NewzIntel.com

Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI: William Connelly, future Societe Generale chairman of the board of directors, starting May 2026

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILLIAM CONNELLY, FUTURE SOCIETE GENERALE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STARTING MAY 2026 

    Press release
    Paris, 10 April 2025

    During its session on 10 April 2025, the Societe Generale Board of Directors selected William Connelly for the Chairmanship as of the General Meeting which will be held on 27 May 2026, subject to his renewal as a Director by the General Meeting on 20 May 2025. He will succeed Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, who has been Chairman since 2015, and will have completed his third term.

    This decision is the result of a selection process led by the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee at the end of 2023 with the assistance of an independent consultant.

    William Connelly has been a member of Societe Generale’s Board of Directors since 2017. He has chaired the Risk Committee since 2019 and is a member of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, positions he will hold until the 2026 General Meeting.

    Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated: “The choice of William Connelly as my successor confirms Societe Generale’s commitment to the highest standards of governance, both in terms of method and substance. It ensures the independence of the role as well as its continuity, while bringing the highest level of expertise in the international banking and financial sector, along with experience in managing large companies, particularly in the technology sector.”

    Biography
     William Connelly is a company director. In addition to his mandate as an independent director of Societe Generale since 2017, he currently is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amadeus IT Group and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aegon until the second half of 2025. He also served as an independent director of Singular Bank from February 2019 to April 2023.

    William Connelly began his career in 1980 at Chase Manhattan Bank, where he worked for 10 years, before joining Baring Brothers from 1990 to 1995. He then held various executive positions within ING Group NV from 1995 until he became a member of The Management Board, where he was responsible for Wholesale Banking from 2011 to 2016. He was also the CEO of ING Real Estate from 2009 to 2015. He has gained extensive experience in financial services, particularly in corporate finance, financial markets, real estate, and lending.

    William Connelly is a French citizen. He graduated with a degree in Economics from Georgetown University.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shiprock Man Guilty of Assault in Stabbing Case

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    strong>ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty as charged in his federal indictment for assault with a dangerous weapon because he intentionally stabbed his ex-girlfriend and struck her with his vehicle during a violent altercation.

    According to court records, on November 2, 2024, Jane Doe, and her sister were stopped at a road construction zone when her ex-boyfriend, Tyrell Lee Johnson, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached their vehicle. Johnson physically attacked Jane Doe, striking her head, stabbing her abdomen with a knife, and striking her with his vehicle as he fled the scene. Jane Doe sustained injuries, including an abdominal wound, bruises, abrasions, and a concussion.

    Navajo Police located Johnson’s vehicle in Cudei, New Mexico, identified by its damaged front bumper, and apprehended him after a brief pursuit. Officers recovered a black folding knife from Johnson’s possession and confirmed he had no alcohol in his system during processing.

    At sentencing, Johnson faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: SBM Offshore signs a US$1.1 billion Revolving Credit Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, April 10, 2025

    SBM Offshore announces that it has signed a US$1.1 billion unsecured Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) with a group of 13 international banks to refinance its existing US$1.0 billion RCF which was due to expire in February 2026. The new RCF has a tenor of five years and two one-year extension options as well as an uncommitted option to increase the facility by an additional US$500 million.

    The RCF is an important pillar of the Company’s financing strategy and can be used to finance general corporate purposes and working capital needs during the construction of floating production solutions. Eligible green projects can be funded under a specific green tranche of US$100 million.

    The successful syndication of the increased RCF reflects the strong support SBM Offshore continues to receive from financial institutions across the globe.

    Corporate Profile

    SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy. 
    More than 7,800 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.
    For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

    Financial Calendar   Date Year
    First Quarter 2025 Trading Update   May 15 2025
    Half Year 2025 Earnings   August 7 2025
    Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update   November 13 2025
    Full Year 2025 Earnings   February 26 2026
    Annual General Meeting   April 15 2026

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Wouter Holties
    Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

    Media Relations

    Giampaolo Arghittu
    Head of External Relations

    Market Abuse Regulation

    This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Disclaimer

    Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the ‘Impacts, Risks and Opportunities’ section of the 2024 Annual Report.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company’s business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

    This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the 2024 Annual Report, available on our website Annual Reports – SBM Offshore.

    Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “SBM Offshore” and “SBM” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

    “SBM Offshore®“, the SBM logomark, “Fast4Ward®”, “emissionZERO®” and “F4W®” are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: BC Transit expands bus service in Whistler

    People using transit in Whistler this spring will see improved and expanded transit options with increased frequency and extended hours of service on several bus routes.

    “People use public transit when it is reliable and affordable, when it can get them around their community to their work, school or to connect with friends and family,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “This service expansion will keep transit services accessible and convenient for people who need them, when and where they need them.”

    To support convenient and reliable transit service for people in Whistler and surrounding communities, BC Transit and the Province are partnering with the local government to expand services in the region with an additional 6,000 annual service hours. This builds on the work done in communities throughout B.C. to provide improved transit services and connect communities.

    “Expanding transit service in Whistler is an important step toward a more connected, equitable local economy and community,” said Jeremy Valeriote, interim leader of the BC Greens and MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. “More service hours and improvements to key routes mean better access to convenient, reliable, affordable transportation, and less road congestion. I’m pleased that this expansion will continue to improve public transit options for Whistler.”

    The additional service will begin on April 22, 2025, with year-round improvements on several routes, including 21 Spring Creek, 31 Alpine and 32 Emerald. Investing in the local transit system ensures that people in Whistler and its surrounding communities have continued access to the services they rely on. The additional 6,000 hours will help to reduce seasonal fluctuations in service levels previously experienced by transit riders in the region.

    The Province has committed approximately $184 million in operating funding to BC Transit in 2025-26 to protect existing transit services and allow for targeted expansions that will benefit more people throughout B.C.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding will strengthen emergency support for evacuees

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Local governments and First Nations throughout the province will receive funding to improve emergency support services (ESS) for people evacuated from their homes during emergencies in British Columbia.

    “Emergency support services can be a lifeline for people who have to leave their homes during disasters,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “By investing in training and equipment, we help to ensure people receive the support they need quickly and efficiently.”

    The Province is providing more than $5 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), through the ESS equipment and training stream, for 113 projects. The funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide emergency support services, through volunteer recruitment and retention efforts, volunteer training and the purchase of ESS equipment.

    “The people who provide Emergency Support Services are often the first source of respite and help for those impacted most by emergencies,” said Trish Mandewo, president, Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). “This funding will help make those services more robust and resilient so help is there when British Columbians need it. UBCM is pleased to administer this program in partnership with the Province.”

    Local community projects include:

    • boosting training and response capacity in the Strathcona Regional District, through emergency exercises and ESS volunteer training;
    • enhancing Quatsino First Nation’s emergency-support capacity through volunteer training, digital registration tools, portable generators and comfort kits, as well as volunteer engagement activities to strengthen and sustain local response teams;
    • strengthening emergency response in Fort St. James and Nak’azdli Whut’en by developing a new ESS program for Nak’azdli and building capacity within Fort St. James’s existing program, with a focus on co-ordinated training and mutual support during emergencies;
    • enhancing Pouce Coupe’s emergency preparedness with a fully equipped, self-sufficient mobile ESS trailer to support more effective on-site emergency response with power, communication tools and essential supplies; and
    • improving group lodging supplies, office equipment and registration systems for Kwikwetlem First Nation to enhance emergency shelter capacity and support staff and volunteers in the southwestern B.C.

    The CEPF is a suite of funding programs designed to help local governments and First Nations better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. These programs include public notification and evacuation-route planning, emergency operations centre equipment and training, volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training, and Indigenous cultural safety and humility training. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of paid staff and volunteers.

    Since its establishment in 2017, the Province has committed $369 million into CEPF. To date, approximately $315 million has been provided for approximately 2,400 projects across all CEPF streams. This fund is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

    Quotes:

    Danielle Veach, mayor, Village of Pouce Coupe –

    “This funding for our mobile emergency response trailer will significantly enhance Pouce Coupe’s emergency preparedness and regional response capacity, and the fully equipped unit will strengthen on-site emergency services with power, communication tools and vital supplies. Beyond local needs, it will support regional emergency training and collaboration between local governments and Indigenous partners. This investment is a critical step toward a more connected, resilient and inclusive emergency response network across northeastern B.C.”

    Chief Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation –

    “This funding is helping Quatsino First Nation strengthen emergency preparedness and local response capacity. Investments in equipment such as digital registration tools, portable generators and comfort kits, along with volunteer training and mock disaster exercises, are helping us build a strong, community-led ESS program. These resources ensure we can respond quickly and confidently when emergencies arise, while also engaging and supporting our members to lead emergency response efforts on the ground.”

    Chief Ron Giesbrecht, Kwikwetlem First Nation –

    “This funding will significantly enhance our capacity for emergency response. The allocation of these resources will enable us to acquire essential group lodging supplies, office equipment, and registration systems. These enhancements will support timely and effective assistance during emergencies, ensuring first responders are well-prepared to meet community needs during an evacuation. This funding represents a vital step toward strengthening local resilience and improving the overall effectiveness of regional emergency response efforts.”

    Ryan McVey, fire chief/protective services director, District of Fort St. James –

    “This funding for equipment, training and recruitment will help the Nak’azdli Whut’en–Fort St. James joint ESS team strengthen the region’s ability to respond to emergencies. By investing in co-ordinated training and mutual support, this project continues to ensure our joint effort can assist not only those living in our community, but anyone in our northern region who needs essential services during an emergency.”

    Mark Baker, chair, Strathcona Regional District Board –

    “The support and compassionate care provided to displaced individuals depends greatly on the commitment of volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time to SRD’s emergency support services program. This funding will enhance both recognition and training for emergency support teams across eight communities, strengthening the heart of the region’s emergency response.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Since 2017, the Province has provided more than $18 million to support approximately 598 projects through the ESS Equipment and Training stream.
    • This funding program covers 100% of eligible costs, as much as $40,000 per eligible applicant.
    • CEPF projects support the implementation of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act by enhancing community response and recovery efforts.

    Learn More:

    For a backgrounder with details about CEPF recipients under the ESS Training and Equipment stream, visit:
    https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BKGRND_CEPF_Emergency_Support_Services_APRIL2025.pdf

    For more information about Emergency Support Services, visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/local-emergency-programs/ess

    For more information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit:
    https://www.ubcm.ca/funding-programs/local-government-program-services/community-emergency-preparedness-fund

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Minnesota Couple Indicted in $15 Million Medical Billing Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – An indictment was unsealed today alleging that Gabriel Langford and Elizabeth Brown, a Minnesota couple, engaged in a $15 million scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers by overbilling for neurofeedback therapy, following the couple’s arrest and initial appearances in Las Vegas, Nevada, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, beginning in 2018, Gabriel Adam Alexander Luthor, a.k.a. Gabriel Adam Alexander Langford, 39, and Elizabeth Christine Brown, 40, intentionally devised and carried out a scheme to overbill Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers for medical services provided through Golden Victory Medical, LLC (GVM). Luthor and Brown were in a relationship, and together founded GVM in 2018.

    According to court documents, one of the main medical services GVM claimed to provide was neurofeedback therapy. During neurofeedback therapy, a medical provider places sensors on a patient’s scalp to obtain images of the patient’s brain waves, for the purpose of indicating the effects of interventions meant to treat mental-health conditions. But according to the indictment, Luthor and Brown fraudulently overbilled insurers for GVM’s neurofeedback services using numerous inapplicable medical codes.

    For example, GVM repeatedly submitted claims to insurers using medical codes that did not cover the neurofeedback services that GVM provided, combinations of codes that by definition could not be combined, and codes that indicated that GVM’s patients received a longer duration of services than the company had actually provided. Luthor and Brown caused GVM to continue submitting false claims even after repeated warnings from insurers, an outside auditor, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    In total, GVM submitted hundreds of thousands of false claims to insurers, many of which the insurers paid, resulting in an estimated loss of over $15 million. Millions of dollars in fraudulent proceeds were transferred from bank account to bank account and ultimately retained by Luthor and Brown. Luthor and Brown used the funds to purchase a mansion in Eden Prairie and to pay their living expenses and the living expenses of other girlfriends of Luthor’s, who lived with Luthor and Brown and assisted in the fraud scheme.  

    “Minnesota has a fraud problem,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “This case is yet another example of defendants defrauding government programs out of millions.  This type of widespread fraud is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”    

    “Defrauding critical healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare burden systems designed to serve patients and puts them at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our partners will not tolerate those who abuse the healthcare system for personal gain and will pursue justice on behalf of taxpayers and patients.”

    Luthor and Brown are each charged with six counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. They made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in the District of Nevada earlier this week.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Eden Prairie Police Department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Availability of the Universal Registration Document 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Availability of the Universal Registration Document 2024

    Bezons, April 10, 2025

    Atos announces that its Universal Registration Document for the year 2024 was filed today, Thursday April 10, 2025, with the French Financial Markets Authority (“AMF”) under number D.25-0238.

    This document notably includes:

    • the 2024 annual financial report;
    • the corporate governance report;
    • the sustainability statement and the report on these information;
    • the description of the share buyback program; and
    • the reports from the statutory auditors.

    This document is available on the Atos website (https://atos.net/en/investors) as well as on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org).

    ###

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with circa 78,000 employees and annual revenue of circa €10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 68 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Contacts

    Investor relations:

    David Pierre-Kahn | investors@atos.net | +33 6 28 51 45 96

    Sofiane El Amri | investors@atos.net | +33 6 29 34 85 67

    Individual shareholders: +33 8 05 65 00 75

    Press contact: globalprteam@atos.net

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Alm. Brand A/S – Results of the annual general meeting held on 10 April 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The annual general meeting of Alm. Brand A/S was held today. The general meeting was conducted in accordance with the agenda and the complete proposals submitted by the Board of Directors.

    The annual report for 2024 was approved, and discharge was granted to the Board of Directors and the Executive Management.

    The shareholders adopted the proposal submitted by the Board of Directors that a dividend of DKK 0.60 per share be paid in respect of 2024 for a total dividend payout of DKK 904 million. The remaining profit will be transferred to the company’s reserves.

    The resolution proposed by the Board of Directors that it be authorised in the period until 30 April 2026 to let the company acquire treasury shares within a limit of up to 10% of the share capital was adopted.

    The shareholders adopted the resolution proposed by the Board of Directors to extend the authorisation granted to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital with and without pre-emptive rights to the company’s existing shareholders until 9 April 2030. The authorisation to issue convertible debt instruments also with and without pre-emptive rights to the company’s existing shareholders was approved.

    The resolution proposed by the Board of Directors to reduce the share capital by a nominal amount of DKK 88,140,000 from DKK 1,541,140,000 to DKK 1,453,000,000 was approved. The capital reduction will be effected at an average price of DKK 14.70 per share. As a derivative effect thereof, the proposed resolution to amend the company’s articles of association with respect to the specification of the company’s share capital was also approved. 

    The remuneration report for 2024 was adopted at an advisory vote, and the remuneration policy was also approved.

    Jørgen Hesselbjerg Mikkelsen did not stand for re-election to the company’s Board of Directors. All other board members elected by the shareholders were up for election. Christian Høegh-Andersen was nominated for election to the Board of Directors.  Jais Valeur, Jan Skytte Pedersen, Tina Schmidt Madsen, Pia Laub and Anette Eberhard were re-elected to the Board of Directors. Christian Høegh-Andersen was elected to the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the remuneration of the Board of Directors for 2025 was approved.

    Ernst & Young Godkendt Revisionspartnerselskab was re-appointed as the company’s auditors and as sustainability auditors.

    At a board meeting held after the general meeting, the Board of Directors elected Jais Valeur as its Chairman and Jan Skytte Pedersen as its Deputy Chairman.

    Contact

    Please direct any questions regarding this announcement to:

    Investors and equity analysts:

    Head of IR, Rating & ESG Reporting
    Mads Thinggaard
    Mobile no. +45 2025 5469

    Press:

    Head of Communications and Media Relations
    Mikkel Luplau Schmidt
    Mobile no. +45 2052 3883

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gregory W. Meeks Urges Federal Housing Finance Agency to Reverse Decision that Prevents Homeownership Access

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) and 17 other Members of Congress sent a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) urging it to reverse its March 25 directive ending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s support for Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs).

    SPCPs are authorized under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act which help address systemic inequities in housing by expanding access to mortgage credit for minority, low-income, rural, and first-time homebuyers. In 2023, these programs helped more than 14,000 households secure affordable home loans and over $5 million in down payment and closing cost assistance.

    “For far too long, structural disparities in our housing and lending markets have excluded historically marginalized communities, especially low-income families and rural residents from homeownership and the opportunity to build generational wealth,” said Congressman Meeks. “Rolling back support for SPCPs undercuts that progress and sends the wrong message about our commitment to equity.”

    Rep. Meeks urges FHFA to immediately reconsider this harmful directive and pursue inclusive solutions that move us closer to fair and affordable homeownership for everyone.

    Read the full letter, here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Resale Businesses Owner Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Operating Extensive Interstate Fencing Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on April 9, 2025, to five years in prison on his conviction of money laundering and conspiracy in connection with the sale and interstate transportation of stolen goods, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Durrell Waters, 41, also ordering him to serve three years of federal supervised release following his imprisonment. A federal jury found Waters guilty on four counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy in August 2024 (read the verdict news release here).

    Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak stated that the evidence presented against Waters was extensive, and that the victims of this crime included people experiencing addiction, retail establishments, and all consumers. Judge Hornak noted that, unlike some crimes that take place in a single event, Waters’s criminal conspiracy took place over the course of years and “required [Waters] to decide every day to keep doing this.” Judge Hornak emphasized the need for members of the public to be deterred from similar conduct and remarked that “a sentence without substantial imprisonment would be insufficient.”

    According to information presented to the Court, Waters was one of the primary owners of a series of Pittsburgh and surrounding area second-hand or resale businesses called Trader Electronics, Last Call Entertainment, and The Outlet. From 2013 through 2016, Waters conspired with others to use these businesses as a front for a criminal fencing operation that sold over the internet a wide variety of health and beauty aids and over-the-counter medications like teeth whiteners, vitamins, hair and skin care products, makeup, and other similar items.

    Waters’s stores and similar stores in the area knowingly engaged in high-volume purchases of stolen brand-new retail health and beauty aids and other products, such as new-release DVDs, from walk-in sellers who had shoplifted, or “boosted”, the items. Store records reflected that Waters and his businesses purchased hundreds of thousands of brand-new items, sometimes for less than 10% of their value, from a group of repeat shoplifters. Waters and his businesses then resold that stolen property online via several Amazon and eBay storefronts, with the proceeds from the stores’s main Amazon account totaling over $4.3 million during the conspiracy.

    Evidence presented at sentencing highlighted the widespread and diverse economic and public health harms caused or aggravated by this conduct. Ripple effects from high-volume retail theft harm consumers by imposing more and more restrictive anti-theft measures in stores and costs every consumer hundreds of dollars per year. Additionally, many of the boosters were people experiencing drug addiction who used the money paid to them by Waters to finance their dependency and feed the drug epidemic.

    Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Waters. Police departments from the City of Pittsburgh, Ross Township, and Shaler Township also assisted in the investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: WithSecure Corporation: SHARE REPURCHASE 10.4.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WithSecure Corporation, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 10 April 2025 at 6.30 PM (EET)
         
         
    WithSecure Corporation: SHARE REPURCHASE 10.4.2025
         
    In the Helsinki Stock Exchange    
         
    Trade date           10.4.2025  
    Bourse trade         Buy  
    Share                  WITH  
    Amount             15 000 Shares
    Average price/ share    0,8596 EUR
    Total cost            12 894,00 EUR
         
         
    WithSecure Corporation now holds a total of 416 890 shares
    including the shares repurchased on 10.4.2025  
         
    The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation 
    No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
    and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.
         
         
    On behalf of Withsecure Corporation  
         
    Nordea Bank Oyj    
         
    Janne Sarvikivi           Sami Huttunen  
         
         
    Contact information:    
    Laura Viita    
    Vice President Controlling, Investor relations and Sustainability
    WithSecure Corporation    
    Tel. +358 50 4871044    
    Investor-relations@withsecure.com    
         
         
         
         
         
         

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Calls Out Trump Administration for Abandoning Afghan Refugees Facing Persecution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) yesterday spoke on the Senate Floor on how President Trump’s January 20th Executive Order suspending admission to the United States for Afghan refugees has left vulnerable families stranded and abandoned thousands who face persecution.
    In his remarks, Senator Welch urged Congress to expedite the resettlement of Afghan refugees, many of whom worked with, and for, the U.S. government, our diplomats, and our intelligence officers. Senator Welch praised the Vermont Afghan Alliance and other resettlement organizations which have connected Afghans to state and local services. He also urged Congress and the Trump Administration to streamline and overhaul the resettlement process.  
    “I so appreciate the work of the Vermont Afghan Alliance, and the many other refugee assistance organizations around the country. They have been indispensable in helping us meet our obligation to support the Afghans who helped our soldiers—that’s our obligation. But ultimately, resettlement is the responsibility of the federal government…This population of refugees exists, I state again, because of their work with and for our government, for our soldiers, for our diplomats, and our intelligence officers. We have abandoned our partners in their time of need,” said Senator Welch. 
    “We have to meet our commitments to people who helped us…So, this must be an opportunity to expedite, expedite the resettlement to the United States of these Afghan refugees who trusted in us and whose lives are very much at risk.” 
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 
    Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s remarks: 
    “The Trump Administration’s termination of USAID’s assistance programs in more than a hundred countries—including Afghanistan—without any meaningful review, has caused people everywhere to doubt that they can rely on the United States. We’re putting our reputation in jeopardy. And President Trump and Secretary Rubio provided literally no credible explanation or justification, in clear violation of Congress’ intent with the destruction of these USAID programs.  
    “But by abandoning thousands of Afghans, who do face persecution if forced to return, we reinforce those doubts. And by doing so, we encourage those who have long seen the United States as a world leader and as a partner to look for more reliable partners elsewhere—bad for our national security… 
    “There’s no justification for us to abandon them. You know, I’m really concerned about the Administration’s—what I see as an increasingly brazen flaunting of court orders. And I think all of us in Congress should condemn any deviation from abiding by court orders by the Administration. And I hope the Administration’s review of the refugee admissions is not another pretext review like we had—supposedly—of the USAID programs. It cannot, it cannot be an excuse to manufacture a false justification for abandoning the victims of our nation- building’s debacle. We have to take ownership of what it is we did.” 
    Senator Welch’s Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress include:   
    Senate Committee on Finance   
    Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit   
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution   
    Senate Committee on Rules & Administration  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boilermakers organizing nets a win and a setback

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    The Boilermakers union welcomed 145 new members in March after workers in the machine shop micro-unit at BWXT, Lynchburg, Virginia, voted in favor of unionizing. According to Northeast Area organizer John Bland, workers contacted Local 45 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Battle in late December seeking information and help organizing.

    He said workers were fed up with working conditions and constantly changing rules. The Boilermakers and other unions had attempted at least three prior organizing efforts at BWXT since 2008, so some of the machinists had heard the message about how unionizing could provide a voice for them on the job. The time was right to organize.

    “As soon as Kevin got the call, everyone got moving on it,” Bland said. M.O.R.E. Work Investment funds helped support the Boilermakers’ organizing efforts.

    Workers inside the unit were especially key in communicating and ultimately making the campaign a success. Because BWXT is a secured nuclear operation, the massive facility is not accessible to visitors, such as union organizers. For security purposes, even inside the facility some units, areas and workers are off-limits to one another.

    “The workers took charge early on,” agreed IR Tim Tolley, who was part of the IBB organizing team. “These guys were shot out of a cannon and came to us organized and ready to go forward. You could tell they were fed up. It was a perfect storm for organizing.”

    He echoed that the biggest catalyst for the workers to unionize was the “constantly moving goal post” as the company continuously changes rules and conditions. While wages usually are an issue, at BWXT it was more about the way workers were being treated and disrespected at work.

    “This time organizing worked because we had more people that were tired of being bullied. They wanted true change,” said Chris Davis, who’s been a BWXT machinist for 19 years. “I’m most looking forward to getting a contract and a set of rules.”

    Tolley said the machinists are set to elect their bargaining committee in early April so they can get to work on their first contract.

    “The things they’re asking for are attainable,” he said. “We told them we couldn’t promise anything but a seat at the table, and that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Now, they’re looking forward to negotiating their first contract.”

    Unfortunately, a vote in March at Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, California, was a no-go to unionize—at least for now. For more than a year, Boilermakers had been working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as “Siemens Workers United” to organize more than 1,600 workers who manufacture light rail vehicles for a variety of transit agencies. Siemens is a global company headquartered in Germany. While the company is generally union-friendly in Germany, many of Siemens’ North American operations have resisted unionization.

    Workers interested in unionizing in Sacramento rallied around issues such as inadequate health and welfare benefits, low pay, pay disparity, gender inequality, safety and poor working conditions, such as extreme heat.

    Lawrence Garcia, a four-year employee who works in the coach weld shop, said the wages are too low, especially considering cost of living in the area.

    “I know guys who work 12-hour days or 10-hour days just to keep buying rent. I even know guys who work two jobs, just to keep from going on the streets,” he said. “The pay is not worth it.” Until recently, welders at Siemens were paid less than the $20/hour McDonald’s worker wage dictated by California.

    Alan Scovill, a weld inspector who’s worked for Siemens for a decade, told The Sacramento Bee that he hadn’t been to a doctor in three years. He pays $500 month from his paycheck for his family’s health insurance coverage, and he can’t afford the medical co-pays.

    While reasons to unionize were plentiful, the campaign faced some unique challenges. In addition to the usual union-busting tactics from the company, organizers also had a daunting task to reach workers on a massive campus – 60 acres, 11 buildings and many different departments – plus, communicating to workers in six languages and with multiple cultural nuances.

    Organizers from the Boilermakers and IBEW worked daily, building allies, dispelling myths, answering questions, knocking on doors and deploying myriad tactics to help workers understand what unions are and how unionizing gives workers a voice and a seat at table through collective bargaining.

     The M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund provided organizing support and communications resources, including billboards, signage, fliers, digital ads and social media presence, and materials were translated into multiple languages. The unions also gained support from global unions IG Metall and IndustriALL, the California Federation of Labor Unions, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and prominent local and state congress members. At the end of the day, it wasn’t enough to overcome Siemens Sacramento’s anti-union tactics and secure the 50% “yes” vote. This time.

    The unions must wait a full 12 months before petitioning for another union vote. That’s time to continue building positive momentum and for those who voted “no” this time to see if Siemens will live up to the promises they made in fighting against the unions.

    “If Siemens chooses now to make positive changes for workers, it’s because of the courage of workers standing together,” said organizer Pablo Barrera.

    “Although we didn’t win the vote, we are amazed by the courage of the hundreds of workers who stood together for a better future for their colleagues and their families,” said IVP-Western States J. Tom Baca. “This is not the end. It’s just the beginning, and the fight goes on.”

    Read a December 2024 Boilermaker Reporter article about earlier Siemens organizing work

    Read more

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Church Rock Man Faces Federal Charges for Shooting Two Navajo-Nation Members

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – An 18-year-old Gallup man is facing federal charges following a shooting that left one Navajo-Nation member dead and another seriously injured.

    According to court records, in the early morning hours of April 6, 2025, a shooting occurred at a Church Rock, New Mexico residence. A resident of the home awoke to gunshots and, along with a second resident, entered 16-year-old Jane Doe’s bedroom, where the residents discovered 18-year-old John Doe deceased on the floor, Jane Doe suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect, Mario Israel Barraza.

    Barraza—identified by both residents as Jane Doe’s former boyfriend—fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Investigators found evidence of forced entry through Jane Doe’s bedroom window, shell casings inside and outside the bedroom, and spent rounds resembling a bullet later extracted from Jane Doe during surgery. Security footage corroborated witness accounts of Barraza fleeing the scene, while Jane Doe confirmed she heard Barraza and John Doe arguing prior to the shooting and that he had a history of entering her bedroom through her window.

    Jane and John Doe are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. Barraza is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe.

    Barraza stands charged with murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Barraza faces up to life in prison.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dark Web Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced To More Than 15 Years In Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced James Bookman (30, Largo) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Bookman pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024.

    According to court documents and statements presented at the sentencing hearing, Bookman, from the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, using a dark web marketplace, distributed significant amounts of fentanyl (disguised and sold as oxycodone pills), methamphetamine (disguised and sold as Adderall pills), and other drugs, throughout the United States. One such sale resulted in the fentanyl overdose death of an internet customer in Montana.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Boston), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montana State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Butte-Silver Bow (Montana) Law Enforcement Department, and the Mantatee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim Preston.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: H Block Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy charges.

    Dennis Wilson, a/k/a “Deuce,” 36 of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025.

    Wilson was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation of H Block beginning in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.

    According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.

    From 2022 through 2023, Wilson, a long-time H Block gang member, participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, including fentanyl, powdered cocaine and cocaine base (crack). On numerus occasions, Wilson accompanied a co-conspirator on various drug deals with undercover officers.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    Wilson is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
        
    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Andrew Murphy of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Change of Name

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    If you are in any doubt about the course of action to take, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other professional advisor.

    If you have sold or transferred all your shares in WisdomTree Issuer ICAV please forward this document to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank manager or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected.

    10 April 2025

    Dear Shareholder

    WisdomTree Issuer ICAV (the “ICAV”)
    Change of Fund Names and Index Methodology

    The directors of the ICAV (the “Board of Directors”) wish to advise you of a proposed changes to certain sub-funds of the ICAV (the “Funds”) to meet the requirements of EMSA’s guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines are intended to enhance investor protection where funds have names that suggest they meet certain sustainability standards. The Guidlines will apply to the Funds with effect from 21 May 2025.

    A.      The Guidelines requirements for funds’ names.

    For “environmental” related-terms to be used in a fund name, the strategy of the fund must (i) meet an 80% threshold linked to the proportion of investments used to meet the environmental and social characteristics of the fund; and (ii) incorporate the exclusionary criteria for Paris-aligned Benchmarks detailed in Article 12(1)(a) – (g) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 (the “PAB Exclusions”).

    For “transition” to be used in a fund name, in addition to (i) and (ii) above funds must ensure that the investments used to meet the threshold in (i) are on a are on a clear and measurable path to social or environmental transition or are made with the objective to generate a positive and measurable social or environmental impact alongside a financial return.

    For “sustainability-related” terms to be used in a fund name it must, in addition to meeting the requirements at (i) and (ii) above, also commit to investing meaningfully (i.e it must invest at least 50% of its assets) in sustainable investments referred to in Article 2(17) of the SFDR (“Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation“).

    B.      Changes to Funds currently using “Transition” and “environmental” terms in their name

    As the below Funds do not not incorporate the PAB exclusions, the Board of Directors have determined it appropriate to rename each Fund (each a “Fund Name Change” and together, the “Fund Name Changes”) to remove “Decarbonisation” and “Energy Transition” where relevant. Accordingly, it is proposed to rename each Fund as follows with effect from 16 April 2025 or such later date as approved by the Central Bank of Ireland (the “Effective Date”).

    Current name New name
    WisdomTree Recycling Decarbonisation UCITS ETF WisdomTree Recycling UCITS ETF        
    WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals and Rare Earths Miners UCITS ETF Wisdomtree Strategic Metals and Rare Earths Miners UCITS ETF

    The Fund Name Changes will be reflected in updated versions of the Supplements for the Funds, as well as the Funds’ KIIDs, PRIIPs KIDs and marketing materials. All other key features of the Funds will remain the same and for the avoidance of doubt, the Funds’ SFDR classifications as Article 8 and investment strategies will be unchanged. Additionally, the amendments will not affect the tracking error between the Funds’ performance and that of their indices.

    WisdomTree, Inc is the index provider in relation to WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals and Rare Earths Miners UCITS ETF. Following consultation, WisdomTree Inc has changed the name of WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals and Rare Earths Miners Index to align with the Fund Name Change described above. The Index name change will take effect on 16 April 2025.

    C.      Index methodology changes

    As “WisdomTree Global Sustainable Equity UCITS ETF” references the term “Sustainability” in its name, the Index used by the Fund has been updated to incorporate the PAB Exclusions (the “Index Methodology Change”). We will be updating the “Index Description” section of the Supplement to reflect these additional exclusions required under the PAB Exclusions which have not resulted in any material change to the Fund. The Index Methodology Change will only cause a change in the underlying components of the Index on its rebalance date, being 16 May 2025. All other key features of the Fund will remain the same and for the avoidance of doubt, the Fund’s SFDR classification as Article 9 will not change and the Fund’s investment strategy and minimum sustainable investment commitment will be unchanged. For more information, please see the updated Index methodology at Solactive Methodology Change | Solactive WisdomTree Global Sustainable Equity UCITS Index

    All capitalised terms used in this notice shall bear the same meaning as the capitalised and defined terms used in the Prospectus.

    Should you have any questions in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact WisdomTree UK Limited at Europesupport@wisdomtree.com

    Yours faithfully

    Director
    WisdomTree Issuer ICAV

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE summed up the results of work to improve financial literacy of schoolchildren

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    © Higher School of Economics

    Over the nine years of work of the HSE structural division “Federal Methodological Center for Financial Literacy in the General and Secondary Vocational Education System” more than one and a half million schoolchildren received knowledge in the financial sphere. This was stated by the director of the center, HSE professor Nikolai Berzon, at the All-Russian scientific and practical conference “Formation of financial culture in the context of digitalization: meanings, practices, results”, which was held on April 10 at the HSE.

    According to him, more than 100 thousand teachers have completed training under the teacher training program. “We have separate training programs for teaching in elementary, middle and high schools. This year we also made a separate program for students,” said Nikolai Berzon.

    To encourage schoolchildren to study the basics of financial literacy, the Financial Literacy Olympiad was created. The winners receive certain preferences when entering universities. “When we held the first Olympiad, about 2.5 thousand people took part in it, in the last one – 42 thousand,” shared Nikolai Berzon.

    The conference included an award ceremony for this year’s winner, 11th-grade student Timofey Matsnev. He set a record by scoring 100 points. According to Timofey, we face problems in the area of financial literacy every day, so today everyone needs to be able to protect themselves from fraudsters. “We face financial issues and problems in the area of financial literacy every day. Every day we need to make some decisions related to this, we need to be able to protect ourselves from fraudsters. Therefore, the relevance of studying financial literacy is not decreasing, but, on the contrary, is increasing every day,” he said.

    Today, young people are much more advanced than the older generation, and this is evident when comparing the general financial literacy index and the financial literacy of young people, noted Lyudmila Presnyakova, Advisor to the Head of the Service for the Protection of Consumer Rights and Ensuring the Availability of Financial Services of the Bank of Russia.

    “Firstly, the financial literacy index of young people is higher than that of the rest of the population, and secondly, it is growing at a faster rate than that of adults. If among adults it increased from 53 to 55 points from 2017 to 2024, which is actually a good growth, which means that the financial literacy of the population as a whole is really changing little by little, then among young people the growth was from 55 to 62 points. Young people not only know technologies better, not only are they quicker to navigate, they demonstrate the very basics of proper financial literacy that we are all working to develop,” she said. Young people behave more consciously in relation to their finances – in particular, they use savings practices more often than adults. And this is a certain challenge for teaching financial literacy. Young people are a complex audience that needs modern examples, “well-pumped teachers,” so the work on training teachers is very important, concluded Lyudmila Presnyakova.

    Alexey Yakovlev, Director of the Finance Ministry’s Department of Financial Policy, is convinced that financial literacy needs to be taught “from school.” Children are a more open audience, and many of them are “much better versed” in modern tools than older Russians, he noted.

    The conference also announced the ceremonial signing of a cooperation agreement between the Federal Methodological Center for Financial Literacy in the General and Secondary Vocational Education System and the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Institute of Correctional Pedagogics”. The agreement was signed by Nikolai Berzon and Deputy Director for General Issues of the ICP Anastasia Belikova.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Deluzio Announces $50,000 Federal Grant to Reserve Township for New Technology Equipment & Training

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that $50,000 in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funds will be awarded to Reserve Township. The grant will help modernize Township government by purchasing new technology supplies and equipment and providing training to Township staff. Reserve Township is providing $1,350 in local funds to supplement the $50,000 in federal funding.  

    “Our local government leaders have a lot on their plates, and outdated technology shouldn’t get in the way of serving residents,” said Congressman Deluzio. “So much of what we do in our daily lives—including the work of local government—depends on technology. This grant will help Reserve Township be more efficient and better deliver for residents with upgraded technology and equipment.”  

    “Our grant project is called ‘Building Capacity through Technology’ because it will increase our internal capacity to provide the best service to our residents with the small staff that we have here at the Township. The grant funds will go toward upgrading and centralizing our computer infrastructure and also adding much needed audio-visual equipment to our Board Meeting area,” said Jan Kowalski, CPA, Reserve Township Manager. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to use these funds to benefit our community.”  

    The funding was awarded through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. Funding for this project is provided by READY Appalachia, a community capacity building initiative funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

    The Trump Administration’s efforts to freeze funding and pause federal grants has created significant uncertainty for grantees, varying by agency and program. As of now, the courts have paused many of these freezes. However, Congressman Deluzio will continue to monitor these developments and fight to make sure this congressionally-authorized funding will keep flowing to projects that make life better for Western Pennsylvanians. If you are the recipient of a federal grant and have been notified that this funding is no longer available to you or are experiencing other issues accessing your lawfully appropriated funds, please share your concerns with Congressman Deluzio’s office at PA17Grants@mail.house.gov. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Oversight Democrats Call on HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to Stop Purge of FDA Staff, Warn of Dangers from Potential Contaminated Food Outbreaks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined his colleagues on the House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform in urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stop his dangerous purge of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff. In the letter to the secretary, Congressman Krishnamoorthi raised the concern of increased outbreaks and more contaminated food and foodborne illness if President Donald Trump and his administration continue their mass firings of staff and threats to the agency’s funding. Congressman Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, was joined on the letter by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Ranking Member of the full Oversight Committee, and Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Military and Foreign Affairs.

    “We write with concern that the Trump Administration’s decision to fire thousands of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff will cause rampant outbreaks of foodborne illness and make food products less safe for consumers. Staff reductions like those championed by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk will undermine FDA’s ability to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply,” the Members wrote. “We request information pertaining to the Trump Administration’s decision to eliminate FDA staff responsible for monitoring the safety of our food supply and preventing foodborne illness.” 

    On March 24, 2025, HHS announced plans to purge 3,500 people from FDA, a 20% cut to the agency’s workforce. These dramatic cuts include more than 170 FDA staff from the Office of Inspections and Investigations, despite the fact that food safety programs at FDA have been chronically underfunded for decades.  

    In 2024, FDA employed only 443 food safety inspectors to inspect every food processing facility in its jurisdiction—far short of the 1,500 inspectors the agency estimates it would need to inspect 36,600 food facilities in the United States and abroad.   

    “We urge you to halt all further cuts to FDA personnel. FDA workers protect the safety of our food and ensure that companies do not profit from lax oversight at the expense of American consumers. FDA should continue to use every tool in its arsenal to protect our most vulnerable. Cutting food safety personnel when foodborne illnesses are on the rise directly contradicts the agency’s mission of protecting public health,” the Members concluded. 

    The Members requested that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provide documents and information by April 22, 2025.

    Click here to read the letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton, Van Hollen Introduce Bill to Make Union Station Eligible for Funding Under Federal Transportation Grant Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today introduced a bill to make the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), a nonprofit responsible for managing and operating Union Station in D.C., eligible for funding under several federal transportation grant programs.

    “Union Station is the second busiest Amtrak station in the country. It is an architectural marvel that has played a vital role in our nation’s history. Yet, it has not undergone major renovation in nearly 40 years,” Congresswoman Norton said. “The planned redevelopment and expansion of Union Station represents a historic transportation and economic development opportunity for D.C. and the National Capital Region, but billions of dollars are needed to carry it out. This bill would give USRC access to critical funding.”

    “Union Station is the gateway to our nation’s capital for visitors and regional commuters alike, including thousands of Marylanders and District residents every day, but it is long overdue for critical upgrades. This legislation will unlock major federal funding opportunities for this important regional transit hub,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    Union Station is a vital local, regional and national intermodal transportation hub that welcomes approximately 70,000 travelers and visitors each day—more than either Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport. It is owned by the federal government, and USRC manages and operates it exclusively under a lease. Due to its federal ownership and management structure, it is currently ineligible for federal grant funding. As such, the station has not undergone major renovation since the 1980s.

    Congresswoman Norton and Senator Van Hollen’s Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Funding Eligibility Act allows USRC to apply for funding under four major U.S. Department of Transportation infrastructure funding programs: the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP) Program, the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Program and the National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program, also known as the Mega Program.

    Norton’s introductory statement follows.

     

    Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

    On the Introduction of the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Funding Eligibility Act

    April 9, 2025

    Today, I introduce the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation Funding Eligibility Act, which would make the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) eligible for funding under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP) Program, the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Program and the National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program, also known as the Mega Program.  Funding under these transportation programs is essential to implement the planned expansion and modernization of Union Station in the District of Columbia, known as the Washington Union Station Expansion Project (USEP).  Senator Chris Van Hollen has introduced this bill in the Senate.

    Union Station is owned by the federal government, and USRC, a nonprofit, manages and operates the station under a lease with the federal government. The members of USRC’s board of directors are the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, the Federal City Council, the District of Columbia and the USRC President and CEO.  USRC is the only entity exclusively dedicated to the management and operations of Union Station and therefore should be eligible for funding under the FSP Program, the CRISI Program, the BUILD Program and the Mega Program.

    Union Station is a vital local, regional and national intermodal transportation hub that, pre-pandemic, welcomed more than 100,000 travelers and visitors each day—more than either Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport.  Located five blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Union Station serves as a gateway to the nation’s capital, as well as the backbone that connects East Coast passenger rail lines to the north and south.  People rely on Union Station every day to get to work and to visit the nation’s capital. 

    Despite the vital role Union Station plays in the nation’s capital, it has not undergone major renovation since the 1980s.  The USEP represents a historic transportation and economic development opportunity for the nation’s capital and the national capital region, but billions of dollars are needed to carry it out.  This bill would give USRC access to critical funding.

    I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Ogles Leads Legislation Targeting Chinese Cybersecurity Threats

    Source:

    WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) introduced the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act.”  This bill would establish an interagency task force, led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to address the widespread cybersecurity threats posed by state-sponsored cyber actors associated with the CCP. 

     

    The legislation also requires the task force to provide a detailed report and briefing to Congress annually for five years on its findings. The legislation was advanced by the House Committee on Homeland Security and passed unanimously by the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress. 

     

    “The Chinese Communist Party is the greatest foreign adversary we face, and Beijing continues to use cyberspace as a battlefield on which to undermine American sovereignty and interests. In the wake of attacks by CCP-backed actors against our critical infrastructure and even their intrusions into the campaign communications of President Trump and Vice President Vance, we must ensure the government is coordinating effectively to make sure this never happens again,” Congressman Ogles said. “As we learned from the Biden-Harris administration, turning a blind eye to China’s intrusions only invites more attacks. I look forward to getting this legislation to President Trump’s desk so we can keep securing our nation from this deadly enemy.” 

     

    “For too long, the federal government has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to combating increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks on our networks by Chinese-backed actors. Americans depend on critical infrastructure for vital services every day, from the phones in our pockets to the water in our homes and gas in our cars,” Chairman Mark Green said. “I fear the recent ‘Typhoon’ intrusions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the CCP’s espionage and pre-positioning in our infrastructure. With new threats mounting every day, our response must be a coordinated, whole-of-government effort. I am proud to continue fighting for this legislation alongside my friend and fellow Tennessean, Rep. Ogles. Let’s get this to the Senate and to President Trump’s desk without delay.”

     

    “The cyber campaigns waged by PRC-backed actors like the Typhoons are acts of espionage aimed at placing U.S. critical infrastructure at risk. This legislation directs a focused, interagency response to identify, assess, and disrupt these persistent threats,” Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chairman Andrew Garbarino said. “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, I’m committed to ensuring the federal government uses every available tool to mitigate these threats and strengthen our cyber resilience where it matters most.”

     

    “The Chinese Communist Party is increasingly using cyberattacks to target our critical infrastructure, and it’s time to take action to address this growing threat to the American people,” Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar said. “The Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act will ensure the federal government has the resources and authority to defend against these threats and hold the CCP accountable. With groups like Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon already compromising our systems, it’s critical that we strengthen our defenses to protect national security and our economy.”

     

    “The Chinese Communist Party, through cyber threat actors like Volt Typhoon, continues to infiltrate America’s critical infrastructure, posing a direct threat to our national security and economy. We cannot allow foreign adversaries to gain the upper hand through a fragmented response,” Rep. Laurel Lee said. “That is why I am proud to cosponsor the Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act to ensure a unified, whole-of-government strategy to combat the CCP’s cyber aggression and protect the essential systems Americans rely on every day.”

    Cosponsors (4): Rep. Mark Green [TN-07]-, Laurel Lee [FL-15], John Moolenaar [MI-02], and Rep. Andrew Garbarino [NY-02].

    Read The Bill Here

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Republicans Attack Public Education, Rep. Omar Joins Rep. Pressley in Reintroduces Bills to Invest in Safe, Nurturing Learning Environments for All Students

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    Pair of Bills Would Address Pushout of Black Girls, Invest in Counselors and End Over-Policing of Public K-12 Schools

    Ending PUSHOUT Act | Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act

    WASHINGTON – As Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans attack public education, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) reintroduced a pair of bills, the Ending PUSHOUT Act and Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act, which would collectively end the discriminatory treatment of Black and brown students, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities in schools, and invest in safe, nurturing learning environments for all students.

    “Classrooms should be a place for students to learn, grow, and thrive – not be overpoliced and criminalized. With Republicans gutting public education and attacking vulnerable students, our bills would help protect our students by promoting trauma-informed policies and investing in counselors, nurses, social workers, and other trained professionals who actually make our schools safer,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I’m grateful to my House and Senate colleagues for their ongoing partnership and for the coalition of individuals and organizations from across the country who joined us in support of these bills. We must affirm the right for every student to learn in a setting free from fear.”

    Reps Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) are joined by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in reintroducing the Ending PUSHOUT Act, which would end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools. 

    “Over the last 25 years, more than $1 billion in federal funds have been used to put police officers in our nation’s schools without any evidence that this funding has improved school safety or student outcomes,” said Senator Booker. “Additionally, research shows that students of color, particularly girls, are often subjected to harsher and more frequent disciplinary action compared to their white counterparts. The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and Ending PUSHOUT Act are critical bills that invest federal dollars in counselors, social workers, and other trauma-informed personnel to support students so we can keep create safer academic environments for all students to thrive.”

    “I want my granddaughter to learn, grow, and receive an education in an environment where she is loved and valued,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “But we know, both from the data and our own experience, that this is not always the case for Black girls. They are disproportionately likely to face severe punishment for similar behaviors compared to their white peers and we must take action to dismantle this systemic discrimination. The school-to-prison pipeline is real, and it has specifically harmed and targeted Black girls. I’m proud to support Rep. Pressley’s End PUSHOUT Act to put an end to this injustice, and foster a learning environment where every student, regardless of race, gender, or ZIP code, has the opportunity to thrive.”

    “It’s heartbreaking but not surprising that across the country, Black girls and Indigenous girls are still being pushed out of classrooms at staggering rates. Black students in Minnesota are eight times more likely to be suspended than white students. For Indigenous students, it’s ten times,” said Rep. Omar. “The Ending PUSHOUT Act is about creating school environments where girls of color feel safe, supported, and free to learn. I’m proud to stand with Congresswoman Pressley and Congresswoman Watson Coleman to say our girls deserve better and we’re going to fight for them.”

    Rep. Pressley is joined by Congresswoman Omar (MN-05), Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in introducing the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act, which would invest in safe and nurturing school climates that support all students and end over-policing in our nation’s public K-12 schools.

    “Every kid deserves to feel secure and supported in their classroom. But too often students, especially kids of color and students with disabilities, are arrested at school instead of getting the help that would actually address the root causes of their behavioral issues. While a number of school districts across the country have made progress by taking police out of classrooms and giving our kids the kind of support that we know leads to better results, other schools have gone back to old rules that just punish kids but don’t help them get back on track. This legislation would put more counselors and social workers in schools and make sure school districts have the resources they need to make classrooms safe for all students,” said Senator Murphy.

    “Our children deserve to feel safe, supported, and seen in their schools, not criminalized for simply being kids. Schools have increasingly relied on policing to manage behavior in our classrooms, a practice that has disproportionately harmed Black, brown, LGBTQ+, and disabled students,” said Rep. Omar. “This bill moves us toward justice by directing resources toward counselors, social workers, and the support systems our students actually need to thrive. I’m proud to join my colleagues in fighting for a future where every child has the freedom to learn in an environment that uplifts their potential instead of policing their existence.”

    “Schools should be a place our students feel safe and supported without fear of surveillance or punishment,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Rather than increasing police presence in schools, the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would invest in trauma-informed counselors and social workers to create more positive learning environments. We should be bringing students in, not pushing them out—especially marginalized students disproportionately criminalized for normal childhood and adolescent behavior.”

    Across the country, the education of Black and brown students is often disrupted as a result of discriminatory and punitive discipline policies that criminalize and push them out of school. In particular, Black girls are suspended, expelled, referred to law enforcement, and arrested on school campuses at disproportionately higher rates than white girls due to unfair dress code and hair policies and a lack of understanding of the historical, social, and economic inequities such as poverty, trauma, hunger, and violence that often impact student behavior. Overall, Black girls, girls of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students with disabilities are disproportionately subjected to exclusionary school discipline policies such as suspension and expulsion, which can have long-term effects on the safety, wellbeing, and academic success of all students.

    Additionally, research shows that the presence of mental and behavioral health personnel in schools, like counselors, social workers, and psychologists, improves educational outcomes for kids, specifically by improving attendance and graduation rates while lowering the rates of suspension, expulsion and other disciplinary incidents. Meanwhile, the presence of police in schools leads to an increase in arrests of students — disproportionately students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students with disabilities — often for common misbehavior that a school could address without the involvement of law enforcement. 

    The Ending PUSHOUT Act will work to disrupt the school-to-confinement pathway by investing in safe and nurturing school environments for all students, especially girls of color.  Specifically, the bill would:

    • Establish new federal grants to support states and schools that commit to ban unfair and discriminatory school discipline practices and improve school climate.
    • Protect Civil Rights Data Collection and strengthen the Department of Education’s (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
    • Establish a federal interagency taskforce to end school pushout and examine its disproportionate impact on girls of color.

    The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would:

    • Prohibit the use of federal funds for maintaining police in schools: Since 1999, the federal government has spent more than $1 billion to increase the number of police in schools. However, evidence does not show this funding has improved student outcomes and school safety. This legislation would prohibit federal funds from being used to hire or maintain police in K-12 schools, diverting that funding toward other uses related to school safety within applicable grant programs.
    • Invest billions to help schools hire counselors, social workers, and other trauma-informed support personnel necessary to create safe, supportive learning environments for all students: This legislation helps schools build safe and positive learning cultures by establishing a new $5 billion grant program to support the hiring of counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and other personnel. The grant would also help schools implement programs to improve school climate, such as school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports, as well as invest in trauma-informed services and professional development. As more schools move away from policies that criminalize students and push them out of school, this historic investment will ensure districts have the resources to provide students with the support they need to feel safe in school and thrive.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: National Fuel Schedules Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Earnings Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) today announced it will release its second quarter fiscal 2025 earnings results on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 after market close.

    A conference call to discuss the results will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025 beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Prepared remarks from the executive team are planned for approximately 20 minutes followed by a question and answer session.

    All participants must pre-register to join this conference using the Participant Registration link.

    A webcast link to the conference call will be provided under the Events Calendar on the NFG Investor Relations website at investor.nationalfuelgas.com.

    A replay will be available following the call through the end of the day, Thursday, May 8, 2025. To access the replay, dial 1-866-813-9403 and provide Access Code 458634.

    For additional information, contact:
    Natalie Fischer, Director of Investor Relations (716) 857-7315
    Kathryn Nikisch-Hoffman, Equity Plan Administrator (716) 857-7340
    Karen Merkel, Media Contact (716) 857-7654
    Email: nfg_investor_relations@natfuel.com

    National Fuel is a diversified energy company headquartered in Western New York that operates an integrated collection of natural gas assets across four business segments: Exploration & Production, Pipeline & Storage, Gathering, and Utility. Additional information about National Fuel is available at www.nationalfuel.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Surge In Global Defense Budgets Having Significant Impact On The Global Military (UAS) Drone Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The global unmanned aerial system (UAS) military drones market has been rising steadily over the past years and it is projected to continue substantially into the next decade at least. A recent report from one such industry insider said that the surge in global defense budgets has had a significant impact on the global market. As political tensions rise worldwide, nations are investing in cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to bolster their defense and security capabilities. Increased defense expenditure has allowed countries like the United States, China, and other NATO members to allocate substantial funds to advanced drone programs, enhancing surveillance, supporting combat missions, and improving autonomous drone features.  Geopolitical tensions, especially in regions like Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, are driving a significant demand for military drones. As nations seek to strengthen their surveillance, intelligence, and tactical capabilities, military drones have become integral to modern defense strategies.  Active companies in the markets this week include: Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO), Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).

    The report continued: “North America, with the United States leading the charge, dominates the military drone market. This leadership is driven by significant investments in advanced military technologies, a strong defense budget, and the presence of key industry players like General Atomics and Northrop Grumman. The U.S. military continues to strengthen its drone capabilities, emphasizing the development of state-of-the-art systems for a range of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat operations. Moreover, the country is strategically investing in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, ensuring its drones remain at the forefront of modern warfare and maintain a technological edge on the global stage… The U.S. military remains the largest operator of drones… These drones play a vital role in a wide range of operations, including reconnaissance, surveillance, combat, and logistics.”

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) and SafeLane Global Enter into Multi-Year Agreement with Draganfly as the Preferred Global Provider of Landmine Mapping Drones and Aerial Survey Services – First Ukraine Landmine Aerial Survey Contract Underway– Draganfly Inc. (FSE: 3U8A) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, today announced that it has been selected by SafeLane Global Ltd. (“SafeLane”) as its preferred unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aerial survey provider.

    SafeLane, a world-renowned specialist in explosive threat mitigation, is one of only two private organizations licensed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to conduct landmine and explosive ordnance clearance operations in Ukraine. With over 30 years of experience across more than 60 countries, SafeLane supports governments, humanitarian organizations, and commercial clients in the clearance and disposal of landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and explosive remnants of war (ERW), both on land and underwater.

    Under the agreement, Draganfly will provide advanced drone solutions, including UAVs, specialized sensors, and data analysis services, to support SafeLane’s global mine action initiatives. The collaboration aims to enhance the speed, accuracy, and safety of explosive threat detection and removal operations in high-risk environments.

    “We are honored to be selected as SafeLane’s UAS partner,” said Cameron Chell, President and CEO of Draganfly. “This partnership represents a significant opportunity to leverage Draganfly’s technology to support critical humanitarian and defense efforts. Together, we will work to deliver scalable, innovative solutions for global landmine action.”

    The companies will co-develop joint intellectual property and standard operating procedures tailored for aerial mine detection and clearance. SafeLane will lead proposal submissions and operational deployment, while Draganfly will provide technology, mission planning, piloting, and survey analysis.

    According to the Landmine Monitor 2023, more than 60 million landmines remain buried across over 60 countries, posing a persistent threat to civilians, especially children, who account for nearly half of the casualties. Ukraine is currently one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world.

    “Draganfly’s drone-based technology will significantly increase the safety and efficiency of our operations,” said Asa Gilbert, Director of Business Development at SafeLane. “This partnership is a critical step in helping communities recover from the legacy of conflict.”

    The collaboration further positions Draganfly as a key player in the defense and humanitarian sectors, supporting efforts to create safer environments in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.  CONTINUED… Read this full press release and more news for Draganfly at:  https://draganfly.com/news/

    Other recent developments in the defense/military industries of note include:

    Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), a drone and drone components manufacturer, recently announced it filed its Form 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and provided the following letter to its shareholders from CEO Allan Evans.  Dear Shareholders,  This shareholder letter follows the completion of our fiscal year 2024. This is our first year being public. It has been an excellent fourth quarter and an incredible year. We continue to see great interest in the company and receive questions from shareholders. We would like to take this opportunity to provide context and deeper insights into our operations and what these represent for Unusual Machines’ future.

    Unusual Machines revenue for the fourth quarter revenue was over $2.0 million which represents a sequentially quarter over quarter increase of approximately 31%. This is our best revenue quarter of all time (again) and was done while improving gross margins slightly to 28%. With the launch of our Blue Framework products, approximately 15% of our Q4 revenue was from enterprise sales. Our total revenue of $5.65M for FY2024 exceeded our target of $5M for 2024 by 13%. This growth was achieved without customer concentration as no single customer represented more than 5% of our total revenue for 2024.

    Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a technology company specializing in defense, national security, and global markets, recently announced the groundbreaking of Kratos’ Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) in Crane, Indiana. This state-of-the-art 68,000-square-foot office, laboratory, integration and test complex will support critical hypersonic vehicle and payload activities and systems for the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Testbed (MACH-TB) program. The project demonstrates Kratos’ commitment to advancing hypersonic system payload integration and test capabilities and expanding crucial infrastructure needed to accelerate the time to Mach 5+ flight testing.

    Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said: “The Kratos Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility represents a strategic investment in our Nation’s hypersonic infrastructure, workforce and capabilities. Kratos is committed to achieving, if not exceeding, the MACH-TB program’s primary goals, which include, increasing the cadence of flight tests and to mature and qualify advanced hypersonic technologies. Kratos’ IPIF will provide a vital commercial launch vehicle environmental test and assembly capability to supplement existing DoD and NASA facilities.”

    Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently announced that it will webcast live its first quarter 2025 earnings results conference call (listen-only mode) on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11 a.m. ET.  James Taiclet, chairman, president and CEO; Jay Malave, chief financial officer; and Maria Ricciardone, vice president, Treasurer and Investor Relations, will discuss first quarter 2025 results, provide updates on key topics and answer questions.  First quarter 2025 results will be published prior to the market opening on April 22.

    The live webcast will be available at www.lockheedmartin.com/investor and the accompanying presentation slides and relevant financial charts will also be available on the same website prior to market open.

    An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available through Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at www.lockheedmartin.com/investor, and a podcast will be available here.

    General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), recently announced that it has expanded its technology partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) through a new Strategic Collaboration Agreement to drive digital modernization, deliver efficiencies and advance government missions.

    GDIT and AWS will collaborate to develop cutting-edge cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud migration and modernization solutions to accelerate digital transformation for defense, intelligence and civilian agencies. Government agencies will benefit from AWS’s cloud computing environment, widely considered to be one of the most secure available today, to support their unique missions. GDIT will leverage its research and development labs to collaborate with AWS on emerging technologies such as quantum, edge computing and high-performance computing.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER:  FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM was compensated twenty five hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Draganfly Inc. by a non-affiliated third party.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757 

    SOURCE: FN Media Group, LLC.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Stronger Immunization Policies Needed as Vaccine Confidence Falls Singapore | 10 April 2025 Issued by the APEC Health Working Group A new APEC report raises concerns over declining vaccine confidence and uptake across the region, increasing the risk of preventable disease outbreaks and underscoring the urgent need for stronger immunization policies and cross-border collaboration.

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    A new APEC report raises concerns over declining vaccine confidence and uptake across the region, increasing the risk of preventable disease outbreaks and underscoring the urgent need for stronger immunization policies and cross-border collaboration.

    Findings from the updated APEC Regional Dashboard on Vaccination Across the Life-Course reveal gaps in vaccine access, financing and data collection, with only eight economies meeting the 95 percent measles herd immunity threshold in 2023—a 27 percent drop from 2022. The dashboard also highlights a decline in vaccine confidence, with adults in at least 16 APEC economies increasingly questioning the safety, effectiveness and importance of vaccines.

    “Strengthening life-course immunization is critical to building resilient healthcare systems and ensuring economic sustainability across APEC economies,” said Dr Victor Yosef Melt Campos, Chair of the APEC Health Working Group.

    “A well-vaccinated population is not only healthier but also more productive, contributing to stronger communities and a more robust workforce,” Dr Campos added. “Investing in immunization helps economies safeguard public health, enhance social well-being, and create a foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.”

    Developed by the APEC Vaccines Task Force under the Health Working Group, the dashboard tracks progress on the APEC Action Plan on Vaccination Across the Life-Course, a regional strategy that supports member economies in expanding vaccine access, strengthening immunization programs and preparing for future health challenges.

    The dashboard highlights the need to expand immunization programs beyond childhood to include adolescents, adults and at-risk groups. Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic underscore the importance of scalable, adaptable strategies to strengthen vaccine uptake across different population segments.

    Gaps in data collection and assessment remain a critical challenge, according to the dashboard. Only one-third of APEC economies currently track the indirect benefits of vaccination, despite growing evidence that adult vaccines can return up to 19 times their initial investment.

    Additionally, just over half of APEC economies have a comprehensive framework to assess both the economic and social benefits of immunization. Strengthening evidence-based policymaking and ensuring that vaccine investments align with broader economic and public health goals will be key to improving immunization outcomes across the region.

    The dashboard also underscores the importance financial sustainability for immunization programs. The dashboard highlights best practices, including free vaccines for older adults, multi-year procurement contracts and tax levies to support vaccine programs.

    Pandemic preparedness remains a key priority. While 90 percent of APEC economies have established preparedness strategies, fewer have introduced catch-up vaccination plans to address routine immunization disruptions. Strengthening surveillance systems, harmonizing regulatory frameworks and ensuring rapid vaccine deployment in response to outbreaks will be essential to mitigating future health crises​

    With 2025 marking the halfway point for both the APEC Action Plan on Vaccination Across the Life-Course and the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030, the dashboard urges member economies to accelerate efforts to strengthen immunization systems. Sustainable and adaptable policies will be essential to ensuring resilient vaccination programs amid evolving public health challenges.

    The APEC Vaccines Task Force remains committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to support economies in enhancing immunization coverage. For more information, visit this page or contact [email protected].

    For further details and media inquiries, please contact:
    [email protected] 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: HTX Margin Unveils Strategies for Sustained Success Amidst Crypto Market Volatility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, today announced significant growth in its margin trading platform, demonstrating its effectiveness in navigating the current volatile market conditions. The platform reported a 60% year-over-year increase in trading volume and a 16% increase compared to the previous quarter, with a remarkable 565% year-over-year and 79% quarter-over-quarter surge in margin loan users.

    HTX’s robust margin trading growth stems from key competitive advantages, notably its lower loan interest rates and enhanced flexibility compared to other platforms. For example, its USDT margin loan interest rate stood at 3.99% on April 3, below the market average of 4.38%.

    Crucially, HTX maintained relatively low and stable rates even during periods of significant market volatility, a contrast to competitors whose rates often experienced sharp increases.. This stability not only reduces costs for users but also provides crucial support for maintaining long-term positions.

    Whether you’re quick-scoping for short-term gains or planning your next big move on the charts, HTX’s margin trading tools deliver both flexibility and performance, catering to both short-term trading strategies and long-term investment plans. The platform’s sophisticated risk management system and innovative features are designed to maximize potential gains while effectively mitigating risks

    Technological Advancements Enhance User Experience on HTX

    HTX didn’t just stop at offering solid margin trading but was on a mission to revolutionize the user experience throughout 2024. Key upgrades include:

    • Dynamic Interest Rates (Jan 2024): Borrowing costs that adjust on the fly, based on real-time demand and the usage of collateral.
    • Smart Risk Management (Feb 2024): A brand-new margin feature and a cutting-edge risk engine that uses smart algorithms to keep volatile markets in check.
    • Liquidation in Batches (Mar 2024): An optimized liquidation process where liquidation is automatically paused when your account’s risk ratio reaches 150%, minimizing losses during extreme market conditions.
    • Insurance Fund (May 2024): A safety net that automatically covers losses for positions under 20 USDT, making it safer even for smaller players.

    These developments are all about cutting trading costs, enhancing security, and creating a more user-centric trading environment.

    HTX also boasts the latest upgrade for margin trading – the merging of the auto borrowing and repayment processes into a one-click “Auto” feature. This demonstrates HTX’s keen understanding of user needs and aims to simplify the trading process.

    The revamped trading interface now offers users a clear choice between Manual and Auto modes, reducing complexity and allowing traders to concentrate on their strategies.

    This upgrade is proven to the exchange’s ongoing commitment to improving its margin trading services, focusing on smarter and more convenient trading tools through improvements in both design and functionality.

    Looking Ahead: HTX’s Next Wave of Margin Trading Innovation

    HTX Margin’s evolution from a basic lending service to a comprehensive margin trading powerhouse—complete with high leverage, dynamic rates, phased liquidation, and an insurance fund—has taken just under two years.

    HTX is committed to continuous innovation in this area. In the second quarter of 2025, a comprehensive upgrade to HTX’s margin trading platform is anticipated. This upgrade will introduce the flexibility to seamlessly switch between isolated and cross margin modes, along with advanced tools for intelligent fund allocation and automated risk management.

    Plus, a major overhaul of HTX’s margin trading interface is on the horizon, featuring a new real-time profitability dashboard slated for launch by late Q2 or early Q3. This feature promises to provide a better trading experience and data display, helping you fine-tune strategies and manage your trades like a true crypto veteran.

    In a market where volatility is the new normal, HTX’s margin trading service provides more than just a tool—it offers a strategic advantage. By combining cutting-edge technology with a user-focused approach, HTX is empowering cryptocurrency enthusiasts to not only navigate market uncertainty but to capitalize on opportunities within it.

    Contact:
    Ruder Finn Asia
    glo-media@htx-inc.com

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

    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 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/736d2b57-f9c5-4581-a9b2-a3667faa4c1e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Montgomery Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Recovered at Scene of Shooting Where Four-Year-Old Was Injured

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for illegally possessing a firearm recovered at the scene of a shooting. On April 9, 2025, a judge ordered that 27-year-old Grenden James Jordan serve 174 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his 14-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Jordan will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.

                According to court records and evidence presented at his January 2025 trial, on March 16, 2024, an officer with the Montgomery Police Department responded to the scene of a shooting on Atlanta Highway near the Eastern Boulevard overpass after hearing gun shots. Upon arrival, the officer saw three men walking away from a blue Dodge Challenger that was stopped in one of the lanes of traffic. One of the men, later identified as Grenden James Jordan, was observed by the officer throwing a firearm towards the side of the road. This was also captured on the officer’s dash cam video. The three men fled the scene.

                Witnesses stated that the three men were occupants of the Dodge Challenger and had exchanged gunfire with a red sedan, which left the scene when law enforcement arrived. Numerous bullet holes were found on the Dodge Challenger. There was a third vehicle on the scene that had been caught in the crossfire and had gunshot damage as well. This vehicle was occupied by innocent bystanders including a mother, father, and four-year-old child. The child sustained injuries from broken glass caused by the gunshots and was treated.

                Officers recovered an AR-style pistol from the area where the firearm had been thrown by Jordan, along with a high-capacity drum magazine with ammunition. During the trial, the jury saw a photo taken prior to March 16, 2024, showing Jordan posing with an AR-style pistol matching the one found on the scene of the shooting. Law enforcement found two additional firearms when searching Jordan’s residence in April of 2024. Jordan has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The jury found Jordan guilty earlier this year for illegally possessing the firearm recovered on March 16, 2024.

                “This significant sentence not only reflects the need to ensure justice is served, but it also reflects the gravity of the danger posed by Grenden Jordan’s reckless behavior,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Violent crime has an enormous impact on communities and those that work and live within them, including our children. This case is a stark reminder of the harm that can be inflicted when individuals use guns to settle disputes without regard for the wellbeing of others. Montgomery is a safer place with Grenden Jordan off the streets.” 

                “This type of disregard for human life will not be tolerated and most especially by a previously convicted felon,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd. “FBI Mobile will continue to work alongside our state, local, and federal partners to bring justice to the victims of this senseless gun violence.”

                This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

                The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hadley Man Arrested for Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant ordered to consent to MassDEP examining his home for hazardous materials

    BOSTON –A Hadley, Mass. man has been arrested and charged for unlawful possession of ammunition and firearms.

    Jacob D. Miller, 43, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of ammunition and firearms by a person previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in person. Miller was arrested yesterday and appeared in federal court in Springfield, Mass. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson. Miller was released on conditions.

    According to the charging documents, on Feb. 9, 2004, Miller was convicted of felony crimes in two separate Hampshire Superior Court cases. In the first case, Miller was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography and sentenced to seven years of probation. In a separate case, Miller was convicted of two counts of possession of an explosive device and sentenced to two and one-half years in jail and 10 years of probation.

    On April 8, 2025, following the execution of search at Miller’s residence, a box of approximately 50 rounds of Federal brand, American Eagle .45 auto, 230 grain ammunition was recovered in a bedside table, as well as six firearms inside a safe in a hallway closet.

    At the hearing, the Court was informed that, based on the materials known to be present at Miller’s residence, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) “is greatly concerned about potential impacts to public safety. Accidental release, breaking of containers, mixing of incompatible or reactive chemicals and or a fire at the residence pose a serious risk to public safety. MassDEP strongly urges a full and comprehensive evaluation at the residence and removal of any remaining hazardous chemicals.” The Court released Miller on various conditions, including the condition that he consent to MassDEP conduct a complete examination of his residence and remove any hazardous substances.

    The charge of unlawful possession of ammunition and firearms provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Amongst Volatility in The Markets, More Organizations Embrace Bitcoin, Adding Cryptocurrency to Their Treasury

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – A growing number of organizations are embracing Bitcoin as a financial asset, adding the cryptocurrency to their Treasury in order to safeguard wealth, as well as capitalize on other benefits. A recent article by industry insiders, Consultancy-me.com, outlines the opportunities that arise from integrating Bitcoin into corporate treasury strategies. It said: “The radical perception of Bitcoin in corporate treasuries is now a strategic reality, fostering a fundamental reassessment of traditional financial management. Well-known examples of companies embracing Bitcoin as a financial reserve include MicroStrategy (which holds over 100,000 Bitcoins), Tesla, Block (formerly Square), Galaxy Digital, energy multinational Aker, and even traditional financial institutions like Fidelity. Other companies worldwide too have made headlines by strategically allocating significant portions of their capital to Bitcoin, solidifying their perception as a crucial hedge against growing global economic uncertainties and an effective store of long-term value. The accelerating adoption of Bitcoin has prompted businesses to seriously consider integrating cryptocurrencies into their core treasury strategies. This approach offers various benefits, such as protecting against inflation, reducing reliance on traditional financial institutions, and increasing liquidity. Companies drawn to Bitcoin viewing the cryptocurrency as a robust store of value capable of mitigating the erosion caused by inflationary trends. By holding Bitcoin, companies also hope to capitalize on its potential for long-term appreciation.” Active companies in news today include: KULR Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE: KULR), MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), Rumble (NASDAQ: RUM), MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA), Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT).

    The article continued: “Many companies are pioneering advanced treasury management strategies, tactically integrating Bitcoin and stablecoins to achieve optimal financial performance. Integrating Bitcoin into corporate treasuries presents a complex risk-reward scenario. While the potential for diversification and increased liquidity is attractive, the volatility of Bitcoin and the uncertain regulatory landscape necessitate a cautious approach. Added to this are the operational complexities and the need for specialized expertise. Worldwide, the trend of adding Bitcoin to corporate treasuries is still in its early stages, but it is reshaping how businesses approach asset management. With more companies likely to follow the lead of pioneers like MicroStrategy, Bitcoin is becoming an increasingly important part of the corporate finance landscape. However, challenges related to volatility, regulation, and security must be addressed for widespread adoption to occur. If the adoption of Bitcoin by corporate treasuries picks up, its pace will be gradual. Early adopters, such as those in the tech sector, may pave the way, followed by more traditional companies as the infrastructure and regulatory landscape mature.”

    KULR Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE American: KULR) CEO Michael Mo to Speak at Strategy World 2025 – Silver Sponsorship will support AI and Bitcoin focused conference hosted by Strategy – KULR Technology Group, Inc. (the “Company” or “KULR”) ($KULR), a leader in advanced energy management platforms, today announced that CEO and Co-Founder Michael Mo will speak at Strategy World 2025, the premier global conference focusing on AI and BI innovation, as well as the power of Bitcoin treasuries for corporations. KULR is a Silver sponsor of the conference – hosted by Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), formerly MicroStrategy – which will be held between May 5th and May 8th in Orlando, Florida.

    KULR is proud to support Strategy, the world’s largest Bitcoin Treasury Company, as they convene industry leaders, data innovators, and transformation-seeking businesses to discuss how two groundbreaking technologies – AI and Bitcoin – can be leveraged within business intelligence to transform individual companies and entire industries. The four-day event will include hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, and cutting-edge content to drive business success in data analytics and corporate strategy.

    In December 2024, KULR announced the launch of its Bitcoin treasury strategy following its Board of Directors’ agreement to include Bitcoin (“BTC”) as a primary asset in the Company’s treasury program. To date, KULR has purchased over 660 BTC – representing over $65 million in value – and has committed to allocating up to 90% of its surplus cash to BTC. By sponsoring Strategy World 2025 at the Silver level, KULR aims to promote discussion around the benefits of a Bitcoin treasury and engage with fellow business leaders who are on a similar path, ultimately furthering industry knowledge and efforts around both Bitcoin and AI.

    Mr. Mo will participate in the “Corporate Bitcoin Success Stories” panel on Tuesday, May 6th starting at 3:20 PM ET to discuss insights and learnings from KULR’s Bitcoin treasury strategy. His presentation will begin at 4:35 PM ET. The panel will include five case studies in which corporate leaders share why they adopted a Bitcoin strategy, how it aligned with their operating models, challenges they faced, and the impact since making the switch. Fellow panelists will include leaders from Semler Scientific, Metaplanet, MARA, and Jetking.

    “Having received insightful advice from Michael Saylor on leveraging Bitcoin as a core asset, we’ve taken steps to position our treasury for long-term growth and stability. This is part of our focus on distributed and decentralized systems, which also includes developing energy management solutions for the AI-enabled world,” said Mr. Mo. “As a Silver sponsor of Strategy World 2025, we’re excited to share our journey with AI and discuss the future of treasury strategies, as Bitcoin increasingly enters the corporate world.”

    KULR recently rebranded their Company website to KULR.ai. This reflects the Company’s integration of AI across its solutions, such as AI-driven software incorporated into battery management systems (BMS). Earlier this year, KULR announced a partnership with EDOM Technology to expand its energy management solutions across the global AI supply chain, ensuring data storage systems in AI-powered infrastructures remain efficient, reliable, and scalable. CONTINUED… Read this entire press release and more news for KULR at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-kulr/

    In other developments in the markets of note:

    Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA), a global leader in leveraging digital asset compute to support the energy transformation, recently announced that the Company is mining Kaspa (KAS), a proof-of-work (PoW) digital asset, to further diversify its portfolio of digital asset compute.

    Kaspa is currently the fifth largest proof-of-work digital asset by market cap. It boasts a market cap of $3.9 billion with approximately $64.8 million in daily trading volume as of June 25, 2024. The circulating supply is approximately 24 billion KAS with a current block reward of 103.83 KAS, and the terminal supply is capped at 28.7 billion KAS.

    Similar to Bitcoin, Kaspa is an open-source, decentralized, and fully scalable Layer-1 protocol that uses proof-of-work as its consensus mechanism. However, unlike Bitcoin’s blockchain, which is linear and processes one block every ten minutes, Kaspa utilizes a BlockDAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) that enables multiple blocks to be produced simultaneously. The Kaspa network currently processes one block every second, allowing for faster transactions and providing Kaspa miners with the opportunity to potentially earn more block rewards in a given time frame.

    Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) recently launched www.ABetterBitfarms.com in connection with its requisition of a special meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Bitfarms Ltd. (BITF) (“Bitfarms” or the “Company”) to reconstitute the Bitfarms Board of Directors (the “Bitfarms Board”). As disclosed in Riot’s June 24, 2024 press release, Riot has nominated three director nominees (the “Nominees”) – John Delaney, Amy Freedman and Ralph Goehring – for election to the Bitfarms Board at the Special Meeting. The Special Meeting will also give Bitfarms shareholders the opportunity to vote on the removal of Bitfarms Chairman Nicolas Bonta and directors Andrés Finkielsztain and Fanny Philip. (Ms. Philip was recently appointed by the Bitfarms Board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of co-founder Emiliano Grodzki, who was voted off the Bitfarms Board at the Company’s most recent Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders).

    Rumble Inc. (NASDAQ: RUM) recently announced financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

    Rumble’s Chairman and CEO Chris Pavlovski commented, “While I am pleased with our topline quarterly growth of 48% year over year, I am even more impressed with the third to fourth quarter growth in U.S. and Canada MAUs of 21% to 52 million. This demonstrates how powerful our North America platform is. Rumble cemented its place in the online media eco-system by setting multiple records on the night of the U.S. election. In addition, the fourth quarter included our biggest announcement since going public: a $775 million strategic investment from Tether, the largest company in the digital asset industry and the most widely used dollar stablecoin across the world. Rooted in this investment was the extremely strong commonalities between cryptocurrency and free speech communities, both built on a passion for freedom, transparency and decentralization. As I look ahead, with the Tether transaction now closed, I could not be more excited about the possibilities and the new era we are entering for Rumble.”

    MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR) recently announced that it has entered into a sales agreement pursuant to which Strategy may issue and sell shares of its 8.00% series A perpetual strike preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “perpetual strike preferred stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $21.0 billion (the “ATM Program”). Shares of the perpetual strike preferred stock are convertible by the holders into shares of Strategy’s class A common stock.

    Strategy expects to make sales of perpetual strike preferred stock pursuant to the ATM Program in a disciplined manner over an extended period, taking into account the trading price and trading volumes of the perpetual strike preferred stock at the time of sale. Strategy intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of bitcoin and for working capital.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia
    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup
    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks or current services performed FNM was compensated forty six hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by KULR Technology Group, Inc. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected”, “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757 

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –