NewzIntel.com

Category: Entertainment

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The largest screen in Russia for creating special effects appeared at the Moskino film factory

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The largest LED display structure in Russia has been installed on the territory of the Moskino film factory on Ryazansky Prospekt. It will be used to create visual effects for films of any complexity. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

    “The project will open up new opportunities for the industry, simplify many work processes and reduce costs. The area of the huge screen exceeds 300 square meters,” said Natalia Sergunina.

    The puck-shaped structure will allow film crews to be independent of the season and weather conditions. It will eliminate the need to travel to other locations, change scenery or resort to computer graphics. A specific background and visual images will be selected for each scene, which will be transmitted by the screens. The actors will immediately see the same thing as the audience.

    The creator of the equipment is the flagship resident of the Moskino film factory. The studio produces full-length films, TV series, commercials and music videos using modern technologies. It has more than 500 completed projects, including Chelyuskin. The First and Red Silk, which were released in March 2025.

    “We call this design a ‘washer’. Inside it, you can create effects of any complexity that will look natural on the cinema screen. The technology itself is unique for Russia, and we are glad that we managed to implement this idea,” shared the company’s founder, Yuri Yarushnikov.

    Another studio pavilion on the film factory premises is designed for filming scenes of travel in cars and other types of transport. The movement is simulated using a special complex that includes dynamic platforms.

    The capital pays great attention to the development of the industry within the framework of Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Moscow – City of Cinema”, which will unite 1170 hectares of creative space. It already includes the Gorky Film Studio on Sergei Eisenstein Street and in Valdaisky Proyezd, a chain of cinemas, a cinema park and the Moskino film factory.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151796073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Investigations ongoing into death at Christie Downs

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are investigating a death at Christie Downs this morning.

    About 10am on Wednesday 26 March, police and paramedics were called to a unit at Rufus Crescent, Christie Downs after a woman was found collapsed at the property.

    Police and paramedics located the woman at one of the units.   Sadly, the 43-year-old Christie Downs woman was pronounced deceased at the scene.

    A 54-year-old Christie Downs man at the scene was arrested after allegedly assaulting officers. He is currently in hospital undergoing treatment and will appear in court at a later date.

    Southern District CIB detectives and forensic officers attended and examined the scene and are conducting further investigations.

    Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death are ongoing.

    Anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity or has any information, dashcam or CCTV footage that may assist the investigation into the woman’s death is asked to speak to police at the scene or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    Further information will be provided when known.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: GAM announces 2024 full year results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    26 March 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 Listing Rules:

    GAM announces 2024 full year results

    Strong progress in implementing turnaround strategy. GAM continues to target profitability in fiscal year 2026.

    Financial Highlights for Full Year 2024

    • IFRS net loss of CHF 70.9 million compared to CHF 82.1 million for FY 2023.
    • Underlying loss before tax of CHF 66.8 million compared to CHF 49.5 million for FY 2023.
    • AuM at CHF 16.3 billion compared to CHF 19.3 billion as at 31 December 2023.
    • Cost optimisation initiatives across the business resulted in a 20% decrease in underlying expenses compared to FY 2023. The full impact of these cost optimisation initiatives will be reflected in FY 2025 and beyond.
    • Successful CHF 100 million rights issue completed in November 2024, which resulted in our anchor shareholder, NJJ Holding SAS (through its holding in Rock Investment SAS (“Rock”)) becoming our majority shareholder.
    • The maturity of the existing CHF 100 million Rock loan facility has been extended until 31 December 2027.
    • GAM is now a highly scalable pure investment platform with strong global distribution capabilities focusing on three core areas to drive sustainable growth and profitability: Specialist Active Investing, Alternative Investing and Wealth Management.
    • GAM continues to target profitability in fiscal year 2026.

    Strategic Highlights

    • Launched GAM Alternatives, providing access to in-house and third-party alternative managers focusing on absolute return strategies and best-in-class talent.
    • A new, high performing and successful European Equity team joins GAM in 2025.
    • Partnering with Sun Hung Kai & Co. Ltd to drive growth and enhance our distribution capabilities across Greater China including Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, and Macau.
    • In 2025, GAM will continue to partner with best-in-class external managers, to include the development of new products and the distribution of their own existing products to GAM clients.

    Elmar Zumbuehl, Group CEO at GAM said: “We have made strong progress in implementing GAM’s turnaround strategy and have now evolved into being a pure play investment management firm, but we are not finished yet. The cost optimisation initiatives implemented in 2024 will yield their full benefit in 2025 and beyond. While we stay focused on further cost optimisation, our main emphasis is growing our AuM and revenues as we continue our turnaround. With an unwavering commitment to our clients, and an expanding suite of innovative and distinctive products, we continue to build positive momentum and strengthen our market position. Backed by our majority shareholder, we continue to target profitability in fiscal year 2026 and remain focussed on delivering for our clients and all our stakeholders.”

    Summary Financials

    In 2024, we reported IFRS net loss after tax of CHF 70.9 million, compared with an IFRS net loss after tax of CHF 82.1 million in 2023. The loss in 2024 was mainly driven by the underlying net loss after tax of CHF 66.9 million.

    Please refer to the ‘Financial Results for FY 2024’ section later in this press release for full information.

    Financial Strength

    In November 2024, GAM completed its CHF 100 million fully underwritten ordinary capital increase by way of a rights issue to support the implementation of GAM’s strategy and provide long-term financial stability. Given Rock’s underwriting commitment, NJJ Holding SA (indirectly) is now the majority shareholder of GAM following the rights issue.

    The existing CHF 100 million Rock loan facility remains in place with its maturity extended to 31 December 2027.

    Strategy Update

    GAM’s strategy is designed to achieve sustainable growth and profitability by delivering best possible investment performance and exemplary service for our clients by focusing on our Investment and Wealth Management capabilities. The four pillars of our strategy remain:

    • Focusing on clients in existing core markets;
    • Amplifying and growing core active equity, fixed income and multi-asset strategies by investing in talent and product ideas;
    • Diversifying into new investment product areas and our Wealth Management offering by leveraging GAM’s heritage in active management, building strategic partnerships, and its alternatives and hedge funds platform; and
    • Enhancing effectiveness by reducing complexity.

    GAM is now focusing exclusively on its Investment (Specialist Active and Alternatives) and Wealth Management businesses, expanding its distribution reach and capabilities, amplifying its core active strategies, and diversifying into new product areas, including building out our higher margin alternatives capabilities.

    We have made strong progress throughout 2024 on our four-pillar strategy to transform GAM into a focused, client-centric, and profitable business.

    Focusing on clients

    Focusing on our clients in our existing core markets has been the most important way to rebuild GAM. In key markets where we have clients, but lack scalable distribution, we have, and will continue to, add partnerships to support our growth strategy and provide a broader range of client’s access to unparalleled investment expertise, opportunities, and exceptional outcomes across specialist active and alternative investment strategies.

    We established a strategic alliance with Sun Hung Kai & Co. Ltd. to grow our client base, distribute our products, and innovate our alternatives offering across the Greater China region, including Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, and Macau.

    We have also enhanced our regional presence and client coverage by hiring new Heads of Distribution across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Iberia, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and France to drive our local market presence. This significant investment into our client facing teams will enable GAM to provide clients with excellent local contacts, strong relationship management and access to unparalleled investment expertise targeting exceptional outcomes.

    We additionally expanded our client reach through opening a second US office in Miami to cover the US international and Latin American markets and we are close to gaining customary approvals to open our planned branches in Paris and Milan.

    Amplifying and growing core active equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies by investing in talent and product ideas

    We are enhancing our capabilities by recruiting first-class investment talent in alternatives, systematic and equities teams.

    We have established a multi-asset centre of excellence in a global team to optimise all our multi-asset investment capabilities, enhance client outcomes, and align with evolving market dynamics and client needs. The high quality and excellent performance of this team will allow GAM to grow its wealth management business.

    In February 2025, we announced the hiring of three high performing and successful European Equity team members from Janus Henderson Investors. These strategic hires underscore GAM’s steadfast dedication to providing clients with access to unparalleled investment expertise and exceptional outcomes. The team brings extensive experience, having managed over EUR 6.5 billion in European Equity funds on behalf of institutional and retail clients globally.

    In addition, we have strengthened our sustainability and stewardship practices, meeting the principles of the UK and Swiss Stewardship Codes. Today GAM released its 2024 Sustainability Report which is available at www.gam.com

    Diversifying into new investment products while expanding the wealth management offering by leveraging GAM’s heritage in active management, strategic partnerships, and its alternatives and hedge funds platform

    Randel Freeman joined GAM in 2024 as Co-head / Co-CIO of GAM Alternatives to build out our alternative investments platform to meet growing investor demand with differentiated offerings. In addition, in 2025, we hired two senior sales specialists with deep experience in Alternatives distribution.

    In 2024, we launched GAM funds to introduce and distribute Avenue Capital’s Sports Opportunities fund, plus partnered with Arcus Investment to distribute their Japanese long/short equities fund. GAM also partnered with world leading Trafigura Group’s subsidiary Galena Asset Management to manage the GAM Commodities fund providing best-in-class sector expertise. This provides our clients access to exclusive and attractive commodity investment opportunities.

    We are launching the GAM LSA Private Shares strategy in Europe to provide access for European clients to this award-winning evergreen, late-stage private equity fund.

    Throughout 2025, GAM will be assessing M&A opportunities to enhance existing offerings, attracting best-in-class long-term strategic partnerships, and recruiting top talent to our core business areas globally.

    Enhancing effectiveness by reducing complexity

    Following the transfer of our fund services business for third-party funds we also successfully transitioned our Luxembourg, Irish and Swiss fund management company (ManCo) activities to Apex Group and 1741 Group in Q4 2024. In addition, we consolidated our operations onto our cloud based SimCorp investment management platform. GAM now operates on a global platform that delivers operational efficiencies.

    These implementations pave the way to a much less complex operating model underpinning and delivering best outcomes for our clients.

    GAM is now a highly scalable global investment platform with strong global distribution capabilities focusing on three core areas to drive sustainable growth and profitability: Specialist Active Investing, Alternative Investing and Wealth Management.

    Business Areas

    GAM Investments is focused on three core business areas to drive sustainable growth and profitability:

    • GAM Specialist Active: Deep expertise, experience and specialisms unlocking core and niche returns in equities, fixed income, and multi-asset investing;
    • GAM Alternatives: Access to in-house and third-party alternative investment managers focusing on absolute return strategies and best-in-class talent; and
    • GAM Wealth Management: Multi-asset solutions with tailored portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, charities and trusts, utilising best-of-breed GAM and third-party products.

    These three core business areas share and benefit from GAM’s global platform and agile operating model and modern technology.

    Investment Performance

    GAM has continued to deliver strong overall investment performance across our diverse and distinctive products, with 64% of assets under management (AuM) outperforming their three-year benchmark and 89% outperforming their five-year benchmark, as at 31 December 2024. Despite some weaker short-term performance in equities, the longer-term 5-year performance remains strong.

    Percentage of GAM Fund AuM Outperforming Benchmark

        3 years 3 years 5 years 5 years
    Business Area Asset Class 31 Dec 2024 31 Dec 2023 31 Dec 2024 31 Dec 2023
    Specialist Active Fixed income 94% 98% 95% 91%
    Specialist Active Equity 1% 39% 79% 59%
    Alternatives Alternatives 60% 73% 75% 96%
    Total   64% 78% 89% 81%

    % of AuM in funds outperforming their benchmark (excluding mandates and segregated accounts) across our business areas. Three- and five-year investment performance based on applicable AuM of CHF 9.0 billion and CHF 9.0 billion, respectively.

    Compared to our peer group performance remained strong, 66% of AuM outperformed their three-year Morningstar peer group and 82% outperformed their five-year Morningstar peer group, as at 31 December 2024.

    Percentage of GAM Fund AuM Outperforming Morningstar Peer Group

        3 years 3 years 5 years 5 years
    Business Area Asset Class 31 Dec 2024 31 Dec 2023 31 Dec 2024 31 Dec 2023
    Specialist Active Fixed income 61% 53% 60% 50%
    Specialist Active Equity 20% 51% 89% 89%
    Alternatives Alternatives 91% 89% 95% 96%
    Total   66% 66% 82% 76%

    GAM continues to be recognised for its investment performance, including having been awarded the overall best European small group 2025 by Lipper. Four GAM funds (including two funds of our Swiss Equity strategy) won Lipper’s 2025 top performance awards across multiple countries. For the second time, at the Citywire Investment Performance Awards, GAM Multi-asset won the Best Large Firm Award. GAM won the Wealth Management PAM 2024 award for its growth portfolios. GAM’s Sustainable Climate Bond strategy won and was chosen as the best ESG Investment Fund in the Green, Social and Sustainability Bonds category at the ESG Investing Awards 2024. For further details on these and other awards please visit http://www.gam.com/awards.

    Assets Under Management and Net Flows by Business Area

    Total AuM were CHF 16.3 billion as at 31 December 2024, compared to CHF 19.3 billion as at 31 December 2023. Net outflows of CHF 4.4 billion were partially offset by positive market and foreign exchange movements of CHF 2.0 billion.

    Business Area Opening AuM
    1 Jan 2024    		 Net
    flows    		 Disposal(1) Market/FX
    movements    		 Closing AuM
    31 Dec 2024
    Specialist Active 17.5 (3.9) (0.6) 1.9 14.9
    Alternatives 0.9 (0.4)   – 0.5
    Wealth Management 0.9 (0.1)   0.1 0.9
    Total 19.3 (4.4) (0.6) 2.0 16.3
    (1) In the second half of 2024, the sale of the UK Equity Income Fund to Jupiter Asset Management completed and subsequently is reflected as a disposal. Therefore, net outflows of CHF 0.6 billion in 2024 have been reflected as a disposal.

    Financial Results for FY 2024

    The average management fee margin earned on investment management AuM in 2024 was 40.4 basis points, compared with the average margin for the financial year 2023 of 49.7 basis points. The change in average management fee margin primarily reflects the mix of assets under management across products and sub-advisory agreements with existing and new partners.

    Net management fees and commissions in 2024 totalled CHF 75.9 million, down from CHF 124.4 million in 2023 due primarily to the sale of the third-party fund services business in January 2024, lower average AuM and reduced average management fee margin in investment management.

    Underlying net performance fees totalled CHF 1.9 million, down from CHF 4.8 million in 2023.

    Underlying net other income/expenses includes net interest income and expenses, the impact of foreign exchange movements, net gains and losses on seed capital investments and hedging, as well as fund-related fees and service charges. In 2024, a net loss of CHF 2.3 million was recognised, compared with a CHF 0.4 million net loss in 2023. The 2024 net loss was mainly driven by the interest expenses incurred on the Rock Investment SAS loan facility and the impact of foreign exchange movements. The IFRS net other expense in 2024 amounts to CHF 4.4 million. The difference between the underlying and the IFRS net other expense of CHF 2.1 million mainly relates to a net foreign exchange loss on pension loan note offset by other income driven by the assignment of the UK property lease to a third party.

    Underlying personnel expenses decreased by 26% to CHF 76.6 million in 2024, compared with CHF 96.8 million in 2023. Fixed personnel costs decreased by 28%, driven by lower headcount. Headcount stood at 294 FTEs as at 31 December 2024, compared to 478 FTEs as at 31 December 2023. Variable compensation in 2024 fell to CHF 11.2 million from CHF 13.1 million in 2023, mainly driven by lower management and performance fees which impacted variable compensation arrangements. The underlying personnel expenses compares to IFRS personnel expenses of CHF 81.0 million. The difference between the underlying and the IFRS personnel expenses of CHF 4.4 million primarily relates to a reorganisation charge. (For further information, see note 6 of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements).

    Underlying general expenses in 2024 were CHF 52.1 million, down from CHF 65.0 million in 2023 due to cost optimisations initiatives across the business. This compares to IFRS general expenses of CHF 54.0 million. The difference between the underlying and the IFRS general expenses of CHF 1.9 million mainly relates to the Group’s reorganisation initiatives.

    Underlying depreciation and amortisation charges were CHF 13.8 million in 2024 compared to CHF 16.5 million in 2023. There is no difference between underlying and IFRS amounts.

    The underlying pre-tax loss in 2024 was CHF 66.8 million, compared to a CHF 49.5 million underlying pre-tax loss in 2023. The higher loss was driven mainly by lower net fee and commission income being only partially offset by lower personnel and general expenses. The underlying loss compares to an IFRS net loss before tax of CHF 69.6 million. The difference of CHF 2.8 million mainly relates to the remeasurement of the brand intangible, strategic initiative expenses and foreign exchange loss on pension loan note. (For further information, see note 6 of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements).

    The underlying income taxes in 2024 was a tax expense of CHF 0.1 million compared to a tax expense of CHF 0.3 million in 2023.

    Diluted underlying losses per share in 2024 was a negative CHF 0.25, compared to a negative of CHF 0.32 in 2023. This compares to a diluted IFRS earnings per share of negative CHF 0.27 in 2024. The difference between the diluted underlying and the diluted IFRS earnings per share of CHF 0.02 relates to the lower underlying net loss.

    Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 2024 were CHF 65.1 million, down from CHF 87.2 million as at 31 December 2023.This reduction was driven by the losses made by the Group partially offset by the proceeds received from the ordinary capital increase made by way of a rights offering in November 2024.

    Adjusted tangible equity as at 31 December 2024 was CHF 58.5 million, up from CHF 20.9 million as at 31 December 2023.The main contributor to this increase was ordinary capital increase by way of a rights issue that took place in November 2024. See page 17 of our Annual Report 2024 for full definition of adjusted tangible equity.

    The Board of Directors proposes to shareholders that no dividend will be paid for financial year 2024 given the underlying net loss in 2024.

    Outlook

    GAM continues to focus on implementing its strategy. Our priority is to achieve sustainable overall positive net inflows by rebuilding GAM’s distribution capabilities with a focus on our existing products and new product launches. The timeline for achieving these net inflows will be driven by our success in delivering our strategy, subject to market conditions. GAM continues to target profitability in fiscal year 2026.

    Additional information

    Results Centre | [FY2024 year report] | [FY2024 Investor presentation] | [FY2024 Investor workbook] | [2024 Sustainability Report] | [GAM corporate calendar]

    Investor Relations        
    Magdalena Czyzowska        
    T +44 (0) 207 917 2508            		 Media Relations        
    Colin Bennett        
    T +44 (0) 207 393 8544

    Visit us: www.gam.com
    Follow us: X and LinkedIn

    About GAM Investments

    GAM Investments is a highly scalable global investment platform with strong global distribution capabilities focusing on three core areas, Specialist Active Investing, Alternative Investing and Wealth Management, that is listed in Switzerland. It delivers distinctive and differentiated investment solutions across its Investment and Wealth Management businesses. Its purpose is to protect and enhance clients’ financial future. It attracts and empowers brightest minds to provide investment leadership, innovation and a positive impact on society and the environment. Total assets under management were CHF 16.3 billion as of 31 December 2024. GAM Investments has global distribution with offices in 14 countries and is geographically diverse with clients in almost every continent. Headquartered in Zurich, GAM Investments was founded in 1983 and its registered office is at Hardstrasse 201 Zurich, 8037 Switzerland. For more information about GAM Investments, please visit www.gam.com

    Other Important Information

    This release contains or may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “aim”, “project”, “forecast”, “risk”, “likely”, “intend”, “outlook”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “may”, “might”, “will”, “continue”, “plan”, “probability”, “indicative”, “seek”, “target”, “plan” and other similar expressions are intended to or may identify forward-looking statements.

    Any such statements in this release speak only as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions and contingencies subject to change without notice, as are statements about market and industry trends, projections, guidance, and estimates. Any forward-looking statements in this release are not indications, guarantees, assurances or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the person making such statements, its affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and may involve significant elements of subjective judgement and assumptions as to future events which may or may not be correct and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such statements. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and no person accepts or assumes any liability in connection therewith.

    This release is not a financial product or investment advice, a recommendation to acquire, exchange or dispose of securities or accounting, legal or tax advice. It has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, legal, financial or tax situation and needs of individuals. Before making an investment decision, individuals should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own objectives, legal, financial and tax situation and needs and seek legal, tax and other advice as appropriate for their individual needs and jurisdiction.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese animated blockbuster ‘Ne Zha 2’ screened in Cambodian capital

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2,” the highest-grossing animated film of all time, was screened in Phnom Penh on Tuesday evening, attracting hundreds of moviegoers.

    Premiered at the Olympia Mall’s Legend Cinema, “Ne Zha 2” was dubbed in Chinese, with subtitles in both Chinese and English.

    At the event, many moviegoers posed for photos near the “Ne Zha 2” posters in front of the cinema, and some children dressed up as key characters in the movie, such as Nezha and Aobing.

    “Ne Zha 2” continues the tale of the iconic boy god from Chinese mythology, as Nezha and his ally Aobing struggle to rebuild their physical forms and secure their fate with the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren.

    Throughout the screening, enthusiastic viewers were immersed in the film, reacting with laughter, gasps, excitement, applause and admiration.

    Cambodian viewer Kang Sovanthyda, 24, said she was thrilled to watch the film as she was very eager to see it for a long time after hearing that it captivated audiences worldwide.

    “Visual effects are stunning, and there are funny scenes that make us laugh, but there are also emotional scenes that can make us cry,” she told Xinhua.

    Another moviegoer, Yun Seavvay, said the movie was about the fate of Ne Zha, with a lot of thrilling scenes.

    “For this animated film, I think the design of characters fits traditional Chinese mythology, blending with Chinese culture and implying a lot of educational value,” she told Xinhua. “I could say that this film is amazing and unique for this year.”

    Seavvay said the film also showed respect and affection for parents and relatives, and also told about the value and struggle in life.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: From music to mastery, Myanmar students learn Chinese through song

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Ko Si Thu, a 27-year-old engineer from Kyaukphyu in Rakhine state, Myanmar, is on a journey to master the Chinese language.

    With numerous Chinese projects in his hometown, he realized the importance of learning a foreign language to access better opportunities.

    His approach is to join a Chinese singing class at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. He said he began learning Chinese about four months ago.

    “I want to learn Chinese effectively, so I joined the singing class,” he said while waiting for his lesson on Tuesday.

    Although he doesn’t consider himself a singer, he believes music will help improve his pronunciation and tone. “I’ve been learning tones and vocal training in the class,” he said, adding that he enjoys the songs of Teresa Teng.

    Before joining the singing class, he had already taken a Chinese language course at the center. “There are many Chinese-invested projects in Kyaukphyu, so I think mastering a foreign language is essential. Once I become fluent, I want to work in my hometown,” he said.

    Beyond language, Ko Si Thu has also developed a deeper appreciation for Chinese culture. “I feel connected to Chinese traditions. I’m interested in tea-making, calligraphy, and martial arts like Tai Chi,” he said.

    Like Ko Si Thu, Ma Pwint Hayman Tun, a 27-year-old teacher, also joined the vocal class. “I enjoy dancing and singing, so I joined. I’ve been learning Chinese for three and a half years,” she said.

    Coming from a Myanmar-born Chinese family, she has always felt a deep connection to the language and culture. “I also attended Chinese language and cooking courses at the center,” she said.

    “This is my first time learning to sing. Some songs are hard to understand, but I can feel their emotions. I prefer classic songs over modern ones,” she said, adding that she enjoys music by Chinese artists Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo.

    “Chinese is becoming more popular nowadays,” she said. Beyond music, she is also fascinated by Chinese paintings and cuisine, especially Sichuan hotpot and steamed buns (baozi).

    For Ma Su Lae Yadanar, a 24-year-old Chinese bookseller, inspiration came from her elder sister. “I used to accompany my sister to Chinese singing events, which made me want to sing Chinese songs too,” she said.

    Though she attended short-term Chinese classes at temples as a child, she resumed her studies a year and a half ago. “This is my first time in a Chinese singing class. I prefer modern songs over old ones,” she said.

    For her, the class is an opportunity to improve both her language and singing skills.

    The three-month course at the China Cultural Center in Yangon is led by Ko Phyo, a 31-year-old vocal trainer.

    Ko Phyo believes music plays a crucial role in cultural exchange. “My goal is for my students to be able to sing Chinese songs by the end of the course,” he said.

    With over ten years of experience in singing, he emphasized music’s universal nature. “Even if people speak different languages, they can share the same emotions through music. Songs are a way to understand and learn about a culture,” he explained.

    Xiang Jianbo, the center’s director, introduced the singing course to attract young people to Chinese language learning. “Young people in Myanmar are increasingly interested in Chinese songs, so we organized this course to introduce modern Chinese music,” he said.

    He also highlighted the center’s broader mission. “Our goal is to spread Chinese arts and culture. Since music is a powerful medium for cultural exchange, this is our first singing course, and we will offer more if interest continues to grow.”

    The singing course is part of a summer program celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations. “By introducing Chinese culture, from traditional to modern times, we aim to enhance mutual understanding between our people,” Xiang said.

    Given the presence of many Chinese companies in Myanmar, the center also plans to launch a Myanmar singing course for overseas Chinese to further strengthen cultural ties, he said.

    The singing course consists of 19 sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours and held twice a week. It was opened last week and will run until May 29, according to the center.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Adds Native Support for MegaETH Testnet, Unlocking High-Speed Layer 2 Ecosystem

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has announced native integration of the MegaETH testnet, an advanced EVM-compatible Layer 2 network. This move enables users to explore MegaETH’s growing ecosystem directly within Bitget Wallet, ahead of upcoming incentive campaigns from both teams.

    With this integration, users can now add the MegaETH testnet from the wallet’s network list and access a dedicated DApp zone featuring MegaETH-based applications. Within this zone, users can claim test tokens, interact with smart contracts, and provide liquidity—offering a comprehensive onchain testing experience. The native support simplifies onboarding to MegaETH and aligns with Bitget Wallet’s broader strategy to support emerging Layer 2 infrastructures through a seamless, multichain user experience.

    MegaETH is a next-generation Layer 2 solution built on Ethereum, designed to enhance scalability and transaction speed. By reducing gas fees and increasing throughput, MegaETH aims to support high-frequency decentralized applications (DApps) across sectors like DeFi, GameFi, and SocialFi. The collaboration with Bitget Wallet is expected to drive early user adoption, stimulate developer engagement, and foster the growth of MegaETH’s ecosystem.

    Looking ahead, Bitget Wallet remains committed to supporting more promising Layer 2 solutions and providing users with secure, multi-chain access to innovative blockchain technologies. “Integrating MegaETH allows our users to experience the future of high-performance Layer 2 solutions effortlessly,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “This collaboration aligns with our mission to empower users with seamless access to the evolving Web3 landscape.“

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/026264fe-1370-4e8d-849c-3b4fe3de9336

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Belgium

    Source:

    There’s an ongoing threat of terrorism in Belgium. The threat level issued by Belgian authorities remains at level 3 of 4 – ‘Serious’ (see ‘Safety’). Crowded places, such as music and cultural events, festivals, tourist areas, shopping areas, transport hubs, major sporting events and other public areas, are possible targets. Be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local authorities. There are temporary border controls in place to travel into France and Germany from Belgium (see ‘Travel’).

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Mastery Made Easy: A First Look at HIKMICRO’s New Devices at JAGD & HUND 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DORTMUND, GERMANY, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HIKMICRO, a pioneering optics manufacturer, is set to unveil two groundbreaking thermal monoculars at JAGD & HUND Dortmund 2025, reinforcing its commitment to innovation in hunting technology. The FALCON 2.0 and CONDOR LRF 2.0 will be showcased at Germany’s Messe Dortmund from January 28 to February 2, 2025, embodying the company’s “Mastery Made Easy” philosophy.

    These new devices represent a significant leap forward in thermal hunting technology, focusing on one-handed operation and superior image quality. The FALCON 2.0 and CONDOR LRF 2.0 feature a highly sensitive 15mK thermal detector, capturing minute temperature differences and providing rich image details on a 0.49″ display.

    Both models offer precise laser rangefinding capabilities up to 1000 meters and incorporate HIKMICRO’s Shutterless Image System (HSIS) for continuous, uninterrupted viewing.

    Mr. Wang, HIKMICRO’s R&D expert, stated, “We have made comprehensive improvements to the FALCON and CONDOR models with ‘Mastery Performance’ and ‘One-handed, easy operation’ functions. We made these advancements while maintaining high image quality to provide the most comfortable observation, with usability enhancements delivering a simplified and intuitive operating experience.”

    The thermal monoculars boast an optimized 21700 battery, providing over six hours of operation time, and are compatible with external power banks. Both models feature a rear focus wheel and inline button arrangement for intuitive one-handed use, catering to hunters of all ages and handedness preferences.

    HIKMICRO equips the CONDOR LRF 2.0 series with an integral laser rangefinder and sculpts it to cradle the hand. Meanwhile, the FALCON 2.0 maintains a traditional cylindrical shape, and the FQ50L 2.0 model features an in-lens LRF module design. These ergonomic designs guarantee comfortable operation and reduced fatigue during extended use.

    Its commitment to user-centered innovation is evident in the development process of these thermal monoculars. The company conducted extensive market research and rigorous testing, including sending prototypes to professional hunters for real-life scenario evaluations. This meticulous method certifies that the final products meet the highest performance and usability standards.

    The new thermal monoculars also offer enhanced connectivity through the HIKMICRO Sight App, allowing users to live-view, browse and save captured images and videos, share with friends, upgrade products, and track after-sales information. This feature enhances the overall hunting experience and fosters a sense of community among users.

    Stefan Li, the company’s overseas director, emphasized the company’s vision: “We aim to keep blazing the trail by creating more precise, faster, and easier ways to help hunters master the mystery of the night. Our new FALCON 2.0 and CONDOR LRF 2.0 are testament to this commitment, providing hunters with the tools they need to enhance their skills and enjoy their passion to the fullest.“

    As HIKMICRO prepares to showcase these innovative devices at JAGD & HUND Dortmund 2025, the company continues to push the boundaries of thermal hunting technology while respecting traditional hunting values and expert craftsmanship.

    About HIKMICRO

    HIKMICRO is a world-leading optics brand committed to “Continually Make Crafted Confidence” for hunters. The company focuses on user-centered innovation, pushing the boundaries of technological performance while respecting traditional hunting values and expert craftsmanship. With a dedication to providing mastery solutions, HIKMICRO aims to make hunting easier and more rewarding for enthusiasts around the globe.

    Contact Information

    Contact: Lina Wang

    Brand: HIKMICRO

    Email Address: wanglina21@hikmicrotech.com

    Website: https://www.hikmicrotech.com/en/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: US military conducts fresh airstrikes on Yemen’s Saada province

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The U.S. military carried out two airstrikes on Yemen’s northern Saada province Tuesday night, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

    The strikes targeted the Sahar district in central Saada, the report said, without providing further details. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The U.S. military has not commented.

    Saada is the main stronghold of the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has controlled northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since the civil war erupted in late 2014.

    The airstrikes are part of an ongoing U.S. campaign against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, launched in mid-March.

    The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Israeli sites and ships in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to retaliate against “American aggression.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia, Ukraine hold parallel US-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Three days of technical-level negotiations on the details of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine concluded Tuesday without an official joint statement, as participating parties offered somewhat conflicting assessments of the talks.

    The intense parallel interactions between the United States and delegations from Ukraine and Russia on the table, including a 12-hour one between the United States and Russia on Monday, and two shorter rounds between the United States and Ukraine on Sunday and Tuesday, came as fighting on the battlefield remains intense.

    Although Washington signaled on Tuesday its willingness to continue facilitating negotiations between the warring parties, analysts remain skeptical about the prospects of such a diplomatic push, citing deep-seated distrust, conflicting demands among stakeholders, and the inherent complexities of the process.

    Conflicting assessments

    For the latest talks, which build on previous negotiations held in Saudi Arabia and subsequent phone exchanges between the presidents of the three countries, the U.S. delegation included Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the State Department. The Russian delegation was led by Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov headed the Ukrainian delegation.

    On Tuesday, hours after the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations concluded their second round of talks, the White House issued separate statements elaborating on its understanding of the parallel meetings.

    It stated that the United States had agreed separately with Russia and Ukraine to “ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea,” and to develop measures for implementing the presidents’ agreement to “ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.”

    The United States, with Russia and Ukraine respectively, also “welcomes the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements” and “will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace,” the statement added.

    Among the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks, the United States pledged to help restore Russia’s access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

    In the U.S.-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war, securing the release of civilian detainees, and ensuring the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

    Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday that Russia and the United States had agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, contingent on the easing of sanctions on Russia’s agricultural and food trade.

    Russia also stipulated the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia, according to the Kremlin.

    It further announced that a “temporary moratorium” on strikes against energy facilities — including nuclear power plants, oil refineries, gas pipelines, and hydroelectric dams — would be in effect for 30 days starting March 18 and “may be extended by mutual agreement.”

    Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18 to halt attacks on energy facilities in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

    As for Kiev, while Umerov stated on Tuesday that “all parties” had agreed on the need to prohibit attacks on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he also warned that any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea would “violate the agreement’s spirit” and be considered a “threat to Ukraine’s national security.” In response, Ukraine would exercise its right to self-defense, he cautioned.

    Mixed sentiments

    Commenting on the three-day peace negotiations, Trump said the U.S. side was “in deep discussions with Russia and Ukraine,” which were “going well.”

    He added that he would look into Russia’s requests for sanctions relief.

    However, the mood is quite different for both Russia and Ukraine. Although the meetings in Saudi Arabia hinted at the possibility of a broader ceasefire, the two countries remain wary of the latest deal, voicing contrasting concerns over its implementation.

    In an interview with local media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow needs “clear guarantees” from the White House regarding the agreement on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea.

    “Given the sad experience of agreements with just Kiev, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and his team,” Lavrov said.

    Zelensky accused the Kremlin of “lying” and “manipulating” by saying the Black Sea ceasefire depends on “sanctions,” warning that the Russians “must understand that if they launch strikes, there will be a strong response.”

    At a press conference earlier Tuesday, Zelensky criticized Washington’s decision to help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural goods, dismissing it as “a weakening of the position and a weakening of sanctions.”

    The Ukrainian president said he hopes to gain clarity from an upcoming summit in Paris regarding which countries would deploy forces to enforce the peace agreements.

    “Our task is to come out with the result of understanding who we have and who is ready” to contribute forces to implement measures to halt the conflict, Zelensky said.

    In the meantime, Europe, once again finding itself sidelined in addressing the conflict, has been actively organizing support for Ukraine in recent weeks.

    French President Emmanuel Macron announced that leaders of the so-called “coalition of the willing” will meet again this week, focusing on short-term military support for Ukrainian forces and exploring long-term “security guarantees” to help sustain Ukraine’s defense. Macron’s remarks have been dismissed by the United States as “a posture and a pose.”

    The meeting in Paris with Zelensky will be the latest in a series of high-stakes gatherings among European leaders, following London’s hosting of discussions on Thursday among European military chiefs from the coalition backing Ukraine.

    Britain and France are taking a leading role in organizing Western support for Ukraine after Trump surprised Europe by initiating talks with Putin. The two European powers have pledged to help provide the military force needed to keep Russia “at bay” if a ceasefire is reached.

    Uncertain future

    Notably, the battlefield showed no signs of quieting despite the peace talks in Saudi Arabia, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting fresh waves of drone strikes and accusing each other of escalation.

    On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had “continued to deliberately strike Russian peaceful energy infrastructure facilities using UAVs.”

    “By continuing daily attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, Zelensky confirms his inability to negotiate and his lack of control by external guarantors responsible for ensuring compliance with any possible agreements,” the ministry said.

    In Ukraine, the number of people injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration.

    Preliminary data indicated that a Russian missile struck a residential area of the city, damaging several apartment buildings and an educational institution, the Sumy Regional Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

    Experts have pointed out that a real, permanent peace settlement could be far off, citing deep-rooted divisions and a growing trust deficit among the stakeholders.

    Khalid Almatrafi, Bureau Chief of Asharq TV in Saudi Arabia, told Xinhua that “the escalating mutual attacks … reflect the deepening gap between the two sides and complicate any negotiating process.”

    The repeated accusations deepen mistrust and make it difficult to establish any “confidence-building measures,” which are essential for transitioning from a ceasefire to a sustainable political settlement, said Almatrafi.

    Echoing Almatrafi’s viewpoint, Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi researcher at Al Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that “a lack of trust” poses a major threat to reaching an agreement, “given the history of violations of agreements between the two sides.”

    “In 2022, several rounds of negotiations took place … in the end, nothing came of it,” said Andrey Kortunov, a scholar with the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia. “Over the past three years, there has been a major escalation, and the situation has changed,” making it “difficult for both sides to find compromises,” Kortunov said.

    “Given the difficulty in enforcing a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure agreed upon last week, it remains to be seen how effective the latest deal will be,” The Independent, a British online newspaper, reported.

    The newspaper also questioned Washington’s motives in assuming the mediator’s role, particularly concerning Ukraine’s mineral and energy resources.

    “The Trump administration has claimed that Washington’s stake in Ukraine’s minerals and energy resources could deter Russia from launching future attacks,” but such a diplomatic push would, in fact, grant Washington “a vast stake in Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits,” it said.

    “Ukraine’s gas infrastructure could also be of interest to the White House, with Kiev owning the world’s third-largest underground gas storage capacity,” it noted. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange Enhances VIP Program to Empower High-Volume Traders Worldwide

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, is thrilled to announce a significant revamp of its VIP program, specifically designed to cater to high-volume traders among its 6.8 million users globally. This initiative highlights BTCC’s continued commitment to delivering an exceptional trading experience through increased efficiency, exclusive rewards, and personalized support.

    Founded in 2011, BTCC has been a trusted name in crypto, offering reliable and user-friendly trading services across the globe. The newly enhanced VIP program ushers in a new era of perks, prestige, and personalization for elite traders seeking more than just competitive fees.

    The revamped VIP program introduces several exciting features:

    • Competitive Trading Fees: VIP futures trading fees have been reduced to an industry-leading rate of as low as 0.007%.
    • Enhanced Liquidity: SVIP users can now withdraw up to 2,500,000 USDT daily, catering to the demands of high-volume traders.
    • Generous Upgrade Rewards: Each upgrade in VIP levels unlocks rewards worth up to 2,500 USDT, including trading vouchers and exclusive merchandise.
    • 24/7 Personalized Support: VIPs enjoy round-the-clock access to dedicated account managers for tailored trading assistance.
    • Community Prestige: Users receive a custom VIP badge that reflects their status within the BTCC community.
    • Luxury Experiences: SVIP users will be randomly selected to win premium vacation packages to destinations like the Maldives and Bali.
    • VIP Status Protection: SVIP users benefit from a grace period that prevents immediate downgrades, even during periods of reduced trading activity.

    “We’re incredibly excited to launch this revamped VIP program, which truly puts our users at the heart of everything we do,” expressed Alex, Head of Operations at BTCC. “This revamped program is all about empowering high-volume traders. With tailored services, competitive fees, and exclusive rewards, we are dedicated to providing the tools and support that our most active users need to thrive in the fast-paced crypto market.”

    About BTCC

    Founded in 2011, BTCC is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange with the vision to make crypto trading reliable and accessible to everyone. With a strong presence in over 100 countries and regions and a user base of over 6.8 million, BTCC continues to deliver innovation, security, and unmatched user experience in the cryptocurrency world.

    Official website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

    X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

    Contact: press@btcc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd06d721-8eb5-4cc5-8234-5a5cc7bf7c5e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How Netflix has shaped (and shattered) our content landscape over the past decade – and what comes next

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexa Scarlata, Research Fellow, Media & Communication, RMIT University

    Shutterstock

    To mark 10 years since Netflix began operating in Australia, we and our colleagues at the Streaming Industries and Genres Network have published a report that looks at the state of Australia’s streaming industry today – and back at the platforms that have failed over the years.

    It once seemed like Netflix was the be-all and end-all of streaming in Australia. But a decade of competition with other streamers, and stress on local content, paint a very different picture.

    The streaming wars rage on

    Australia’s “streaming wars” kicked off in early 2015 with the arrival of Stan and Netflix, joining smaller players already on the scene. At the time, some industry insiders predicted the new streaming video-on-demand services would quickly consolidate – that there was room for only two major players: Netflix and one other.

    These early assumptions were proven wrong. Instead, Australia has sustained numerous streamers of different sizes, audiences and ownership. The larger, more generalist services such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ compete directly with each other for exclusive content.

    Other niche genre players such as Shudder (horror) and Hayu (reality TV) have managed to stay afloat by catering to a specific audience segment and keeping their prices low.

    There have also been a few fatalities along the way. Quickflix and Presto were early to the market. Both services had gained considerable ground by 2014, with Quicklix leading the way. But they were eventually viewed as sluggish and limited in comparison to Netflix.

    Netflix always on top

    Netflix has always been the most popular streaming service in Australia. One million users had access to the platform within just three months of its arrival in 2015.

    In 2020, analytics firm Ampere Analysis identified Australia as the most highly-penetrated Netflix market in the world, then available in 63% of Australian homes, compared to 50% in the United States.

    In the first half of 2024, it was used by 67% of Australian adults, including some 800,000 people with an ad-tier subscription.

    The global behemoth has produced some notable local titles.

    In January of last year, the series adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe became Netflix’s most successful Australian-made show in its first two weeks on the platform.

    Later in April, the second season of the Heartbreak High reboot debuted at number one in Australia and stayed on the Global Top 10 English TV Series list for three consecutive weeks.



    Read more:
    Streaming, surveillance and the power of suggestion: the hidden cost of 10 years of Netflix

    Collectively, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+ and Stan spent A$225.2 million on 55 commissioned or co-commissioned Australian programs in the 2023–24 financial year.

    That said, their commitment to the local production sector over the last decade has been limited, as they have no obligation to invest in local content.

    A lack of regulation decimates local genres

    The lack of streaming regulation in Australia, alongside the gradual watering-down of commercial broadcaster obligations, has resulted in the collapse of investment in local content.

    Children’s TV, documentary, drama TV programming and Australian film have all suffered as a result.

    The introduction of multi-national streamers has radically shifted financing practices in Australia, leaving our production sector in distress.

    Last year, we partnered with ACMI to pull together a symposium where streaming industry insiders discussed the deeper implications of streaming on local genres, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead.

    We heard from Andy Barclay, manager of business and legal affairs at Screen Producer Australia, who said the traditional “jigsaw puzzle” of finance planning based on international territories was all but gone in favour of major streamers offering full funding and “a little premium” upfront.

    But this comes at a cost, as the streamers then control global distribution and hold a tight grip on viewership data. It also means local production can become beholden to the whims of US business interests. As Barclay explain:

    These huge [streaming] companies, their Australian businesses […] we don’t drive their business decisions. It’s what happens over in the United States that drives their business decisions.

    Nonetheless, having fresh, cash-rich and risk-taking players in the Australian content market has led to opportunities for some local creators.

    As Sam Lingham of Australian comedy group Aunty Donna remarked on the same panel:

    Netflix, creatively, were pretty hands-off. We pitched them the show and they were like, ‘yeah, go do that’.

    What’s on the horizon?

    The streaming sector in Australia is now poised to splinter even further.

    Warner Bros Discovery will launch its streaming platform, Max, next week. It will be a real blow to the Foxtel-owned streamer, Binge, which has long touted its exclusive rights to much of the Warner catalogue.

    There are also concerns about the access and affordability of sport. This year, a new AFL broadcast agreement with Fox Sports and Channel Seven saw Saturday night games move behind a paywall. People will now need Kayo Sports or Foxtel to watch these games live.

    Big streamers have also entered the fray. Back in 2016, Netflix said it had no intention of investing in live sport. But we’re now seeing it and other players such as Prime Video, Apple TV+ and YouTube buy into sports rights around the world.

    According to Free TV Chief Executive Bridget Fair

    we saw it [in 2023] with Amazon hoovering up the whole of the World Cup cricket and it’s going to keep happening […] people who previously got a lot of stuff for free are going to have to start paying.

    Finally, many streamers – Netflix, Binge, Prime Video and Stan – have introduced or announced that they will introduce ad-tier subscriptions. Streamers can expect to see better profit margins on their advertising-supported offerings, compared to the monthly subscription model.

    Cheaper, ad-supported subscriptions may prove to be a popular option for viewers stacking multiple subscriptions. Already, 800,000 Australians have signed up to Netflix’s A$7.99 + ads option. But this does make for a disrupted, broadcast-like viewing experience (and one you still have to pay for).

    As the last 10 years of streaming in Australia has shown, the future can be hard to predict when it comes to new players entering established markets. One thing seems certain though – Netflix is here to stay.

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

    – ref. How Netflix has shaped (and shattered) our content landscape over the past decade – and what comes next – https://theconversation.com/how-netflix-has-shaped-and-shattered-our-content-landscape-over-the-past-decade-and-what-comes-next-251471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Dundee Corporation Delivers on Strategic Goals and Reports 2024 Profit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “2024 marked a transformative year for Dundee with broad positive performance in our core strategy and key initiatives that further align our capital structure with our long-term growth objectives,” said Jonathan Goodman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dundee Corporation. “During the third quarter, we sold 11 million shares of our position in G Mining Ventures Corp. (“G Mining”) for proceeds of $95.9 million, which was partially used to redeem both classes of our preferred shares and substantially pay down our outstanding loan balance. The redemption of the preferred shares and repayment of our corporate loan is a significant milestone, reducing our cash outflows, enhancing our financial flexibility and positioning Dundee for continued, sustainable growth for the long-term. As we move into 2025, our focus is increasingly on broadening Dundee’s sources of cash flow. Development of the Borborema Project, where we hold an attractive royalty, is progressing well, according to its operator, Aura Minerals Inc., with ramp-up scheduled for early 2025 and commercial production expected in the latter half of the year. This key milestone marks a pivotal step in reinforcing Dundee’s financial position and highlights our ongoing efforts to establish income streams that support our long-term growth objectives.”

    “In addition, we continue to make considerable progress in simplifying Dundee as we shed non-core businesses and investments and free up our capital and talent which can be deployed more strategically. In September, we announced our exit from the investment management business with the divestiture of our flow-through funds which will position us to operate with greater agility in the mining sector. Post year-end, we announced that the ownership group of Android, of which we are 20%, has agreed to sell its interest in the company which demonstrates continued rationalization of the non-core legacy assets and enables us to recycle capital into our core mining business.

    Mr. Goodman concluded: “The entire team at Dundee continues to work diligently to implement and execute our strategy across all fronts. I am encouraged by our ability to sustain and grow our momentum into 2025 as we look forward to the opportunities ahead of us. Our team remains committed to growing the core business, and positioning Dundee to deliver long-term, sustainable value for our stakeholders, shareholders and partners. I would like to thank the entire team for their hard work in navigating a time of continued evolution.”

    SOLID YEAR-END 2024 RESULTS

    • In August 2024, the Corporation sold 11.0 million shares of G Mining Ventures Corp. (“G Mining”) for net proceeds to the Corporation of $95.9 million. Subsequent to year-end, the Corporation sold its remaining 2.9 million shares of G Mining for net proceeds of $45.3 million.
    • Upon the partial sale of G Mining in August of 2024, the Corporation partially repaid $14.0 million of its outstanding loan with Earlston Investments Corp. in 2024 and paid the remaining $5.0 million of loan principal in 2025.
    • In September 2024, the Corporation paid an aggregate of $46.7 million to exercise its option to redeem all its outstanding Preference Shares Series 2 and Preference Shares Series 3 at a price of $25.00 per share and pay the final associated dividends.
    • Subsequent to year-end, Dundee announced the sale of its interest in Android Industries, L.L.C. (“Android”) for cash proceeds of approximately $24.5 million at closing, with additional proceeds payable contingent upon the release of all escrows.
    • In December 2024, the Corporation announced its exit from the investment management business with the divesture of its flow-through related investment management contracts for nominal consideration, aligning internal resources to our long-term strategic priorities.
    • In the third quarter of 2024, Dundee backstopped an $8.0 million rights offering for Maritime Resources Corp. (“Maritime”) and made purchases pursuant to private agreements to acquire approximately 253.0 million common shares of the company and increase our undiluted ownership interest to 43%. The Corporation earned 33.2 million compensation warrants for backstopping the rights offering. Subsequent to year-end, Dundee exercised warrants to acquire 11.8 million additional common shares of Maritime, increasing Dundee’s undiluted ownership interest to 44%.
    • Reported net loss from all portfolio investments for the fourth quarter of 2024 of $2.1 million (2023 – loss of $0.8 million). The key drivers during the quarter included a $4.3 million and $2.9 million market depreciation in the Corporation’s investments in Saturn Metals Limited (“Saturn Metals”) and Ausgold Limited (“Ausgold”), respectively, offset by a $3.7 million investment gain in G Mining. For 2024, the Corporation reported net income from portfolio investments of $65.9 million (2023 – loss of $23.0 million). The top performer of 2024 was the $53.6 million fair value gain in Reunion Gold Corporation.
    • In October 2024, the Corporation announced the completion of the sale of 8,000 shares of TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd. to a private investor at a price of US$125.00 per share for proceeds of US$1.0 million (Cdn$1.4 million).
    • Reported consolidated general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of $3.8 million (2023 – $2.5 million). For 2024, the Corporation reported consolidated general and administrative expenses of $16.3 million (2023 – $16.1 million).
    • Reported net loss attributable to owners of the Corporation for the fourth quarter of 2024 of $8.2 million (2023 – $2.8 million). For 2024, the Corporation reported net earnings attributable to owners of the Corporation of $59.1 million (2023 – loss of $38.8 million), or earnings of $0.64 per share (2023 – a loss of $0.43 per share).

    SEGMENTED FINANCIAL RESULTS

    Mining Investments

    In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Corporation reported a net loss before taxes from the mining investments segment of $4.2 million (2023 – $1.6 million). Performance from the mining portfolio investments incurred a total loss of $2.6 million (2023 – $1.3 million), which is included in net earnings or loss from this segment. Key drivers during the quarter included a $4.3 million and $2.9 million market depreciation in the Corporation’s investments in Saturn Metals and Ausgold, respectively, offset by a $3.7 million investment gain in G Mining Ventures Corp. (“G Mining”). The share of losses from equity accounted mining investments during the fourth quarter of 2024 was $1.6 million (2023 – $0.3 million).

    During 2024, the Corporation reported net earnings before taxes from the mining investments segment of $61.6 million (2023 – loss of $24.0 million). Performance from the mining investments portfolio contributed $62.5 million (2023 – loss of $24.0 million) to net earnings or loss before taxes in this segment. The key driver of performance during the current year was a $53.6 million market appreciation in the Corporation’s investment in Reunion Gold Corporation, prior to the business combination with G Mining. The share of losses from equity accounting mining investments during 2024 was $1.7 million (2023 – $2.2 million).

    Corporate and others

    The Corporation reported a pre-tax loss from the corporate and others segment, including non-core subsidiaries, of $0.5 million (2023 – $0.3 million) during the three months ended December 31, 2024. During 2024, the corporate and others segment reported pre-tax earnings of $5.5 million (2023 – loss of $12.0 million).

    The fair value of non-mining portfolio investments in the corporate and others segment increased by $0.5 million (2023 – $0.5 million) during the fourth quarter of the current year. The fair value of portfolio investments in this segment increased by $3.4 million (2023 – $1.1 million) during 2024.

    In the fourth quarter, the segment’s non-mining equity accounted investments reported pre-tax earnings of $1.9 million (2023 – $0.3 million). During the same period, the segment’s subsidiaries reported pre-tax losses of $0.1 million (2023 – $0.1 million). During 2024, the segment’s non-mining equity accounted investments reported pre-tax earnings of $1.5 million (2023 – loss of $1.9 million), while subsidiaries reported pre-tax losses of $1.3 million (2023 – $3.2 million).

    Mining Services

    During the three months ended December 31, 2024, the mining services segment, comprised of the Corporation’s 78%-owned subsidiary, Dundee Sustainable Technologies Inc. (“Dundee Technologies”), reported a pre-tax loss of $4.5 million (2023 – $1.2 million), which included a $2.9 million impairment charge to intangible assets and receivables. During 2024, Dundee Technologies incurred a pre-tax loss of $7.9 million (2023 – $4.3 million).

    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY ON A PER SHARE BASIS

           
    Carrying value as at December 31,   2024       2023  
    Mining Investments      
    Portfolio investments $ 95,490     $ 126,671  
    Equity accounted investments   30,013       15,731  
    Royalty   18,921       18,921  
        144,424       161,323  
    Corporate and Others      
    Corporate   32,976       18,342  
    Portfolio investments ‒ other   70,495       68,482  
    Equity accounted investments ‒ other   30,240       28,874  
    Real estate joint ventures   2,364       2,852  
    Subsidiaries   3,403       7,738  
        139,478       126,288  
    Mining Services      
    Subsidiaries   (208 )     2,439  
    Equity accounted investment   –       98  
        (208 )     2,537  
           
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 283,694     $ 290,148  
    Less: Shareholders’ equity attributable to holders of:      
    Preference Shares, series 2   –       (27,667 )
    Preference Shares, series 3   –       (18,125 )
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLASS A SUBORDINATE SHARES AND CLASS B SHARES OF THE CORPORATION $ 283,694     $ 244,356  
           
    Number of shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding:      
    Class A Subordinate Shares   86,269,735       85,832,805  
    Class B Shares   3,114,491       3,114,491  
    Total number of shares issued and outstanding   89,384,226       88,947,296  
           
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY ON A PER SHARE BASIS * $ 3.17     $ 2.75  

    * Shareholders’ Equity on a per share basis is calculated as total shareholders’ equity per the financial statements, less the carrying amount of Preference shares, series 2 and series 3, and divided by the total number of Class A and Class B shares issued and outstanding.

    The Corporation’s audited consolidated financial statements as at and for years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, along with the accompanying management’s discussion and analysis, as well as the Annual Information Form, have been filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) and may be viewed by interested parties under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca or the Corporation’s website at www.dundeecorporation.com.

    ABOUT DUNDEE CORPORATION:

    Dundee Corporation is a public Canadian independent mining-focused holding company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “DC.A”. The Corporation is primarily engaged in acquiring mineral resource assets. The Corporation operates with the objective of unlocking value through strategic investments in mining projects globally. Our team conducts due diligence in order to assess the geological, technical, environmental, and financial merits and risks of each project and looks to deploy capital where it can either seek to generate investment returns or where the Corporation can collaborate with operating partners and take strategic partnerships through direct interests in mining operations.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

    This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects Dundee Corporation’s current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Dundee Corporation’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form of Dundee Corporation and subsequent filings made with securities commissions in Canada. Dundee Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Investor and Media Relations
    T: (416) 864-3584
    E: ir@dundeecorporation.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump silences Voice of America – end of a propaganda machine or void for China and Russia to fill?

    ANALYSIS: By Valerie A. Cooper, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Of all the contradictions and ironies of Donald Trump’s second presidency so far, perhaps the most surprising has been his shutting down the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for being “radical propaganda”.

    Critics have long accused the agency — and its affiliated outlets such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia — of being a propaganda arm of US foreign policy.

    But to the current president, the USAGM has become a promoter of “anti-American ideas” and agendas — including allegedly suppressing stories critical of Iran, sympathetically covering the issue of “white privilege” and bowing to pressure from China.

    Propaganda is clearly in the eye of the beholder. The Moscow Times reported Russian officials were elated by the demise of the “purely propagandistic” outlets, while China’s Global Times celebrated the closure of a “lie factory”.

    Meanwhile, the European Commission hailed USAGM outlets as a “beacon of truth, democracy and hope”. All of which might have left the average person understandably confused: Voice of America? Wasn’t that the US propaganda outlet from World War II?

    Well, yes. But the reality of USAGM and similar state-sponsored global media outlets is more complex — as are the implications of the US agency’s demise.

    Public service or state propaganda?
     The USAGM is one of several international public service media outlets based in Western democracies. Others include Australia’s ABC International, the BBC World Service, CBC/Radio-Canada, France Médias Monde, NHK-World Japan, Deutsche Welle in Germany and SRG SSR in Switzerland.

    Part of the Public Media Alliance, they are similar to national public service media, largely funded by taxpayers to uphold democratic ideals of universal access to news and information.

    Unlike national public media, however, they might not be consumed — or even known — by domestic audiences. Rather, they typically provide news to countries without reliable independent media due to censorship or state-run media monopolies.

    The USAGM, for example, provides news in 63 languages to more than 100 countries. It has been credited with bringing attention to issues such as protests against covid-19 lockdowns in China and women’s struggles for equal rights in Iran.

    On the other hand, the independence of USAGM outlets has been questioned often, particularly as they are required to share government-mandated editorials.

    Voice of America has been criticised for its focus on perceived ideological adversaries such as Russia and Iran. And my own research has found it perpetuates stereotypes and the neglect of African nations in its news coverage.

    Leaving a void
     Ultimately, these global media outlets wouldn’t exist if there weren’t benefits for the governments that fund them. Sharing stories and perspectives that support or promote certain values and policies is an effective form of “public diplomacy”.

    Yet these international media outlets differ from state-controlled media models because of editorial systems that protect them from government interference.

    The Voice of America’s “firewall”, for instance, “prohibits interference by any US government official in the objective, independent reporting of news”. Such protections allow journalists to report on their own governments more objectively.

    In contrast, outlets such as China Media Group (CMG), RT from Russia, and PressTV from Iran also reach a global audience in a range of languages. But they do this through direct government involvement.

    CMG subsidiary CCTV+, for example, states it is “committed to telling China’s story to the rest of the world”.

    Though RT states it is an autonomous media outlet, research has found the Russian government oversees hiring editors, imposing narrative angles, and rejecting stories.

    A Voice of America staffer protests outside the Washington DC offices on March 17, 2025, after employees were placed on administrative leave. Image: Getty Images/The Conversation

    Other voices get louder
     The biggest concern for Western democracies is that these other state-run media outlets will fill the void the USAGM leaves behind — including in the Pacific.

    Russia, China and Iran are increasing funding for their state-run news outlets, with China having spent more than US$6.6 billion over 13 years on its global media outlets. China Media Group is already one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, providing news content to more than 130 countries in 44 languages.

    And China has already filled media gaps left by Western democracies: after the ABC stopped broadcasting Radio Australia in the Pacific, China Radio International took over its frequencies.

    Worryingly, the differences between outlets such as Voice of America and more overtly state-run outlets aren’t immediately clear to audiences, as government ownership isn’t advertised.

    An Australian senator even had to apologise recently after speaking with PressTV, saying she didn’t know the news outlet was affiliated with the Iranian government, or that it had been sanctioned in Australia.

    Switched off
     Trump’s move to dismantle the USAGM doesn’t come as a complete surprise, however. As the authors of Capturing News, Capturing Democracy: Trump and the Voice of America described, the first Trump administration failed in its attempts to remove the firewall and install loyalists.

    This perhaps explains why Trump has resorted to more drastic measures this time. And, as with many of the current administration’s legally dubious actions, there has been resistance.

    The American Foreign Service Association says it will challenge the dismantling of the USAGM, while the Czech Republic is seeking EU support to keep Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty on the air.

    But for many of the agency’s journalists, contractors, broadcasting partners and audiences, it may be too late. Last week, The New York Times reported some Voice of America broadcasts had already been replaced by music.

    Dr Valerie A. Cooper is lecturer in media and communication, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington.  This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Censorship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 25, 2025

    Durbin questions a majority witness on whether the January 6 insurrection was protected free speech; highlights the Trump Administration’s assault on the First Amendment

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing entitled “The Censorship Industrial Complex.” 

    Durbin began by asking Benjamin Weingarten, a Commentator and Senior Contributor to The Federalist, about the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Mr. Weingarten has written about the existence of a so-called Censorship Industrial Complex that he believes has been directed by the Biden Administration. As part of this, Weingarten has stated, “the Capitol riot fueled the war on wrongthink” and that “[c]lemency for Capitol rioters, perhaps above all other opening actions [by the Trump Administration], should represent the start of the end of that war.”

    “Do you think the January 6 riot at the Capitol was protected free speech?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Weingarten responded, “I think to the extent there was peaceful protest, that is free speech, and when it bleeds into violence to action, that’s when it certainly crosses a line.”

    Durbin responded, “You believe that some of the individuals who received full and unconditional pardons by the President of the United States had in fact crossed the line and were guilty of criminal conduct?”

    Mr. Weingarten stated that “some people [on January 6] committed crimes.”

    “They certainly did [commit crimes]—140 policemen were assaulted by these rioters. I’m on the policemen’s side and I hope you are too,” said Durbin.

    Durbin then asked about Mr. Weingarten’s “whole-of-society war” rhetoric and what it means. Mr. Weingarten said it’s when “government is working hand-in-hand with civil society to achieve some sort of outcome.”

    “Do you think that’s inherently wrong or insidious?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Weingarten responded, “On its face, it’s potentially chilling when you have government and civil society working hand-in-glove because that blurring of the line between civil society and the state can cross into potentially draconian methods and outcomes.”

    Durbin then asked about whether Mr. Weingarten’s definition of “whole-of-society-war” is in line with the former President George W. Bush’s actions following 9/11.

    Durbin then asked Dr. Mary Anne Franks, a Professor at George Washington University Law School, about the Trump Administration’s attacks on law firms. The Trump Administration has recently targeted several law firms for their association with the President’s perceived enemies, including Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss. Reportedly, the Administration has created a list of more than a dozen firms that it may target.

    “I think this attack on law firms for representing unpopular clients—unpopular with this Administration—is one of the most dangerous developments I’ve seen and the violation of basic free speech… What do you think about the future of legal representation at these law firms, at least one of them has reached a settlement with the Trump Administration?” Durbin asked.

    Dr. Franks responded, “I very much share your alarm about those actions because as you mentioned, access to the courts is a very key principle of our freedoms, and to threaten law firms that are trying to do what all of us should rely on which is to defend people’s rights in court, is extremely chilling.”

    Durbin concluded by asking Gabe Rottman, Vice President of Policy at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), about the Trump Administration’s views on freedom of the press. The Trump White House recently refused to allow the Associated Press (AP) in the White House press pool for using “Gulf of Mexico” instead of “Gulf of America.”

    “You use the term ‘Gulf of Mexico’ [and] you’re not welcome in the White House,” Durbin said.

    Mr. Rottman responded, “it’s explicit viewpoint discrimination that underpins retaliatory actions by the White House and that makes it a First Amendment violation.”

    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stealing with Force – Jaycar Moonah

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Stealing with Force – Jaycar Moonah

    Tuesday, 25 March 2025 – 9:27 pm.

    Approximately 5:20pm today police attended a reported Robbery at the Jaycar store in Moonah. A 19 year old man and a 19 year old woman are in custody assisting police with their enquiries.
    Police allege that the pair entered the store and stole property, and that physical force was used when staff approached them. A witness then assisted and the 19 year old man is alleged to have threatened that he had a knife, although is not believed he had possession of one at the time. There were no injuries sustained by any person.
    Police located the man and woman leaving the area and were safely taken into custody without incident. The stolen property was also located nearby.
    Sergeant Eaves said “Tasmania Police are thankful there was a safe and quick resolution to this incident. Shop stealing remains a focus area for police and we will continue to target those offending.”
    Police have spoken to witnesses in the immediate area as well as obtaining CCTV footage. Investigations are continuing. Police are aware that further members of the public may have witnessed the incident and anybody able to provide further information is asked to contact police on 131 444.
    Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Tillis Introduce Legislation to Update Performing Artist Tax Deduction

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced legislation to provide much-needed tax relief to working artists. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) tax deduction, an above-the-line tax deduction which allows certain performing artists to deduct the cost of expenses incurred in the course of their employment.

    The Qualified Performing Artist tax deduction has not been updated since its inception in 1986 and is currently only available to those making less than $16,000 a year, meaning that very few artists qualify. This legislation would update and increase the income ceiling to $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for married joint filers, allowing more lower- and middle-income performing artists to receive tax relief for work-related expenses. This bill also indexes the deduction for inflation so it automatically adjusts for increases in the cost of living in the future.

    “Middle class and up-and-coming artists have found their home in the Commonwealth making meaningful contributions to our rich culture,” Sen. Warner said. “This legislation levels the playing field for more artists by treating them like the small businesspeople they are, enriching our society and spurring our commerce.”

    “The arts play a vital role in North Carolina’s culture and economy, yet many artists struggle with financial burdens that make it difficult to sustain their careers,” Sen. Tillis said. “By updating this outdated tax deduction, this commonsense legislation ensures that hardworking artists can deduct necessary expenses, just like other professionals. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to provide long-overdue tax relief to the creative community.” 

    Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 24, 2025, by Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA).

    The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act is endorsed by numerous organizations advocating for the rights of emerging artists, including the Actors’ Equity Association, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs. 

    “We commend Senators Warner and Tillis for championing tax fairness for our members and all entertainment professionals. Their bipartisan leadership ensures our members’ voices continue to be heard on this critical issue. It’s time to lower the cost of living for entertainment workers by including PATPA in tax legislation expected later this year, correcting an oversight that has taken money out of the pockets of middle-class IATSE members since 2017,” said Matthew D. Loeb, International President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

    “With just a few weeks until Tax Day, Senator Tillis and Senator Warner could not have better timed this critically important bipartisan bill that would mean actors, stage managers and other creative professionals won’t have to pay hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars more in taxes simply due to common business costs like their agents and managers fees and travel to auditions. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Tillis and Senator Warner and look forward to working with them as we fight to make this bill law,” said Brooke Shields, President of Actors’ Equity Association.

    “Entertainment is one of the United States’ top industries, and the work of performing artists has made an immeasurable impact on our national identity. It’s time for the tax code to address the skyrocketing business costs of this highly risky profession and allow performers to deduct legitimate expenses such as agent and manager fees. This will enable working-class performers to continue supporting local economies that generate income from performers living and working in their communities. SAG-AFTRA enthusiastically supports the reintroduction of the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act in the Senate and applauds Sens. Tillis and Warner for their work in addressing the financial challenges of those who dedicate their lives to human artistry,” said Fran Drescher, President of SAG-AFTRA.

    “The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) is a critical step toward restoring financial fairness for performing artists across the country. For too long, we’ve been unfairly burdened by a tax system that fails to recognize the realities of our profession. This legislation paves the way for artists to be treated less like expendable contractors and more like the vital parts of an institution that we are. It’s an important step toward ensuring that performing artists are no longer penalized for the cost of doing our jobs and toward a future where we receive the same workplace protections and benefits as others who work within the companies we sustain,” said Ned Hanlon, President of the American Guild of Musical Artists.

    “Addressing the unique challenges artists and musicians face under the tax code is imperative to supporting the creative community’s impact on culture and the economy. RIAA appreciates Senators Warner and Tillis’ continued leadership driving the bipartisan, bicameral Performing Artist Tax Parity Act. This bill is designed to balance outdated burdens on performers now and enable the next generation to thrive,” said Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman & CEO.

    “The Motion Picture Association thanks Sens. Thom Tillis and Mark Warner for re-introducing the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) – an important bipartisan effort to deliver essential economic relief to a creative community that includes more than 2.3 million jobs supported by the film, television, and streaming industry. The MPA is again proud to endorse this legislation and support the American creative economy,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association.

    “The bipartisan and bicameral Performing Artist Tax Parity Act is commonsense legislation that benefits working musicians.   PATPA makes long overdue updates to restore the intention our tax code.  We are grateful to Senators Tillis and Warner for championing fairness for all performing artists and arts workers,” said Tino Gagliardi, President of the American Federation of Musicians.

    “Supporting working artists through tax relief creates ripple effects that build more vibrant communities across the country. Beyond the arts and culture sector’s $1.1 trillion economic impact, one of the largest public opinion studies ever conducted on the arts in the U.S. found that 86% of Americans believe arts and culture improve their community’s quality of life and livability. By modernizing the tax code nationally, we can support artists and strengthen every community. We applaud Senators Warner and Tillis for introducing the Senate companion to the Performing Arts Tax Parity Act, alongside the House bill championed by Representatives Buchanan and Chu, to modernize an outdated tax code that hasn’t been updated since 1986,” said Erin Harkey, CEO, Americans for the Arts.

    “Musicians nationwide are essential contributors to the U.S. workforce and the communities in which they perform,” said Simon Woods, President and CEO, League of American Orchestras. “We are grateful for the leadership of Senators Tillis and Warner in re-introducing this critical legislation to support tax fairness for performing artists.”

    “The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) is a lifeline for the artists who bring independent stages to life. The Senate is taking an important step toward building a fairer, more sustainable live ecosystem that benefits independent stages, artists, audiences, and communities alike. We hope that Congress will move quickly to enact PATPA this year,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association.

    “Virginians for the Arts is grateful to Senator Warner for his unwavering support of the arts and artists here in Virginia and nationally.  We are also grateful to the Senator for sponsoring the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act. This legislation modernizes the qualified performing artist tax deduction and is an important recognition of the value the arts play in our communities and the economy,” said Brett Bonda, President of Virginians for the Arts.

    “Aligned with its mission to advance the performing arts in the Richmond region through programs and resources that support the artists of today, nurture the artists of tomorrow, and provide spaces for the arts to thrive, Richmond Performing Arts Alliance (RPAA) fully endorses the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA). This legislation is critical for RPAA’s vision to create a vibrant community where the performing arts flourish and strengthen Richmond’s cultural, social, and economic vitality. We strongly believe that for this to happen artists from all backgrounds must have the capacity and resources to grow their programs and reach new audiences. We thank Senators Warner and Tillis for introducing this legislation and realizing the tremendous investment that artists make in their work and the incredible contributions they make to our lives,” said Abbi Haggerty, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance.

    A copy of the bill text can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening ceremony of Diversity and Inclusion Arts Festival and Diverse Abilities · Inclusive Workplace Recognition Scheme held today (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Opening ceremony of Diversity and Inclusion Arts Festival and Diverse Abilities · Inclusive Workplace Recognition Scheme held today  
    The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Vice Chairperson of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK), Ms Grace Cheng; Head of Charities (Healthy Community) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ms Imelda Chan; the Commissioner for Rehabilitation of LWB, Mr Fletch Chan; the Vice-Chairman of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), Dr Kevin Lau; the Chairman of the RAC Sub-committee on Employment, Mr Alvin Miu; and the Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services), Mr David Ng, officiated at the ceremony. Representatives of various participating organisations also attended. Artists with disabilities presented music and dance performances at the opening ceremony fostering an inclusive community through arts.
     
    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Sun expected that the artistic talents of PWDs could be showcased through the Arts Festival. He encouraged them to pursue excellence and aim for professional development. Mr Sun said that PWDs possess exceptional capabilities in various fields and expressed the hope that the Arts Festival would draw greater attention across the community to the abilities of PWDs. At the same time, he called on enterprises to provide more employment opportunities for PWDs to develop their potential, thereby achieving an inclusive workplace. Mr Sun also appealed to the community to actively participate in the Diversity and Inclusion Arts Festival and the “Caring Employer” Medal Design Competition under the Diverse Abilities · Inclusive Workplace Recognition Scheme.
     
    Co-organised by LWB and ADAHK, and in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, various government departments, social welfare organisations and other institutions, the Diversity and Inclusion Arts Festival presents a series of inclusive arts activities, including arts exhibition, inclusive concert, stage play, arts bazaar, inclusive arts workshops, as well as an information booth on diverse abilities and inclusive workplace, from now until April 5. For more details of the event, please visit the website of ADAHK (www.adahk.org.hk/?a=doc&id=5841 
    To commend employers who actively engage and support PWDs and foster inclusive workplaces, LWB will launch the Diverse Abilities · Inclusive Workplace Recognition Scheme on the basis of the existing Talent-Wise Employment Charter, and collaborate with the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to jointly take forward the “Caring Employer” medal. The medal will feature different categories, covering large corporations, small and medium enterprises, and social enterprises/public organisations, etc. Details will be announced in April, and applications from enterprises and organisations will be accepted by then. To allow the public to participate in the Diverse Abilities · Inclusive Workplace Recognition Scheme and raise awareness of the diverse abilities of PWDs, LWB has also launched the “Caring Employer” Medal Design Competition today, to invite members of the public, students and PWDs, who are interested in design, to participate. For more details of the Competition, please visit LWB website (    www.lwb.gov.hk/en/highlights/charter_scheme/s4.htmlIssued at HKT 20:47

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nasdaq Announces Mid-Month Open Short Interest Positions in Nasdaq Stocks as of Settlement Date March 14, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the end of the settlement date of March 14, 2025, short interest in 3,124 Nasdaq Global MarketSM securities totaled 13,066,514,117 shares compared with 12,765,719,651 shares in 3,117 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of February 28, 2025. The mid-March short interest represents 2.14 days compared with 2.42 days for the prior reporting period.

    Short interest in 1,634 securities on The Nasdaq Capital MarketSM totaled 2,598,104,131 shares at the end of the settlement date of March 14, 2025, compared with 2,565,936,316 shares in 1,628 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.17 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.00.

    In summary, short interest in all 4,758 Nasdaq® securities totaled 15,664,618,248 shares at the March 14, 2025 settlement date, compared with 4,745 issues and 15,331,655,967 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 1.88 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 1.87 days for the prior reporting period.

    The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller.

    For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit
    http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/short-interest.aspx
    or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp.

    About Nasdaq:
    Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions, and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on X @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.     

    Media Contact:
    Camille Stafford
    camille.stafford@nasdaq.com

    A graph accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d8e9d7c-9147-49f7-b60e-bd0dc272cf30

    NDAQO

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Declares 2025 First-Quarter Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ARCHBOLD, Ohio, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: FMAO) the holding company of F&M Bank, with total assets of $3.36 billion at December 31, 2024, today announced that it has approved the Company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.22125 per share. The first-quarter dividend is payable on April 20, 2025, to shareholders of record as of April 4, 2025.

    About Farmers & Merchants State Bank:
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) is the holding company of F&M Bank, a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in West Bloomfield, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.

    Safe Harbor statement
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

    Company Contact:
    Lars B. Eller
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
    (419) 446-2501
    leller@fm.bank    		 Investor and Media Contact:
    Andrew M. Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    (216) 464-6400
    andrew@smberger.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Media Advisory: Secretary Noem Announces Trip to El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Media Advisory: Secretary Noem Announces Trip to El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico

    ASHINGTON, DC – This week, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will travel to El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico

    Below are more details on the Secretary’s trip

      
    Travel Pool: 
    Print: The Wall Street Journal, Michelle Hackman  
    Photo: AP, Alex Brandon 
    TV: Fox News, Krista Garvin, Ali Rad, and Mahreon Johnson 
     
    DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE 
    Wednesday, March 26th: El Salvador  
    Secretary Noem tours Terrorist Confinement Center CECOT with the Minister of Justice Gustavo Villatoro 
    Secretary Noem meets with President Nayib Bukele   
    Thursday, March 27th: Colombia 
    Secretary Noem meets with Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, National Police General Carlos Fernando Triana, and Migration Director Nigeria Renteria   
    Secretary Noem meets with President Gustavo Petro   
    Friday March 28th: Mexico 
    Secretary Noem meets with President Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Juan Ramon De La Fuente  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU disinformation on the murders of Christians and Alawites in Syria – E-001094/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001094/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Virginie Joron (PfE)

    ‘Streets piled with bodies: Syrians report massacres of Alawite and Christian civilians’.[1] The facts are devastating: reports point to a wave of killings in Syria targeting Alawites and Christians, including ten women and five children. On 10 March 2025, BFMTV reported that 745 civilians, mainly Alawites, had been massacred in the Latakia region between 6 and 8 March 2025 by Syrian regime forces and their allies.

    However, in a statement of 8 March 2025, ‘diplomats’ from the European External Action Service (EEAS) completely ignored these ongoing massacres, attributing the attacks to ‘pro-Assad elements’[2]. This is blatant disinformation that damages the EU’s reputation.

    • 1.Can the Commission verify the EEAS statement that the recent attacks on civilians, including Christians and Alawites, are being carried out by ‘pro-Assad elements’ alone, or does it acknowledge that the new regime is involved in the massacres of civilians?
    • 2.Has the Commission urged the interim Syrian Government to put an end to the massacres by government forces or Islamist factions of children, women, civilians and prisoners from the Alawite and Christian communities?
    • 3.How much financial assistance has the new Syrian Government received from the EU since December 2024?

    Submitted: 13.3.2025

    • [1] https://www.bfmtv.com/international/moyen-orient/syrie/les-rues-pleines-de-cadavres-des-syriens-temoignent-des-massacres-de-civils-alaouites-et-chretiens_AV-202503100384.html, https://www.newsweek.com/hundreds-minorities-including-christians-killed-syria-reports-2041764, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/09/north-west-syria-un-latakia-assad-regime-loyalists-killings
    • [2] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/spokesperson-statement-latest-developments-syria_en
    Last updated: 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Eric Peter Weschke of AdvancedFolio Capital Management Rings NYSE Closing Bell

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SETAUKET, N.Y., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eric Peter Weschke, president and CEO of AdvancedFolio Capital Management, joined an elite group of financial leaders by ringing the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Closing Bell. The event, broadcast live on CNBC, marked a significant achievement for Weschke, a 29-year veteran of the financial services industry and a prominent New York financial educator.

    Image by AdvancedFolio Capital Management

    For Weschke, this milestone represents a full-circle moment, as his journey in finance began decades ago, inspired by his mother, a pioneer who worked on the NYSE floor in the late 1960s.   “Being on the NYSE trading floor and ringing the closing bell was truly surreal,” Weschke says. “As a child, I remember visiting the exchange with my mother, who was among the first women to work there. To now be here, participating in a historic tradition, is an incredible honor both personally and professionally.”

    Eric Peter Weschke Celebrates Financial Leadership at NYSE

    The NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony is a symbolic tradition that marks the end of the trading day, often reserved for industry leaders, top executives, and companies making significant contributions to the financial world. Weschke’s participation reflects his longstanding influence in financial education, asset management, and wealth preservation strategies.

    The invitation to ring the closing bell places Weschke among distinguished financial figures who have shaped the industry. This honor acknowledges his contributions to advancing investor education and developing innovative wealth management approaches throughout his career. The ceremony, witnessed by traders, executives, and millions of viewers, showcases AdvancedFolio’s growing influence in the financial services sector.

    “This isn’t just a personal achievement; it’s a reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the strength of the brand we’ve built at AdvancedFolio Capital Management,” Weschke says.

    AdvancedFolio Capital Management Showcases Success on National Stage

    Founded by Eric Peter Weschke, AdvancedFolio Capital Management has established itself as a premier financial firm, offering personalized investment strategies and financial planning solutions. The firm prioritizes a client-first approach, crafting customized solutions while balancing asset protection with effective risk management.

    “At AdvancedFolio, our mission is simple: to provide our clients with strategic, tax-efficient investment plans that ensure long-term financial security,” Weschke says. “We’re not just managing wealth—we’re building financial confidence.”

    This commitment extends to education, with hundreds of free seminars and workshops offered to boost financial literacy among clients and the broader community. The firm’s expertise has earned national recognition, from appearances on CNBC to features in financial publications and high-profile industry events.

    “The success of AdvancedFolio Capital Management isn’t just about numbers; it’s about helping people build sustainable financial futures,” Weschke says. “The recognition we’ve received, from Nasdaq’s National Board in Times Square in 2021 to the NYSE Closing Bell in 2025, reflects our dedication to excellence.”

    Reflecting on the NYSE Immersion Moment

    “The excitement inside the exchange was electric,” he says. “The anticipation of ringing the bell, knowing it was being broadcast nationwide, was an unforgettable experience. It’s moments like these that remind me why I chose this career: to be part of something bigger than myself and contribute to the financial well-being of others.”

    During his visit, Weschke engaged in discussions with NYSE executives, traders, and financial analysts, gaining valuable insights into the current state of the markets and future trends.

    “It was fascinating to hear firsthand perspectives from professionals who operate at the heart of the financial world,” Weschke says. “From market analysts to on-air CNBC personalities, the exchange is a hub of financial expertise.”

    Beyond the ceremony, Weschke took a behind-the-scenes tour of the NYSE, where he gained a new appreciation for the technology and operations driving global financial markets.

    “Seeing the trading floor up close, rather than just on TV, gave me a whole new perspective,” Weschke says. “The floor is smaller than it appears on screen, but the energy, the technology, and the precision with which everything runs is remarkable.”

    A Career of Achievement

    Throughout his career, Eric Peter Weschke has been recognized for his expertise in institutional investment theory, risk management, and tax-efficient retirement income strategies. As a nationally published financial expert and speaker, he has guided countless individuals, families, and businesses toward achieving their financial goals.

    Among his professional accomplishments:

    • Former National Speaker on financial strategies for corporations across the U.S.
    • Chief Technical Analyst for the Swing-Trader Market Newsletter.
    • Senior Executive Syndicate Underwriting Team Member for a $20M Initial Public Bond Offering.
    • Senior VP and Northeast Regional Planner for First National Bank of Arizona.
    • Advisor of the Year (2003) for outstanding financial planning performance.
    • #1 Nationally Ranked Representative for Northwestern Mutual (1993) based on volume.

    Weschke is also a licensed investment advisor and 1031 Exchange Specialist, ensuring that his clients receive comprehensive, well-informed financial guidance.

    “Success in finance isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust, relationships, and delivering long-term results,” Weschke says. “At  AdvancedFolio Capital Management, we’re committed to making a real impact in people’s lives.”

    Eric Peter Weschke’s Message to Clients and the Industry

    As Weschke reflects on his participation in the NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony, he hopes the event sends a powerful message to his clients and professional network.

    “This moment reinforces our firm’s relevance and credibility in today’s financial world,” Weschke says. “It’s proof that  AdvancedFolio Capital Management is being recognized at the highest levels for the work we do. Our exposure through CNBC, the NYSE, and Nasdaq has only strengthened our brand and mission.”

    With the future in focus, Weschke remains committed to expanding AdvancedFolio Capital Management, enhancing client services, and continuing to shape the financial landscape through education, innovation, and trust.

    “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s just the beginning,” Weschke says. “We’re building something that will last, something that will help generations achieve financial stability and success.”

    About AdvancedFolio Capital Management

    AdvancedFolio Capital Management is a Setauket-based financial advisory firm committed to delivering personalized investment strategies and proactive wealth management solutions. By focusing on client education and disciplined financial planning, the firm helps individuals and families achieve their financial goals with confidence and clarity.

    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors are advised to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Investment advisory services are offered through Coppell Advisory Solutions, LLC dba Fusion Capital Management, an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration is not an endorsement of the firm by the commission and does not mean that the advisor has attained a specific level of skill or ability. See full disclosures on FusionCM.com/compliance. Insurance and annuity products are not sold through Fusion Capital Management. Fusion does not endorse any annuity or insurance product, nor does it guarantee any insurance or annuity performance. Annuity and life insurance guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. If you withdraw money from or surrender your contract within a certain time after investing, the insurance company may assess a surrender charge. Withdrawals may be subject to tax penalties and income taxes. Persons selling annuities and other insurance products receive compensation for these transactions. These commissions are separate and distinct from Fusion’s investment advisory fees.

    Media Contact:

    Eric Peter Weschke
    AdvancedFolio Capital Management
    Phone: 631-675-1885
    Email: eric@advancedfolio.com
    Website: https://www.advancedfolio.com/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/687a81d7-e1d7-4935-99ab-6e5f9f487014

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Psychopaths experience pain differently, even when their bodies say otherwise

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Alshukri, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University

    Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

    Psychopathy has long been associated with murderers, notorious criminals, and the griping true crime stories that dominate Netflix documentaries. But our recent research is showing they have a complex relationship with pain which may in part be responsible for their lack of empathy.

    Psychopathic traits are on a spectrum. We all have levels somewhere on this scale. To be deemed a “psychopath” by some medical professionals, though, you would need to sit on the higher end of the spectrum.

    Typically, people who are higher on the psychopathic traits spectrum show greater pain tolerance. And this is usually reflected in their physiology. For instance, in a 2022 study people higher in psychopathic traits showed lower brain activity with pressure pain.

    When we conducted our recent research on pain and people with different levels of psychopathy, our results surprised us. Participants with high levels of psychopathy seemed to process pain differently to people low in psychopathy.

    We applied pressure pain to our participants using a device that gently pressed a small circular probe onto the participant’s fingernail using compressed air. We measured their reactions from their sweat responses.

    This is called skin conductance response (SCR), and is activated in times of “fight or flight”, or even when we need to pay attention. And this normally increases sweat production. That’s what we used to measure participants’ response to pain and empathy in our experiment.

    Before our experiment began, we slowly increased the levels of pressure that participants felt until they told us they had reached their pain threshold (the most pain they could bear). The low and high psychopathy groups chose similar levels of pressure for their pain threshold.

    Next, we delivered varying levels of pressure (with the highest being each participant’s pain threshold) to ensure participants did not become used to the stimulations. Following each stimulation, participants were asked to rate how much pain they felt using a self-report measure ranging from 0-100.

    We found that participants higher in psychopathy reported feeling less pain than participants who were lower in psychopathy. The high psychopathy group even rated their own pain thresholds as less painful than the low psychopathy group (on the 0-100 scale). However, their SCRs were the same as those lower in psychopathy.

    So, what does this mean?

    It suggests that people higher in psychopathy interpret pain differently. Perhaps this explains why psychopathy relates to greater risk-taking and increased levels of violence or aggression towards others – they do not recognise feelings of pain in the same way as other people.

    Psychopaths may not recognise pain in the same way as others.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    Usually, psychopathy relates to lower levels of physiological responses in threatening situations because they don’t associate pain with fear or punishment.

    The results of our study suggest that the difference in pain perception between high and low psychopathic people may be psychological rather than physiological. This could explain why there were differences in self-reports, but not in sweat responses.

    We don’t know whether they are pretending to feel pain or are less connected to their body’s physiology. But a 2019 study on children suggests those high in psychopathic traits may engage in extreme coping when scared. For instance, those children showed blunted emotional responses, disengagement or risky behaviour to cope with the stress.

    What about empathy for other people’s pain?

    We also tested our participants’ responses to other people’s pain by showing them images, such as a hand trapped in a door or a bare foot stepping on glass. Previous research has shown that people higher in psychopathy show reduced levels of physiological arousal to other people’s distress.

    For example, a 2015 study found people higher in psychopathy demonstrated lower levels of brain activity when seeing other people in painful situations. In our study, we found that people higher in psychopathy not only reported feeling less empathy but also showed lower sweat responses when viewing other people’s pain.

    This lower SCR has also been found in male prisoners with psychopathic traits. And it typically indicates less attention or focus on other people’s pain.

    Our study shows that a lack of empathy for others may not be a conscious choice. Our recent systematic review, where we looked at eight previous studies on psychopathy and pain perception, also helped to corroborate these findings, showing that psychopathy links to lower levels of brain activity in response to other people’s pain.

    Research has shown that lower levels of empathy for other people can be influenced by a higher tolerance for pain. If someone does not understand the feelings of pain the same way as other people, they probably don’t understand the pain that other people may be experiencing.

    Also, a 2020 review showed that the brain networks used in processing pain are also used to process empathy. This could mean that if people higher in psychopathy don’t feel as much pain themselves, their perceptions of other people’s pain could also be reduced via this shared network.

    Just because you show higher psychopathic traits does not necessarily mean you are going to be the lead character of your own true crime documentary, though. In fact, recent research, including a 2022 study, noted psychopathic traits can be positive and help people regulate their emotions.

    Surgeons and other medical professionals show high levels of psychopathic traits, particularly the stress immunity part of the personality trait.

    Perhaps this is what allows medical professionals high in psychopathic traits to stay calm under pressure, allowing them to make quick, rational decisions without being overwhelmed by stress.

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

    – ref. Psychopaths experience pain differently, even when their bodies say otherwise – https://theconversation.com/psychopaths-experience-pain-differently-even-when-their-bodies-say-otherwise-251529

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The TGL golf league might signal that indoor sport is the future, for better or worse

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Brad Millington, Associate Professor, Sport Management, Brock University

    The inaugural season of the TGL golf league closes this week with a final championship-deciding series. The upstart, team-based, men’s league has made headlines for its celebrity backers, including star golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

    Even more noteworthy is TGL’s unique format. Events are played inside SoFi Center, a custom-built venue in Florida with an audience capacity of 1,500.

    At one end lies the “ScreenZone,” where a golf simulator is used for longer shots such as drives and iron play. At the other end, players chip and putt along the physical surface of the “GreenZone” to record a final score on each hole.

    TGL is the latest commercial venture to shake up the golf world in recent years. The league is no doubt novel in some ways, yet it can also be explained as the convergence of two longstanding trends: the “mediatization” and “indoorization” of sport.



    Read more:
    PGA Tour-LIV merger: What this new partnership means for the future of golf and elite sport

    A ‘mediatized’ sports landscape

    Mediatization is a concept that speaks to relationships of interdependence between media and other institutions, such as sport. More than simply conveying sport content, communication technologies have helped change sport over the years — consider “television timeouts” or the use of instant replay.

    In return, sport is a source of live, unpredictable and exciting media content, something that is highly valuable in a competitive attention economy.

    In this context, TGL stands out as an especially tech-infused venture.

    First, there is the golf simulator. The ScreenZone is so named because players hit into a massive screen measuring 64 by 53 feet. Tracking technology is used to map and represent the flight of the ball on screen. This allows for a thoroughly datafied sport experience as an array of performance metrics are available to both players and fans.

    Also relevant are TGL’s seemingly made-for-TV conventions, some of which might be anathema to golf traditionalists. Among them, a 40-second shot clock keeps a brisk pace of play. Players are also mic’d up, making strategy conversations and reactions accessible to the audience.

    In all, TGL is a media spectacle. It is not uncommon for sports leagues to adopt new rules and formats, seemingly in a bid to capture consumer attention. But, through TGL’s video game-like components, media representation — golf on a simulated volcano, among other places — becomes part of the sport competition itself.

    Sport moves indoors

    TGL is also an indoor spectacle. In this sense, it contributes to the indoorization of outdoor sports.

    Outdoor sports from surfing to skiing, rock climbing and many more have moved indoors in recent years (while remaining outdoor sports too). A potential trade-off is that, while outdoor sports often foreground adventure, uncertainty and danger, their indoor analogues often trade this for control, predictability and calculability. The authenticity of indoor sport might therefore be debated, especially in historically counter-cultural sports such as surfing.

    Yet indoorization can also lead to expansion. From the late 1800s onwards, artificial ice in North American arenas allowed for reliable skating conditions and helped hockey move to new locations, growing the game as a commercial endeavour and cultural institution.

    There was also the benefit of escaping the elements. As architectural historian Howard Shubert writes:

    “Covered rinks allowed patrons to escape winter’s cold temperatures, harsh winds, and blowing snow and eliminated the immediate danger of falling through thin ice on ponds and streams.”

    Indoorization is not new, even for golf: golf simulators can be found in converted garages; Topgolf facilities offer high-tech, all-weather golf experiences. But TGL is a high-profile entrant in a history of moving sport indoors.

    Indoorization as adaption?

    Researchers assessing the prospects for outdoor skating against recent climate projections have concluded the future looks bleak for outdoor rinks, and that indoor arenas and synthetic surfaces will grow more important in the years ahead.

    Put another way, indoorization may increasingly be a requirement, and not just a luxury, in the context of a worsening climate crisis.

    Likewise, sport mega-events have implemented various climate adaptation measures over time, from snow-making on ski slopes to refrigeration of sliding tracks and far beyond. The future is likely to see host cities become climate unreliable to an even greater extent.

    It’s not just winter sports. From air-conditioned stadiums to relocated events in search of cooler conditions to indoor recess for students escaping poor-quality outdoor air, the changing climate is a point of vulnerability year-round — and for sport and physical activity participation at various levels.

    Our point here is not that TGL was conceived with the climate crisis in mind. Nor do we expect outdoor golf to disappear. Rather, the climate crisis will demand adaptation in sport in the years ahead.

    In a time of technological innovation — augmented reality, artificial intelligence and more — the mediatization of sport will provide new commercial and recreational opportunities that offer escape from, and perhaps distraction from, worsening outdoor conditions.

    TGL’s blend of real and artificial elements can be seen as foreshadowing “solutions” to much greater problems that are beginning to seem inevitable.

    Brad Millington receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Brian Wilson receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Michael L. Naraine receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Sport Canada.

    Parissa Safai has received funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    – ref. The TGL golf league might signal that indoor sport is the future, for better or worse – https://theconversation.com/the-tgl-golf-league-might-signal-that-indoor-sport-is-the-future-for-better-or-worse-252608

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 9

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 9

    March 25, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns the week of June 9

    WWDC25 will be available entirely online and is free for all developers

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced it will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) online from June 9 to 13, 2025. Developers and students will also have the opportunity to celebrate in person during a special event at Apple Park on June 9.

    Available for free to all developers, WWDC25 will spotlight the latest advancements in Apple software. As part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to supporting developers, the conference will provide them with unique access to Apple experts, as well as insight into new tools, frameworks, and features.

    “We’re excited to mark another incredible year of WWDC with our global developer community,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We can’t wait to share the latest tools and technologies that will empower developers and help them continue to innovate.”

    Developers and students will be able to discover the latest Apple software and technologies by tuning in to the Keynote. They can also experience WWDC25 throughout the week on the Apple Developer app, Apple Developer website, and Apple Developer YouTube channel. This year’s conference will include video sessions and opportunities to connect with Apple engineers and designers in online labs.

    To celebrate the start of WWDC, Apple will also host an in-person experience on June 9 that will provide developers with the opportunity to watch the Keynote and Platforms State of the Union at Apple Park, meet with Apple experts one-on-one and in group labs, and take part in special activities. Space will be limited; details on how to apply to attend can be found on the WWDC25 website.

    Apple is proud to support the next generation of developers through the Swift Student Challenge, one of many Apple programs that seek to uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs, coders, and designers. On March 27, this year’s applicants will be notified of their status, and winners will be eligible to apply for the special event at Apple Park. In addition, 50 Distinguished Winners, who are recognized for outstanding submissions, will be invited to Cupertino, California, for a three-day experience.

    Apple will share additional conference information in advance of WWDC25 through the Apple Developer app and WWDC25 website.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    Press Contact

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: VERB Publishes Management’s Prepared Remarks During Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with MARKET.live; VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024 and held an earnings conference call at 1 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Prepared remarks during the conference call of Rory J. Cutaia, the Company’s Chairman & CEO, are provided below.

    Company Participant
    Rory J. Cutaia, CEO

    Operator:
    Good afternoon and welcome to the full-year and fourth quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call for Verb Technology Company, Inc. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Please be advised, the call is being recorded at the Company’s request.

    On our call today is Rory J. Cutaia, Verb’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

    Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that statements made during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, except as required by law, as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Verb Technology Company disclaims any obligations to update these forward-looking statements, as well as those contained in the Company’s current and subsequent filings with the SEC.

    I would now like to turn the call over to Rory J. Cutaia, CEO. Rory?

    Rory:
    Thank you moderator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for our fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results and business update conference call.

    Well it sure feels good being back before you, speaking directly to you about our company, our business, our performance, and sharing our direct, transparent, honest thoughts and strategies for how we intend to drive shareholder value in this business now and into the future.

    I’d like to begin with a brief discussion about our history and the challenging market conditions that influenced the formulation of the strategies we undertook to insulate ourselves from those conditions. I’m referring to insulating ourselves from those market conditions that became impediments to value creation in our former direct sales Software as a Service line of business, as well as those market conditions, particularly capital markets conditions, that affected, and are affecting many, many small and micro-cap exchange-listed companies even today.

    Then I’d like to discuss the strategies that we employed and the changes we’ve made that underlie the impressive results we’re now seeing in the business. I’ll also touch on the strategies we employed that resulted in what I’m proud to state is a well cash-infused, extremely healthy debt-free balance sheet and a super clean cap table, the combination of which provide the all-important foundation for the impressive revenue growth we’re now enjoying.

    Ok – let’s jump in. Historically, we were an R&D driven technology business, built around a SaaS platform, with a customer base that was comprised of, for the most part, direct sales companies, or as they are sometimes referred to: multi-level marketing companies. When we entered the market with our interactive video-based sales software, we set out to become the dominant player in this sector. What we saw at that time was the opportunity to address a market that included the large-scale sales teams, including tens of thousands of independent sales reps that these companies managed, all of whom needed a simple and effective, mobile-based sales tool.

    Over time we learned valuable lessons. First, while we onboarded large numbers of new sales reps every month, the attrition rate among sales reps at these companies was extraordinarily high, making it difficult and costly to generate meaningful revenue growth. In addition, while we developed what we believe were extremely effective tools to help sales reps, even inexperienced sales reps generate and convert sales leads, outdated internal communications policies at these companies prohibited us from communicating these tools and how to use them directly to the fields of sales reps which may have curtailed much of the sales rep attrition, as the companies that managed these reps were often ineffective at doing so themselves. Finally, the ever-changing nature of the customer base we served, as well as the give-it-away below cost pricing models adopted by competitors who found themselves marginalized by our superior product offering, required continued, costly R&D expenditures, and continued returns to the capital markets.

    These factors, coupled with what we perceived to be declining market multiples for SaaS businesses generally, drove our decision to sell that business unit and focus instead on our new, though not yet revenue-generating – Market.live, livestream shopping business. A bold move indeed, but one that has certainly proven now to have been in the best interests of our shareholders. This was the first prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to insulate ourselves from the predatory financing terms imposed universally on companies like ours who relied on access to the capital markets to fund continued R&D and other growth capital requirements. Almost every financing initiative we undertook was fraught with last minute re-trading of material deal terms, ridiculous warrant coverage terms and conditions, post-deal financing exclusivity arrangements, tying the Company to bad financings into the future when additional capital was needed – all of which made us – and so many other companies in the same situation – perfect targets for short-selling – and for companies with any kind of trading volume, greed-driven illegal naked short-selling.

    It wasn’t hard to target companies that announced an upcoming financing as short-sellers could be confident that deal terms and corresponding share prices would be below whatever the then current trading price was. This capital markets environment eroded share prices across the board resulting in reverse splits required to maintain exchange listing requirements, and destroyed cap tables and balance sheets causing an unprecedented level of exchange de-listings. Ultimately, it was the individual retail investors, left without sufficiently aggressive regulatory intervention, who bore the brunt of this market activity and still do.

    To avoid this awful outcome, we developed a unique strategy to utilize Reg A to structure our capitalize raise initiatives and avoid the predatory hedge-fund investors, allowing us to issue straight common shares, priced at-the-market, with no warrant coverage, and no investment banking fees. This financing vehicle, unique for publicly-traded companies, among other financing strategies, allowed us to pay-off all of our debt, redeem all of the previously issued preferred shares, completely restructure our balance sheet, padding it with cash, taking shareholder equity from almost $2 million negative in June 2023 to more than $16 million positive in December 2024, and giving us a cash runway, conservatively assuming zero revenue growth, well into 2028 and beyond.

    The shareholder approved reverse split we did last year resulted in an extremely tight – less than 1 million share float – and essentially eliminated all of the warrant overhang from years-ago predatory financings. We’re very proud of how well that series of initiatives was executed, completing that important second prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to diversify our revenue streams to insulate ourselves from changes in the market, including economic and regulatory changes, as well as changes within our own customer base and demand for our products and services. The challenge was to identify and develop independent, yet complementary revenue producing business units that could leverage the cost savings produced by a unified internal finance, sales, marketing, and technology department structure utilized by and across all business units.

    Recognizing that the core of our business was our interactive social video commerce technology and know-how, our strategy was to exploit those capabilities by entering the exploding telehealth industry, leading to the development and launch of VANITY Prescribed, followed by GoodGirlRX in partnership with TV and social media celebrity Savannah Chrisley, and then the development and launch of GO FUND YOURSELF, our very exciting, fast-growing crowd funding marketing platform. To give a sense of the revenue potential for Go Fund Yourself, we launched it in Q3 with little to no marketing and recognized $25 thousand in revenue – and then in Q4 we recognized $233 thousand in revenue. And if any of the more recent developments come to fruition for the Show – 2025 may be an extraordinary year for Go Fund Yourself and VERB stockholders.

    VANITY Prescribed was in development during Q3 and Q4, identifying suppliers, onboarding suppliers, then replacing suppliers, developing our online patient screening and prescription approval process, and shoring up our supply chain in anticipation of participating in the extraordinary growth of the telehealth space following the introduction and rapid adoption of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Revenue, though now growing, was modest through that period and we’re excited for a broad-based launch and marketing campaign that is about to get under way.

    As to MARKET.live, at the end of Q3, we changed our focus and product offering by providing what we believe is an industry-leading end-to-end solution for brands seeking to adopt a social commerce strategy that they cannot manage in-house on a cost effective basis. That strategy has proven to be enormously successful producing exponential revenue growth. As reflected in our 2024 Form 10-K filed today, in Q1 we generated revenue of $7 thousand, in Q2 we generated revenue of $37 thousand, in Q3 we generated revenue of $103 thousand, and in Q4 we generated revenue of $490 thousand. An impressive and most welcomed trend by anyone’s standards.

    Combined 2024 revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand over 2023, representing revenue growth of 1,321% over that period. This performance is the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company’s direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023.

    Looking at Q4 alone, we generated $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand over the same period last year, representing revenue growth of almost 2,400% over that period. And as compared to Q3 2024, revenue in Q4 increased by $595 thousand, representing growth of almost 465% quarter-over-quarter.

    While we historically do not provide going-forward guidance, we are comfortable sharing our expectation that Q1 2025 will surpass Q4 2024.

    Finally, as to the last prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB, we recognized that any business that fails to identify and develop an artificial intelligence strategy will be marginalized. With that in mind, we explored a number of different strategies, including developing our own A.I. capabilities in-house, which we smartly rejected. Instead, we scoured the market for a company with a developed, tested, proprietary A.I. solution uniquely tailored to video-based social commerce. Upon testing the A.I. and social commerce capabilities of LyveCom, a bleeding-edge, video-based social commerce start-up, we entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate their technology into our MARKET.live platform.

    To our great surprise, we found that the integration of LyveCom’s tech resulted in a massive operational cost reduction. In fact, we anticipate a direct operational cost reduction of approximately $1 million per year. However, perhaps more importantly, we also recognized that the addition of LyveCom’s technology created an entirely new, updated platform, feature rich with capabilities far beyond our current platform and certainly beyond that of many other social commerce platforms. So rather than simply license the technology and risk LyveCom being acquired by a competitor, limiting our access to the technology and future iterations of it, we decided to acquire it ourselves. It is our expectation that the acquisition will be highly accretive and produce meaningful value for VERB stockholders.

    With the closing of the LyveCom acquisition, which remains on track and is expected to occur in the coming weeks, we will have effectively completed the transition of VERB from an unprofitable, cash-hungry business in a challenging market, to an extremely well-capitalized, well diversified business, with proven, strong, fast-growing revenue generation capabilities, A.I.-ready, with a tight float, clean cap table and debt-free balance sheet, poised for meaningful continued growth.

    In closing, I refer you to our Form 10-K filed today for greater details concerning our 2024 financial results as well as the press release distributed today summarizing those results for additional information I’ve not covered in my conference call today. I’ve chosen instead to use this time to provide context for those results and share our strategies and ongoing initiatives for continued growth and value-creation for VERB stockholders.

    Finally, and as anyone who can read a balance can see, with under 1 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and debt-free with more than $13 million in cash and highly liquid securities – and assuming ZERO value given for our three revenue generating business units – I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our net cash value per common share is at least $13.50, which we believe represents a very compelling opportunity, very compelling indeed.

    I thank you for allowing me to address you all today and share with you our excitement and optimism for VERB shareholders now and into the future.

    Operator: This concludes the conference call. You may now disconnect.

    About VERB
    Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with MARKET.live’s back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show’s panel of “Titans”. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. VANITYPrescribed.com and GoodGirlRx.com are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. GoodGirlRx.com, a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry’s traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping.

    The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California.

    For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech

    Follow VERB and MARKET.live here:
    VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo
    VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
    VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech
    VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ

    Sign up for E-mail Alerts here: https://ir.verb.tech/news-events/email-alerts

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements 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 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. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact: investors@verb.tech

    Media Contact: info@verb.tech

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prestigious award win for city centre project

    Source: City of Plymouth

    The works to rejuvenate Old Town and New George Street in the city centre have been recognised in the Best Landscape at the Concrete Society Awards. 

    This accolade recognises the transformational regeneration of a formerly dated shopping street, now revitalised with high-quality materials to create a modern retail area fit for the 21st century.

    The completed works have already attracted new businesses to Plymouth, bringing in business rates that can be reinvested into vital services. This influx of new retailers supports the city’s growth ambitions and enhances the public realm.

    The massive makeover has transformed the dated eighties landscaping, replacing it with islands of greenery, 25 new semi-mature trees, ornamental planting, and rain gardens. New granite paving has been installed to make the area more attractive and reduce the likelihood of trips and falls. Additionally, new street lighting and decorative lighting have been added to create a wow factor after dark, along with additional CCTV cameras to improve coverage.

    Old Town Street / New George Street Regeneraiton

    Councillor Mark Lowry, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member responsible for city centre works, said: “The overall works are truly impressive and have made a significant impact on our city centre, breathing new life into what was once a dated area.

    “The new greenery, trees, and ornamental planting have created a vibrant and welcoming space for shoppers, visitors and businesses. With the local business community already making use of the space for their events and activities. I look forward to seeing even more in the future.”

    Councillor Lewis Allison, the new Champion for Second Homes Council Tax and Business Rate Growth, highlighted the economic benefits of the scheme. He added: “This new public area is modern, spacious and attractive and footfall is bucking the national trend.

    “The completed works are already attracting new businesses to Plymouth, bringing in business rates that can be reinvested into vital services. This influx of new retailers supports our ambition for growth in city centre through higher quality public realm.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU expert has key role in £2m dementia initiative

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    A music therapy expert from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is to play a key role in a new project to help people with dementia continue to participate in the activities they love, while maintaining their independence.

    Funding for the £1.97 million BRIDGES Dementia Network comes from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with support of the Alzheimer’s Society, and has been announced on the day of the World Dementia Council Summit in London.

    Currently, around one million people in the UK have dementia, and this number is expected to increase to 1.4 million by 2040. At the same time, a survey by Alzheimer’s Society found that 85% of people say they would prefer to remain at home if diagnosed with dementia.

    The national BRIDGES Dementia Network aims to revolutionise the role of technology in supporting independent living, helping those with dementia as well as their families.

    Within the new project, Dr Ming Hung Hsu of Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research will co-lead work focusing on new innovations to allow people with dementia to continue to enjoy creative and recreational activities, in turn helping their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

    Dr Hsu will work alongside researchers, care providers, and people with dementia to design new technology that is accessible, scalable, and meets the needs of different communities. Dr Hsu’s involvement in the BRIDGES Dementia Network, which is being hosted by the University of Sheffield, builds on his leadership in other national dementia care initiatives.

    These include the NIHR-funded MELODIC project, which focuses on how music therapy can manage distress on NHS dementia wards, and the MediMusic project, funded by Innovate UK, which is investigating how AI-driven music interventions can support culturally diverse communities with dementia.

    “The BRIDGES Dementia Network is a significant change in dementia research, moving beyond traditional models of care to develop new, person-centred technological innovations that support independent living. A major focus will be on art, sport, and culture, highlighting the impact of creative activities on people’s quality of life. 

    “Potential applications could include AI-powered personalised music platforms, interactive storytelling tools, virtual reality experiences, and digital platforms that encourage social engagement and physical activity. Through new technology like this, the aim is to maintain and enhance cognitive function, emotional wellbeing, mobility, and social connectivity for those living with dementia.”

    Dr Hsu, Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    “Dementia is a major challenge in the UK and globally. As people are living longer, the number of people living with dementia is increasing. 

    “With most people wishing to remain at home, we are investing in research that could lead to new technologies and innovations that will help keep people safe and independent.”

    Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of funders the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UKRI

    “One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. Research will beat dementia, and innovative networks like these will play an important part in helping people living with dementia today, and in the future, live independently for longer.  

    “As well as exploring ways to make daily life easier, and helping people with dementia feel more connected, they have the potential to ease pressure on the NHS. This could improve care for everyone as more people with dementia will be able to remain independent and cared for in the community for longer.  

    “As technology develops at pace, it’s critical we harness it, using AI, digital health, and community support to create simple, effective solutions. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”

    Professor Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society

    The BRIDGES Dementia Network is led by Dr Jennifer MacRitchie at the University of Sheffield, and also includes academics from Lancaster University, London South Bank University, University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Kent and University of Leicester, as well as ARU. The network also involves a range of non-academic partners, including Innovations in Dementia, robotics company BOW, Lewy Body Society, Dementia UK, Kent County Council, and Sheffield City Council.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Six ‘great Coventrians’ to be honoured for their work for the city

    Source: City of Coventry

    Six people who have shown dedication and passion to support the city of Coventry and its residents are to be honoured with The Coventry Award of Merit.

    The six include famous names from the world of entertainment and sport, as well as those who have dedicated their lives to local communities, education, and the work for peace and friendship.

    The Award was launched by the Council in the 1960s and is a way of recognising and honouring personal behaviour that reflects the highest ideals of citizenship, improves the good name of Coventry and inspires its residents.

    There have only been eight award ceremonies over the years, honouring 46 individuals and organisations.

    Award winners have included famous names such as athlete David Moorcroft; head of Jaguar Sir John Egan; poet Phillip Larkin; Sir Basil Spence, designer of Coventry Cathedral; and Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, Inventor of the jet engine.

    Now, six more names are to join the list.

    They are: Pauline Black, Professor Stuart Croft, Sybil Hanson, Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Mark Robins and Jon Sharp.

    Pauline Black OBE DL, is an icon of British music who was a major part of the 2-Tone and Ska music revolution in the 1970s that became synonymous with Coventry and helped spread a message of racial equality. She has performed for over 50 years with The Selecter and is a pioneer for Black performers and in particular Black women in music. She is a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands and combines her music career with supporting many local community projects.

    Professor Stuart Croft is the Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Warwick and has been part of this key part of city life since 2007. He has dedicated his whole life to supporting, promoting, and delivering higher education and academia, and has been instrumental in bringing inclusive economic growth to Coventry. He has overseen the university’s work to be a part of city life and a good neighbour, and has helped build links with local communities, charities and residents.

    Sybil Hanson has spent over 50 years making a significant contribution to education in Coventry, including 25 years at Blue Coat CE School. In her retirement, Sybil has served on the Board of Directors for the Inspire Education Trust, the Diocesan Board of Education, and the Schools Forum. At the age of 85, she continues to play a role in education in Coventry. Her contribution is highly valued by the many organisations with which she works.

    Councillor Abdul Salam Khan began his career in local government in 2007 and has been a member of the city’s Cabinet for 15 years and Deputy Leader of the Council since 2015. He demonstrates a profound commitment to inclusivity and respect and believes the strength of our city lies in its diversity. He represents the city around the world as he helps lead Coventry’s work as a city of peace and reconciliation, telling its story and inspiring others towards friendship.

    Mark Robins took over at the helm of Coventry City Football Club in 2017 when the club, along with its fanbase, was at an all-time low. He took a club that was at one of its lowest points in its history and restored its pride. He not only made it a better team, he helped re-establish the club as a true part of the city. He took players and staff into the community, built links with local groups, supported work in diversity and equality, and instilled a real sense of togetherness and pride in the city. 

    Jon Sharp is a true Coventrian who was born in Hillfields and developed his love for rugby while a student at Bablake Grammar School. After building a successful career in the aero industry, John returned home to take over at Coventry Rugby Club as it was on the verge of bankruptcy. The club is now in its best place for a generation and Jon has built strong community links with schools and local clubs, and launched “Project 500’, which has helped over 6,000 children enjoy activities and hot meals.
     

    Congratulating the six winners, Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr George Duggins, said: “The Award of Merit is not awarded often, it is not an annual presentation, but only given when people have  shown outstanding commitment to our city and those who live here.

    “The six people we are honouring are wonderful examples of that dedication and I am delighted that they are being recognised. They have not only excelled in their own chosen fields, they have taken their pride in Coventry and love for their city and used their skills to give something back.

    “The nominations for these latest winners show the great amount of outstanding and selfless work they have carried out. They all come from different backgrounds and have different talents, but they all have something in common – their desire to help others and make Coventry a better place.

    “Thank you to them all for everything they have done for our city. They are great Coventrians, and very worthy recipients of this great honour.”

    Pauline Black, said: “I have always tried to place Coventry and its wonderful community of people at the centre of my life and It is an absolute honour to be nominated for such a prestigious award.”

    The six will officially receive their Awards at a ceremony later this year.

    To find out more about the Coventry Award of Merit and previous winners, visit the website – The Coventry Award of Merit – Coventry City Council

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –