.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Some links may be affiliate links, earning a commission at no cost to you. Recommendations are objective, and partnerships do not influence content or conclusions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c6a23fa-0a7a-4336-8025-485f0997df63

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NMI Holdings, Inc. Reports Record First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EMERYVILLE, Calif., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NMI Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMIH) today reported net income of $102.6 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $86.2 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 and $89.0 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $102.5 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared to $86.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 and $89.0 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

    Adam Pollitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National MI, said, “In the first quarter, we again delivered standout operating performance, continued growth in our high-quality insured portfolio and record financial results. We have a strong customer franchise, a talented team driving us forward every day, an exceptionally high-quality book covered by a comprehensive set of risk transfer solutions, and a robust balance sheet supported by the significant earnings power of our platform. We continue to manage our business with discipline and a focus on through-the-cycle performance, and looking forward, we’re well positioned to continue to serve our customers and their borrowers, support our talented team, and deliver sustained performance and long-term value for our shareholders.”

    Selected first quarter 2025 highlights include:

    • Primary insurance-in-force at quarter end was $211.3 billion, compared to $210.2 billion at the end of the fourth quarter and $199.4 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net premiums earned were $149.4 million, compared to $143.5 million in the fourth quarter and $136.7 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Total revenue was $173.2 million, compared to $166.5 million in the fourth quarter and $156.3 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Insurance claims and claim expenses were $4.5 million, compared to $17.3 million in the fourth quarter and $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2024. Loss ratio was 3.0%, compared to 12.0% in the fourth quarter and 2.7% in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Underwriting and operating expenses were $30.2 million, compared to $31.1 million in the fourth quarter and $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2024. Expense ratio was 20.2%, compared to 21.7% in the fourth quarter and 21.8% in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net income was $102.6 million, compared to $86.2 million in the fourth quarter and $89.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. Diluted EPS was $1.28, compared to $1.07 in the fourth quarter and $1.08 in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Shareholders’ equity was $2.3 billion at quarter end and book value per share was $29.65. Book value per share excluding the impact of net unrealized gains and losses in the investment portfolio was $30.85, up 4% compared to $29.80 in the fourth quarter and 17% compared to $26.42 in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Annualized return on equity for the quarter was 18.1%, compared to 15.6% in the fourth quarter and 18.2% in the first quarter of 2024.
    • At quarter-end, total PMIERs available assets were $3.2 billion and net risk-based required assets were $1.9 billion.
      Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Change(1) Change(1)
      3/31/2025 12/31/2024 3/31/2024 Q/Q Y/Y
    INSURANCE METRICS ($billions)
    Primary Insurance-in-Force $ 211.3   $ 210.2   $ 199.4   1 % 6 %
    New Insurance Written – NIW   9.2     11.9     9.4   (23) % (2)%
               
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited, $millions, except per share amounts)
    Net Premiums Earned $ 149.4   $ 143.5   $ 136.7   4 % 9 %
    Net Investment Income   23.7     22.7     19.4   4 % 22 %
    Insurance Claims and Claim Expenses   4.5     17.3     3.7   (74) % 21 %
    Underwriting and Operating Expenses   30.2     31.1     29.8   (3) %  1 %
    Net Income   102.6     86.2     89.0   19 % 15 %
    Diluted EPS $ 1.28   $ 1.07   $ 1.08   20 % 18 %
    Book Value per Share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses)(2) $ 30.85   $ 29.80   $ 26.42   4 % 17 %
    Loss Ratio   3.0 %   12.0 %   2.7 %    
    Expense Ratio   20.2 %   21.7 %   21.8 %    
                           
    (1) Percentages may not be replicated based on the rounded figures presented in the table.
    (2) Book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses) is defined as total shareholders’ equity, excluding the after-tax effects of unrealized gains and losses on our investment portfolio, divided by shares outstanding.
     

    Conference Call and Webcast Details

    The company will hold a conference call, which will be webcast live today, April 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be available on the company’s website, www.nationalmi.com, in the “Investor Relations” section. The conference call can also be accessed by dialing (844) 481-2708 in the U.S., or (412) 317-0664 internationally, by referencing NMI Holdings, Inc.

    About NMI Holdings, Inc.

    NMI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NMIH), is the parent company of National Mortgage Insurance Corporation (National MI), a U.S.-based, private mortgage insurance company enabling low down payment borrowers to realize home ownership while protecting lenders and investors against losses related to a borrower’s default. To learn more, please visit www.nationalmi.com.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this press release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company in connection therewith may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). The PSLRA provides a “safe harbor” for any forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this release are forward-looking statements, including any statements about our expectations, outlook, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predict,” “assume,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “perceive,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “intend” and similar words or phrases. All forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve estimates, known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may turn out to be inaccurate and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in our industry and markets. Others are more specific to our business and operations. Important factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements include, but are not limited to: changes in general economic, market and political conditions and policies (including changes in interest rates and inflation) and investment results or other conditions that affect the U.S. housing market or the U.S. markets for home mortgages, mortgage insurance, reinsurance and credit risk transfer markets, including the risk related to geopolitical instability, inflation, an economic downturn (including any decline in home prices) or recession, and their impacts on our business, operations and personnel; changes in the charters, business practices, policies, pricing or priorities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (collectively, the GSEs), which may include decisions that have the impact of decreasing or discontinuing the use of mortgage insurance as credit enhancement generally, or with first time homebuyers or on very high loan-to-value mortgages; or changes in the direction of housing policy objectives of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), such as the FHFA’s priority to increase the accessibility to and affordability of homeownership for low-and-moderate income borrowers and underrepresented communities; our ability to remain an eligible mortgage insurer under the private mortgage insurer eligibility requirements (“PMIERs”) and other requirements imposed by the GSEs, which they may change at any time; retention of our existing certificates of authority in each state and the District of Columbia (“D.C.”) and our ability to remain a mortgage insurer in good standing in each state and D.C.; our future profitability, liquidity and capital resources; actions of existing competitors, including other private mortgage insurers and government mortgage insurers such as the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and potential market entry by new competitors or consolidation of existing competitors; adoption of new or changes to existing laws, rules and regulations that impact our business or financial condition directly or the mortgage insurance industry generally or their enforcement and implementation by regulators, including the implementation of the final rules defining and/or concerning “Qualified Mortgage” and “Qualified Residential Mortgage”; U.S. federal tax reform and other potential changes in tax law and their impact on us and our operations; legislative or regulatory changes to the GSEs’ role in the secondary mortgage market or other changes that could affect the residential mortgage industry generally or mortgage insurance industry in particular; potential legal and regulatory claims, investigations, actions, audits or inquiries that could result in adverse judgements, settlements, fines or other reliefs that could require significant expenditures or have other negative effects on our business; our ability to successfully execute and implement our capital plans, including our ability to access the equity, credit and reinsurance markets and to enter into, and receive approval of, reinsurance arrangements on terms and conditions that are acceptable to us, the GSEs and our regulators; lenders, the GSEs, or other market participants seeking alternatives to private mortgage insurance; our ability to implement our business strategy, including our ability to write mortgage insurance on high quality low down payment residential mortgage loans, implement successfully and on a timely basis, complex infrastructure, systems, procedures, and internal controls to support our business and regulatory and reporting requirements of the insurance industry; our ability to attract and retain a diverse customer base, including the largest mortgage originators; failure of risk management or pricing or investment strategies; decrease in the length of time our insurance policies are in force; emergence of unexpected claim and coverage issues, including claims exceeding our reserves or amounts we had expected to experience; potential adverse impacts arising from natural disasters including, with respect to affected areas, a decline in new business, adverse effects on home prices, and an increase in notices of default on insured mortgages; climate risk and efforts to manage or regulate climate risk by government agencies could affect our business and operations; potential adverse impacts arising from the occurrence of any man-made disasters or public health emergencies, including pandemics; the inability of our counter-parties, including third party reinsurers, to meet their obligations to us; failure to maintain, improve and continue to develop necessary information technology systems or the failure of technology providers to perform; effectiveness and security of our information technology systems and digital products and services, including the risks these systems, products or services may fail to operate as expected or planned, or expose us to cybersecurity or third-party risks (including the exposure of our confidential customer and other information); and ability to recruit, train and retain key personnel. These risks and uncertainties also include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” detailed in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as subsequently updated through other reports we file with the SEC. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new information, future events or circumstances that occur after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    We believe the use of the non-GAAP measures of adjusted income before tax, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted return-on-equity, adjusted expense ratio, adjusted combined ratio and book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses) enhances the comparability of our fundamental financial performance between periods, and provides relevant information to investors. These non-GAAP financial measures align with the way the company’s business performance is evaluated by management. These measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as alternatives to GAAP measures of performance. These measures have been presented to increase transparency and enhance the comparability of our fundamental operating trends across periods. Other companies may calculate these measures differently; their measures may not be comparable to those we calculate and present.

    Adjusted income before tax is defined as GAAP income before tax, excluding the pre-tax effects of net realized gains or losses from our investment portfolio, periodic costs incurred in connection with capital markets transactions, and other infrequent, unusual or non-operating items in the periods in which such items are incurred.

    Adjusted net income is defined as GAAP net income, excluding the after-tax effects of net realized gains or losses from our investment portfolio, periodic costs incurred in connection with capital markets transactions, and other infrequent, unusual or non-operating items in the periods in which such items are incurred. Adjustments to components of pre-tax income are tax effected using the applicable federal statutory tax rate for the respective periods.

    Adjusted diluted EPS is defined as adjusted net income divided by adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding is defined as weighted average diluted shares outstanding, adjusted for changes in the dilutive effect of non-vested shares that would otherwise have occurred had GAAP net income been calculated in accordance with adjusted net income. There will be no adjustment to weighted average diluted shares outstanding in the periods that non-vested shares are anti-dilutive under GAAP.

    Adjusted return on equity is calculated by dividing adjusted net income on an annualized basis by the average shareholders’ equity for the period.

    Adjusted expense ratio is defined as GAAP underwriting and operating expenses, excluding the pre-tax effects of periodic costs incurred in connection with capital markets transactions, divided by net premiums earned.

    Adjusted combined ratio is defined as the total of GAAP underwriting and operating expenses, excluding the pre-tax effects of periodic costs incurred in connection with capital markets transactions and insurance claims and claims expenses, divided by net premiums earned.

    Book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses) is defined as total shareholders’ equity, excluding the after-tax effects of unrealized gains and losses on investments, divided by shares outstanding.

    Although adjusted income before tax, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted return-on-equity, adjusted expense ratio, adjusted combined ratio and book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses) exclude certain items that have occurred in the past and are expected to occur in the future, the excluded items: (1) are not viewed as part of the operating performance of our primary activities; or (2) are impacted by market, economic or regulatory factors and are not necessarily indicative of operating trends, or both. These adjustments, and the reasons for their treatment, are described below.

    (1) Net realized investment gains and losses. The recognition of net realized investment gains or losses can vary significantly across periods as the timing is highly discretionary and is influenced by factors such as market opportunities, tax and capital profile, and overall market cycles that do not reflect our current period operating results.

    (2) Capital markets transaction costs. Capital markets transaction costs result from activities that are undertaken to improve our debt profile or enhance our capital position through activities such as debt refinancing and capital markets reinsurance transactions that may vary in their size and timing due to factors such as market opportunities, tax and capital profile, and overall market cycles.

    (3) Other infrequent, unusual or non-operating items. Items that are the result of unforeseen or uncommon events, and are not expected to recur with frequency in the future. Identification and exclusion of these items provides clarity about the impact special or rare occurrences may have on our current financial performance. Past adjustments under this category include infrequent, unusual or non-operating adjustments related to severance, restricted stock modification and other expenses incurred in connection with the CEO transition announced in September 2021 and the effects of the release of the valuation allowance recorded against our net federal and certain state net deferred tax assets in 2016 and the re-measurement of our net deferred tax assets in connection with tax reform in 2017. We believe such items are infrequent or non-recurring in nature, and are not indicative of the performance of, or ongoing trends in, our primary operating activities or business.

    (4) Net unrealized gains and losses on investments. The recognition of net unrealized gains or losses on investment can vary significantly across periods and is influenced by factors such as interest rate movement, overall market and economic conditions, and tax and capital profiles. These valuation adjustments may not necessarily result in economic gains or losses and not reflective of ongoing operations.

    Investor Contact
    Gregory Epps
    Senior Manager, Investor Relations and Treasury
    Investor.relations@nationalmi.com

    Consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (unaudited) For the three months ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (In Thousands, except for per share data)
    Revenues      
    Net premiums earned $ 149,366     $ 136,657  
    Net investment income   23,686       19,436  
    Net realized investment gains   24       —  
    Other revenues   170       160  
    Total revenues   173,246       156,253  
    Expenses      
    Insurance claims and claim expenses   4,478       3,694  
    Underwriting and operating expenses   30,175       29,815  
    Service expenses   116       137  
    Interest expense   7,106       8,040  
    Total expenses   41,875       41,686  
           
    Income before income taxes   131,371       114,567  
    Income tax expense   28,812       25,517  
    Net income $ 102,559     $ 89,050  
           
    Earnings per share      
    Basic $ 1.31     $ 1.10  
    Diluted $ 1.28     $ 1.08  
           
    Weighted average common shares outstanding      
    Basic   78,407       80,726  
    Diluted   79,858       82,099  
           
    Loss ratio(1)   3.0 %     2.7 %
    Expense ratio(2)   20.2 %     21.8 %
    Combined ratio   23.2 %     24.5 %
           
    Net income $ 102,559     $ 89,050  
    Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:      
    Unrealized gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax expense (benefit) of $8,186 and $(2,729) for the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively   30,795       (9,905 )
    Reclassification adjustment for realized gains included in net income, net of tax expense of $5 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025   (19 )     —  
    Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax   30,776       (9,905 )
    Comprehensive income $ 133,335     $ 79,145  
                   
    (1) Loss ratio is calculated by dividing insurance claims and claim expenses by net premiums earned.
    (2) Expense ratio is calculated by dividing underwriting and operating expenses by net premiums earned.
                   
    Consolidated balance sheets (unaudited) March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
    Assets (In Thousands, except for share data)
    Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $2,923,088 and $2,876,343 as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively) $ 2,809,247     $ 2,723,541  
    Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash of $90 as of December 31, 2024)   74,209       54,308  
    Premiums receivable, net   84,153       82,804  
    Accrued investment income   23,641       22,386  
    Deferred policy acquisition costs, net   64,013       64,327  
    Software and equipment, net   24,960       25,681  
    Intangible assets and goodwill   3,634       3,634  
    Reinsurance recoverable   31,379       32,260  
    Prepaid federal income taxes   322,175       322,175  
    Other assets   18,785       18,857  
    Total assets $ 3,456,196     $ 3,349,973  
           
    Liabilities      
    Debt $ 415,606     $ 415,146  
    Unearned premiums   59,176       65,217  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   78,937       103,164  
    Reserve for insurance claims and claim expenses   151,847       152,071  
    Deferred tax liability, net   418,916       386,192  
    Other liabilities   10,143       10,751  
    Total liabilities   1,134,625       1,132,541  
           
    Shareholders’ equity      
    Common stock – $0.01 par value; 88,321,226 shares issued and 78,301,469 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and 87,902,626 shares issued and 78,600,726 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024 (250,000,000 shares authorized)   883       879  
    Additional paid-in capital   1,001,545       1,004,692  
    Treasury Stock, at cost: 10,019,757 and 9,301,900 common shares as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   (272,647 )     (246,594 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax   (94,028 )     (124,804 )
    Retained earnings   1,685,818       1,583,259  
    Total shareholders’ equity   2,321,571       2,217,432  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 3,456,196     $ 3,349,973  
                   
    Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations (unaudited)
      As of and for the three months ended
      3/31/2025   12/31/2024   3/31/2024
    As Reported (In Thousands, except for per share data)
    Revenues          
    Net premiums earned $ 149,366     $ 143,520     $ 136,657  
    Net investment income   23,686       22,718       19,436  
    Net realized investment gains   24       33       —  
    Other revenues   170       233       160  
    Total revenues   173,246       166,504       156,253  
    Expenses          
    Insurance claims and claim expenses   4,478       17,253       3,694  
    Underwriting and operating expenses   30,175       31,092       29,815  
    Service expenses   116       184       137  
    Interest expense   7,106       7,102       8,040  
    Total expenses   41,875       55,631       41,686  
               
    Income before income taxes   131,371       110,873       114,567  
    Income tax expense   28,812       24,706       25,517  
    Net income $ 102,559     $ 86,167     $ 89,050  
               
    Adjustments:          
    Net realized investment gains   (24 )     (33 )     —  
    Adjusted income before taxes   131,347       110,840       114,567  
               
    Income tax benefit on adjustments(1)   5       7       —  
    Adjusted net income $ 102,540     $ 86,141     $ 89,050  
               
    Weighted average diluted shares outstanding   79,858       80,623       82,099  
               
    Diluted EPS $ 1.28     $ 1.07     $ 1.08  
    Adjusted diluted EPS $ 1.28     $ 1.07     $ 1.08  
               
    Return on equity   18.1 %     15.6 %     18.2 %
    Adjusted return on equity   18.1 %     15.6 %     18.2 %
               
    Expense ratio(2)   20.2 %     21.7 %     21.8 %
    Adjusted expense ratio(3)   20.2 %     21.7 %     21.8 %
               
    Combined ratio(4)   23.2 %     33.7 %     24.5 %
    Adjusted combined ratio(5)   23.2 %     33.7 %     24.5 %
               
    Book value per share(6) $ 29.65     $ 28.21     $ 24.56  
    Book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses)(7) $ 30.85     $ 29.80     $ 26.42  
                           
    (1) Marginal tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments is calculated based on our statutory U.S. federal corporate income tax rate of 21%, except for those items that are not eligible for an income tax deduction.
    (2) Expense ratio is calculated by dividing underwriting and operating expenses by net premiums earned.
    (3) Adjusted expense ratio is calculated by dividing adjusted underwriting and operating expense (underwriting and operating expenses excluding costs related to capital markets reinsurance transactions) by net premiums earned.
    (4) Combined ratio is calculated by dividing the total of underwriting and operating expenses and insurance claims and claim expenses by net premiums earned.
    (5) Adjusted combined ratio is calculated by dividing the total of adjusted underwriting and operating expenses (underwriting and operating expenses excluding costs related to capital market reinsurance transaction) and insurance claims and claim expenses by net premiums earned.
    (6) Book value per share is calculated by dividing total shareholders’ equity by shares outstanding.
    (7) Book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains and losses) is defined as total shareholders’ equity, excluding the after-tax effects of unrealized gains and losses on our investment portfolio, divided by shares outstanding.
                           
    Historical Quarterly Data   2025       2024  
      March 31   December 31   September 30   June 30   March 31
      (In Thousands, except for per share data)
    Revenues                  
    Net premiums earned $ 149,366     $ 143,520     $ 143,343     $ 141,168     $ 136,657  
    Net investment income   23,686       22,718       22,474       20,688       19,436  
    Net realized investment gains (losses)   24       33       (10 )     —       —  
    Other revenues   170       233       285       266       160  
    Total revenues   173,246       166,504       166,092       162,122       156,253  
    Expenses                  
    Insurance claims and claim expenses   4,478       17,253       10,321       276       3,694  
    Underwriting and operating expenses   30,175       31,092       29,160       28,330       29,815  
    Service expenses   116       184       208       194       137  
    Interest expense   7,106       7,102       7,076       14,678       8,040  
    Total expenses   41,875       55,631       46,765       43,478       41,686  
                       
    Income before income taxes   131,371       110,873       119,327       118,644       114,567  
    Income tax expense   28,812       24,706       26,517       26,565       25,517  
    Net income $ 102,559     $ 86,167     $ 92,810     $ 92,079     $ 89,050  
                       
    Earnings per share                  
    Basic $ 1.31     $ 1.09     $ 1.17     $ 1.15     $ 1.10  
    Diluted $ 1.28     $ 1.07     $ 1.15     $ 1.13     $ 1.08  
                       
    Weighted average common shares outstanding                  
    Basic   78,407       78,997       79,549       80,117       80,726  
    Diluted   79,858       80,623       81,045       81,300       82,099  
                       
    Other data                  
    Loss ratio(1)   3.0 %     12.0 %     7.2 %     0.2 %     2.7 %
    Expense ratio(2)   20.2 %     21.7 %     20.3 %     20.1 %     21.8 %
    Combined ratio   23.2 %     33.7 %     27.5 %     20.3 %     24.5 %
                                           
    (1) Loss ratio is calculated by dividing insurance claims and claim expenses by net premiums earned.
    (2) Expense ratio is calculated by dividing underwriting and operating expenses by net premiums earned.
                                           

    Portfolio Statistics

    The table below highlights trends in our primary portfolio as of the date and for the periods indicated.

    Primary portfolio trends As of and for the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
      ($ Values In Millions, except as noted below)
    New insurance written (NIW) $ 9,221     $ 11,925     $ 12,218     $ 12,503     $ 9,398  
    New risk written   2,428       3,134       3,245       3,335       2,486  
    Insurance-in-force (IIF)(1)   211,308       210,183       207,538       203,501       199,373  
    Risk-in-force (RIF)(1)   56,515       56,113       55,253       53,956       52,610  
    Policies in force (count)(1)   661,490       659,567       654,374       645,276       635,662  
    Average loan size($ value in thousands)(1) $ 319     $ 319     $ 317     $ 315     $ 314  
    Coverage percentage(2)   26.7 %     26.7 %     26.6 %     26.5 %     26.4 %
    Loans in default (count)(1)   6,859       6,642       5,712       4,904       5,109  
    Default rate(1)   1.04 %     1.01 %     0.87 %     0.76 %     0.80 %
    Risk-in-force on defaulted loans(1) $ 567     $ 545     $ 468     $ 401     $ 414  
    Average net premium yield(3)   0.28 %     0.27 %     0.28 %     0.28 %     0.28 %
    Earnings from cancellations $ 0.6     $ 0.8     $ 0.8     $ 1.0     $ 0.6  
    Annual persistency(4)   84.3 %     84.6 %     85.5 %     85.4 %     85.8 %
    Quarterly run-off(5)   3.9 %     4.5 %     4.0 %     4.2 %     3.6 %
                                           
    (1) Reported as of the end of the period.
    (2) Calculated as end of period RIF divided by end of period IIF.
    (3) Calculated as net premiums earned, divided by average primary IIF for the period, annualized.
    (4) Defined as the percentage of IIF that remains on our books after a given twelve-month period.
    (5) Defined as the percentage of IIF that is no longer on our books after a given three-month period.
                                           

    NIW, IIF and Premiums

    The tables below present NIW and primary IIF, as of the dates and for the periods indicated.

    NIW For the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    Monthly $ 9,049   $ 11,688   $ 11,978   $ 12,288   $ 9,175
    Single   172     237     240     215     223
    Total $ 9,221   $ 11,925   $ 12,218   $ 12,503   $ 9,398
                                 
    Primary IIF As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    Monthly $ 193,856   $ 192,228   $ 189,241   $ 184,862   $ 180,343
    Single   17,452     17,955     18,297     18,639     19,030
    Total $ 211,308   $ 210,183   $ 207,538   $ 203,501   $ 199,373
                                 

            The following table presents the amounts related to the company’s quota-share reinsurance transactions (the 2016 QSR Transaction, 2018 QSR Transaction, 2020 QSR Transaction, 2021 QSR Transaction, 2022 QSR Transaction, 2022 Seasoned QSR Transaction, 2023 QSR Transaction, 2024 QSR Transaction, and 2025 QSR Transaction and collectively, the QSR Transactions), insurance-linked note transactions (the 2021-1 ILN Transaction, and 2021-2 ILN Transaction and collectively, the ILN Transactions), and traditional reinsurance transactions (the 2022-1 XOL Transaction, 2022-2 XOL Transaction, 2022-3 XOL Transaction, 2023-1 XOL Transaction, 2023-2 XOL Transaction, 2024 XOL Transaction, and 2025 XOL Transaction and collectively, the XOL Transactions) for the periods indicated.

      For the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Thousands)
    The QSR Transactions                  
    Ceded risk-in-force $ 12,888,870     $ 13,024,200     $ 12,968,039     $ 12,815,434     $ 12,669,207  
    Ceded premiums earned   (41,011 )     (41,596 )     (41,761 )     (41,555 )     (41,269 )
    Ceded claims and claim expenses (benefits)   523       4,075       2,449       (138 )     659  
    Ceding commission earned   9,768       9,997       10,152       10,222       10,292  
    Profit commission   23,398       20,149       21,883       24,351       23,407  
    The ILN Transactions(1)                  
    Ceded premiums $ (3,311 )   $ (4,217 )   $ (4,302 )   $ (5,858 )   $ (5,976 )
    The XOL Transactions                  
    Ceded Premiums $ (10,168 )   $ (9,969 )   $ (9,760 )   $ (9,403 )   $ (9,223 )
                                           
    (1) Effective July 25, 2024 and December 27, 2024, NMIC exercised its optional termination rights to terminate and commute its previously outstanding excess-of-loss reinsurance agreements with Oaktown Re III Ltd. and Oaktown Re V Ltd., respectively. In connection with the terminations and commutations, the insurance-linked notes issued by Oaktown Re III Ltd. and Oaktown Re V Ltd. were redeemed in full with a distribution of remaining collateral assets.
                                           

    The tables below present our total NIW by FICO, loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and purchase/refinance mix for the periods indicated.

    NIW by FICO For the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    >= 760 $ 4,971   $ 6,508   $ 4,888
    740-759   1,753     2,090     1,797
    720-739   1,177     1,621     1,220
    700-719   665     890     780
    680-699   413     575     530
    <=679   242     241     183
    Total $ 9,221   $ 11,925   $ 9,398
    Weighted average FICO   758     758     757
                     
    NIW by LTV For the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    95.01% and above $ 1,147     $ 1,510     $ 1,062  
    90.01% to 95.00%   4,274       5,370       4,414  
    85.01% to 90.00%   2,751       3,740       2,931  
    85.00% and below   1,049       1,305       991  
    Total $ 9,221     $ 11,925     $ 9,398  
    Weighted average LTV   92.2 %     92.1 %     92.3 %
                           
    NIW by purchase/refinance mix For the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    Purchase $ 8,822   $ 10,799   $ 9,157
    Refinance   399     1,126     241
    Total $ 9,221   $ 11,925   $ 9,398
                     

    The table below presents a summary of our primary IIF and RIF by book year as of March 31, 2025.

    Primary IIF and RIF As of March 31, 2025
      IIF   RIF
    Book Year (In Millions)
    2025 $ 9,152   $ 2,409
    2024   42,379     11,242
    2023   33,286     8,789
    2022   46,203     12,356
    2021   48,162     13,049
    2020 and before   32,126     8,670
    Total $ 211,308   $ 56,515
               

            The tables below present our total primary IIF and RIF by FICO and LTV, and total primary RIF by loan type as of the dates indicated.

    Primary IIF by FICO As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    >= 760 $ 106,004   $ 105,315   $ 99,195
    740-759   37,716     37,321     35,416
    720-739   29,430     29,343     28,033
    700-719   19,737     19,766     18,904
    680-699   13,324     13,374     13,002
    <=679   5,097     5,064     4,823
    Total $ 211,308   $ 210,183   $ 199,373
                     
    Primary RIF by FICO As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    >= 760 $ 28,117   $ 27,883   $ 25,935
    740-759   10,132     10,006     9,392
    720-739   7,966     7,926     7,484
    700-719   5,384     5,383     5,089
    680-699   3,610     3,615     3,479
    <=679   1,306     1,300     1,231
    Total $ 56,515   $ 56,113   $ 52,610
                     
    Primary IIF by LTV As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    95.01% and above $ 24,167   $ 23,555   $ 20,277
    90.01% to 95.00%   104,312     103,472     97,028
    85.01% to 90.00%   64,298     64,290     61,169
    85.00% and below   18,531     18,866     20,899
    Total $ 211,308   $ 210,183   $ 199,373
                     
    Primary RIF by LTV As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    95.01% and above $ 7,546   $ 7,345   $ 6,275
    90.01% to 95.00%   30,804     30,563     28,663
    85.01% to 90.00%   15,957     15,956     15,174
    85.00% and below   2,208     2,249     2,498
    Total $ 56,515   $ 56,113   $ 52,610
                     
    Primary RIF by Loan Type As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
    Fixed 98 %   98 %   98 %
    Adjustable rate mortgages:          
    Less than five years —     —     —  
    Five years and longer 2     2     2  
    Total 100 %   100 %   100 %
                     

    The table below presents a summary of the change in total primary IIF for the dates and periods indicated.

    Primary IIF As of and for the three months ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Millions)
    IIF, beginning of period $ 210,183     $ 207,538     $ 197,029  
    NIW   9,221       11,925       9,398  
    Cancellations, principal repayments and other reductions   (8,096 )     (9,280 )     (7,054 )
    IIF, end of period $ 211,308     $ 210,183     $ 199,373  
                           

    Geographic Dispersion

    The following table shows the distribution by state of our primary RIF as of the periods indicated.

    Top 10 primary RIF by state As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
    California 10.1 %   10.1 %   10.2 %
    Texas 8.5     8.6     8.8  
    Florida 7.3     7.3     7.5  
    Georgia 4.1     4.1     4.2  
    Washington 3.9     3.9     3.9  
    Illinois 3.8     3.8     3.9  
    Virginia 3.7     3.7     3.9  
    Pennsylvania 3.4     3.4     3.4  
    Ohio 3.3     3.3     3.0  
    North Carolina 3.2     3.2     3.1  
    Total 51.3 %   51.4 %   51.9 %
                     

    The table below presents selected primary portfolio statistics, by book year, as of March 31, 2025.

      As of March 31, 2025    
    Book Year Original Insurance Written   Remaining Insurance in Force   % Remaining of Original Insurance   Policies Ever in Force   Number of Policies in Force   Number of Loans in Default   # of Claims Paid   Incurred Loss Ratio (Inception to Date)(1)   Cumulative Default Rate(2)   Current default rate(3)
      ($ Values In Millions)    
    2016 and prior $ 37,222   $ 2,133   6 %   151,615   11,572   237   398   2.1 %   0.4 %   2.0 %
    2017   21,582     1,753   8 %   85,897   10,007   263   189   1.8 %   0.5 %   2.6 %
    2018   27,295     2,306   8 %   104,043   12,534   403   191   2.6 %   0.6 %   3.2 %
    2019   45,141     5,923   13 %   148,423   26,358   509   99   2.1 %   0.4 %   1.9 %
    2020   62,702     20,011   32 %   186,174   70,620   575   57   1.3 %   0.3 %   0.8 %
    2021   85,574     48,162   56 %   257,972   160,946   1,704   95   3.3 %   0.7 %   1.1 %
    2022   58,734     46,203   79 %   163,281   135,610   2,014   112   16.2 %   1.3 %   1.5 %
    2023   40,473     33,286   82 %   111,994   96,394   836   17   14.0 %   0.8 %   0.9 %
    2024   46,044     42,379   92 %   120,747   113,636   318   —   7.9 %   0.3 %   0.3 %
    2025   9,221     9,152   99 %   23,956   23,813   —   —   — %   — %   — %
    Total $ 433,988   $ 211,308       1,354,102   661,490   6,859   1,158            
                                               
    (1) Calculated as total claims incurred (paid and reserved) divided by cumulative premiums earned, net of reinsurance.
    (2) Calculated as the sum of the number of claims paid ever to date and number of loans in default divided by policies ever in force.
    (3) Calculated as the number of loans in default divided by number of policies in force.
                                               

    The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending reserve balances for insurance claims and claim expenses:

      For the three months ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (In Thousands)
    Beginning balance $ 152,071     $ 123,974  
    Less reinsurance recoverables(1)   (32,260 )     (27,514 )
    Beginning balance, net of reinsurance recoverables   119,811       96,460  
           
    Add claims incurred:      
    Claims and claim expenses incurred:      
    Current year(2)   34,559       32,976  
    Prior years(3)   (30,081 )     (29,282 )
    Total claims and claim expenses incurred   4,478       3,694  
           
    Less claims paid:      
    Claims and claim expenses paid:      
    Current year(2)   —       —  
    Prior years(3)   4,076       852  
    Reinsurance terminations(4)   (255 )     —  
    Total claims and claim expenses paid   3,821       852  
           
    Reserve at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables   120,468       99,302  
    Add reinsurance recoverables(1)   31,379       27,880  
    Ending balance $ 151,847     $ 127,182  
                   
    (1) Related to ceded losses recoverable under the QSR Transactions.
    (2) Related to insured loans with their most recent defaults occurring in the current year. For example, if a loan defaulted in a prior year and subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, the default would be included in the current year. Amounts are presented net of reinsurance and included $25.9 million attributed to net case reserves and $8.1 million attributed to net IBNR reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and $25.9 million attributed to net case reserves and $6.6 million attributed to net IBNR reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
    (3) Related to insured loans with defaults occurring in prior years, which have been continuously in default before the start of the current year. Amounts are presented net of reinsurance and included $21.8 million attributed to net case reserves and $8.1 million attributed to net IBNR reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and $22.4 million attributed to net case reserves and $6.3 million attributed to net IBNR reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
    (4) Represents the settlement of reinsurance recoverables in conjunction with the termination of one reinsurer under the 2016, 2018 and 2021 QSR Transactions by mutual agreement on a cut-off basis with no termination fee.
     

    The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending count of loans in default:

      For the three months ended March 31,
      2025     2024  
    Beginning default inventory 6,642     5,099  
    Plus: new defaults 2,421     1,876  
    Less: cures (2,094 )   (1,817 )
    Less: claims paid (95 )   (42 )
    Less: rescission and claims denied (15 )   (7 )
    Ending default inventory 6,859     5,109  
               

    The following table provides details of our claims paid, before giving effect to claims ceded under the QSR Transactions, for the periods indicated:

      For the three months ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
      ($ Values In Thousands)
    Number of claims paid(1)   95       42  
    Total amount paid for claims $ 5,225     $ 1,145  
    Average amount paid per claim $ 55     $ 27  
    Severity(2)   69 %     54 %
                   
    (1) Count includes 20 and 16 claims settled without payment during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
    (2) Severity represents the total amount of claims paid including claim expenses divided by the related RIF on the loan at the time the claim is perfected, and is calculated including claims settled without payment.
                   

    The following table shows our average reserve per default, before giving effect to reserves ceded under the QSR Transactions, as of the dates indicated:

      As of March 31,
    Average reserve per default:   2025     2024
      (In Thousands)
    Case(1) $ 20.3   $ 22.9
    IBNR(1)(2)   1.8     2.0
    Total $ 22.1   $ 24.9
               
    (1) Defined as the gross reserve per insured loan in default.
    (2) Amount includes claims adjustment expenses.
               

     The following table provides a comparison of the PMIERs available assets and net risk-based required asset amount as reported by NMIC as of the dates indicated:

      As of
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
      (In Thousands)
    Available assets $ 3,230,653   $ 3,108,211   $ 2,821,803
    Net risk-based required assets   1,867,414     1,828,807     1,561,655
                     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oxbridge / SurancePlus to Speak During TOKEN2049 Dubai at THE GREAT GATHER – Day 2

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: OXBR) (“Oxbridge Re”), together with its subsidiary SurancePlus, is engaged in the tokenization of Real-World Assets (“RWAs”), initially with tokenized reinsurance securities and in providing reinsurance solutions to property and casualty insurers in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. The company today announced that its CEO and Chairman, Jay Madhu, will participate in a featured panel discussion at THE GREAT GATHER – DAY 2 hosted by DNA Fund & IBC Ventures during TOKEN2049 Dubai.

    Panel: A Deep Dive into How Traditional Finance Players Are Navigating and Embracing Tokenization
    Date: Thursday, May 1st, 2025
    Time: 4:00PM – 4:30PM (GST)
    Location: DNA House Dubai: Gigi Rigolatto Dubai, J1 Beach – Jumeirah 1 – Dubai, UAE

    Panelists:

    • Jay Madhu (Oxbridge / SurancePlus)
    • Fahmi Syed (Input Output / Midnight)
    • Jake O. (BitGo)

    THE GREAT GATHER – DAY 2

    THE GREAT GATHER is one of the most talked about events of TOKEN2049, bringing together top-tier projects, titans, influencers and investors shaping the future of finance, Web3, AI and tech. Hosted at DNA House with partners Mario Nawfal, Midnight, Zeebu and Multibank, this powerhouse gathering offers two days of premier programming, connections and deal-making opportunities.

    Jay Madhu, CEO of Oxbridge, commented, “We look forward to joining this distinguished panel at THE GREAT GATHER – Day 2 during TOKEN2049 Dubai to showcase how Oxbridge / SurancePlus are democratizing reinsurance and expanding access to high-yield, uncorrelated investment opportunities through Web3 innovation.”

    Investors can participate directly in SurancePlus offerings:

    Learn more and invest at SurancePlus.com/invest

    Meet Oxbridge / SurancePlus THE GREAT GATHER – Day 2

    Investors and potential partners interested in Oxbridge and SurancePlus’ tokenized reinsurance offerings are encouraged to connect with the team during the event. Contact details are provided below.

    Disclaimer: This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the EtaCat Re or ZetaCat Re tokenized reinsurance securities (the “Securities”). The Securities are not required to be, and have not been, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on the exemptions provided by Regulation S and SEC Rule 506(c) thereunder. Offers and sales of the Securities are made only by, and pursuant to, the terms set forth in the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum relating to the Securities. The offering of the Securities is not being made to persons in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky, or other laws of such jurisdiction.

    About Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited 

    Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: OXBR, OXBRW) (“Oxbridge”) is headquartered in the Cayman Islands. The company offers tokenized Real-World Assets (“RWAs”) as tokenized reinsurance securities and reinsurance business solutions to property and casualty insurers, through its wholly owned subsidiaries SurancePlus Inc., Oxbridge Re NS, and Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited.

    Insurance businesses in the Gulf Coast region of the United States purchase property and casualty reinsurance through our licensed reinsurers Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited and Oxbridge Re NS.

    Our Web3-focused subsidiary, SurancePlus Inc. (“SurancePlus”), has developed the first “on-chain” reinsurance RWA of its kind to be sponsored by a subsidiary of a publicly traded company. By digitizing interests in reinsurance contracts as on-chain RWAs, SurancePlus has democratized the availability of reinsurance as an alternative investment to both U.S. and non-U.S. investors. 

    Company Contact:
    Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited
    Jay Madhu, CEO
    +1 345-749-7570
    jmadhu@oxbridgere.com

    About Midnight

    The Midnight Network is a data protection blockchain pioneering the use of zero-knowledge technology to empower organizations that stand to benefit from the decentralized web. Midnight is one of the first blockchains to offer programmable data protection by leveraging zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to provide selective disclosure for sensitive data. It is designed to help app developers meet regulatory requirements. Midnight is set to launch as the first partner chain of Cardano, benefiting from the network’s decentralization and security from day one.

    About BitGo:

    BitGo is the leading infrastructure provider of digital asset solutions, delivering custody, wallets, staking, trading, financing, and settlement services from regulated cold storage. Since our founding in 2013, we have focused on enabling our clients to securely navigate the digital asset space. With a large global presence through multiple regulated entities, BitGo serves thousands of institutions, including many of the industry’s top brands, exchanges, and platforms, as well as millions of retail investors worldwide. As the operational backbone of the digital economy, BitGo handles a significant portion of Bitcoin network transactions and is the largest independent digital asset custodian, and staking provider, in the world. For more information, visit www.bitgo.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on 26th March 2024. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, even if the Company’s expectations or any related events, conditions or circumstances change.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SuRo Capital Corp. to Report First Quarter 2025 Financial Results on Tuesday, May 6, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SuRo Capital Corp. (“SuRo Capital”) (Nasdaq: SSSS) today announced that it will report its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 after the close of the U.S. market on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

    Management will hold a conference call and webcast for investors at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). The conference call access number for U.S. participants is 866-580-3963, and the conference call access number for participants outside the U.S. is +1 786-697-3501. The conference ID number for both access numbers is 6883588. Additionally, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the call from the “Investor Relations” section of SuRo Capital’s website at www.surocap.com. An archived replay of the webcast will also be available for 12 months following the live presentation.

    A replay of the conference call may be accessed until 5:00 p.m. PT (8:00 p.m. ET) on May 13, 2025 by dialing 866-583-1035 (U.S.) or +44 (0) 20 3451 9993 (International) and using conference ID number 6883588.

    About SuRo Capital Corp.

    SuRo Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: SSSS) is a publicly traded investment fund that seeks to invest in high-growth, venture-backed private companies. The fund seeks to create a portfolio of high-growth emerging private companies via a repeatable and disciplined investment approach, as well as to provide investors with access to such companies through its publicly traded common stock. Since inception, SuRo Capital has served as the public’s gateway to venture capital, offering unique access to some of the world’s most innovative and sought-after private companies before they become publicly traded. SuRo Capital’s diverse portfolio encompasses high-growth sectors including AI infrastructure, emerging consumer brands, and cutting-edge software solutions for both consumer and enterprise markets, among others. SuRo Capital is headquartered in New York, NY and has offices in San Francisco, CA. Connect with the company on X, LinkedIn, and at www.surocap.com.

    Contact
    SuRo Capital Corp.
    (212) 931-6331
    IR@surocap.com

    Media Contact
    Deborah Kostroun
    Zito Partners
    SuRoCapitalPR@zitopartners.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bilirakis Bill to Protect Consumers Passes Out of House of Representatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

    WASHINGTON:  This week, the TICKET Act, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) passed the House.  It will improve transparency in the entertainment industry by requiring all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price—including all required fees—upfront, provide refunds for cancelled or postponed events, and protect consumers from deceptive ticketing websites. The TICKET Act mirrors current advertising guidelines for airline tickets, requiring that consumers can see the full price of the ticket before purchasing. This ensures that when American consumers are buying tickets (for concerts, theater, sporting events, etc.), they have full transparency throughout the process. Studies by the New York Attorney General’s office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) show that fees can contribute anywhere from 21% to as much as 58% of the total cost of tickets.

    “There is nothing more disappointing for an avid fan than being lured into the prospect of an affordable ticket to see his or her favorite sports team or band only to learn later in the check-out process that the final price tag is significantly higher.  Our pro-consumer bill brings much needed transparency to the whole ticketing industry, and I’m committed to working towards reforms that protect consumers and provide certainty in the marketplace,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “I appreciate my colleagues’ support of this bill in the House and urge the Senate to expedite its final passage.” 

    “Fans are incredibly frustrated by how hard it has become to buy event tickets. With every ticketing debacle, from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, to more recently with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, and so many more, their frustration grows,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “By introducing the bipartisan TICKET Act, we are proud to be responding to the voices of so many fans to make this process easier and more transparent. Consumers deserve to be protected from fraudulent tickets, surprise costs, and excessive fees.”

    Specifically, the TICKET Act requires all event ticket sellers, including primary and secondary market event ticket sellers to:

    1. Show consumers the total price of an event ticket upfront, inclusive of all fees
    2. Ban the sale of a ticket that a seller does not have (“speculative ticketing”)
    3. Guarantee refunds for event cancellations
    4. Guarantee replacement tickets or a refund, whichever the consumer chooses, for event postponements
    5. Protect consumers from fraudulent ticketing websites with clear disclosures and no deceptive URLs

    A bipartisan companion of the TICKET Act is being championed in the United States Senate by Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Ed Markey (D-MA). Click here to listen to Congressman Bilirakis speak in support of his bill on the House Floor.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Black style and resistance: The Met Gala, dandyism and blackface in Canada

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Cheryl Thompson, Canada Research Chair, Professor in Performance, Toronto Metropolitan University

    In her groundbreaking book, Canada and the Blackface Atlantic: Performing Slavery, Conflict and Freedom, 1812-1897, Cheryl Thompson, professor of performance at Toronto Metropolitan University, maps the transnational flow of minstrel culture and racial ideologies, revealing how blackface performance — and the racism it reflects — was not strictly an American phenomenon.

    In this interview with The Conversation Canada, Thompson shares some of her ideas on performance, politics and race, including this year’s Met Gala.

    Your book uses the term ‘Blackface Atlantic.’ Can you explain what that means, and how Canada fits into that history?

    Traditionally, when we talk about Atlantic world studies, we’re usually focused on the United States, the Caribbean, maybe parts of Europe. Canada is not often considered to be part of conversation. But blackface performance/minstrelsy was actually one of the first forms of entertainment that travelled across the Atlantic. It started in the U.S., moved to Britain and then landed in Canada. That means many of the same cultural and political issues we associate with the United States — racism, segregation, white supremacy — have been part of Canada’s narrative too, from the beginning.

    Book cover of ‘Canada and the Blackface Atlantic: Performing Slavery, Conflict and Freedom, 1812-1897’
    Wilfrid Laurier University Press

    The book draws on Paul Gilroy’s concept of the “Black Atlantic.” He defined this not just as a geographic space shaped by European colonization and Black servitude and resistance, but as an ideological space, too. Gilroy articulated how Black people disidentified with western ideas of nationhood, citizenship and freedom to forge new ways of imagining their identities and futures.

    Canada and the Blackface Atlantic asks us to stop seeing Canada as a self-contained nation-state. It places Canada within an Atlantic world context where race was traded as a currency in terms of slavery but also on the theatrical stage where it was performed. On stage, “Blackness” became a way for white audiences to make sense of Black people as performing subjects without having to contend with Black people as real political agents.

    Why do you think Canada’s role in the history of blackface performance has been so overlooked?

    I think it’s partly because writing about blackface requires such a multidisciplinary understanding of different disciplines, multiple points of view, historically and geographically disparate people and places. While as an academic, I have sometimes been discouraged from positioning myself in “too many” disciplines, my training across disciplines helped me to see the throughline in the story.

    And that throughline is about race, but also the building of cities and towns, migration and immigration, visual culture and print culture, theatre and performance.

    I also believe it has been overlooked because many white Canadian academics simply do not talk about or examine issues related to race. It’s not something they are comfortable with in the context of Canada, and to research blackface requires that you confront race and white supremacy head-on.

    And because discussions of race in Canada are still taboo in some circles, blackface remains a topic that is largely ignored or minimized.

    I think my work is changing this pattern, and my book will help to open people’s minds to a topic that has long been avoided in Canadian cultural conversations. These conversations have already been happening for decades in the U.S. and the U.K. and elsewhere.

    The Met’s big show and gala this year focuses on Black Style and dandyism as powerful forms of self expression and resistance. How do you think fashion can help challenge racist narratives?

    I love that the Met is thinking about questions of race and style, because Black dandyism is so intertwined with the question of Black freedom. What shows like this do is remind the public of how Black communities have historically used expression as a means to exercise their own agency. In the absence of political agency, Black men, in particular, used style to assert their autonomy. Clothing, hair, etc., were the few sartorial elements that could not be sanctioned or denied to Black people even if other aspects of life were restricted or denied. I think at this moment these conversations are so timely given the renewed restrictions being placed on Black, racialized, LGBTQIA+ people under the Trump administration. The Black dandy says unequivocally that we’re here, and we’re showing up to be seen. It’s a powerful statement that contradicts the deficit model that is often placed onto Black bodies as being in states of lack, and disempowerment.

    What are some of the most surprising or revealing sources you uncovered in your research?

    I was truly surprised about how much of the book required me to understand American history as it intersected with Canadian history.

    For example: the songs that came out of the War of 1812 became some of the first popular songs in America. Communities in Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick were conflicted in their allegiance to the North and South during the American Civil War. There were a lot of Confederate sympathizers in Montréal and New Brunswick. All that really surprised me because that’s not history that we learn about in school.

    I was also surprised by the number of Canadians who became stars on the American minstrel stage. There was Toronto-born Colin “Cool” Burgess (1840–1905) who performed in blackface on stages across Canada, the U.S. and Britain. There was Québec-born Calixa Lavallée (1842–91), who would become best known as the composer of “Chant national” (“O Canada”), a song he wrote after performing across the U.S., and as a blackface minstrel musician for the Union Army during the Civil War. These two figures have been written about before, but authors often excused or tried to minimize their participation in minstrel shows. It’s likely because there are no pictures.

    What I’ve been surprised about most is how so much of this history has been hidden in plain sight. The book reflects my ability to make connections, explain complex narratives across time and space, and to intertwine narratives that have, before now, been kept separate. It was quite a feat!

    Cheryl Thompson receives funding from Social Science Humanities Research Council and the Canada Research Chair Program.

    – ref. Black style and resistance: The Met Gala, dandyism and blackface in Canada – https://theconversation.com/black-style-and-resistance-the-met-gala-dandyism-and-blackface-in-canada-253604

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Holy Buddha Relic of Sarnath for Exposition to Vietnam will arrive at National Museum

    Source: Government of India

    The Holy Buddha Relic of Sarnath for Exposition to Vietnam will arrive at National Museum

    Holy Relic will be transported to Ho Chi Minh City by a special aircraft on 1st May 2025

    High level delegation will be led by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Minister of Minority Affairs

    Posted On: 29 APR 2025 6:39PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) New Delhi will be holding for the   first time an exposition of the sacred Buddha Relic of Sarnath at Vietnam during the gala celebrations of the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak 2025. 

    The Holy Relic will be ceremonially brought to Delhi on April 30, 2025, amidst prayers from Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, (monastery) in Sarnath to the Varanasi airport. The Vihara is enshrined with the sacred relics of Sakyamuni Buddha. It was built by Angarika Dharmapala, who was the founder of Mahabodhi society and is still maintained and run by the Mahabodhi Society.

    Upon reaching Delhi the Holy Relic will be placed in a special protected enclosure at the National Museum for prayers, chanting and meditation by the followers of Dhamma, including eminent members of the community and the diplomatic representatives from the Buddhist countries at 5.30 pm on April 30, 2025.

    The following day, May 1, 2025, the Holy Relic of the Buddha will be transported from the National Museum with great reverence escorted by senior monks with full religious sanctity and protocol to Ho Chi Minh City by a special Indian Air Force aircraft.

    A high-level delegation from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) led by Secretary General Ven. Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, including member of the Governing Council are attending the Holy Exposition ceremonies and the Vesak celebrations in Vietnam. The delegation will be led by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Minister of Minority Affairs.

    The Holy Relics of the Buddha enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara were excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, a prominent site in Andhra Pradesh. It holds historical significance as a major centre of Mahayana Buddhism and is associated with the monk, philosopher Nagarjuna of second century CE. These were worshiped and venerated for ages since the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. A.H. Longhurst, the then superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted full scale excavation from 1927-31; most of the monuments at the site were constructed in third-fourth century CE; remains of more than thirty Buddhist establishments were found here. Inscription date the oldest great Stupa around 246 CE but archaeologist say the Stupa could be older.

    After the excavations they were presented to the Mahabodhi Society of India on December 27, 1932, by Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahni, Director General of ASI, on behalf of H.E. the Viceroy of India before a distinguished gathering of Buddhists. Every year on the foundation day of the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara which is celebrated in the month of November, when thousands of people from different parts of the world come to Sarnath.

    The sacred Relic will be ceremoniously enshrined, venerated, and worshiped at the following important sites; At Hanh Tâm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh city from May 2–8, 2025 (coinciding with the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025); next at the Bà Đen Mountain, Tây Ninh Province from May 9–13, 2025 (Southern Vietnam’s national spiritual pilgrimage site); from here the sacred Relic will be placed for exposition at Quán Sứ Monastery, Hanoi from May 14–18, 2025 (Headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha), and finally at Tam Chúc Monastery, Hà Nam Province from May 18–21, 2025 (the largest Buddhist centre in Southeast Asia).

    The important exposition coincides with the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak 2025 as it is being celebrated in Vietnam, an opportunity for not only the citizens of Vietnam to seek blessings of the Holy Relic but also the international delegates from over 100 countries and regions who would be participating in the Vesak Day celebrations.

    Every year, since the passing of the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly on 15th December 1999, the thrice-sacred day of Vesak (celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha Gautama) has been celebrated internationally. The International Day of Vesak was celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the first time in 2000. This had inspired annual celebrations of the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) by international Buddhist communities.

    The International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV) has held a Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council since 2013. The main theme for the UNDV 2025 Celebrations and Academic Conference will be “Buddhist Approach to Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development,” at Vietnam Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City, Sunworld Buddhist Cultural Centre, Tay Ninh Province.

    Exhibitions on the Buddha Dhamma

    On the occasion International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will also be hosting three exhibitions on the dissemination of Buddha Dhamma and its cultural practices from India to Vietnam. These are and electronic display of Jataka tales; the sculptures depicting different forms of the Buddha; and a comparative study of Buddhist artefacts from India and Vietnam.

    The analysis draws on a variety of resources to deepen understanding of this rich cultural exchange, including epigraphic inscriptions, historical texts, and visual artifacts. This multifaceted approach aims to provide a comprehensive narrative of the evolution of Buddha Dhamma in Vietnam, reflecting its profound impact on art, spirituality, and cultural identity throughout history.

    The highlight is a display of the digital restoration of the Ajanta Cave murals, illuminating the ancient Jataka Kathas. The IBC, in collaboration with the Prasad Pawar Foundation of Pune will unveil 8 panels and exhibit on separate TV screens showcasing the digital restoration process of the famous Bodhisattva Padmapani, a mural painting dating from the late 5th century. The mural is in Cave 1 of the Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, and it reflects the beauty and classical sophistication of the arts of India’s Gupta dynasty.

    The exhibition invites visitors to walk among visions of Bodhisattvas and celestial beings, as ancient narratives gently unfold. These tales remind us that compassion knows no borders, wisdom belongs to all, and peace is born from the shared dignity of every living being.

     

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    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAM! India’s first national initiative dedicated to nurturing, and promoting original Indian IPs in anime, manga, webtoons, and cosplay will culminate at WAVES 2025

    Source: Government of India

    WAM! India’s first national initiative dedicated to nurturing, and promoting original Indian IPs in anime, manga, webtoons, and cosplay will culminate at WAVES 2025

    WAVES WAM! finalists to benefit from a Creator Development Grant to nurture and empower the talented creators

    Posted On: 29 APR 2025 4:37PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai, 29 April 2025

     

    After months of regional contests and thousands of entries, finalists from 11 cities across India have been selected to take part in the WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) national finale to be held in the World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, from May 1–4, 2025.

    WAM!, organized by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI), is India’s first national initiative dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and promoting original Indian IPs in anime, manga, webtoons, and cosplay. These creative pursuits and their creators, who made it to the final round, will get a great exposure in the landmark initiative WAVES 2025 which will bring together global leaders, innovators, studios, and creators to foster India’s creative economy. WAVES which is being held with a vision of “Create in India, Create for the World”, aims to empower Indian creators to dream bigger and reach global audiences. WAVES is India’s biggest platform for the AVGC-XR sector-Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality. At the center of WAVES is the Create in India Challenges (CIC). Season 1 of CIC has made history with around 1 lakh registrations, including 1,100 international participants. After a detailed selection process, 750+ finalists have been chosen from 32 unique challenges.

    In a significant boost to India’s budding creators, Crunchyroll, the global anime brand fueling fans’ passion and love of anime, has joined WAM! (WAVES Anime & Manga Contest) 2025 as the Title Sponsor. Crunchyball has introduced a Creator Development Grant to nurture and empower the winners of WAM! 2025. This grant aims to support emerging artists and storytellers in anime, manga, and webtoon fields as they develop original intellectual properties (IPs) for global audiences.

    Creator Development Grant details are as follows:

    • Manga (Student Category) — INR 25,000
    • Manga (Professional Category) — INR 25,000
    • Webtoon (Student Category) — INR 25,000
    • Webtoon (Professional Category) — INR 25,000
    • Anime (Student Category) — INR 50,000
    • Anime (Professional Category) — INR 50,000

    In addition, Crunchyroll will extend its support to Team India, the winners of the WAM! 2025 Finale, as they represent the country at Anime Japan 2026, the world’s premier anime exhibition in Tokyo. This backing will help showcase India’s original creative talents on the global stage.  Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

    About WAVES:

    The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

    Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

    WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

    Have questions? Find answers here

    Stay updated with the latest announcements from PIB Team WAVES

     

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    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Sriyanka/ Darshana | 115

    Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Labour & Employment signs MoU with Rapido in Presence of Union Ministers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Labour & Employment signs MoU with Rapido in Presence of Union Ministers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje

    MoU to Enhance Logistics Employment Opportunities on NCS and Create Over 50 Lakh Livelihoods Opportunities in 1-2 years

    Posted On: 29 APR 2025 7:45PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Labour & Employment and Rapido signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi today, marking a significant step toward strengthening employment linkages in the logistics sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Ministry of Labour & Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje.

    In his address, Dr. Mandaviya stated, “The National Career Service portal is a dynamic platform bringing job seekers and employers together, across India. With over 1.75 crore active job seekers and over 40 lakh registered employers, it is playing a crucial role in workforce mobilization. NCS is getting strengthened day by day. It is integrated with My Bharat, eShram, SIDH, MEA – eMigarte portal along with many other private portals.”

    Dr. Mandaviya welcomed the collaboration and appreciated Rapido’s initiative to bring 50 lakhs livelihood opportunities on NCS Platform over a period of 1-2 years. Highlighting the platform’s accessibility and reach, Union Minister reiterated the government’s vision of making NCS a one-stop solution for employment, skilling, and counselling, and at the same time capable of hyperlocal job matching and supporting both domestic and international placements.

    Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje expressed happiness with the association of NCS and Rapido and congratulated Rapido on focusing on women employment including 5 lakhs jobs for women.

    Secretary MoLE in her address mentioned that this MoU is a very important in light of the changing employment market in which job opportunity is becoming an important component and this collaboration is a reflection of the Ministry’s evolving approach to employment facilitation—one that is grounded in inclusivity, innovation, and impact. She complimented Rapido on the focus of Gender inclusivity.

    Mr. Pavan Guntupalli, Co-Founder, Rapido, thanked the Ministry for this collaboration emphasized that this partnership will scale up employment opportunities. He mentioned about Rapido’s “Pink Rapido” initiative especially for women. He expressed his happiness to be associated with NCS and Ministry of Labour and looks forward to a successful partnership.

    It is one of the steps, in the series of signing MoUs with the private employers/ portals, other leading employment/ Gig platforms etc. to bridge the gap between jobseekers and private sector employment, enabling a holistic approach to public-private coordination in job facilitation.

    Salient Points of the MoU:

    • Rapido will regularly post verified Rapido opportunities for driving Bike taxis, autos, and cabs, on the NCS portal and conduct hiring through it.
    • API-based integration will ensure real-time job postings and seamless application tracking for users.
    • Focus on inclusive hiring, particularly promoting employment opportunities for youth, women, and those seeking flexible work.
    • The partnership is expected to support structured onboarding, digital empowerment, and awareness of worker welfare schemes.

    The Ministry of Labour & Employment remains committed to improving employment outcomes across sectors through the NCS portal and will continue engaging with the private sector to foster an enabling ecosystem for India’s diverse workforce.

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    Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Digital Policy Office leads I&T industry delegation to visit Fuzhou (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Digital Policy Office leads I&T industry delegation to visit Fuzhou  
         The exhibits in the Hong Kong Pavilion mainly come from award-winning projects in local and international I&T competitions, including the Hong Kong ICT Awards, Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest – Hong Kong Chapter, the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge, and the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance Awards. They cover a wide range of cutting-edge technology fields, such as big data analysis, AI, blockchain, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. The applications of the exhibits are broad, spanning finance, healthcare, smart site management and digital entertainment, highlighting Hong Kong’s deep integration of the digital economy with the real economy, as well as high-quality development of new quality productive forces.
     
         Addressing the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion yesterday morning, Mr Wong said that this year marks the first time for the DPO to lead a delegation to showcase technology at the Summit’s Hong Kong Pavilion. The exhibition not only provides a valuable opportunity for Hong Kong’s I&T industry, allowing the Mainland I&T industry and investors to gain an in-depth understanding of Hong Kong’s excellent services and leading products, but also helps Hong Kong enterprises tap into the enormous Mainland market and its diverse business opportunities. In addition, the exhibition showcases the remarkable innovative capabilities of Hong Kong’s I&T industry, highlighting the city’s potential to integrate into the overall I&T development of the country. 
     
         Yesterday afternoon, Mr Wong visited the Fujian Artificial Intelligence Computing Center to gain an in-depth understanding of the Center’s facilities and technology applications, as well as the status of its support for the development of the AI industry. He then visited the Fujian Big Data Trading Center to learn about the Center’s experiences and practices in promoting the development of the data trading business. Finally, he visited China Unicom’s Fuzhou Smart Cloud Data Center to learn how the enterprise built a green and low-carbon data centre with high computing power and high security, as well as its latest technology deployment in promoting “Hong Kong data stored in Fujian, Hong Kong data computed in Fujian”.
     
         Yesterday evening, Mr Wong attended the Digital China AI City Summit organised by Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd. He shared the latest developments in AI applications by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, as well as the Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Technical and Application Guideline released by the DPO on April 15, showcasing Hong Kong’s proactive measures in promoting the development of digital government and AI.
     
         Mr Wong attended the opening ceremony of the Summit this morning (April 29). The Summit, under the theme “Digital Intelligence Leads High-quality Development”, was co-organised by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Data Administration, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, and undertaken by the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government and relevant units. In the afternoon, Mr Wong attended a sub-forum on e-government services, hosted by the CAC, where he delivered a keynote speech on strategies for enhancing public services through digital empowerment in Hong Kong.
     
         Mr Wong concluded his visit today and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
    Issued at HKT 19:26

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Touting Discovery Law Changes Secured in FY 2026 Budget

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Albany County District Attorney’s Office to announce the changes in discovery law secured in the FY 2026 State Budget deal.

    B-ROLL of the Governor greeting district attorneys and staff in the Albany County District Attorney’s office is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     I want to applaud all of you. I want to applaud you for being on the front lines of protecting our communities from criminals and making sure that victims have justice. And I want you to know and you should be proud of how hard your district attorney, District Attorney Kindlon, has worked to work with us and the administration to change the law with respect to discovery so you no longer have barriers to your work and making sure that our communities and streets are safe.

    So, really proud we got it done. We did get it done. Got some scars to show for it, but I said I was not going to finish the Budget until I had meaningful discovery laws where we stopped the insanity, where cases that people have worked hard on and done everything right and going forward, and because of some technicality or some duplicative piece of evidence that’s not there, some timeframe not meant, some minor timeframe, that those have stopped cases from going forward — that era is over. And I want to, again, thank you for being the heart and soul of our efforts.

    My husband was a prosecutor for most of his career; my son is a federal prosecutor right now. So, I know how hard you work and how disheartening it is for you when you put all your heart and soul into a case and then have it dismissed. So, we’re working hard. I want to thank the district attorney once again. The entire New York State District Attorney’s Association worked tirelessly with us, hand-in-hand.

    This is a nonpartisan issue. We have support from all of our district attorneys, almost all, and I just want to thank all of you for all the work you do every single day.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: America is less safe and more expensive than it was 100 days ago

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – April 29, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu were joined by Representatives John Mannion and April McClain Delaney for a press conference on the disastrous first 100 days of the Trump Administration that has made America less safe and more expensive. 

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. So thankful to be joined by two members in addition to our Vice Chair. Appreciate John Mannion and April McClain Delaney joining us.

    America is less safe and more expensive than it was 100 days ago. Trump’s reckless tariffs are going to make the high price of groceries, gas, housing, utilities, clothing, electronics and other essential goods even worse. Companies are laying off hard-working Americans, and we are staring down an impending supply chain crisis in a few weeks. Our national security is threatened by amateur individuals sharing classified war plans in group chats. Our communities are threatened because Trump released hundreds of criminals back onto the street. Our freedoms are threatened because the Trump Administration abandons the rule of law and due process by deporting an innocent man and even American children.

    By every metric, Donald Trump has failed. But instead of trying to put out the fire that he’s caused, he’s pouring gasoline on by cutting $880 billion from Medicaid, that will make healthcare more expensive and less affordable. He wants to take food off of the tables of American families, children and veterans. And he’s doing this all for one simple purpose: to put into place massive tax breaks for his billionaire donor friends. The Speaker went to the White House yesterday to get his marching orders, but if House Republicans want to avoid tying themselves to this sinking ship, they need to vote against the Republican Budget Bill. You’ll see House Democrats fighting back every step of the way this week and next week as Republicans try to pass through a dangerous and extreme budget.

    It’s my privilege to introduce Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Ted Lieu. 

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar, and honored to be here with Representatives Mannion and Delaney. Donald Trump’s first 100 days and one of the worst first 100 days of any U.S. President in history. That’s because his policies are harming America, and the American people have noticed. Multiple polls show Trump’s approval ratings plummeting. An Associated Press poll showed him at only 39% approval, 59% disapproval. And a recent Washington Post poll also shows him at only 39% approval, the lowest of any U.S. President in 80 years. One reason is because of tariffs. His indiscriminate tariffs have increased prices. I urge all of you to look at a statement from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. They put out a statement saying that the tariffs are crushing the working class with higher prices. And what’s even worse is we don’t even understand the rationale for these tariffs, because the White House has put out two completely different rationales. One of them is, we’re imposing these indiscriminate tariffs to try to strike deals, to go to a zero-tariff situation with other countries and have more free trade, reduce trade barriers. And then you have Donald Trump saying over the weekend, I’m doing these tariffs to create an external revenue service, to use this as a permanent revenue source to take the money that consumers are paying and inject that into the federal government. Those are completely opposite rationales and the White House can’t even figure out why it’s doing these tariffs.

    And then let me just conclude now about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. I note that he has recently spent taxpayer funds for a makeup studio. I hope it’s going well and makes him look better on TV. But in terms of his policies, they are completely awful. Especially his operational ability to handle sensitive information. You may have seen recent reporting showing that his phone number has now been all over the internet, and if hackers have your phone number, there are a number of ways to surveil your phone. I asked reporters to look into whether he used his personal phone overseas. There is a hack called the SS7 Attack, stands for Signaling System No. 7. I was part of an investigation a few years ago. It doesn’t matter how great your phone is, it’s because of the telecommunications providers you use, there’s a flaw in there that they can surveil your phone, and they can do that in the U.S., it’s even worse overseas. So, you all should check out whether Secretary Hegseth compromised his phone if you use it overseas. With that, it is my honor now to invite Representative Mannion to come speak to you. Before being in Congress, he was a public school teacher and a State Senator from the great state of New York.

    REP. MANNION: Thank you, Vice Chair. Good morning, everybody. I’m John Manion from Syracuse, New York. I’m a member of the Agriculture and Education and Workforce committees, and I represent NY-22, central New York, in the Mohawk Valley. We’re at 100 days into this second Trump Administration, and what we’ve seen is chaos, confusion, confrontation and fear. We’re witnessing an extraordinary assault on our Constitution, on our norms and our values, on our democracy, unlike what we’ve ever seen before, as we’re watching in real time, the dismantling of governmental guardrails.

    One place where the damage is particularly clear is as it relates to our trade policy. Tariffs should be used with precision and purpose, but not as blunt political instruments. I believe now is the time for Congress to reassert the constitutional authority it continues to cede to the executive branch, and tariff policy is a good place for that to start. NY-22 has a long history of manufacturing, of innovation. We have a vibrant agricultural sector and world-class research institutions. We’re home to the largest private investment in the history of this country, with Micron’s historic $100 billion project to onshore semiconductor chip manufacturing in my district in Clay, New York. It’s a transformative project that will create thousands of jobs and solidify our region’s role in the global economy and the global tech economy. 

    But just as importantly, it is about making sure that our national security and the resources that we use to preserve our national security is happening right here in our country. My district is a down-the-middle district. We have representatives at the state legislature and the counties that are both Republicans and Democrats. CHIPS and Science was a piece of legislation that required all levels of government, from both parties, and stakeholders and experts in the field, to negotiate it, get it right, so that we can make sure that we put our national security at a premium and the emerging threats as it relates to supply chains, we had to address that. We did address it. It was done in the last Congress, and as a result, that project is moving forward. 

    When it comes to tariffs, you know, I looked at maps with arrows that show the negative impact, and no arrow is bigger than the state of New York. I live less than 100 miles from the Canadian border. My mother grew up in a town called Chateaugay, New York, which is five miles from the Canadian border. But you don’t have to be five miles from the border to see the impact that already exists. Tariffs are necessary tools that can be used for national security, for protecting hardworking Americans and their jobs and to grow that, but the current Administration’s approach lacks strategy and nuance, fails to recognize beneficial relationships between our friends, our allies and our business partners, like Canada.

    In Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, we rely heavily on trade with Canada for both imports and exports. Sometimes a product’s production crosses the border multiple times, sometimes within the same company, and still, tariffs would be imposed on those pre-manufactured products. Materials come from Canada, and our products go to Canada. We have multiple industries that are being impacted in agriculture, lumber, metal production, as I mentioned, our building materials for an important plant that is coming into my district. There are double and triple tariffs that are hurting the bottom line. They’re hurting jobs. Contracts are being canceled. Contracts are not moving forward in the negotiation process. Costs are being driven up. It makes absolutely zero sense. So, we have to get this right. The relationship between my district and Canada is so intricate, and it goes beyond just commerce. Canadians are our friends. They are often our family members. As I said, they’re our business partners. And what newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Carney made remarks last night, and he called this “the American betrayal”. To hear stories of Canadians taking American products and turning them over so as to easily identify that product as American-made is unbelievable. Something that I would not imagine in our lifetime, and it is an unnecessary act because of the unnecessary acts that have come out of this Administration. The Prime Minister pledged to find new relationships and new agreements with reliable trade partners outside of the United States of America. And I do agree that describing this situation as a tragedy is accurate. 

    My conversations with New York farmers, including dairy producers, owners of apple orchards, maple syrup producers and other industries like lumber, the interconnectedness between New York State’s economy and Canada is vital to our collective success. Items like fertilizer, potash, these come from Canada. 90% of our potassium, not just in Central New York, but all across this country, comes from Canada. So, we must use precision when it comes to our trade policy. Tariffs are basically a tax on American consumers and businesses, continues to drive up costs for essential items like groceries, fuel, agricultural supplies. Where I’m from, in Central New York, we want policies that reflect the realities of our interconnected economy with our friend and ally, Canada. 

    America, the people of NY-22, our farmers—we all need policies that make sense, not a whipsaw on again, off again, tariff game that this current Administration is playing. It’s reckless. The impact will be massive. There will be waves of negative impact on multiple sectors of our economy, and that means it’s going to hurt hardworking Americans. It’s going to hurt small businesses. We must restore our standing as a reliable trade partner, not just with Canada, but with our other allies and trade partners around the world. 

    Simply, we are hurting consumers. We’re hurting Americans. We’re hurting businesses because of a lack of a cohesive strategy. We need to be more thoughtful. We need to be more targeted. We need to strengthen our economy without placing undue burdens on hardworking Americans. So, I ask that we have sanity to our trade policy, and that we restore our country’s standing around the world, not just as a reliable trade partner, but as the beacon of democracy around the world. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to speak, and with that, I will pass along the microphone to my colleague, Representative April McClain Delaney.

    REP. MCCLAIN DELANEY: Good morning. I represent the Sixth District of Maryland, and when elected, I made a commitment to my constituents to seek common-sense, common-ground solutions. Sadly, the past 100 days, I’ve desperately been trying to find either common sense or common ground, and in fact, the chaos that has ensued has hurt everyone within my district. My district is as economically diverse as any district in the country. It starts not far from here in Montgomery County, where NIH researchers are curing cancer and NIST employees are establishing parameters for AI innovation. And it goes all the way to beautiful Mountain and Western Maryland, where family farms are providing their bounty to our community, and it borders West Virginia and Pennsylvania. 

    In my district, no one has escaped the harmful impact of Trump tariffs and isolation policy or his indiscriminate cuts to federal workers. I represent over 35,000 federal workers at agencies such as NIH, the National Institute of Cancer, NIST, our Fire Academy and Fort Detrick. Farmers are very concerned about selling their crops because of tariff impacts, but also because of markets drying up, markets they normally sold into, like through USAID or through SNAP programs. And cancer and innovation researchers and the surrounding biotech and tech private markets have been dealt a devastating blow from government cuts to both agencies and research and innovation engines. Small businesses and consultants are cratering because of lack of business, and this, in turn, is hurting every day, smaller businesses, markets, salons, sole proprietorships, who depend on spending in their community. And this includes tourism and business linked to our seven national parks in this district. We are home to the C&O Canal, which gets as many visitors per year as Yellowstone. 

    With respect to specific examples, last week, I toured the Volvo factory in Hagerstown, Maryland, where they make Mack Trucks. I was privileged to even get to drive one. They produce the engines and the axles for these vehicles and are pioneering some EV technology. But in the short term, they told me they have 1,700 workers. But instead of reshoring and bringing innovation and investment into the United States, Volvo is projected to cut 50 to 100 workers due to tariffs and economic insecurity. They do not know how the market will react, and more cuts might come later. Moreover, I have met with each of my five County Farm Bureaus, Montgomery County, Frederick, Allegheny, Washington County, Garrett, and they’re all concerned about crop market prices, SNAP and reimbursement for investments they made into their farms which have not been reimbursed by government programs for which they were promised. It is a tsunami hitting them from every angle and toppled with that, are threatened cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. And, of course, rural health clinics are really at risk in my district because of their dependence on Medicaid.

    These self-inflicted, nonsensical, penny-foolish and pound-foolish policies are impacting our economic security, our U.S. competitiveness and our national security. Much more to say innovation and our trust internationally in the U.S. and the U.S. economy and our U.S. dollar. Having said the above, I stand ready to work on common-sense, common-ground solutions and across the aisle to make a reality the things we all care about, including focusing on inflation, innovation, affordability and fortifying our U.S. resilience, our U.S. competitiveness and our national security. 

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: iBio Raises $6.2 Million Through Warrant Inducement Transaction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBIO) (“iBio” or the “Company”), an AI-driven innovator of precision antibody therapies, announces today announced that it has entered into an agreement with institutional investors that are existing holders of warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company for cash (the “Existing Warrants”), wherein the investors agreed to exercise the Existing Warrants to purchase 5,626,685 shares of common stock at a reduced exercise price of $1.11 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $6.2 million, before deducting advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

    In consideration for the exercise of the Existing Warrants for cash, the investors received new warrants (the “New Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 11,253,370 shares of common stock. The New Warrants are exercisable at $0.86 per common share, and expire five years from the issuance date. The closing of the warrant inducement transaction is expected to occur on or about April 30, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    Chardan acted as the exclusive financial advisor in connection with the transaction.

    The securities in this private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. iBio granted registration rights to the purchasers of the New Warrants, and has agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the New Warrants.

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

    About iBio, Inc.

    iBio (Nasdaq: IBIO) is a cutting-edge biotech company leveraging AI and advanced computational biology to develop next-generation biopharmaceuticals for cardiometabolic diseases, obesity, cancer and other hard-to-treat diseases. By combining proprietary 3D modeling with innovative drug discovery platforms, iBio is creating a pipeline of breakthrough antibody treatments to address significant unmet medical needs. Our mission is to transform drug discovery, accelerate development timelines, and unlock new possibilities in precision medicine. For more information, visit www.ibioinc.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Any statements contained in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements include statements regarding the intended use of proceeds, the expected gross proceeds from the offering and the expected closing of the offering. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024, and the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by federal securities laws, iBio, Inc. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Corporate Contact:
    iBio, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    ir@ibioinc.com

    Media Contacts:
    Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, Ph.D., or David Schull
    Russo Partners, LLC
    Ignacio.guerrero-ros@russopartnersllc.com
    David.schull@russopartnersllc.com
    (858) 717-2310 or (646) 942-5604

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FY 2026 Budget Investments in Child Care

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Capital District YMCA BOCES Preschool to highlight the FY 2026 Budget investments in child care. The Budget delivers a sweeping increase to the Child Tax Credit by giving eligible families a $1,000 credit for kids younger than 4 years old and a $500 credit for kids ages 4-16, effectively doubling the credit for the average family. It also expands access to child care by investing $2.2 billion statewide, including a $350 million investment to save child care subsidies for tens of thousands of New York City families.

    B-ROLL: B-roll of the Governor meeting with students is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    VIDEO: The Governor’s remarks are available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Hello, everyone. I wanted to make my first post-Budget stop right here at this amazing center run by the YMCA and part of the BOCES program. Right next door, we have young people learning how to be child care providers and learning early childhood education, and in this room are the kids.

    I’m here because this Budget was all about my fight for your family. I said it back in January that this Budget will not be completed until I can provide relief for struggling families to get a few extra hundred dollars in their pockets to pay those next bills.

    But also making sure that we cover the cost of school lunches and breakfasts, and making sure that we can ensure that when they get older, that there will be free college education for those going into high-demand careers.

    So we’ve been working hard. We worked really hard. And I want to thank all my partners in government because all I can say is, we got it done.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to Discuss Trump’s First 100 Days, Reconciliation, Tariff Negotiations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss President Donald Trump’s success during his first 100 days, the budget reconciliation moving through Congress, and the ongoing tariff negotiations.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on Democrats protesting Trump’s successful first 100 days: “I think in reality, Maria, they’re protesting because this has been the most effective, most impactful, in a positive sense, 100 days, certainly in my lifetime. [Senator] Chuck Schumer seems to forget that in November of last year, 75 percent of the American public felt this nation was on the wrong track. As President Trump has come into office, he’s fixed our border, he’s put us on a fundamentally different plane in terms of crime in America. He’s addressing some of the longstanding issues that we’ve had with some of our partners. We’re moving in the right direction, and I think that the Democrat party is imploding as a result of it. Today is exhibit A in that point.”
    Hagerty on budget reconciliation process: “I met with a group of House leaders last night. They’re working apace to get their piece of the reconciliation package done by Memorial Day. It’s our job in the Senate—I spoke with Leader [John] Thune yesterday—to move as quickly as we possibly can to get the reconciliation package done right after Memorial Day. We need to be moving apace to get certainty locked into our tax code so that companies can make the type of capital commitments that we want to see happen in 2026. That’ll be addressed with corporate tax rate reductions. That’ll be addressed with certainty again and how we amortize the investments that I hope to see. At the same time, the deregulatory thrust is very real. It’s going to be very significant. If you think about [former President] Joe Biden’s term over four years, the estimates are that each year, compliance costs for regulations that he added have gone up $1.4 trillion per annum on corporate America. As we peel those away, that’s going to have an immediate benefit and immediate impact on operating costs. That’s going to be positive for our economy as well […] The Senate’s going to come up with far more than four billion, Maria. It has to do with the rules here, the Byrd Rule in the Senate. We’ll navigate this, I hope, closer to $2 trillion worth of cuts. It is certainly possible. You go back to where we were before the pandemic, before Joe Biden unleashed massive amounts of wasteful stimulus spending. We get back to those levels; we’re not going to have a difficult time getting around $2 trillion cut out of this budget.”
    Hagerty on the trade negotiations with Japan: “As you say, Maria, I’ve seen this movie before. We negotiated two trade deals when I served as ambassador. The Japanese are very tough negotiators, but it’s not just tariffs. It’s non-tariff barriers that exist in Japan. Local rules, localization requirements, we need to be harmonizing those sorts of regulations. I think Japan has a tremendous opportunity. If they step up, we have plenty of room to do more trade, and they have plenty of room to procure more from America. I want to see that happen. President Trump wants to see it happen. That will accommodate a greater partnership, greater strategic alliances, and I think all parties will be better off as a result.”
    Hagerty on his optimism towards a deal with Japan: “I think we can go to zero tariffs with respect to Japan. They are certainly willing to move on tariffs, but again, it’s the non-tariff barriers that have to be addressed. We need to put in place metrics. We need to make certain that they’re addressed. And again, I see real opportunity working with Japan as companies move their supply chains out of China, de-risk those. Japan should be working with us very closely as we develop new technologies, as we work on new military posture, new technologies there, there’s much to be done that’s positive. And we start to announce those types of aggressive forward-leaning activities that we can do together, those types of investments, I think it’ll be very positive for all of us. And President Trump can focus on that.”
    Hagerty on non-tariff barriers with Japan: “The localization requirements have been extraordinarily difficult. And Maria, these difficulties have gone on for decades. Japan has protected its market very heavily. They’ve made it very difficult for us, for, I say western companies, non-Japanese countries, to enter that marketplace. So, if you think about the regulations that they use, again, localizing the product, we’ve got to find ways to make this work in both countries. If you think about the inspection requirements, that type of thing, it can all be addressed. With respect to agricultural products, extremely protective of Japanese farmers, we dealt with a lot of that in the phase one agreement that we negotiated when I was ambassador. There’s a lot more room there as well.”
    Hagerty on the timing of the budget reconciliation package: “I spoke with Leader Thune just yesterday, and I think the [U.S.] House of Representatives working at pace. I’m delighted to see them putting text out. I think as America sees that text, they start to get more and more certainty about where we’re headed. I spoke with Leader Thune yesterday about the fact that as soon as we get back from Memorial Day break, we need to be working at pace. We need to be working in parallel with the House to get this implemented as quickly as possible. This is going to be great news for corporate America. This is going to stimulate more investment. I want these investments committed this year so that we actually see them materialize in 2026. That’s why this needs to be happening at the beginning of the summer, rather than at the end of the summer.”
    Hagerty on the Senate Republicans united to pass the budget reconciliation package: “That was also a part of my conversation with Leader Thune yesterday, and I’ll be speaking with a number of my colleagues aimed at just that. But I think there’s plenty of room to see significant cuts in terms of trimming back this wasteful stimulus spending that took place under Biden, a lot of spending that should have never happened in the first place. Again, moving in the right direction there from a fiscal responsibility standpoint. At the same time, making permanence an overarching goal for corporate tax rates, for the way depreciation is treated and for many other aspects of the tax code that will give, again, certainty to corporate America, so the types of commitments we want to see for 2026 are put in place as soon as possible […] [Pre-covid spending numbers] certainly has been a goal of a number of my colleagues, and we need to be aiming in that direction. You adjust for population growth and I think we can get there.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool launches landmark 2040 plan to create “framework for a better future”

    Source: City of Liverpool

    A detailed, data-led report looking at how to create a better future for Liverpool’s half a million residents over the next 15 years has been published.

    The Liverpool 2040 Plan, which has been published online, sets out a step-by-step framework to foster greater collaborations across dozens of key organisations to make Liverpool the UK’s leading city of opportunity – for all.

    This strategic vision, documented in a 37-page publication, has been launched with a commitment from city leaders “to work closer together than ever before” on a series of common issues and to influence and guide public sector reform on key areas such as education, employment, housing and health.

    Set out as “a framework for a better future”, the wide-ranging plan has been developed by the Liverpool Strategic Partnership, whose membership has been increased to include more than 20 organisations. Collectively the LSP has a combined workforce of more than 60,000 people and an annual spend of £10bn a year.

    The overall aim of the Liverpool 2040 Plan is to offer greater opportunities to the city’s residents, of all ages and backgrounds, in a united effort to make it a better city to live, learn, work and play in.

    The Liverpool 2040 plan also sets out how city partners will collaborate to improve life-long educational standards whilst addressing deep rooted socio-economic and health inequalities, as well as global challenges such as climate change.

    Work is already on some fronts, with Liverpool last week being awarded Marmot City status for its work in tackling health inequalities and has been appointed the world’s first UN Accelerator City for its work on reduce the carbon footprint in the entertainment industry.

    However, Liverpool, whose population is set to grow by 10% over the coming decade, is a city where a third of residents are classed as economically inactive and where one in five have a disability. And at a neighbourhood level, life expectancy can vary by up to 14 years for residents living just four miles apart.

    Such challenges, set against unprecedented pressures on public finances, has led city leaders to come together in a renewed effort to identify and align common priorities. This approach is underpinned by a commitment to analyse and share intelligence to inform and strengthen joint-working to identify and maximise opportunities presented by new government policies.

    The 2040 timeline also aligns with other key data-rich programmes as identified in the State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 report and the city region goal to achieve New Zero status also by 2040.

    This shared ambition is set around eight key priorities, each to be measured against five specific outcomes, with a clear intent to provide a long-term vision for the type of city the next generation should be inheriting.

    The eight pillars of the 2040 plan are:

    1. The Next Generation – key aim: For Liverpool to be UNICEF Child Friendly City.
    2. Healthy Lives – key aim: To improve life expectancy and reduce health inequalities in poorest communities.
    3. A Fair Transition to Net Zero – key aim: For Liverpool to be a zero-waste city.
    4. Safe, Cohesive and Clean Communities – key aim: To improve safety at neighbourhood level.
    5. Quality Homes – key aim: To work at eliminating homelessness and rough sleeping.
    6. Inclusive Economic Growth – key aim: To develop city-wide innovation and skills strategy.
    7. An Exciting and Distinctive City – key aim: For Liverpool to build on top 5 UK visitor city destination status.
    8. Vibrant Public Services – key aim: To be a leading innovator based on data-led evidence.

    The LSP, overseen by a board of chief executives, chaired by the chief executive of Liverpool City Council, has also been refreshed in response to the Strategic Futures Panel’s recommendations around strengthening the city’s approach to public service reform.

    The LSP has also been devised to enable Liverpool to speak with one voice to national government and its departments. It also provides a shared platform for the city to take advantage of any new government opportunities.

    The Liverpool 2040 Plan has also identified a priority focus on public service reform, with an emphasis on what makes sense for local areas to meet the needs of local people.  This will build on key initiatives including Liverpool City Council’s new neighbourhood model, the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), the Complex Lives project, the North Liverpool Public Service Reform Prototype, and the development of an Office of Public Service Innovation.

    The Liverpool 2040 plan, which has been endorsed by Liverpool City Council’s cabinet, replaces the former City Plan that was published in 2020.

    This previous city plan was in need of a refresh to reflect on the lessons and consequences of Covid-19 pandemic, the commissioner-led intervention to improve Council performance, as well as recent socio-political issues like a new UK government, last summer’s civil unrest. It also needed to respond to wider issues like the global energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as the rise of AI and understanding and identifying the challenges and opportunities it presents.

    Member of the Liverpool Strategic Partnership are:

    • Liverpool City Council
    • University of Liverpool
    • Liverpool John Moores University
    • Liverpool Hope University
    • Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
    • City of Liverpool College
    • Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
    • Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Service
    • Torus
    • The Riverside Group
    • Onward Homes
    • Merseyside Police
    • Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
    • HMPS – Liverpool Prison
    • Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
    • NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership
    • Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust
    • Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
    • Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
    • Department for Work and Pensions, North West

    Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The Liverpool 2040 Plan sets out the beginning of a 15-year journey to shape Liverpool as the UK’s leading city of opportunity – for all.

    “The Liverpool 2040 Plan sets out a clear vision of how to be a better city and sets the foundations to guide the changes needed well into the rest of the 21st century.

    “it’s clear our major organisations need to work much harder and smarter together. For Liverpool to be a better city, we need to do better on a lot of levels – and I’m heartened by the desire and commitment in so many of our partner organisations to do that.

    “This is the city that delivered both the best-ever European Capital of Culture and Eurovision. Through a potent mix of imagination, inspiration and collaboration we saw mass participation on an unprecedented scale, delivering remarkable results with huge economic benefits. Under the biggest spotlight and phenomenal pressure, Liverpool performs. And excels. Like few cities can.

    “But on another level, too many of our residents are not living their best life. Opportunity is not knocking in the way it should in the world of education and employment. The health and wealth for a lot of our residents is below the national average. Much of our housing is poor quality, so many of our children are not benefitting from the best possible start in life. That is unacceptable. That needs to change.

    “This Liverpool 2040 plan provides the best possible platform for us to start that journey, informed by data every step of the way to ensure we all make the right decisions to ensure we create an environment that nurtures and fosters talent and opportunity.

    “We need to fully address the fundamental issues we face – in education, employment, health, housing, transport and employment – and its eight guiding priorities will shape how we respond to the challenges and maximise the opportunities over these next 15 years.

    “I’m deeply encouraged by how many partners right across the public, private and voluntary sector have signed up to a vision of offering greater opportunities than ever before to our residents. We all have a role to play in making Liverpool the best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business – where no-one is left behind.

    “Rest assured myself, my cabinet and this Council will work tirelessly with the Metro Mayor and the city region combined authority to make our case to the UK Government where and when it is needed. The Council cannot make these improvements alone. And not all the solutions are financial – reform and policy changes are just as vital to delivering the changes we need.

    “Lasting change takes time, which is why we have set a 15-year timeline for our vision. Despite this, we are determined that our residents will see immediate and incremental improvements in the here and now, and I am deeply optimistic about the progress we can make together on an ongoing basis.”

    Andrew Lewis, Chair of the Liverpool Strategic Partnership and Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council said: “Public services across the country, and particularly here in Liverpool, are facing unprecedented challenges, including rising demand for services, limited public funding and increasing complexity of needs. 

    “These challenges cannot be met by any one organisation acting alone. So it’s vital to have a strong strategic partnership across Liverpool.  Together we represent the full range of public services for our city, committing to work together on a shared strategy for Liverpool 2040, prioritising our investments, sharing data and evidence, and transforming services together.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: RESEND – Northstrive Biosciences Strengthens IP Portfolio with New US Patent Filings for EL-22 and EL-32 Programs Covering Obesity and Animal Health

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Northstrive Biosciences Inc. (“Northstrive”), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) (the “Company,” “PMGC,” “we,” or “our”), today announced the filing of four novel patent applications for its two candidates EL-22 and EL-32. These patent applications cover the animal market, as well as treating muscle loss in obese patients, both as standalone and combination therapies alongside GLP-1 receptor agonists.

    The Company filed the following four patents today:

    • EL-22 in Animals: Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Encouraging Muscle Growth in Animals (Patent Application No. 19/191,246).
    • EL-32 in Obesity as Monotherapy and Combination with GLP-1: Updated patent filings for Pharmaceutical Composition for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments (Patent Application No. 19/191,209), and Combination Therapy for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists (Patent Application No. 19/191,226).
    • EL-32 in Animals: Animal Feed Additive to Encourage Muscle Growth (Patent Application No. 19/191,258).

    The Company believes these newly filed patent applications support the development of Northstrive’s engineered probiotic platform, designed to advance human obesity care by preserving muscle mass while reducing fat mass, with additional potential applications in animal health.

    “We believe that EL-22 and EL-32 have the potential to treat obesity in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists, while also serving as the foundation to a potential range of animal health products”, said Deniel Mero, Co-Founder of Northstrive. “These patent applications strengthen our IP portfolio as we advance on our mission transform the standard of care for obesity and break into the animal health market.”

    Northstrive’s patent portfolio now includes 8 patent applications and 5 issued patents that provide adequate protection in focus markets, including the USA, Japan, China and Korea.

    Licensed Product /
    Nation    		 Patent Application
    Serial No.    		 Title:
    EL-32 USA US 18/627,462 Pharmaceutical composition for alleviation, treatment, and prevention of sarcopenia containing microorganism transformed with cell surface display vector operably linked with gene encoding myostatin and activin A proteins as active ingredient
    EL-32 Korea 10-2022-0136606 A pharmaceutical composition for alleviation, treatment and prevention of sarcopenia containing a microorganism transformed with a vector expressing myostatin and activin A on the cell surface as an active ingredient
    EL-22 USA US 18/895,501 Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Treating Muscle Loss in Obese Patients
    EL-22 USA US 18/895,519 Combination Therapy of a Fusion Protein of Myo-2 with a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Use in Treating Muscle Loss in Obese Patients
    EL-22 (Animals)
    USA    		 US 19/191,246 Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Encouraging Muscle Growth in Animals
    EL-32 USA US 19/191,209 Pharmaceutical Composition for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments
    EL-32 USA US 19/191,226 Combination Therapy for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists
    EL-32 (Animals) USA 19/191,258 Animal Feed Additive to Encourage Muscle Growth
         
    Patent No. Registration No. Title:
    EL-22 Korea 10-0857861-0000 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof
    EL-22 Korea 10-0872042-0000 Cell Surface Expression Vector of Myostatin and Microorganisms Transformed Thereby
    EL-22 USA US 8470551 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof
    EL-22 Japan US 5634867 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof
    EL-22 China ZL200780101116.2 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof


    About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.

    Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Northstrive’s lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity’s pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com.

    About PMGC Holdings Inc.

    PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. Currently, our portfolio consists of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Research Inc., and PMGC Capital LLC. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in PMGC’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    IR Contact:
    IR@pmgcholdings.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What interviews with ordinary Germans living under the Nazis can teach us about our current politics

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Melissa Butcher, Professor Emeritus, Social and Cultural Geography, Royal Holloway University of London

    “Nazi” and “fascist” are words being used a lot these days; thrown about as descriptions of contemporary populist leaders or to mark out disagreement with someone. Comparisons with 1930s Germany don’t always suit the complexity of the moment we live in, but there are resonances. The choices people are having to make in the face of authoritarianism is among them.

    Darkness Over Germany, originally published in 1943, is a collection of conversations with people having to make difficult choices as the Nazi party gradually takes control of their country. The author, Amy Buller, lived and studied in Germany between 1912 and 1914, maintaining personal and professional networks there throughout her life.

    Concerned by what she saw happening in the 1930s, she established an Anglo-German discussion group. She took academics from the UK to Germany to try to understand the country’s slide into dictatorship.

    Democracy in decline? The risk and rise of authoritarianism

    Democracy is under pressure around the world in 2025. But is this part of a larger historical cycle or does it signal a deeper, more fundamental shift? Join us for a free event in central London on May 8 to discuss these important questions. Come for a panel discussion and stay for food, drinks and conversation.

    Get tickets here

    The conversations, with teachers, priests, military officers, tradesmen, civil servants, students and lawyers, point to some of the underlying economic and emotional drivers of authoritarianism. People speak of grievances related to humiliation and poverty. This is coupled with a desire for a leader who will make the pain of these things disappear.

    Hitler promised to make Germany great again, for which some expressed gratitude, including a skilled tradesman who had spent four years in the trenches of the first world war: “I would ask you not to sneer at an honest attempt to meet a terrible situation and I might add that I am profoundly grateful to the Führer for this idea, which has saved my own sons from the destruction of unemployment.”

    As Buller remarked in a lecture in 1942: “When men are drowning they will not be very particular about the type of rope that picks them up”.

    Amy Buller’s Darkness over Germany.
    Wikipedia

    Faced with fascism, ordinary Germans had to make difficult choices, described as “agony” by a teacher in Darkness Over Germany. At times, there is no good choice available. There were those who decided it was impossible to stay and chose exile. Some became less visible, keeping their heads down and letting it blow over, fatalistically choosing to do nothing because they felt there was nothing to be done.

    There was a choice to stay but openly defy the authorities, possibly resulting in detention or worse. But also a choice to stay, pay lip service to the regime, and try to undermine it where possible, to prevent regime-aligned people taking up another place. There was also the option to join the regime.

    All these decisions reflect how an individual may imagine the future, with despair for some but for others, a mercurial hope – that a new order will take away the humiliations of the past and bring economic prosperity. Or that the current moment is just an aberration and that this too will pass.

    As a young German officer noted: “I would put up with almost anything if in my lifetime this feeling of defeat could be removed from the German army. I know much is bad in what the Nazis do, but it will not last. It is the sort of thing that happens in revolutions.”

    These descriptions of personal responses to the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany echo what I heard in my research talking to voters across the US leading up to Donald Trump’s re-election. There is economic and social rupture as a result of globalisation, financial crises, the legacies of racism, secularism and an exponentially expanding digital life.

    Emotional drivers emerge, expressed as grievance, shame and humiliation. There is a sense of “losing our country” to an enemy, while precarity and crises are accessed daily in doom-laden echo chambers.

    People try to imagine a future out of this state of perma-crises, one in which they will feel better. There are compromises and trade-offs that have to be made, at times with the added stress of having to make choices on behalf of others, such as children. These are painful struggles that require, at times, holding disparate ideas simultaneously.

    In Darkness Over Germany, Buller showed it was possible for some to “hate the Nazis and love England” while still fighting for Germany, if doing so restored pride and economic security. Likewise in the US today, it is possible to find Trump abhorrent but still vote for him, as some of my interviewees did.

    The slide into authoritarianism isn’t “madness” or “evil”. It rests on millions of individual choices made every day by ordinary people: it is the banal, as philosopher Hannah Arendt pointed out in her work on violence and totalitarianism. It is also exhausting and sometimes dangerous for those living under the strain of compromise, as Buller’s empathetic conversations show.

    Darkness Over Germany is a reminder why such conversations are necessary. Not to condone or to cooperate with authoritarianism, as some recent ill-advised attempts for rapprochement between politicians, media personalities and Maga have shown in the US, but to understand the difficult choices that have to be made at times in order to provide people with alternatives.

    This article is part of a series on democracy and the risk of totalitarianism. Join us to find out more about this topic at a free event in London on May 8. Meet the author and Conversation editors, with food and drink included. Get tickets here.

    Melissa Butcher has received funding from UKRI and the ERC. She is a member of the Green Party.

    – ref. What interviews with ordinary Germans living under the Nazis can teach us about our current politics – https://theconversation.com/what-interviews-with-ordinary-germans-living-under-the-nazis-can-teach-us-about-our-current-politics-255401

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel (NASDAQ: AREB) to Host Strategic Board Meeting and Exclusive Dinner for Investors at Mar-A-Lago Following Unprecedented Successful Sponsorship at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    American Rebel Light Beer was featured at the NHRA event, where thousands of attendees and a national television audience were exposed to America’s Fastest Growing Beer.

    Nashville, TN, April 29, 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), will be holding an exclusive dinner at Mar-A-Lago tonight for its board of directors and a major investor group. This will be the second round of meetings this month at Mar-a-Lago, aka the “Winter White House,” where America’s Patriotic Beer brand has established a strong footprint among supporters of President Trump and those who love our great nation.

    Quote from CEO Andy Ross:

    “Hosting our esteemed Board of Directors, investment bankers, and key strategic investors at Mar-A-Lago in Florida is an honor and a pivotal opportunity for American Rebel Holdings, Inc. As we convene at the Winter White House, we are eager to discuss the strategic growth of American Rebel Light Beer. This event, following several preliminary planning meetings, presents a unique chance to accelerate and enhance our existing strategic plan to expand our distribution footprint and target customer base, particularly among NHRA fans. Our distribution expansion in 2025 continues to surpass expectations, setting the stage for sustained revenue growth and market share gains over the coming months and years.”

    This weekend’s American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (charlottemotorspeedway.com) was broadcast nationally through FOX Broadcasting’s FS1. The event provided viewers with the experience of drag racing and additional exposure for American Rebel Light Beer. The NHRA’s partnership with FOX Sports ensures expanded coverage, bringing drag racing, and this weekend American Rebel Light Beer, to homes across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.

    American Rebel Light Beer – America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer was proud to be featured at this iconic event. Fans attending the race enjoyed cold American Rebel Light Beer while experiencing the unique four-lane racing format and pit access included with every ticket. For those watching from home, the FS1 broadcast showcased the adrenaline-pumping action, making it a weekend to remember.

    Continued Quote from CEO Andy Ross:

    “We are honored to have Tony Stewart Racing’s (tsrnitro.com) Matt Hagan, driver of the American Rebel Light Funny Car, give his insights to the group in Florida to continue to capture the momentum of American Rebel Light Beer within the NHRA (nhra.com). TSR Racing with Tony, Matt, and Leah combined with American Rebel Light Beer is a winning combination with the fans that we believe is creating long-term customers. We are thoroughly evaluating additional sponsorship and growth opportunities for American Rebel Light Beer, ensuring its continued success as America’s Patriotic Beer.”

    About American Rebel Light Beer

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

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

    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
    ir@americanrebel.com

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

    Media Contact:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@PrecisionPR.co

    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 our strategic planning, marketing outreach efforts, actual placement timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 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.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Stuart, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Deviant Identities, Brunel University of London

    Warning: this article contains minor spoilers for Sinners.

    Sinners is a vampire film set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, a time of harsh segregation and racial injustice. The vampire is Irishman Remmick (Jack O’Connell), who is drawn to the blues music played at the Juke Joint, a club set up by identical gangster twins, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan).

    We first encounter Remmick as he is being chased by a band of indigenous Choctaw vampire hunters, who corner him in the shack of a couple who happen to be part of the Ku Klux Klan. The Choctaw’s claim that Remmick is not who he appears to be falls on deaf ears and the couple soon become Remmick’s first victims.

    Remmick is soon drawn to the Juke Joint, where the music of blues guitarist Sammy “Preacher Boy” Moore (Miles Caton) is said to reach both ancestors and future generations. Keen to feast on the club’s patrons, Remmick tries to draw them outside by singing an Irish ballad from the mid-19th century, The Rocky Road to Dublin.

    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 Rocky Road to Dublin tells the story of an Irish man leaving his hometown of Tuam to travel to Liverpool. Tuam was the location of a Catholic mother and baby home, where the bodies of over 700 babies were found in 2015.

    Remmick uses the song to invite the Black Juke Joint patrons to join him and the others he has turned into vampires, offering them the chance to escape Jim Crow Mississippi.

    If Remmick was truly offering freedom, however, he would have tried to tempt them with a song of liberation, such as Oro Se Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile, which was the rebel song sung by the republican army as they overthrew the oppression of the English during the Easter Rising in 1916.

    Instead, the music he chooses, although catchy, is a story of exchanging one form of suffering (life in Tuam during the height of English oppression) for another – life on the English mainland where the ballad tells of victimisation and violence.

    The trailer for Sinners.

    The Choctaw’s hunting of Remmick is particularly interesting. The real Choctaw sent money to the starving Irish during the English-induced famine of the 1840s, when they were themselves experiencing genocide.

    Given that the Choctaw are historical allies of the Irish, by identifying that Remmick is not who he seems, they highlight that he does not represent the Irish spirit of resistance. Instead, he represents the spirit of oppression and his choice of music underscores this.

    Choice of setting

    Sinners is set in the early 1930s, a decade after the liberation of Ireland and five years after the founding of the Tuam mother and baby home. Perhaps Remmick needed new feeding grounds since Ireland was finally throwing off the oppression of the English. Where better than the deep south of the Jim Crow era to find oppression and those desperate to escape it?

    Remmick claims to be attracted to the music of the oppressed but when hoodoo healer Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) is killed by Stack before she can be turned into a vampire, we see his true intent. Remmick is angered by her death because although it appears it is the music he is drawn to, in reality it is Annie’s strength he desires.

    Annie, who is steeped in Black culture and can see the vampire’s real intentions, symbolises the way many Black women can resist a social system that is both capitalist and racist. This system doesn’t allow them to ignore the dangers it brings.

    It is the strength and energy of Africa embodied in Annie’s traditional beliefs that Remmick truly seeks to possess, and he is distraught when she dies without being turned into a vampire.

    Unlike Preacher Boy’s family, Annie has resisted the colonisation of her spirituality by the Christian church. Preacher Boy’s father encourages him to stop playing the blues because of its ability to call the devil. Through her ancestral practices however, Annie is able to recognise and resist the temptations of escape that Remmick offers.

    Sinners is an interesting work by filmmaker Ryan Coogler that leaves a trail of crumbs for future instalments. The Choctaw vampire hunters are only on screen for two minutes, but they represent an interesting aside that needs to be explored in terms of the oppressed reaching out to each other against colonialism.

    Annie, immersed in her African spirituality, resists oppression by calling on the strength of ancestors. It’s a powerful reminder that when we know where we come from it is hard to sell us a story of redemption that is ultimately another form of oppression.

    Rachel Stuart 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. Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film – https://theconversation.com/sinners-how-real-stories-of-irish-and-choctaw-oppression-inform-the-film-255291

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From headaches to addiction: the risks of overusing nasal decongestant sprays

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    voronaman/Shutterstock

    Nasal decongestant sprays are a popular remedy for relieving nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies and sinus infections. These sprays provide quick relief allowing for easier breathing. However, while they can be effective in the short term, overusing nasal decongestant sprays can lead to serious health issues.

    In April 2025, ITV news reported on people who became dependent on nasal sprays. Many others went on to share similar experiences on social media platforms like TikTok.

    Nasal congestion happens when the lining inside the nose and sinuses becomes irritated, often due to allergens, viruses, or pollutants. In response, immune cells release inflammatory chemicals that cause swelling and increased mucus production. This swelling can block airflow, making it difficult to breathe and often disrupting sleep.

    Most decongestant sprays contain medications like oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, or phenylephrine. These drugs target adrenergic (adrenaline-sensitive) receptors in the blood vessels of the nasal lining, causing the vessels to constrict. As a result, the nasal lining becomes less swollen, opening up the airways and providing almost instant relief.

    This fast-acting benefit is precisely why so many people reach for these sprays. But the convenience can come at a cost.

    Rebound risks

    Withdrawal from nasal decongestant sprays can be a deeply uncomfortable experience for some. Common symptoms include headaches, nasal stuffiness, dryness and even anxiety.

    One of the most concerning side effects of overusing nasal sprays is a condition known as rebound congestion, or rhinitis medicamentosa (RM). This occurs when the nose becomes reliant on the spray to stay open. Over time, the effectiveness of the medication wears off – a phenomenon known as tachyphylaxis. As a result, users may apply the spray more frequently or in higher doses to get the same relief, creating a vicious cycle.

    Some symptoms of rebound congestion, such as constant stuffiness and red, irritated nasal passages, can resemble those seen in cocaine misuse. A US study estimated that up to 9% of patients visiting ear, nose and throat clinics present with RM. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to estimate how many people are affected in the UK, especially since nasal sprays are sold over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets, often for as little as £3. With long wait times for doctor appointments, many people choose to self-medicate.

    Prolonged use of nasal decongestants can lead to chronic sinusitis: persistent inflammation and infection of the sinuses. The repeated narrowing of blood vessels can also reduce blood flow to nasal tissues, leading to thinning of the lining, chronic dryness, nosebleeds and, in some cases, nasal septal perforation: a hole in the nasal septum.

    Additionally, overuse can damage the turbinates – tiny bone structures inside the nose that help filter, warm and humidify the air you breathe. This can cause them to become swollen or inflamed (turbinate hypertrophy), worsening congestion. Overuse can also impair the function of cilia, tiny hair-like structures responsible for clearing mucus and allergens from the nose.

    Beyond physical symptoms, many users experience psychological dependence. The fear of not being able to breathe without the spray can cause significant anxiety, making it harder to stop using it even when symptoms worsen.

    If you find yourself relying on nasal sprays, it’s important to begin tapering off gradually to minimise withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, doctors may recommend steroid nasal sprays like beclomethasone to reduce inflammation during the withdrawal process. For severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. The good news? Many people recover within a week of stopping the spray with the right treatment plan.

    Safer alternatives

    So, what can you use instead? Saline nasal sprays or rinses can help flush out irritants and moisturise the nasal passages without causing rebound congestion. Oral antihistamines and oral decongestants may be more appropriate for allergy-related congestion but can have their own side effects. Antibiotics may be prescribed for sinus infections with severe congestion.

    If you’re using a nasal decongestant spray, it’s important not to exceed three to five days of use – seven days at most, according to experts. Always read the label and follow dosage instructions carefully.

    Nasal decongestant sprays can offer rapid relief, but overusing them can lead to serious consequences, including rebound congestion, tissue damage and psychological dependence. Use them sparingly, and if nasal congestion persists beyond a week, consult a healthcare professional.

    With safer alternatives and medical guidance, you can breathe easier – without the long-term risks.

    Dipa Kamdar 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. From headaches to addiction: the risks of overusing nasal decongestant sprays – https://theconversation.com/from-headaches-to-addiction-the-risks-of-overusing-nasal-decongestant-sprays-254830

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen pupils to showcase their musical talents in Regensburg

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Pupils and staff representing Aberdeen City Music Service are set to perform in Regensburg this summer to mark the 70th anniversary of the twinning of the two cities.

    Members of the Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee today (29 April) approved the pupils visit to Regensburg, as it will allow them to showcase their musical talents and enjoy the wider cultural experience. It will also further boost the twinning partnership between the two cities.

    The six musical pupils and two members of staff will perform alongside local young musicians and dancers from Regensburg at a special Scottish-Bavarian music event on the evening of Thursday 19 June.

    The official twinning celebrations will continue through to Sunday 22 June and will also see the group perform at the Bürgerfest – the biggest street festival in Regensburg.

    Councillor Martin Greig, the Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “This music visit is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of our city’s twinning arrangement with Regensburg. This is an important partnership link. Our talented pupils will be able to share the joy and goodwill of music making with our friends in Germany. I am delighted that the young people involved can enrich their cultural experiences and bring best wishes from Aberdeen.”

    Councillor Jessica Mennie, Vice-Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “We are thankful to the Mayor of Regensburg for her wonderful invitation to our young people.  Aberdeen has been twinned with Regensburg for 70 years, which is why it will be lovely to see our pupils being part of the festivities in Bavaria to mark such an important partnership.”

    The group’s participation in the celebrations followed an invitation from the Mayor of Regensburg Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer.

    The pupils will share photographs and video clips of their trip on social media.

    The Committee members also heard that the Music Service is gearing up for Aberdeen Big Sing 2025 next month, and is working with the Education and Language departments in Clement-Ferrand, a French city which is twinned with Aberdeen.

    These reciprocal partnerships enrich pupil learning and allow them to use their language skills.  The proposed trip to Regensburg will help further develop this work with officers from Clement-Ferrand, who will also be in attendance in Regensburg.

    The travel to Regensburg is estimated at £2,500 and will be met via the approved Music Service budget for 2025/26. Hostel accommodation for the six pupils and two Music Service staff has been gifted by the Mayor of Regensburg’s office.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: SecTreasury: “Tariff income could be used for tax relief…immediately.”

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    #treasury #tariffs #notaxontips #notaxonovertime #notaxonsocialsecurity #taxes #tax #trump #president #doanldtrump

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AysTV_urNTs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Huntress Debuts Industry-Disrupting Managed SIEM to Democratize Cybersecurity for Businesses of All Sizes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLUMBIA, Md. and SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Huntress announced the general availability of its modern Managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution at the RSA Conference, introducing enhanced integrations for log sources and expanded compliance capabilities. Fully managed by Huntress’ 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), Huntress Managed SIEM removes the complexity, meaningless noise, and unpredictable costs that traditional SIEM products bring, turning the old model on its head and delivering much more than compliance.

    Huntress Managed SIEM enables customers to spot and neutralize threats earlier in the attack chain than they would with an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution alone. Another benefit – Managed SIEM customers experience a fast time to value after deployment, thanks to expert eyes on their environment from day one. For example, threat hunting performed by the Huntress SOC discovered an RDP brute force attack less than 15 hours after the customer deployed Huntress.

    Advancing its mission to make enterprise-grade cybersecurity accessible beyond the Fortune 1000, Huntress unveiled the general availability of its Managed SIEM with new and expanded functionality, including:

    • Enhanced log ingestion with 20+ new integrations, encompassing firewall, password management, and identity data sources, like 1Password, Keeper Security, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, pfSense, SonicWall, Sophos, Ubiquiti, WatchGuard, Barracuda Networks, LastPass, BitWarden, Duo, DNSFilter, and CloudGen.
    • 24/7 detection, response, and threat hunting for specific tradecraft led by Huntress’ elite SOC team to detect and neutralize noisy but effective threats like RDP brute force attempts that often go unnoticed.
    • Expanded detection rules, rapid data rehydration capabilities, and enhanced search speed up investigations and enable the Huntress SOC to remediate risks quickly.
    • Extended data retention up to 7 years for region-specific compliance, financial auditing, PCI-DSS mandates, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Essential Eight.
    • Predictable, stable, and industry-disruptive pricing based on Huntress’ ability to store only the necessary data for threat hunting, investigation, and compliance.

    “Security incidents can happen in minutes, and protection shouldn’t be reserved only for companies with big budgets and teams. SIEM providers talk a big game with promises of a single pane of glass, actionable visibility, and improved compliance and security posture, but the reality is complexity, noise, and soaring storage costs. We dropped the big data-lake mentality and built our SIEM to store only the data required for threat hunting and compliance, which earned us a spot on Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list. We are ready to unshackle security teams from lengthy integrations, customizing rules, and sifting through massive amounts of data looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Chris Bisnett, CTO and Co-founder of Huntress.

    Because the elite Huntress SOC already monitors threats 24/7 for millions of endpoints and identities, its Managed SIEM gives fast and effective herd immunity from emerging threat actor tradecraft. Anything caught for one organization helps Huntress’ SOC shut it down faster for the next.

    “Huntress Managed SIEM is incredibly beneficial as it seamlessly integrates information from firewalls, endpoints, and antivirus solutions, allowing us to see an incident’s full scope, rather than just isolated parts. We have been able to get our clients up and running quickly and provide detailed assessments and actionable remediation steps. Ultimately, Huntress Managed SIEM is an invaluable tool for our business. I’d confidently recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities, ensure thorough incident analysis, and support rapid recovery efforts,” said Dan Paquette, President of Key Methods.

    Additional Resources:

    About Huntress
    Huntress is the enterprise-grade, people-powered cybersecurity solution for all businesses, not just the 1%. With fully owned technology developed by and for its industry-defining team of security analysts, engineers, and researchers, Huntress elevates underresourced tech teams, whether they work within outsourced IT environments or in-house IT and security teams.

    The 24/7 industry-leading Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC) covers cyber threats for outsourced IT and in-house teams through remediation with a false-positive rate of less than 1%. With a mission to break down barriers to enterprise-level security and always give back more than it takes, Huntress is often the first to respond to major hacks and threats while protecting its partners and shares tradecraft analysis and threat advisories with the community as they happen.

    As long as hackers keep hacking, Huntress keeps hunting. Join the hunt at www.huntress.com and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

    Huntress Contact:
    press@huntresslabs.com

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315a5cde-01b3-4aa5-9eac-f9cc2ff39442

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: VSORA Raises $46 Million to Bring World’s Most Powerful AI Inference Chip to Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Europe’s only provider of more powerful, energy-efficient and cost-effective AI Chips than other solutions from global market leaders
    • Funding will enable VSORA to produce its cutting-edge AI chip in 2025

    PARIS, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VSORA, a French innovator and the only European provider of ultra-high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) inference chips, today announced that it has successfully raised $46 million in a new fundraising round.

    The investment was led by Otium and a French family office with additional participation from Omnes Capital, Adélie Capital and co-financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund.

    In citing their reasons for investing in VSORA, all recognize that VSORA is poised to establish itself as a global leader in AI chips by redefining cost-effective, high-performance AI inference deployment at scale with a purpose-built architecture that overcomes inherent GPU limitations.

    “This funding marks a pivotal moment for VSORA as we accelerate our mission to revolutionize AI chips and ensure Europe’s technological sovereignty in AI computing,” says Khaled Maalej, VSORA Founder and CEO. “It will drive the finalization of our technology and the launch of our production, enabling VSORA to play a crucial role as the sole alternative to non-European chip designers. We are grateful for our investors’ trust and look forward to continuing our collaboration with industry leaders to bring our chip to market.”

    The new funding will support the production stage of VSORA’s Jotunn8 (J8) chip targeted for silicon in 2025. VSORA has forged partnerships with global semiconductor industry leaders, ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies and production capabilities that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

    In parallel, VSORA continues to move forward with strategic stakeholders to prepare for the industrialization phase, paving the way for the emergence of a key global European player in AI chip innovation.

    “In a market dominated by global giants like Nvidia, VSORA is a unique opportunity for France and Europe, home to world-class engineering talent,” comments Gaspard de Veyrac, Principal at Otium. “Otium is proud to provide them with the means to realize their ambitions. With this funding, VSORA has the necessary tools to reshape the future of AI computation and secure a significant position in the global AI chip market.”

    VSORA and Jotunn8
    Founded in France, VSORA is working to reshape the future of AI inference by revolutionizing AI processing with its unique chip engineered for superior performance and efficiency and set to redefine AI inference processing. It is designed for key applications such as generative AI—ChatGPT, for instance—in data centers, autonomous driving, robotics and edge AI.

    The explosive growth of AI and generative AI applications has ignited an urgent demand for high-performance, cost-effective inference solutions. AI inference—the process of deploying trained AI models to generate real-time insights and predictions—is projected to grow at a 16% CAGR from $124 billion in 2025 to $255 billion in 2030.

    The Jotunn8 (J8) chip shatters performance barriers of conventional GPUs, delivering concrete performance that surpasses today’s AI chips from global-leading industry players. Specifically, J8 delivers more than three times the performance of existing solutions while consuming less than half the power. This significant leap in efficiency addresses the critical challenges of deployment cost, cost per query and energy consumption in large-scale AI deployment.

    Offering 3,200 teraflops of compute power, the J8 chip shatters the performance barriers of conventional GPUs, delivering real-world performance that surpasses today’s AI accelerators.

    Unlike traditional accelerators optimized for training, VSORA’s technology focuses on inference making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications. It increases throughput and reduces the processing cost and cost per query.

    About VSORA
    VSORA provides high-performance silicon solutions for AI data center inference, autonomous driving, robotics and edge AI applications. Founded in 2015 by a team of DSP experts, AI scientists and engineers with a long history of successes, VSORA has offices in France and Taiwan.

    Connect with VSORA:
    Website: www.vsora.com
    Email: info@vsora.com
    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vsora/

    About Otium
    Otium is a long-term investment holding company founded in 2009 by Pierre Edouard Sterin. With €1.6 billion ($1,892 billion) in assets as of December 31, 2024, spread across more than 1,310 investments—including the Smartbox group and stakes in French unicorns PayFit and Owkin—Otium invests amounts ranging from a few hundred thousand euros to several tens of millions of euros. Companies are funded at every stage of their development, from seed funding to growth capital, and Otium takes either majority or minority stakes with no holding period constraints. Otium pursues a diversification strategy by financing projects in tech, industrials, leisure, healthcare, hospitality and real estate. Otium invested €255 million in 2024. www.otiumcapital.com

    About Omnes Capital
    Omnes is a leading private equity firm dedicated to energy transition. With over €6.7 billion ($7,580 billion) in assets under management, our teams support long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs through our four core businesses: renewable energy, sustainable cities, deep tech and co-investment. For over 20 years, Omnes has been applying its expertise to help businesses grow in more than 15 countries, with a particular focus on sustainable development. As part of its approach as a responsible investor, the company has created the Omnes Foundation to support non-profit organizations working for children and young people in the fields of education, health, social and economic integration. www.omnescapital.com

    About EIC Fund
    The European Innovation Council Fund from the European Commission is an agnostic Fund: it invests across all technologies and verticals, and all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It provides the investment component of the EIC Accelerator blended finance. The European Investment Bank acts as investment adviser to the EIC Fund.

    The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies, bridging with and crowding in market players, and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding.

    The Fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries.
    https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-fund_en

    For more information, contact:
    Nanette Collins
    Public Relations for VSORA
    nanette@nvc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: NSFAS payment delays to be resolved 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane, has emphasised government’s commitment to providing students with the necessary support for their educational pursuits. 

    She highlighted crucial aspects of the disbursement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) allowances and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) appeals process.

    “The timely disbursement of TVET allowances and the NSFAS appeals process are paramount towards a streamlined and transparent funding process that ensures that no student is left behind,” she said in a media statement. 

    “Access to education is not just a privilege, it is a fundamental right that facilitates personal and national growth.” 

    This is after recent delays in the disbursement of TVET student allowances, which were scheduled for 25 April 2025 but were affected by a system glitch. 
    NSFAS confirmed that payments were processed on 26 April and reflected in student accounts by 27 April. 

    The Minister acknowledged the inconvenience caused by these delays, stating that a specific group of approximately 800 students from one institution faced additional challenges regarding fund transfers. 

    However, NSFAS pledged to resolve these issues by Wednesday, 30 April. 

    “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the delays in allowances – delayed payments are unacceptable. We recognise the impact of these delays as students depend entirely on their allowances for living expenses,” she said. 

    She said NSFAS is prioritising the settlement of all outstanding amounts from 2024 owed to students and accommodation providers, with communication expected by the end of the month.

    Appeals process

    The Minister also touched on the appeals process, reporting that most appeals submitted for 2025 have been successfully addressed and are currently under review by the NSFAS Appeals and Tribunals Committee. 

    Students are encouraged to regularly check their accounts for updates on their appeals.

    The Minister also spoke about the qualification code discrepancies that affected fund disbursements to eligible students, which have been identified and largely resolved. 

    However, she said this discrepancy notably impacted students enrolled in specific National Certificate Vocational (NCV) programmes. 

    She expects the release of results to be done between 9 and 12 May, which will facilitate the disbursement of NSFAS funds to the affected students.

    “As the Minister of Higher Education, I appreciate the patience and understanding of all affected students and stakeholders during this process, and we remain committed to ensuring that all eligible students receive their funding and results promptly,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Peabody nomination for Banger Films/NFB feature doc Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story. Prestigious US award honours excellence in socially engaged storytelling.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 15, 2025 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The Banger Films/National Film Board of Canada (NFB) feature-length documentary Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, directed by Toronto filmmakers Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, has been nominated in the Documentary category at the 85th Peabody Awards.

    This multi-award-winning look at a trans soul singing legend is currently streaming on Crave in Canada as it continues its international festival run.

    Any Other Way has received more than 20 awards and honours to date including, most recently, the Rogers Best Canadian Documentary from the Toronto Film Critics Association, the Best Doc Award at the UK’s Doc’n Roll Film Festival, a nomination for Best Music Documentary at the IDA Documentary Awards and a selection to TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten.

    About the film

    A star is reborn.

    With an outsize stage presence that eclipsed R&B greats like Etta James and Little Richard, soul singer Jackie Shane was the real deal. Jackie boldly carved a new path as one of music’s trailblazing Black trans performers—but on the edge of stardom, why did she suddenly leave the spotlight?

    After mysteriously vanishing from public view for almost 40 years, this little-known icon finally gets her second act in Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, executive produced by Elliot Page.

    About the Peabody Awards

    As a Peabody nominee, Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story joins the ranks of the best storytelling in broadcasting and digital media, chosen out of more than 1,100 entries. Winners will be announced on May 1, with the awards presentation ceremony in Los Angeles on June 1.

    The Peabody Awards honour excellence in media narratives that reflect the social issues and emerging voices of our day. From major productions to local journalism, the Peabody Awards shine a light on the stories that matter and are a testament to the power of art and reportage in the push for truth, social justice, and equity.

    – 30 –

     

    Stay Connected

     

    Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Growers Edge Raises $25M to Build First Full-Service Fintech Platform for Agriculture

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JOHNSTON, Iowa, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Growers Edge, which provides modern financial products and data-driven tools for agricultural retailers, manufacturers, and lenders, today announced a first close of a new financing round. The round was co-led by S2G Investments, Cibus Capital, and Lowercarbon Capital, with additional participation by Otter Creek, iSelect, and Jeff Ubben, founder of ValueAct Capital.

    The new funding will enable Growers Edge to scale its financial solutions and expand its reach with more ag retailers and lenders, while driving greater adoption of climate-smart agricultural products and practices across the U.S.

    “This milestone is a testament to the creativity and tenacity of our incredible team,” said Matt Hansen, CEO of Growers Edge. “They’re the true innovators who continue to transform complex challenges into real-world solutions for growers, retailers, and lenders.”

    Growers Edge offers a suite of financial products that reduce risk and promote ag innovation, including its Crop Plan Warranty Program, land and climate intelligence solutions, digital mortgage lending products, and input lending tools. As a full-service fintech platform, Growers Edge delivers data-backed products that help agricultural businesses reduce risk and drive growth.

    “Growers Edge is tackling one of the most critical barriers to agricultural innovation – financial risk,” said Ubben. “Their solutions provide ag retailers, lenders, and growers with the critical tools they need to embrace sustainability at scale, creating a clear path to profitability and innovation.”

    The company partners directly with manufacturers, retailers, and industry groups to help growers adopt innovative practices with confidence, and has worked with five of the top ten largest ag retailers and leading organizations, including Nutrien, PepsiCo, Mondelez, Helena Agri-Enterprises, and The Nature Conservancy.

    “Cibus is excited to invest in Growers Edge, who are leading the financial digital disruption of US agriculture with a focus on enabling sustainable farming practices,” said Alastair Cooper, Partner and Head of Venture at Cibus Capital.

    “Farmers want what’s best for their land. But too often, the risk of trying something new means sticking with business as usual,” said Eric Helfgott, Principal at Lowercarbon Capital, known for investing in “better, faster, and cheaper” technologies that also significantly reduce carbon emissions. “By enabling new, sustainable ag practices without the financial risk, Growers Edge is helping climate-smart farming take root.”

    The investment follows several recent milestones for Growers Edge, including acquiring AQUAOSO Technologies, expanding its farmland valuation tool to over 144 million acres, and surpassing one million acres protected through its Crop Plan Warranty program.

    For more information, visit www.growersedge.com.

    About Growers Edge

    Growers Edge provides modern financial products and data-driven tools that help forward-thinking agriculture retailers, manufacturers, and lenders reduce their growers’ risks and costs when adopting newer innovative solutions and practices. The company’s crop plan warranty and input financing solutions are trusted by dozens of retailers and manufacturers to assist hundreds of growers affordably purchase their products and guarantee yields on over one million acres of cropland. For more information, visit growersedge.com.

    John Strackhouse, Vice Chairman of Caldwell, led the recruitment for the CEO of Growers Edge.

    About S2G Investments

    S2G is a multi-stage investment firm focused on venture and growth-stage businesses across food & agriculture, oceans, and energy. The firm provides capital and value-added resources to companies and leadership teams pursuing market-based solutions designed to deliver greater value, improved outcomes, and enhanced performance over traditional alternatives. With a commitment to creating long-term, measurable outcomes, S2G structures flexible capital solutions that can range from venture funding through growth equity to debt and infrastructure financing. For more information about S2G, visit s2ginvestments.com.

    About Cibus Capital LLP

    Cibus Capital LLP is the London-based investment advisor to the Cibus funds. The Cibus funds partner with food and agriculture companies that provide investors with a risk-adjusted return on capital and a sustainable competitive advantage. Cibus has raised over USD 1bn to invest in two strategies: mid-market growth/buyout investments in food production and processing businesses and late-stage agrifood technology companies. For more information, visit cibusfund.com.

    About Lowercarbon Capital

    Lowercarbon Capital is a multibillion-dollar venture capital firm founded by Chris and Crystal Sacca that backs kickass companies making real money slashing CO2 emissions, sucking carbon out of the sky, and buying us time to unf**k the planet. For more information, visit www.lowercarboncapital.com.

    The MIL Network –