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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Funding plans announced to support Salford residents with the cost-of-living

    Source: City of Salford

    • Funding period: Round seven (part one) of the Household Support Fund will be available from Tuesday 1 April 2025 to Tuesday 30 September 2025.
    • Eligibility: Open to Salford residents who need financial support with the cost-of-living, specifically to cover cost for food, fuel and energy, regardless of benefit status.
    • How to apply: Residents who need support can apply directly for funding online www.salford.gov.uk/hsf or call Salford’s Household Support Fund helpline on 0800 011 3998.

    Salford City Council have unveiled plans for the allocation of the Government’s extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF) for the period Tuesday 1 April 2025 to Tuesday 30 September 2025. This funding provides critical support to households facing cost-of-living pressures, particularly those struggling to afford essential items such as food, energy, and fuel.

    In the previous funding round covering October 2024 to March 2025, the council received 6,000 applications for support and provided over 17,000 holiday food vouchers to families and children during school holidays.

    Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council, said: “The Household Support Fund is a vital resource for our community. Our commitment in Salford is to make sure vulnerable residents are supported in the best way possible and ensure that every resident facing financial challenges receives the necessary support. This latest funding round reinforces our ongoing effort to build a fairer, more inclusive society.”

    The funding will be distributed by Salford City Council’s Salford Assist team. The funding will be awarded via shopping vouchers and fuel meter top ups to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Salford residents do not need to be in receipt of benefits to apply for the Household Support Fund and can apply for the scheme if they are also in receipt of other benefits and pension credits, all applications will be considered.

    The allocated funding will be used to:

    • Provide direct financial support to eligible residents to cover essential costs.
    • Issue holiday food vouchers to children eligible for Free School Meals.
    • Enable Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners to deliver food banks, food clubs, and food schemes.
    • Support additional council services including housing and adult social care.

    Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett added: “This fund has been instrumental in providing essential assistance to our residents, helping with critical costs such as food and heating, and ensuring children do not go without food during school holidays. I urge any resident facing financial difficulties to explore the support available through the Household Support Fund.”
     
    This support forms part of Salford’s wider Tackling Poverty strategy which aims to make Salford a fairer and more inclusive place where everyone can live prosperous and fulfilling lives free from poverty and inequality. The funding has come from the Department for Work and Pensions. 
     
    To learn more about this funding and how to apply visit Salford City Council’s website: www.salford.gov.uk/hsf.

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    Date published
    Tuesday 1 April 2025

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Y Canghellor yn darparu diogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol i Gymru

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Y Canghellor yn darparu diogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol i Gymru

    Mae’r Canghellor yn addo creu “cyfnod newydd o ddiogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol” wrth iddi gyflwyno Datganiad y Gwanwyn i hybu twf economaidd.

    • Mae’r Canghellor yn addo creu “cyfnod newydd o ddiogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol” wrth iddi gyflwyno Datganiad y Gwanwyn i hybu twf economaidd, diogelu pobl sy’n gweithio a chadw Prydain yn ddiogel.
    • Ar gyfartaledd, bydd pobl ledled y DU £500 y flwyddyn yn well eu byd erbyn diwedd tymor y senedd hon o’u cymharu ag o dan y llywodraeth flaenorol, gan roi mwy o arian ym mhocedi pobl.
    • Mae twf wrth galon y Cynllun ar gyfer Newid, a gall Prydain ddechrau adeiladu diolch i’r dyraniad gwariant cyfalaf ychwanegol gwerth £13 biliwn, ochr yn ochr â £2.2 biliwn o gyllid ar gyfer amddiffyn y flwyddyn nesaf.

    Ar gyfartaledd, bydd pobl ledled y DU £500 yn well eu byd o 2029, o’i gymharu â rhagolwg yr hydref yr OBR, gan helpu i gyflawni’r Cynllun ar gyfer Newid, wrth i’r Canghellor gyhoeddi Ddatganiad y Gwanwyn heddiw (dydd Mercher 26 Mawrth) sy’n manteisio ar y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael mewn byd sy’n newid.

    Cadarnhaodd yr OBR hefyd fod disgwyl i economi’r DU dyfu’n gyflymach na’r disgwyl o 2026 ymlaen ac y bydd yn uwch na’r hyn a nodwyd yn eu rhagolwg yr hydref erbyn 2029 – gan godi i 9.5% o’i gymharu â 9.2%.

    Nododd y Canghellor sut mae’r llywodraeth yn gwarchod diogelwch gwladol ac yn manteisio i’r eithaf ar botensial sector amddiffyn y DU ar gyfer twf drwy gadarnhau y bydd cynnydd o £2.2 biliwn yng nghyllideb amddiffyn y DU gyfan yn 2025-26.

    Mae Datganiad y Gwanwyn yn cyflawni cynlluniau gwariant Llywodraeth y DU sy’n canolbwyntio ar ei hamcanion craidd, sef dod â sicrwydd a sefydlogrwydd i bobl sy’n gweithio ledled y DU.

    Mae’n dilyn y Gyllideb yn yr hydref lle cyhoeddodd y Canghellor y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael setliad o £21 biliwn yn 2025/26 – y mwyaf mewn termau real yn hanes datganoli. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £1.7 biliwn yn ychwanegol drwy fformiwla Barnett, gyda £1.5 biliwn ar gyfer gwariant o ddydd i ddydd a £250 miliwn ar gyfer buddsoddiad cyfalaf.

    Mae’r mesurau a gymerwyd heddiw yn golygu cynnydd pellach o £16 miliwn drwy symiau canlyniadol o dan Barnett yn 2025/26. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gael dros 2.0% yn fwy y pen na gwariant cyfatebol Llywodraeth y DU yng ngweddill y DU, sy’n golygu £4 biliwn yn fwy yn 2025-26.

    Bydd cyllid grant bloc Llywodraeth Cymru o 2026-27 ymlaen yn cael ei gadarnhau yng Ngham 2 yr Adolygiad o Wariant, sy’n dod i ben ar 11 Mehefin 2025. Bydd Prif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys yn cwrdd â’i gymheiriaid o’r llywodraethau datganoledig i drafod eu blaenoriaethau cyn i’r adolygiad gael ei gwblhau.

    Dywedodd Jo Stevens, Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru:

    Mae Datganiad y Gwanwyn heddiw yn mynd ymhellach ac yn mynd ati’n gyflymach i sicrhau twf economaidd, diogelwch cenedlaethol ac adnewyddu ledled Cymru a gweddill y DU.

    Drwy gywiro sylfeini ein heconomi, rydyn ni eisoes wedi dechrau cyflawni’r newid y pleidleisiodd pobl Cymru drosto naw mis yn ôl.

    Mae’r £16 miliwn sydd ar gael heddiw drwy Fformiwla Barnett yn ychwanegol at y setliad mwyaf erioed gwerth £21 biliwn a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru yng Nghyllideb yr Hydref diwethaf, gan roi hwb i wariant ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus fel y GIG, ac mae rhestr aros eisoes wedi bod yn disgyn yng Nghymru.

    Rydym wedi gwneud yn siŵr na fydd unrhyw deulu yng Nghymru’n talu ceiniog yn fwy o dreth yn eu cyflogau ac rydym wedi codi’r isafswm cyflog a’r cyflog byw i hyd at 140,000 o weithwyr yng Nghymru.

    Rydyn ni’n creu degau o filoedd o swyddi newydd drwy Barthau Buddsoddi Cymru, Porthladdoedd Rhydd a drwy brosiectau twf lleol a mewnfuddsoddi. Bydd buddsoddiad heddiw mewn amddiffyn hefyd yn rhoi hwb i’r diwydiant yng Nghymru. Ac rydyn ni wedi darparu bargen well i weithwyr dur Cymru ac, am y tro cyntaf, £25m i gadw tomennydd glo Cymru’n ddiogel.

    Mae’r Datganiad y Gwanwyn hwn yn rhoi hwb i dwf economaidd, yn amddiffyn pobl sy’n gweithio ac yn cadw ein gwlad yn ddiogel.”  

    Amddiffyn

    Rydym yn mynd ymhellach ac yn mynd ati’n gyflymach i warchod ein diogelwch gwladol a manteisio i’r eithaf ar y potensial o dwf economaidd yn sector amddiffyn y DU.

    • Rydym yn cynyddu’r gyllideb amddiffyn o £2.2 biliwn yn 2025-26, gan gynyddu’r gwariant ychwanegol ar amddiffyn i fwy na £5 biliwn ers Cyllideb yr Hydref.
    • Mae hyn yn codi gwariant ar amddiffyn i 2.36% y flwyddyn nesaf a bydd yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn gosod Arfau Ynni Cyfeiriedig ar longau’r Llynges Frenhinol bum mlynedd yn gynt na’r disgwyl, darparu cartrefi gwell i deuluoedd milwrol a moderneiddio Safle Llynges Ei Fawrhydi yn Portsmouth.
    • Neilltuwyd isafswm o 10 y cant ar gyfer gwariant ar gyfarpar gyda thechnolegau datblygol fel dronau a systemau awtonomaidd, technolegau â defnydd deuol, a galluoedd a bwerir gan ddeallusrwydd artiffisial, fel bod gan filwyr Prydain yr adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnynt i ymladd ac ennill mewn rhyfeloedd modern.
    • Rhoi’r dechnoleg newydd hon yn nwylo ein lluoedd arfog yn gyflymach drwy leihau biwrocratiaeth, gydag uned newydd Arloesi Amddiffyn y DU yn y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn yn arwain ymdrechion i ddod o hyd i dechnoleg addawol a sicrhau bod y rhain yn cyrraedd y rheng flaen yn gyflym, gan gryfhau sector technoleg y DU a chynyddu buddsoddiad preifat.
    • Creu prosesau caffael pwrpasol ar gyfer gwahanol fathau o offer milwrol, gan ddysgu gwersi o’n cefnogaeth gyflym i Wcráin i gymell targedau amser cyflymach ar gyfer rhoi tanciau, awyrennau ac offer hanfodol eraill newydd ar waith ar gyfer rhyfela modern.
    • Mae’r llywodraeth hon yn benderfynol o drawsnewid y sector amddiffyn i fod yn beiriant ar gyfer twf drwy ganolbwyntio’r buddsoddiad hwn ar y meysydd hynny sy’n rhoi hwb i gapasiti cynhyrchiol yr economi, fel buddsoddi mewn arloesi a thechnolegau newydd. O ganlyniad i’r cynnydd mewn gwariant ar amddiffyn i 2.5%, mae’r llywodraeth yn amcangyfrif y gallai hyn arwain at GDP o tua 0.3% yn uwch yn y tymor hir, sy’n cyfateb i tua £11 biliwn o GDP yn arian heddiw.
    • Bydd buddsoddiad y llywodraeth mewn amddiffyn hefyd yn cefnogi ei chenhadaeth fwyaf blaenllaw, sef sicrhau twf economaidd. Bydd dinasyddion y DU yn cael eu diogelu rhag bygythiadau gartref ar yr un pryd â chreu amgylchedd sefydlog lle gall busnesau ffynnu, a chefnogi prentisiaethau a swyddi medrus iawn ledled y DU.
    Twf

    Hybu twf economaidd yw prif genhadaeth Llywodraeth y DU, er mwyn i ni allu rhoi mwy o arian ym mhocedi pobl sy’n gweithio ar draws pob rhan o’r DU.

    Mae Llywodraeth y DU eisoes wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol yn y cynllun hwn ar gyfer twf yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cadarnhau ffocws Parth Buddsoddi Wrecsam a Sir y Fflint ar weithgynhyrchu uwch i ddenu gwerth £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad a chreu hyd at 6,000 o swyddi; a £1.5 biliwn o fuddsoddiad uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn prosiectau sy’n cefnogi twf ledled Cymru.

    Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gadarn ei chefnogaeth i’r cymunedau dur. Drwy Fwrdd Pontio Tata Steel Port Talbot, mae’n darparu gwerth £80 miliwn i helpu gweithwyr, y gadwyn gyflenwi, busnesau lleol ac adfywio. 

    Bydd gweithredoedd y llywodraeth hon drwy gydol Cyllideb yr Hydref a Datganiad y Gwanwyn, os cânt eu cynnal, yn arwain at gynnydd o 0.6% yn lefel y GDP go iawn erbyn 2034-25.

    Daeth yr OBR i’r casgliad bod y rheol sefydlogrwydd yn cael ei bodloni o £9.9 biliwn a bod y rheol buddsoddi yn cael ei bodloni o £15.1 biliwn. Mae’r ddwy reol yn cael eu bodloni ddwy flynedd yn gynnar, sy’n golygu mai dim ond benthyca ar gyfer buddsoddi y mae’r llywodraeth o 2027-28 ymlaen ac mae’r ddyled ariannol net yn gostwng.

    Nid yw’r llywodraeth yn fodlon â ffigurau twf tymor byr, ac mae’n mynd ymhellach ac yn mynd ati’n gyflymach heddiw i wella hyn.

    Mae’r Canghellor wedi cyhoeddi buddsoddiad cyfalaf pellach o £13 biliwn dros oes y Senedd er mwyn mynd ymhellach o ran twf, ac mae hynny’n ychwanegol at y cynnydd o £100 biliwn a gyhoeddwyd yng Nghyllideb yr Hydref. Bydd hyn yn cyflawni’r prosiectau sydd eu hangen i ysgogi buddsoddiad preifat, hybu twf ac yn gwthio strategaeth ddiwydiannol fodern y DU yn ei blaen.

    Gyda’i gilydd, mae’r buddsoddiad cyfalaf ychwanegol hwn yn gwrthbwyso’r arbedion bach ar wariant o ddydd i ddydd ac yn golygu y bydd cyfanswm gwariant adrannol yn cynyddu dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, o’i gymharu â’r cynlluniau yn yr hydref.

    Diwygio

    Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn benderfynol o wneud y sector cyhoeddus yn fwy cynhyrchiol ac o wella gwasanaethau ar gyfer pobl sy’n gweithio. Ond mewn byd sy’n newid, mae angen i ni fynd ymhellach a mynd ati’n gyflymach i sicrhau ein bod yn gallu darparu’r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y mae pobl sy’n gweithio yn poeni fwyaf amdanynt.

    Mae’r llywodraeth wedi dangos ei hymrwymiad i wneud y penderfyniadau anodd sydd eu hangen i sbarduno effeithlonrwydd a diwygio’r wladwriaeth – lleihau aneffeithlonrwydd a dyblygu biwrocrataidd; a rhoi diwedd ar wariant gwastraffus gan y llywodraeth drwy ganslo miloedd o gardiau credyd y llywodraeth.

    Mae cael mwy o bobl i mewn i swyddi hefyd yn ganolog i genhadaeth y llywodraeth o ran twf. Mae’r system les hon wedi methu ac yn siomi pobl drwy ofyn iddynt brofi’r hyn na allant ei wneud, yn hytrach na chanolbwyntio ar yr hyn y gallent ei wneud gyda’r cymorth iawn – mae’n caethiwo pobl oherwydd bod ofn arnynt roi cynnig ar waith, ac oherwydd diffyg cefnogaeth a chymhellion ariannol gwael.

    Bydd y system nawdd cymdeithasol bob amser yn gwarchod y rhai hynny na allant fyth weithio, a dyna pam y mae’r llywodraeth hon yn cynnig premiwm ychwanegol a fydd yn diogelu eu hincwm. A bydd yn dod â diwedd i’r drefn o ailasesu pobl sydd â’r cyflyrau gydol oes mwyaf difrifol i roi urddas a sicrwydd iddynt.

    Helpu mwy o bobl i gael gwaith yw un o nodau canolog y diwygiadau hyn, a dyna pam mae’r llywodraeth yn mynd i’r afael â chymhellion i fod yn segur drwy ddiddymu’r WCA, ail-gydbwyso Credyd Cynhwysol, a buddsoddi mwy mewn cymorth cyflogaeth.

    Byddwn bob amser yn cefnogi’r rheini sydd â chyflyrau iechyd tymor hir drwy’r Taliad Annibyniaeth Bersonol, a fydd yn parhau i fod yn fudd-dal pwysig nad yw’n seiliedig ar brawf modd ar gyfer pobl anabl a phobl sydd â chyflyrau iechyd tymor hir.  Ond bydd y diwygiadau hyn yn gwneud y system yn fwy penodol a chynaliadwy er mwyn sicrhau bod rhwyd ddiogelwch ar gael i’r rheini sydd ei hangen fwyaf.

    Mae’r Canghellor wedi cadarnhau y byddwn yn creu Cronfa Trawsnewid gwerth £3.25 biliwn i gefnogi’r gwaith sylfaenol o ddiwygio gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, manteisio ar gyfleoedd technoleg ddigidol a Deallusrwydd Artiffisial (AI), a thrawsnewid darpariaeth rheng flaen i ryddhau arbedion i drethdalwyr yn y tymor hir.

    Cyhoeddodd y Canghellor hefyd becyn o fesurau i gau’r bwlch treth, gan godi £1 biliwn y flwyddyn erbyn 2029-30. Amcangyfrifwyd fod bwlch treth y DU yn tua £40 biliwn yn 2022-23.

    Edrych Ymlaen

    Mae Datganiad y Gwanwyn yn adeiladu ar Gyllideb yr Hydref a’r penderfyniadau a wnaed ers hynny i sicrhau sefydlogrwydd i economi Prydain a sbarduno twf economaidd.

    Bydd y llywodraeth yn nodi ei chynlluniau ar gyfer gwariant a diwygiadau allweddol i’r sector cyhoeddus yn yr Adolygiad o Wariant a fydd yn dod i ben ar 11 Mehefin 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Fundamental Global Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mooresville, NC, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fundamental Global Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF, FGFPP) (the “Company” or “Fundamental Global”) today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    Kyle Cerminara, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, “During 2024, we implemented initiatives to consolidate multiple public companies and streamline and simplify our operating structure. We successfully completed three merger transactions, monetized one of our real estate holdings, and continued to drive operating profit improvements in our managed services business. Recently, we announced an agreement for the sale of a portion of our reinsurance business for $5.6 million which we expect to close in the first half of 2025.”

    “Our balance sheet is strong, with $109 million in total assets, nominal long-term debt and $74 million in stockholders’ equity. As part of our ongoing strategic evaluation, we will continue to focus on streamlining and simplifying our operations and increasing capital allocated to cash flow producing assets.”

    Key Operational Highlights:

      ● In February 2024, the Company completed its merger with FG Group Holdings Inc. to consolidate operations, reduce operating costs and streamline the Company’s operations.
         
      ● In April 2024, the Company completed the sale of its Digital Ignition facility in Alpharetta, Georgia significantly reducing general and administrative expenses and long-term debt obligations.
         
      ● In September 2024, the Company completed the sale of its Strong/MDI Screen Systems, Inc. operating subsidiary for approximately $30 million and launched Saltire Capital Ltd. as a Canadian public company.
         
      ● In September 2024, the Company completed its merger with Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. to further reduce operating expenses and streamline the Company’s operations.
         
      ● In October 2024, our merchant banking team announced the closing of an initial public offering for Aldel Financial II Inc., a SPAC client for the Company.
         
      ● In February 2025, our merchant banking team announced the closing of an initial public offering for FG Merger II Corp., a SPAC client for the Company.
         
      ● In March 2025, the Company executed an agreement for the sale of a portion of its reinsurance business for $5.6 million.
         

    Financial Highlights

    Note: The financial results reflect the Company’s performance following the reverse merger between Fundamental Global Inc. and FG Group Holdings, Inc. Consequently, the financial results for periods prior to the merger include only the operations of FG Group Holdings, while results after February 29, 2024, reflect the combined operations of Fundamental Global. Additionally, the results of Strong/MDI and the Company’s reinsurance operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations and are not included in the results of continuing operations.

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s key balance sheet items included:

      ● Total assets of $109.5 million, an increase of $47.3 million from December 31, 2023. Assets included equity holdings of $60.1 million, which included directly or indirectly held positions in Saltire Capital, Ltd., GreenFirst Forest Products, Inc., Firefly Media Systems Inc., OppFi Inc., FG Communities, Inc., Craveworthy LLC, and other holdings.
         
      ● Total stockholders’ equity of $74.2 million, an increase of $37.2 million from December 31, 2023, reflecting the increased scale of the Company following the merger transactions and consolidation initiatives.
         
      ● Short- and long-term debt totaled $2.4 million, a decrease of $5.4 million from December 31, 2023.
         

    Revenue during 2024 increased $0.3 million or 1.5% to $17.3 million for the year. Revenue from managed services increased $5.5 million or 20.7% to $32.0 million on increasing demand from entertainment operators and contributions from the acquisition of Innovative Cinema Solutions in late 2023. Revenue growth from managed services was partially offset by increased non-cash equity method losses in the current year period.

    Net loss attributable to common shareholders improved to $2.6 million for the year from a loss of $14.1 million in the prior year primarily due to the $21.8 million gain on the sale of Strong/MDI recognized during the year and improved performance in managed services. Net loss from continuing operations increased to $22.9 million from $12.3 million for the year. Stronger gross profit from managed services was offset by the addition of expenses of FGF which are not included in the periods prior to the merger and increased non-cash equity method losses.

    Net loss per common share improved to $2.43 from $35.22 per common share in the prior year and net loss per common share from continuing operations improved to $22.84 from $29.38. The improvements are primarily due to the $21 million gain on the sale of Strong/MDI recognized during the 2024, as well as an increase in the number of weighted average shares outstanding as a result of the merger of the Company and FG Group Holdings.

    Fundamental Global Inc. 

    Fundamental Global Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF, FGFPP) and its subsidiaries engage in diverse business activities including reinsurance, asset management, merchant banking, and managed services.

    The FG® logo and Fundamental Global® are registered trademarks of Fundamental Global LLC.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements are therefore entitled to the protection of the safe harbor provisions of these laws. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “budget,” “can,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “evaluate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “indicate,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possibly,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “probably,” “pro-forma,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “view,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, discussions and statements regarding the Company’s future business plans and initiatives are forward-looking in nature. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections. While we believe these to be reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may impact our ability to implement and execute on our future business plans and initiatives. Management cautions that the forward-looking statements in this press release are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assume that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation, general conditions in the global economy; risks associated with operating in the merchant banking, and managed services industries, including inadequately priced insured risks, credit risk; our inability to execute on our multi-industry business strategy and potential loss of value of investments; risk of becoming an investment company; fluctuations in our short-term results as we implement our business strategies; risks of being unable to close the sale of our reinsurance business in a reasonable time period or at all; risks of not being able to execute on our investment and investment management strategy and potential loss of value of holdings; risk of becoming an investment company; fluctuations in our short-term results as we implement our business strategies; risks of being unable to close the sale of our reinsurance business in a reasonable time period or at all; risks of not being unable to attract and retain qualified management and personnel to implement and execute on our business and growth strategy; failure of our information technology systems, data breaches and cyber-attacks; our ability to establish and maintain an effective system of internal controls; our limited operating history as a public company; the requirements of being a public company and losing our status as a smaller reporting company or becoming an accelerated filer; any potential conflicts of interest between us and our controlling stockholders and different interests of controlling stockholders; and potential conflicts of interest between us and our directors and executive officers.

    Our expectations and future plans and initiatives may not be realized. If one of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or if our underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such statements to reflect new information, future events or developments.

    Investor Contact:

    investors@fundamentalglobal.com

    FUNDAMENTAL GLOBAL INC.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    ($ in thousands)

        December 31, 2024     December 31, 2023  
                 
    ASSETS                
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 7,794     $ 5,995  
    Accounts receivable, net     3,384       3,529  
    Inventories, net     1,432       1,482  
    Equity holdings, at fair value     5,763       10,552  
    Other equity holdings and other holdings     54,310       17,469  
    Property, plant and equipment, net     2,781       11,115  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     201       371  
    Finance lease right-of-use assets     1,105       1,258  
    Assets of discontinued operations     31,626       9,886  
    Other assets     1,073       486  
    Total assets   $ 109,469     $ 62,143  
                     
    LIABILITIES                
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 5,704     $ 4,834  
    Deferred revenue and customer deposits     857       867  
    Operating lease liabilities     236       421  
    Finance lease liabilities     1,136       1,283  
    Short-term debt     2,068       2,294  
    Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs     301       5,461  
    Deferred income taxes     2,412       3,075  
    Liabilities of discontinued operations     22,436       6,799  
    Other liabilities     122       102  
    Total liabilities     35,272       25,136  
                     
    Commitments and contingencies     –       –  
                     
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
    Series A Preferred Shares     22,365       –  
    Common stock     29       225  
    Additional paid-in capital     50,924       55,856  
    Retained earnings     (229 )     2,336  
    Treasury stock     –       (18,586 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     1,108       (4,682 )
    Total Fundamental Global stockholders’ equity     74,197       35,149  
    Equity attributable to non-controlling interest     –       1,858  
    Total stockholders’ equity     74,197       37,007  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 109,469     $ 62,143  


    FUNDAMENTAL GLOBAL INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    ($ in thousands, except per share data)

        Three Months Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
        2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Revenue:                        
    Net (loss) earnings on equity holdings and other holdings   $ (4,628 )   $ 440     $ (14,675 )   $ (9,437 )
    Net product sales     3,463       2,783       18,561       13,978  
    Net services revenue     3,696       3,314       13,462       12,552  
    Total revenue     2,531       6,537       17,348       17,093  
                                     
    Expenses:                                
    Costs of products     3,067       2,619       15,530       12,583  
    Costs of services     2,791       2,263       9,963       8,893  
    Selling expense     305       197       1,277       797  
    General and administrative expenses     2,348       2,757       13,979       11,111  
    Loss (gain) on impairment and disposal of assets     –       –       1,475       (5 )
    Total expenses     8,511       7,836       42,224       33,379  
    Loss from operations     (5,980 )     (1,299 )     (24,876 )     (16,286 )
    Other income (expense):                                
    Interest expense, net     (60 )     (237 )     (360 )     (520 )
    Foreign currency transaction income (loss)     20       2       (7 )     (1 )
    Bargain purchase on acquisition and other (expense) income, net     472       3,469       2,245       3,502  
    Total other income, net     432       3,234       1,878       2,981  
    Loss from continuing operations before income taxes     (5,548 )     1,935       (22,998 )     (13,305 )
    Income tax benefit     29       685       139       998  
    Net (loss) income from continuing operations     (5,519 )     2,620       (22,859 )     (12,307 )
    Net (loss) income from discontinued operations     (1,913 )     (4,556 )     21,544       (2,334 )
    Net (loss) income     (7,432 )     (1,936 )     (1,315 )     (14,641 )
    Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest     –       (442 )     (160 )     (564 )
    Dividends declared on Series A Preferred Shares     (447 )     –       (1,410 )     –  
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders   $ (7,879 )   $ (1,494 )   $ (2,565 )   $ (14,077 )
                                     
    Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share:                                
    Continuing operations   $ (4.72 )   $ 7.27     $ (22.83 )   $ (29.38 )
    Discontinued operations     (1.50 )     (10.82 )     20.41       (5.84 )
    Total   $ (6.23 )   $ (3.55 )   $ (2.43 )   $ (35.22 )
                                     
    Weighted average common shares outstanding:                                
    Basic and diluted     1,265       421       1,056       400  


    FUNDAMENTAL GLOBAL INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (in thousands)

        Year Ended December 31,  
        2024     2023  
    Cash flows from operating activities:                
    Net loss from continuing operations   $ (22,859 )   $ (12,307 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:                
    Net unrealized holding loss on equity holdings     5,039       6,176  
    Loss from equity method holdings     10,713       3,261  
    Adjustment to gain acquisition of ICS assets     69       –  
    Net realized gain on sale of equity holdings     (306 )     (1 )
    Provision for doubtful accounts     68       7  
    Provision for (benefit from) obsolete inventory     1       (34 )
    Provision for warranty     –       2  
    Depreciation and amortization     829       841  
    Amortization and accretion of operating leases     262       138  
    Impairment of property and equipment     1,422       –  
    Gain on merger of FGF and FGH     (2,321 )     –  
    Deferred income taxes     (469 )     (933 )
    Stock compensation expense     1,619       1,605  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
    Other assets     1,109       378  
    Accounts receivable     178       1,831  
    Inventories     (19 )     393  
    Current income taxes     (46 )     345  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     952       817  
    Deferred revenue and customer deposits     (66 )     (789 )
    Operating lease obligations     (224 )     (151 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations     (4,049 )     1,579  
    Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations     (665 )     (1,423 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities     (4,714 )     156  
                     
    Cash flows from investing activities:                
    Capital expenditures     (46 )     (164 )
    Proceeds from sales of equity securities     5,021       198  
    Proceeds from sales of property and equipment     6,161       –  
    Collection of note receivable     203       –  
    Cash acquired in acquisition of ICS     –       58  
    Cash acquired in Merger of FGF and FGH     1,903       –  
    Net cash provided by investing activities from continuing operations     13,242       92  
    Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations     (94 )     (787 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     13,148       (695 )
                     
    Cash flows from financing activities:                
    Payment of dividends on preferred shares     (1,411 )     –  
    Principal payments on short-term debt     (603 )     (653 )
    Payment payments on long-term debt     (5,192 )     (224 )
    Net borrowing under credit facility     97       –  
    Proceeds from Strong Global Entertainment initial public offering     –       2,411  
    Payments of withholding taxes for net share settlement of equity awards     (21 )     (135 )
    Payments on finance lease obligations     (253 )     (159 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from continuing operations     (7,383 )     1,240  
    Net cash provided by financing activities from discontinued operations     525       2,143  
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     (6,858 )     3,383  
                     
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations     (11 )     21  
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations     (36 )     95  
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations     1,799       2,932  
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations     (270 )     28  
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     1,529       2,960  
                     
    Cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations at beginning of year     5,995       3,063  
    Cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations at end of year   $ 7,794     $ 5,995  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AGNICO EAGLE ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN RUPERT RESOURCES LTD.

    Source: Agnico Eagle Mines

    Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE and TSX)

    TORONTO, April 1, 2025 /CNW/ – Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) (“Agnico Eagle”) announced today that it has acquired 2,602,500 common shares (“Common Shares”) of Rupert Resources Ltd. (“Rupert”) in a non-brokered private placement at a price of C$4.50 per Common Share for total consideration of C$11,711,250 (the “Private Placement”).

    Concurrent with the closing of the Private Placement, Agnico Eagle exercised its right under an investor rights agreement dated February 11, 2020 between Agnico Eagle and Rupert to designate a nominee, Carol Plummer, to be appointed, or nominated for election to the board of directors of Rupert (the “Rupert Board”). Rupert has advised Agnico Eagle that it will nominate Ms. Plummer for election at Rupert’s upcoming annual general meeting and will include the required information in its proxy circular.

    Ms. Plummer is Executive Vice-President, Sustainability, People and Culture at Agnico Eagle and possesses extensive experience in project evaluation, mine building and operations, particularly in Finland, where she was previously the general manager of Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä mine. Agnico Eagle believes that Ms. Plummer’s expertise will be a valuable asset to the Rupert Board as Rupert advances the Ikkari project and continues exploring the full potential of the property.

    Prior to the Private Placement, Agnico Eagle owned 30,169,111 Common Shares, representing approximately 13.3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis. On closing of the Private Placement, Agnico Eagle owned 32,771,611 Common Shares, representing approximately 14.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis.

    Agnico Eagle acquired the Common Shares for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Agnico Eagle may, from time to time, acquire additional Common Shares or other securities of Rupert or dispose of some or all of the Common Shares or other securities of Rupert it owns at such time.

    An early warning report will be filed by Agnico Eagle in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact:

    Agnico Eagle Mines Limited 
    c/o Investor Relations
    145 King Street East, Suite 400 
    Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7
    Telephone: 416-947-1212 
    Email: investor.relations@agnicoeagle.com

    Agnico Eagle’s head office is located at 145 King Street East, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7. Rupert’s head office is located at 82 Richmond Street East, Suite 203, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1.

    About Agnico Eagle

    Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading sustainability practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information in this news release has been prepared as at April 1, 2025. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “will” or similar terms.

    Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to the nomination of Carol Plummer as a director of Rupert, the inclusion of certain information regarding Carol Plummer in Rupert’s proxy circular and Agnico Eagle’s acquisition or disposition of securities of Rupert in the future.

    Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Other than as required by law, Agnico Eagle does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

    View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agnico-eagle-announces-investment-in-rupert-resources-ltd-302417054.html

    SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Putin’s brain’: Aleksandr Dugin, the Russian ultra-nationalist who has endorsed Donald Trump

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kevin Riehle, Lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies, Brunel University of London

    Aleksandr Dugin, sometimes referred to as “Putin’s brain” because of his ideological influence on Russian politics, endorsed the policies of Donald Trump in a CNN interview aired on March 30. Dugin said Trump’s America has a lot more in common with Putin’s Russia than most people think, adding: “Trumpists and the followers of Trump will understand much better what Russia is, who Putin is and the motivations of our politics.”

    Dugin made his name by espousing Russian nationalist and traditionalist – including antisemitic – themes, and publishing extensively on the centrality of Russia in world civilisation. So, this endorsement should be a warning of the disruptive nature of the Trump White House. It implies that Dugin believes Trump’s policies support Russian interests.

    Dugin began his career as an anti-communist activist in the 1980s. This was less because of an ideological antipathy for communism than his rejection of the internationalism that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union espoused. He also criticised the party for breaking from traditional – especially religious – values.

    Dugin proposes what he calls a “fourth political theory”. The first three, he claims, are Marxism, fascism and liberalism – all of which he thinks contain elements of error, especially their rejection of tradition and the subordination of culture to scientific thought.

    Dugin’s fourth political theory takes pieces from all three and discards the elements with which Dugin disagrees, especially the dwindling importance of traditional family and culture. The culmination is a melange of ideas that sometimes appear Marxist and sometimes fascist, but which always centre on the criticality of traditional Russian culture.

    His founding philosophy is traditionalism, which he views as a strength of Russia. Thus, he has become a strong supporter of the country’s president, Vladimir Putin, who emphasises traditional Russian values. Dugin and Putin align in their criticism of liberalist anti-religious individualism, which they claim destroys the values and culture on which society is based.

    Dugin has value for Putin because he advances the president’s objectives. Putin’s security goals are in part founded on the principle that political unity is strength and political division is weakness. If Russia can maintain political unity by whatever means necessary, it retains its perception of strength. And if a state opposed to Russia is divided internally, it can be portrayed as weak.

    The Russian government claims complete political unity inside Russia. Its spokespeople reinforce that claim by declaring, for example, the Russian electorate was so unified behind Putin that the 2024 Russian presidential election could have been skipped as an unnecessary expense. They also push a strained claim that the Russian population is unanimously behind the Ukraine war.

    Dugin energises voters behind Putin, basing his support on the philosophy of Russian greatness and cultural superiority, and the perception of Russian unity. His influence has been felt throughout the Russian government and society. He publishes prolifically, and lectures at universities and government agencies about the harms of western liberalism. He also served as an advisor to Sergey Naryshkin, currently director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of the Russian Federation.

    Dugin’s views support an expansionist Russia, especially in the direction of Ukraine. He questions the existence of Ukraine and promotes Russia’s war there wholeheartedly. But his support for the war led to an attempt on his life. On August 20 2022, a bomb exploded in a car owned by Dugin, killing his daughter, Darya, who was driving it back from a festival of Russian traditional art.

    Divide and conquer

    Russia applies the same principle of “unity equals strength” to its adversaries, but in reverse. Many Russian political thinkers try to emphasise political divisions in unfriendly states. They work hard to broaden existing disagreements and support disruptive political parties and groups.

    Such operations give the Russian government the ability to denigrate the foreign powers that Russia considers adversaries by making them look weak in the eyes of their own people – and more importantly, in the eyes of the Russian population.

    Dugin lays a philosophical foundation for foreign parties that oppose the European Union and western liberalism, and that disrupt political unity. His views have been adopted by far-right political groups such as the German National Democratic Party, the British National Party, Golden Dawn in Greece, Jobbik in Hungary, and the National Front in France.

    Dugin’s interview in which he endorsed Trump’s policies is likely to have been directly authorised by the Kremlin. He pushes a Kremlin-sponsored endorsement of Trump’s divisive – and thus weakening – effect on US politics.

    But Dugin’s extreme Russian nationalist rhetoric at times clashes with Putin’s attempts to include all peoples of Russia in a strong unified state, rather than only ethnic Russians. As it is a multi-ethnic state, Russian ethnic nationalism can obstruct Putin’s attempts at portraying strength through unity. The label “Putin’s brain” is only accurate sometimes.

    The Russian government uses Dugin when he is useful and separates itself from him when his extremism is inconvenient. Dugin is a tool who says many of the right things and facilitates Kremlin goals. His endorsement of Trump should be seen in its context: Russia attempting to strengthen itself at the expense of the US.

    Kevin Riehle 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. ‘Putin’s brain’: Aleksandr Dugin, the Russian ultra-nationalist who has endorsed Donald Trump – https://theconversation.com/putins-brain-aleksandr-dugin-the-russian-ultra-nationalist-who-has-endorsed-donald-trump-253466

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The dark side of psychiatry – how it has been used to control societies

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Caitjan Gainty, Senior Lecturer in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, King’s College London

    In his new book, No More Normal, psychiatrist Alastair Santhouse recalls an experience from the 1980s when he was a university student in the UK helping deliver supplies to “refuseniks” – Soviet citizens who were denied permission to leave the USSR. These people often faced harsh treatment, losing their jobs and becoming targets of harassment. Some were even diagnosed with a psychiatric condition called “sluggish schizophrenia”.

    By the time Santhouse encountered this diagnostic category, sluggish schizophrenia had been kicking around psychiatry in the Soviet Union for some time. It first entered the diagnostic lexicon in the 1930s, coined to describe cases in which adults diagnosed with schizophrenia had displayed no symptoms of the disorder in childhood.

    This notion of a symptomless disorder gave it tremendous value to Soviet officials in the 1970s and 80s, who wielded it ruthlessly against those who suddenly suffered from delusions of wanting a better society or hallucinatory desires to emigrate.

    But they weren’t the only ones to wield psychiatry to repress and control. “Punitive” or “political” psychiatry has proven to be quite a useful tool in many parts of the world. One well-known case is that of Chinese political activist Wang Wanxing, who marked the third anniversary of the 1989 pro-democracy student protests in Tiananmen Square by unfurling his own pro-democracy banner on that same spot.

    He was immediately arrested, jailed, and then diagnosed with “political monomania”: a “condition” characterised by the irrational failure to agree with the state. For treatment, he was confined for 13 years in a psychiatric hospital, part of the Ankang (“peace and health”) network of psychiatric institutions where dissidents like him were forcefully medicated and subjected to “treatments” such as electrified acupuncture.

    More recent applications of punitive psychiatry pop up periodically in our news feeds and disappear just as quickly. Some women who removed their headscarves or cut their hair as part of anti-government protests in Iran in 2022 were diagnosed with antisocial behaviour, forcefully institutionalised and subjected to “re-education”.

    Women in Iran who protested against wearing hijabs were sent for re-education.
    Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock

    In 2024, in Russia, an activist’s choice of T-shirt, bearing the slogan “I am against Putin”, was considered so problematic that it required the summoning of a “psychiatric emergency team”.

    As in the Soviet Union, the advantages of punitive psychiatry were not a little Orwellian: diagnosing a citizen with a mental illness made it easier to isolate their ideas, cut them off physically and discourage similar behaviour.

    Not just authoritarian regimes

    While authoritarian regimes certainly seem to wield it with the most abandon, punitive psychiatry has not been absent in the west. Indeed, at the height of the civil rights movement in the US, black activists protesting generations of racial prejudice and injustice were subjected to much the same diagnostic regime.

    One example was the pastor and activist Clennon W. King, Jr. who was arrested and confined to a mental institution in 1958 after he attempted to enrol at the all-white University of Mississippi for a summer course. It was an act so inconceivable that the state of Mississippi thought he must be insane.

    And, according to his FBI record, the militant civil rights leader Malcolm X was a “pre-psychotic paranoid schizophrenic”: a diagnosis made based on his activism and protest speech. As Jonathan Metzl has shown, the descriptors used to “diagnose” Malcolm X were later enshrined in the American Psychiatric Association’s 1968 updated definition of schizophrenia. Dissent in the US was as potentially pathological as dissent anywhere else.

    Though each of these cases undoubtedly constitutes a gross misuse of psychiatry, the practice of making distinctions between what constitutes normal and abnormal behaviour is fundamental to the discipline. And, as Metzl’s account of the shifting definition of schizophrenia implies, psychiatric disorders are especially sensitive to social change.

    Unlike most physical illnesses, psychiatric illnesses often have few physiological signs. Whereas a broken bone on an X-ray can be declared unambiguously broken, psychiatric problems are diagnosed in terms of constellations of symptoms, written on but not in the body, and recounted by patients in conversation with their therapist, or via a listing of these symptoms on one of the many diagnostic questionnaires that make up the psychiatric diagnostic arsenal.

    Psychiatry’s bible

    These are then matched to symptom clusters listed in psychiatry’s bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Though in the everyday practice of mental health, there is much more to this process, in theory, the closeness of this match designates the absence or presence of disease.

    That psychiatric diagnoses are unusually socially responsive is by and large unavoidable. Our mental health is itself socially specific, so much so that some have argued that something as apparently universal as depression, for example, is actually an illness specific to western or even just anglophone cultures.

    Whether that hypothesis is true or not has no bearing on whether depression is in fact real. It only suggests what psychiatry intrinsically acknowledges already: that mental health has a critically significant social component.

    As the use of psychiatry for these punitive purposes makes clear, this necessary malleability lends itself to abuse. The radical psychiatrists of the 1970s certainly believed so when they re-examined the very notion of normal, exposing its role in policing society and enforcing categories of exclusion. It’s how homosexuality ended up as a diagnosable psychiatric illness in the 1952 edition of the DSM – a pathology built by and for the norms of the American mainstream.

    But it’s a malleability that can also lead to change in the opposite direction, where society – we, you and I – revisit and change these boundaries. Homosexuality was removed from the DSM in 1973, not because of any new scientific information, but because of a targeted gay rights activist campaign and, more indirectly, the slow shift over the intervening decades toward greater social inclusion.

    In his book, Santhouse reflects on where we are now in psychiatry, at a time when there is, to quote his clever title, “no more normal”. Though the definition of normal is always in a state of flux, ours is a moment of diagnostic surfeit, in which mental health clinicians have had to cede space to a superabundance of resources that allow us – even encourage us – to diagnose ourselves.

    And that makes this an interesting moment: one in which we explicitly see our vision of mental health being remapped onto the shifting politics of identity and inclusion that permeate now. Insofar as this forces us to reckon with the social aspects of our mental health in a more explicit way than we are used to, perhaps this is no bad thing.

    Caitjan Gainty has received funding from the Wellcome Trust.

    – ref. The dark side of psychiatry – how it has been used to control societies – https://theconversation.com/the-dark-side-of-psychiatry-how-it-has-been-used-to-control-societies-248493

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Commemorative activities for VE Day and VJ Day in Portsmouth

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    A series of activities and events will be held in Portsmouth to honour veterans and engage residents in commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 8 May 1945 and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day on 15 August 1945.

    These events, organised by Portsmouth City Council, aim to keep history alive and promote civic pride and historical awareness as the number of living WWII veterans decreases and help to ensure the city is a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive place in which to live, work, and visit.

     Commemoration activities:

    • Multi-faith service will be held on 4 May 2025, 11:00am at Governor’s Green, Portsmouth, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at sea to honour the sacrifices made during WWII.
    • Exhibition at Portsmouth History Centre, Central Library to feature local WWII images with interactive engagement and also temporary plaques on lampposts across the city.
    • Victory in 80 Objects, is an online exhibition created and led by the D-Day Story Museum, in national partnership with six leading military museums, showcasing 80 WWII victory-related objects and their stories.
    • WWII veterans’ interviews will be shared by The D Day Story Museum, providing a personal and poignant insight into the experiences of those who lived through the war.
    • VE Day event at The D Day Story will be held on 11 May to offer an immersive experience for visitors to learn about and celebrate VE Day, including re-enactments, activities, and military vehicle exhibitions.

    Leader of the council, with responsibility for culture, Cllr Steve Pitt said: “We’d like to invite all residents to join us in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day, and to take part in these activities. We’re proud to host events like these, to honour veterans, engage the community, and promote civic pride and historical awareness”.

    Residents are invited to contribute to the meaningful exhibition at Portsmouth History Centre by sharing their WWII and V-E Day photographs. You can take your photos to the Portsmouth History Centre at the Central Library for copying, or by emailing them to portsmouthhistorycentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. Your contributions will play a vital role in preserving and celebrating our shared history.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Wind and rain to increase in the capital

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Rain will intensify in the capital in the coming hours. It will continue until the end of the day, and strong gusts of wind are also possible.

    The city streets are staffed by teams and equipment from the State Unitary Enterprise Mosvodostok. Additionally, pumping equipment from road services and engineering companies is involved.

    Emergency teams from engineering companies and prefectures of administrative districts are on duty around the clock

    Residents are asked to be careful, not to take shelter under trees or park cars near them, and not to be near unstable structures.

    In an emergency, you must call emergency services on a single number: 112.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152059073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Catechist and martyr Peter To Rot will be Papua New Guinea’s first Saint

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 31 March 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Pope Francis has authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to publish the decree for the canonization of catechist and martyr Peter Tor Rot, who will thus become the first Saint from Papua New Guinea. The date will be set during the Consistory (still to be scheduled) announced by the Pope a month ago while he was being treated for bilateral pneumonia at Gemelli Hospital.The requests and prayers of the Church of Papua New Guinea, which asked the Pope a few months ago during his visit to Asia and Oceania to intervene in the canonization process of the catechist and martyr (see Fides, 6/9/2024), have been heard.Born in Rakunai in 1912, Peter belonged to the Tolai community, who live in the easternmost part of the island. The exact date of his birth and baptism is unknown, as the documents were confiscated by the Japanese police during World War II. What is certain is that he grew up in a large family and was primarily educated by his father, a village chief. After receiving his First Communion, probably between 1922 and 1926, he served as an altar boy, moved by a deep devotion to the Eucharist.From 1930, he attended Saint Paul’s Catechist Training College in Taluligap and returned to his village three years later to actively exercise his ministry as a catechist. He also devoted himself to works of charity, with a particular focus on the poor, the sick, and orphans. At the age of 23, he married Paula La Varpit and became the father of three children.At the outbreak of World War II, the Japanese occupied Papua New Guinea and imprisoned all missionaries, but this did not initially hinder his pastoral work. Peter To Rot made every effort not to abandon the Christian community, continuing his catechetical activities and preparing couples for the sacrament of marriage.When the occupiers forbade him from continuing his work, he carried it out secretly and with extreme caution so as not to endanger the lives of the faithful, knowing full well that this decision could cost him his life.During the occupation, he opposed the reintroduction of polygamy, which the Japanese had allowed to curry favor with the local tribes, and thus also turned against his older brother. The latter denounced him to the police, and for these reasons, he was arrested in 1945 and sentenced to two months in prison. During his imprisonment, he received only visits from his mother, his wife, and his children. He was treated more harshly than the other prisoners and died of poisoning in prison in July 1945.Peter To Rot was beatified by Saint John Paul II on January 17, 1995, in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.On March 18, 2024, the bishops of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands requested that the miracle be waived on the path to Peter To Rot’s canonization. At the same time, they noted that while there is ample evidence, it is very difficult to document the required miracle because there are few hospitals capable of providing the scientific documentation necessary to prove a supposed miraculous healing, and because the culture of the local population is largely based on oral communication, making it difficult to document any miracles in writing.In addition, up to 820 dialects are spoken in the State, so few people are able to write in correct, understandable English. For these reasons, the request was granted, and on March 22, 2024, the Dicastery was authorized to conduct the special process with a dispensation of miracles for the canonization of Peter To Rot.This is a process by which the Pope, after due examination, recognizes a cult that has already existed for some time, without waiting for the recognition of a miracle. It differs from formal beatifications and canonizations, for which the Church provides for a regular investigation and the corresponding miracle. Furthermore, the Pope can always make special decisions. Pope Francis did this in the case of John XXIII, who was canonized based on his decades-long worldwide reputation for holiness, without a second miracle being recognized. Benedict XVI also applied an extraordinary process with regard to John Paul II, whose canonization process was initiated a few weeks after his death, without waiting the required five years.As for To Rot, after his beatification, his reputation for holiness grew considerably and extended to all the dioceses of Papua New Guinea, as well as to the neighboring Solomon Islands and Australia. Hundreds of works about him have been published on behalf of churches, institutions, and groups associated with his memory.There are also many acts of grace attributed to his intercession, collected after his beatification, when his person became better known. His reputation for holiness is widespread today. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 31/3/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Dominican Father: now is the time for compassion, even towards enemies

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Archdiocese of Mandalay

    Mandalay (Agenzia Fides) – “We share the suffering and pain of so many affected individuals and families in this difficult and devastating time. May the Lord guide those who are working for the wounded. This is a time of compassion towards the people of Myanmar. We ask everyone to pray and help Myanmar,” Father Paul Win Aung Myint (OP), a Burmese Dominican from Myitkyina, who studied and lived for years in the Diocese of Mandalay, told Fides.”The earthquake has devastated Myanmar, especially the areas of Mandalay and Sagaing, and struck a country plagued by war, violence, and floods. It is a terrible blow. We believe the number of victims will continue to rise. And in many areas where there is no civil government, the situation is even more critical,” the religious said.The priest reports on the devastation in the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing, “the two most damaged cities with the highest number of victims.” “Relief programs have been launched, and people are doing their best,” he reports. “Sagaing,” he continues, “is 80 percent destroyed. People need water, food, and medicine. Local volunteers are busy evacuating people or reaching those still buried under the rubble to save lives. In Sagaing alone, there are already over 200 dead and thousands injured. Many churches in this city have been damaged. Parts of the Catholic Church of Mary Help of Christians in Sagaing collapsed, but fortunately not during the worship.”The church of St. Vincent de Paul, the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition and the pastoral center of the Dominican Fathers in the municipality of Sintgain, in the diocese of Mandalay, were also damaged. The Dominican religious are still in shock and, due to the aftershocks, they still have to stay outdoors for safety.Father Paul appreciates the international aid: “Rescuers and aid are arriving from many countries around the world. We see that international solidarity has been mobilized, and Caritas has also activated donations. We would like to thank all the countries, communities, organizations, and all the people who are helping: The suffering people in Myanmar are very grateful. We pray and entrust to God all the volunteers who are providing aid with great humanity and courage so that they can do their work and be safe.”Father Paul concludes with a spiritual reflection on the solidarity that can be found in Myanmar at this time, where “a seed of good can be seen in the heartbreaking situation on the ground”: “When a life needs to be saved, in an emergency situation, only that human life counts and nothing else. There is no longer an enemy. Even when natural disasters bring pain and death, in such emergency situations we see that hatred, hostility, and the exploitation of others take a back seat. Now it is about saving lives. We also see this in the volunteers who have volunteered to help. There are no factions or enemies, there is no politics, no war.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – Chinese Catholic communities participate in Jubilee pilgrimages and Lenten retreats to ask for the gift of communion

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – Pilgrimages, spiritual retreats, and prayers for the gift of communion and reconciliation characterized the liturgical celebrations of the Fourth Sunday of Lent, “Laetare Sunday” in many Catholic communities on the Chinese mainland.From March 24 to 28, priests and nuns from the Diocese of Hankou/Wuhan participated in a spiritual retreat focused on the spirituality of communion. The diocese’s Bishop, Francis Cui Qingqi, also participated in the retreat. Father Duan Yongkun, Vicar of the Diocese of Bamen, reminded participants of the importance of the Word of God, the Magisterium of the Church, and sacramental and pastoral life, which he described as the three “pillars” of ecclesial communion. Bishop Cui said that spirituality is the most important part of the diocesan educational program for both clergy and laity, as is the theme of communion. At the same time, Bishop Cui recalled the special responsibility of religious sisters and priests in proclaiming the Gospel.In Shanghai, priests and sisters, together with Bishop Joseph Shen Bin, visited the diocese’s Jubilee churches as “Pilgrims of Hope.” Bishop Shen Bin urged everyone to “pay greater attention to the growth of spiritual life and zeal for proclaiming the Gospel, and to accept the tasks entrusted to each one by the Lord.”A total of 150 Catholics from the Diocese of Hangzhou participated in a retreat on the theme of the Holy Year. Father Li Rongpin of the Jinde Charitable Foundation retraced the history of the Jubilees and suggested a missionary reading of the Papal Bull “Spes non confundit,” which proclaimed the current Jubilee.Bishop Antonio Yao Shun of the Diocese of Jining in Inner Mongolia presided over the spiritual rite for the priests of the Diocese of Xiamen from March 24 to 28. During the five-day retreat, all the priests prayed that Jesus would protect and revitalize their priestly vocation.The Diocese of Wenzhou, Xuzhou, and parishes in Jiangxi Province also held spiritual retreats on the fourth Sunday of Lent. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/CAMEROON – Bishops propose a code of conduct in view of the presidential election

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Yaoundé (Agenzia Fides) – “Integrity, humility, modesty, and moral leadership qualities.” These are the qualities that the bishops of Cameroon believe the ideal candidate for the upcoming presidential elections in October should possess.The pastoral Letter, presented at a press conference by Msgr. Paul Nyaga, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, also emphasizes that the future Head of State “must not use his power to enrich himself” and “must be able to travel throughout the country, visiting each region at least once during his term.” In this way, he will be able to “understand the needs and desires of the Cameroonian people.”In their pastoral Letter, the bishops recall that although “the electoral process in Cameroon is regulated by the Constitution and the 2012 Electoral Code, opposition parties and civil society in our country continue to criticize the electoral process for its lack of transparency, justice, and fairness.” “We ourselves have long emphasized the need for reform of the electoral system and campaign financing,” the bishops state.The bishops also point to problems that have already arisen in previous elections: “violence during campaigns; candidates who were not welcome in some constituencies; falsified electoral rolls; vote buying and selling.”To put an end to this situation, the bishops propose a “Code of electoral conduct,” “a set of rules and practices designed to contribute to creating favorable conditions for the organization of fair, free, credible, and transparent elections.” At the beginning of the year, the Cameroonian Episcopal Conference raised the alarm about the excessive tax burden, which places a heavy burden on citizens without providing adequate basic services from the state, such as roads or healthcare (see Fides, 15/1/2025).Cameroon has been governed since 1982 by President Paul Biya, who, born in 1933, is the oldest African Head of State. Biya, whose health caused some concern between September and October (see Fides, 16/10/2024 and 22/10/2024), has not yet announced whether he will run again in the next elections. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/MALAWI – Resignation and appointment of the bishop of Mzuzu

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 1 April 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the dicoese of Mzuzu, Malawi, presented by Bishop John Alphonsus Ryan, S.P.S., and has appointed Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda, until now auxiliary of the same see and titular of Catrum, as bishop of Mzuzu. (EG) (Agenza Fides, 1/4/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Priorities for the CAA within the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Priorities for the CAA within the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) sector

    Government’s expectations for how the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will prioritise work within the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) sector.

    Documents

    Priorities for the CAA within the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) sector

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    Details

    Letter from the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security and Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation to the Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The letter sets out expectations for how the CAA will prioritise growth in the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) sector.

    These expectations are within the work programme that the Department for Transport has agreed to grant to the CAA for 2025 to 2026.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar earthquake latest: entire communities flattened, aid teams say

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Humanitarian Aid

    As the death toll continues to rise in Myanmar after last Friday’s earthquake tragedy, UN humanitarians have been rushing to support severely deprived and traumatized victims, warning that the window for lifesaving response is closing.

    Speaking to journalists from Yangon on Tuesday, Julia Rees, Deputy Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the country described seeing massive needs rising by the hour, after a 7.7 magnitude quake.

    “Entire communities have been flattened,” she said, with children and families sleeping out in the open with no homes to return to.

    “I met children who were in shock after witnessing their homes collapsed or the death of a family member… some have been separated from their parents and others are unaccounted for,” she explained.

    Some 72 hours after the quake rocked Mandalay and Sagaing regions as well as Nay Pyi Taw and southern Shan state, the death toll has risen to around 2,000, according to the country’s military junta, with hundreds unaccounted for and thousands injured.

    “The window for lifesaving response is closing,” Ms. Rees said, while across the affected areas, families face acute shortages of clean water, food and medical supplies. But conditions remain extremely challenging as aid teams are working “without electricity or sanitation, sleeping outside, like the communities we serve”.

    International response

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that local search and rescue teams, supported by international rescue units from a number of countries including China, India, Russia, Thailand and Bangladesh, have been “intensifying their efforts” particularly in central Myanmar, which has continued to experience aftershocks.

    The UN’s top humanitarian official on the ground, Marcoluigi Corsi, freshly back from a visit to the country’s capital Nay Pyi Taw said that as the critical window for finding survivors under the rubble was narrowing, conditions in the affected areas continued to deteriorate.

    “You have no electricity, you have no running water,” he said, while people were battling the summer heat. “Often there are aftershocks and people are scared to go inside their homes,” he added.

    Hospitals overwhelmed

    Dr. Fernando Thushara, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Myanmar, said that in Nay Pyi Taw, he saw hospitals “overwhelmed with patients”.

    “The medical supplies were running dry. There were electricity disruptions in some hospitals… and shortages of running water,” he said, adding that in some cases power generators were not working and hospitals were short on fuel.

    Dr. Thushara warned that a lack of fresh water and sanitation could fuel outbreaks of infectious diseases “unless we control them very quickly”.

    He recalled that a few months back, several townships in Mandalay had been affected by cholera. About 800 cases of the water-borne disease had been reported until February across nine states and regions in Myanmar, while other infectious diseases such as dengue, hepatitis, malaria may spread further.

    The dire health situation is not the only crisis confronting the people of  Myanmar. UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Babar Baloch stressed that the country is “reeling” from four years of conflict sparked by a military coup in 2021, while the UN’s Mr. Corsi said that in the past few years it has suffered a cyclone and massive flooding.

    Mr. Baloch spoke of a “double tragedy” for the people of Myanmar, highlighting the fact that even before the devastating earthquake hit, all the affected areas already hosted 1.6 million displaced people.

    Mr. Corsi stressed that the disaster-affected communities’ resilience is now highly compromised. Close to 20 million people across the country were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the earthquake hit and over 15 million were going hungry. Over three months into the year, the UN’s $1.1 billion humanitarian appeal for Myanmar remains only five per cent funded. “This is time…for the world to step up and support the people of Myanmar,” he concluded.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Breaking AI to Make it Better: DASA’s investment in the future of AI assurance

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Breaking AI to Make it Better: DASA’s investment in the future of AI assurance

    Advai, an AI focussed SME, is leading the way in military and commercial AI safety.

    How DASA and Dstl funding helped Advai become an AI Safety Leader

    • DASA’s and Dstl’s investment helped Advai build the UK’s first dedicated AI assurance capability before the generative AI boom
    • Advai’s solutions range from physical patches that degrade AI computer visions systems, to a system which can automatically retrain AI models out in the field
    • Advai’s evolution saw them develop into a UK leader in military and commercial AI safety, influencing national policy and standards

    When AI assurance saves lives

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising modern life and with the boom of large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, its impact on defence and security is growing more each day. Yet as militaries worldwide rush to implement AI systems, an equally crucial challenge emerges: how to protect them.

    Understanding the challenge

    Advai’s CEO David Sully, who brought public sector experience to this critical challenge, explains:

    Everyone was talking about AI unlocking value, but nobody was asking what happens when AI goes wrong and why it does so.

    AI systems need rigorous examination to understand exactly when and how they might fail. This insight led to Advai’s simple but powerful mission: “We don’t make AI – we break it.”

    Advai’s early vision: Adversarial AI

    Beginning in 2020, DASA recognised the strategic importance of AI assurance and funded Advai through multiple innovative projects, starting with the development of Adversarial AI attack and defence methods for Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing (NLP).

    What exactly is Adversarial AI? Adversarial AI involves finding ways to make AI systems fail or produce incorrect outputs, essentially “breaking” AI to understand its vulnerabilities. Similar to testing safety equipment – before trusting it, you need to know exactly under what conditions it might fail.

    Advai’s initial projects aimed to develop methods of confusing AI while being undetected by humans. Such tools are invaluable for identifying weaknesses in any AI systems.

    Adversarial AI in defence: Physical patches

    Building on their expertise, Advai embarked on another project alongside the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to develop Physical Adversarial Patches to manipulate computer vision systems. This innovative technology uses printable patterns capable of disrupting AI recognition systems. David Sully explains:

    We can apply a filter so an object is labelled as something completely different, or disappear entirely. An automated AI-based drone might read a van as a tree or fail to detect a vehicle entirely.

    Advai are just completing a second phase of this work, directly with Dstl, to significantly advance the concept of adversarial patterns. Significantly, says Sully:

    We can create an adversarial texture on a ‘blackbox’ as well as ‘whitebox’ basis. Additionally, the textures can be optimised to be visually similar to existing patterns, avoiding the problem of creating visually-jarring patches.

    Ahead of the curve

    When generative AI and large language models exploded onto the scene in 2021, Advai was already deeply experienced in AI assurance and had a head start in understanding how these systems work. Their early work provided crucial insights that transferred directly to new challenges in language model security, Advai’s leadership notes:

    No one saw the generative AI explosion coming, but our focus on AI robustness gave us a huge advantage in understanding how to manage and assure these systems.

    Commercial impact

    From its defence origins, Advai has expanded to serve commercial customers needing to ensure their AI systems are trustworthy and secure. Some of their tools and achievements include:

    • Independent verification and benchmarking
    • Live monitoring systems for AI vulnerability detection
    • Automated stress testing procedures
    • Protection against private information extraction

    The company’s work has influenced national policy, and contributed to the Turing Institute’s framework for AI security, in-turn helping to raise political awareness about AI safety. Advai also acted as an examiner for the Defence Cyber Marvel 2024 competition, organised by the Army Cyber Association.

    The future of AI safety and DASA’s crucial role

    Today, Advai stands at the forefront of AI assurance, planning to strengthen their defence sector credibility while promoting a “safety-first, not safety-last” approach. Their roadmap includes greater commercialisation using their scalable platform. But this evolution comes with challenges. Advai CEA, David Sully emphasises:

    Most of the world’s leading AI research is happening in the private sector behind closed doors rather than in universities. For AI assurance to have a chance of keeping up, companies like Advai need support from stakeholders like DASA to help ensure the UK has a domestic capability in AI safety.

    Advai is a demonstration of what is achievable by DASA. We have created a genuinely world-leading AI company, working across UK defence and security. As we expand, Advai is increasingly enabling and protecting critical commercial companies. Our ambition is for Advai to be the biggest player in AI Assurance, generating the most advanced IP and technology as a sovereign UK entity, all of which can be traced back to this initial funding and support.

    Advai’s adversarial AI expertise was highlighted when they demonstrated their technology to Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey and Chancellor, Rachel Reeves during a visit to Wellington Barracks, Westminster on 26 March 2025.

    The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey (left), Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin (centre) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (right), visit Wellington Barracks in London.

    The road ahead

    As AI technology continues to evolve, so do its potential vulnerabilities. The problems and adversaries keep changing, requiring AI safety to evolve just as quickly. Advai’s journey from research to commercial success demonstrates how early government investment in critical technologies can create lasting national capabilities. Their story shows that in the race to develop artificial intelligence, ensuring its trustworthiness and security is just as important as advancing its capabilities. Sully concludes:

    The world is still coming to terms with generative AI and LLMs, let alone generative AI assurance. But thanks to DASA’s early vision, we’re ready to meet these challenges and ensure that as AI becomes more powerful, it also becomes more trustworthy.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale offer to purchase certain of its debt securities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOCIETE GENERALE OFFER TO PURCHASE CERTAIN OF ITS DEBT SECURITIES

    Press release

    Paris, April 1, 2025

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE OR TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

    Societe Generale announces today the launch of an offer to purchase for cash (the “Offer”) any and all of its outstanding Undated Deeply Subordinated Resettable Interest Rate Notes (the “Notes”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated April 1, 2025 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related notice of guaranteed delivery.

    The following table sets forth the Notes subject to the Offer and the key economic terms of the Offer:

    CUSIP No. ISIN Title of Security Principal Amount Outstanding Amount to be Accepted Tender Offer Consideration
    83368J FA3 F43628 B41 US83368JFA34 USF43628B413 Undated Deeply Subordinated Resettable Interest Rate Notes (the “Notes”) $1,250,000,000 Any and all $1,007 (1)

     (1)   The amount to be paid for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase, excluding accrued and unpaid interest.

    The Offer will commence on April 1, 2025 and will expire at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on April 7, 2025 unless it is extended or terminated by Societe Generale. The expected guaranteed delivery date is 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on April 9, 2025. The deadlines set by any intermediary may be earlier than the above deadline.

    Consideration for Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer is $1,007 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. In addition, Societe Generale will pay all accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer up to, but not including, the settlement date.

    The purpose of the Offer is to efficiently manage Societe Generale’s regulatory capital while providing liquidity to Holders.

    The Notes are governed by English law, which, following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, has become a third country law. Because the Notes do not include a contractual recognition of bail-in clause, the Notes will cease to qualify as Additional Tier 1 on June 28, 2025.

    If any Notes remain outstanding after the consummation of the Offer, Societe Generale intends to consider future optional redemption rights in respect of the Notes in accordance with their terms and conditions, including pursuant to condition 8.3 “Redemption upon the occurrence of a Capital Event” for which it has received the European Central Bank’s permission. Any future decision by Societe Generale to redeem the Notes then outstanding will be made on an economic basis, considering current and future regulatory value, relative funding cost, rating agency considerations, and having regard to the prevailing circumstances at the relevant time.

    With respect to the other notes issued by Societe Generale and governed by English law listed below, which will cease to qualify as Tier 2 on June 28, 2025, Societe Generale intends to consider future optional redemption rights in accordance with their terms and conditions, including pursuant to condition 7.2 “Redemption upon the occurrence of a Capital Event” and condition 6(c) “Redemption upon the occurrence of a Capital Event with respect to Subordinated Notes”, as the case may be:

    • USD 1,000,000,000 Subordinated 4.750% Notes due November 24, 2025 (144A ISIN: US83367TBR95, RegS ISIN: USF8586CBS01)
    • AUD 150,000,000 4.875% Subordinated Tier 2 Notes due October 13, 2026 (ISIN: XS1503159219)
    • EUR 70,000,000 fixed rate resettable callable Subordinated Tier 2 Notes due October 21, 2026 (ISIN: XS1308623658)

    Societe Generale and SG Americas Securities, LLC are acting as Dealer Managers for the Offer, and D.F. King Ltd. is acting as Tender and Information Agent. For detailed terms of the Offer, please refer to the Offer to Purchase which, subject to offer and distribution restrictions, can be obtained from the Dealer Managers and the Tender and Information Agent. Questions regarding the Offer may be directed to the Dealer Managers and the Tender and Information Agent at the contact details set forth below:

    D.F. King Ltd.
    Email: SGCIB@dfkingltd.com
    Offer Website: https://clients.dfkingltd.com/sgcib

    In New York

    48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
    New York, New York 10005
    United States of America

    Banks and Brokers, Call Collect: (212) 269 5550

    All others, Call Toll-Free: (800) 848-2998

    		 In London

    51 Lime Street
    London EC3M 7DQ
    United Kingdom

    Tel: +44 20 7920 9700

    		  
    Societe Generale

    17, cours Valmy

    BP 18236

    92987 Paris la Défense Cedex

    France

    Tel: +33 (0)1 42 13 32 40

    Email: liability.management@sgcib.com

    		 SG Americas Securities, LLC

    245 Park Avenue

    New York, New York 10167

    United States

    Tel: + 1 (212) 278-7631

    Toll-Free: 1 (855) 881 2108

    Press contacts:
    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com

    Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the document’s legitimacy directly on the web page.

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements can be understood through words and expressions like “will,” “expect,” “project,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “probability,” “risk,” “target,” “goal,” “objective,” “estimate,” “future,” “commitment,” “commit,” “focus,” “pledge” and similar expressions. They include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the conduct and completion of the Offers. However, risks, uncertainties and other important factors may lead to developments and results that differ materially from those anticipated, expected, projected or assumed in forward-looking statements, including those discussed in the Offer to Purchase under the heading “Risk Factors” and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into the Offer to Purchase. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release, and Societe Generale undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, regardless of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

    Offer Restrictions
    This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes, and tenders of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offer will not be accepted from Holders in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful, including under applicable securities or “blue sky” laws.

    United Kingdom
    The communication of the press release and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. This electronic transmission is made only to, or directed only at (1) those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), (2) those persons falling within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order, including existing members and creditors of the Societe Generale, or (3) any other persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully made under the Financial Promotion Order (together being referred to as “relevant persons”), and must not be acted on or relied upon by persons other than relevant persons. Any investment activity referred to in this communication is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

    Republic of Italy
    None of the Offer, this press release or any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB) pursuant to Italian laws and regulations and therefore the Offer may only be made or promoted, directly or indirectly, in or into the Republic of Italy as exempted Offer pursuant to Article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of Legislative Decree no. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended (the “Financial Services Act”) and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended.
    Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are resident and/or located in the Republic of Italy can tender Notes for purchase in the Offer through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB, the Bank of Italy or any other Italian authority.
    Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-à-vis its clients in connection with the Notes or Societe Generale or this press release or any other documents or materials relating to the Offer.

    European Economic Area
    This press release does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, as amended (the “Prospectus Regulation”) and has not been approved, filed or reviewed by the Commission de surveillance du secteur financier (“CSSF”) in Luxembourg, nor has the CSSF issued any report regarding the accuracy or adequacy of this press release.
    In any European Economic Area Member State (each, a “Relevant State”), this press release is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Relevant State within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.
    This press release has been prepared on the basis that the Offer in any Relevant State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus.
    Each person in a Relevant State who receives any communication in respect of the Offer contemplated in this press release will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with each Dealer Manager and Societe Generale that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: François-Louis Michaud’s term as EBA Executive Director renewed by the Board of Supervisors

    Source: European Banking Authority

    On 25 March 2025, the Board of Supervisors of the European Banking Authority (EBA) renewed the mandate of François-Louis Michaud as EBA’s Executive Director for a second five-year term, until end-August 2030. The decision was based on the evaluation of his work during his first term of office, as well as on the Authority’s duties and requirements over the next five years.

    Jose Manuel Campa, the Chairperson of the EBA, stated:

    “I would like to congratulate François-Louis on this extension which is the result of an impressive first mandate where he ensured that the EBA was able to deliver consistently on its work programme whilst driving the EBA transformation into a modern organisation, ready to face its future challenges. I am convinced that François-Louis will continue to lead the EBA with the commitment, dedication and vision he has shown in the last four years and a half.”

    François-Louis Michaud stated:

    “I am honoured by the continued trust from EBA’s Board of Supervisors. I look forward to building upon recent years’ efforts to enhance our organisation so that it can tackle its evolving responsibilities and promote efficient and effective regulation and risk assessments.”

    Note to the Editors

    The Executive Director is in charge of the management of the EBA. He is responsible for preparing and implementing its work programme and budget, and manages staff matters.

    François-Louis Michaud previously held senior positions at the European Central Bank, the Bank for International Settlements and Banque de France. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ensuring a child-centred approach to protect and support child victims of human trafficking focus of ODIHR’s survivor-led event

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Ensuring a child-centred approach to protect and support child victims of human trafficking focus of ODIHR’s survivor-led event

    Ensuring a child-centred approach to protect and support child victims of human trafficking focus of ODIHR’s survivor-led event | OSCE
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    Home Newsroom News and press releases Ensuring a child-centred approach to protect and support child victims of human trafficking focus of ODIHR’s survivor-led event

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Discrimination appointed

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Discrimination appointed

    HELSINKI, 1 April 2025 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen has appointed Wolfgang Palaver as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Discrimination.
    Representative Wolfgang Palaver (Austria) will focus on combating Rasism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions. In this role, he will follow Regina Polak, who stepped aside in February 2025.
    In addition to Palaver, the other Personal Representatives on Combating Discrimination are Andrew Baker (Anti-Semitism) and Evren Dağdelen Akgün (Discrimination against Muslims).
    Read more about Special Representatives of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office: Chairperson-in-Office Representatives | OSCE

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: High Sheriff awards held in Stoke-on-Trent to honour city’s Centenary

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 1st April 2025

    The High Sheriff’s awards – recognising acts of bravery, courage and selflessness – were held in Stoke-on-Trent this year to help put the spotlight on the city during its Centenary year.

    Thirty-seven extraordinary individuals and organisations from across Staffordshire received an award last week (Thursday, March 27) from the High Sheriff of Staffordshire, Julia Mitchell.  

    Award recipients included the Fenton Doers – co-ordinated by the city’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Lyn Sharpe. The Doers plan events, organise transport for people who are unable to get to the hospital, decorate the town’s Albert Square and more.  

    Other organisations based in Stoke-on-Trent, included: 

    Award winners and their guests also met Sir Ian Dudson, the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire.  

    Mrs Mitchell said: “It’s been a memorable year. I’ve been profoundly impressed by the extraordinary people I’ve been privileged to meet across Staffordshire.    

    “So many individuals, volunteers and organisations have gone way above and beyond in the course of their duties. I wish to recognise what they do, and applaud those achievements with honour.   

    “Staffordshire is a county where so many people show compassion, kindness, and goodwill from the heart. They are the genuine unsung heroes who go about their volunteering and occupations throughout the year for the good of our communities. 

    This event was a chance to show them how we appreciate what they do for us. 

    “And to host the Awards Ceremony in Stoke-on-Trent’s magnificent Jubilee Hall has added even greater sparkle, as we celebrate our City’s glorious Centenary.” 

    The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe said: “We were absolutely delighted that the High Sheriff chose to hold these awards in Stoke-on-Trent during our milestone 100th anniversary year. As Lord Mayor of this incredible city, I couldn’t be prouder. Having lived here all my life, I truly love Stoke-on-Trent, and it’s fantastic to see us showcasing what makes our community so special. 

    “These awards celebrate the individuals and organisations that make our city and the county of Staffordshire such a wonderful place to live, work, and visit.” 

    “Of course, it’s an honour for the Fenton Doers to be recognised for our work. If it needs doing in Fenton, we get it done. It’s also fantastic to see Emmaus North Staffs – one of my chosen charities – and all the other outstanding people and organisations recognised for the brilliant work they do across the city and county. These awards truly shine a light on the very best of Staffordshire.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Import of certain products from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany suspended01 April 2025 The States Veterinary Officer has suspended the import of certain products from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Germany, following outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease. Fresh meat, dairy… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    01 April 2025

    The States Veterinary Officer has suspended the import of certain products from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Germany, following outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease.

    Fresh meat, dairy products, animal-by products, and live susceptible animals from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, or the ‘Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) restricted zones​’ in Germany must not be imported into Jersey. 

    Reminder ahead of the Easter Holidays: 

    Individuals can only bring certain products of susceptible animals from the EU (excluding Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Germany), EFTA states, the Faroe Islands and Greenland into Jersey for personal consumption. 

    Products* brought in from these countries must: 

    • have been produced and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh no more than 2kg per person
    • bear an identification or health mark, or commercial labelling if it is an animal by-product, to evidence it is commercially produced. 

    *This applies to fresh meat, meat products, milk, milk products, and animal by products of susceptible species. 

    Individuals must not bring any of the listed products from Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia into Jersey for personal consumption, including commercially produced and packaged. 

    For more info, visit: Gov.je

    The States Veterinary Officer, Susana Ramos, said: “The suspension aims to protect the Island’s livestock, following the reported outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in livestock in Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. There are no known cases in Jersey. “Islanders are to be reassured that Foot and Mouth Disease is not a risk to humans. However, it is a severe contagious viral disease in livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs -those with a cloven-hoof. 

    “The Animal Health and Welfare team continue to monitor the situation to determine whether any further restrictions will be necessary.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Installation of Covid Memorial art trail gets underway

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Work is now underway on the creation of a Covid memorial art trail in the Wardie Bay area of Edinburgh, designed to honour the experiences and resilience of the local community during the pandemic.

    The art trail along McKelvie Parade is intended to arouse curiosity and invite those using the space to pause and be present.

    The project, funded entirely by the Scottish Government and Greenspace Scotland through the Remembering Together initiative, is part of a national effort to reflect the diverse impacts of Covid across Scotland’s 32 local authorities. Across Scotland, local communities have engaged with commissioned artists and creative organisations to develop unique memorials that capture the collective and individual experiences of the pandemic.

    For Edinburgh, Greenspace Scotland has been working in collaboration with artist Skye Loneragan, supported by Artlink and the City of Edinburgh Council. The project has explored experiences of the pandemic, with the goal of highlighting the challenges faced by disabled people, while also celebrating their resilience and potential.

    Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said:

    Creating this Covid memorial pathway in Wardie Bay is an important step in acknowledging the shared experiences and challenges faced by our communities during the pandemic. This project provides a meaningful space for reflection for us all, and particularly for individuals with learning disabilities and their carers, who were disproportionately affected. Through collaboration with local artists and community groups, we are ensuring that these voices are not only heard but commemorated. This pathway will stand as a testament to the resilience, compassion, and strength shown by all during those difficult times.

    During Phase 1 of the project Skye, supported by artist Stewart Ennis collaborated with participants from the Maple Project and Lung Ha Theatre and reached out to the wider community through public interventions on the Granton Western Breakwater (Wardie Jetty). Participants were invited to share their memories, thoughts, and feelings about the pandemic and to develop ideas around how we process loss and create spaces for people to come together and reflect.

    The creative process focused on making sure the final art trail design was relevant, inclusive, and reflective of the varied experiences of the community. Concepts that emerged during the engagement phase include themes such as “getting away from it all but having somewhere to come back to,” “the tidal flow of the pandemic,” and “making hard things soft and rough things smooth.”

    The art trail at McKelvie Parade is a combination of several interventions along the route that arouse curiosity and invite those using the space to pause and be present. Art pieces have been created to reflect the tidal flow of the pandemic and include Leith West breakwater stones inscribed with words people told artists they would gift themselves if there were another pandemic (cash, giggles, music). The trail is book-ended by halved stone boulders placed apart and includes a smoothed patch of stone seawall with the invitation ‘Lean on me’, poetry at the entrance to the Bay, a Someone Missing bench co-created with a wheelchair user who described feeling held if there were grooves in the pavement, and a Something Missing Half with 2m distanced Stone seed. The trail includes twin milestone plaques that describe Time as a Feeling, and Distance as a relationship to friends and family.

    Lead artist Skye Loneragan said:

    Processing loss is so important. Covid often kept us (and still keeps many of us), at a distance with those we loved and might have been losing, or parts of ourselves we lost, or something and somewhere we love and might be unable to reach. This project deliberately seeks to work with people whose experiences are often excluded and I am always interested in how we can nurture our collective sanity, together, our interconnected well-being, through the huge diversity of life experiences that make up what is.

    Construction is expected to be complete by Friday 4 April.
     
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free and low-cost family fun in Leicester this Easter!

    Source: City of Leicester

    THERE’S lots going on in Leicester during the school holidays this Easter that’s completely free for children and families to enjoy.

    As well as sessions to make Easter cards and spring bonnets at the city’s libraries, this year there’s an opportunity for youngsters to take part in something truly unique.

    Celebrated visual artist Olivier Grossetête will be creating an enormous cardboard reconstruction of the entrance to Leicester’s Roman forum for the city’s Old Town Festival – but he needs local families to help him build it.

    From Easter Monday (21 April) until Friday 25 April, the artist will lead a series of free workshops at the Highcross shopping centre, where those aged nine and over will be able to help him make the arches, balconies and roofs required for the giant structure.

    People of any age are then invited to drop in to Jubilee Square on Saturday 26 April to help the artist tape the cardboard sections together – returning on Sunday 27 April to take part in the artwork’s dramatic dismantling.

    Those wishing to help create something special for Leicester and take part in the pre-construction workshops should email festivals@leicester.gov.uk to reserve their free space.

    The Old Town Festival itself (26-27 April) will incorporate traditions to mark St George’s Day, including a fire-breathing dragon and a gallant knight, as well as a celebration of the city’s fascinating Roman heritage, with Olivier Grossetête’s spectacular cardboard archway at its heart.

    Taking place on Jubilee Square and sites within the city’s Old Town, the free festival will feature a living history Roman camp, an artisan craft market, hands-on archaeology and themed storytelling.

    There will also be face-painting and a dressing-up booth for young festival-goers, while a fearsome dragon will be on the loose in Cathedral Gardens, alongside stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards and a trio of clumsy knights.

    The Haymarket shopping centre will be going Roman too, with lots of free activities taking place in the Easter holidays – including a free family event on Thursday 24 April that will feature a walkabout dragon, mosaics and toga-making.

    And there’s a Roman theme for a free guided bike ride on Sunday 20 April, with Leicester’s Roman heritage brought to life by Hidden Histories’ Jim Butler. Places must be booked at letsride.co.uk/rides and children under 16 must wear a helmet and be accompanied by an adult.

    On Saturday 26 April, the whole family is invited to join the Old Town Festival’s Roman Bike Parade – an easy circular ride that starts at the Town Hall Bike Park at 12 noon. Book your place on the parade at letsride.co.uk/rides

    Away from the Romans, there’s plenty of holiday fun for young children to enjoy during the school break.

    There are free creative activities at venues across the Cultural Quarter on Saturday 12 April, including the chance to perform at Curve, make a movie at the LCB Depot or have a go at printmaking at the Leicester Print Workshop. Suitable for those aged 10 and under, CQ Earlies runs between 12 noon and 4pm.

    The Kingfisher Youth & Community Centre on the Saffron estate is hosting a Safer Saffron Community Day on Monday 14 April, with everyone welcome to join free activities including sport, music and games between 12 noon and 4pm.

    Booking is required at a free event at Braunstone library on Monday 14 April, when youngsters will be able to decorate wooden eggs, bunnies and Easter bonnets. The same day, there’s a drop-in session to make bunny hats and Easter wreaths at Beaumont Leys library from 2pm-3.30pm.

    On Tuesday 15 April, there are Easter crafts at both Evington and Highfields libraries (booking required), there’s Easter fun at Knighton and Braunstone libraries (booking required), while Belgrave library invites those aged seven and over to use their STEM skills in a free Gangsta Granny activity (booking required).

    At Newarke Houses Museum, also on Tuesday 15 April, youngsters can make their own bunny mask and follow the Easter trail. Tickets for the Easter Eggstravaganza are £4 when booked online (£5 on the door).

    The following day – Wednesday 16 April – there’s an Easter Fun Day at the Guildhall, with arts and crafts and the chance to make a hatching chick and a mini Easter basket. Tickets are £4 when booked online (£5 on the door).

    Belgrave Hall hosts its Hoppy Easter event on Thursday 17 April, with bunny races on the lawn, face painting and lots of garden games. Tickets are £4 per child when booked online (£5 on the door).

    Railway enthusiasts will be able to hop on board the train at Abbey Pumping Station on Tuesday 22 April, with a special Easter Holiday Railway Day. Rides on the pumping station’s narrow gauge railway are just 50p and the fun runs from 11.30am to 4pm.

    There’s the chance to play with clay at Belgrave Hall on Wednesday 23 April, while the Guildhall hosts its Arty Play Fun Day on Thursday 24 April, when children will be able to create a fun design on a t-shirt brought from home. For both events, tickets cost £4 per child when booked online (£5 on the door).

    More ideas for free and low-cost fun in Leicester during the Easter holidays can be found at families.leicester.gov.uk/Easter-fun

     

    ends

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Academic Council discussed the development of the corporate information system and the tasks of the Office of Technological Leadership

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The meeting of the Academic Council on the last day of March traditionally began with a formal part.

    Rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy awarded the “For Merit” badge of distinction to the CEO of the BuildHouse company, a 1988 graduate of the metallurgical faculty, Alexey Evstratov, noting his contribution to strengthening the university’s image, forming and replenishing the target capital of the Endowment Fund, promoting the development of the Polytechnic Museum, and involving graduates in university events and charity events.

    Andrey Rudskoy also presented the “For Merit” badges to Mikhail Volkov, Deputy General Director of the Zvezda plant for general issues; Dmitry Sachava, Head of the Advanced Technologies Marketing Department of the Computer Engineering Center; Dmitry Shamansky, Leading Specialist of the Advanced Technologies Marketing Department of the Computer Engineering Center; Nina Suratova, Head of the Scientific Literature Department and Curator of the University’s Information and Library Complex; and Natalia Sokolova, Director of the Information and Library Technologies Center.

    Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation, 1978 Physics and Mechanics Faculty graduate Alexey Borovkov was awarded a commemorative medal and gratitude from the university for facilitating the development of the Endowment Fund.

    For her great personal contribution to the development of the Endowment Fund and the Polytechnic Ambassadors’ Community and in connection with the anniversary, the university’s gratitude was received by the executive director of the fund, associate professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering and the Higher Engineering and Economics School of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, and a 1992 graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Production Management, Olga Novikova.

    The ceremonial part continued with the presentation of diplomas for conferring scientific degrees. Aleksey Chechevikin received a diploma of candidate of technical sciences. Diplomas of candidates of economic sciences were received by employees and postgraduate students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade: Ekaterina Mikhel (scientific supervisor – Professor Andrey Zaytsev); Victoria Brazovskaya (scientific supervisor – associate professor Svetlana Gutman); Daria Kryzhko (scientific supervisor – Professor Irina Rudskaya); Chen Leifei (scientific supervisor – Professor Alexander Babkin); Ivan Samokhvalov (scientific supervisor – Professor Vladimir Glukhov); Vitaly Nikolaenko (scientific supervisor – Professor Olga Kalinina); Vyacheslav Melekhin (scientific supervisor – Professor Mikhail Afanasyev).

    Andrey Rudskoy presented certificates of conferring the academic title of “professor” to Elena Aleksandrova, chief research fellow at the Higher School of Cybersecurity, and Olga Vlasova, director of the Scientific and Educational Center “Fundamentals of Medical and Biomedical Technologies”.

    Certificates for conferring the academic title of associate professor were received by: Maria Bortkovskaya, Konstantin Greshnevikov, Mikhail Enuchenko, Alexey Kultyshev, Anatoly Novik, Irina Ptukhina, Sergey Rozov, Nina Rumyantseva and Dmitry Sharapov.

    SPbPU Academic Secretary Dmitry Karpov announced that by order of the President of the Russian Federation, employees of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” under the leadership of Alexey Borovkov were awarded a scholarship from the Defense Industry Complex for scientists, designers, technologists and other engineering and technical workers of organizations implementing the state defense order in 2024.

    Another achievement of the SPbPU PISh is the resolution of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences dated June 25, 2024, based on the results of the competitive selection among student works in the field of “Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics and Control Processes” to a master’s student of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Lilia Nezhinskaya awarded the medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a prize for young scientists. Lilia’s scientific supervisor is Alexey Borovkov.

    A letter of thanks from the Ministry of Education and Science for their contribution to the development of practice-oriented education in the Russian Federation within the framework of the Service Learning program was presented to Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov and Director of the Humanities Institute Natalia Chicherina.

    Victor Dashonok, Academic Program Development Specialist for the RISC-V Alliance, presented letters of gratitude for organizing and conducting the course “RISC-V Ecosystem: Development and System Programming” to Vera Loboda, Director of the Higher School of Electronics and Microsystems Engineering, Associate Professor Mikhail Enuchenko, Associate Professor Dmitry Budanov, as well as Pavel Drobintsev, Director of the Higher School of Software Engineering, and Assistant Nadezhda Stepina.

    Several Polytechnic University employees were awarded SPbPU honorary certificates. Head of the Department for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs Natalia Leontyeva was recognized for high professional achievements and effective work, and Chief Specialist of the Quality Control Department Igor Sechin was recognized for many years of work and high professionalism.

    Leading Manager of the Protocol and Organizational Service Anastasia Kedo, leading specialist Galina Kolmykova and specialist Maria Pagurskaya were awarded for their active participation in the implementation of particularly important projects and the holding of events at a high professional level that enhance the image of the university.

    Polytechnic athletes were also awarded honors.

    Coaches of the Student Sports Club “Black Bears-Polytech” Stepan Verbitsky, Evgeny Chupalov and Anatoly Dimitropulo, as well as students Dmitry Gultyaev, Pavel Timofeev and Petr Shlokkin presented the Polytech team, which brought from the XI tournament of the Association of Football Federations “North-West” among youth teams named after Anatoly Turchak first place cup and gold medals.

    On March 16, the Polytechnicians performed brilliantly at the Saint Petersburg University Dance Sport Championship. The university’s honor was defended by the pairs Anastasia Nazarova and Arseniy Bauman (1st place), Stefania Aldoshina and Gleb Gusev (1st place), Sofia Gordeeva and Arseniy Afonin (2nd and 3rd places). The team’s coach is Askar Isabaev.

    Students Kamilla Khakimova, Grigory Gavrilash and Maxim Telepanov took second place at the Saint Petersburg Student Sambo Competition. Coach: Grigory Galkin.

    After the congratulatory part, the members of the Academic Council moved on to the agenda of the meeting. Vice-Rector for Information Technology Andrey Lyamin spoke about the development of the university’s corporate information system.

    “The strategic goal of developing information technologies at the university is to strengthen the university’s position in the field of science, education and innovation by creating a global digital scientific and educational ecosystem, as well as dynamic and sustainable development to ensure Russia’s technological leadership,” noted Andrey Lyamin. “Information technologies at the university are developing in several directions: information infrastructure and information security, corporate and accounting information systems, portals and web resources.”

    Andrey Vladimirovich covered each area in detail, provided statistical and analytical data. He noted that special attention is paid at SPbPU to building a unified user support service (caliper@spbst.ru), in 2024, 9,685 requests were received there, user satisfaction was 4.9 out of 5. Andrei Vladimirovich also reported that a set of measures carried out by SPbPU to work with its own web portals brought the Polytechnic website tofirst place in the February ranking of media activity of Russian universities.

    The Academic Council meeting discussed personnel changes at the university. On April 1, Maria Vrublevskaya assumed the post of Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy, and Oleg Rozhdestvensky headed the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership. Oleg Igorevich presented a report to the members of the Academic Council on the tasks of the new structural unit. He recalled that on October 29, 2024, a strategic session was held under the chairmanship of the head of the Russian government Mikhail Mishustin on the development of educational organizations that provide training for engineering personnel and scientific developments for technological leadership. Based on its results, 40 universities were to formulate development strategies until 2030–2036. SPbPU developed such a strategy, and on its basis, the University Development Program was created at the beginning of 2025, which Polytechnic successfully defended. Within the framework of this program, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Office of Technological Leadership is being created.

    Oleg Rozhdestvensky spoke in detail about the management structure for the implementation of the SPbPU Development Program and answered questions.

    The members of the Academic Council also voted to award the academic title of associate professor to representatives of the Humanities Institute: Darina Barinova, Juntao Wang, Elena Krylova and Evgenia Tsimerman.

    Scientific Secretary Dmitry Karpov reported on monitoring the implementation of the decisions of the Academic Council.

    Among the current issues discussed at the meeting were the approval of tuition fees for the 2025/2026 academic year for different categories of citizens; approval of chief designers of key scientific and technological areas; the results of the 2024 competition of educational and scientific publications; prevention of offenses and the prevention of illegal actions among young people; the introduction of a working program for the education of students and the implementation of youth policy, etc. The meeting also approved the new corporate style of the university.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Christine Lagarde: The transformative power of AI

    Source: European Central Bank

    Welcome address by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at the ECB conference on “The transformative power of AI: economic implications and challenges” in Frankfurt, Germany.

    Frankfurt, 1 April 2025

    It is a pleasure to welcome you to our conference on the transformative power of AI.

    In the early stages of a new technological breakthrough, it is often hard to discern fact from fiction. We struggle to imagine the ways in which the new technology will be used. And even if we predict the direction of technological change correctly, we rarely get the timeline or the size of the impacts right.

    Today, we sometimes hear claims that AI is improving so fast that we are only a few years away from the nature of work being radically reformed. But we also hear arguments that the same barriers that slowed down the adoption of all past technologies will also delay AI adoption.

    I cannot claim to know which vision will prove to be correct. But the early evidence is promising and, in my view, we must act on the basis that we are facing an economic revolution. This attitude will be particularly important here in Europe.

    On this side of the Atlantic, we are still paying the price for having been too slow to capitalise on the last major digital revolution, the internet. The tech sector explains around two-thirds of the productivity gap between the EU and the United States since the turn of the century.

    And now we are faced with a technology that can improve its own performance through self-learning mechanisms and feedback loops, enabling even more rapid advances and innovations. The risks of underestimating the potential of AI, and falling behind again, are simply too great to be ignored.

    What’s more, we are facing a new geopolitical environment in which we can no longer be sure that we will have frictionless access to new technologies developed overseas. This new reality strengthens the case for Europe to establish itself at the technological frontier.

    There are two main areas where we should expect, and prepare for, major changes in the economy.

    The first is productivity.

    We can already see the productivity effects of AI in sectors like the US tech sector, where output is expanding while employment is falling.[1] But we are still in the early phase of the “productivity J-curve”, where new technologies diffuse to the wider economy and are reflected in GDP.

    As such, estimates about the productivity gains of AI vary widely – but even at the lower end they would be a game changer for Europe.

    One widely accepted methodology estimates that the euro area could see a boost to total factor productivity (TFP) of around 0.3 percentage points per year over the next ten years.[2] Compare that with the past decade, when annual TFP growth averaged just 0.5%.

    Other estimates point to much larger gains, with productivity expected to grow 1.5 percentage points faster annually if AI is widely adopted over the next decade.[3]

    Whether Europe can achieve such productivity gains will depend on whether we can improve the environment for AI innovation and diffusion.

    This comes down to funding, regulation and energy.

    As I have been arguing for some time, Europe’s relatively small venture capital ecosystem is a major hindrance to building foundational models in the EU.[4] Between 2018 and 2023, around €33 billion was invested in AI companies in the EU, compared with more than €120 billion in their US peers.[5]

    Building and developing this technology also requires considerable investment in data centres, and the EU currently has around 4 times fewer dedicated sites than the US.[6]

    At the same time, ECB research finds that regulation and a lack of institutional quality are particularly detrimental to the expansion of high-tech sectors relative to more mature technologies. Investing in radical technologies is highly risky and needs a different set of framework conditions.[7]

    The adoption of AI, for example, depends on access to data pools to train models, which requires smart regulation to avoid data fragmentation while ensuring data protection. It also requires good institutions as, for instance, effective legal systems are needed to defend a non-patentable asset like a set of AI prompts.

    Our research shows that if the EU’s average institutional delivery were raised to the level of best practice, AI-intensive sectors would see their share in investment rise by more than 10 percentage points.[8]

    Finally, unless we see major breakthroughs in efficiency, Europe’s energy supply constraints could pose a challenge to the diffusion of AI through the economy in the future.

    The power consumption of data centres is expected to triple in Europe by the end of the decade.[9] AI training and inference is extremely energy-intensive.[10] And this surge in demand comes at a time when the green transition is also increasing the demand for electricity, for example for charging battery electric vehicles.

    There is now a clear policy agenda in Europe to address these barriers. It is widely recognised that we need to build a savings and investment union to jump-start European venture capital, that we must simplify complex digital regulations and improve permitting speeds, and that we have to massively increase investment in data centres, fibre-optic networks and electricity grids.

    But for Europe to make the most of the AI revolution, how the productivity gains from AI are harnessed also matters. Labour productivity can be increased either by reducing labour inputs relative to outputs, or by raising outputs relative to inputs. The employment implications of each route are vastly different.

    This brings me to the second area of major change: the effect of AI on labour markets.

    According to ECB research, between 23% and 29% of workers in Europe are highly exposed to AI.[11] This does not necessarily herald a “job apocalypse”. It is reasonable to expect that AI will follow historical patterns by displacing some jobs while creating new one.[12]

    But there are two new questions that this technology poses.

    First, will the pace of technological change be faster than in previous transitions? This question is critical for Europe, as our social model and traditionally high levels of job protection make it hard to see how a transition that leads to massive job reallocations could avoid a major backlash.

    The key factor will be whether AI leans more towards job displacement via its “automation potential”, or towards changes in the nature of work via its “augmentation potential”. In the augmentation scenario, workers will still need to adapt to changing roles and tasks, but the transition will likely be easier.

    Recent research by the ILO finds that only a small share of jobs – around 5% in advanced economies – meet the criteria for high automation. But a much larger share – over 13% – meet the criteria for high augmentation.[13]

    The second question is about the distribution of gains.

    Early studies suggested that AI could increase the productivity of lower-skilled workers the most.[14] But newer studies looking at more complex tasks – like scientific research[15], running a business[16]and investing[17]– tell a different story. High performers benefit disproportionately and, in some cases, less productive workers see no improvements at all.

    So even if AI augments more than it automates, we are likely to see an increase in labour market inequality. Demand for higher-skilled workers who can use AI most effectively will rise, while those less able to learn new skills could suffer.

    All told, I do see a path for Europe to adopt AI without fracturing its social model. But it will require massive complementary investments in skills to prevent a rise in inequality.

    Crucially, this will not require everyone to become coders, which would probably set the bar too high. According to the OECD, most workers who will be exposed to AI will not need specialised AI skills to get ahead in their careers.

    In fact, the most sought-after skills in highly exposed jobs will be linked to management and business – skills that many people have the capacity to learn.[18]

    The CEO of Anthropic, Dario Amodei, has described the potential capabilities of AI as being like “a country of geniuses in a data centre”.[19] If this proves to be correct, it is both an awesome prospect for humanity and a daunting one for individual workers.

    I believe we must act today, and especially in Europe, with the mindset that this future will likely come to pass. We must remove all the barriers that will prevent us from being at the forefront of this revolution.

    But we must also prepare for the human and climate impacts of this transition, and we need to start now.

    I trust that this conference will generate the ideas we need to move forwards.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: FDCTech Reports Over 111% Revenue Growth in Fiscal Year 2024, Driven by Full-Year Contributions from Strategic Acquisitions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Robust Revenue Expansion Across All Business Segments – Investment and Brokerage, Wealth Management, and Technology Solution. 

    Irvine, CA, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FDCTech, Inc. (“FDC” or the “Company,” PINK: FDCT), a fintech-driven firm specializing in acquiring and scaling small to mid-size legacy financial services companies, today announced audited results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

    Full Year Highlights: FY 2024 vs. FY 2023

    • Total Revenues: $26.94 million in FY 2024, up from $12.75 million in FY 2023 – an increase of 111.24% due to the consolidation of Alchemy Markets Ltd. (AML) and Alchemy Prime Ltd. (APL) for the full 2024 fiscal year, which contributed significantly to revenue expansion.
    • Net Profit: $80,027 in FY 2024 compared to a net profit of $1.57 million in FY 2023 – a higher profit in FY 2023 was mainly due to non-recurring sales in the third quarter ending December 31, 2023.
    • Gross Profit: $12.04 million in FY 2024, up from $8.88 million in FY 2023 – an increase of 92.73% due to the consolidation of AML and APL for the full 2024 fiscal year, which contributed significantly to the increase in gross profit.
    • Cash Position: $24.78 million as of December 31, 2024.
    • Working Capital Surplus: $9.42 million in FY 2024 compared to $7.46 million in FY 2023, an increase of 21.94%.

    Performance by Segement

    Investment and Brokerage

    • Revenue surged to $18.80 million in FY 2024, compared to $5.02 million in FY 2023 – an increase of 274.86% due to the consolidation of AML and APL for the full 2024 fiscal year, which contributed significantly to revenue expansion.

    Wealth Management

    • Revenue increased to $6.50 million in FY 2024 from $5.93 million in FY 2023 – an increase of 9.63%.

    Technology & Software Development

    • Revenue of $1.64 million in FY 2024 compared to $1.81 million in FY 2023 – a decrease of 9.35% as the Company focused its time and effort on integrating its technology in its subsidiaries.

    Strategic and Operational Highlights

    • Successfully integrated full-year financials from AML and APL following 2023 acquisitions.
    • AML acquired over 2,361 clients from Next Markets and 35 clients from a Cypriot broker, expanding its presence in the EU.
    • AML secured authorization in terms of article 6 of the Investment Services Act, Chapter 370 of the Laws of Malta, to offer equities and money market securities, enabling the Company to provide stocks and interest-yielding products.
    • Launched new offices in Cyprus, Malta, and the UK.
    • Ongoing development of the Condor Investing & Trading App, slated for commercialization in late 2025.

    The management is proud of the transformative growth achieved in the fiscal year 2024. With a strong capital position, scalable platform, pipeline of upcoming acquisitions, and growing international footprint, the Company is well-positioned to deliver sustained value to shareholders and clients alike in the 2025 fiscal year and beyond.

    Please visit our SEC filings or the Company’s website for more information on the full results and management’s plan.

    FDCTech, Inc.

    FDCTech, Inc. (“FDC”) is a regulatory-grade financial technology infrastructure developer designed to serve the future financial markets. Our clients include regulated and OTC brokerages and prop and algo trading firms of all sizes in forex, stocks, commodities, indices, ETFs, precious metals, and other asset classes. Our growth strategy involves acquiring and integrating small to mid-size legacy financial services companies, leveraging our proprietary trading technology and liquidity solutions to deliver exceptional value to our clients.

    Press Release Disclaimer

    This press release’s statements may be forward-looking statements or future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets, and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. The Company does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or updated status of such forward-looking statements or information provided by the third party. Therefore, in no case will the Company and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or any related damages.

    Contact Media Relations
    FDCTech, Inc.
    info@fdctech.com
    www.fdctech.com
    +1 877-445-6047
    200 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 300,
    Irvine, CA, 92618

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Turbo Energy’s SUNBOX Home All-In-One Energy Storage System Meets U.S.’s Highest Standards for Safety, Reliability and Performance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company Granted UL Certifications After Undergoing U.S.’s Most Demanding Testing and Evaluation Processes

    Company Advances U.S. Market Launch with Planned Installations in Five States

    VALENCIA, Spain, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turbo Energy, S.A. (NASDAQ:TURB) (“Turbo Energy” or the “Company”), a global provider of leading-edge, AI-optimized solar energy storage technologies and solutions, today announced that it has completed one of the most rigorous safety certification processes in the United States and received Underwriters Laboratories (“UL”) 5500 and 9540 certifications for its innovative SUNBOX Home all-in-one solar energy storage system for residential applications. The UL certification mark is one of the most widely recognized product accreditations in the U.S. and is regarded a pre-requisite for permitting and insurance purposes. 

    Now available in the U.S., SUNBOX Home is a complete intelligent solar energy storage system powered by Turbo Energy’s patented AI algorithms and processes that allow homeowners to fully optimize the energy efficiency of their solar power panel installations

    Commenting on the mission critical milestone, Mariano Soria, Chief Executive Officer of Turbo Energy, stated, “This UL certification is one of the most important criteria in the permitting of new technologies for use in homes and businesses, affirming that our solutions meet rigorous safety standards and regulatory requirements. Moreover, with the award of these certifications, Turbo Energy is empowered to take a significant step forward in our Company’s expansion strategy aimed at penetrating and ultimately dominating the U.S. market for highly advanced, user-friendly solar energy storage solutions.”

    In collaboration with its U.S. partner Connection Holdings, Turbo Energy is in the process of launching SUNBOX Home in the U.S. with units already shipped stateside and initial residential installations being scheduled as part of the Company’s planned American beta initiative being conducted in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.    

    SUNBOX Home is an all-in-one back-up solar energy storage solution for split phase installations, modular with energy storage capacity up to 20.48 kWh. Supported by Turbo Energy’s proprietary, cloud-based SaaS solution powered by Artificial Intelligence, SUNBOX Home users benefit from intelligent data collection, optimized stored energy management and predictive analytics which provide real-time insight into weather and electricity price forecasts, solar panel performance, energy consumption and material cost savings opportunities, among other key metrics.

    Underwriters Laboratories was established in 1894 and is the world’s largest non-profit product safety certification organization, with global name recognition and acceptance. Products intended to be used in homes and businesses must be listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (“NRTL”) such as Underwriters Laboratories which are accredited by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”). Turbo Energy teamed with Intertek Group, plc, one of the world’s leading total quality assurance providers, to manage its testing, inspection and certification processes, resulting in SUNBOX Home’s UL certification for safety, quality and performance.

    About Turbo Energy, S.A.

    Founded in 2013, Turbo Energy is a globally recognized pioneer of proprietary solar energy storage technologies and solutions managed through Artificial Intelligence. Turbo Energy’s elegant all-in-one and scalable, modular energy storage systems empower residential, commercial and industrial users expanding across Europe, North America and Latin America to materially reduce dependence on traditional energy sources, helping to lower electricity costs, provide peak shaving and uninterruptible power supply and realize a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. A testament to the Company’s commitment to innovation and industry disruption, Turbo Energy’s introduction of its flagship SUNBOX represents one of the world’s first high performance, competitively priced, all-in-one home solar energy storage systems, which also incorporates patented EV charging capability and powerful AI processes to optimize solar energy management. Turbo Energy is a proud subsidiary of publicly traded Umbrella Global Energy, S.A., a vertically integrated, global collective of solar energy-focused companies. For more information, please visit www.turbo-e.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business of the Company, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, including the risks described in our registration statements and annual report under the heading “Risk Factors” as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Turbo Energy, S.A. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For more information, please contact:
    At Turbo Energy, S.A.
    Dodi Handy, Director of Communications
    Phone: 407-960-4636
    Email: dodihandy@turbo-e.com 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Planned blackouts are becoming more common − and not having cash on hand could cost you

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor Questrom School of Business, Boston University

    Are you prepared for when the power goes out? To prevent massive wildfires in drought-prone, high-wind areas, electrical companies have begun preemptively shutting off electricity. These planned shutdowns are called public safety power shutoffs, abbreviated to PSPS, and they’re increasingly common. So far this year, we’ve seen them in Texas, New Mexico and California.

    Unlike regular power failures, which on average last only about two hours while a piece of broken equipment is repaired, a PSPS lasts until weather conditions improve, which could be days. And these shutoffs come at a steep price. In 2010 alone, they cost California over US$13 billion. A 2019 analysis of shutoffs in Placer County, California, found that they harmed 70% of local businesses.

    I am a business school professor who studies how people pay for things, including during emergencies. As I point out in my new book “The Power of Cash: Why Using Paper Money is Good for You and Society,” many people have abandoned paper money and switched to electronic payments such as credit cards and mobile apps. This can become a big problem during an emergency, since these systems need electricity to operate. The switch to electronic payments is making the world less resilient in the face of increasing numbers of major natural disasters.

    So if a public safety power shutoff strikes and you don’t have any cash, you may be doubly vulnerable. On the other hand, keeping cash can protect you – and not just you and your family, but also local businesses and your community. After all, keeping the economy moving during shutoffs reduces the financial damage they cause.

    Why do they keep turning off the power, anyway?

    It’s all about risk.

    The world has experienced a number of very destructive wildfires recently. In 2025, large parts of Los Angeles burned to the ground, with over 18,000 buildings destroyed or damaged. In 2023, wildfires in Hawaii killed over 100 people. Massive wildfires have also occurred recently in South Korea, Portugal and Australia.

    Governments, people whose houses burned and insurance companies are all looking for someone to blame and pay for the damage. Climate change, which is increasing the world’s average temperatures and drying out trees and grass, is setting the conditions. Since Mother Nature cannot be sued, utilities make handy scapegoats with deep pockets. Electrical utilities are sued because their power lines, transformers and other equipment often start blazes.

    So to prevent lawsuits as well as fires, power companies are increasingly turning off the power when the conditions are ripe for a catastrophic blaze. There’s no uniform set of standards for when to impose a shutdown, but in general, power companies do it when there are hot, dry and windy conditions. For example, a PSPS is triggered in Hawaii if there’s a drought, wind gusts are over 45 miles per hour and relative humidity is under 45%.

    Power shutoffs are a relatively new idea. They were proposed in California in 2008 and first allowed in 2012.

    Since then, power companies across the entire western U.S. from Texas to Hawaii have adopted these plans. Shutoff plans also stretch from southern border states such as Arizona to northern border states such as Idaho and Montana.

    Shutting off the power is a huge problem, since it causes massive disruption to communities. People depend on power to run medical equipment, work and keep communities safe. Even people with a desperate need for electricity, such as those on medical life support, are not immune to a safety shutoff.

    How to prepare for a PSPS

    As the world warms, the chance of being caught in a preemptive power shutoff increases. What can you do to minimize the impact?

    Having solar panels won’t protect you: Utilities shut off customers with solar panels to block those panels from pushing power onto the grid, since the whole goal is to shut off the grid. The only way for you to still have power is to buy a battery storage system and a transfer switch, which allows you to take your system completely off the grid. But this is very expensive.

    Getting a portable generator is only a partial solution for a multiday shutoff, since most last only six to 18 hours on a single tank of gas. Plus, generators run very hot, which creates its own fire risk.

    Another way to minimize the impact of both a power shutoff and a wildfire is to create a small disaster relief kit, or “go bag.” Creating one is relatively inexpensive. It should contain key items such as water, your medicines, some shelf-stable food – and importantly, some cash. Even some government websites forget to mention this.

    It’s also important to use paper money before a shutoff happens. I have all too frequently seen gas station attendants, supermarket checkout clerks and restaurant servers have no idea how to handle cash.

    Recently at my local supermarket, for example, I paid with a $20 bill. The cashier had to ask another employee which kinds of coins to use to make change. If people don’t know how to handle cash during normal times, it ceases to be useful during emergencies.

    As the world warms, public safety power shutoffs will occur more frequently. The shutoffs clearly highlight the trade-off between economic and social disruption versus preventing dangerous wildfires. These shutoffs show there are no easy solutions – only hard choices.

    There are a few sensible and easy steps to take to reduce the impact of these shutoffs. One is to understand that during one of the very moments you might really need to spend money, modern payment systems fail. Holding and frequently using old-fashioned cash is a simple and low-cost way to protect yourself and your family.

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

    – ref. Planned blackouts are becoming more common − and not having cash on hand could cost you – https://theconversation.com/planned-blackouts-are-becoming-more-common-and-not-having-cash-on-hand-could-cost-you-253319

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Land reparations are possible − and over 225 US communities are already working to make amends for slavery and colonization

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sara Safransky, Associate Professor, Department of Human and Organizational Development, Vanderbilt University

    Ever since the United States government’s unfulfilled promise of giving every newly freed Black American “40 acres and a mule” after the Civil War, descendants of the enslaved have repeatedly proposed the idea of redistributing land to redress the nation’s legacies of slavery.

    Land-based reparations are also a form of redress for the territorial theft of colonialism.

    Around the world, politicians tend to dismiss calls for such initiatives as wishful thinking at best and discrimination at worst. Or else, they are swatted away as too complex to implement, legally and practically.

    Yet our research shows a growing number of municipalities and communities across the U.S. are quietly taking up the charge.

    We are geographers who since 2021 have been documenting and analyzing over 225 examples of reparative programs underway in U.S. cities, states and regions. Notably, over half of them center land return.

    These efforts show how working locally to grapple with the complexity of land-based reparations is a necessary and feasible part of the nation’s healing process.

    The Evanston effect

    Evanston, Illinois, launched the country’s first publicly funded housing reparations program in 2019.

    In its current form, Evanston’s Restorative Housing Program has provided disbursements to more than 200 recipients. All are Black residents of Evanston or direct descendants of residents who experienced housing discrimination between 1919 and 1969. Benefits include down payment assistance and mortgage assistance as well as funds to make home repairs and improvements.

    The goal is to redress the harm Evanston caused during these 50-plus years of racial discrimination in public schools, hospitals, buses and segregated residential zoning. During that same period, banks in Evanston, as in other U.S. cities, also refused to give Black residents mortgages, credit or insurance for homes in white neighborhoods.

    “I always said you can keep the mule,” program beneficiary Ron Butler told NBC News in 2024. “Give me the 40 acres in Evanston.”

    Reparations that focus on land, housing and property are about more than making amends for centuries of racial discrimination. They help to restore people’s self-determination, autonomy and freedom.

    Following Evanston’s lead, in 2021 a group of 11 U.S. mayors created Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity, a coalition committed to developing pilot reparations programs. Members include Los Angeles, Austin and Asheville.

    The cities act as sites to generate ideas about how reparation initiatives could be scaled up nationally. Each mayor is advised by committees made up of representatives from local Black-led organizations.

    Colonial reparations

    In recent years the city of Eureka, in Northern California, has been returning some territory to its Native inhabitants.

    Indigenous people often call this process rematriation; it’s part of a broader effort to restore sovereignty and sacred relationships to their ancestral lands.

    In 2019, after years of petitioning by members of the Wiyot people, the Eureka City Council returned 200 acres of Tuluwat Island, a 280-acre island in Humboldt Bay where European settlers in 1860 massacred about 200 Wiyot women and children.

    “It’s a sovereignty issue, a self-governance issue,” said Wiyot tribal administrator Michelle Vassel in a November 2023 radio interview.

    Minneapolis’ sale of city lots to the Red Lake Nation for $1 in 2023 is another example of how city governments can make amends for past Indigenous displacement and removal. Plans to develop the low-cost lots include a cultural center for Red Lake people, an opioid treatment center and potentially housing.

    The Red Lake Reservation once included 3.3 million acres. The 1889 Dawes Act forced the Red Lake Band to cede all but 300,000 acres. The federal government later returned some land, but today the reservation is still only a quarter of its original size.

    Reparations are critical to racial equity

    These initiatives may sound like a drop in the bucket considering the vast harms committed over centuries of slavery and colonization. Yet they prove that governments can craft targeted, achievable and meaningful policies to address colonialism and enslavement.

    The state of Minnesota transferred Upper Sioux Agency State Park back to the Dakota people in 2023 in an effort to make amends for a war and historic slaughter there.
    AP Photo/Trisha Ahmed

    They also tackle a frequent critique of reparations, which is that slavery and colonialism happened centuries ago. Yet their effects continue to harm Black and Native communities generations later. Today, white households in the U.S. have roughly nine times the wealth of typical Black households.

    One explanation for this racial disparity is that Black households earn 20% less than their white counterparts. But a more meaningful driver is what scholars call the “intergenerational transmission chain” – that is, the role that gifts and inheritance play in wealth generation.

    That’s why reparations – with both land and money – are so critical to creating racial equity.

    Still, reparations programs do raise a host of complex, practical questions. Which kinds of historic racial injustice take priority, and what form should repair take? Who qualifies for the benefits?

    Community-based land reparations

    Reparations don’t have to come from the government.

    In recent years, more than a hundred community-based organizations across the U.S. have introduced their own initiatives to redistribute land and wealth to make amends for past injustices.

    Makoce Ikikcupi, in the Minnesota River Valley, is a community reparations program led by Dakota peoples. Since 2009, the group has been collecting funds to buy back portions of the Dakota homeland. One revenue source is voluntary contributions from descendants of Europeans who colonized that land. This fundraising strategy is sometimes called “real rent” or “back rent.”

    The group purchased its first 21-acre parcel of land in 2019, where it is building traditional earth lodges, with plans for several self-sustaining Dakota villages.

    “We consider our donation…‘back rent,’” reads the testimony of one monthly contributor, Josina Manu, on the group’s webpage. He calls the reclamation of Dakota land a “vital” step “towards creating a just world.”

    Fair compensation for eminent domain

    Many communities are also working together to repair the legacies of anti-Black racism.

    In the 1960s, the city of Athens, Georgia, used eminent domain to build dormitories for the University of Georgia. Paying below market value, it demolished an entire Black neighborhood called Linnentown.

    In early 2021, following petitioning from former Linnentown residents who’d lost their homes, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing their neighborhood’s destruction as “an act of institutionalized white racism and terrorism resulting in intergenerational Black poverty.”

    Because Georgia law prohibits government entities from making payments to individuals, a community group stepped in to organize compensation.

    The result is Athens Reparations Action, a coalition of churches and community organizations. Formed in 2021, it had raised $120,000 by 2024 to distribute among the 10 families who are Linnentown survivors and descendants.

    Backlash

    Our research also tracks legal challenges to the reparations initiatives we are studying.

    Conservative groups such as Judicial Watch have filed dozens of retaliatory lawsuits against several of them, including Evanston’s Restorative Housing Program. A 2024 class action complaint alleges that the program discriminates based on race, violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

    These legal challenges are part of the broader front of conservative-led assaults on voting rights, affirmative action and critical race theory. Like reparations, all are efforts to grapple with the U.S.’s historical mistreatment of Black, Indigenous and other people of color.

    Attacking those initiatives is an attempt to preserve what scholar Laura Pulido calls “white innocence.” We expect more of them under a second Trump term already defined by its assault on antidiscrimination policies and programs.

    So far, none of Trump’s decrees has targeted reparations specifically. For now, reparations are still legal and constitutional – and possible.

    Sara Safransky has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the American Council of Learned Societies, however, I have not received funding from these organizations for the research project discussed in this article. The only grant I’ve received to fund this research is an internal grant from Vanderbilt University.

    Elsa Noterman has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the British Academy. However, I have not received funding from these organizations for the research project discussed in this article. The only grant I have received to fund this research is an internal grant from Queen Mary University of London.

    Madeleine Lewis has received research funding from the Society for Community Research and Action. However, that funding is not related to the research project mentioned in the article.

    – ref. Land reparations are possible − and over 225 US communities are already working to make amends for slavery and colonization – https://theconversation.com/land-reparations-are-possible-and-over-225-us-communities-are-already-working-to-make-amends-for-slavery-and-colonization-246106

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –