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

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Cockfighting Charges

    Source: US State of California

    Onill Vazquez Lozada of Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty today to two counts of possessing, sponsoring, and exhibiting birds in an animal fighting venture in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

    As part of his plea, Lozada admitted that on April 27, 2021, he possessed roosters for the purpose of having them fight. Lozada also admitted that on March 6, 2022, he sponsored and exhibited, and aided and abetted sponsoring and exhibiting, at least one rooster in a fight against another rooster.

    Cockfighting is a contest in which a person attaches a knife, gaff or other sharp instrument to the leg of a “gamecock” or rooster and then places the bird a few inches away from a similarly armed rooster. This results in a fight during which the roosters flap their wings and jump while stabbing each other with the weapons that are fastened to their legs. A cockfight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue to fight. Commonly, one or both roosters die after a fight.

    Lozada faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge to which he pleaded guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for July 29. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Acting U.S. Attorney Sara M. Bloom for the District of Rhode Island made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments.

    Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Monmouth County Resident Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Role in Fraudulently Obtaining Over $3.7 Million in Cares Act Loans

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A former resident of Monmouth County was sentenced to prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Kevin Aguilar, age 54, previously of Farmingdale, New Jersey, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court following Aguilar’s guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; seven counts of bank fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; three counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; one count of money laundering; and one count of aggravated identity theft. Aguilar was sentenced to 192 months in prison.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    From April 2020 to April 2021, Aguilar conspired with others to submit seven fraudulent PPP loan applications and three fraudulent EIDL applications on behalf of four businesses. Based on the fraudulent applications, Aguilar received a total of approximately $3.3 million in PPP loan funds and approximately $450,000 in EIDL funds. After receiving the PPP and EIDL funds, Aguilar caused those funds to be transferred to other businesses that he created to give the false appearance that the PPP and EIDL funds were being used for legitimate purposes. Aguilar then used the PPP and EIDL funds to purchase residential properties in Sherman, Texas, a new truck for approximately $100,000, and to pay for other personal expenses.

    In addition to the 192-month prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Aguilar to 5 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $3,772,567 in restitution, as well as a forfeiture money judgment of $3,772,567.  Judge Shipp also ordered the forfeiture of approximately $1,511,221.62 that law enforcement seized from twelve bank accounts, as well as the three real properties in Sherman, Texas. 

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Kozar, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Economic Crimes United in Newark, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Laserna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit.

    The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of the five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel:         Alyssa Cimino, Esq., Fairfield, New Jersey; Robert Brady, Esq., Newton, New Jersey

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Cockfighting Charges

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Onill Vazquez Lozada of Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty today to two counts of possessing, sponsoring, and exhibiting birds in an animal fighting venture in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

    As part of his plea, Lozada admitted that on April 27, 2021, he possessed roosters for the purpose of having them fight. Lozada also admitted that on March 6, 2022, he sponsored and exhibited, and aided and abetted sponsoring and exhibiting, at least one rooster in a fight against another rooster.

    Cockfighting is a contest in which a person attaches a knife, gaff or other sharp instrument to the leg of a “gamecock” or rooster and then places the bird a few inches away from a similarly armed rooster. This results in a fight during which the roosters flap their wings and jump while stabbing each other with the weapons that are fastened to their legs. A cockfight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue to fight. Commonly, one or both roosters die after a fight.

    Lozada faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge to which he pleaded guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for July 29. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Acting U.S. Attorney Sara M. Bloom for the District of Rhode Island made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments.

    Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Seizures of contraband and unauthorized items at Cowansville Institution

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 29, 2025 – Cowansville, Quebec – Correctional Service Canada

    On April 23 and 24, 2025, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Cowansville Institution, a medium security federal institution.

    The contraband and unauthorized items seized included hashish, marijuana, cannabis wax, tobacco, cell phones with accessories, blades and screwdrivers. The total estimated institutional value of these seizures is $116,030.

    The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions. These tools include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates, and visitors.

    CSC is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.

    CSC has also set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff members working at CSC institutions.

    The toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Outlining Turmoil Created in First 100 Days Under Trump

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today outlined the turmoil created under President Trump’s first 100 days in office, warning that his administration’s retaliatory policies, deep federal cuts and unilateral tariffs are poised to negatively impact New York’s economy, the environment and hard working families. Last week, New York State joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Trump’s global tariffs. According to independent estimates, Trump’s tariffs will cost the State’s economy more than $7 billion, result in more than 280,000 jobs lost and hit New York families with an average cost increase of $6,400. New York has also led the fight to protect federal funding from cuts and disruptions that are impacting more than $1.3 billion in federal funding for New York and has successfully challenged in court the Trump Administration’s global funding freeze, as well as cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other critical federal agencies.

    “The first 100 days of the Trump Administration have been rife with chaos and uncertainty, from on-again, off-again tariffs to cuts to vital programs, New Yorkers are paying the price,” Governor Hochul said. “President Trump promised relief from inflation and his policies are making life harder, chaotic and more expensive for working class New Yorkers while slashing the very services they rely on.”

    Implications for New Yorkers during President Trump’s First 100 Days Include:

    • More than $1.3 billion in cuts to funding for State programs so far with more expected, in addition to the funding cuts to local governments, universities and other organizations delivering critical services to New Yorkers
    • Massive fluctuation in the stock market from ever changing tariff policies has shrunk 401(k)s and 529 college savings plans, and is expected to increase cost of living for New Yorkers by thousands of dollars
    • Manufacturers and small businesses are reeling from severe cost hikes on some products due to tariffs, leading them to leave shipments in customs or cancel orders
    • Canadian and European travel to New York has dropped and hotel stays and trips in regions such as the North Country and Western New York have been cancelled
    • The pause of construction of Empire Wind, which will have a profound impact on jobs and energy production
    • Cutting millions in funding that allows school districts and food banks to buy produce from local farmers who rely on their purchases
    • Three Social Security Administration offices closed in New York
    • Eliminated every person in the office that manages a program helping over 1 million New Yorkers pay their heating and cooling bills
    • Cuts to the NIH paused the critical research of a New York Scientist on Alzheimer’s treatments
    • Cut over $300 million in infrastructure funding for New York communities, threatening our public safety
    • Cutting the majority of federal AmeriCorps funding in New York, which supports approximately 1,500 AmeriCorps members working for non-profits and in low-income communities across the State

    PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMMIGRATION

    The Trump administration has revoked more than $325 million in vital resiliency funding from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and put $56 million more at risk, which will impact several critical infrastructure and community resilience projects in New York State.

    Additionally, DOGE is planning to cut up to 84 percent of staff from their Office of Community Planning and Development, which helps pay to rebuild homes and other recovery efforts after the country’s worst disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and Tropical Storms Lee and Irene.

    The Albany National Weather Service (NWS) Office was forced to suspend weather balloon launches due to staff shortages and budget constraints. This has impacted the ability of the NWS to provide twice-daily balloon launches, impacting the accuracy of weather forecasts.

    After Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a Sackets Harbor mom and her children, Governor Hochul took action, engaging with the White House, Border Czar Tom Homan and local officials in an effort to bring the family back home. After 11 days in detention, the family was returned to Sackets Harbor.

    ECONOMY AND TOURISM

    The stock market has been unstable due to President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff policy. This has caused retirees’ 401(k)s and students’ 529 savings plans to shrink. Additionally, consumer confidence plunged, to 50.8 percent in April from 71.7 percent in January. The dollar has weakened, falling to a three month low in April.

    The Governor has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the State who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada. In the Southern Tier, the Cortland Standard, which was in business for more than a century, has closed its doors, citing the expected 25 percent tariffs on paper as part of the decision.

    The Trump administration is cancelling the successful Manufacturers Extension Partnership (MEP) in several states. In New York, NY MEP centers generated $1.25 billion in economic impact, supported the creation or retention of nearly 6,300 jobs and served over 700 companies during the 2023 calendar year. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers.

    Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, total bridge crossings between Eastern Ontario and New York State for March are down 23,000 compared to 2024, and at the lowest level since 2022. Additionally, Niagara River bridges traffic for February is down 14 percent and Thousand Islands Bridge crossings are down 19 percent.

    A survey of local businesses in the North Country found that 66 percent have already experienced a slight to significant decrease in Canadian bookings for 2025, and that 26 percent have already adjusted staffing levels in response to the decline.

    TRANSPORTATION

    President Trump’s Department of Transportation vowed to kill congestion pricing from day one of his administration, despite clear evidence that the program is working. The MTA reported that in March, traffic is down 13 percent, travel times have improved in key corridors within the Central Business District and it has increased revenue for the MTA that will result in improvements in the system.

    IMPACTS ON HARD WORKING FAMILIES

    President Trump has reduced the federal workforce by more than 120,000 people nationwide according to data compiled from CNN. In New York more than 1,200 federal workers have been forced to file for unemployment.

    The Trump administration has pledged to cancel the successful and free Direct File tax filing program. This program has already begun to make an impact in its first full year, with many New Yorkers saving nearly $300 per household in tax prep fees that could instead go toward groceries, gas, child care or rent.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding that helped schools buy food from local farms. The program sought to bring local produce to schools and child care facilities, giving schools the opportunities to purchase fresh foods and use smaller producers rather than rely on large corporations.

    The Trump Administration announced that half of all food shipments through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) would be canceled, resulting in a $500 million reduction in funding for food banks across the country. New York State could see a loss of around 16 million pounds of USDA foods in 2025 due to the TEFAP funding cuts, according to Feeding New York State.

    SSA field offices are closing, wait times for deserving seniors are increasing and sensitive and private personal data is in danger of being insecure.

    ENERGY

    The Trump Administration stopped construction on Empire Wind, putting thousands of construction jobs at risk and threatening to dismantle a project that when complete, will generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes in New York State.

    Funding has been suspended for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Funds. The NEVI program — passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides funding directly to states for installing public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, which, if implemented, will lower fuel costs for families, reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and create construction jobs nationwide.

    President Trump has also threatened to roll back the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and repeal its tax credits. NYSERDA estimates a full repeal of the clean energy incentives could result in more than $20 billion in increased project costs and could cause significant project attrition.

    HOUSING

    At the direction of President Trump and DOGE, HUD staff has been decimated, imperiling the core functions of the agency that serve our communities, manage federally funded housing programs and assist housing development at a time of national crisis for housing. Funding has also been cut for organizations that fight housing discrimination across the country, while rolling back federal protections to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.

    HUD has further announced it was ending four years early the Emergency Housing Voucher Program, a successful federal program to combat homelessness for more than 9,500 households across the State. The federal administration imperiling this funding will force these families, at last stably housed, back onto the street.

    The $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program that helps preserve affordable housing is being paused, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans.

    HEALTH CARE

    The actions of the current administration threaten the health and safety of New Yorkers. New York State remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and promoting health equity.

    President Trump has endorsed the House’s budget resolution which includes over $1 trillion in cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Nearly 7 million qualifying New Yorkers are covered under Medicaid, including 2.5 million children, and 636,000 New Yorkers with disabilities. 2.9 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP for healthy food, including over 800,000 children.

    The Trump administration’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has cut grant funding to SUNY used to conduct research to cure diseases, keep our nation safe and grow our economy. The NIH’s sudden budget cuts will cost SUNY research an estimated $79 million on current grants, including more than $21 million over just the next five months that will immediately imperil the work of SUNY’s dedicated researchers by decimating the equipment, staff and services they rely on.

    The Trump Administration picked a top health official who has questioned the safety of vaccines and the use of fluoride in drinking water and claimed that autism was preventable. These views go against proven science and could lead to more diseases by making people doubt public health advice.

    The Administration has taken back important public health funding. This includes money for tracking disease, supporting vaccinations and helping vulnerable communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Without this funding, local health services must cut staff and scale back programs, especially in areas that need the most help.

    Hundreds of federal health workers have lost jobs, making it harder for both the federal government and states like New York to respond to health threats and deliver services like maternal care and disease control.

    New executive orders have removed federal support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, harming efforts to ensure fair health care for women, LGBTQ+ people and communities of color. These actions affirm that the needs of these communities no longer matter to the federal government.

    In addition, with massive arbitrary cuts to federal agencies, the future of federal programs to help combat substance use disorder, heating and cooling assistance for low-income New Yorkers, and early childhood investment programs like Head Start remain in jeopardy.

    New York State remains committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to affordable, quality health care. Accordingly, the State rejects thinly veiled attacks on anyone who may not comport with the Trump Administration’s limited views of who is a person.

    EDUCATION

    President Trump vowed to eliminate the Department of Education, a crucial part of the federal government that supports kids, teachers and administrators right here in New York State. New York receives $5.5 billion annually from the Department of Education. Approximately $3.2 billion is routed through the State Budget and $2.3 billion is sent directly to local entities, primarily colleges and universities. This crucial funding supports Pell Grants for college students, money for kids with disabilities, programs that are supporting kids’ mental health, crucial research at our public higher education institutions and much more

    ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE

    The Trump administration has taken aim through Executive Order at dismantling New York State’s strong environmental protections.

    Additionally, funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program has been slashed. While the Biden administration had indicated that $24 million would be available under the LFPA program (New York Food for New York Families), the Trump administration (USDA) has reversed and this next round of funding will no longer be available.

    More recently, New York State’s $60 million award for the New York Connects: Climate Smart Farms and Forests Program, which funds climate smart agriculture and forestry practices, was cancelled by USDA.

    USDA staff that assist farmers with implementing conservation programs, loans and other resources for their farms, have been laid off.

    Over 80 percent of agrochemical imports and 70 percent of farm machinery imports come from countries facing tariffs of 10 percent or more. Tariffs may slow down or halt on-farm expansion and modernization due to projected increases in equipment costs, with much of the stainless steel coming from abroad.

    Trade issues are having a compounding effect for dairy farmers — input costs are going up and the milk price relies on export markets. Tariffs and threats of trade disputes result in lost markets and lower milk prices. For example, the budget for a building project went from $85,000 to $106,000, due to tariffs on steel and aluminum, one farm had a $2,200 fee added to their bill for grain because it came from a Canadian feed mill and another farm is anticipating their bottom line to be 7-10 percent lower this year due to lower milk prices and tariffs on inputs, including feed, energy and building supplies.

    The ability of West Coast apple producers to export their product will play a key role in the price and demand for New York apples. If West Coast producers are not able to expand overseas markets, they will continue to flood East Coast markets and displace New York State fresh apples where they can undercut prices.

    Tariffs placed on equipment, largely coming from Canada, would increase producers’ costs of maple syrup production significantly and negatively impact profitability in the maple industry.

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    US Senate News:

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Continued Enrolment Growth in Sask DLC Mechanical and Automotive Courses

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 29, 2025

    Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC) continues to see significant increases in student interest in online Mechanical and Automotive courses for high school students. 

    Today, to help support this growing interest, Sask DLC students had the opportunity to participate in a one-day, hands-on learning camp at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s (Sask Polytech) Saskatoon campus. The opportunity offered practical experience and valuable insights from industry professionals and is the second mechanical and automotive learning camp Sask DLC and Sask Poly have hosted this year.

    Student registration in Sask DLC’s Mechanical and Automotive courses increased significantly in its second year of operation. To date this school year, there are more than 400 student registrations for Sask DLC Mechanical and Automotive courses, including 186 with work placements. 

    Last year, 126 students registered in Mechanical and Automotive 10, 20 or 30 level courses, completing more than 4,500 work placement hours. An additional 97 students took the introductory theory-only course.  

    “It is exciting to see another great learning camp day in partnership between the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre and the autobody sector,” Minister Responsible for Sask DLC Everett Hindley said. “The autobody industry is an evolving and growing sector and a key component in many local communities across Saskatchewan. This is an excellent opportunity for DLC high school students from all around the province who are interested in this field of work to come experience hands-on learning and gain knowledge right from industry experts.”

    Sask DLC and Sask Polytech learning camps provide students from across the province with opportunities to learn about potential career paths and make informed choices for their future beyond high school. The camps allow students to either confirm their current career aspirations or discover new ones. Students also get a preview of Sask Polytech’s Automotive Service Technician certificate program and apprenticeship training options. 

    “We have an excellent partnership with Sask DLC and always appreciate hosting high school students on campus for hands-on training,” Sask Polytech President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia said. “These one-day camps are a great opportunity to learn more about a career in the automotive industry and discover what Sask Polytech can offer. Our instructors bring industry experience and a wealth of knowledge – whether it’s to the camps or to our shops, classrooms and labs.”

    Sask DLC offers six Mechanical and Automotive courses for students across the province, including a 10-level introductory course where students can choose to do full-online theory or participate in 75 hours of online theory with a 25-hour work placement. At the 20-and-30- level, each course is a combination of 50 hours of online theory and 50 hours of an in-person work placement at a local business. Students choosing to participate in the learning camp at Sask Polytech earn six credit hours toward their work placement requirement. 

    Student work placements are made possible thanks to a partnership between Sask DLC and the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealers Association (SADA). Through this partnership, students are provided with opportunities to complete their work placement at a SADA member dealership. This partnership provides students with work placement opportunities near their home community and supports the automotive sector’s recruitment of future qualified employees to serve the industry. 

    “Our association is pleased to help provide students with meaningful work placement opportunities,” SADA Executive Director Larry Heggs said. “Work placements with our member dealers provide students with fundamental practical skills and allow them to make key contacts in the industry.”

    These courses complement several other Sask DLC courses with work placements or hands-on learning opportunities available to students including:

    • Agriculture Equipment Technician
    • Autobody
    • Construction and Carpentry
    • Electrical
    • Energy and Mines – Oil & Gas
    • Parts Technician
    • Power Engineering 
    • Precision Agriculture 
    • Tourism
    • Welding

    Sask DLC’s Mechanical and Automotive courses are open for registration for the 2025-26 school year at saskDLC.ca. The courses are available to full-time Sask DLC students or high school students attending local schools throughout the province to supplement their in-person learning. High school students can contact their local school administrator or guidance counsellor for help registering.

    You can learn more about all online courses with work placements available through Sask DLC at saskDLC.ca. 

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Credit Agricole Sa: Evolution of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s governance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release

    Montrouge, 29 April 2025

    Evolution of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s governance

    At Crédit Agricole S.A.’s Board meeting of 29 April 2025 chaired by Dominique Lefebvre, Olivier Gavalda, CEO of Crédit Agricole S.A. as of the 14th of May 2025, presented his future organisation.

    Olivier Gavalda will propose to the Board of Directors following Crédit Agricole S.A. general shareholders’ meeting which will be held the 14th of May 2025, that Jérôme Grivet be appointed as sole Deputy Chief Executive Officer and second executive director of Crédit Agricole S.A.

    As of the 1st of June 2025, the General Management of Crédit Agricole S.A. will be organised around seven divisions, the Corporate Secretary and the control functions.

    Five divisions and the General Secretary will be under the direct supervision of Olivier Gavalda:

    • Universal Retail Banks, bringing together LCL under the responsibility of its CEO, Serge Magdeleine, and Crédit Agricole Italia under the responsibility of its CEO, Hugues Brasseur.
    • International Banking and Services, under the responsibility of Stéphane Priami as Deputy General Manager. This new division will be composed of Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring, the International Banking Development department and BforBank.
    • Major Clients, gathering Crédit Agricole CIB and CACEIS, under the responsibility of Jean-François Balaÿ, CEO of Crédit Agricole CIB.
    • Client, Development and Innovation, under the responsibility of Gérald Grégoire as Deputy General Manager. This division gathers the Retail Markets department, the Transformation/Distribution and Development department, the Brand and Customer Communication department, the regional Banks’ relationships department, the Payments, the startup studio’s La Fabrique and Crédit Agricole Immobilier.
    • Transformation, Human Resources and Transitions, under the responsibility of Grégory Erphelin as Deputy General Manager. This new division will gather the Group Human Resources, Technological Transformation, Sustainability and Impact, Agri-Agro, Guarantee and Capital Development departments, Crédit Agricole Transitions & Energies and Crédit Agricole Santé & Territoires.

      In this division, the Technological Transformation department will be under the responsibility of Olivier Biton and will gather Crédit Agricole Group Infrastructure Platform, Data/AI teams, and the Information Systems Department.

    • Corporate Secretary, under the responsibility of Véronique Faujour gathers the Group Communication department, the Board of Director’s secretary, General affairs, Security/Safety, and Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, the Public Affairs department and Uni-Medias.

    Two divisions and the control functions will be under the direct supervision of Jérôme Grivet:

    • Finance and Steering, under the responsibility of Clotilde L’Angevin as Deputy General Manager. This division gathers Finance, Financial Communication & Investors relations, Subsidiaries and Investments, Strategic studies, Legal, Economic studies and Procurement departments.
    • Savings and Wealth Management, this new division will gather Amundi, under the responsibility of its CEO, Valérie Baudson, Crédit Agricole Assurances, under the responsibility of its CEO, Nicolas Denis and Indosuez Wealth Management, under the responsibility of its CEO, Jacques Prost.
    • Group Risks, under the responsibility of Alexandra Boleslawski.
    • Group Compliance, under the responsibility of Hubert Reynier.
    • Group Internal Audit, under the responsibility of Laurence Renoult.
       

    As of 1 June 2025, Crédit Agricole S.A.’s Executive Committee will be thus composed of 18 members:

    • Olivier Gavalda, CEO
    • Jérôme Grivet, Deputy CEO
    • Clotilde L’Angevin, Deputy General Manager, in charge of Finance and Steering division
    • Grégory Erphelin, Deputy General Manager, in charge of Transformation, Human Resources and Transitions division
    • Gérald Grégoire, Deputy General Manager, in charge of the Customer, Development and Innovation division
    • Stéphane Priami, Deputy General Manager, in charge of International Banking and Services division
    • Jean-François Balaÿ, CEO of Crédit Agricole CIB, in charge of Major Clients division
    • Valérie Baudson, CEO of Amundi
    • Hugues Brasseur, CEO of Crédit Agricole Italia and Senior Country Officer for the Group
    • Nicolas Denis, CEO of Crédit Agricole Assurances
    • Serge Magdeleine, CEO of LCL
    • Olivier Biton, Director of Technological Transformation
    • Eric Campos, Chief Sustainability and Impact Officer
    • Bénédicte Chrétien, Group Head of Human Resources
    • Véronique Faujour, Corporate Secretary
    • Alexandra Boleslawski, Group Chief Risk Officer
    • Laurence Renoult, Group Head of Internal Audit
    • Hubert Reynier, Group Head of Compliance

    Jean-Paul Mazoyer, on his own initiative, will now provide strategic advice to the Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole SA. 

    The Board of Directors expressed its warm thanks to Philippe Brassac and Xavier Musca for their commitment and action during a decade of strong development for the Group.

    Biographies

    Clotilde L’Angevin started her career in 2003 at the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, before joining the Treasury Department in 2005 as deputy head of the “Economic and Monetary Union” division. In 2007, she became technical adviser to the Prime Minister on macroeconomic and economic forecasts.
    In 2009, she joined the Ministry of Finance as Head of the “International Diagnostics and Forecasts” division, before being appointed General Secretary of the Paris Club and Head of the “International Debt” division in the Treasury Department in 2011.
    She joined the Crédit Agricole Group in 2015, as Head of Strategy for Crédit Agricole S.A. In 2019, she was appointed Head of Financial Communication at Crédit Agricole S.A. where she was responsible for relations with individual shareholders, institutional debt investors and rating agencies, as well as financial communication and relations with institutional equity investors.
    Since 2023, she has been Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole d’Ile-de-France.
    Aged 46, Clotilde L’Angevin is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (class 1998), the Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l’Administration Économique (2002), and obtained a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics (2003).  

    Olivier Biton started his career at Crédit Lyonnais in 2002, as IT project manager. He moved to the United States in 2005 where he was a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania.
    Upon his return to France in 2007, he joined the Crédit Agricole Group and held various project management positions at CA Payment & Services. He was appointed Head of the Flow Business Line in 2014 and then Head of Information Systems and Projects in 2016.
    He joined LCL in 2017 as Head of Digital Solutions and Information Systems and joined the Executive Committee in 2020. Since 2023, Olivier Biton has been Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Group Infrastructure (CAGIP).
    Aged 45, Olivier Biton is a computer engineer and a graduate of the Polytech Paris Sud school.

    Grégory Erphelin started his career in 2001 at the French Ministry of Agriculture as Head of the Credit and Insurance bureau. In 2005, he joined the French Direction Générale du Trésor, in charge of the regulation of property and liability insurance. He joined the Crédit Agricole Group in 2008 as Head of Financial Management for Predica (personal insurance subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Assurances). In 2012, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Crédit Agricole Assurances.
    In 2015, he also became Chief Financial Officer of Predica and joined the Executive Committee of the Crédit Agricole Assurances Group. In 2017, he was appointed Head of Finance, Procurement, Legal Affairs, Credit commitments and recovery, and member of the LCL Executive Committee.
    Since May 2022, he has been Chief Executive Officer of the Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole.
    Aged 49, Grégory Erphelin is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (class 1996), Water and Forestry Engineer and holds an MBA from the Collège des ingénieurs.  

    Jean-François Balaÿ started his career in 1989 at Crédit Lyonnais in the Corporate Banking Markets and held several managerial positions in London, Paris and Asia. In 2001, he joined Crédit Lyonnais in the Loan Syndication business line, first as Head of Origination for Europe, then for Western Europe within Calyon from 2004. In 2006, he was appointed Deputy Head of Syndication for the EMEA region. In 2009, he became Global Head of Loan Syndication at Crédit Agricole CIB. In 2012, he was appointed Head of Debt Optimisation and Distribution. In 2016, he became Head of Risk and Permanent Control. He was appointed Deputy General Manager of Crédit Agricole CIB in 2018 and Deputy CEO of Crédit Agricole CIB in 2021.
    Aged 59, Jean-François Balaÿ holds a master’s degree in economics and management and a master’s degree in banking and finance from Lyon II Lumière University.

    Press contacts Crédit Agricole S.A.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brewton Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Sending Death Threat to a South Alabama District Attorney

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                Montgomery, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama announced today that a Brewton, Alabama man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for sending a death threat to a district attorney in south Alabama.

                On April 28, 2025, a federal judge in Mobile sentenced 54-year-old William Terry Holmes to 60 months in prison after Holmes pleaded guilty to mailing a threatening communication. The sentence, the maximum allowed under the federal statute, will run consecutively to the state prison term Holmes is currently serving with the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) on unrelated charges. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to the prison sentence, Holmes was ordered to pay $26,185.70 in restitution.

                According to court documents and Holmes’s plea agreement, the threat arose after a man that Holmes claimed to know was convicted of capital murder for the killing of a police officer. On March 19, 2024, Holmes, who was an inmate serving a state prison sentence with ADOC, sent a letter to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the capital murder case. The letter began, “I am personally writing you to inform you we know where you live,” and went on to identify Holmes as a member of a known white supremacist group. Holmes threatened that the district attorney, the district attorney’s family, and the judge involved in the case would suffer “a very horrible and painful death” in retaliation for the conviction and the pursuit of the death penalty against his alleged associate.

                On March 22, 2024, agents interviewed Holmes. During the interview, Holmes admitted to writing the letter and claimed he had associates watching the district attorney, warning that the prosecutor had only hours to live. Security precautions had already been taken to protect the district attorney and his family. Holmes pleaded guilty to mailing the threatening communication on January 28, 2025.

                “No one who serves the cause of justice, or the families of those who serve, should ever be threatened for doing their job,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson. “Our system depends on the courage of prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers. Threats against them are attacks on the rule of law itself and cannot be tolerated.”

                “There is no place in our justice system for threats of violence – especially leveled at officers of the court,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI is committed to ensuring those who serve justice can do so without fear and will hold offenders accountable.”

                The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mobile Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb from the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: AgriStability enrolment deadline extended to July 31, 2025 (Saskatchewan)

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 25, 2025 – Melville, Saskatchewan – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Today, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison, along with federal, provincial, and territorial governments, announced the AgriStability enrolment deadline for the existing 2025 program year is extended (without penalty) from April 30, 2025, to July 31, 2025. The extension of the deadline is for the status quo program. The proposed changes announced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are still being considered and have not been implemented. 

    The nature of the existing AgriStability Program makes it well suited to support producers. As a margin-based program, AgriStability responds when a producer’s whole farm profitability is impacted, including by rising costs and declining market prices. Tariffs have the potential to impact the prices producers receive for sold commodities. Coverage is personalized for each farm operation by using historical information, based on income tax and supplementary information. Farmers experiencing losses are encouraged to apply for interim payments under AgriStability for more rapid support. In the last six program years, Saskatchewan producers received over $565 million in benefit payments. 

    Enrolling is easy. Producers can provide all the necessary information over the phone. The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) is available to assist producers. To request a new participant package, call the SCIC AgriStability Call Centre at 1-866-270-8450 or email agristability@scic.ca. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Announces Departure of Amanda Olear After Nearly 2 Decades of Service

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced former Director of the Market Participants Division and former Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, Amanda L. Olear, will depart the agency on May 2. Ms. Olear has served at the CFTC for over 17 years in multiple leadership roles across various divisions. 
    “It has been a true pleasure to have known and worked with Amanda for 15 years. She has served the CFTC, our mission, and our markets with excellence for many years,” Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham said. “Throughout her distinguished tenure, Amanda has exemplified leadership, expertise, and pragmatism in every role she’s held. I would especially like to personally thank Amanda for serving on my executive management team. I’m grateful for her over 17 years of dedicated service to the CFTC and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
    “I would like to thank Acting Chairman Pham and former Chairman Behnam for the privilege of being part of their leadership teams,” Ms. Olear said, “It was an honor that I could not have imagined when I joined the CFTC as a junior staff attorney and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my career. I would also like to express my appreciation for the staff in the Market Participants Division and the Division of Market Oversight for their trust and support over the past 5 years. Their professionalism and expertise continue to impress and inspire me. My hope is that I proved myself worthy of their confidence.” 
    Ms. Olear joined the CFTC in 2007 and has served in various leadership capacities, including most recently as Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, where she led a team of attorneys, analysts, and other professional staff who oversee derivatives platforms and swap data repositories. Prior to this role, Ms. Olear served as the Director of the Market Participants Division since 2021.
    Ms. Olear began her tenure at the CFTC as an attorney-advisor in the then – Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight – with a focus on CPOs and CTAs. In 2013, she took on the role of Associate Director of the Managed Funds Section in the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight and served as the Deputy Director of Registration and Compliance from 2017 to 2021.
    Ms. Olear joined the CFTC from Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A. in Annapolis, Maryland, where she focused on business entity formation and complex commercial litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Olear served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia on the Maryland Court of Appeals (now the Maryland Supreme Court). Coming from a long line of family farmers, she holds a JD, with honors, from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a BA, summa cum laude, from McDaniel College.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Introduces Legislation to Continue Safe Exports of Iowa Agricultural Products in Event of Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, which would codify USDA’s role in negotiating regionalization agreements that allow livestock, poultry, and other animal products from unaffected areas of the country to continue to be safely exported in the event of an animal disease outbreak. Although USDA already works with the United States Trade Representative to develop these agreements, this legislation explicitly expresses congressional support for establishing regionalization agreements and promoting robust agricultural trade policies before any animal disease impacts our nation.

    This bill also establishes a notification system within the Import and Export Library to prevent our producers from being impacted by changes in trade status of agricultural commodities and alert the proper agencies, organizations, and State Departments of Agriculture that there have been changes in import or export status.

    “Iowa farmers are the backbone of our economy and the breadbasket of our country and the world. However, an animal disease outbreak can be devastating for our producers, majorly disrupt trade with foreign countries, and close important export markets that our farmers depend on,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Understanding the dire financial and animal health consequences of a disease outbreak, I introduced the Safe American Food Exports Act so that we can negotiate comprehensive agreements with our trading partners and ensure that a disease outbreak in one part of the country does not impact Iowa’s ability to produce and export our agricultural goods. By working proactively on regionalization agreements and prioritizing farm biosecurity, we can safely ship our agricultural commodities around the globe, prevent massive trade disruptions, and mitigate the negative impacts of animal disease on our farmers, producers, and rural communities.”

    “Mississippi’s poultry exporters and producers have suffered during the bird flu. Animal diseases often cause trade disruptions, and the government should help protect American agriculture exports in these situations,” said Sen. Wicker. “The Safe American Food Exports Act would help do that. The bill would give the USDA authority to negotiate regionalization agreements to ensure America’s agricultural producers are not shut off from the global market.” 

    “Outbreaks of animal disease, even when limited to a specific region, can upend access to global markets for producers across the country,” said Rep. Panetta.  “That’s why I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort that would codify USDA’s role in proactively negotiating regionalization agreements.  By reducing unnecessary trade disruptions, we can ensure that disease-free producers remain competitive abroad, meet global food demands, and uphold the high food safety standards that American consumers expect.”

    “Animal disease outbreaks pose a significant threat to not just American food security, but the livelihoods of our hardworking farmers and producers. This legislation would help secure global trade exports in the event of such an outbreak,” said Sen. Britt. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to support American agricultural producers and ensure sustainable markets.”

    “Congressman Feenstra’s district is full of egg producers who welcome this proactive bill to have USDA work with our trading partners to prevent trade impacts from HPAI,” said Chad Gregory, CEO of the United Egg Producers.

    “The North Central Poultry Association appreciates Congressman Feenstra’s keen awareness of challenges facing the poultry industry and his leadership on the House Agriculture Committee to support Iowa’s poultry and egg producers,” said Kevin Stiles, CEO and Executive Director of the North Central Poultry Association. “His efforts to help farmers protect their flocks and herds in Iowa, Minnesota, and across the country should prove expedient as we work together to proactively mitigate the impact of animal diseases. We strongly support the SAFE Act and encourage Congress to swiftly pass this vital legislation to protect animal health, bolster egg and poultry exports, and maintain America’s status as the breadbasket to our country and the world.”

    “Ensuring turkey is available to consumers is essential to the success of Iowa’s turkey farmers.  When a devastating disease, like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infect a turkey flock, trade is disrupted, leading to financial losses to the turkey industry,” said Gretta Irwin, Executive Director of the Iowa Turkey Federation. “Preemptively negotiating regionalization agreements for known animal diseases, like HPAI, makes sense. This bill takes a critical step to ensure turkey products can effortlessly be exported during a disease disruption and reduce financial strain to the turkey industry.”

    “State departments of agriculture play a critical role on the frontlines of foreign animal disease prevention, mitigation and recovery, and we appreciate this bipartisan effort to enable farmers and ranchers to more easily export safe food products to our trading partners,” said Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. “More collaboration and communication among federal partners enables state agriculture departments and U.S. farmers to better prepare and respond in the case of an outbreak and ultimately leads to stronger animal health and welfare across the U.S. NASDA thanks Congressmen Feenstra and Panetta for their leadership on this important issue.”

    “Ensuring America’s turkey producers are not unnecessarily restricted in the global market is a common-sense step that would help the turkey industry persevere through the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak,” said Leslee Oden, President and CEO at the National Turkey Federation. “NTF commends Rep. Feenstra (IA-04) for reintroducing the SAFE Act to aid in updating valuable regionalization agreements with key trading partners as members of the turkey industry simultaneously battle export market disruption and animal health challenges.”

    “NARA supports the SAFE Act for its proactive approach to animal disease preparedness. We commend Reps. Feenstra and Panetta for advancing regionalization agreements that help prevent unnecessary export disruptions and keep markets open,” said Kent Swisher, President and CEO of the North American Renderers Association.

    “We thank Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA-4) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) for championing legislative efforts to secure U.S. export markets for animal-based feed and pet food products in the face of foreign animal disease threats. These products are a critical, yet often overlooked, component of the food supply chain. The AFIA strongly backs the SAFE Act and our members are committed to working alongside the U.S. government to implement proactive measures to help shield our economy from future risks,” said Constance Cullman, President and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association.

    Full legislative text can be found HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Eagle Bancorp Montana Earns $3.2 Million, or $0.41 per Diluted Share, in the First Quarter of 2025; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.1425 Per Share and Renews Stock Repurchase Plan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HELENA, Mont., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $3.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter, and $1.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.

    Eagle’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1425 per share on April 24, 2025. The dividend will be payable June 6, 2025, to shareholders of record May 16, 2025. The current dividend represents an annualized yield of 3.43% based on recent market prices.

    “We produced solid first quarter 2025 operating results, reflecting quarterly deposit growth, a reduction in operating expenses and net interest margin expansion,” said Laura F. Clark, President and CEO. “We are making progress in building our community bank franchise across the state of Montana, highlighted by a steady core deposit base and a well-balanced loan portfolio. We are one of only three publicly traded financial institutions based in Montana, and while market volatility and interest rate cycles continue to impact the overall economy, we remain well positioned in our markets to continue to grow.”

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights (at or for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, except where noted):

    • Net income was $3.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter, and increased 70.7% compared to $1.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the first quarter a year ago.
    • Net interest margin (“NIM”) was 3.74% in the first quarter of 2025, a 15-basis point increase compared to 3.59% in the preceding quarter and a 41-basis point increase compared to the first quarter a year ago.
    • Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, increased 0.7% to $16.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and increased 11.1% compared to $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Revenues (net interest income before the provision for credit losses, plus noninterest income) decreased 2.1% to $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $21.4 million in the preceding quarter and increased 9.1% compared to $19.2 million in the first quarter a year ago.
    • Total loans increased 1.7% to $1.52 billion, at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.50 billion a year earlier, and remained unchanged compared to $1.52 billion at December 31, 2024.
    • Total deposits increased $54.4 million or 3.3% to $1.69 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to a year earlier, and increased $8.7 million or 0.5%, compared to December 31, 2024.
    • The allowance for credit losses represented 1.10% of portfolio loans and 313.1% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 1.10% of total portfolio loans and 227.6% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2024.
    • The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend in the first quarter of $0.1425 per share on March 7, 2025, to shareholders of record February 14, 2025.
    • The Company’s available borrowing capacity was approximately $437.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $404.0 million at December 31, 2024.
      March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024
    (Dollars in thousands) Borrowings Outstanding Remaining Borrowing Capacity Borrowings Outstanding Remaining Borrowing Capacity
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances $ 124,952 $ 310,857 $ 140,930 $ 276,664
    Federal Reserve Bank discount window   –   26,509   –   27,349
    Correspondent bank lines of credit   –   100,000   –   100,000
    Total $ 124,952 $ 437,366 $ 140,930 $ 404,013
                     

    Balance Sheet Results

    Total assets were $2.09 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $2.08 billion a year ago, and $2.10 billion three months earlier. The investment securities portfolio totaled $291.7 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $311.2 million a year ago, and $292.6 million at December 31, 2024.

    Eagle originated $43.2 million in new residential mortgages during the quarter and sold $42.8 million in residential mortgages, with an average gross margin on sale of mortgage loans of approximately 3.15%. This production compares to residential mortgage originations of $68.1 million in the preceding quarter with sales of $64.0 million and an average gross margin on sale of mortgage loans of approximately 3.18%. Mortgage volumes remain low as rates have continued to be elevated relative to rates on existing mortgages.

    Total loans increased $26.1 million, or 1.7%, compared to a year ago, and increased $2.9 million, or 0.2%, from three months earlier. Commercial real estate loans increased 5.3% to $666.3 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $632.5 million a year earlier. Commercial real estate loans were comprised of 71.9% non-owner occupied and 28.1% owner occupied at March 31, 2025. Agricultural and farmland loans increased 10.7% to $284.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $257.0 million a year earlier. Residential mortgage loans decreased 4.9% to $149.7 million, compared to $157.4 million a year earlier. Commercial loans increased 1.5% to $139.7 million, compared to $137.6 million a year ago. Commercial construction and development loans decreased 25.5% to $110.1 million, compared to $147.7 million a year ago. Home equity loans increased 11.3% to $100.7 million, residential construction loans increased 1.1% to $45.5 million, and consumer loans decreased 9.1% to $27.0 million, compared to a year ago.

    “Our deposit mix has shifted over the last several quarters towards higher yielding deposits due to the higher interest rate environment, a trend that has affected most community banks. However, we have started to experience an ease in deposit pricing following the Fed rate cuts in the second half of 2024, and we anticipate this will continue as CDs continue to reprice,” said Miranda Spaulding, CFO.

    Total deposits increased to $1.69 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.64 billion at March 31, 2024, and $1.68 billion at December 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing checking accounts represented 24.3%, interest-bearing checking accounts represented 12.5%, savings accounts represented 12.6%, money market accounts comprised 23.5% and time certificates of deposit made up 27.1% of the total deposit portfolio at March 31, 2025. Time certificates on deposits include $6.2 million in brokered certificates at March 31, 2025, compared to $50.0 million at March 31, 2024 and no brokered certificates at December 31, 2024. The average cost of total deposits was 1.67% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 1.71% in the preceding quarter and 1.62% in the first quarter of 2024. The estimated amount of uninsured deposits was approximately $309.0 million, or 18% of total deposits, at March 31, 2025, compared to $323.0 million, or 19% of total deposits, at December 31, 2024.

    FHLB advances and other borrowings decreased to $125.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $177.5 million at March 31, 2024, and $140.9 million at December 31, 2024. The average cost of FHLB advances and other borrowings was 4.75% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 5.02% in the preceding quarter and 5.53% in the first quarter of 2024.
    Shareholders’ equity was $177.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $168.9 million a year earlier and $174.8 million three months earlier. Book value per share increased to $22.26 at March 31, 2025, compared to $21.07 a year earlier and $21.77 three months earlier. Tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity, less goodwill and core deposit intangible, by common shares outstanding, increased to $17.38 at March 31, 2025, compared to $16.05 a year earlier and $16.88 three months earlier.

    Operating Results

    “As anticipated, the higher yields on interest earning assets combined with a lower cost of funds contributed to our 15-basis point NIM expansion during the quarter, compared to the preceding quarter,” said Spaulding. “We anticipate continued improvement in our cost of funds based on current Fed rates.”

    Eagle’s NIM was 3.74% in the first quarter of 2025, a 15-basis point increase compared to 3.59% in the preceding quarter and a 41-basis point improvement compared to the first quarter a year ago. The interest accretion on acquired loans totaled $172,000 and resulted in a four basis-point increase in the NIM during the first quarter of 2025, compared to $161,000 and a four basis-point increase in the NIM during the preceding quarter. Average yields on interest earning assets for the first quarter of 2025 increased to 5.76%, compared to 5.70% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 5.47% in the first quarter a year ago. Funding costs for the first quarter of 2025 were 2.54%, compared to 2.69% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2.67% in the first quarter of 2024.

    Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, increased 0.7% to $16.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and increased 11.1% compared to $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    Total noninterest income decreased 12.2% to $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $4.6 million in the preceding quarter, and unchanged compared to $4.0 million in the first quarter a year ago. Net mortgage banking income, the largest component of noninterest income, totaled $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $2.8 million in the preceding quarter and $2.2 million in the first quarter a year ago. This decrease compared to the preceding quarter was largely driven by a decline in net gain on sale of mortgage loans, which was impacted by lower mortgage loan volumes.

    Eagle’s first quarter noninterest expense was $17.0 million, a decrease of 3.9% compared to $17.7 million in the preceding quarter and unchanged compared to $17.0 million in the first quarter a year ago. Contract changes led to lower data processing expense, which contributed to the quarter-over-quarter decrease.

    For the first quarter of 2025, the Company recorded income tax expense of $631,000. This compared to income tax expense of $269,000 in the preceding quarter and $370,000 in the first quarter of 2024. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was 16.3%, which was unchanged compared to 16.3% for the first quarter of 2024. The preceding quarter’s effective tax rate was 7.3%. The effective tax rate has been impacted by an increase in the proportion of tax-exempt income compared to pretax earnings, as well as tax credits from investments in low-income housing tax credit projects.  

    Credit Quality

    During the first quarter of 2025, Eagle recorded a $42,000 provision for credit losses. This compared to a $36,000 recapture in the provision for credit losses in the preceding quarter and a $135,000 recapture in the provision for credit losses in the first quarter a year ago. The allowance for credit losses represented 313.1% of nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 437.7% three months earlier and 227.6% a year earlier. Nonperforming loans were $5.3 million at March 31, 2025, $3.9 million at December 31, 2024, and $7.2 million a year earlier. Net loan charge-offs totaled $2,000 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to net loan charge-offs of $44,000 in the preceding quarter and net loan recoveries of $65,000 in the first quarter a year ago. The allowance for credit losses was $16.7 million, or 1.10% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, compared to $16.9 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, and $16.4 million, or 1.10% of total loans, a year ago.

    Capital Management

    The ratio of tangible common shareholders’ equity (shareholders’ equity, less goodwill and core deposit intangible) to tangible assets (total assets, less goodwill and core deposit intangible) was 6.77% at March 31, 2025, up from 6.32% a year ago and 6.57% three months earlier. This ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For the most comparable GAAP financial measure, see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. As of March 31, 2025, the Bank’s regulatory capital was in excess of all applicable regulatory requirements and is deemed well capitalized. The Bank’s Tier 1 capital to adjusted total average assets was 10.29% as of March 31, 2025.

    Stock Repurchase Authority

    Eagle announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 400,000 shares of its common stock beginning May 1, 2025, representing approximately 5.0% of outstanding shares. Under the plan, shares may be purchased by the Company on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares and the timing of such repurchase will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations. The plan is expected to be in place for approximately 12 months, but may be suspended, terminated or modified by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time. The plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares.

    About the Company

    Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Helena, Montana, and is the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana, a community bank established in 1922 that serves consumers and small businesses in Montana through 30 banking offices. Additional information is available on the Bank’s website at www.opportunitybank.com. The shares of Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “EBMT.”

    Forward Looking Statements

    This release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “will” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “estimated,” and “potential.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements of our goals, intentions, expectations and anticipations; statements regarding our business plans, prospects, mergers, growth and operating strategies; statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements; general economic conditions and political events, either nationally or in our market areas, that are worse than expected; the emergence or continuation of widespread health emergencies or pandemics, including but not limited to vaccine efficacy and immunization rates, new variants, steps taken by governmental and other authorities to contain, mitigate and combat the pandemic, adverse effects on our employees, customers and third-party service providers, the increase in cyberattacks in the current work-from-home environment; the impact of volatility in the U.S. banking industry, including the associated impact of any regulatory changes or other mitigation efforts taken by governmental agencies in response thereto; the impact of any new regulatory, policy or enforcement developments resulting from the change in U.S. presidential administration, including the implantation of tariffs and other protectionist trade policies; the possibility that future credit losses may be higher than currently expected due to changes in economic assumptions, customer behavior, adverse developments with respect to U.S. economic conditions and other uncertainties, including the impact of supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures and labor shortages on economic conditions and our business; an inability to access capital markets or maintain deposits or borrowing costs; competition among banks, financial holding companies and other traditional and non-traditional financial service providers; loan demand or residential and commercial real estate values in Montana; the concentration of our business in Montana; our ability to continue to increase and manage our commercial real estate, commercial business and agricultural loans; the costs and effects of legal, compliance and regulatory actions, changes and developments, including the initiation and resolution of legal proceedings (including any securities, bank operations, consumer or employee litigation); inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments; adverse changes in the securities markets that lead to impairment in the value of our investment securities and goodwill; other economic, governmental, competitive, regulatory and technological factors that may affect our operations; our ability to implement new technologies and maintain secure and reliable technology systems including those that involve the Bank’s third-party vendors and service providers; cyber incidents, or theft or loss of Company or customer data or money; the effects of any U.S. federal government shutdown, or closures or significant staff reductions in agencies regulating our business; our ability to navigate differing social, environmental, and sustainability concerns among governmental administrations, our stakeholders and other activists that may arise from our business activities; the effect of our recent or future acquisitions, including the failure to achieve expected revenue growth and/or expense savings, the failure to effectively integrate their operations, the outcome of any legal proceedings and the diversion of management time on issues related to the integration.

    Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and the company undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States, or GAAP, in this release, including the Financial Ratios and Other Data contains non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures include: 1) core efficiency ratio, 2) tangible book value per share and 3) tangible common equity to tangible assets. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance, performance trends and financial condition, and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of such financial performance. In particular, the use of tangible book value per share and tangible common equity to tangible assets is prevalent among banking regulators, investors and analysts.

    The numerator for the core efficiency ratio is calculated by subtracting acquisition costs and intangible asset amortization from noninterest expense. Tangible assets and tangible common shareholders’ equity are calculated by excluding intangible assets from assets and shareholders’ equity, respectively. For these financial measures, our intangible assets consist of goodwill and core deposit intangible. Tangible book value per share is calculated by dividing tangible common shareholders’ equity by the number of common shares outstanding. We believe that this measure is consistent with the capital treatment by our bank regulatory agencies, which exclude intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios and present this measure to facilitate the comparison of the quality and composition of our capital over time and in comparison, to our competitors.

    Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not audited. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. Further, the non-GAAP financial measure of tangible book value per share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for book value per share or total shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure reported by other companies. Eagle strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are presented below.

    Balance Sheet          
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)     (Unaudited)  
            March 31, December 31, March 31,
            2025 2024 2024
                 
    Assets:        
      Cash and due from banks   $ 21,360   $ 29,824   $ 19,479  
      Interest bearing deposits in banks     1,445     1,735     1,438  
        Total cash and cash equivalents     22,805     31,559     20,917  
      Securities available-for-sale, at fair value     291,661     292,590     311,227  
      Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock     7,101     7,778     8,449  
      Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock     4,131     4,131     4,131  
      Mortgage loans held-for-sale, at fair value     6,223     13,368     9,612  
      Loans:        
      Real estate loans:        
      Residential 1-4 family     149,699     153,721     157,414  
      Residential 1-4 family construction     45,508     45,701     45,026  
      Commercial real estate     666,265     645,962     632,452  
      Commercial construction and development     110,107     124,211     147,740  
      Farmland     153,456     146,610     140,246  
      Other loans:        
      Home equity     100,665     97,543     90,418  
      Consumer     26,978     28,513     29,677  
      Commercial     139,668     144,039     137,640  
      Agricultural     131,162     134,346     116,775  
        Total loans     1,523,508     1,520,646     1,497,388  
      Allowance for credit losses     (16,720 )   (16,850 )   (16,410 )
        Net loans     1,506,788     1,503,796     1,480,978  
      Accrued interest and dividends receivable     13,271     12,890     12,038  
      Mortgage servicing rights, net     15,282     15,376     15,738  
      Assets held-for-sale, at cost     960     960     –  
      Premises and equipment, net     101,759     101,540     97,643  
      Cash surrender value of life insurance, net     53,573     53,232     48,218  
      Goodwill     34,740     34,740     34,740  
      Core deposit intangible, net     4,181     4,499     5,514  
      Other assets     25,941     26,631     26,869  
        Total assets   $ 2,088,416   $ 2,103,090   $ 2,076,074  
                 
    Liabilities:        
      Deposit accounts:        
      Noninterest bearing   $ 411,272   $ 419,211   $ 408,781  
      Interest bearing     1,278,694     1,262,017     1,226,818  
        Total deposits     1,689,966     1,681,228     1,635,599  
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities     36,739     47,018     34,950  
      FHLB advances and other borrowings     124,952     140,930     177,540  
      Other long-term debt, net     59,186     59,149     59,037  
        Total liabilities     1,910,843     1,928,325     1,907,126  
                 
    Shareholders’ Equity:        
      Preferred stock (par value $0.01 per share; 1,000,000 shares      
      authorized; no shares issued or outstanding)     –     –     –  
      Common stock (par value $0.01; 20,000,000 shares authorized;      
      8,507,429 shares issued; 7,977,177, 8,027,177 and 8,016,784      
      shares outstanding at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and      
      March 31, 2024, respectively     85     85     85  
      Additional paid-in capital     108,451     108,334     108,893  
      Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan   (3,867 )   (4,011 )   (4,440 )
      Treasury stock, at cost (530,252, 480,252 and 490,645 shares at      
      March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively)   (11,517 )   (10,761 )   (11,124 )
      Retained earnings     103,366     101,264     96,797  
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (18,945 )   (20,146 )   (21,263 )
        Total shareholders’ equity     177,573     174,765     168,948  
        Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,088,416   $ 2,103,090   $ 2,076,074  
                 
    Income Statement     (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Three Months Ended
            March 31, December 31, March 31,
            2025 2024 2024
    Interest and dividend income:        
      Interest and fees on loans   $ 23,320 $ 23,756   $ 21,942  
      Securities available-for-sale     2,451   2,475     2,724  
      FRB and FHLB dividends     260   308     247  
      Other interest income     38   148     29  
        Total interest and dividend income     26,069   26,687     24,942  
    Interest expense:        
      Interest expense on deposits     6,871   7,216     6,548  
      FHLB advances and other borrowings     1,626   2,005     2,497  
      Other long-term debt     670   676     683  
        Total interest expense     9,167   9,897     9,728  
    Net interest income     16,902   16,790     15,214  
    Provision (recapture) for credit losses     42   (36 )   (135 )
        Net interest income after provision for credit losses     16,860   16,826     15,349  
                 
    Noninterest income:        
      Service charges on deposit accounts     389   387     400  
      Mortgage banking, net     2,125   2,818     2,177  
      Interchange and ATM fees     593   675     563  
      Appreciation in cash surrender value of life insurance     350   408     288  
      Net loss on sale of available-for-sale securities     –   (141 )   –  
      Other noninterest income     559   425     524  
        Total noninterest income     4,016   4,572     3,952  
                 
    Noninterest expense:        
      Salaries and employee benefits     9,664   9,830     9,718  
      Occupancy and equipment expense     2,302   2,194     2,099  
      Data processing     1,330   1,715     1,525  
      Software subscriptions     658   576     528  
      Advertising     232   466     253  
      Amortization     320   337     369  
      Loan costs     372   372     398  
      FDIC insurance premiums     231   287     299  
      Professional and examination fees     520   596     484  
      Other noninterest expense     1,377   1,323     1,360  
        Total noninterest expense     17,006   17,696     17,033  
                 
    Income before provision for income taxes     3,870   3,702     2,268  
    Provision for income taxes     631   269     370  
    Net income   $ 3,239 $ 3,433   $ 1,898  
                 
    Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.41 $ 0.44   $ 0.24  
    Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.41 $ 0.44   $ 0.24  
                 
    Basic weighted average shares outstanding     7,812,248   7,862,279     7,824,928  
                 
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding     7,823,636   7,868,507     7,835,304  
                 
    ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION   (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended or Years Ended
          March 31, December 31, March 31
           2025  2024  2024
               
    Mortgage Banking Activity (For the quarter):      
      Net gain on sale of mortgage loans $ 1,349   $ 2,036   $ 1,414  
      Net change in fair value of loans held-for-sale and derivatives   (115 )   (3 )   (173 )
      Mortgage servicing income, net   891     785     936  
        Mortgage banking, net $ 2,125   $ 2,818   $ 2,177  
               
    Performance Ratios (For the quarter):      
      Return on average assets   0.62 %   0.65 %   0.37 %
      Return on average equity   7.66 %   8.12 %   4.67 %
      Yield on average interest earning assets   5.76 %   5.70 %   5.47 %
      Cost of funds   2.54 %   2.69 %   2.67 %
      Net interest margin   3.74 %   3.59 %   3.33 %
      Core efficiency ratio*   79.77 %   81.26 %   86.95 %
               
    Asset Quality Ratios and Data: As of or for the Three Months Ended
          March 31, December 31, March 31,
           2025  2024  2024
               
      Nonaccrual loans $ 2,701   $ 3,227   $ 5,231  
      Loans 90 days past due and still accruing   2,638     623     1,979  
        Total nonperforming loans   5,339     3,850     7,210  
      Other real estate owned and other repossessed assets   46     45     –  
        Total nonperforming assets $ 5,385   $ 3,895   $ 7,210  
               
      Nonperforming loans / portfolio loans   0.35 %   0.25 %   0.48 %
      Nonperforming assets / assets   0.26 %   0.19 %   0.35 %
      Allowance for credit losses / portfolio loans   1.10 %   1.11 %   1.10 %
      Allowance for credit losses/ nonperforming loans   313.17 %   437.66 %   227.60 %
      Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter $ 6   $ 51   $ 1  
      Gross loan recoveries for the quarter $ 4   $ 7   $ 66  
      Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter $ 2   $ 44   $ (65 )
               
               
          March 31, December 31, March 31,
           2025  2024  2024
    Capital Data (At quarter end):      
      Common shareholders’ equity (book value) per share $ 22.26   $ 21.77   $ 21.07  
      Tangible book value per share** $ 17.38   $ 16.88   $ 16.05  
      Shares outstanding   7,977,177     8,027,177     8,016,784  
      Tangible common equity to tangible assets***   6.77 %   6.57 %   6.32 %
               
    Other Information:      
      Average investment securities for the quarter $ 293,273   $ 300,088   $ 314,129  
      Average investment securities year-to-date $ 293,273   $ 306,538   $ 314,129  
      Average loans for the quarter **** $ 1,526,774   $ 1,533,686   $ 1,499,293  
      Average loans year-to-date **** $ 1,526,774   $ 1,523,384   $ 1,499,293  
      Average earning assets for the quarter $ 1,835,210   $ 1,858,078   $ 1,830,316  
      Average earning assets year-to-date $ 1,835,210   $ 1,850,120   $ 1,830,316  
      Average total assets for the quarter $ 2,079,142   $ 2,107,357   $ 2,066,579  
      Average total assets year-to-date $ 2,079,142   $ 2,092,051   $ 2,066,579  
      Average deposits for the quarter $ 1,671,349   $ 1,671,653   $ 1,625,770  
      Average deposits year-to-date $ 1,671,349   $ 1,636,390   $ 1,625,770  
      Average equity for the quarter $ 169,088   $ 169,054   $ 162,637  
      Average equity year-to-date $ 169,088   $ 164,591   $ 162,637  
               
    * The core efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing non-interest expense, exclusive of acquisition
    costs and intangible asset amortization, by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.
    ** The tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity,
    less goodwill and core deposit intangible, by common shares outstanding.
    *** The tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing shareholders’
    equity, less goodwill and core deposit intangible, by total assets, less goodwill and core deposit intangible.
    **** Includes loans held for sale
               
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures      
               
    Core Efficiency Ratio (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended
          March 31, December 31, March 31,
          2025 2024 2024
    Calculation of Efficiency Ratio:      
      Noninterest expense – efficiency ratio numerator $ 17,006   $ 17,696   $ 17,033  
               
      Net interest income   16,902     16,790     15,214  
      Noninterest income   4,016     4,572     3,952  
        Efficiency ratio denominator   20,918     21,362     19,166  
               
      Efficiency ratio (GAAP)   81.30 %   82.84 %   88.87 %
               
    Calculation of Core Efficiency Ratio:      
      Noninterest expense $ 17,006   $ 17,696   $ 17,033  
      Intangible asset amortization   (320 )   (337 )   (369 )
        Core efficiency ratio numerator   16,686     17,359     16,664  
               
      Net interest income   16,902     16,790     15,214  
      Noninterest income   4,016     4,572     3,952  
        Core efficiency ratio denominator   20,918     21,362     19,166  
               
      Core efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)   79.77 %   81.26 %   86.95 %
               
    Tangible Book Value and Tangible Assets (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, December 31, March 31,
          2025 2024 2024
    Tangible Book Value:      
      Shareholders’ equity $ 177,573   $ 174,765   $ 168,948  
      Goodwill and core deposit intangible, net   (38,921 )   (39,239 ) $ (40,254 )
        Tangible common shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP) $ 138,652   $ 135,526   $ 128,694  
               
      Common shares outstanding at end of period   7,977,177     8,027,177     8,016,784  
               
      Common shareholders’ equity (book value) per share (GAAP) $ 22.26   $ 21.77   $ 21.07  
               
      Tangible common shareholders’ equity (tangible book value)      
        per share (non-GAAP) $ 17.38   $ 16.88   $ 16.05  
               
    Tangible Assets:      
      Total assets $ 2,088,416   $ 2,103,090   $ 2,076,074  
      Goodwill and core deposit intangible, net   (38,921 )   (39,239 )   (40,254 )
        Tangible assets (non-GAAP) $ 2,049,495   $ 2,063,851   $ 2,035,820  
               
      Tangible common shareholders’ equity to tangible assets      
        (non-GAAP)   6.77 %   6.57 %   6.32 %
               
    Contacts: Laura F. Clark, President and CEO
    (406) 457-4007
    Miranda J. Spaulding, SVP and CFO
    (406) 441-5010

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For more information, visit www.growersedge.com.

    About Growers Edge

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

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

    About S2G Investments

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

    About Cibus Capital LLP

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

    About Lowercarbon Capital

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TAB Bank Kicks Off 2025 with $67 Million Loans for More Than 230 Companies in Q1

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OGDEN, Utah, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TAB Bank kicked off 2025 building value for over 230 companies by closing more than $67 million in financing in Q1. Businesses in the transportation, beauty, specialty finance and real estate industries, along with 70 small businesses, chose TAB Bank to help fund their growth. Types of financing included factoring, asset-based and equipment loans, small business lines of credit and real estate loans.

    Highlights of the largest Q1 2025 deals include:

    • $13 million—Capital Foundry, a Pittsburgh-based specialty finance lender providing various debt and credit products to small and middle-market companies.
    • $12 million—Commercial real estate loan for a Kentucky-based behavioral health hospital.
    • $6.5 million— HydroEdge Solutions of Pennsylvania, a leading water transfer and fluid management services provider for the energy industry.
    • $5 million—An agriculture finance company in Nevada specializing in factoring financing for farmers, agricultural businesses and fresh produce exporters in Mexico.
    • $4 million—A California company involved in the formulation, product development and manufacturing of beauty products.

    In addition, TAB Bank provided 17 companies, primarily in the transportation industry, term loans and lines of credit ranging from $40,000 to $500,000. In 1998, TAB Bank started its business financing over-the-road truckers and the broader transportation industry to help create consistent operational cash flow.

    “Companies from various industries trust TAB Bank to build value for their business,” said Justin Hatch, Chief Lending Officer at TAB Bank. “From straightforward lending to unique financing structures, we learn about each individual business to ensure their experience with TAB Bank is excellent and helps them grow their business.”

    The bank’s services include working capital, equipment financing, term loans, lines of credit and commercial real estate loans. TAB Bank’s specialists ensure each client is matched with the right financial product for their industry and growth stage. The bank supports businesses with stellar credit and those without, requiring alternative assessments. To determine creditworthiness, the bank considers various factors, such as income and operational history.

    For more information on TAB Bank’s capital financing and credit solutions, visit TABBank.com.

    About TAB Bank
    At TAB Bank, our mission is to unlock dreams with bold financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses nationwide. We are committed to making financial success accessible to everyone through our innovative banking products. Our dedication drives us to continuously improve, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients with excellence and agility. For over 25 years, we have remained steadfast in offering tailored, technology-enabled solutions designed to simplify and enhance the banking experience.

    For more information about how we can help you achieve your financial dreams, visit www.TABBank.com.

    Contact Information:
    Trevor Morris
    Director of Marketing
    801-710-6318
    trevor.morris@tabbank.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From cats and dogs to penguins and llamas, treating animals with acupuncture has become mainstream in veterinary medicine

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joe Smith, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee

    Kevin, a King Charles spaniel, receives acupuncture treatment at a Washington, D.C. animal hospital. Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images

    A perentie lizard in Dallas, an African penguin in Boston and an Oberhasli goat in Chicago are just a few recent examples of animals at zoos and aquariums benefiting recently from acupuncture therapy. As acupuncture has gained wide use in human medicine in the U.S., it also has become increasingly common in veterinary practice, especially for pain management.

    The Conversation U.S. interviewed University of Tennessee Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine Joe Smith, a specialist in farm animal medicine and veterinary clinical pharmacology, about this trend. He describes acupuncture’s current uses for treating many species, from household dogs and cats to large animals like horses, cows and llamas:

    Is veterinary acupuncture modeled on the traditional Chinese version?

    There are two schools of thought about veterinary acupuncture. The original form of acupuncture, which has been practiced for thousands of years, follows principles of traditional Chinese medicine. It views the patient through a lens of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

    Each element is associated with a different type of energy. Practitioners work to maintain balance between those energies, which they believe is essential for a healthy body to function.

    Another approach focuses on anatomical effects on the body. Practitioners place needles to achieve specific effects by stimulating muscles or nerves.

    Both versions of acupuncture can help veterinary patients. They use very small, flexible needles, about two-tenths of a millimeter wide – less than one-hundredth of an inch. The needles are placed at various parts of the body to elicit specific responses from connective tissues, muscles and nerves.

    The needles can be used by themselves, or with low levels of electrical current – a process called electroacupuncture. Both approaches are effective, but research suggests that benefits from electroacupunture last longer.

    Veterinary acupuncturists can treat nearly any animal, from a bear to a porcupine, a dog or a sea turtle.

    What does research show about using acupuncture on animals?

    Acupuncture and electroacupuncture both increase the body’s levels of compounds called endogenous opioids. These are pain-relieving substances that the body produces naturally. They work similarly to pharmaceutical opioids, such as fentanyl and morphine.

    Acupuncture increases these compounds so dramatically that the effect can be reversed with opioid antidotes, such as Narcan.

    Studies in small animal medicine show that using acupuncture can speed up healing from nerve injuries, such as spinal cord damage from herniated disks. This is a condition in which material from the disks in between the vertebra of the spinal cord is damaged, and puts pressure on the spinal cord and other parts of the nervous system.

    Herniated disks can be very painful for animals. A 2023 study found that when dogs with this condition were treated with acupuncture, nearly 80% recovered, compared with 60% of animals whose cases were managed conservatively without acupuncture. Acupuncture can also make other techniques, such as epidural nerve blocks, more effective when both methods are used together.

    Many vets are using acupuncture creatively for other purposes, such as increasing sick animals’ appetites, improving their digestion and accelerating healing from injuries.

    How does your veterinary medicine group use acupuncture?

    Our practice at the University of Tennessee has used acupuncture most extensively to help rehabilitate animals recovering from conditions like radial nerve paralysis and femoral nerve injury. We can use acupuncture to stimulate muscles or to provide pain relief, either by itself or combined with other therapies.

    In our Farm Animal Hospital, we regularly use acupuncture for recumbent or “down” animals. That’s a veterinary term for animals that have been unable to stand for extended periods of time.

    With acupuncture, and occasionally electroacupuncture, we can stimulate muscles and nerves that aren’t functioning normally. This help to prevent atrophy, or wasting and thinning of muscle mass.

    For every day that a large animal is down, its muscles atrophy and fluid builds up around injured limbs or joints. These effects can prolong their recovery, or even make it less likely that they will recover.

    By using acupuncture to stimulate atrophied muscles, veterinarians can start to reverse this process. We have used acupuncture extensively on large animals, including cattle, horses, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, pigs and even camels.

    One example is goats that have spinal cord injuries caused by parasite migration – a condition called cerebrospinal nematodiasis, or “meningeal worm.” Worm larvae that normally are parasites of white tail deer infect goats through the animals’ digestive tracts, then migrate to the spinal cord and nervous system. They get lost and die there, causing inflammation that can do significant damage.

    We use acupuncture and electroacupuncture to stimulate the goats’ large and accessory spinal nerves and the muscles in the animals’ legs and backs. This gives the goats more muscle function when the inflammation clears, and we believe it helps reduce their pain.

    We’ve also had good results with acupuncture treatment for llamas and alpacas, which are widely used in Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains to carry tourists’ gear up- and downhill. As large animals like these age, they can develop osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that’s incredibly painful and debilitating for them. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture can help keep them moving.

    Our equine services mainly use acupuncture for rehabilitation, helping horses recover from injuries.

    One advantage of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in large animals is that they don’t have many adverse effects. Drugs can have side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, and may cause potentially serious complications. An acupuncture needle placed by a trained veterinarian has few to no adverse effects when it’s done correctly.

    A crow and an opossum at the Nashville Zoo receive acupuncture treatment for mobility issues.

    Can pet owners be confident if their vet recommends acupuncture?

    If there is a nerve or muscle involved, there is probably a veterinary treatment option using acupuncture or electroacupuncture. New studies regularly add to our understanding of the neurology and biochemistry that underlie these therapies.

    Although we’re still learning, if your vet recommends acupuncture for an aging dog or cat – especially for chronic pain – you can be confident that it’s not a fringe treatment. As long as the person treating your pet is a licensed veterinarian, and is certified by a professional organization like Curacore, Chi University or the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture, acupuncture should make your pet more comfortable and improve its quality of life.

    Joe Smith has attended attended Curacore Inc’s Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians course.

    – ref. From cats and dogs to penguins and llamas, treating animals with acupuncture has become mainstream in veterinary medicine – https://theconversation.com/from-cats-and-dogs-to-penguins-and-llamas-treating-animals-with-acupuncture-has-become-mainstream-in-veterinary-medicine-226451

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. Reports Earnings of $1.2 Million, or $0.37 per Share, for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAMPSTEAD, Md., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), the parent company of Farmers and Merchants Bank (the “Bank” and, together with the Company, “we”, “us” and “our”), announced that net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was $1.2 million, or $0.37 per common share (basic and diluted), compared to $1.2 million, or $0.39 per common share (basic and diluted), for the same period in 2024. The Company’s return on average equity during the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was 8.22% compared to 9.40% for the same period in 2024. The Company’s return on average assets during the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was 0.57% compared to 0.61% for the same period in 2024.

    Net interest income was $5.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, an increase of $321 thousand over the $5.2 million reported for the same period in 2024. The increase was due to a 35 basis point increase in the yield on earning assets to 5.03% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 4.68% for the same period in 2024. Average earning assets increased $10.6 million to $790.6 million as of March 31, 2025. Average loans increased to $593.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, an increase of $59.1 million over the $534.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The combination of higher yields on earning assets plus higher average earning asset balances was the primary reason for the increase. Offsetting the increase in interest income was the higher cost of funds in 2025. The average interest rate paid on interest bearing liabilities was 2.70% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 2.48% for the same period in 2024. Average interest bearing liabilities increased to $650.0 million, an increase of $23.0 million when compared to the $627.0 million reported as of March 31, 2024.

    A provision for credit losses of $30 thousand was recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to no provision for credit loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company’s loan portfolio continues to perform at a high level with just four non-accrual loans totaling $2.6 million and two loans more than 30 days delinquent totaling $577 thousand at March 31, 2025.

    Noninterest income increased slightly to $514 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to $504 thousand for the same period in 2024. Mortgage banking income increased $24 thousand, income on bank owned life insurance increased $15 thousand, gains on the sale of investment securities increased $94 thousand, and other fees and commissions increased $37 thousand. The increases were offset by a decrease in service charges of $30 thousand and a decrease in insurance proceeds of $143 thousand due to the non-recurring receipt of insurance proceeds during the first quarter of 2024 in connection with storm damage to the Bank’s office building in Upperco, Maryland.

    Noninterest expense was $386 thousand higher for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was due primarily to a $175 thousand increase in occupancy and furniture and equipment costs, a $101 thousand increase in FDIC premiums, a $33 thousand increase in ATM related costs, and a $96 thousand increase in other expenses. The increase in other expenses was due primarily to legal fees incurred for stockholder matters and additional costs related to the Company’s captive insurance company subsidiary. The Bank’s FDIC assessment expense increased due to higher asset size and higher FDIC assessment rates. The increase in occupancy and furniture and equipment was due primarily to depreciation on the renovations and new equipment for the Bank’s Upperco, Maryland location which was placed in service at the end of the first quarter of 2024 and the Bank’s new Towson, Maryland location that was placed in service during the second quarter of 2024. The increase in ATM related expenses was due to vendor price increases.

    Income taxes decreased by $30 thousand during the quarter ended March 31, 2025 when compared to the same period in 2024 due to lower earnings before taxes. The effective tax rate decreased to 21.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 from 22.1% for the same period last year due to an increase in the amount of nontaxable income included in pretax income year over year.

    Total assets were $817.6 million at March 31, 2025 compared to $844.6 million at December 31, 2024. Compared to December 31, 2024, total loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, increased $17.1 million to $600.0 million at March 31, 2025. Offsetting the increase in loans was a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $42.0 million. The decrease was primarily due to the funding of new loans of $17.1 million, a decrease in deposits of $23.2 million, and the repayment of $5.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings. Deposits decreased to $735.6 million at March 31, 2025 from $758.8 million at December 31, 2024. The Company’s tangible equity was $51.5 million at March 31, 2025 compared to $49.2 million at December 31, 2024.

    The book value of the Company’s common stock increased to $18.44 per share at March 31, 2025 from $17.77 per share at December 31, 2024. Book value per share at March 31, 2025 was inclusive of the $15.6 million unrealized loss, net of income taxes, on the Bank’s available for sale (“AFS”) investment portfolio as a result of higher interest rates. Changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio, net of income taxes, are reflected in the Company’s equity, but are not included in the income statement. The AFS investment portfolio is comprised of 72% government agency mortgage backed securities which are fully guaranteed, 22% investment grade non agency mortgage backed securities, less than 1% investment grade corporate and municipal bonds, and 5% subordinated debt of other community banks. There is no indication of credit deterioration in any of the bonds and we intend to hold these investments to maturity, so no actual losses are anticipated. The unrealized loss in the AFS investment portfolio did not impact regulatory capital because the Bank elected many years ago to not include changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio in the calculation of regulatory capital regardless of whether they are positive or negative.

    Our Federal Home Loan Bank facility, other borrowing lines available, unpledged securities, brokered deposit access, and cash and cash equivalents provided us with access to approximately $337.8 million of liquidity as of March 31, 2025.

    Gary A. Harris, President and CEO, commented “Our loan growth remains strong with a $17.1 million increase in net loans over the past quarter. We previously announced the opening of the new Towson Commercial Banking Office. Since its inception in June 2024, the office has produced over $29 million in new commercial loans and $8 million in new relationship deposits through March 31, 2025. We believe that this new office will be instrumental in both loan and deposit growth in 2025. Our asset growth along with the Federal Reserve’s three interest rate decreases over the past seven months have led to positive gains in our net interest margin. Asset quality remains high and our liquidity position remains strong. We continue to believe that Farmers and Merchants is well positioned to grow earnings in 2025.”

    About the Company

    The Company is a financial holding company and the parent company of the Bank. The Bank was chartered in Maryland in 1919 and has over 100 years of service to the community. The Bank serves the deposit and financing needs of both consumers and businesses in Carroll and Baltimore Counties along the Route 30, Route 795, Route 140, Route 26, and Route 45 corridors. The main office is located in Upperco, Maryland, with seven additional Maryland branches in Owings Mills, Hampstead, Greenmount, Reisterstown, Westminster, Eldersburg, and Towson. Certain broker-dealers make a market in the common stock of Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc., and trades are reported through the OTC Markets Group’s Pink Market under the symbol “FMFG”.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management’s good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled “Risk Factors”.

     
    Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Unaudited)
     
    Dollars in thousands except per share and share data
     
      March 31, December 31,
        2025       2024  
         
    Assets  
         
    Cash and due from banks $ 21,779     $ 63,962  
    Federal funds sold and other interest-bearing deposits   918       697  
    Cash and cash equivalents   22,697       64,659  
    Certificates of deposit in other banks   100       100  
    Securities available for sale, at fair value   123,780       125,713  
    Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost less allowance for credit    
    losses of $62.5 thousand and $35.6 thousand   21,135       20,499  
    Equity security, at fair value   530       518  
    Restricted stock, at cost   715       921  
    Mortgage loans held for sale   240       157  
    Loans, less allowance for credit losses of $4.3 million and $4.3 million   600,048       582,993  
    Premises and equipment, net   7,316       7,349  
    Accrued interest receivable   2,376       2,439  
    Deferred income taxes, net   7,246       7,606  
    Other real estate owned, net   1,176       1,176  
    Bank owned life insurance   15,429       15,324  
    Goodwill and other intangibles, net   7,024       7,026  
    Other assets   7,746       8,163  
    Total assets $ 817,558     $ 844,643  
         
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity    
         
    Deposits    
    Noninterest-bearing $ 104,379     $ 107,197  
    Interest-bearing   631,219       651,609  
    Total deposits   735,598       758,806  
    Securities sold under repurchase agreements   5,482       5,564  
    Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta advances   –       5,000  
    Long-term debt, net of issuance costs   10,858       11,329  
    Accrued interest payable   766       1,003  
    Other liabilities   6,306       6,669  
    Total liabilities   759,010       788,371  
    Stockholders’ equity    
    Common stock, par value $.01 per share,    
    authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding    
    3,175,347 shares in 2025 and 3,166,653 shares in 2024   32       32  
    Additional paid-in capital   31,294       31,136  
    Retained earnings   42,777       41,613  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (15,555 )     (16,509 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   58,548       56,272  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 817,558     $ 844,643  
         
         
     
    Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    (Unaudited)
     
    Dollars in thousands except per share data
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025     2024  
         
    Interest income    
    Loans, including fees $ 8,366   $ 6,882  
    Investment securities – taxable   1,051     1,579  
    Investment securities – tax exempt   156     137  
    Federal funds sold and other interest earning assets   313     468  
    Total interest income   9,886     9,066  
         
    Interest expense    
    Deposits   4,249     3,101  
    Securities sold under repurchase agreements   17     23  
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   12     13  
    Federal Reserve Bank advances   –     622  
    Long-term debt   113     134  
    Total interest expense   4,391     3,893  
    Net interest income   5,495     5,174  
         
    Provision for credit losses   30     –  
         
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   5,465     5,174  
         
    Noninterest income    
    Service charges on deposit accounts   165     195  
    Mortgage banking income   29     5  
    Bank owned life insurance income   105     90  
    Fair value adjustment of equity security   9     (4 )
    Gain on sale of investment securities   94     –  
    Gain on insurance proceeds, net   –     143  
    Other fees and commissions   112     75  
    Total noninterest income   514     504  
         
    Noninterest expense    
    Salaries   2,207     1,976  
    Employee benefits   382     606  
    Occupancy   328     246  
    Furniture and equipment   335     242  
    Professional services   173     205  
    Automated teller machine and debit card expenses   168     135  
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation premiums   199     98  
    Postage, delivery, and armored carrier   78     82  
    Advertising   56     48  
    Other real estate owned expense   5     3  
    Other   567     471  
    Total noninterest expense   4,498     4,112  
         
    Income before income taxes   1,481     1,566  
    Income taxes   316     346  
    Net income $ 1,165   $ 1,220  
         
    Earnings per common share – basic $ 0.37   $ 0.39  
    Earnings per common share – diluted $ 0.37   $ 0.39  
         
         
    Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc.
    Selected Consolidated Financial Data
    (Unaudited)
    Dollars in thousands except per share data
           
      As of or For the Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024       2023  
           
    OPERATING DATA      
           
    Interest income $ 9,886     $ 9,066     $ 7,051.53  
    Interest expense   4,391       3,892       1,395  
    Net interest income   5,495       5,174       5,657  
    Provision for credit losses   30       –       (270 )
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   5,465       5,174       5,927  
    Noninterest income   514       504       382  
    Noninterest expense   4,498       4,112       3,757  
    Income before income taxes   1,481       1,566       2,552  
    Income taxes   316       346       651  
    Net income $ 1,165     $ 1,220     $ 1,901  
           
    PER SHARE DATA      
           
    Net income (Basic and diluted) $ 0.37     $ 0.39     $ 0.62  
    Dividends $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00  
    Book value $ 18.44     $ 17.03     $ 16.53  
           
    KEY RATIOS      
           
    Return on average assets   0.57 %     0.61 %     1.05 %
    Return on average equity   8.22 %     9.40 %     15.49 %
    Efficiency ratio   75.23 %     72.42 %     59.55 %
    Dividend payout ratio   0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
    Net yield on interest-earning assets   2.81 %     2.69 %     3.24 %
    Tier 1 capital leverage ratio   9.48 %     9.39 %     9.97 %
           
           
     
    Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc.
    Selected Consolidated Financial Data
    (Unaudited)
    Dollars in thousands except per share data
           
      As of or For the Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024       2023  
           
    AT PERIOD END      
           
    Total assets $ 817,558     $ 794,593     $ 722,679  
    Gross loans   604,352       541,398       525,485  
    Cash and cash equivalents   22,697       25,633       9,566  
    Securities   145,569       182,325       146,300  
    Deposits   735,598       655,978       637,309  
    Borrowings   10,858       71,742       24,625  
    Stockholders’ equity   58,548       53,077       50,757  
           
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES      
           
    Total assets $ 816,760     $ 799,841     $ 723,106  
    Gross loans   593,653       534,566       525,516  
    Cash and cash equivalents   26,648       37,224       8,719  
    Securities   169,215       208,134       169,873  
    Deposits   634,274       550,010       501,185  
    Borrowings   4,946       69,551       36,124  
    Stockholders’ equity   54,127       51,928       49,071  
           
    ASSET QUALITY      
           
    Nonperforming assets $ 3,789     $ 1,898     $ 1,898  
           
    Nonperforming assets/total assets   0.46 %     0.24 %     0.26 %
           
    Allowance for credit losses/total loans   0.71 %     0.80 %     0.87 %
           
    Contact: Mr. Gary A. Harris
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    (410) 374-1510, ext. 1104
       

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Cambodia, KOICA and WFP launch initiative to boost national homegrown school feeding programme

    Source: World Food Programme

    PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – The Royal Government of Cambodia, through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has launched a US$ 10 million initiative from 2025 to 2029 to accelerate the expansion of Cambodia’s national homegrown school feeding programme.

    The programme currently reaches 190,000 children across 686 schools. The renewed support from South Korea builds on the achievements of Phase I (2020—2024) and will enable MoEYS and WFP to provide hot, nutritious meals to 133,300 schoolchildren across 428 schools. These schools will be progressively integrated into the national programme with full government ownership and management expected by 2028. 

    “The Ministry is deeply grateful for the continued support from the Government of the Republic of Korea, KOICA, and WFP,” said H.E. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport. “Through this programme, we are not only improving access to nutritious food but also investing in Cambodia’s future by building a stronger, more resilient education system that supports our national development goals.” 

    The Royal Government of Cambodia has shown strong leadership and commitment to school meals. In August 2024, it approved the School Feeding Policy, a landmark step that formalized the programme’s role in contributing to education, nutrition, agriculture and social protection. This approach aligns closely with Cambodia’s broader human capital development agenda and the priorities of the Pentagonal Strategy—building a healthier, more educated, and resilient generation.

    “We are honoured to continue this important collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia and WFP,” said Moon Jung Choi, Country Director of KOICA Cambodia Office. “This second phase of support reaffirms the Government of Republic Korea’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development for the Cambodian people by supporting national systems that deliver lasting improvements in education, nutrition and rural livelihoods.”

    The national school feeding programme adopts a home-grown approach, linking education and nutrition with local agriculture by sourcing food from smallholder farmers. In a country where over half of the population relies on agriculture, this approach stimulates local economies, strengthens food systems and serves as a safety net for vulnerable families affected by recurrent shocks.

    “WFP is proud to continue supporting Cambodia’s journey towards a nationally owned, sustainable school feeding programme,” said Claire Conan, WFP Representative in Cambodia. “The renewed partnership with KOICA and MoEYS is a powerful example of how partnership can improve children’s well-being, enhance learning, and build more resilient communities.”

    In addition to meal provision, the programme focuses on capacity strengthening, infrastructure upgrades and institutional development at national, sub-national, and school levels. These efforts are designed to enable MoEYS to take ownership, while ensuring the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of the programme. 

    #                                  #                                  #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

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    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Synchronoss Technologies Announces the Successful Completion of Debt Refinancing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRIDGEWATER, N.J., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Synchronoss Technologies Inc. (“Synchronoss” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SNCR), a global leader and innovator in Personal Cloud platforms, announced that it has entered into an agreement with TP Birch Grove to refinance its existing senior notes and term loan facilities with a new $200 million, four-year term loan, extending the maturity of its debt and further enhancing the Company’s financial flexibility.

    Proceeds from the Term Loan will be used to repay the remaining $73.6 million principal of the original $75 million term loan facility and the $121 million remainder of the senior notes. The company will use approximately $8 million in funds off its balance sheet to complete the transaction, including fees, call protection payments, and accrued interest.

    The Term Loan carries a maturity date of April 24, 2029, and is priced at SOFR plus 700 basis points, with one 50bps leverage-based stepdown. TD Cowen served as Exclusive Financial Advisor for the term loan refinancing.

    “We’re pleased to announce the successful completion of our new term loan facility, which allows us to retire our senior notes and extend the maturity of our debt obligation until 2029. This eliminates the near-term overhang associated with the now-retired senior notes and adds to the financial stability of the Company,” said Lou Ferraro, Chief Financial Officer of Synchronoss. “This refinancing significantly improves our capital structure, which in turn provides Synchronoss with the ability to further invest in our Personal Cloud solution as well as provide greater operational flexibility moving forward. Considering the volatility surrounding the financial markets at this time, we’re pleased to provide shareholders with an additional level of certainty in our operations. We’re also once again grateful to TP Birch Grove, who also led our $75 million term loan refinancing in 2024, and TD Cowen for their outstanding partnership and support throughout the process.”

    TD Cowen acted as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Synchronoss. Kirkland & Ellis, LLP served as legal counsel to Synchronoss. Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP served as legal counsel to TP Birch Grove.

    About Synchronoss
    Synchronoss Technologies (Nasdaq: SNCR), a global leader in personal Cloud solutions, empowers service providers to establish secure and meaningful connections with their subscribers. Our SaaS Cloud platform simplifies onboarding processes and fosters subscriber engagement, resulting in enhanced revenue streams, reduced expenses, and faster time-to-market. Millions of subscribers trust Synchronoss to safeguard their most cherished memories and important digital content. Explore how our Cloud-focused solutions redefine the way you connect with your digital world at www.synchronoss.com.

    Media Relations Contact:
    Domenick Cilea
    Springboard
    dcilea@springboardpr.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Ryan Gardella
    ICR for Synchronoss
    SNCRIR@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    From business success to the National Science Foundation, from policymaking in Hartford to the world’s most popular YouTube sneaker channel, from the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation to the President of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences, the honored guests of UConn’s commencement ceremonies bring a wealth of experience, insight, and wisdom to share with this year’s graduates. Speakers at the ceremonies, which begin on Saturday, May 10, include:

    College of Engineering (Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Mark P. Sarkisian ’83

    Mark Sarkisian is a partner in the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. He is a licensed professional engineer and structural engineer in 31 states. In 2021, Sarkisian was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and is a member of the University of Connecticut Academy of Distinguished Engineers. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UConn in 1983, and his master’s degree in structural engineering from Lehigh University. Sarkisian’s career focuses on developing innovative structural engineering solutions for over 100 major building projects around the world, including the Jin Mao Tower in China and the Al Hamra Fidrous Tower in Kuwait, both over 1,300 feet[1]tall. Sarkisian holds 10 U.S. patents and five international patents. Sarkisian has authored over 150 technical papers related to the design of building structures, and in 2012 completed his first book, “Designing Tall Buildings – Structure as Architecture.” He teaches integrated studio design courses focused on collaborative design opportunities at the University of California, Berkeley; California College of the Arts; Stanford University; California Polytechnic State University; Northeastern University; North Carolina State University; and the Pratt Institute.

    School of Nursing (Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Joan Y. Reede

    Dr. Joan Y. Reede was appointed as Harvard Medical School’s (HMS) first Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership in January of 2002, and has been responsible for the development and management of a comprehensive program that has provided leadership, guidance, and support to promote the increased recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse faculty, particularly individuals from groups underrepresented in medicine. This charge includes oversight of all diversity activities at HMS as they relate to faculty, trainees, students, and staff. Reede is a graduate of Brown University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She completed a pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and a fellowship in child psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital. She holds an MPH and an MS in Health Policy Management from Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and an MBA from Boston University. Reede created and developed more than 20 programs at HMS that aim to address pathway and leadership issues for minorities and women who are interested in careers in medicine, academic and scientific research, and the health care professions. At a national level, Reede’s advice and expertise is highly sought after among several committees and councils, such as being appointed to the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Minority Health and serving on the Board of Governors for the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center. She also has many affiliations, including the Task Force for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, CTSA Women in CTR Interest Group of the NIH, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science STEM Education Review Committee.

    School of Business (Saturday, May 10, 1:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Richard Eldh ‘81

    Rich Eldh was born in the village of Ardsley, New York, and moved homes five times between the ages of 5 and 15. He attended Staples High School in Westport, graduating as a three-sport athlete and an all-state football player. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Connecticut. In what would have been his junior year, 1978–1979, he took a leave of absence to travel abroad, living in Kempten, Germany, in Bavaria. There, he worked at Dixie Union, a manufacturing company, as a computer programmer, where he developed new automation software for the finance department. This experience in Germany highlighted the significant impact computing technology would have on business. Motivated by this realization, he decided to pursue a career in the computer industry. Upon returning to the University of Connecticut for his final two years, he majored in finance at the School of Business and graduated in 1981 with a degree in Finance. He first joined a manufacturing firm implementing automation software, then moved to Four Phase Systems, a Motorola company, selling data entry systems. Later, he joined Hewlett-Packard, specializing in manufacturing systems and automation. It was at HP that he met his wife; they married and started a family. After working for two very large corporations, Rich joined a startup called Gartner Group in Stamford. He was the 100th employee, and in ten years, the company grew from $9 million in revenue to just under $1 billion with 4,500 employees. Today, Gartner boasts a market cap of $38 billion with 21,000 employees. These early career highlights led Rich to co-found Sirius Decisions, which became a leader in high-performance go-to[1]market research and benchmarking. Headquartered in Wilton, Sirius Decisions grew to 400 employees with private equity backing and offices worldwide. The company was eventually monetized for approximately $300 million through a sale to a public company in Boston. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of working with associates and clients across more than 50 countries. Alongside his career, Rich and his wife Joyce raised two daughters and a son. They have each found success in the medical field, the fashion world, and the blockchain and crypto industry, respectively.

    School of Social Work (Saturday, May 10, 1:30 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Maggie Mitchell Salem

    Maggie Mitchell Salem joined IRIS as Executive Director in January 2024. Throughout her nearly 30-year career, Maggie has managed diverse teams focused on civic education, intercultural dialogue, social and political rights, and forced displacement. She arrived in Connecticut following three years leading the National Democratic Institute’s democratic governance program in Tunisia. Given the exponential increase in the number of refugees, humanitarian parolees, and other immigrants that IRIS assists, Maggie has focused on organizational structure, systems, and policies that create a strong foundation for the organization’s continued growth. Her previous experience at Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services) and Fugees Academy have underscored the importance of collaborative, communicative leadership and management. For more than a decade, she was the founding executive director of Qatar Foundation International and expanded Arabic language and culture education to public K-12 schools across the U.S., UK, and Germany. As the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), she expanded or created new programs in Jordan, Iran, and Iraq. Maggie started up and led the Middle East Institute’s Communications Department from 2001-2004. She also served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Mumbai and Tel Aviv, and as staff on the Executive Secretariat of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Maggie was a Fulbright Scholar in Syria while studying for her Masters in Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. She has two sons and two daughters. She lives with her six dogs and two cats in East Haddam.

    Bachelor of General Studies (Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m. at Student Union Theater): Daniel Mercier ‘95

    Daniel Mercier graduated from the Bachelor of General Studies program in 1995 with a focus in Visual Communications. After serving as a Graphics Specialist for a few years, Mercier returned to UConn in 1998 as a Media Producer. In 2001, he transitioned to the role of Instructional Developer in the Instructional Design and Development Department. After completing a Master of Arts in Educational Technology in 2003, Mercier became Manager of Instructional Design and Development and ultimately served as Assistant Director and Director of the Institute of Teaching and Learning. In 2015, he took on the role of Director, Instructional Design, in the Center for Pedagogical Innovation at Wesleyan University. In 2017, Mercier returned to UConn as the Director of Academic Affairs at the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Mercier has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of instructional tools, to help faculty utilize technologies to reach our students. In his work, he has supported faculty, staff and students across the higher education landscape. His commitment to the University of Connecticut spans nearly 25 years. In his current position, he recruits faculty, oversees academic advising and other academic support programs, and develops partnerships between the Avery Point campus and other academic entities within and outside UConn. These partnerships include the support of students in the Bachelor of General Studies Program.

    College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (Saturday, May 10, 6 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Rodney Butler ’99 (BUS)

    Rodney A. Butler is the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) since January 2010. Butler’s service on Tribal Council began in 2004, and after one year, he was appointed Tribal Council Treasurer; a position he held through 2009. During his tenure, Butler chaired the Tribe’s Finance, Housing, and Judicial Committees, the MPTN Utility Authority, and served as an Interim CEO for Foxwoods Resort Casino. Butler earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut where he played Defensive Back for the UConn Huskies football team. Prior to Tribal Council, Butler worked in the finance department at Foxwoods Resort Casino. He later became Chairman of the Tribal Business Advisory Board; an executive body responsible for overseeing the Tribe’s non-gaming businesses and commercial properties. Butler was actively involved in multiple resort expansions at Foxwoods, as well as community development initiatives on the Reservation, the establishment of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribe Endowment Trust, and the legalization of Sports Betting and iGaming in the state of Connecticut. He was also a participant in Harvard Business School’s program “Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities.” He is a regular speaker on national panels related to Native American issues. Butler presently serves on the Board of Directors for Mashantucket Pequot Interactive and is on the board of Foxwoods El San Juan Casino. He also serves as the President of Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA), as Alternate Vice President for the National Congress of American Indians, and on the boards for the United South and Eastern Tribes, Indian Gaming Association, American Gaming Association, the Mystic Aquarium, and the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. He is the 2019 recipient of the Citizen of the Year award from the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, and the National Indian Gaming Association’s John Kieffer Sovereignty Award. In 2018, he received the St. Edmund’s Medal of Honor Award from the Enders Island Retreat Center. In 2017, Butler was appointed “Tribal Leader of the Year” by the NAFOA. As Chairman, Butler’s primary focus is to ensure long-term stability for the Tribe’s citizens, government, and business enterprises.

    School of Fine Arts (Saturday, May 10, 6 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Jacob G. Padrón

    Jacob G. Padrón is the Artistic Director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Sol Project, a national theater initiative that works in partnership with leading theater companies to amplify the voices of Latino playwrights in New York City and beyond. Padrón has held senior-level artistic positions at theater companies across the country. He was the Senior Line Producer at The Public Theater where he worked on new plays, new musicals, Shakespeare in the Park, and Public Works. He was formerly the Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago where he supported the artistic programming in the Garage – Steppenwolf’s dedicated space for new work, new artists, and new audiences. From 2008 to 2011, he was an Associate Producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival where he was instrumental in producing all shows in the 11-play repertory. Under the guidance of his late mentor Diane Rodriguez, he served as the producer of Suzan-Lori Parks’ “365 Days/365 Plays” for Center Theatre Group, a collaboration that included over 50 theater companies to launch Festival 365 in Los Angeles. He is a co-founder of the Artist Anti-Racism Coalition, a grassroots movement committed to dismantling structural racism within the Off-Broadway community. Jacob is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University (B.A.) and David Geffen School of Drama (M.F.A.). His first artistic home was El Teatro Campesino located in San Juan Bautista, California.

     

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Ceremony I (Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Maureen Ahern ‘85

    Maureen Ahern is an Executive Leadership Coach on her third career whose journey began in the same classrooms as today’s graduates. A proud Husky who earned both a Bachelors and a Masters, Maureen’s connection to UConn runs deep. For over 10 years, she returned to UConn Stamford each week as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Interpersonal Communications and Public Speaking after her corporate day job in New York, driven by her belief that becoming a great communicator gives you the power and confidence to take meaningful action to shape your future. Maureen started as a Sales Executive at The Associated Press and quickly rose to lead the Satellite Networks division before transitioning to Standard and Poor’s Comstock. At S&P she led many different departments as Director of Operations, VP of US Sales and Managing Director for Asian and South American markets, building successful international relationships while traveling the world. She was part of the management team that sold Comstock to IDC and then pivoted from corporate into the digital world, as Partner and COO of momAgenda, where she helped build a thriving e-commerce company. Drawing on her teaching background, leadership experience and desire to coach and mentor others, Maureen completed her leadership coaching certification at Georgetown University’s Transformational Leadership Institute. Today as Founder of Ahern Leadership Coaching and Consulting, Maureen partners with C-suite executives and emerging leaders across industries, facilitating leadership development through one-on-one coaching, team coaching, and specialized training and leadership development workshops. Her coaching philosophy – described by clients as “tough but loving”-centers on her belief that leaders aren’t born, they are made and that everyone has leadership capacity waiting to be unlocked through awareness, action and courage. Maureen was a mentor with the Freshman Founders Program at the Werth Institute at UConn Stamford, in addition to her volunteer work with CT NEXT and Startup Westport as a business mentor. She is also an angel investor with Tidal River Fund whose goal is to fund underrepresented founders. When not working with her clients whom she loves and adores, Maureen enjoys yoga, beach walks, and time with her three adult children (Patrick, Brendan and Caeleigh). She shares life in Cos Cob with her husband Mike Santini (fellow UConn grad) and their black lab, Nino.

    Neag School of Education (Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Suzanne M. Wilson

    Suzanne M. Wilson is the Neag Endowed Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, where she also serves as a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Her undergraduate degree is in history and American studies from Brown University; she also has an M.S. in statistics and a Ph.D. in psychological studies in education from Stanford University. She was a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University, where she served on the faculty for 26 years. Wilson also served as the first director of the Teacher Assessment Project, which developed prototype assessments for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Wilson is a committed teacher, having taught undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral classes in educational policy, teacher learning, and research methods. She has directed 36 dissertations and served as a committee member for another 45. Wilson serves on multiple editorial and advisory boards. She was elected to the National Academy of Education in 2013 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022. Wilson has written on teacher knowledge, qualitative methods, curriculum reform, educational policy, and teacher preparation and professional development. She has published in Science, American Educator, American Educational Research Journal, Educational Researcher, Review of Educational Research, Elementary School Journal, Teaching and Teacher Education, Journal of Teacher Education, Phi Delta Kappa, and Teaching Education. She is the author of “California Dreaming: Reforming Mathematics Education” (Yale, 2003) and editor of Lee Shulman’s collection of essays, “Wisdom of Practice: Essays on Teaching, Learning, and Learning to Teach” (Jossey-Bass, 2004). She is currently working on a collection of essays entitled, “Why Teach?”

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ceremony II (Sunday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Joe La Puma ‘05

    Joe La Puma serves as SVP of Content Strategy at Complex NTWRK and hosts Complex’s Sneaker Shopping, the world’s No. 1 sneaker show, which has garnered over 1 billion views on YouTube. He has been at the forefront of sneaker and street culture at Complex for the past 15 years. La Puma started his journalism career writing for The Daily Campus and was voted “Rookie of the Year” by fellow staffers. After graduating from UConn in 2005 with a degree in Journalism, he returned to Bay Shore to manage The Finish Line—where he previously worked in high school—while contributing articles to both local and global publications like Newsday and Hypebeast.com. In 2006, La Puma landed an internship at Complex magazine, a pop culture publication specializing in convergence culture through hip-hop, sneakers, and fashion. La Puma has written more cover stories (21) than any other writer in Complex history, including profiles on Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Kid Cudi. La Puma is also a published author of the book “Complex Presents: Sneaker of the Year: The Best Since ’85.” In his current SVP role, La Puma has led Complex to over 200% growth in audience and engagement. In 2014, Complex debuted the YouTube show Sneaker Shopping, a series that La Puma created and hosts to this day. Over the past decade of Sneaker Shopping, La Puma has interviewed icons like Eminem, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, Billie Eilish, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and conducted one of the only lifestyle interviews with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 election cycle. The show has filmed episodes across the U.S., as well as abroad in China, England, Spain, and Japan. With his extensive editorial work on footwear and over 300 episodes of Sneaker Shopping, La Puma is regarded as one of the foremost sneaker experts in the world. La Puma is a three-time Webby Award winner and has been featured on Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. In 2024, La Puma was inducted into the Bay Shore High School Hall of Fame, a group that includes only 79 members since the school opened in 1893. La Puma currently lives in Brooklyn, and takes half-days at work when he can during UConn Basketball March Madness runs.

    School of Pharmacy – Doctor of Pharmacy (Sunday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): JoAnn Trejo

    JoAnn Trejo, Ph.D., MBA is professor of pharmacology and senior assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Faculty Affairs at the University of California (UC) San Diego. She completed her undergraduate degree at UC Davis, earned her Ph.D. and MBA at UC San Diego and completed postdoctoral training at UC San Francisco. Trejo is a basic science researcher with expertise in cell signaling in the context of vascular inflammation and cancer. Her research has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and she is a recipient of a NIH R35 Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) and the American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. Trejo is an outstanding educator, mentor and a leader actively engaged in initiatives aimed at enhancing excellence in science and pharmacology. She is the director of five NIH-supported training programs including the UC San Diego IRACDA Postdoctoral Scholars Program, FIRST Program and three early career faculty development programs. Trejo served as an elected member of the leadership Council for the ASCB and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is a current member of the scientific advisory boards for Septerna and Versiti. She has also served on multiple NIH Study Sections, the NCI Board of Scientific Counselors for Basic Sciences, and Blavatnik, HHMI and Chan Zuckerberg foundation review panels. Trejo is a current member of the NIGMS Advisory Council. She is the Associate Editor for Molecular Biology of the Cell and is an editorial board member for Proceedings National Academy of Sciences Nexus, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. Trejo is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Fellow and 100 Inspiring Hispanic / Latinx Scientists and was recently elected honorary fellow of the British Pharmacological Society.

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ceremony III (Sunday, May 11, 5:30 p.m., Gampel Pavilion): Joe La Puma ‘05

    School of Pharmacy – Bachelor of Science (Sunday, May 11, 6 p.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Joe Honcz ‘98

    Joe Honcz is a distinguished expert in managed care and market access, boasting a robust 25-year career that spans significant sectors of the health care industry. Early in his career, he played a pivotal role in leading teams for the launch of Medicare Part D, followed by instrumental involvement in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act while at Anthem BCBS and Aetna. Since 2020, Joe has leveraged his profound understanding of managed care to deliver strategic market access insights, empowering over 20 biotech and pharmaceutical clients to effectively navigate complex market dynamics. His contributions have been crucial in the successful launch of innovative products in both traditional and rare/orphan disease categories. As a “pharmacy futurist,” he continues to drive innovation and shape market access strategies at Petauri Health, supporting the emerging pharmaceutical and health tech industries. His exceptional ability to anticipate industry trends has consistently provided clients with strategic advantages, enabling them to stay ahead of competitors with foresight and precision. Beyond his professional endeavors, Joe is actively involved at Yale Ventures as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and at the University of Connecticut Technology Commercialization Services in the same capacity. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Joseph School of Pharmacy and is on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and Avery’s Little Army, whose mission is to honor the legacy of Avery Marie Lafferty, an exceptionally brave cancer rebel, and all patients like her. Joe’s extensive background is complemented by diverse roles at Pfizer, Walgreens, Humana, PrecisionAQ, and CVS. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Connecticut, underscoring his deep roots and commitment to the field. In addition to being a Board member, he is also an AMCP diplomat to the UConn School of Pharmacy, where he fulfills his passion for mentoring and coaching.

    The Graduate School – Masters Ceremony (Monday, May 12, 9 a.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Manasse Mbonye ’95 Ph.D.

    Manasse Mbonye is a Founding Fellow of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences (RAS) and its current President. He is also the Group Leader and Professor, Rwanda Astrophysics Space and Climate Sciences Research Group (RASCSRG) at the University of Rwanda and a member of the national Science Advisory Group (SAG). By Training, Mbonye is a theoretical Astrophysicist and Cosmologist. He completed his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1995. Mbonye has taught Physics at various institutions including UConn, the University of Michigan, and RIT. He has also worked at NASA (Goddard Space Flight Center). In 2012, Mbonye returned to Africa. Since then, his appointments have included, Provost (later) Ag Rector (National University of Rwanda), the first Principal (University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology), and Executive Secretary (Rwanda’s National Council for Science and Technology, (NCST)). During Mbonye’s tenure, NCST instituted a major review of Rwanda’s Science, Technology, Research and Innovation (STRI) policy. Further, the National Research and Innovation Agenda (NRIA) was constructed, along with its implementation enabler, the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) framework. Rwanda launched the NRIF in June 2018. Mbonye has served on the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTCO) Board of Directors as its Rapporteur (2017-2018). He has also been Chairman of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) (2015-2018), Rwanda’s sole electric energy production source and utility company. Prof. Mbonye continues to do research and supervise students, at the University of Rwanda.

     

    UConn Health (Monday, May 12, 1 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Manisha Juthani

    Dr. Manisha Juthani, is the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Juthani is the first Indian American to serve as a commissioner in the State of Connecticut. She served as professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine through September 2024 and currently serves as an adjunct professor of medicine. She served as Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program from 2012 to 2021. Juthani received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, completed Internal Medicine residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell campus, and served as chief resident at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She came to Connecticut in 2002 as an Infectious Diseases fellow at Yale School of Medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Juthani was a leader in the COVID response at Yale which led to her appointment as Commissioner of CT DPH in 2021. In the early days of the pandemic, she was a voice to help educate the public in both local and national media outlets, a role she was able to expand in her role as Commissioner. Upon joining CT DPH, she helped guide Connecticut out of the pandemic and worked to revitalize areas of public health, such as gun violence, maternal health, opioid use, and sexually transmitted diseases, that were exacerbated during the pandemic. As she continues in her role as DPH Commissioner, Juthani has shifted her core vision to “Preserve and Protect Core Public Health Principles and Services.” As Connecticut is presented with new public health challenges, she remains committed to preserving public health achievements made over the years, including improvements in regulatory oversight in health care, drinking water, and environmental health which includes food safety. It is more important than ever to highlight the importance of vaccines, control of infectious diseases, road safety, and healthier mothers and babies. Clear, accurate communication about public health risks is vital to her mission. She continues to advocate for health as a human right which is the core vision of CT DPH. Juthani is on the Board of Directors of UConn Health.

    The Graduate School – Doctoral Ceremony (Monday, May 12, 6 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Sethuraman Panchanathan

    Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan is a computer scientist and engineer who served as the 15th director of the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2020 until 2025. Panchanathan was nominated to by the president in 2019 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on June 18, 2020. NSF is a $9.06 billion independent federal agency, and the only government agency charged with advancing all fields of scientific discovery, technological innovation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

    Panchanathan previously served as the executive vice president of the Arizona State University (ASU) Knowledge Enterprise, where he was also chief research and innovation officer. He was also the founder and director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU. Under his leadership, the university increased research performance fivefold, earning recognition as the fastest growing and most innovative research university in the U.S.

    Prior to joining NSF, Panchanathan was appointed by the president to serve on the National Science Board, where he was a chair of the Committee on Strategy and a member of the External Engagement and National Science and Engineering Policy committees. Additionally, he was chair of the Council on Research of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and co-chair of the Extreme Innovation Taskforce of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils. Arizona’s governor appointed Panchanathan as senior advisor for science and technology in 2018. He was the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) MultiMedia magazine and editor and associate editor of several international journals.

    For his scientific contributions, Panchanathan has received numerous awards, including honorary doctorates from prestigious universities, distinguished alumni awards, the Governor’s Innovator of the Year for Academia Award, the Washington Academy of Sciences Distinguished Career Award and the IEEE-USA Public Service Award.

    Panchanathan is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, where he also served as vice president for strategic initiatives. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE and the Society of Optical Engineering.

    School of Law (Sunday, May 18, 10:30 a.m. at UConn School of Law): Mayor Arunan Arulampalam

    The son of Sri Lankan refugees, Arunan Arulampalam was born in Zimbabwe and made a home and a family in Hartford after graduate school. Prior to being elected mayor of Hartford in November 2023, he served as CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, where he developed a first-in-the-nation program to train Hartford residents to become local developers and tackle blight in their city. Arulampalam served in Governor Ned Lamont’s administration as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Before that, he was a lawyer at the downtown firm Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. Arulampalam also served on the Board of the Hartford Public Library, the House of Bread, and on the Hartford Redevelopment Authority. He earned his BA in International Studies from Emory University and his JD from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: XenDex Soft Cap Almost Filled as Demand Explodes $XDX Tokens Selling Out Ahead of Exchange Listing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, Australia, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The window is closing fast. XenDex, the revolutionary all-in-one decentralized exchange built on the XRP Ledger, is on the brink of selling out its presale and early buyers may never see these current prices again, keep reading.

    In a week dominated by XRP market milestones, including Brazil’s first XRP Spot ETF approval, the SEC’s lawsuit withdrawal, and the greenlight for ProShares’ XRP Futures ETF — XenDex has emerged as the go-to DeFi platform for XRP holders. Now, with its soft cap almost completely filled, the urgency to secure $XDX tokens has reached new heights.

    Buy $XDX Now!

    XDX Price Set to Increase After Today

    Currently, 1 XRP = 10 XDX, But once the soft cap is filled, 1.25 XRP will be required to purchase 10 XDX.

    That’s a 25% increase after the soft cap is raised, and with demand surging, this is the final opportunity to buy $XDX at its lowest possible rate.

    Join the Presale Now: https://xendex.net/presale

    High-Profile Listings Confirmed

    Once the presale concludes, $XDX is already lined up for listing on major exchanges, including:

    • Binance
    • Gate.io
    • BitMart
    • MEXC
    • FirstLedger
    • MagneticX

    These listings will open the doors to global liquidity, institutional access, and high-volume trading, making today’s entry price even more critical.

    Purchase XDX At Lowest Presale Price

    What Makes XenDex Different

    Unlike anything currently on XRPL, XenDex delivers:

    • AI-Powered Copy Trading – Mirror elite trader strategies in real-time
    • Non-Custodial Lending & Borrowing – Borrow and lend XRP and XDX tokens to earn rewards
    • Cross-Chain Trading – Swap XRP tokens across major blockchains like Solana and BNB
    • Staking and Yield Farming – Earn rewards by supplying liquidity to the platform
    • DAO Governance – $XDX holders vote on upgrades and future developments

    Thousands are already in and holding $XDX, what are you waiting for?

    The XenDex community is exploding across Telegram and Twitter, with whales and retail investors alike locking in their $XDX allocations before the price jump. Presale supply is shrinking by the hour and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

    Join XenDex Presale

    Final chance to buy at launch price is now! Do not miss it.

    This is your last chance to get in before $XDX becomes more expensive.

    Don’t wait until tomorrow to regret what you could have done today.

    Visit Official XenDex Links

    Website: https://xendex.net
    Presale: https://xendex.net/presale
    Telegram: https://t.me/xendexcommunity
    Twitter/X: https://x.com/xendex_xrp
    Docs: https://xdxdocs.gitbook.io

    Contact:
    Frank Richards
    Frank@xendex.net

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5fc1748f-4060-4d9b-a620-c57ff79a5e61

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice-premier calls on SCO members to enhance cooperation in health sector

    Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health

    XI’AN — Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong on Monday called on the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to enhance cooperation in the health sector.

    He made the remarks during his address at the opening ceremony of the eighth SCO Health Ministers’ Meeting in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province.

    Noting that the health sector is an important area for SCO cooperation, Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the vision of building an SCO community of health, put forward by the Chinese head of state, has offered important guidelines for member states to deepen practical cooperation in the field.

    Fruitful results have been achieved in jointly safeguarding public health security, deepening exchanges on disease prevention and control technologies, advancing medical science and technology cooperation, and promoting the preservation, innovation and development of traditional medicine, according to Liu.

    He emphasized that relevant parties should focus on practical cooperation to jointly promote the development of the health sector and drive progress in medical science and technology through openness and innovation. He added that strengthening people-to-people exchanges and upholding multilateralism are also essential.

    World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered a video address while SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev gave a speech at the opening ceremony.

    Liu met with key international representatives ahead of the opening ceremony. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The Government of France contributes EUR 1 million to WFP resilience projects in Afghanistan

    Source: World Food Programme

    KABUL – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan welcomes a contribution of EUR 1 million from the Government of France in flexible funding which has been programmed towards WFP’s resilience projects.

    For a period of six months, this funding will allow WFP to reach over 1,100 families with vocational trainings, support farmers in remote regions and create assets that help communities become more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis. Additionally, when a family member participates in asset creation or vocational skills training, they receive food or a monthly allowance of AFN 6,400 (approximately US$90) for six months to help cover basic food needs. 

    “The climate crisis is destroying Afghanistan’s farms, homes, and hopes. With flash floods on top of years of drought, millions are left with no way to grow food or earn a living,” said H.E. Ms Céline Jurgensen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Rome. “Afghan communities need long-term solutions to be able to achieve economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.” 

    WFP’s vocational training programmes empower Afghan women by teaching them marketable skills. The programmes focus on tailoring, carpet weaving and food value chains such as jam making and food preservation. They serve as a vital source of livelihood and offer some of the few remaining safe spaces for Afghan women outside their homes.

    “To help Afghan communities stand on their own feet, WFP supports them – especially women – with vocational trainings and the creation of climate-resilient infrastructure including building irrigation canals, dams and flood protection walls, which mitigate the impacts of extreme weather and boost farming productivity,” said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Country Director a.i. in Afghanistan, “WFP thanks the Government of France for their support to the vulnerable communities of Afghanistan.”

    Last year, via resilience projects in Afghanistan, WFP reached over half a million people – nearly half of them being women and girls – by distributing 5,400 metric tons of food and nearly US$ 24 million in cash for food. This year, WFP plans to reach 50,000 families (350,000 people) through resilience projects, covering 61 districts across 30 provinces of Afghanistan. 

    The Government of France has proven to be a steadfast partner in supporting WFP operations in Afghanistan, contributing approximately EUR 50 million from 2021 to 2024. 

    #                    #                       #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter: @wfp_media @WFP_Afghanistan

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Eucharistic Celebration on the third day of the Novendiali

    Source: The Holy See

    At 17.00 this afternoon, in the Vatican Basilica, the Eucharistic Celebration was held in memory of the Roman Pontiff Francis, on the third day of the Novendiali.
    The Church of Rome was specially invited to the Celebration.
    The Concelebration was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome.
    The following is the homily delivered by Cardinal Baldassare Reina during the Holy Mass:

    Homily of His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina
    My meagre voice is here today to express the prayer and suffering of a part of the Church, that of Rome, encumbered with the responsibility that history has assigned to it.
    In these days, Rome is a people that mourns its bishop, a people together with other peoples who have waited in line, finding a space among the places of the city in order to weep and pray, like sheep without a shepherd.
    Sheep without a shepherd: a metaphor that allows us to recompose the sentiments of these days, and to enter in depth into the image we have received from the Gospel of John, the ear of grain that must die in order to bear fruit. A parable that tells of a shepherd’s love for his flock.
    In this time, as the world burns, and few have the courage to proclaim the Gospel translating it into a vision of a possible and real future, humankind appears like sheep without a shepherd. This image comes from the lips of Jesus, resting His eyes on the crowd who followed Him.
    Around Him there are the apostles who tell Him about everything they have done and taught. The words, the gestures, the actions learned from the Master, the proclamation of the kingdom of the coming God, the need for a change of life, joined with signs capable of giving flesh to the words: a touch, an outstretched hand, disarmed conversation, without judgment, liberating, without fear of contact with impurity. In carrying out this service, necessary to reawaken faith, to rekindle the hope that the evil present in the world would not have the last word, that life is stronger than death, they have not even had the time to eat.
    Jesus felt the burden, and this comforts us now.
    Jesus, the true shepherd of the history that needs His salvation, knows the burden that weighs upon each one of us in continuing His mission, especially when we will have to choose the first of His shepherds on earth.
    As in the time of the first disciples, there are achievements and also failures, weariness and fear. The significance is immense, and temptations creep in that obscure the only thing that counts: to wish, to seek, to work in the expectation of “a new heaven and a new earth”.
    And this cannot be the time for manoeuvres, tactics, caution, the time that follows the instinct to turn back, or worse, retaliation and alliances of power; what is needed is a radical willingness to enter into God’s dream, entrusted to our poor hands.
    I am struck at this time by what we are told in Revelation: “I, John, saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”.
    A new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem.
    Faced with the proclamation of this newness, we cannot give in to that mental and spiritual indolence that binds us to the forms of experience of God and ecclesial practices known in the past, and which we would wish to be repeated ad infinitum, subjugated by the fear of the losses attached to the necessary changes.
    I think of the many processes for the reform of the life of the Church undertaken by Pope Francis, and which transcend religious affiliations. People recognized that he was a universal pastor, and the barque of Peter needs this wide navigation that transcends and surprises.
    These people carry disquiet in their hearts, and I seem to see a question in them: what will become of the processes that have been initiated?
    Our duty should be to discern and order what has been started, in the light of what our mission requires, in the direction of a new heaven and a new earth, adorning the Bride for her husband. Whereas we might seek to clothe the Bride according to worldly conveniences, guided by ideological pretensions that tear apart the unity of Christ’s garments.
    To seek a shepherd today means above all to seek a guide who knows how to manage the fear of losses faced with the needs of the Gospel.
    To seek a shepherd who has the gaze of Jesus, epiphany of God’s humanity in a world that has inhuman traits.
    To seek a shepherd who confirms that we must walk together, forming ministries and charisms; we are a people of God constituted to proclaim the Gospel.
    Jesus, looking at the people who follow Him, feels the stirring of compassion within Him: He sees women, men, children, old and young, poor and sick, and no-one who takes care of them, who can quell their hunger from the jaws of a life that has become hard, and hunger for the Word. Faced with those people, He feels He is their bread that does not disappoint, their water that quenches their endless thirst, the balsam that heals their wounds.
    He feels the same compassion that Moses felt at the end of his days when, from the summit of the mountain of Abarim, facing the land he will not be able to cross, looking at the multitude he has led, he prays to the Lord that the people will not be reduced to being a flock without a shepherd, a people he cannot keep with him, a people who must keep moving forward.
    That prayer is now our prayer, that of the entire Church and of all the women and men who ask to be guided and supported in the toil of life, amid doubts and contradictions, orphans of a word that guides amidst siren songs that flatter the instincts of self-redemption; that breaks solitude, gathers together the discarded, does not give in to arrogance, and has the courage not to bend the Gospel to the tragic compromises of fear, complicity with worldly mindsets, and alliances that are blind and deaf to the signs of the Holy Spirit.
    The compassion of Jesus is that of the prophets who manifest the suffering of God in seeing the people lost and abused by bad shepherds, by mercenaries who take advantage of the flock, and flee when the wolf comes. Bad shepherds care nothing for their sheep; they abandon them to their peril, and this is why they are captured and scattered.
    Whereas the good shepherd offers his life for his sheep.
    The page from the Gospel of John, proclaimed in this liturgy, speaks of this radical shepherd’s disposition, and presents us with the testimony of how Jesus is able to see beyond death, when the hour would come that would glorify His mission. The hour of death on the cross that manifested His unconditional love for all.
    “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat”. The grain of wheat that has sought the ground with the incarnation of the Word, has fallen to raise those who fall, has come to seek those who are lost.
    His death is a planted seed that leaves us suspended at that time in which the seed can no longer be seen, enveloped by the earth that hides it, making us fear that it has been wasted. A pause that might distress us, but that can become a threshold of hope, a crack in the doubt, a light in the night, the garden of Easter.
    The promised fruitfulness belongs to the willingness to death; it becomes bitten wheat, hostage to the infidelity and ingratitude to which Jesus, the good shepherd who offers His life for His sheep, responds with the forgiveness requested from the Father, while He dies abandoned by His friends.
    The good shepherd sows with his own death, forgiving his enemies, preferring their salvation, the salvation of all, to his own.
    If we want to be faithful to the Lord, to the grain of wheat that has fallen on the ground, we must do so by sowing with our life.
    And how can we fail to recall the Psalm: “Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy”!
    There are times such as our own in which, like the farmer to whom the psalmist refers, sowing becomes an extreme act, moved by the radicality of an act of faith.
    It is a time of famine, the seed sown on the earth is taken from the last supply without which one dies. The farmer weeps because he knows that this last act is asking him to put his life at risk.
    But God does not abandon His people: He does not leave his shepherds alone, He will not allow, as with His Son, that He is abandoned in the tomb, in the grave of the earth.
    Our faith holds the promise of a joyful harvest, but one that must pass through the death of the seed that is our life.
    That extreme, total, gruelling gesture of the sower made me think back to Pope Francis’ Easter Day, to that unsparing pouring out of himself in blessing and embracing his people, the day before he died. The last act of his unsparing sowing of the proclamation of God’s mercies.
    Thank you, Pope Francis.
    May Mary, the holy Virgin whom we, in Rome, venerate as the Salus populi romani, who now accompanies and watches over his mortal remains, receive his soul and protect us in the continuation of his mission. Amen.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN welcomes Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon welcomed H.E. Taku Eto, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed key issues in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, as well as the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan to advance the sustainability agenda, focusing on decarbonization, reduction of harmful agrochemicals, and digitalization in these sectors.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN welcomes Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Treat for car lovers as Supercar Saturday roars into town

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Treat for car lovers as Supercar Saturday roars into town

    29 April 2025

    Car enthusiasts across the city and district are in for a treat as the Mayor’s popular Supercar Saturday roars into Guildhall Square and Harbour Square on Saturday 24th May from 12-5pm.

    Local car enthusiasts Gary and Stephen McCaul will showcase approximately 35 luxury vehicles including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and Maserati for public viewing.

    Popular local entertainer Micky Doherty will lead this family-friendly event which offers children and big kids the chance to get up close with one of Ireland’s finest collections of supercars. Adding to the festive atmosphere, DJ Lui and DJ Richie Rich will keep the music flowing throughout the day. A mobile gaming truck will provide additional entertainment for younger attendees, while local food vendors will be on site serving delicious refreshments.

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, said she was delighted to see this well-supported event return to the city. Supercar Saturday will help to raise funds for The Bud Club, the Mayor’s chosen charity for her year in office. 

    “I’m really looking forward to hosting Supercar Saturday. This event has become a highlight in our community calendar, and for good reason. The collection of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other luxury vehicles that Gary and Stephen have arranged is truly world-class. I’ve had the privilege of previewing some of these fantastic vehicles, and they are simply breathtaking.

    “What makes this day so special is that it allows car enthusiasts to explore the spectacular vehicles they have previously only dreamt about. I’m particularly proud that this event will raise funds for The Bud Club, allowing our community’s passion for incredible cars to directly benefit a life-changing organisation for young people with additional needs.”

    Supercar Saturday is part of the Mayor’s One Big Weekend, One Big Cause – Revved Up and Ready to Rock for Bud Club’ extravaganza which will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend of May 24th and 25th and features three incredible events designed to appeal to all ages and interests.

    The fun will begin with Supercar Saturday, followed by a night of music and entertainment with ‘Derry Rocks for Bud Club’ in the Guildhall. This event will feature The Mindbenders with the Ultimate Yacht Rock Show, along with funnyman Black Paddy and musician Ritchie Remo. The weekend will be brought to an epic conclusion with ‘Feel the Beat’ a night of high-energy and infectious Afrobeats at St Columb’s Hall. All three events will raise funds for the Mayor’s chosen charity, The Bud Club, a life-changing organisation for young people with additional needs.

    For more information and to purchase tickets to the ‘Derry Rocks for Bud Club’ and Afrobeats night go to www.derrystrabane.com/OneWeekend. You can also keep up to date with everything that is happening on What’s On Derry Strabane and Council’s social channels.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: VANUATU: Families find climate-smart ways to grow crops

    Source: Save The Children

    Tropical Cyclone Lola was one of the most powerful off-season storms to strike the Pacific when it made landfall in October 2023 with wind speeds of up to 215 km/h, destroying homes, schools and plantations, claiming the lives of at least four people [2] and affecting about 91,000 people [1]. 

    Recovery efforts were made significantly more challenging when Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila was then hit by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in December last year, claiming 14 lives and destroying critical infrastructure.

    Madleen, 11, said when the cyclone hit, her family’s crops were destroyed, leaving them short of food. 

    “It destroyed the food crops. When we came outside, we saw the crops were destroyed. The banana tree was just bearing fruit and it was destroyed. And we didn’t have enough food. We were eating rice, but we were almost running short. We were not eating well, we ate just enough. I felt bad.”  

    After the cyclone, a shortage of nutritious food put children at risk of hunger as well as diseases like diarrhea, with typically an increase in the number of children hospitalised for diarrhea following cyclones, Save the Children said. 

    Vanuatu is already one of the most climate disaster-prone countries in the world, and scientists say tropical cyclones will become more extreme as the climate crisis worsens. This will disproportionately impact children due to food shortages, disruption to education and psychosocial trauma associated with experiencing disasters. 

    Save the Children, alongside Vanuatu’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, and Biosecurity (MALFFB) and local partners, is supporting Madleen and her family through the Tropical Cyclone Lola Recovery Programme, which is helping improve food security and resilience in communities impacted by the cyclone. 

    As a part of the Recovery Programme, over 1,100 households have received climate-resistant [3] seeds from a seedbank. These seeds, for growing watermelon, papaya, Chinese cabbage, tomato, capsicum and cucumber, are proven to perform in Vanuatu’s changing climate, with tolerance to high rainfall, drought, pests and disease. Farmers are encouraged to preserve the seeds from crops and sell them back to the seed bank. 

    The programme is also training communities in other climate-smart agricultural techniques such as growing smaller fruit trees that are robust enough to withstand strong cyclone winds.

    Save the Children has also built a collapsible nursery for plants in Madleen’s community that can be taken down when a cyclone is predicted, so saplings and trees can be stored, protected and replanted after it passes.

    Save the Children Vanuatu Country Director, Polly Banks, said:

    “In just 18 months, people in Vanuatu have been deeply shaken by a devastating cyclone and a powerful earthquake.

    “Children have borne the brunt of this, with food taken off their plates, crops destroyed, homes and schools damaged and diseases on the rise. As the climate crisis accelerates, we must work with communities to strengthen their resilience, so children and their families are better equipped to face whatever comes next.

    “We’re working in partnership with the Government of Vanuatu and local partners to help communities build the skills and resources they need to support themselves when future cyclones and disasters strike.”

    Save the Children has been working in in Vanuatu for more than 40 years to make sure children are learning, protected from harm, and grow up healthy and strong.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Forbion leads €18M Series A Financing in Textile Recycling Technology company EEDEN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NAARDEN, The Netherlands, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Forbion, a leading venture capital firm with deep biotech expertise in Europe announces it has led the €18 million Series A financing round through its BioEconomy fund of German tech startup EEDEN GmbH, a company which has developed a groundbreaking textile recycling technology. Also joining as new investors are Henkel Ventures, and NRW.Venture, the Venture Fund of NRW.BANK, North Rhine-Westphalia´s development bank. All existing investors reinvested in the round, including the venture capital investors TechVision Fund (TVF), High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and D11Z.Ventures. The funding will enable EEDEN to build its demonstration plant in Münster, optimize large-scale processing, and establish commercial projects with key players in the textile industry.

    Ongoing challenges including rising costs, scarcity of resources, material volatility, and growing regulatory hurdles continue to strain the textile industry. To remain competitive, brands and manufacturers are increasingly looking for textile materials that combine high performance, scalability, and circularity at price parity. EEDEN addresses this need with its breakthrough in chemical recycling technology that recovers pure cellulose and PET building blocks (monomers) from cotton-polyester blends. Their products can be used to produce virgin-quality lyocell, viscose, and polyester fibers thereby offering a resource-efficient alternative to conventional fibers and unlocking new circular value chains.

    Alex Hoffmann, General Partner at Forbion noted, “EEDEN has developed a pioneering solution that can make large-scale textile recycling not only technologically feasible, but also commercially viable in the near future. We see tremendous potential in their approach and are excited to support the team as they bring this breakthrough technology to industrial scale.”

    Steffen Gerlach, CEO & Co-Founder of EEDEN explained, “Over the past few years, we have developed a proven solution that has the potential to meet the industry’s long-term need for cost-efficient and high-performing circular materials. We are proud that our new and existing investors believe in our approach and share our vision. With their support, we are ready to scale our technology and turn textile waste into materials the industry truly needs.”

    With increasing textile waste comes increased regulation. As of January 2025, EU member states are required to implement separate collection systems for used textiles. EEDEN’s technology provides a pragmatic solution that is capable of processing complex blended materials.

    The new EEDEN demonstration facility in Münster, Germany follows the successful technology validation of its pilot plant with industrial partners. This €18 million Series A financing will enable the company to optimize large-scale processing and establish commercial projects with key players in the textile industry.

    About EEDEN
    EEDEN is a tech company based in Münster, Germany, pioneering the chemical recycling of cotton-polyester textiles. Founded in 2019, EEDEN has developed a breakthrough technology that efficiently separates and recovers cellulose and PET monomers, which fiber producers transform into virgin-quality lyocell, viscose, and polyester fibers – enabling the transition toward a fully circular textile industry. Find out more at eeden.world

    About Forbion BioEconomy Fund I
    BioEconomy Fund I’s focus on using biotechnology and green chemistry to deliver sustainable B2B solutions in Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies is best exemplified by its initial investments in Solasta Bio and Novameat. These portfolio companies illustrate Forbion’s commitment to scalable, biotech-enabled innovation. Solasta Bio develops sustainable insect control solutions as alternatives to chemical insecticides, while Novameat advances plant-based meat production with proprietary technology designed for scalability and high-quality texture. By building on Forbion’s expertise in biotechnology, the fund aligns its investments with UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action). Forbion BioEconomy Fund I aims to deliver strong financial returns while driving impactful solutions to pressing planetary challenges. Forbion BioEconomy Fund I surpasses €150 million target, raising €164.5 million with strong institutional LP support.

    About Forbion
    Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and offices in Naarden, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. In addition, Forbion leverages its biotech expertise beyond human health to address ‘planetary health’ challenges through its BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. Forbion’s team consists of over 30 investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with 128 investments across 11 funds. Forbion’s record of sourcing, building and guiding life sciences companies has resulted in many approved breakthrough therapies and valuable exits. Forbion typically selects impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

    The MIL Network –