Category: Entertainment

MIL-OSI Global: Miss Austen: the TV show about the Georgian writer’s life embraces her love of fiction

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gillian Dow, Associate Professor of English, University of Southampton

At the heart of the BBC’s new series Miss Austen is a fictional Cassandra Austen (played by Keeley Hawes). Reviews have stressed that the real life Cassandra’s destruction of her sister Jane Austen’s letters has been considered one of the greatest acts of literary vandalism in history. These letters would have provided an invaluable insight into the author who died so young.

Why Cassandra destroyed her sister’s correspondence – and what she destroyed – cannot be known. But Miss Austen gives us intriguing speculation. It deals with family relationships, and with what gets passed down to subsequent generations.

In Miss Austen, Mary Austen is considering encouraging her son James Edward to write a biography of his literary father and aunt. Cassandra must find her sister’s letters before they get into the wrong hands. What happens next is a clever blend of fact and fiction.

James Edward Austen-Leigh did publish the first full biography of his aunt with the help of his sisters, although not until 1869.

However, the series also deviates from fact in its depiction of an incident in Jane’s life in the early 1800s. She may have met a young gentleman at a seaside resort in Devon. This young man may have admired Jane and she may have admired him in turn.

This story was recounted to James Edward Austen-Leigh by his sister when he was preparing a second edition of his Jane Austen memoir. She had been told the story by Cassandra and, though she could not remember the young man’s name, she knew he died shortly after Jane’s encounter with him.

Miss Austen picks up on the suggestion of Jane’s shadowy seaside encounter, locates the events firmly in Sidmouth, names the gentleman Mr Hobday and gives the encounter an intriguing twist by making it Cassandra’s, not Jane’s, romance.

Jane Austen might have enjoyed this fictionalisation.

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A love of fiction and an aversion to history

In the concluding paragraphs of Mansfield Park (1814), Austen’s narrator purposely abstains from dates, “that every one may be at liberty to fix their own”. In Northanger Abbey, the heroine Catherine Morland has no taste for “real, solemn History.” Instead, the novels of Maria Edgeworth and Frances Burney are championed as “works in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed”.

Miss Austen’s Jane is played by Patsy Ferran as witty, acerbic and, crucially, devoted to fiction. She is utterly determined to become a published author and her family support her in this pursuit. This Austen is true to the version of the author that scholars and biographers have presented in recent years.

Jane Austen’s novels are not about the union of one couple. They explore communities and dependence, particularly that of women. Foremost in these explorations are sisterly bonds.

In Austen’s fiction, these bonds may indeed be mutually supportive and fulfilling. But they are always complex too. It is the truth of these complexities that the series Miss Austen captures so beautifully, via Isabella Fowle and her relationship with her sisters, and of course via Cassandra’s relationship with hers.

This adaptation should send viewers to read Gill Hornby’s novel, and to read and reread Jane Austen. Miss Austen embraces the possibilities of fiction in rethinking the lives of the past.

I hope viewers of Miss Austen will think more favourably about the real Cassandra too.

She kept letters and Jane’s manuscripts, leaving them to her nieces on her death. Jane and Cassandra had six brothers.

She was not the only one who had letters that gave insight into Jane Austen’s mind. She must have also written countless more to her other brothers and their wives, her nieces and nephews and her friends.

Many of these are now lost to us. But Cassandra’s curation of her sister’s correspondence can be seen in a positive light when we reflect on what she preserved in relation to what was lost.

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

– ref. Miss Austen: the TV show about the Georgian writer’s life embraces her love of fiction – https://theconversation.com/miss-austen-the-tv-show-about-the-georgian-writers-life-embraces-her-love-of-fiction-249783

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participates in the Sufi music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participates in the Sufi music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau 2025

The Jahan-e-Khusro event has a unique fragrance, It is the fragrance of soil of Hindustan,That Hindustan, which Hazrat Amir Khusro had compared to heaven : PM

The Sufi tradition has created a unique identity for itself in India: PM

The civilization and culture of any country get their voice from its music and songs: PM

Hazrat Khusro described India as greater than all the major nations of the world during his time, He considered Sanskrit the best language in the world: PM

Hazrat Khusro regarded India’s scholars as greater than the greatest of scholars: PM

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 10:55PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Sufi music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau 2025, today, at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.

Addressing the gathering at Jahan-e-Khusro, Prime Minister said that it was natural to feel elated in the presence of the rich legacy of Hazrat Amir Khusro. He noted that the essence of the Spring season, which Khusro was so fond of, is not just the season but is also present in the air of Jahan-e-Khusro today in Delhi.

Shri Modi emphasized the significance of events like Jahan-e-Khusro for the country’s art and culture, stating they provide both importance and tranquility. He highlighted that the event, now completing 25 years, has earned a prominent place in people’s hearts, marking it as a major achievement. The Prime Minister congratulated Dr. Karan Singh, Muzaffar Ali, Meera Ali, and other collaborators for their contributions. He wished the Rumi Foundation and all associated with Jahan-e-Khusro continued success in the future. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also extended his Ramadan greetings to all attendees and citizens of the country, as the holy month approaches. Shri Modi recalled the contribution of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, whose efforts in enhancing the Sunder nursery have been a blessing for millions of art enthusiasts.

The Prime Minister spoke about the significant role of Sarkhej Roza in Gujarat’s Sufi tradition. He highlighted that, in the past, the condition of the site had deteriorated, but as Chief Minister, he focused on its restoration. The Prime Minister also recalled the time when Sarkhej Roza hosted grand Krishna Utsav celebrations, which were well-attended. He mentioned that even today, the essence of Krishna devotion is present in the atmosphere. “I used to regularly participate in the annual Sufi music festival held at Sarkhej Roza”, Shri Modi shared. “Sufi music represents a shared heritage that unites people from all walks of life. The performance of Nazre Krishna also reflected this shared cultural legacy”, Shri Modi emphasized.

The Prime Minister remarked that the Jahan-e-Khusro event carries a unique fragrance, representing the soil of India. He recalled how Hazrat Amir Khusro compared India to paradise, describing the country as a garden of civilization where every aspect of culture has flourished. “The soil of India has a unique character, and when the Sufi tradition arrived here, it found a connection with the land. The spiritual teachings of Baba Farid, the love ignited by Hazrat Nizamuddin’s gatherings, and the new gems created by Hazrat Amir Khusro’s verses, which collectively embody the essence of India’s rich cultural legacy”, Shri Modi remarked.

The Prime Minister emphasized the unique identity of the Sufi tradition in India, where Sufi saints blended Quranic teachings with Vedic principles and devotional music. He praised Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya for expressing unity in diversity through his Sufi songs. “Jahan-e-Khusro has now become a modern reflection of this rich, inclusive tradition”, Shri Modi stated.

Shri Modi highlighted that the civilization and culture of any country get their voice from its music and songs. “When Sufi and classical music traditions merged, they gave birth to new expressions of love and devotion, evident in the qawwalis of Hazrat Khusro, the verses of Baba Farid, the poetry of Bullah Shah, Mir, Kabir, Rahim, and Ras Khan. These saints and mystics gave a new dimension to devotion”, he added.

Shri Modi noted that whether one reads Surdas, Rahim, Ras Khan, or listens to Hazrat Khusro, all these expressions lead to the same spiritual love, where human limitations are transcended, and the union between man and God is felt. “Ras Khan, despite being Muslim, was a devoted follower of Lord Krishna, reflecting the universal nature of love and devotion, as expressed in his poetry. The grand performance at the event also reflected this deep sense of spiritual love”, Shri Modi underscored.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the Sufi tradition has not only bridged the spiritual distances among humans but also reduced the gaps between nations. He recalled his visit to the Afghan Parliament in 2015, where he spoke emotionally about Rumi, who was born in Balkh, Afghanistan, eight centuries ago. Shri Modi shared Rumi’s thought that transcends geographical boundaries: “I am neither from the East nor the West, I am not born from the sea nor the land, I have no place, I am everywhere.” The Prime Minister connected this philosophy to India’s ancient belief in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), drawing strength from such thoughts during his global engagements. Shri Modi also recalled reading a couplet by Mirza Ghalib during a joint press conference in Iran, reflecting India’s universal and inclusive values.

Shri Modi spoke about Hazrat Amir Khusro, who is famously known as the ‘Tuti-e-Hind’. He highlighted that in his works, Khusro praised India’s greatness and charm, as seen in his book Nuh-Siphr. The Prime Minister emphasized that Khusro regarded India as superior to the great nations of his time and considered Sanskrit the best language in the world. Shri Modi acknowledged that Khusro respected Indians as being greater than the greatest scholars.“Khusro also took pride in how India’s knowledge of zero, mathematics, science, and philosophy spread to the rest of the world, especially how Indian mathematics reached the Arabs and became known as “Hindsa.”, Shri Modi noted. The Prime Minister further pointed out that despite the long period of colonial rule and the devastation that followed, Hazrat Khusro’s writings played a significant role in preserving India’s rich past and keeping its legacy alive.

The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the efforts of Jahan-e-Khusro, which has been successfully promoting and enriching India’s cultural heritage for 25 years. Shri Modi acknowledged that maintaining this initiative for a quarter of a century is no small feat. Prime Minister Shri Modi concluded his address by extending his gratitude for the opportunity to enjoy the celebration and expressing his heartfelt appreciation for everyone involved with the event.

Background

The Prime Minister has been a strong proponent of promoting the diverse art and culture of the country. In line with this, he will participate in Jahan-e-Khusrau which is an international Festival dedicated to Sufi music, poetry, and dance. It is bringing together artists from across the world to celebrate the legacy of Amir Khusrau. Organized by the Rumi Foundation, the Festival, started by renowned filmmaker and artist Muzaffar Ali in 2001, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year and is being held from 28th February to 2nd March.

जहान-ए-खुसरो के इस आयोजन में एक अलग खुशबू है। ये खुशबू हिंदुस्तान की मिट्टी की है!

वो हिंदुस्तान, जिसकी तुलना हज़रत अमीर खुसरो ने जन्नत से की थी: PM pic.twitter.com/4HGLQpxfeZ

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 28, 2025

किसी भी देश की सभ्यता, उसकी तहजीब को स्वर उसके गीत-संगीत से मिलते हैं: PM pic.twitter.com/nSMYiVLcBu

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 28, 2025

हजरत खुसरो ने भारत को उस दौर की दुनिया के तमाम बड़े देशों से महान बताया…

उन्होंने संस्कृत को दुनिया की सबसे बेहतरीन भाषा बताया… वो भारत के मनीषियों को बड़े-बड़े विद्वानों से भी बड़ा मानते हैं: PM pic.twitter.com/GfX2OWL3Zn

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 28, 2025

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting with newly-elected Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Home Minister, Shri Ashish Sood, Commissioner of Police, Delhi and senior officials on Law and Order and coordination, in New Delhi today

Source: Government of India (2)

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting with newly-elected Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Home Minister, Shri Ashish Sood, Commissioner of Police, Delhi and senior officials on Law and Order and coordination, in New Delhi today

Home Minister said, the double engine government of Delhi will work with double speed for a developed and safe Delhi, as per the expectations of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

Strict action should be taken against the entire network that helps Bangladeshi and Rohingya intruders enter the country, get their documents made and facilitate their stay here

The issue of illegal intruders is also related to national security and it should be dealt with strictly and they should be identified and deported

Strict action should be taken against police stations and sub-divisions which consistently perform poorly

Union Home Minister said, it should be the priority of Delhi Police to eliminate interstate gangs in Delhi with a ruthless approach

Work with top to bottom and bottom to top approach in narcotics cases and dismantle its entire network

Home Minister directed that permission of Delhi Police will not be required in matters related to construction in Delhi

For quick disposal of 2020 Delhi riots cases, the Delhi government should appoint special prosecutors so that these cases can be disposed of soon

Delhi Police should start the process of recruitment for additional posts soon

Union Home Minister said, DCP-level officers should go to police stations and organize public hearing camps and solve the problems of the public

New security committees should be formed in JJ clusters for the safety of women and children

Delhi Police should identify the places where there is daily traffic jam and Delhi Police Commissioner and Chief Secretary should meet and find a quick solution to this, so that the public can get relief

Delhi Government should prepare a ‘Monsoon Action Plan’ to deal with water-logging by identifying the places where water-logging occurs

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 7:02PM by PIB Delhi

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on Delhi’s law and order situation in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta in New Delhi today. Home Minister of Delhi Government Shri Ashish Sood, Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Delhi Police Commissioner, and several senior officials of Union Home Ministry, Delhi Government and Delhi Police, were present.

During the review meeting, several measures and suggestions to strengthen safety of women, children and senior citizens and improve law and order in the national capital and controlling crime were discussed in detail. While reviewing the performance of Delhi Police, Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that the Delhi Police has done good work in maintaining the law and order in Delhi. Home Minister expressed hope that the double engine government of Delhi will work with double speed for a developed and safe Delhi, as per the expectations of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation directed Delhi police that strict action should be taken against the entire network that helps Bangladeshi and Rohingya intruders enter the country, get their documents made and facilitate their stay here. He said that the issue of illegal intruders is also related to national security and it should be dealt with strictly and they should be identified and deported.

Shri Amit Shah emphasized that strict action should be taken against police stations and sub-divisions which fail to perform. He said that it is very important to know the level of satisfaction of the people about various other activities of Delhi police through third party surveys, like lost and found, police clearance certificate, character verification, traffic management, safety of senior citizens and Himmat App. The review by third party will help improve the efficiency of these initiatives.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that it should be the priority of Delhi Police to eliminate interstate gangs in Delhi with a ruthless approach. Home Minister said that DCP-level officers should go to police stations and organize public hearing camps and solve the problems of the public. Shri Shah said that all ACPs should monitor of serious cases themselves in police stations under them. He said that for the next one year, Delhi Police should run a special drive against crimes at an interval of every three months and later on it should be run every one and a half months.

Union Home Minister said that there is a need to work with a ‘top to bottom’ and ‘bottom to top’ approach in dealing with narcotics cases and dismantle its entire network. He directed that permission of Delhi Police will not be required in matters related to construction in Delhi. He directed that 25 security committees should be formed, on a pilot basis, in JJ clusters and after seeing their results and efficacy the initiative may then be taken forward.

Union Home Minister asked the Delhi Government to prepare a ‘Monsoon Action Plan’ to deal with water-logging by identifying the places where water-logging occurs.

Shri Amit Shah directed that to prevent traffic jams caused by broken down buses, DTC should deploy QRTs and coordinate with other departments to seek immediate help and reduce the response time in removing the obstruction to the traffic.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that efforts should be made to make Mandoli and Tihar jails of Delhi as model jails. He asked Delhi Police to start the process of recruitment for additional posts soon. He said that for quick disposal of 2020 Delhi riots cases, the Delhi government should appoint special prosecutors so that these cases can be disposed of soon.

Shri Amit Shah said that only with mutual cooperation between Delhi Police and Delhi Government the country’s capital can be made an ideal capital. He suggested working towards joint efforts on traffic management, strengthening the infrastructure of law enforcement, women and child empowerment, mutual cooperation between civic departments, curbing corruption, community policing, maintenance and integration of CCTV cameras, etc.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Music created by artificial intelligence – competition between humans and machines? – E-000733/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000733/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Catherine Griset (PfE)

Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence will allow well-trained AI to create music for public consumption.

The EU wants to ensure fair remuneration for cultural and creative professionals, but competition between humans and machines could undermine those efforts.

The legislator must therefore protect artists, without hindering either technological development or creative freedom and free enterprise.

From this point of view, Article 53 of the Artificial Intelligence Act[1] introduces a ‘reservation of rights’ in the area of copyright and related rights, but it is difficult to apply in practice.

Nor will a label to inform people that music has been generated by AI do anything to protect artists.

As for the distribution of broadcasting revenues by the public authority, that will be difficult to tax internationally.

In order to defend the ‘cultural exception’ and safeguard the creation of music by human artists – without hampering the unstoppable march of technology – could the Commission consider quotas for ‘human’ works in the various European music broadcasting markets, even as a precautionary measure?

Submitted: 18.2.2025

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AL_202401689
Last updated: 28 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Man Admits Role in Violent Carjacking in 2023

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL McCANN-ORTIZ, also known as “Bando,” 24, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a carjacking offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) were stolen from a Waterbury residence. After the theft, McCann-Ortiz and others identified an individual (“Victim 1”) who they believed was involved in the theft. Later that night, Victim 1’s friend, (“Victim 2”), picked up Victim 1 from work and drove him home. As they arrived at Victim 1’s residence, three vehicles followed them and surrounded the victims. McCann-Ortiz and his associates, one of whom carried an assault-style rifle, exited the vehicles and approached the victims. McCann-Ortiz and his associates demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened both victims, and physically assaulted them.

Specifically, McCann-Ortiz repeatedly threatened to kill the victims, and punched and kicked one victim, causing serious bodily injury.

McCann-Ortiz and his associates then stole Victim 2’s vehicle, which was owned by Victim 2’s relative, and other items and cash belonging to the victims.

There is no indication that Victim 1 was, in fact, involved in the theft of the ATVs.

McCann-Ortiz pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for May 22.

McCann-Ortiz has been detained since his arrest on unrelated state charges on July 10, 2023.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and David T. Huang.

MIL Security OSI –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: I studied the evidence behind theories of Oscar success – here’s what I found

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andre Spicer, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London

When Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman was asked whether it was possible to predict a hit film, he responded with three words that have become a Hollywood maxim: “Nobody knows anything.” He went on to explain that “not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work”.

Although Goldman’s famous phrase might resonate through the film business, it doesn’t stop people cooking up theories around which films might succeed at the annual Academy of Motion Picture Awards. Over the years, a range of theories have appeared, including: Oscar winners are not always the best films; there is an Oscar-worthy format that winners follow; and that winning an Oscar is actually a long-term curse.

Although there is a great deal of speculation about such theories, it’s less clear what the evidence actually says about them. To find out, I took a look at the rapidly growing field of “Oscarology” – the scientific study of the Academy Awards.

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One common theory is that it is entirely predictable who the Oscars will go to. Interestingly, this seems to have some truth to it. One statistical analysis found that by tracking a range of factors, it was possible to predict the winner of the Academy Awards in the four major categories with an overall accuracy of 69%.

Nickel Boys, one of the best picture nominees.

Factors which go into making these predictions include whether the nominee won a Golden Globe or Directors Guild award, and their previous nominations for an Oscar. Past success is a strong indicator of future success, with one important exception: having previously won an Academy Award means a nominee for best actor or best actress is much less likely to win again.

A second theory is that winning an Oscar is a golden ticket to big financial rewards. This is indeed correct. A study found there is a substantial boost in US box office earnings following a win in the the best supporting actor/actress, best actor/actress and best picture categories.

Best picture nominee Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes, also nominated for best actor.

Further research has found that Oscar nominations really make a positive impact on box office receipts – while actually winning the award gives a more modest boost. Interestingly, winning an award does not always translate to success in other parts the world. One study found that Oscar winners that were comedies performed better in Asian markets, but dramas performed worse.

The next theory is the idea that Oscar winners follow a particular format. Researchers have indeed found there is an Oscar-worthy format which some filmmakers follow. The “Oscar bait” format uses genres like war movies, historical epics and biographies, as well as plot elements such as war crimes, disabilities, political intrigue and show business.

Mikey Madison, star of best picture nominee Anora, is also up for best actress.

However, making a film using this Oscar-worthy format is not a guarantee of success. Films employing this concept which were nominated for an award received significantly greater financial returns. However, those using the Oscar-bait format which missed out on a nomination typically made large losses.

Then comes the theory that winning an Oscar is more about the quality of networks rather than the quality of the film. Again, there is some truth to this. Researchers have found that one way to improve the chances of winning an Oscar is to be part of film industry networks and work alongside people who have already won awards.

As well as a best picture nomination, Wicked’s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are also nominated.

There are some indicators that Oscars do not necessarily go to the best-quality movies. One analysis which compared Oscar winners to lists of 100 best movies of all time found that only 26% of films which appeared on all three main lists of best movies were also Oscar winners.

This research also notes that some movies which are staples of lists of classic movies (such as Singing in the Rain) were not even nominated for the best picture Oscar. What this suggests is that winning an Oscar does not always mean a film will be seen as a classic – and vice versa.

Best picture nominee I’m Still Here sees Brazilian Fernanda Torres nominated for best actress.

The final theory is that there is an “Oscar curse” – that winning an Oscar leads to personal and professional tragedy. This theory is largely incorrect. Researchers have found that Oscar winners live about one year longer than their less successful peers. Others have found that winning an Academy Award leads to greater professional success, with Oscar winners and nominees appearing in more films than their non-winning peers.

However, one area of truth in the idea of an Oscar curse is for men in their personal lives. Nominees and winners of the best actor award had a higher divorce rate than their peers.

Theories around the Oscars may prove to be not entirely correct – but they do provide a useful approximation of which films will triumph. Past performance, social networks and formula-following all seem to be good indicators of who will succeed. Perhaps Goldman’s advice that “no one knows anything” is not entirely true.

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

– ref. I studied the evidence behind theories of Oscar success – here’s what I found – https://theconversation.com/i-studied-the-evidence-behind-theories-of-oscar-success-heres-what-i-found-251085

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The Vegan Tigress: intimate play resurrects fierce forgotten Victorian writer

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lucy Ella Rose, Lecturer in Victorian Literature, University of Surrey

The Vegan Tigress, a new play by Claire Parker, shines a spotlight on the largely-forgotten feminist fairytale writer Mary De Morgan (1850-1907). And the timing is particularly apt. The show opened, at London’s Bread & Roses Theatre, in the lead up to International Women’s Day and during the year of the 175th anniversary of De Morgan’s birth.

The production, by LynchPin Theatre Company, is part of a wider cultural project to celebrate underappreciated Victorian women writers, actors and activists. Parker has also written plays on feminist actor Ellen Terry and her daughter Edie Craig.

It also speaks to a general resurgence of interest in the creative De Morgan family. Mary’s father was Augustus De Morgan, the mathematician and logician and her brother was the potter, tile designer and novelist William De Morgan.

The Bread and Roses Theatre – an intimate space above a lively Clapham pub – creates an immersive experience. The audience shares De Morgan’s modest London quarters along with the accidentally summoned ghost of her ex-lover’s formidable mother: Lady Tuttle (played by Edie Campbell).

Providing comedic value, Tuttle deploys her spectral status to prank De Morgan (played by Parker), but her presence also highlights the stark differences between them, staging a debate between feminist and patriarchal versions of Victorian-Edwardian womanhood.

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Shrill-voiced, upper-class and tightly corseted, Tuttle opposes women’s education and refers to suffragettes as “hyenas in petticoats and bitter spinsters”.

Striding across the stage swathed in silk skirts and a velvet, lace-trimmed bodice, she is both a mesmerising and somewhat villainous matriarch. By contrast, De Morgan is an irreverent free spirit who wears bohemian clothing, admires revolutionaries and has been a suffragist since she was 16.

The show portrays De Morgan as a pioneering professional woman, writing feverishly at a desk flanked by piles of beautiful antiquarian books. Parker and Campbell are hypnotic in their imaginative retellings and performances of De Morgan’s stories such as the The Hair Tree (1877), which are woven into the play.

The Vegan Tigress transports the audience into fantastical realms, fusing eerie lighting with dazzling props and sound effects – thunder, birdsong, clamouring voices.

With impressive ease, the actors shape-shift into bizarre animal forms – a puppet parrot, a tortured tiger and a grotesque tortoise. Together they illuminate the sociopolitical subtexts of De Morgan’s stories.

The trailer for The Vegan Tigress.

Her subversive tale from 1877, A Toy Princess (which Parker describes in the play), critiques doll-like ideals of femininity, prefigures the feminist fairy tales of Angela Carter and resonates with the Barbiemania that surrounded the release of the Barbie film in 2023.

In literature and in life, De Morgan resists conventional narratives of marriage and motherhood, enacting alternative destinies for women.

Especially successful as a visual manifestation of the stories’ transformative power is the simultaneously symbolic and literal change we witness in Lady Tuttle.

The more she reads The Windfairies (1900, one of three fairy tale collections by De Morgan) and political publications (Votes for Women), the less straitlaced she becomes – literally. Her corset unbuttons and her tied hair loosens. Despite being a ghost, Lady Tuttle comes alive as her mind expands, testifying to the powerful potential of reading and writing.

In joyful and poignant moments of female bonding in the second half of the play, Tuttle and De Morgan dance the tango, and embark arm-in-arm on the trip of a lifetime to Egypt, where De Morgan worked in real life in a girls’ reformatory. The show becomes a celebration of female creativity, companionship and community.

At the play’s close, the fourth wall is broken and the audience is addressed by De Morgan as “people from the future”. It prompts a reflection on how far we have come since first-wave feminism, but also how far we still have to go (given #MeToo and the reversal of Roe v Wade, the US Supreme Court ruling that legalised abortion across the States in 1973), making Parker’s revival of De Morgan timely and important.

If De Morgan’s legacy is, as she soliloquises, “arming lost, disenfranchised girls and women with the tools to stand their ground”, what will ours be?

The Vegan Tigress is at The Bread & Roses Theatre until March 1.

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

– ref. The Vegan Tigress: intimate play resurrects fierce forgotten Victorian writer – https://theconversation.com/the-vegan-tigress-intimate-play-resurrects-fierce-forgotten-victorian-writer-251179

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Murder investigation launched in Islington

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Police were called to Seven Sisters Road, N7 at around 23:35hrs on Thursday, 27 February.

Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service colleagues. A 75-year-old man was taken to hospital where, very sadly, he died on Friday, 28 February.

The man’s family have been informed. The victim is thought to have been a Bolivian national – formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

Three teenagers – girls aged 14, 16 and 17 – were arrested on suspicion of GBH prior to the man’s death. This is now being reviewed. They remain in custody and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.

Superintendent Annmarie Cowley, one of the senior officers responsible for policing Islington, said: “I know this death will cause shock and very real concern in Holloway and the wider Islington area. I share those concerns, and I want to assure local people that a thorough police investigation is under way.

“There are additional police patrols in the local area. I urge local people to speak with these officers if you have any information or any concerns. The officers are there to support you, and they will be in and around Holloway throughout the weekend.”

DCI Paul Waller, Specialist Crime, is leading the murder investigation. He said: “Three people are in custody and specialists from across the Met have been working at pace since last night to establish exactly what happened. Every possible line of inquiry is being followed, and this includes forensic work and ongoing enquiries to identify all available CCTV.

“I am grateful to those members of the public who have contacted police already. I urge anyone who saw the incident but has yet to contact police to please get in touch and share what they know.”

Anyone who has information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or contact @MetCC on X, quoting reference 8184/27feb. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

MIL Security OSI –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: 6 ways to inspire future leaders during Women’s History Month
Source: Microsoft

Headline: 6 ways to inspire future leaders during Women’s History Month

Celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 with engaging experiences from Minecraft Education, Learning Accelerators, and more.
Each year on March 8, communities around the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing the remarkable contributions of women who have shaped history and championed equality. In the US, this celebration coincides with Women’s History Month, an opportunity to learn about the lives of leaders like Ellen Ochoa and Malala Yousafzai, whose relatable stories inspire students to create positive changes in their own lives and beyond.

To help you bring these stories to life in your classroom to celebrate Women’s History Month 2025, check out our list of tools and resources that will help make learning more meaningful and engaging. Students can explore the triumphs of strong, female leaders in Minecraft Education, learn valuable information literacy and presentation skills with Learning Accelerators, and discover contributions of local women through lessons you create with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. These tools help inspire curiosity, support critical thinking, and connect students to the powerful stories of women who have shaped our world.

1. Experience the courage of Hispanic women in LatinExplorers 2

Introduce your students to a remarkable group of Hispanic women who have shaped their communities and the world. With Minecraft Education’s LatinExplorers 2, created in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, students will discover how Gloria Estefan, Ellen Ochoa, and Monica Ramirez made an impact through music, science, and advocacy. Along the way, they’ll develop leadership skills, build empathy, and learn how to tackle challenges—just like these fearless women.

Discover LatinExplorers 2

Classroom connection: Before getting started, explore supporting files on the LatinExplorers 2 webpage. You’ll find an educator guide to help facilitate the experience in your classroom, along with a toolkit for using LatinExplorers 2 at a family event.

2. Walk in the shoes of Noble laureates

Conflict resolution is a critical leadership skill, and Minecraft Education’s Peace Builders lesson helps students develop their capacity to deal with problems through real-world examples. In this immersive experience, created in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center, students meet four Nobel Peace Prize laureates who addressed global conflicts in unique ways—including Jody Williams who worked tirelessly to ban landmines in post-war Cambodia. Through Williams’ story and other peace builders, students will explore strategies to prevent and resolve conflict, strengthening their ability to lead with empathy and action.

Explore Peace Builders

Classroom connection: Check out the supporting files and use the Jody Williams Class PowerPoint to introduce important concepts and guide your students in creating their own campaign to address issues that matter to them.

3. Introduce strong female role models with Lessons in Good Trouble

Inspire your students to become catalysts for positive change in their community by learning from civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, and Emmeline Pankhurst in Minecraft Education’s Lessons in Good Trouble. In this experience, your students will work alongside outspoken activists to understand historic periods when women were denied educational opportunities and voting rights. The courageous women in Lessons in Good Trouble demonstrate how peaceful activism can challenge injustices and create a more equitable society for everyone.

Discover Lessons in Good Trouble

Classroom connection: Enhance your students’ learning by making Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, or Emmeline Pankhurst the focus of a research project. Use a Learning Accelerator such as Search Progress or Search Coach to help take their learning to the next level.

4. Research influential women with Search Progress and Search Coach

Extend learning beyond Women’s History Month while helping your students build essential digital literacy skills with Search Progress and Search Coach, two Learning Accelerators. An assignment in Search Progress empowers students to find, evaluate, and use credible online sources to develop critical information literacy skills along the way. And, both tools make it easy to track student learning in real-time.

Explore Learning Accelerators

For example, you might create a Search Progress assignment that asks students to research Emmeline Pankhurst’s contributions to the women’s suffrage movement. Using Search Coach, your students receive real-time feedback on their queries, helping them to refine their research strategies while building background knowledge on this influential leader.

To get started with Search Progress and Search Coach, explore these resources:

5. Practice presenting with Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach

Click to enlarge

Help students share their Women’s History Month learning by creating a PowerPoint and practicing their presentation skills with Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach, two Learning Accelerators. Use Speaker Progress to create presentation assignments and track your students’ growth at the individual, class, grade, and school levels. Then have your students use Speaker Coach to complete the assignment, while receiving real-time, AI-powered feedback on pacing, pitch, clarity and more.

To integrate Minecraft Education learning with presentation assignments, have students create a PowerPoint on ways to increase diversity just as Ellen Ochoa modeled in LatinExplorers 2. They can practice their delivery in a private space with Speaker Coach, helping to boost their confidence as they strengthen their communication skills.

Get the most out of Speaker Progress and Speaker Coach with these resources:

6. Expand on Women’s History Month with Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat can help you create classroom materials, activities, and lessons tailored to Women’s History Month topics or even more of your students’ interests. Use generative AI to streamline lesson planning by copying and pasting one of these ready-to-use prompts into Copilot Chat:

Generate a list of five women from [geographic area or country] who have made significant contributions in the past [two decades]. Include a paragraph on their achievements, challenges, and leadership. Include an engaging activity for students in [grade level] that requires them to explore information in an interactive way.

Write an oral reading passage about Jody Williams, detailing her Nobel-prize winning accomplishments. The passage should be at a [700L] Lexile level and under [number] words. Provide three comprehension questions for a [grade level] student.

Try Copilot Chat

Make sure to check out “Meet your AI assistant for education” to discover more ways Copilot Chat can help you personalize learning, support brainstorming, provide feedback, and more.

From Minecraft Education experiences with women leaders to Learning Accelerators that help students practice their skills, find an activity that will make Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025 memorable and inspiring for your students. Start inspiring the next generation of leaders in your classroom today!
MIL OSI Economics –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Be a part of Norwich’s biggest summer celebration – Lord Mayor’s Weekend 2025

Source: City of Norwich

Pack your picnic blankets, grab your sunglasses, and get ready for a blooming brilliant weekend as the Lord Mayor’s Weekend transforms Norwich city centre from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July 2025!

This year’s vibrant theme, “Summer in the City,” takes inspiration from global celebrations while inviting everyone to showcase what summer in Norwich means to them—whether it’s fun days in the park, the buzz of festivals, or the joy of a day by the river.

A standout event in Norwich’s cultural calendar, the Lord Mayor’s Weekend brings together residents and visitors for a packed programme of live music, dazzling street performances, interactive activities, and mouth-watering food stalls. Whether you’re soaking up the carnival vibes or sampling seaside-inspired treats, there’s something for all ages in this weekend bursting with creativity, entertainment, and community spirit.

Join the procession!

One of the weekend’s most spectacular highlights is the Lord Mayor’s Procession—a vibrant parade brimming with colour, energy, and imagination. Entries are now open, inviting local groups, schools, businesses, and organisations to bring the “Summer in the City” theme to life. Whether through flourishing floral displays, playful beach-inspired floats, or dazzling sun-soaked performances, this is your chance to make your mark on a much-loved tradition.

Calling all creative minds – paid artist opportunities!

This year’s carnival also brings an exciting paid opportunity for local artists with skills in costume design, prop making, music, dance, performance, and puppetry. Artists will collaborate with community groups, leading workshops and helping to bring their creative visions to life for the grand procession. It’s a fantastic way to share your talents, inspire others, and be part of the celebrations

Get involved!

Councillor Claire Kidman, Norwich City’s Cabinet member for A Prosperous Norwich, said: “The Lord Mayor’s Weekend is always a fantastic, free family event, with tens of thousands of residents and visitors enjoying it every year.

“What makes it so special is the involvement of the community, so we invite everyone to take part and help make this year’s celebration a true reflection of the creativity and togetherness we know Norwich is all about.”

For details on joining the Lord Mayor’s Procession or learning more about the event, visit www.norwich.gov.uk/lmw

More details on the weekend’s full schedule of activities and entertainment will be revealed as the event approaches.

So, dust off your deckchairs, bring your festival spirit, and get ready to celebrate summer—Norwich style!

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Revitalizing downtown Edmonton

Edmonton continues to thrive and is quickly becoming a key destination in Canada and North America to visit, live and work. To help the city to meet the demands of a growing population, the Government of Alberta has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Edmonton and OEGSE.

The MOU would help the city achieve its vision to develop an event park and public realm space fully connected to Rogers Place in Edmonton’s ICE District, unlock more housing in the downtown core, and would also support site servicing for the Village at ICE District and demolition of the old Coliseum at Exhibition Lands. Discussions between the Government of Alberta, City of Edmonton, and OEGSE are ongoing as further details are worked out. The province’s Budget 2025 allocates funding for this project, should a final agreement be struck among all three partners.

“Alberta’s government is proud to be partnering with the City of Edmonton and OEG Sports & Entertainment on this exciting plan to support world-class facilities and services and revitalize downtown Edmonton. This agreement would ensure that Edmonton continues to be one of Canada’s and North America’s leading entertainment and event districts.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

These priority projects will support much-needed housing development, provide residents and visitors with year-round access to sports, culture and entertainment activities, as well as improve safety and build 2,500 new units of diverse housing types. The total cost for all projects is $408.2 million, which will be shared among all three partners.

As part of this ongoing work, the City of Edmonton has released a report that outlines options to extend the end date for the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) beyond 2034. This report contains new catalyst projects including public infrastructure site servicing for the Village at ICE District housing development and a proposed event park that would be funded through the CRL. The event park is estimated to add over $70 million to the local gross domestic product (GDP) and up to 1,400 jobs throughout the construction phase.

“This investment will boost our economy and solidify Edmonton’s status as a global events hub. I’m pleased the Government of Alberta is investing in our city. Municipalities need provincial support to manage record growth, and this funding will support diverse housing projects, including needed affordable housing.”

Amarjeet Sohi, mayor, City of Edmonton

“We are proud of our work to date with the development of Rogers Place and the surrounding facilities, which have become catalytic drivers of investment and development in Edmonton’s downtown core, and we look forward to building on that success through this new agreement. This agreement is a significant step in the right direction toward creating great public spaces that will add to the community programming, activity and vibrancy of downtown Edmonton, and will bring public infrastructure investment to encourage development of much-needed housing in our city.”

Tim Shipton, EVP, External Affairs, OEGSE

Alberta’s government, the City of Edmonton and OEGSE will make a more formal announcement in the days to come.

MIL OSI Canada News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: HTXMining: Enhancing Crypto Staking Accessibility with Secure and Efficient Solutions

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTXMining, a Liquidity Staking Platform, introduced an advanced Liquidity Staking Platform aimed at providing users with a streamlined and efficient way to participate in cryptocurrency staking. HTXMining can rock the world of cryptocurrencies with its appealing features. Htxmining impressed its investors by providing new ways to make the most of their digital assets, all while keeping things safe and profitable.

Image by HTXMining

HTXMining: The Future of Crypto Staking

Cryptocurrency staking provides a means to engage in blockchain networks by contributing digital assets. This process helps secure transactions and validate blocks, and in return, participants earn rewards. Compared to traditional mining, staking presents a more environmentally conscious option, as it does not require significant hardware investments or excessive energy usage. Platforms like HTXMining offer staking services that allow assets to be locked for a specified duration in exchange for staking rewards.

Liquidity Staking: Maintaining Asset Availability

Liquidity staking on HTXMining enables participants to stake assets while maintaining access to their funds, allowing continued trading or utilization while earning staking rewards. This feature is unique to HTXMining, providing investors with flexibility and financial freedom. Prot potential can be maximized by providing liquidity to decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and automated market makers (AMMs) without sacrificing asset availability.

Liquidity Mining for Enhanced Engagement

In addition to staking, HTXMining offers liquidity mining options where participants contribute assets to liquidity pools in decentralized nance (DeFi) protocols. As part of this process, contributors support market operations and may receive incentives based on their contribution levels.

The platform offers diverse liquidity mining pools. Whether staking Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC), or stablecoins like USDT and USDC, HTXMining ensures that participants can diversify their investments while optimizing earnings.

Why HTXMining Serves as a Good Crypto Staking Platform

HTXMining is regarded as a reliable platform for crypto staking due to its commitment to transparency, security, and portability. Among the key distinguishing features of HTXMining are:

Flexible Staking Options: A range of staking durations is available, tailored to various financial strategies.

Low Transaction Fees: Minimal transaction fees enable participants to maximize staking and liquidity mining rewards.

User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive interface of HTXMining ensures accessibility for both beginners and experienced users.

24/7 Customer Support: HTXMining provides continuous assistance to address any inquiries.

Ways to Earn with HTXMining

HTXMining continues to evolve its platform with planned integrations of AI-powered staking optimization, advanced DeFi tools, and multi-chain support, expanding engagement across various blockchain networks. The platform is designed for both beginners and experienced investors, offering multiple earning methods, including:

1. Traditional Staking

Traditional staking on HTXMining provides a low-risk method to earn rewards with cryptocurrency. It offers a stable and predictable return, making it an attractive option for investors who prioritize a reliable income stream.

2. Liquidity Staking

Liquidity staking on HTXMining enables investors to stake assets while still maintaining access to liquidity. The Liquidity Staking mechanism ensures that stakers benefit from both trading and staking rewards.

3. Liquidity Mining

HTXMining’s liquidity mining pools present another lucrative investment avenue. Investors can enhance overall earnings by contributing assets to liquidity pools.

4. Referral and Affiliate Programs

Beyond staking, HTXMining offers a referral and affiliate program that provides additional earning potential. Commissions can be earned by introducing new participants to the platform, creating opportunities for increased revenue.

HTXMining: A Leading Liquidity Staking Platform

HTXMining’s robust security measures and liquidity mining solutions offer an effective way to earn income through cryptocurrency staking. Regardless of experience level in the crypto industry, the platform is designed to accommodate all participants. HTXMining ensures maximum rewards with top-tier security and a seamless user experience.

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

Media Contact:

Paul Winterowd, HTXMining
+15757887086
info@htxmining.com
https://htxmining.com/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c3e6962a-3240-4490-9e74-7b424a9a6f08

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Last Chance to Shop the Best Deals on Home Health and Fitness with Innovative Smart Appliances

Source: Samsung

The Samsung Blue Tag Sale, which is running until 2 March 2025, presents a great opportunity to get cutting-edge technology for home health and fitness. The company’s innovative range of appliances and mobile devices is transforming how consumers approach wellness, making it easier to live a healthier, more active lifestyle from the comfort of home. From smart TVs and health-tracking wearables to eco-friendly appliances that promote well-being, Samsung’s products are designed to support every aspect of a modern, health-conscious lifestyle.

The cutting-edge products are set to redefine the boundaries of home wellness, offering users an integrated and seamless experience that promotes a healthier lifestyle. As the world continues to prioritise health and wellness, Samsung’s innovative smart appliances are set to become an essential part of modern living. By seamlessly integrating technology and wellness, Samsung is empowering users to take control of their health and fitness, one smart appliance at a time.

Samsung Smart TVs: Your Fitness Hub at Home
Samsung’s Smart TVs are more than just entertainment hubs – they’re powerful tools for fitness. Users can stream workout routines, follow wellness content, or track fitness progress with apps like YouTube and Samsung Health. Whether you’re following a yoga session or monitoring your steps, these devices serve as an all-in-one fitness station for the modern home.

Samsung Food App
Samsung Food is making food preparation more convenient which allows you to plan meals based on users’ food preferences or support sustainable food practice goals. Samsung Food now features enhanced tools designed to support users to better maintain their health and to reach wellness goals. The platform provides nutrition-focused meal plans that track and monitor caloric intake within daily meal schedules, whether for recipes or individual food items. It offers “Tailored for You” plans, delivering weekly recipe and snack recommendations based on users’ nutritional needs,6 chosen diets and previous recipe preferences

Air Conditioners: Breathe Easy, Live Healthier
Maintaining clean air in the home is crucial for health, especially during fitness activities. Samsung’s air conditioners, equipped with air-purifying technology, improve indoor air quality, creating a more comfortable and healthier environment. These devices ensure that every workout, whether indoors or outdoors, takes place in fresh, clean air.

Samsung Devices & Smartwatches: Your Health and Fitness Companion.
Samsung’s mobile devices, especially the Galaxy series, provide comprehensive features for health and fitness management. With robust fitness apps, heart rate monitoring, and wellness tracking, users can easily access workout routines, nutrition guides, and health data from their smartphones. Samsung’s seamless device integration makes it simple to stay connected and in control of your health journey. The Samsung Galaxy Watch is an essential accessory for those looking to boost their fitness goals. With advanced features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and multiple exercise modes, it helps users stay motivated and on track. Integrated with Samsung Health, the Galaxy Watch makes it easy to monitor daily activity, set goals, and engage with a supportive fitness community.

Some of the Deals You Don’t Want to Miss:
Wind-Free AR6500T Wall-mount AC with Wind-Free with an easy to clean anti-bacterial filter. Now R10,799* (Save R2,800)
Cook delicious healthy dishes without guesswork with Samsung 40L Solo Microwave Oven Black MS40DG5504AGFA. Now R2,799* (Save R800)
Welcome to the new era of AI-powered health, Galaxy Watch7 (Bluetooth, 44mm). Now R4,999* (Save R1,500)
Galaxy S24 FE offers a range of health and wellness features to help you stay on top of your fitness goals. Now R12,999* (Save R2,000)
Upgrade your viewing experience with the 65 Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024). Now R13,999* (Save R1000)
Enjoy stunning picture quality which upscales content with 85″ DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV. Now R22,999* (Save R2,000)

User Experience
From simplifying daily routines to fostering a health-conscious home environment, Samsung’s products are designed with the user experience in mind. Whether it’s a quick workout, a healthy meal, or cleaner air, Samsung’s innovative solutions make it easier than ever to prioritise health and fitness at home.

The Samsung Blue Tag Sale is running in Samsung stores, online, the Samsung Shop App, and participating retailers until 2 March 2025. Don’t miss out!

For more information, visit www.samsung.com/za

MIL OSI Economics –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos“ publishes interim financial statements for the 12-month period of 2024
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” (the Company) publishes its unaudited interim condensed consolidated and separate financial statements for the 12-month period of 2024.

Financial results

The Company’s objective is to earn a return for the Company’s investors from investments in renewable energy infrastructure facilities and related assets. The main financial indicators for the period were:
- As at 31 December 2024, the Company’s total assets were EUR 187 855 thousand, total equity was EUR 98 536 thousand, and total liabilities were EUR 89 319 thousand.
- As at 31 December 2024, the Company’s investment assets at fair value through profit or loss were EUR 157 962 thousand, which compared to 31 December 2023, decreased by EUR 22 098 thousand or 12.27%. The decline in the fair value of the investment portfolio was mainly driven by the results of the independent annual valuation of the Company’s shares. The value of the Company’s solar assets in Poland primarily decreased due to electricity price curve forecasts being significantly lower than the electricity price curve utilized in the Company’s valuation in the fourth quarter of 2023.
- For the period January – December 2024, the Company reported a comprehensive loss of EUR 16 764 thousand, primarily attributed to the negative fair value change in the investment portfolio resulting from the independent annual valuation of the Company’s shares and financing expenses.
Contact person for further information:

Mantas Auruškevičius

Manager of the Investment Company

Mantas.Auruskevicius@lordslb.lt

Attachment
- 2024 Q4 AEI FS consolidated & separate EN
The MIL Network –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Prime Minister speech at Convention of the North

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

Deputy Prime Minister speech at Convention of the North

The DPM gave the keynote address at the event in Lancashire.

Thank you everyone, it’s an absolute pleasure to be here at the Convention of the North again. 

I apologise if I go too Northern for you, but it’s good to be back in this region, and it is great to be here in Preston. 

A year ago, I was stood in front of this same Convention at Leeds Dock – talking about the change this country so desperately needs.  A lot has changed! 

But just like last year, we’re meeting today on the spot of real Northern success. 

For two centuries, this university has opened its doors. Not just for students across the country, but for the people of the proud city too. 

Over those last two centuries, this mill town – just like the rest of the North – has seen entire industries rise and fall. 

Today, as I look out towards our fantastic Northern leaders, businesses and innovators, I want you to know that I am determined to fight for a future that’s brighter and more ambitious.

Just over 6 months ago, this government was elected to deliver change. I know that the North is as impatient as anyone for that change – as I am too. 

The gears of change haven’t always been well-oiled, in fact, a decade of decline has seen them rusted.  As you work to improve the places you call home, you’re being resisted by a system that hoards power and investment away from where it needs to be – making regional inequalities worse, and not better. 

The truth is that for all the promises of levelling up, central government’s first instinct is too often to hoard power and hold our economy back.  Too many decisions affecting too many people are made by too few.  I’m here to help you break that system, and build a fairer one in its place. 

 Last year I promised this Convention that I would be a Deputy Prime Minister for the North. And working with many of you sat here today, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved so far. 

We’ve taken a hammer to business-as-usual in Whitehall, and within days of getting into government, Labour Secretaries of State were giving up newly won powers for the sake of our towns and cities, with the Prime Minister leading the charge.  It has not been comfortable!  But it wasn’t supposed to be.  After all, we are undergoing a generational power shift from Whitehall to the town hall.  

We’re putting support for business at the heart of this with funding rolled into integrated settlements. An Office for Investment working with mayors to develop funding opportunities and regional innovation funding.

In just six short months we are on track to complete devolution in the North.  This means decisions for the North, will be made by the North. So that Northerners will no longer be dictated to from Whitehall.   And this change will be irreversible.  And that’s important, because I know first-hand that decisions are made best by those with skin in the game. 

 That’s what our English Devolution White Paper is all about. Nothing less than a total rewiring of power in England.  For all the techy talk of devolution, the goal is simple:  We will give mayors the power to drive growth, to use new levers over planning, housing and regeneration to Get Britain Building. 

We are ending the begging bowl culture and giving local leaders flexibility over their spending. For the first time in British history, we have created a department-style integrated settlement giving Mayor Parker and Mayor Burnham over a billion pounds in flexible funding. 

 And next year, I am delighted that Liverpool, the North East, and South and West Yorkshire will all follow. This will be a game-changer for families across England, giving mayors the freedom and flexibility to make the right decisions for their place. 

 And you only need to look at what our Northern mayors are already achieving, to see why this is so important. Just look at Mayor Brabin’s SME Graduate Scheme, keeping homegrown talent in West Yorkshire, and her investment in bus routes getting people to work quicker and cheaper. 

Or Mayor Coppard’s Pathways to Work Commission, putting 10,000 residents in South Yorkshire back to work.  In York and North Yorkshire, Mayor Skaith is investing millions in high streets, supporting local business to thrive.  Mayor Rotherham is bringing award-winning TV and film productions to Liverpool, with investment in new studios. 

The success of our Northern mayors doesn’t stop there. In Greater Manchester, Mayor Burnham’s Bee Network is making it simpler and more affordable to get the bus and tram.  And further north, Mayor McGuinness has set up the first mayoral child support poverty reduction unit to support families across the North East. 

A future for the North, built by those that call it home. Uniting under the banner of Great North and a vision for a new era of Northern cooperation. This isn’t about pitting place against place.  This is about understanding what our towns and cities can achieve together. It’s about releasing Britain’s untapped potential. 

And don’t underestimate the effect of Cabinet Ministers having mayors at the end of the phone.  Let me tell you – not one of them will shy away from telling us how it is. 

It isn’t by accident that devolution sits in my department.  It is by design.  Because mayors aren’t just a helpful tool to unlock housing, transport and infrastructure, they are a critical levers in our mission of growth.  

Let me tell you why. All of you in this room are trying – like I am – to get Britain building again. Yes, building houses, but also building your business, building renewable energy, building data centres.  

All too often, we are met by a system that says: “don’t bother”. Well, I am determined to break that system.  And I am handing mayors the sledgehammer! 

Earlier this year we published a new national planning framework to break down the barriers to sustainable growth.  And today, I want to share more details on how we will go even further, in our Planning and Infrastructure Bill. 

Mayors are at the centre of our plans to build 1.5 million homes, by giving them the powers they need, mayors are an army to take on the blockers. We are backing them to work across huge regional geographies to get the job done.  It’s why we’re giving them the powers to call in applications on those large, strategic sites that will really turn the wheel on growth.  

And it’s why we’re putting grant funding for regeneration and housing in their hands. To enable mayors to deliver on their plans, we will forge a stronger partnership between them and Homes England. Over time, we will move Homes England to a more regionalised model so that the agency is even more responsive to the economic plan of an area. 

We’ve already committed to strategic authorities for the entire country – but we can’t waste any time in building the homes we desperately need. That’s why I can confirm that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill I will introduce to Parliament in the weeks ahead will allow councils without a mayor to come together and set spatial development strategies. 

This means bringing forward housebuilding powers as soon as we can.  I think there is huge potential here.  If we can get building, and boost productivity of just 11 city regions, we could add £20.5 billion each year to the Exchequer. Imagine the jobs, opportunities and growth that comes with it. 

But devolving powers is only half the plan, if we’re not matching it with investment, we won’t see the results. The history of our Northern towns and cities is one of great industrialists, and workers who grafted for something better. And it’s in that same image, that the North today can provide the growth this country needs. 

Here in Preston, people have decent jobs to be proud of – just look at the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. We cannot underestimate the impact that business investment like that can have on an area. This is a sector that is critical for our national security, and economic growth. 

Over in West Yorkshire, we’re backing the new Mass Transit Scheme with two hundred million pounds of funding to support its development. Anyone who expects the businesses of Leeds to meet their economic potential without a proper transport network needs to ask themselves why they expect the North to settle for less. 

And as we support the recreation of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport it’s the job of this government to ask how we can best support our nation’s regional airports. Teesside has shown that regional airports can prosper, and now it’s time to back South Yorkshire too. 

Up in Blyth, plans are also being delivered for Europe’s biggest AI data centre.  These projects are not just about driving growth for the sake of it but driving growth in the places where potential is greatest.  The places which once built Britain, and once again deserve to be the centres of economic and industrial excellence. 

[political content removed] I share the Chancellor’s determination to review the Green Book to properly recognise the potential of places across the country. This means a full review of what it means for a project to be value for money. 

Alongside this, our industrial strategy led by the Business Secretary, will see a complete rewiring of the state. The mayors’ local growth plans are the bedrock of our industrial strategy, underpinning how we drive growth in every town and city. And finally, harness the great potential of the North.

These plans are already underway. Every mayor is working with government to align priorities. Time is of the essence, which is why we’re wasting no time in publishing local growth plans, setting out these blueprints to deliver the manufacturing and green jobs of the future. 

That’s only part of our efforts to rebalance the economy. My Department and the Treasury are working with all strategic mayors with expert units laser-focused on unlocking devolution opportunities in skills, transport, and business support. 

And as we kickstart growth, it is only right that the workers who fuel the economy, get back what they put in. This government’s Employment Rights Bill means the biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation. A bill that takes the very best standards from the very best businesses – and extends it to millions more workers.  

We are clear – better living standards is our number one mission. And we will succeed in our mission when working people can contribute to growth and benefit fairly from it. In some of the most deprived parts of the country – in places across the North – this legislation could save workers up to £600 in lost income. 

Giving people a stable income, a chance to get a mortgage, putting more money in people’s pockets which in turn can be spent on the high streets and in local businesses. Boosting town centres and local economies with regenerative effects – this is about building a new route to prosperity from the bottom up, and the middle out, not the top down.

Managers and senior decision-makers agree that this bill will boost productivity. Which is good for workers, and good for business. We all know that treating workers decently is just what good businesses already do.  We are backing business to level the playing field so that good employers aren’t undercut. Encouraging businesses to compete on quality and innovation in a race to the top.

Without our bill, more working days will be lost through ill-health, costing businesses money. Inaction isn’t an option.  Businesses have everything to gain from this bill but I recognise it will be a big change which is why where businesses have raised concerns we have listened. It’s why we introduced a statutory probation period.

We want businesses to be able to hire with confidence whilst still extending new protections for workers. These are plans which are pro-business, as well as pro-worker, which is why I am hell bent on making work pay. 

 And just as we’ll leave no worker behind, we’ll also be fighting for every single town, village and estate. Too many neighbourhoods have been underestimated and overlooked for too long.  

[political content removed]

When I first stepped into government, we inherited a burnt-out shell that they called levelling up.  It promised to rebalance the North and South. But when I got into government, the truth is, the money didn’t exist.  There was this warped idea that all places needed was a lick of paint and a chess board in the park. 

[political content removed]

We’re doing away with the sticking plaster policies of old and working towards national renewal.  To achieve that, we need to start empowering people to drive change in their communities.  And to anyone who doubts this ambition, to anyone who doubts the North, I say that our region has been underestimated and overlooked for far too long. 

 This government is only giving the North what it’s owed, and what it deserves. For too long, our outdated system of council funding has been stacked against the north.  The days of Ministers expecting the North to go cap in hand ends now. That’s why with Jim McMahon, our Minister for English Devolution and Local Government, we are making simpler and clearer structures and will fix the foundations of local government. He is already beginning to replace the funding formula to give the North nearly £840 million more this year.  That brings the North’s total increase to just over 8 per cent – the biggest rise of all regions in England, by a good distance. 

If this new formula had been applied under the last government, the North would’ve seen billions more in funding. Instead, councils saw cuts of 23 per cent. So we’re starting to right that wrong. 

And we realise that every council has different needs. That’s why we’ve set aside a cash-terms increase for local government of 6.8 per cent. That’s over £69 billion for local government. All councils are facing pressures, but it’s particularly hard for those that bore the brunt of austerity. And this year’s settlement marks a clear direction of travel for the rest of the Parliament. 

 But I know that the change this country needs can’t be micromanaged from Whitehall. It’s people in this room today – mayors, councillors, business owners and investors – who will drive us forward.  And as that happens, I can promise that the full force of the government will be behind you. 

Transferring power out of Westminster, getting Britain building, letting our towns and cities fire on all cylinders, doing whatever it takes to kickstart economic growth and leaving no one behind in that government-defining mission. 

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 28 February 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: BexBack: The Easiest 100x Leverage Futures Exchange with Double Deposit Bonus and No KYC Crypto Trading

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages.The platform now offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and up to 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing excellent opportunities for investors.

What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

With BexBack’s deposit bonus

BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

About BexBack?

BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and 50 other major cryptocurrencies for futures contracts.. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

Why recommend BexBack?

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Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

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

Website: www.bexback.com

Contact: business@bexback.com

Contact:
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business@bexback.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dde26d5f-0289-4b3c-ba8d-0f0d518aa9f6

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https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08170e51-9af3-4971-bd32-a39c2e8d4ac8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6017b63a-46ff-435d-9ab4-6f1a5eefb3f2

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Aptean Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Germanedge from Alpina Partners and Private Shareholders

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Aptean, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Germanedge, a provider of industry-leading industrial software for discrete and process manufacturers from funds managed by Alpina Management GmbH (Alpina, Alpina Partners) and private shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Germanedge’s product portfolio includes Advanced Planning & Scheduling, Intelligent Production Management (MES), Statistical Quality Management, and Connected Worker (Shopfloor Management) solutions. These manufacturing focused solutions are accessible through Germanedge’s Edge.One platform, a no-code SaaS platform that is highly configurable to optimize the digital factory operations of its customers. The addition of Germanedge will greatly expand Aptean’s manufacturing and supply chain management capabilities, enabling Aptean to better serve the needs of its global ERP customer base while also providing existing Germanedge customers with access to its broad portfolio of manufacturing focused solutions.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Germanedge delivers all of the components needed to power the next generation of Digital Factory operations. Germanedge’s innovative cloud-based platform, Edge.One was designed to meet the unique and growing needs of its enterprise and mid-market customers, providing real-time visibility and IoT capabilities. The firm currently employs 200+ full-time employees that serve 300+ customers across 20 countries.

“Aptean is very excited to announce the acquisition of Germanedge, a pioneer in next generation manufacturing capabilities” said TVN Reddy, CEO at Aptean. “Through the addition of Germanedge, Aptean further establishes itself as a leader in industrial software solutions designed specifically for complex discrete and process manufacturing needs.”

“The merger of Germanedge and Aptean presents a fantastic opportunity for us to expand our businesses globally and continue serving our customers’ digital factory operations, while also granting them access to Aptean’s extensive suite of complementary ERP and SCM solutions. By leveraging Germanedge as a platform, we ensure that the current strategy proceeds at an accelerated pace,” said Christian von Stengel, CEO of Germanedge. “We are closely aligned with Aptean regarding our long-term vision of developing software for Industry 4.0, enabling our customers to manufacture their products more efficiently, flexibly, and sustainably.”

“Germanedge is a perfect example for a highly innovative software company providing mission-critical applications to its blue-chip customer base. With its Edge.One platform Germanedge is able to offer digital factory solutions from the cloud. Alpina is extremely proud to have supported the management team on its growth path” said Florian Strehle, a Partner at Alpina.

About Germanedge
Germanedge provides a comprehensive portfolio of software solutions supporting the next generation of Digital Factory, including machine and process data acquisition, tracking and tracing, APS, CAQ, SCM, digital asset management, digital shift books and checklists as well as digital shop floor management. Germanedge is headquartered in Munich, Germany and has offices across Europe and the United States. www.germanedge.com

About Aptean
Aptean is one of the world’s leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Aptean’s products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now^®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

About Alpina Partners
Alpina Partners is an owner-managed investment firm based in Munich, Germany that invests in small and medium sized technology businesses with strong technical USPs. www.alpinapartners.com

For Media Inquiries Please Contact
MediaRelations@Aptean.com

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: H&R Block Brings Taxes to the Gaming World with Immersive Roblox Experience
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), the company that pioneered the tax preparation category 70 years ago, has launched a highly immersive, tax-themed experience within popular Roblox games Mega Mansion Tycoon and Club Roblox – the first-ever tax company to do so – for users ages 18 and older. The timing couldn’t be better as young adult Gen Z gamers may be unaware of their current tax obligations, and that their 2025 activity could trigger a 1099 form next year.

H&R Block offers an immersive gaming experience that is authentically additive in the following ways:
- Through video ads on the platform, Roblox will feature a custom H&R Block-branded universe, launching on Feb. 28 and accessible to gamers ages 18 and up around the world through March 28, 2025.
- Users interact with 30-second H&R Block content in exchange for exclusive and limited-edition items for their avatars, making the gameplay experience easier and more enjoyable.
- A Club Roblox integration will take the H&R Block interactivity a step further. In doing so, users can engage with Max, H&R Block’s “TaxCot,” in a branded in-game tax office within the Club Roblox and Mega Mansion Tycoon games.
- With Max’s help, players can complete tasks allowing them to level up – illustrating how it’s better with Block, and that H&R Block makes the tax process easy and convenient, no matter the complexity of the gamer’s situation.
WHY GAMING

For H&R Block, the most trusted company in tax prep, the addressable audience for potential gaming taxpayers is huge: more than half of 85M+ Roblox’s daily active users are Gen Z, engaging across community-created and brand-created content and immersive experiences. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in late 2023, the share of Gen Zers in the workforce surpassed Baby Boomers for the first time.

“At H&R Block, our purpose is to provide help and inspire confidence for our clients – and that often means showing up authentically in and on the platforms about which they are passionate,” said Jill Cress, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, H&R Block. “Gaming and taxes are an unlikely pairing, which is exactly why we created a tax-themed gaming experience on Roblox. We have found that Gen Z is skeptical of traditional advertising, and they expect more from companies than just promoting products. By integrating into Roblox, we are meeting this generation where they are, reminding them that tax season is here – and we are here to help.”

TAXES + GAMING

In the real world, outside the gaming universe, H&R Block is ensuring all avid gamers, including Roblox users, are aware of potential tax implications of receiving in-game currency.

“Gamers may not realize that some of their online activities where they earn money can be taxable,” said Andy Phillips, Vice President, H&R Block’s The Tax Institute. “If their online earnings are more than $600, that income will generally be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-NEC.”

Form 1099-NEC is used to report non-employee compensation. A breakdown of its purpose follows:
- For taxpayers: This form is typically issued to independent contractors, freelancers, and other self-employed individuals. This form will show the gross amount paid to that person during the year.
- For tax reporting: Recipients will use this information to properly report the income on their tax return. If they are conducting a business, the recipient will generally report the income on Schedule C, along with any allowable expenses. If the activity is more of a hobby, there are special rules for how to report hobby income and expenses.
Gamers receiving a Form 1099-NEC for the first time may need help in determining if their activity rises to the level of a trade or business or looks more like a hobby. This may be a good opportunity to work with a tax professional to ensure the income is properly reported, and any allowable expenses are deducted.

No matter how or what hardworking Americans do to make a living, they can be confident that H&R Block’s unmatched expertise will maximize their refund¹. To learn more about H&R Block’s tax preparation services, many ways to file, and year-round financial support, visit hrblock.com. For media assets, visit maximize their refund¹. To learn more about H&R Block’s tax preparation services, many ways to file, and year-round financial support, visit hrblock.com. For media assets, visit hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom or for a downloadable Tax Season 2025 media kit, visit https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/media-kit/tax-season-2025/. And for helpful tips and information, follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News.

¹All tax situations are different. Not everyone gets a refund. See hrblock.com/guarantees for complete details.

The MIL Network –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Response to Staff Statement on Meme Coins: What Does it Meme?

Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

[1] The purpose of written guidance from SEC staff is to promote understanding of, and compliance with, the federal securities laws.[2] Today’s guidance from the Division of Corporation Finance turns that concept on its head. It advances an incomplete, unsupported view of the law to suggest that an entire product category is outside the bounds of SEC jurisdiction.[3]

And exactly what is a meme coin, the category to which this guidance is directed? Other than how a promoter chooses to label it, what basis do we have to determine whether something is a meme coin? The guidance offers no clear definition from law or even a basic dictionary. It generally describes a meme coin as an asset reflective of online or social trends, of speculative value, that tends to experience high volatility. But these are near universal hallmarks of crypto assets. The lack of a useful definition alone makes the value of this guidance questionable, except perhaps as a roadmap for crypto enterprises looking to evade oversight by labeling themselves as a meme coin.

Whatever one might understand a meme coin to be, the label is largely irrelevant to whether something is offered and sold as a “security” under the SEC’s remit. Throughout the federal securities laws, Congress defined a “security” to include an “investment contract,” a term that “embodies a flexible rather than a static principle,” and “is capable of adaptation to meet [ ] countless and variable schemes.”[4] The Supreme Court established the Howey test nearly 80 years ago to determine whether something is an investment contract. The crux of Howey is the reasonable expectation of profits based on the efforts of others.[5] But rather than analyze the reasonable expectations of meme coin purchasers, today’s guidance suggests promoters can get around Howey with disclaimers or other window dressing designed to downplay the significance of managerial efforts.

Decades of controlling authority does not permit such easy avoidance of the federal securities laws.[6] Howey demands a facts and circumstances analysis of the “economic realities” of an offer or sale. Today’s statement paints meme coins as cultural projects whose purpose is entertainment and social engagement. The reality is that meme coins, like any financial product, are issued to make money. Promoters make money from selling the coin, and often also from retaining and holding a significant portion of the token supply as its value increases. The linked fortunes of purchasers and promoters – who will both make money as the coin value goes up – may itself satisfy Howey’s requirement of a “common enterprise.”[7]

Separately, this guidance further posits that meme coin purchasers’ expectations of profits are not based on the efforts of others, because the coin’s value is derived from “speculative trading and the collective sentiment of the market.” But the reality is that trading and demand for meme coins do not exist in a vacuum. Promoters commonly structure offerings and impact market demand over time by limiting supply or ensuring scarcity through buybacks, “burning,” or similar activities.[8] Fraudulent schemes to manipulate demand through pump-and-dumps or rug pulls are not uncommon.[9] Many promoters also sell meme coins based on express promises of what courts have described as managerial efforts, such as getting a coin listed on crypto exchanges.[10] Other meme coins attract purchasers with promises of a “long-term vision that extends far beyond the hype,” including things like a “massive ecosystem,” technology improvements, or AI elements, just to name a few.[11]

Among the hundreds of self-proclaimed meme coins in the market, there is no doubt a continuum of offers and sales, some of which may be offers and sales of securities and some of which may not. But it seems far from clear that sophisticated efforts such as those described above, which may give rise to reasonable expectations of profits, are outside the norm. One wonders how many such coins were examined in order to draft the generalized descriptions of meme coins set out in the guidance.

Regardless, the individualized inquiry Howey requires simply cannot be reconciled with the staff’s conclusion that offers and sales of a vaguely defined category, consisting of hundreds of unique crypto assets, are generally not securities. This guidance is not a reasoned interpretation of existing law. It raises more questions than it answers about what a meme coin is and whether that is a definable or useful categorization for purposes of the existing securities laws. It boils down to a broad statement of general principles that provide little clarity or predictability to as to any given coin.

[4] See SEC v. W.J. Howey Co., 328 U.S. 293, 299 (1946) (citing legislative history).

[6] See, e.g., SEC v. Telegram Group Inc., 448 F. Supp. 3d 352, 365 (S.D.N.Y. 2020) (“Disclaimers, if contrary to the apparent economic reality of a transaction, may be considered by the Court but are not dispositive.” (citing SEC v. SG Ltd., 265 F.3d 42, 54 (1st Cir. 2001)).

[7] To establish a common enterprise, “[i]t is not necessary that the funds of investors are pooled; what must be shown is that the fortunes of the investors are linked with those of the promoters, thereby establishing the requisite element of vertical commonality.” SEC v. Eurobond Exch., 13 F.3d 1334, 1339 (9th Cir. 1994).

[8] See SEC Division of Corporation Finance, Framework for ‘Investment Contract’ Analysis of Digital Assets (last updated July 5, 2024) (describing how creation, issuance, and other actions taken to “support [ ] market price” are relevant to a purchaser’s reasonable expectation of profit under Howey); Rashi Maheshwari, Why is PEPE Coin Rising? (Nov. 5, 2024) (“PEPE Coin uses a deflationary mechanism in which a small percentage of tokens gets burnt with each transaction. This mechanism helps to create scarcity and also increase the value of the left tokens over a period of time. Moreover, it uses a redistribution system in which a portion of every transaction is shared amongst the existing token holders which helps them to gather user engagement and long-term investments.”).

[10] See, e.g., Balestra v. ATBCOIN LLC, 380 F. Supp. 3d 340, 356 n.14 (S.D.N.Y. 2019) (“Purchasers’ ability to resell [coins] on other exchanges also supports the conclusion that the coins are securities.”); SEC v. Grybniak, 2024 WL 4287222, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 24, 2024) (“Defendants’ promises to list OPP Tokens on secondary trading platforms, ensuring liquidity” supported purchasers’ reasonable expectations of profits based on the efforts of others).

MIL OSI USA News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How to make a political Oscars speech that doesn’t flop – according to rhetorical theory

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom F. Wright, Reader in Rhetoric, University of Sussex

So, it’s happened. You’re on stage, Oscar statue in hand, facing Hollywood’s finest and millions of viewers. You could keep it simple – thank your agent, your co-stars, your dog. Or you could use this moment to say something that matters.

That’s exactly what Jane Fonda just did at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, urging the audience “to resist successfully what is coming at us” as Elon Musk’s Doge holds a chainsaw to the US federal government. From the cold war to civil rights to Trump 2.0, award ceremonies have always been stages for activism.

Some of these political speeches have been electrifying. Some have flopped. Some have been drowned out by the orchestra before they even got started. If you’re going to make a political speech at the Oscars, you’d better do it right.

Thankfully, Kenneth Burke — one of the 20th century’s most influential rhetorical scholars — offers a road map. His theories on identification, dramatism and symbolic action explain why some speeches resonate while others fall flat.

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

1. Know your two (very different) audiences

Burke argued in the 1950s that rhetoric isn’t just about persuasion – it’s about identification. A speaker is most persuasive when they convince their audience that they share the same values and concerns. If people feel you’re “one of them”, they’re more likely to listen.

The Oscars create a unique rhetorical challenge. Inside LA’s Dolby Theatre, you might be surrounded by like-minded pampered progressives. But beyond that room, millions of viewers at home may be far less receptive.

Michael Moore’s infamous acceptance speech in 2003.

Director Michael Moore learned this the hard way in 2003 when, after winning best documentary for his film Bowling for Columbine, he stormed the stage and declared: “Shame on you, Mr Bush! Shame on you!” The result? A mix of cheers and boos. And days of being pilloried on cable news. Instead of drawing people in, Moore’s approach alienated half his audience.

Compare this with Meryl Streep’s speech at the 2017 Golden Globes when collecting her lifetime achievement award. She also criticised her president but framed it differently: “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

She didn’t need to utter Donald Trump’s name. And because she framed her speech as a universal concern, rather than a partisan attack, it resonated beyond the room.

2. Put yourself in the story

Burke’s second idea is that all communication is “dramatic” – a performance shaped by setting, characters and conflict. In a political speech, the most compelling “character” is often you, the speaker.

Audiences don’t just respond to abstract arguments. They connect with people who embody the very struggle they’re speaking about.

Lily Gladstone accepting the Golden Globe for best actress in 2024.

Lily Gladstone’s 2024 Golden Globes speech worked this way. When she won best actress for Killers of the Flower Moon, she didn’t start with industry statistics or broad calls for change. Instead, she spoke in Blackfeet, honouring her Indigenous roots: “I just spoke a bit of Blackfeet language, a beautiful community – the nation that raised me.”

That one sentence transformed her win into a moment of cultural recognition, making her speech as much an act of representation as a speech about representation.

3. Frame your argument wisely

If you want your audience to engage, you must frame your message in a way that pulls them in. Whereas a speech that just states a problem can feel like noise, one that connects the issue to a larger story can be powerful.

This is where Burke’s idea of symbolic action comes in. He defined it as “the making or construction of social reality through symbols that foster identification”. Put another way: words don’t just describe reality, they shape it.

Oprah Winfrey’s speech from the 2018 Golden Globes.

Take Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Golden Globes speech picking up the Cecil B. DeMille award. Instead of simply condemning sexism in Hollywood, she tied it to a broader historical movement, from civil rights to #MeToo: “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power [of] those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!”

Winfrey wasn’t just talking about change – she was creating it in real time, rallying the room behind a clear, urgent message. That’s the difference between listing a problem and delivering a message that sticks.

4. Turn your speech into an act of protest

While framing helps persuade an audience, some moments go further, becoming acts of defiance themselves. This is when a speech moves beyond words into symbolic action.

Let’s take perhaps the most famous protest in Oscars history. In 1973, Marlon Brando refused to pick up his best actor statue – sending in his place Sacheen Littlefeather, who explained she was there as a protest for Hollywood’s treatment of Native American people.

Sacheen Littlefeather refuses to accept the best actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando.

“He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” she told the audience. “And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry … and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.”

In under a minute, she transformed what could have been a quiet refusal into a national reckoning. The audience’s reaction – some cheering, some booing – only made it clearer. This wasn’t just a speech, it was a moment.

A speech that merely describes a problem may be forgotten, but one that transforms the moment itself? That’s the stuff of history.

5. Expect a backlash, and decide if you care

No matter how well you craft your speech, someone is going to be angry. Burke’s final idea for helping us understand this is the “scapegoat mechanism”, by which one figure is cast as the discordant element that must be removed to restore unity.

If you make a political speech at the Oscars, it could be you. Vanessa Redgrave learned this in 1978: after winning best supporting actress for her role in Julia, she defended her pro-Palestine activism against attacks from the Jewish Defence League, who she called a “bunch of Zionist hoodlums”. The reaction was instant – cheers mixed with boos.

Vanessa Redgrave accepts the Oscar for supporting actress in 1978.

Later that night, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky publicly rebuked her, saying: “A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed.” The backlash hurt Redgrave’s career, but she stood by her words.

If you’re going to say something political, be prepared to own it. And make sure you beat the orchestra.

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

– ref. How to make a political Oscars speech that doesn’t flop – according to rhetorical theory – https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-a-political-oscars-speech-that-doesnt-flop-according-to-rhetorical-theory-250949

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: White House spat with AP over ‘Gulf of America’ ignites fears for press freedom in second Trump era

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colleen Murrell, Full Professor in Journalism, Dublin City University

A federal judge in the District Court of Columbia will shortly decide if the US president, Donald Trump, is allowed to dictate the terms of service of the Associated Press (AP), the US wire agency that proudly proclaims it is read by 4 billion people every day.

In a (typically for this administration) knee-jerk decision on February 11, White House officials informed AP that its journalists would be barred from entering restricted areas such as the Oval Office and Air Force One until it stops using the geographic term “Gulf of Mexico” – in contravention of an executive order renaming it the “Gulf of America”.

AP’s style guide explains that the Gulf of Mexico has carried this name for more than 400 years, and that Trump’s order only holds authority within the US. It notes that as a global news agency, it “must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences”.

But the style guide adds that, while AP will continue to refer to the body of water by its original name, it will do so “while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen”.

According to AP’s executive editor, Julie Pace: “Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the first amendment” – which covers freedom of speech and the press.

In seeking to overturn the ban, AP brought a lawsuit (AP-v-Budowich-Complaint) against the White House chief of staff, Susan Wiles, the deputy chief of staff, Taylor Budowich, and its press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, in their official capacities.

After a short hearing, Judge Trevor N. McFadden – who was appointed by Trump – declined to restore AP’s access immediately, and instead set another hearing date for March 20. According to the Washington Post, the judge was “not sufficiently convinced the situation was ‘dire’ enough to warrant such an intervention” – and therefore was “not inclined to act precipitously on the executive office of the president”.

Following this decision, the White House denied access to Trump’s first cabinet meeting on February 26 to an AP photographer, as well as reporters from Reuters, HuffPost and German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. Instead, officials allowed in cameras from ABC and Newsmax, plus reporters from Axios, the Blaze, Bloomberg and NPR.

Pick and mix

But can the president be allowed this pick-and-mix approach to access to the seat of power?

The White House press pool has been in place for more than a century, with the seating allocation in the press briefing room decided by the board of the White House Correspondents’ Association. As the major American news agency, AP has traditionally held the coveted middle front-row seat, which it still retains – even though senior officials have tweeted veiled threats to rescind AP’s entire White House credentials.

The press briefing room holds 49 seats, with some seats shared between two companies on rotation, and a few journalists or photographers permitted to stand in the aisles when there is room. Meanwhile, Air Force One (in reality, two Boeing 747s used on rotation) only has room for 13 people to represent the entire White House press corps. The pool on the plane is ordinarily made up of three agency reporters (AP, Reuters and Bloomberg), four photographers (including from AP), three network TV journalists, a radio reporter and two print reporters.

Trump has an ongoing fight against “legacy” news outlets that dominated coverage before the advent of the internet. These media often have strict editorial guidelines, but the president has regularly dismissed them as “fake news”. During the election campaign, he ignored well-known programmes such as CBS’s Sixty Minutes in favour of Joe Rogan’s podcast.

At the Pentagon, Trump’s new military brooms have also been sweeping legacy media companies out of their briefing rooms. This list includes NBC, the New York Times, Politico, CNN and The Washington Post. In their place will go Trump-friendly outlets such as Newsmax and the Washington Examiner.

‘Privilege, not a right’

Meanwhile, a petition by media companies is calling on the US government to “honor its commitment to freedom of expression” by upholding “a nonpartisan defense of a free press”. Included on this petition are the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Press Institute, and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Members of the press pool are usually the only reporters that get to throw questions at senior members of the administration. Its members follow the president on important trips both nationally and internationally. AP is a widely trusted non-profit news organisation, and its reports get syndicated to media organisations throughout the world, with any profits used to pay for its staff and its newsgathering.

CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins questions the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt over the banning of AP from White House briefings.

The White House released a statement on February 24: “As we have said from the beginning, asking the president of the United States questions in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One is a privilege granted to journalists, not a legal right.”

However, having an independent arbiter making decisions about press pool representation is surely preferable in maintaining a free press and accountability than allowing each administration to pick its own reporters – or even its own facts.

Colleen Murrell received funding from Irish regulator Coimisiún na Meán (2021-4) for research for the annual Reuters Digital News Report Ireland.

– ref. White House spat with AP over ‘Gulf of America’ ignites fears for press freedom in second Trump era – https://theconversation.com/white-house-spat-with-ap-over-gulf-of-america-ignites-fears-for-press-freedom-in-second-trump-era-251163

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints Distinguished Professor J. Gary Eden, Ph.D., as its Chairman of the Advisory Board for Laser Engineering and Innovation
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LIS Technologies Inc. (“LIST” or “the Company”), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, today announced that it has appointed Professor J. Gary Eden, Ph.D., as its Chairman of the Advisory Board for Laser Engineering and Innovation.

“It is a pleasure to be involved with such an innovative and highly impactful technology,” said Professor J. Gary Eden, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Laser Engineering and Innovation of LIS Technologies Inc. “I am excited to apply my expertise and in-depth knowledge of advanced laser technologies to help advance LIST’s proprietary, patented technology to its next stage of development and eventual commercialization. The technology holds numerous advantages over other enrichment schemes and will be crucial in ensuring that the roll-out of advanced nuclear technologies, such as Generation IV reactors, is successful.”

Professor Eden has authored more than 370 referred, archival publications and 106 awarded patents, is a member of multiple honorary organizations, and is a Fellow of the IEEE, Optica, the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and SPIE. In 1975, he was appointed a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, DC). Professor Eden has demonstrated several powerful laser spectroscopic techniques that have resulted in the discovery of (for example) Rydberg series in the rare gas dimer molecules, the first observation of excitation spectra for the photoassociation of thermal atom pairs, and three body photoassociation.

As a research physicist in the Laser Physics Branch (Optical Sciences Division) of NRL from 1976 to 1979, he made several contributions to the area of visible and ultraviolet lasers and laser spectroscopy, including the co-discovery of the KrCl rare gas-halide excimer laser, and received a Research Publication Award (1979) for his work at NRL in which he co-discovered the proton beam pumped laser (Ar-N2, XeF). Since joining the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1979, he has been engaged in research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics, laser spectroscopy, and the discovery and development of ultraviolet and vacuum-ultraviolet lasers and lamps for applications in atomic clocks, laser fusion energy, and photochemical processing.

Figure 1 – LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints J. Gary Eden as its Chairman of the Advisory Board for Laser Engineering and Innovation.

He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, and Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Quantum Electronics. In 1998, Professor Eden served as President of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS), following earlier service as a member of the LEOS Board of Governors. Professor Eden received the LEOS Distinguished Service Award in 1996, was awarded the IEEE Third Millennium Medal in 2000 and was named a LEOS Distinguished Lecturer for 2003-2005. Between 2015 and 2017, he also served as a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics.

He was awarded the C.E.K. Mees Medal of the Optical Society of America in 2007 and was the recipient of the Fulbright-Israel Distinguished Chair in the Natural Sciences and Engineering for 2007-2008. J. Gary Eden received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He is a co-founder of Eden Park Illumination and EP Purification.

“LIS Technologies has assembled an outstanding team of researchers and leaders to spearhead the revival of our proprietary technology,” said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and President of LIS Technologies Inc. “Professor Eden is an ideal addition to this group, and I am delighted to welcome him to the team. His distinguished career sets a benchmark in the laser spectroscopy field, and I am confident that his role on our Advisory Board will allow us to harness his unique expertise. This will be instrumental in driving innovation and positioning the Company to accelerate the deployment of our technology.”

Professor Eden joins LIS Technologies as the Company builds on the growing momentum within the United States nuclear energy industry, having been selected on December 2024 as one of six companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. LIST intends to leverage Professor Eden’s unique expertise to further refine and develop its proprietary laser-based technology. Optimized for both Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), it overcomes the limitations of traditional pulsed 16µm CO₂ lasers, featuring a streamlined design due to its lower absorption and shorter wavelength at 5.3µm. Demonstrated in the 1980s and 90s, this technology is protected by a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

“Professor Eden is one of the leading experts in molecular laser spectroscopy, dedicating his life to advancing innovative technologies across multiple disciplines,” said Christo Liebenberg, CEO of LIS Technologies Inc. “His addition is a significant endorsement of our ambitions and long-term strategy, and his decades of experience and extensive network will be invaluable as we continue developing our proprietary technologies. A reliable and abundant supply of enriched uranium is essential to the United States’ nuclear energy objectives, and I am confident Professor Eden will be instrumental in positioning the Company at the forefront of the industry.”

About LIS Technologies Inc.

LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

In 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

For more information please visit: LaserIsTech.com
For further information, please contact:
Email: info@laseristech.com
Telephone: 800-388-5492
Follow us on X Platform
Follow us on LinkedIn

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

Attachment
- LIS Technologies Inc.
The MIL Network –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Inuvo, Inc. Announces Charles D. Morgan’s Retirement; Rob Buchner Joins Board

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of artificial intelligence AdTech solutions, announced today that Charles D. Morgan has retired from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) effective February 27, 2025. Mr. Morgan joined the Board in 2009 and has remained a significant investor in the Company. Concurrently with Mr. Morgan’s retirement, Rob Buchner was appointed, effective February 27^th, as a Class III Director of the Company to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Morgan’s departure.

Richard Howe, Chairman and CEO of Inuvo, stated, “Charles is a visionary leader who has shaped numerous successful companies, including industry giants like Acxiom and more recently, First Orion. His wisdom, vast experience, and sharp decision-making have been instrumental in building Inuvo into the company it is today. I want to express my profound appreciation for his service and leadership.”

Mr. Morgan commented, “Inuvo’s generative AI technology has the potential to revolutionize modern marketing, much like Acxiom’s consumer data did. It’s been a privilege to contribute to this evolution in audience discovery and targeting. Rich and the team have created something truly groundbreaking, and I’m excited to watch them continue to succeed.”

Mr. Howe added, “We are pleased to welcome Rob to our board. Rob’s impressive leadership experience at prominent agencies, including Campbell Mithun and Fallon Worldwide, where he was CEO and CMO, makes him a valuable addition to our Board. His expertise in founding and managing companies, as well as his track-record in business growth and transformation, will be a strong asset to Inuvo.”

Mr. Buchner remarked, “My interactions with Inuvo’s board and executives over the past six months have been incredibly exciting. Their talented team, innovative AI, and disruptive potential make this a truly compelling opportunity. I’m honored to be a part of Inuvo’s future and eager to contribute to its growth.”

Mr. Buchner is currently Chief Marketing Officer at Covet™, a fintech leveraging AI for personal asset management. Previously, he was CEO of Campbell Mithun (Interpublic Group), where he restructured the agency around data-driven marketing. Prior to that, Mr. Buchner was CMO of Fallon Worldwide, where he led business growth, adding $80 million in net recurring revenue. He also played a key role in developing Fallon’s digital and entertainment practices, earning acclaim for Amazon Theater and BMW Films. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

About Inuvo
Inuvo^®, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in Inuvo, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as filed on February 27, 2025, and our other filings with the SEC. Inuvo cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Inuvo does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Inuvo further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by a third-party regarding the subject matter of this press release. The information which appears on our websites and our social media platforms is not part of this press release.

Inuvo Company Contact:
Wally Ruiz
Chief Financial Officer
wallace.ruiz@inuvo.com

Investor Relations :
David Waldman / Natalya Rudman
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Tel: (212) 671-1020
inuv@crescendo-ir.com

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Hallador Energy Company Schedules Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2024 Conference Call for March 17, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) (“Hallador” or the “Company”), will host a conference call on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company’s results will be reported in a press release prior to the call.

Hallador’s management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties may submit questions prior to the call by emailing the Company’s investor relations team, Elevate IR, at HNRG@elevate-ir.com.

Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. Eastern time
Dial-in registration link: here
Live webcast registration link: here

The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.halladorenergy.com.

About Hallador Energy Company

Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) is a vertically-integrated Independent Power Producer (IPP) based in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Company has two core businesses: Hallador Power Company, LLC, which produces electricity and capacity at its one-Gigawatt (GW) Merom Generating Station, and Sunrise Coal, LLC, which produces and supplies fuel to the Merom Generating Station and other companies. To learn more about Hallador, visit the Company’s website at www.halladorenergy.com.

Company Contact

Marjorie Hargrave
Chief Financial Officer
(303) 917-0777
MHargrave@halladorenergy.com

Investor Relations Contact

Sean Mansouri, CFA
Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
HNRG@elevate-ir.com

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Jagat Launches ‘Jagat Coin Hunt’, Redefining Real-World Connections for GenZs and the Future of Social Networking

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jagat, a rapidly growing location-based social networking app, is redefining how Generation Z connects by integrating gamification with real-world exploration. With its innovative approach, Jagat encourages users to engage with friends in person rather than solely online.

Jagat’s core functionality focuses on strengthening real-world connections. The app’s main interface displays friends’ real-time locations, battery levels, and daily footprints, fostering closer and more meaningful interactions. While reminiscent of the now-discontinued Zenly, Jagat distinguishes itself with original features, such as Jagat Coin Hunt, which enhances social engagement through interactive gameplay.

Jagat Coin Hunt: Gamifying Social Interactions and Real-World Exploration

Jagat Coin Hunt, an interactive geolocation-based game, has quickly gained popularity among young users. The game transforms everyday movement into an engaging treasure hunt, where users collect virtual coins hidden in real-world locations. By blending gaming with location sharing, Jagat Coin Hunt incentivizes users to explore new places and engage more actively with their surroundings.

Since its launch, Jagat has topped social networking and overall app download charts in multiple countries, amassing a global user base of over 22 million. The app has emerged as a leading location-based social platform, resonating with users who seek both entertainment and meaningful connections.

Promoting Social Good in public spaces

Beyond entertainment, Jagat is collaborating with governments and organizations to leverage Coin Hunt as a tool for community engagement. By incorporating public welfare initiatives into gameplay, Jagat aims to encourage young people to spend more time outdoors, explore their local communities, and engage in socially responsible activities.

“Jagat Coin Hunt is more than just a game; it’s a new way of socializing,” said Barry Beagen, Co-founder and President of Jagat. “We want users to discover joy in the real world, create memorable experiences with friends, and foster a sense of community. At the same time, we encourage players to contribute to a safe, sustainable, and inclusive social environment.”

Jagat continues to innovate at the intersection of social networking and real-world interaction, redefining how digital communities engage beyond the screen.

References:

Media Contact

Company: Jagat

Contact: Media Team

Email: marketing@jagat.io

Website: https://www.jagat.io/

SOURCE: Jagat

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025

MIL-OSI: AMD Unveils Next-Generation AMD RDNA™ 4 Architecture with the Launch of AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series Graphics Cards

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today unveiled the highly-anticipated AMD RDNA™ 4 graphics architecture with the launch of the AMD Radeon™ RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 graphics cards as a part of the Radeon™ RX 9000 Series. The new graphics cards feature 16GB of memory and extensive improvements designed for high-quality gaming graphics, including re-vamped raytracing accelerators and powerful AI accelerators for ultra-fast, cutting-edge performance, and breakthrough gaming experiences.

In a YouTube livestream, David McAfee, CVP and GM, Ryzen CPU and Radeon Graphics AMD, was joined by Andrej Zdravkovic, SVP of GPU Technologies and Engineering and Chief Software Officer, AMD, as well as Andy Pomianowski, CVP of Silicon Design Engineering, AMD, to discuss the outstanding performance and value proposition of the Radeon RX 9000 Series. In a related event in Zhuhai, China, Jack Huynh, SVP of the Client and Graphics Group, AMD, led a regional event for the new products. Huynh was joined by David Wang, SVP of GPU Technology and Engineering, AMD, and Lanzhi Wang, Senior Director of Product Management, AMD. The celebration was also marked by a customer celebration with Darren Grasby, EVP and Chief Sales Officer, AMD; Spencer Pan, President of AMD China, and partners including Asrock, ASUS, Gigabyte, Sapphire, Tul, Vastarmor, Veston, and XFX.

“Today, we’re thrilled to unveil the AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series, a significant leap forward in graphics performance powered by our next-generation AMD RDNA™ 4 architecture,” said McAfee. “These GPUs are designed to meet the demands of today’s games, delivering enthusiast-class gaming experiences to gamers everywhere, while ready to support tomorrow’s innovations. Through the power of advanced AI and Raytracing accelerators, we’re not just improving frame rates – we’re fundamentally enhancing the gaming experience. Offering incredible performance, AI-powered features, and next-gen display support at competitive price points, the Radeon RX 9000 Series delivers exceptional value for gamers looking to upgrade their systems.”

The RX 9000 Series, powered by the new AMD RDNA™ 4 architecture, offers gamers and creators a powerful blend of performance, visuals, and value. These advanced graphics cards redefine incredibly fast, high-resolution gaming with third-generation raytracing technology enabling realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections to deliver immersive gaming experiences while integrating a suite of AMD features to maximize hardware utilization. Beyond gaming, the RX 9000 Series GPUs leverage new second-generation AI accelerators with up to 8x INT8 throughput per AI accelerator (for sparse matrices) to enhance creative applications and effectively run generative AI applications (vs. RDNA 3).¹ The RX 9000 Series GPUs also implement the newly redesigned AMD Radiance Display™ Engine & Enhanced Media Engine for broad display support and elevated quality in both recording and streaming.

Gaming For Today and Tomorrow
The Radeon RX 9000 Series unlocks new levels of performance while delivering a suite of new and enhanced features that improve the gaming experience. The Radeon RX 9070 Series offers 16GB of GDDR6 memory, allowing gamers to render the most exciting games of today and tomorrow at max settings. Compared to the previous generation RX 7900 GRE, the latest AMD Radeon RX 9070 is able to deliver over 20% more performance on average when gaming at 1440,² with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT extending that lead to over 40% on average.³

Both graphics cards make smart upgrades for gamers looking to future-proof their systems with a suite of next-gen features that will keep their experiences feeling fresh for years to come. Key features include:

Unified AMD RDNA™ 4 Compute Units – Features up to 64 advanced AMD RDNA™ 4 compute units delivering up to 40% higher gaming performance than the previous-generation AMD RDNA™ 3 architecture.³
High-Performance Raytracing – With 3^rd generation Raytracing Accelerators, AMD RDNA 4 is able to deliver over 2x the Raytracing throughput per compute unit when compared to our previous generation.¹ Gamers with the latest AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series are ready for immersive gaming experiences with high-quality graphics, including realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.
Supercharged AI Acceleration – 2^nd Generation AI Accelerators received several enhancements, allowing AMD RDNA™ 4 to efficiently process advanced AI models much faster than what was possible with RDNA 3,⁴ through a combination of additional math pipelines for AI calculations, expanding the capabilities of the AI Accelerator to support new emerging data types such as FP8, and support for inference optimization techniques such as structured sparsity. These changes deliver up to 8x INT8 throughput per AI accelerator (for sparse matrices) per compute unit vs the previous generation.¹
AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution Technology 4 (FSR 4) – AMD’s new cutting-edge ML-powered upscaling technology delivers high-quality boosted frames under even the most demanding workloads, such as 4K gaming with maximum raytracing settings and will be supported in over 30 games at launch.
Innovative suite of features through HYPR-RX – Gamers can instantly improve their experience by activating AMD HYPR-RX and the suite of features within AMD Software, including AMD Radeon™ Super Resolution, AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2.1, AMD Radeon™ Anti-Lag, and AMD Radeon™ Boost. These features can all be tailored to gamers’ hardware and preferences within AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ to drive increased FPS, responsiveness and efficiency.
AI-Enhanced AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ Application – A new suite of software and resources designed to deliver an industry-leading AI user experience with AMD Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards. Keep your drivers and AI software up to date with the new Software Manager. Find the answers to your questions about all things AMD or create free and private text and images with AMD Chat. Discover, download and install new and exciting AMD-partnered AI applications with the App Portal, and leverage AI to improve software quality with the AMD Image Inspector.
Ready for Next-Generation Displays – AMD Radiance Display™ Engine supports the latest DisplayPort™ 2.1a and HDMI^® 2.1b connections, enabling ultra-high resolutions and refresh rates up to 8K 144Hz, with 12-bit HDR and full REC2020 Color Space for incredible color accuracy. Paired with AMD FreeSync™ technology, gamers can enjoy tear-free, stutter-free gaming experiences on over 4000 compatible displays, including upcoming 4K 240Hz and 8K 144Hz DisplayPort™ 2.1 monitors.⁵

ML-Powered AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution 4 (AMD FSR 4) Upgrade

Available exclusively on AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series graphics cards, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ adds a new easy-to-use AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution 4 (AMD FSR 4) Upgrade feature that helps maximize performance at maximum quality in over 30 games at launch, with 75 coming later this year. AMD FSR 4 delivers a substantial image quality improvement over AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling, with the new ML-based algorithm helping to improve temporal stability, better preserve detail, and reduce ghosting.
Utilizing features already built into the AMD FidelityFX™ API added when game developers integrate AMD FSR 3.1 into their games, AMD FSR 4 enables an easy upgrade for supported FSR 3.1 games and can be combined with existing in-game AMD FSR 3.1 advanced frame-generation and AMD Radeon™ Anti-Lag 2 for ultra-smooth, ultra-responsive gaming at incredible frame rates on AMD Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards.
The new ML-accelerated AMD FSR 4 upscaling algorithm is trained using high-quality ground truth game data on AMD Instinct™ Accelerators and uses the hardware-accelerated FP8 Wave Matrix Multiply Accumulate (WMMA) feature of the AMD RDNA™ 4 architecture to ensure maximum upscaling quality while still providing a substantial game performance boost.

AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series Product Specifications

Model	Compute Units	GDDR6	Game Clock (GHz)	Boost Clock⁶ (GHz)	Memory Interface	Infinity Cache	TBP	Price (USD SEP)
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT	64	16 GB	2.4	Up to 3.0	256-bit	64 MB	304W	$599
AMD Radeon RX 9070	56	16 GB	2.1	Up to 2.5	256-bit	64 MB	220W	$549

Pricing and Availability
AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series graphics cards are expected to be available from leading board partners including Acer, ASRock, ASUS, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, Vastarmor, XFX and Yeston beginning March 6^th, 2025. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has an SEP of $599 USD, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 has an SEP of $549 USD.

Supporting Resources

Learn more AMD Radeon Graphics cards here
Learn about RDNA 4 here
Learn more about AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution here
Follow AMD on LinkedIn
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About AMD
For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, LinkedIn and X pages.

Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) such as the features, functionality, performance, availability, timing and expected benefits of AMD products including the AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series graphics cards, which are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as “would,” “may,” “expects,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects” and other terms with similar meaning. Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, speak only as of the date of this press release and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Such statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond AMD’s control, that could cause actual results and other future events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, without limitation, the following: Intel Corporation’s dominance of the microprocessor market and its aggressive business practices; Nvidia’s dominance in the graphics processing unit market and its aggressive business practices; competitive markets in which AMD’s products are sold; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry; market conditions of the industries in which AMD products are sold; AMD’s ability to introduce products on a timely basis with expected features and performance levels; loss of a significant customer; economic and market uncertainty; quarterly and seasonal sales patterns; AMD’s ability to adequately protect its technology or other intellectual property; unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations; ability of third party manufacturers to manufacture AMD’s products on a timely basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies; availability of essential equipment, materials, substrates or manufacturing processes; ability to achieve expected manufacturing yields for AMD’s products; AMD’s ability to generate revenue from its semi-custom SoC products; potential security vulnerabilities; potential security incidents including IT outages, data loss, data breaches and cyberattacks; uncertainties involving the ordering and shipment of AMD’s products; AMD’s reliance on third-party intellectual property to design and introduce new products; AMD’s reliance on third-party companies for design, manufacture and supply of motherboards, software, memory and other computer platform components; AMD’s reliance on Microsoft and other software vendors’ support to design and develop software to run on AMD’s products; AMD’s reliance on third-party distributors and add-in-board partners; impact of modification or interruption of AMD’s internal business processes and information systems; compatibility of AMD’s products with some or all industry-standard software and hardware; costs related to defective products; efficiency of AMD’s supply chain; AMD’s ability to rely on third party supply-chain logistics functions; AMD’s ability to effectively control sales of its products on the gray market; long-term impact of climate change on AMD’s business; impact of government actions and regulations such as export regulations, tariffs and trade protection measures; AMD’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets; potential tax liabilities; current and future claims and litigation; impact of environmental laws, conflict minerals related provisions and other laws or regulations; evolving expectations from governments, investors, customers and other stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility matters; issues related to the responsible use of AI; restrictions imposed by agreements governing AMD’s notes, the guarantees of Xilinx’s notes and the revolving credit agreement; impact of acquisitions, joint ventures and/or strategic investments on AMD’s business and AMD’s ability to integrate acquired businesses; our ability to complete the acquisition of ZT Systems; impact of any impairment of the combined company’s assets; political, legal and economic risks and natural disasters; future impairments of technology license purchases; AMD’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; and AMD’s stock price volatility. Investors are urged to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in AMD’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to AMD’s most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

© 2025 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, AMD RDNA, FidelityFX, Radeon, Ryzen, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Certain AMD technologies may require third-party enablement or activation. Supported features may vary by operating system. Please confirm with the system manufacturer for specific features. No technology or product can be completely secure.

¹ Based on specifications of AMD RDNA 4 architecture compared to AMD RDNA 3 architecture as of December 2024. RX-1143
² Testing done by AMD performance labs February 2025, on a test system configured with Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, 32 GB DDR5-6000 Memory, Windows 11 Pro and Radeon RX 9070 (Driver 25.3.1 RC 31) vs. a similarly configured system with an RX 7900 GRE (Driver 25.3.1 RC31) comparing gaming performance at 4K in the following applications: Cyberpunk 2077 (DX12, Ultra), Cyberpunk 2077 (DX12, RT Ultra), Assassin’s Creed Mirage (DX12, Ultra High), F1 24 (DX12, Ultra High), F1 24 (DX12, Ultra High RT), Starfield (DX12, Ultra), Far Cry 6 (DX12, Ultra), Far Cry 6 (DX12, Ultra RT), Forza Horizon 5 (DX12, Extreme), Forza Horizon 5 (DX12, RT Extreme), Watch Dogs Legion (DX12, Ultra), Watch Dogs Legion (DX12, RT Ultra), Horizon Forbidden West (DX12, Maxed), Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (DX12, Maxed), God of War: Ragnarok (DX12, Ultra), Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12, Extreme), DOOM Eternal (Vulkan, Ultra Nightmare), DOOM Eternal (Vulkan, Ultra Nightmare RT), Total War: Warhammer 3 (DX11, Ultra), Dying Light 2 (DX12, High), Dying Light 2 (DX12, High Raytracing), Alan Wake 2 (DX12, High), Alan Wake 2 (DX12, High w/Med RT), Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (DX12, Ultra), Hitman 3 (DX12, Ultra), Hitman 3 (DX12, Ultra RT), The Witcher 3 (DX12, Ultra+), The Witcher 3 (DX12, RT Ultra), Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (DX12, Extreme), Black Myth: Wukong (DX12, Cinematic), Black Myth: Wukong (DX12, Cinematic RT) Baldur’s Gate 3 (DX11, Ultra), Ghost of Tsushima (DX12, Very High), Star Wars Outlaws (DX12, Ultra RT), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (DX12, Ultra), Control (DX12, High), Control (DX12, High RT), Dragon Age: The Veilguard (DX12, Ultra), Dragon Age: The Veilguard (DX12, Ultra RT), Resident Evil 4 (DX12, Max), Resident Evil 4 (DX12, Max RT), Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (DX12, Maxed), Marvel’s Spiderman 2 (DX12, Maxed RT), Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (DX12, Ultra), The Last of Us: Part 1 (DX12, Ultra), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (DX12, Epic), Final Fantasy XVI Demo (DX12, Ultra). Testing conducted with latest game builds as of February 5, 2025 (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, The Last of Us: Part 1, and Forza Horizon 5 using latest builds as of February 14th, 2025). System manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. RX-1176.
³ Testing done by AMD performance labs February 2025, on a test system configured with Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, 32 GB DDR5-6000 Memory, Windows 11 Pro and Radeon RX 9070 XT (Driver 25.3.1 RC 31) vs. a similarly configured system with an RX 7900 GRE (Driver 25.3.1 RC31) comparing gaming performance at 4K in the following applications: Cyberpunk 2077 (DX12, Ultra), Cyberpunk 2077 (DX12, RT Ultra), Assassin’s Creed Mirage (DX12, Ultra High), F1 24 (DX12, Ultra High), F1 24 (DX12, Ultra High RT), Starfield (DX12, Ultra), Far Cry 6 (DX12, Ultra), Far Cry 6 (DX12, Ultra RT), Forza Horizon 5 (DX12, Extreme), Forza Horizon 5 (DX12, RT Extreme), Watch Dogs Legion (DX12, Ultra), Watch Dogs Legion (DX12, RT Ultra), Horizon Forbidden West (DX12, Maxed), Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (DX12, Maxed), God of War: Ragnarok (DX12, Ultra), Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12, Extreme), DOOM Eternal (Vulkan, Ultra Nightmare), DOOM Eternal (Vulkan, Ultra Nightmare RT), Total War: Warhammer 3 (DX11, Ultra), Dying Light 2 (DX12, High), Dying Light 2 (DX12, High Raytracing), Alan Wake 2 (DX12, High), Alan Wake 2 (DX12, High w/Med RT), Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (DX12, Ultra), Hitman 3 (DX12, Ultra), Hitman 3 (DX12, Ultra RT), The Witcher 3 (DX12, Ultra+), The Witcher 3 (DX12, RT Ultra), Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (DX12, Extreme), Black Myth: Wukong (DX12, Cinematic), Black Myth: Wukong (DX12, Cinematic RT) Baldur’s Gate 3 (DX11, Ultra), Ghost of Tsushima (DX12, Very High), Star Wars Outlaws (DX12, Ultra RT), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (DX12, Ultra), Control (DX12, High), Control (DX12, High RT), Dragon Age: The Veilguard (DX12, Ultra), Dragon Age: The Veilguard (DX12, Ultra RT), Resident Evil 4 (DX12, Max), Resident Evil 4 (DX12, Max RT), Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (DX12, Maxed), Marvel’s Spiderman 2 (DX12, Maxed RT), Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (DX12 Ultra), The Last of Us: Part 1 (DX12, Ultra), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (DX12, Epic), Final Fantasy XVI Demo (DX12, Ultra). Testing conducted with latest game builds as of February 5, 2025 (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, The Last of Us: Part 1, and Forza Horizon 5 using latest builds as of February 14th, 2025). System manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. RX-1179.
⁴ Testing by AMD, as of February 2025 using Amuse 2.3.15 and Procyon 2.10.1542 64. Models used: SD 1.5, SDXL, ComputerVision FP16, and FLUX Schnell. System configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB 6000 MT/s DDR5 RAM, 2TB SSD with an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU vs. a similarly configured system with a Radeon RX 7900 GRE GPU. Driver 25.3.1 RC 31. Performance may vary. RX-1168.
⁵ AMD FreeSync/FreeSync Premium/FreeSync Premium Pro technology requires AMD Radeon graphics and a display certified by AMD. See www.amd.com/freesync for complete details. Confirm capability with your system or display manufacturer before purchase. GD-127.
⁶ Boost Clock Frequency is the maximum frequency achievable on the GPU running a bursty workload. Boost clock achievability, frequency, and sustainability will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to: thermal conditions and variation in applications and workloads. GD-151.

Contact:
Stacy MacDiarmid
AMD Communications
+1 512-658-2265
Stacy.MacDiarmid@amd.com

Matt Ramsay
AMD Investor Relations
+1 512-496-0197
Matthew.Ramsay@amd.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4e6957f-0945-483c-9795-cf97039270b9

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025

MIL-OSI: Bitget Spreads Kindness This Ramadan by Providing 100,000 Meals to Those in Need

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is partnering with world-renowned humanitarian organizations, including the UN Refugee Agency, UN World Food Programme, ShareTheMeal, and the One Billion Meals Endowment, to distribute up to 100,000 meals to individuals in need during Ramadan. This initiative targets vulnerable communities in regions facing significant challenges, aiming to alleviate hunger during the holy month.

Each meal will support families and individuals during the holy month. The effort is strengthened by contributions from the Bitget community, emphasizing collective action and compassion. To achieve the fundraising target, Bitget has introduced initiatives encouraging participation from users, VIP clients, and influencer partners.

Bitget will first pledge 10,000 meals to the people in need, followed by a series of Iftar dinners in key locations, including Dubai and Istanbul, fostering unity and philanthropy. Attendees can contribute through donations, with Bitget matching each dollar raised. Exclusive auctions featuring memorabilia from partnerships with La Liga will also contribute to the fundraising, and Bitget will direct all proceeds toward the cause. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the fundraiser.

“Ramadan is a time for generosity and unity,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO of Bitget. “By leveraging our global network, we aim to create a meaningful impact in communities facing adversity. This initiative demonstrates kindness from the crypto space and aligns with our mission to drive positive change through collaborative efforts.”

The campaign, featuring the 10,000-meal pledge from Bitget, donation matching, and exclusive auctions, will be supported by local teams organizing community engagement events. It is set to launch on the first day of Ramadan, in alignment with the Islamic calendar.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

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

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a48343fc-044d-45ce-afe2-a4ff26395657

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Man sentenced for killing Dubai chef, Mussie Imnetu

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed for murder after he was captured on CCTV heading to a nightclub immediately after the violent attack.

Detectives were able to use the footage alongside DNA from a pair of sunglasses dropped at the scene to prove that Omar Wilson, 31, was responsible for killing Mussie Imnetu.

Wilson, (19.03.93) of Napier Road, Leytonstone, was sentenced on Friday, 28 February to 17.5 years after being found guilty of murder at an earlier hearing at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 20 February.

Mussie, who was 41 and visiting the UK from Dubai where he lived and worked, was found unconscious with a head injury in Queensway, W2 at 23:22hrs on Monday, 26 August 2024.

Officers were on the scene in seconds and provided emergency first aid until paramedics arrived. Mussie was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he sadly died on 30 August 2024.

Wilson claimed that he attacked Mussie in self-defence, however he was found guilty of murder by a jury majority.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Mussie’s family and friends in Dubai, Sweden and London. Mussie was a loving husband, father, son and a respected chef. He was in London for a few days to help train his colleagues and went out that evening to enjoy the post Notting Hill Carnival atmosphere, where tragically he was violently assaulted.”

After the attack Wilson quickly left the area, actively avoiding police officers as he did so. He then travelled across London to attend a nightclub on Gaunt Street, SE1. This was only about an hour-and-a-half after his attack on Mussie.

Although Wilson fled the scene, he dropped his sunglasses and house and car keys. Officers were able to recover his DNA from the sunglasses, and the keys were a perfect fit for his house and car. Careful analysis by officers of his phone usage, placed Wilson in the area of Queensway at the time of the murder.

Officers were also able to piece together a puzzle of CCTV which showed the attack and Wilson’s subsequent journey to the nightclub on Gaunt Street.

The jury were also shown messages sent by Wilson to friends in in the aftermath of the attack. In one of them he said: “There’s a monster in me … and it’s just like sometimes it comes out. And I think I’ve messed up now … and everything’s finished” and “I’ve f***** up … I crossed the line and went overboard. I don’t think I can come back from this mistake … I’m going jail in the morning”.

In another he said that “I did the hands ting…finished one guy man” and was told by a friend to “get a solicitor and use your ADHD”.

Wilson was arrested on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 and charged the following day.

MIL Security OSI –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 28 February 2025 Donors making a difference: community engagement to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of all

Source: World Health Organisation

WHO defines community engagement as “a process of developing relationships that enable stakeholders to work together to address health-related issues and promote well-being to achieve positive health impact and outcomes”.

WHO’s partners and donors support the Organization to work in this area as there are undeniable benefits to engaging communities in promoting health and well-being. At its core, community engagement enables changes in behaviour, environments, policies, programmes and practices within communities.

Below are some country stories that demonstrate the breadth of community engagement work that WHO conducts, resulting in more positive health outcomes for the people in these communities than before.

Uganda trains district health workers on community-based approach to Ebola

^{Uganda trains Community Health workers from Kole, Mukono and Wakiso districts on community-based approach to Ebola. Photo by: WHO/Sadat Kamugisha}

Uganda’s Ministry of Health conducted a training on Ebola disease detection and management for Community Health Workers representatives from Kole, Wakiso, and Mukono districts. Participants focused on multi-sectoral action to safeguard communities from emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential such as Ebola.

Communities play an integral role in raising awareness, supporting case identification, tracing contacts, and maintaining essential health services. The emphasis on collaboration with local leaders, volunteers, and health workers is vital for effective responses to public health emergencies. Building on lessons learned from past health crises, Uganda has already made substantial advancements in emergency preparedness.

The three-day event was supported by WHO, and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST), which is a UK aid project funded by the Department of Health and Social care. The community protection approach is a central component of WHO’s new Health emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience framework.

Visit the WHO/Uganda web page to read the full story.

Community engagement for access to health services in Lao PDR

^{CONNECT team members discuss community health priorities in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. Photo by: WHO/Enric Catala}

Developed by the Lao Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs in response to COVID-19 with the support of WHO and partners, the CONNECT initiative enhances local governance and community engagement for equitable access to public services, particularly health.

Supported by USAID, the Australian Government and Luxembourg, as of July 2024, CONNECT reached over 230 villages across 10 provinces (including Vientiane Capital) and support already in-place for expansion to all provinces.

An external evaluation of implementation in 12 villages found an increase in essential service uptake for maternal health and improved attitudes towards using primary care; increased trust in health providers; increased sense of ownership of health at community level; and increased vaccination uptake and confidence, especially among ethnic groups and previously unreached communities.

Visit the WHO/WPRO web page to read the full story.

Côte d’Ivoire community radios boost public awareness on mpox outbreak

^{Community radios, pillar of the fight against mpox. Photo by: WHO/Toiherou De Marfere Sidibe}

A network of community radio stations, known as Radio Santé, comprises 350 stations in West African, with over half based in Côte d’Ivoire. Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with major support from WHO, Radio Santé has become a preferred channel for disseminating reliable, verified health information. It brings together nearly 1000 journalists and communications specialists.

Radio Santé is an interactive and accessible tool for mobilizing communities around health issues, throughout Côte d’Ivoire and across borders. Health authorities use Radio Santé to counter rumours and misinformation, and to strengthen community engagement, which is crucial to curbing the spread of diseases such as mpox.

After WHO declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, Radio Santé devoted its health talk show to mpox. 185 Ivorian community radio stations have since broadcasted messages on mpox. Over 50 programmes have been produced and broadcast in eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Visit the WHO/Côte d’Ivoire web page to read the full story.

Bolivia strengthens social participation in health for indigenous population

^{Indigenous organizations are clear about their requests. They want free and equitable access to health care, an improved indigenous health network, incorporation of traditional medicine, and the consideration of the indigenous population’s culture, customs, and practices. Photo by: WHO/PAHO}

The Ministry of Health and Sports of Bolivia is engaging indigenous populations in community participation processes, creating space for them to discuss health topics, share concerns, and contribute to a health improvement plan.

The meaningful inclusion and engagement of indigenous populations in health policy planning, taking into account the social determinants of health, is critical to ensure context-specific interventions, uptake of guidance and services, and positive health outcomes for all.

PAHO/WHO, through the Universal Health Coverage Partnership, has supported the Ministry of Health and Sports of Bolivia in this endeavour since 2021. The UHC Partnership operates in over 125 countries, representing over 3 billion people. It is supported and funded by Belgium, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and WHO

Visit the PAHO/AMRO web page to read the full story.

Weaving hope in Honduras: the community wisdom that saves lives

^{Maternal health in Honduras Hermelinda shares her experience. Photo by: WHO/Honduras}

In Honduras, high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality are often the result of multiple factors, including socioeconomic barriers, lack of access to adequate healthcare services, gaps in education and awareness about maternal and child health, and cultural differences.

Hermelinda Hernández, who is familiar with the local practices and beliefs of her community and also recognizes the value of professional medical interventions, participated in the “Knowledge Dialogues Methodology” workshop organized by the Honduran Ministry of Health with the support of PAHO/WHO and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

The workshop aimed to promote mutual understanding between midwives and healthcare providers to reach agreements that improve the health of women, and adolescent girls in situations of vulnerability within the community.

Visit the PAHO/AMRO web page to read the full story.

Grassroots heroes in Cambodia

^{Mrs Say Sa with her Baby in Cambodia’s Principal of Health Centre Kok Chuk. Photo by: Aforative media}

In Cambodia, village chiefs stepped up to create a healthier future for their communities. In villages across 25 provinces, 2000 village chiefs and nearly 5400 village health support groups received trainings, organised by the Ministry of Heath with support from WHO and the EU.

This equipped the chiefs with knowledge and skills necessary to control transmission of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory diseases, and collaborate with authorities more closely on health issues facing their communities.

The chiefs then shared their newfound knowledge during community dialogues, which then transformed how community members adopted healthier practices. Empowered with accurate information, communities embraced protective measures during times of high COVID-19 transmission.

Visit the WHO/WPRO web page to read the full story, and more on EU’s support to WHO in ASEAN region.

Bolstering public awareness to help curb mpox spread in Uganda

Dr Kenneth Kabali, WHO Field Coordinator for Busoga Sub-region sensitizes the community on mpox in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda. Photo by: WHO/Abdu Mutwalibu Seguya

Uganda witnessed an upsurge in mpox cases, with laboratory-confirmed cases increasing from 24 as of 21 September to 413 as of 7 November 2024. Health authorities, with support from WHO and partners, worked closely with communities to raise awareness about the dangers of the disease and how to stay safe, and address misinformation and stigma.

The risk communication and community engagement team reached more than 100 fishmongers, fisherfolk, boda boda (motorbike taxi) riders, 8000 school children and 30 sex workers. In addition, 500 teachers in the district have been oriented on mpox.

WHO is also using mass media to expand the reach of mpox response communication. With funding from USAID, WHO has contracted 10 regional radio stations and 2 national TV stations to raise awareness and promote preventative behaviour.

Visit the WHO/AFRO web page to read the full story.

Combating measles: a comprehensive community-centred approach in Ethiopia

^{Combating measles, a comprehensive community-centred approach in Ethiopia. Photo by: WHO/Hassen Ali}

In the districts of Sidama, Central, and South Ethiopia, access to healthcare is often challenging, exacerbated by various health emergencies. A community-led initiative made remarkable progress in combating measles, malaria, and malnutrition through collaborative efforts between local health facilities, community health workers, and government agencies.

The initiative received significant financial support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) bolstering community-based intervention efforts.

By leveraging collaboration between healthcare facilities, community health workers, and local communities, this initiative represents a beacon of hope in improving healthcare access and outcomes in regions of Ethiopia.

Visit the WHO/Ethiopia web page to read the full story.

WHO races to contain malaria resurgence in southeastern Iran

^{Malaria resurgence in Iran. Photo by: WHO/Iran}

A race against time is underway in southeastern Iran, where the resurgence of malaria threatens to undo years of progress. The dramatic rise in cases has been attributed to the devastating floods in neighbouring Pakistan in September 2022 which led to an expansion of malaria breeding sites.

WHO, with crucial support from the Government of Japan, is on the ground in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, battling this public health emergency and working to protect vulnerable communities. Japan’s generous contribution provided 4902 mosquito dome tents offering families protection from infected mosquitos, 50 000 malaria rapid diagnostic tests enabling health care workers to quickly identify and treat infected individuals, and 1655 kg of insecticides, deployed to contain mosquito populations at their source. The combined resources are estimated to benefit 77 400 people in the province.

In December 2024, a WHO mission observed a proactive approach to malaria control demonstrated by local health workers as they conducted house-to-house screenings, distributed mosquito nets and educated communities on how to use them.

Visit the WHO/Iran web page to read the full story.

Mali: screening for malnutrition in affected children to avoid complications

^{Screening for malnutrition in affected children to avoid complications, Mali. Photo by: WHO/Razzack Saizonou}

Malnutrition among children is one of the main health problems that the affected populations of Ségou had to face after severe floods hit Mali between July and October 2024. Having lost everything including their food reserves and their means of subsistence, people found themselves in a very precarious situation.

Among the more than 370,000 people affected by these floods, children, who represent 45% of the affected population, are particularly vulnerable. To enable access to health care, WHO, with thanks to the Central Emergency Response Fund, supported the deployment of mobile clinics on relocation sites.

In the Ségou region, three sites were set up and equipped with medical tents. Medical staff go there five times a month. Between July and October 2024, nearly 700 children suffering from malnutrition were identified in the three health districts of the Ségou region.

Visit the WHO/Mali web page to read the full story in French.

Effective community engagement saving lives in Tanzania during cholera outbreak

^{Abdul Zachari, a young man is washing his hands. Photo by: WHO/Clemence Eliah}

The recurrence of Cholera outbreaks has been a threat to many lives in the United Republic of Tanzania for decades now. In mid-2024, situation reports from the Ministry of Health indicated that, the outbreak have been reported in 19 regions of Tanzania Mainland. Thanks to flexible funding available for responding to outbreaks such as this, WHO has been able to support the Government’s efforts to control cholera outbreaks. Risk Communications and Community Engagement (RCCE) Experts worked on the ground delivering an intensive community sensitization in over 92 households and 32 villages . The joint and community-based action plan against Cholera outbreak was built jointly, this way enhancing 54 community members and local authorities from the affected wards and districts. The community engagement strategies adopted generate local solutions tailored to control and prevent further transmissions in these areas. In addition, WHO applied behavioral science approaches to guide tailored interventions to community protection and resilience – and as a result, enhancing many lives in Tanzania.

Visit the WHO/Tanzania web page to read the full story.

* * * *

Read more about the WHO’s community engagement work.

The donors and partners acknowledged in this story are (in alphabetical order) Australia, Belgium, Canada, the European Union (ECHO), France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, and the USA Agency for International Development.

WHO’s work is made possible through all contributions of our Member States and partners. WHO thanks all donor countries, governments, organizations and individuals who are contributing to the Organization’s work, with special appreciation for those who provide fully flexible contributions to maintain a strong, independent WHO.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: KEYNOTE ADDRESS by the Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataafa to Official Open the Peer and Collective Learning (PCL) Talanoa (Forum) for Polynesian Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) 2025.

Source: Government of Western Samoa

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17th February, 2025 @ 9:30AM – Sheraton Hotel, Apia.

Rev Maauga Motu,

Members of the Diplomatic Corp,

Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations,

Representatives of Organizations of persons with disabilities from the Polynesian Sub Region,

President of the Nuanua o le Alofa,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Talofa lava,

I am honored to deliver the Keynote Address as Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, to officially open the Peer and Collective Learning (PCL) -Talanoa (Forum) for Polynesian Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) 2025.

The Government of Samoa is committed to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. We are intentional to uphold the SDG mantra of ‘Leave No One Behind’ in our national development actions, our sectoral policies, programs and practices. Since ratification in 2016, we have taken concrete steps to implement the UNCRPD through our development efforts. The National Development Plan of Samoa demonstrates commitment to safeguard persons with disabilities across its priority areas. The National Disability Policy has translated the CRPD into national action to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are realised through services and access to opportunities for persons with disabilities and their families.

Some specific areas of progress are; disability disaggregated data with the Washington Group short set of questions in our 2016 and one of the first three countries in the Pacific to produce its disability monograph out of the census. Recently, in 2021, through the partnership with UN agencies and the strong leadership of Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA) we have implemented the cash transfer program to persons with disabilities. We acknowledge the commitment and leadership from Nuanua O Le Alofa in its advocacy in supporting and working alongside Government to make a difference to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. Like many other countries in our Pacific, ensuring that persons with disabilities are part of National Development Plans is another top priority to Samoa.

I am told that this week you have your ‘peer and collective learning exchange program’, a platform established by the Disability Rights Fund to support your learning and cross learning amongst organisations of persons with disabilities in the Polynesia subregion. The dialogue this week or Talanoa as the Samoan say, is constructive dialogue to enable your learning, support your growth, enable your development is also key to our indigenous way of learning. I am sure you are here to share your experiences, knowledge and discuss solutions that you can take back home, solutions to remove barriers, influence systems and processes and ensure that we as Government are inclusive of persons with disabilities and to understand your diverse needs, ensuring that NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND in our communities.

From a Government’s perspective, this is also an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the diverse initiatives that Governments within our sub region have to protect, promote and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. To engage in constructive dialogue and to contribute to national developments and nation building as key partners and beneficiaries of these developments, whether its accessing health services, employment opportunities or any other mainstream services. I am aware that the Government must ensure that specific services such as sign language, peer support, carers or personal assistances are keys to your inclusion and participation.

I wish you well in your deliberations and learning this week. I now declare your meeting officially open.

Soifua.

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February 28, 2025

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