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  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. ethane production reached a record 3.0 million barrels per day in May 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    October 28, 2024

    U.S. ethane production increased steadily over the last decade and reached a record of 3.0 million barrels per day (b/d) in May 2024. Ethane production in the first half of 2024 (1H24) averaged a record 2.8 million b/d, according to data from our Petroleum Supply Monthly. The increase was driven by more natural gas and ethane production in the Permian Basin, which spans Texas and New Mexico.

    Ethane serves mainly as a petrochemical feedstock to produce ethylene, which is used to make plastics and resins. Continued growth in ethane consumption in the global petrochemical sector, increasing proportions of ethane derived from U.S. natural gas production, and favorable production economics have driven steady increases in ethane production in recent years.

    In the United States, almost all ethane is recovered at natural gas processing plants, which remove ethane and other natural gas plant liquids (NGPL) from raw natural gas. During 1H24, U.S. marketed natural gas production, which includes dry natural gas and NGPLs before they are separated out, averaged a record 112.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), 1.0 Bcf/d more than the 1H23 average.

    Ethane production in the Texas Inland and New Mexico refining districts, which include the Permian Basin, accounted for 62% of U.S. ethane production during 1H24, slightly more than the 60% share in 1H23. Ethane production in these two districts averaged 1.7 million b/d in 1H24, a 7% (0.1 million b/d) increase from 1H23. Ethane production in the Appalachian No. 1 refining district, which straddles most of the Appalachian Basin production area in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, also increased during 1H24, averaging 327,000 b/d, up from 292,000 b/d in 1H23. Ethane production in other refining districts remained essentially unchanged from 1H23.

    U.S. ethane production continued increasing to meet growing demand from domestic and international consumers. Consumption of ethane in the United States in 1H24 averaged 2.3 million b/d, up from 2.1 million b/d in 1H23, while U.S. ethane exports averaged 470,000 b/d, down 17,000 b/d compared with 1H23. The United States began exporting ethane in 2014 to petrochemical plants in Canada and became the world’s largest exporter of ethane in 2015, when tanker exports to Europe began. The most common destinations for ethane exports in 1H24 were China (45% of U.S. ethane exports; 212,000 b/d), Canada (15%; 70,000 b/d), and India (14%; 65,000 b/d).

    In our Short-Term Energy Outlook, we expect ethane production to average 2.8 million b/d in both 2024 and 2025, a 5% increase compared with 2023. We expect domestic ethane consumption to average 2.3 million b/d in both 2024 and 2025, a 5% increase compared with 2023. We expect U.S. net ethane exports to rise to 490,000 b/d in 2024 and 520,000 b/d in 2025, an 11% increase from 2023 to 2025.

    Principal contributor: Jordan Young

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Study Investigates Communication, Intimacy Among Couples Facing Metastatic Breast Cancer

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Amanda Denes, a professor in the Department of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received funding from the National Cancer Institute to conduct a pilot study that investigates the relationships between communication and sexual, relational, and individual well-being for individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

    Metastatic breast cancer, also called stage IV breast cancer, is a late-stage cancer where cancerous cells have spread beyond the breast to other organs.

    Denes, who is a principal investigator at UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), will explore how metastatic breast cancer patients communicate with their partner about their sexual, relational, and individual well-being. Patients will complete an online survey about their relationship with their partner, how cancer has changed their sexual relationship, and if and how they communicate with their partner about these changes.

    Amanda Denes, professor in the Department of Communication

    “Despite the recognition that sexuality should be part of end-of-life care and is vital for couples with cancer to maintain connection, sexual needs are rarely assessed among metastatic cancer patients. Their needs for intimacy may be even stronger than before cancer, given the limited time and highly emotional experience of facing a terminal diagnosis,” says Denes.

    A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering experience that impacts not only physical health, but also mental and emotional well-being, and social relationships.

    For married or committed couples, a cancer diagnosis becomes a shared challenge as they cope with the diagnosis and adjust to their new reality. Cancer can impact and change the communication patterns that couples have established, as well as their roles and responsibilities in the relationship.

    Although being married or in a committed partnership has health benefits and may improve quality of life, couples navigating a cancer diagnosis may also experience heightened levels of stress and breakdowns in communication, a major cause of divorce or breakups.

    Mutual, constructive communication has been shown to ease psychological distress, sustain closeness and intimacy, and improve outcomes. It is particularly important for couples to engage in discussions about their sexual health, even if they may be reluctant.

    “Sex is one of the most frequently discussed topics among couples facing cancer, so there is evidence that talking about sex is important in this context. There has been some work demonstrating the benefits of interventions focused on improving sexual communication between reproductive cancer patients and their partners, but much of this work overlooks the experiences of people with advanced cancers, like metastatic breast cancer,” says Denes.

    Denes is collaborating with Keith Bellizzi, a professor of gerontology in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. He has expertise in cancer survivorship and quality of life, including sexual function.

    Keith Bellizzi, professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences

    “While there has been growing attention to psychosocial impacts of cancer, intimacy in couples is much less understood, particularly among women with metastatic breast cancer,” says Bellizzi.

    Denes and Bellizzi previously collaborated on projects exploring couples’ communication about sexuality in the context of reproductive cancers. They also conducted preliminary testing of the study’s survey tool.

    “Identifying specific forms and features of talk that may help or hinder couples as they navigate intimacy in the context of metastatic breast cancer is a pivotal first step in understanding if and how communication can benefit individual and relational well-being. Findings from this study will help identify aspects of communication that patients find beneficial when navigating sexuality and intimacy in their relationship,” says Denes.

    To expand data collection, the research team received bridge funding from InCHIP. This will enable Denes and Bellizzi to survey an additional 200 participants and test their exploratory model, which will serve as the foundation for a future external grant application.

    For Denes, studying how couples with cancer successfully talk about cancer-related changes is both a personal and professional endeavor.

    “I am particularly interested in the experiences of couples facing cancer given the ways that cancer has affected my own life. I have watched friends and family members battle cancer and experience changes to roles, relationships, and the communication that occurs within them. This has made me want to understand how couples facing cancer can successfully communicate about cancer-related changes,” says Denes.

    Denes’ research focuses on interpersonal communication and how it impacts relational, mental, and physical health, with the goal of identifying communication practices that contribute to individual and relational thriving. She currently serves as principal investigator on two projects that explore couples’ communication about sexual and relational changes in the face of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

    These projects were supported by internal funding from UConn and a U.S. Scholar Award from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, and investigate communication about sexuality and intimacy among heterosexual and LGBTQI+ cancer patients.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sexual health extends beyond the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity and encompasses physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. WHO also recommends acknowledging that sexual experiences can and should be pleasurable.

    “Despite sex being an essential part of human existence and connection, it is still a topic that many consider taboo. Seeing how the silence that surrounds sex and sexuality can negatively impact individuals and their relationships led me to focus my research on the communication processes that contribute to satisfying relationships,” says Denes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. Candidate Earns NSCA Funding to Study Collagen Peptides

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Nick Kuhlman is a doctoral student in nutritional sciences. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    If you’ve looked at social media or a supplement aisle in the past year, chances are you’ve seen pastel-colored tubs of collagen peptides. This popular supplement is often marketed as supporting joint and bone health (among other things, like skin elasticity and digestion).

    But do these claims actually hold up? That’s what Nick Kuhlman, a nutritional sciences Ph.D. candidate, is investigating in his dissertation.

    Kuhlman recently received funding to support his work from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Foundation, one of the nation’s premiere providers of support to athletics- and kinesiology-related research.

    Prior to pursuing research, Kuhlman worked as a strength and conditioning coach for several universities, including West Texas A&M University and the University of South Alabama (where he became the director of athletic performance).

    “The NSCA is the gold standard organization and certification for strength and conditioning coaches, at both the professional and collegiate level,” Kuhlman says. “I was involved with that organization as a coach for many years. But they also have a foundation which is at the cutting edge in terms of research for strength and conditioning, and athletic development. As I transitioned to academia, I took advantage of the opportunity to apply for this award.”

    Kuhlman’s double-blind, placebo-controlled study will examine the effects of collagen peptide supplements (using a popular commercial brand) on bone metabolism, tendon health, and biomarkers of inflammation and recovery for female distance runners. This population is doubly at risk for early-onset osteoporosis, and other bone stress injuries such as stress fractures, due to their high-impact sport and nutritional challenges.

    Through analyzing bone density scans as well as biomarkers in the bloodstream, the study will investigate whether regular supplementation of collagen peptides helps prevent bone loss.

    Investigating Collagen’s Health Claims

    Collagen is one of the latest additions to the pantheon of popular over-the-counter supplements with compelling health claims. Since supplement marketing is largely unregulated in the United States, companies have broad leeway in their advertising.

    In the case of collagen, though, there is compelling evidence that some of the health claims may actually hold up. Kuhlman mentions existing research on the supplement’s benefits for bone density among post-menopausal women. But, he says, “There’s not a whole lot of evidence in the athletic population.”

    The findings of this study will help runners and other athletes assess whether they may benefit from adding collagen peptides to their supplement routines.

    “Either way, whether we find some significant effects or not, I think it’s valuable,” Kuhlman says. “If we have a null finding, we can say, ‘OK, despite what you may see in these advertisements, it’s not really bearing out in the literature.’ On the flip side, if we find bone health does improve, we can help contextualize those health claims.”

    Sifting through nutritional claims as a consumer can be challenging, especially since many supplements come with high price tags. How can you be sure you’re spending your money on something that will actually improve your health?

    “It’s tough even for me, and for someone who’s not plugged in to the science world, I can see it being really, really challenging,” Kuhlman says, adding that individual variability can introduce even more confusion – some people may experience positive effects from a given supplement, while others may report a neutral or negative effect from the exact same product.

    That’s why he’s eager to provide new data that can help consumers make informed decisions.

    “I’m interested in actionable interventions that people can implement in their daily lives,” he says.

    Supporting the Health of Athletic Populations

    For Kuhlman, this research at the intersection of nutrition and exercise science is simply the latest step in a career devoted to nurturing athletic health. Earning his doctorate, he says, has been an exercise in understanding the scientific side of the applied work he did as a coach and trainer.

    “Getting my Ph.D. was something I wanted to do for a while,” he says. “I love research. I love the process of asking a question and applying the scientific method to uncover a little bit more of the likely truth of whatever problem you’re trying to solve.”

    Throughout his doctoral studies, Kuhlman has published numerous articles on sports nutrition and performance, particularly among college athletes, and has presented his research at five conferences.

    After receiving his degree, he hopes to remain in the research world, exploring more questions that athletes and athletic people navigate every day. His research seeks to help people understand how nutrition and exercise can benefit everyone – not just those looking to maximize their athletic potential.

    “I’m a big believer in the fact that nutrition and exercise can modulate health in so many ways,” he says. “It’s not just about ‘peak performance’ — it’s really about health. Health underpins all of this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU took part in a seminar on the implementation of the Presidential Program for the Training of Management Personnel

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On October 25, 2024, the head of the Presidential Program for the Training of Management Personnel for Organizations of the National Economy of the Russian Federation of the State University of Management, Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov took part in an interregional seminar on improving the implementation of the Presidential Program, organized by the Government of the Moscow Region and the Federal Resource Center of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

    The participants of the seminar – employees of regional commissions and regional resource centers, representatives of educational organizations participating in the implementation of the Presidential Program, representatives of the Presidential Program graduate associations – discussed the main directions and possibilities for improving the implementation of the Presidential Program.

    Dmitry Bryukhanov gave a report in which he presented the experience of modernizing the Russian internship within the framework of the Presidential Program. The Russian internship is a mandatory element of the curriculum of the Presidential Program and is aimed at developing the management skills of students, exchanging experience, studying best practices in the field of organizational management, marketing, production organization, and project management.

    In 2024, the State University of Management modernized the Russian internship program, focusing on visits to enterprises and organizations, during which students master best practices and adopt management experience. Such a program promotes more effective application of acquired management skills and technologies in the implementation of individual project assignments of participants.

    The developed format of the program is in many ways similar to the foreign internships of graduates of the Presidential Program, which are aimed at establishing business contacts and partnerships, developing export-import relations between the business community of Russia and foreign countries.

    Let us recall that the State University of Management implements two Presidential programs of professional training: “Practice of Business Project Management” (type A) and “Organizational and Economic Foundations of Effective Functioning of the Production Complex” (type B). In addition, the State University of Management has been organizing foreign internships for the third year in a row, commissioned by the Federal Resource Center.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/28/2024

    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 Russia: Rector of the Polytechnic University Andrey Rudskoy gave an interview to the weekly newspaper Argumenty Nedeli

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    In the weekly newspaper Argumenty Nedeli and on the YouTube channel of the publication’s editor-in-chief Andrey Uglanov (1.11 million subscribers) interview came out with the rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

    In a conversation with the editor-in-chief of Argumenty Nedeli, Polytechnic graduate Academician Rudskoy comprehensively presented his alma mater and the largest engineering university in Russia, which turned 125 this year. Andrei Ivanovich told which outstanding people were the initiators of polytechnic education in the Russian Empire and what preceded the appearance of the Polytechnic Institute in its capital.

    Readers and viewers learned what the Polytechnic University graduates and employees are famous for, what contribution they made to the creation of weapons for victory in the Great Patriotic War, to the development of the atomic project, space exploration, the development of aviation, shipbuilding and other sectors of our country’s economy.

    Speaking about the tasks of today’s Polytechnic, Andrey Rudskoy paid attention to working with young people, applicants and students, spoke about the most popular specialties and how the university interacts with employers. He also expressed his opinion on the transition to new levels of higher education to replace the Bologna system.

    You can watch the full interview atYouTube channel of the editor-in-chief of the publication “Arguments of the Week” Andrey Uglanov.

    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 Russia: The conference with international participation, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Department of Geotechnics of SPbGASU, became a record-breaker in terms of the number of participants, content and depth of topics

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Presentation of the medal to Evgeny Rybnov (in the center). On the right – Askar Zhusupbekov

    The results of the national (all-Russian) scientific and technical conference with international participation “Modern methods of design, underground construction and reconstruction of foundations and bases” were summed up at SPbGASU. Let us recall that it brought together specialists from 23 cities and 13 countries. More than 110 reports were heard.

    “We tried to consider all aspects of geotechnics, raise problematic issues and discuss their possible solutions, and outline development vectors. For industry representatives, the conference became an open platform for exchanging experience with colleagues and interacting with the scientific community, and for students, it was a series of effective practical lectures. Of course, both in domestic and foreign geotechnics, there are still a huge number of unresolved issues, but Russian geotechnics confirms its high level and is ready to share experience and developments, as well as study international experience. The conference made it possible to do this,” said Rashid Mangushev, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, Head of the Scientific School, Director of the Scientific and Production-Consulting Center for Geotechnology at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

    One of the participants added that he had not been to a conference for a long time that covered the maximum number of geotechnical areas so comprehensively and deeply. The conference program included a tight schedule: nine sessions on twelve main geotechnical areas, technical excursions around St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, a visit to an exhibition dedicated to the anniversary of the geotechnical department, and time for business communication.

    The scale and effectiveness of the conference are impressive and inspire new research, emphasized Anatoly Osokin, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Head of the Department of Geotechnics at SPbGASU.

    “We identified the problems and demonstrated our readiness and ability to solve them. And, most importantly, we examined geotechnics in detail. The conference participants were replenished with a large number of young specialists and scientists. This indicates that geotechnics will develop as a science and a special branch of construction. We understand that today the development of megacities is often possible only through underground construction, so geotechnics remains a sought-after science in the modern world,” Anatoly Ivanovich summed up.

    For his contribution to the development of geotechnics, the rector of the university, Doctor of Economics, PhD in Engineering, Professor Evgeniy Rybnov was awarded the highest award of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association – the International Geotechnical Medal named after Academician Sh. M. Aitaliev; the scientific director of the geotechnical school of SPbGASU, Corresponding Member of RAASN, Doctor of Engineering Rashid Mangushev was awarded the medal of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association named after Academician T. Zh. The awards were presented by the president of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association, Doctor of Engineering, Professor, graduate of SPbGASU (LISI) Askar Zhusupbekov.

    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: Non-Profit Organizations Benefit from FEMA Funds

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>Guaynabo, PUERTO RICO ― The Support and Therapy Center of the Puerto Rico Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association is one of the non-profit organizations that recently received funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair its infrastructure after Hurricane María and to continue offering its services for the development of its participants.
    The organization, which focuses on promoting the functioning, independence and integration of people with developmental disabilities, also offers services in social work, physical and occupational therapy, and assistance with the purchase of orthopedic equipment.
    “The social and health needs of our island are different and precise. We have the great talent and dedication of communities that are ready to meet these needs and FEMA remains committed to assisting in the recovery of these organizations,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator José Baquero. 
    The Support and Therapy Center serves over 200 people. It also offers educational workshops on the management and prevention of births with neural tube defects and supports families during and after a pregnancy with a neural tube defect diagnosis. 
    The Association’s director, Isolina Laboy Arroyo, said that they recently discharged a 3-year-old participant, who “lives a full life, participates in extracurricular activities such as gymnastics and is a girl who enjoys having reached her full potential thanks to early intervention.” 
    The organization offered direct services to the mother during her pregnancy and after a surgery to treat the infant’s spina bifida from the womb. After birth, the entity offered direct occupational and physical therapy services to the girl from 5 months to 2 years old.
    Laboy Arroyo stated that “over the years, this organization has been able to fulfill its mission of offering direct services to participants to promote the functioning, independence and integration in the community of people with developmental disabilities. This entity has played an important role in being able to provide patients with the opportunity to become as independent as possible within the limits that their condition allows.”
    The Association has about $35,000 from the agency to replace the roof waterproofing system, the air conditioners, floor mats for therapy rooms and some office equipment, among others. Mitigation funds within this allocation will anchor the water cistern tank and improve the facilities’ infrastructure against infiltration. 
    On the other hand, FEMA also obligated funds for Bill’s Kitchen, an entity that has been providing food security along with nutritional counseling for 31 years.
    Bill’s Kitchen was born in memory of a young architect named Bill, who died of AIDS in Seattle in 1992. His mother Sara Metcalf, who lived in Puerto Rico, decided to help people on the island living with this condition by providing food to everyone who needed it, replicating several service programs in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Today, Bill’s Kitchen serves more than 30 towns in the northeastern area of the island: they serve about 1,175 people a year, distribute over 11,000 bags of food for two weeks, and coordinate thousands of clinical and support services for their participants.
    Bill’s Kitchen Executive Director Sandra Torres Rivera explained that its participants also have services in place to ensure they maintain their treatments for HIV and other chronic health conditions.
    “Our nutritional services program complements the provision of food, offering food security to the medical and nutritional counseling, to give the participant the tools to combat not only hunger, but also prevailing health conditions on the island such as diabetes, hypertension and gastrointestinal problems. Through the Intégrate Program we offer medical transportation, oral health and visual health services, which include the purchase of eyeglasses, laboratories and emergency assistance, among other services that our participants cannot access through their health insurance coverage,” said Torres Rivera.
    This organization received about $470,000 for its infrastructure. The work includes the replacement of equipment, such as the mezzanine and kitchen air conditioners. More than $78,000 of the funds were destined to mitigation measures aimed at ensuring proper drainage and preventing infiltration to the roof and interior of the facilities.
    For his part, the executive director of the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, said that “our work team assists non-profit organizations such as Bill’s Kitchen, an entity that is currently in the construction acquisition phase to make way for the reconstruction of the facilities where they offer services aimed at a population in need. Puerto Rico has thousands of non-profit entities like this one, which have the commendable work of supporting and contributing to the quality of life of our citizens. At COR3 we will continue to guide them in the process so that they can complete their works.”
    To date, FEMA has allocated over $34.2 billion for more than 11,000 projects to address Puerto Rico’s recovery following Hurricane María. A total of over $1.4 billion are destined exclusively to support the recovery of 1,105 non-profit projects across the island.
    For more information about Puerto Rico’s recovery,  visit fema.gov/disaster/4339, fema.gov/disaster/4473 and recovery.pr. Follow us on our social media at Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico, Facebook.com/COR3pr and Twitter @COR3pr.
     
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: BrainHQ Awarded New Army Contract

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Posit Science, the maker of the brain health and fitness app BrainHQ, announced that it has been awarded a new contract by the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

    “We are proud to be expanding our work with the military,” said Dr. Henry Mahncke, the CEO of Posit Science. “The science has shown that our plasticity-based brain training exercises can improve cognitive performance in both top performers and in those recovering from concussions and blast exposures or even more severe brain injuries. BrainHQ brain health assessments can contribute to rapid, precise evaluations of cognitive readiness.”

    “BrainHQ is already in use by the military in a variety of settings, including military hospitals, such as the Walter Reed National Intrepid Center of Excellence, and special forces units. There’s an opportunity for the military to gain true cognitive dominance over adversaries by employing BrainHQ assessments to evaluate cognitive readiness at the individual and unit level, and to use BrainHQ’s proven cognitive training exercises to enable service members to achieve peak cognitive performance, and to recover performance after combat-related injuries,” Dr. Mahncke continued. “Over time, we expect our work with the military to contribute to readiness, resilience, and recovery.”

    For the past two decades, Posit Science has transformed applied neuroscience by designing, testing, and validating dozens of breakthrough brain exercises, which have been shown to improve neuropsychological and physical measures of cognitive performance and health across the brain, and which have been used by millions of people.

    In recent years, Posit Science has also developed and normed dozens of cognitive assessments, each of which takes about three minutes to complete. The assessments can be self-administered remotely and can be arranged to be taken one at a time or in batteries designed for different purposes. Greater use of these quick and validated assessments allows individuals and organizations to easily take a baseline of health and performance (across the brain) and to monitor changes over time.

    Because the BrainHQ assessments were developed under the same umbrella as the BrainHQ cognitive exercises, they also can provide a roadmap for which BrainHQ cognitive exercises can improve performance and, when appropriate, help drive faster and more complete recovery.

    “In the near future, we expect most of us will be able to take this type of assessment on our own, just as easily as people already measure their weight, temperature, blood pressure, or blood sugar at home,” Dr. Mahncke said. “That helps move us toward the promise of 21st Century Medicine — to be predictive, preventative, personalized, and participatory — and should improve brain health, performance, and resilience.”

    BrainHQ exercises have shown benefits in hundreds of studies. Such benefits include gains in cognition (attention, speed, memory, decision-making), in quality of life (depressive symptoms, confidence and control, health-related quality of life) and in real-world activities (health outcomes, balance, driving, workplace activities). BrainHQ is offered by leading health and Medicare Advantage plans, by leading medical centers, clinics, and communities, and by military, law enforcement, sports, and other organizations focused on peak performance. Consumers can try a BrainHQ exercise for free daily at https://www.brainhq.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vantage Drilling International Ltd. Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dubai, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vantage Drilling International Ltd. Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

     

     

    DUBAI, October 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vantage Drilling International Ltd. (“Vantage” or the “Company”) today announced that it will host a conference call at 10:00 AM Eastern Time / 4:00 PM Oslo Time / 7:00 PM Dubai Time on November 7, 2024 to discuss operating results for the third quarter of 2024. Vantage will release earnings before the market opens on November 7, 2024. Vantage’s earnings release will be posted to the Vantage website at www.vantagedrilling.com. 

    To access the conference call, click on the Call Link following the instructions below. 

    1. Click on the Call Link and complete the online registration form.
    2. Once the registration is complete you will receive an email confirmation with the call details (dial-in and a unique PIN to join the call).
    3. You will have two options to join the call.
      1. Dial-In Option: A dial in number and unique PIN are displayed to connect directly from your phone.
      2. Call Me Option: Enter your phone number and click “Call Me” for an immediate callback from the system.

    Please call five minutes ahead of time to ensure proper connection. A replay of the conference call will be available following the call and can be accessed via Webcast Link.

    Online Registration:

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BI3f198530d1ee42e386c22ba7cba67366

    About the Company

    Vantage Drilling International Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor, with a fleet of two ultra-deepwater drillships and two premium jackup drilling rigs. Vantage’s primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells globally for major, national and independent oil and gas companies. Vantage also markets, operates and provides management services in respect of drilling units owned by others. www.vantagedrilling.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Condor’s Workover Results Continue to Exceed Pre-Job Expectations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Condor Energies Inc. (“Condor” or the “Company”) (TSX: CDR), a Canadian based energy transition company, is pleased to provide an operational update for its eight gas field production enhancement project in Uzbekistan.

    Two recently worked-over wells have returned to service and are providing 441 boepd of incremental production, after a combined 20 meters of previously unperforated reservoir pay was accessed. Prior to the workovers, the first well wasn’t producing and is now flowing 410 boepd based on a 24 hour production test. Although the second well is still recovering workover fluids, its incremental flow rate is already 31 boepd or a 65% increase, also based on a 24 hour test. As disclosed earlier this month, three prior workovers added a cumulative 330 boepd of incremental production.

    A second rig that was planned for delivery in early November has already begun workover activities on a well that is targeting up to 25 meters of previously unperforated reservoir. With over 100 wells in the eight fields, there is a large inventory of both producing and shut-in wells available for evaluation, recompletion and optimization opportunities to profitably grow production.

    The extensive geological evaluations performed, coupled with recent workover results, suggest that material untapped hydrocarbon potential exists within the carbonate formations of the Company’s 279 km2 license area. These carbonate platforms contain thick reservoir sections interbedded with laterally extensive evaporite layers, creating ideal conditions for hydrocarbon trapping. The reservoirs are analogous to carbonate formations in Canada’s Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (“WCSB”), such as the Charlie Lake and Midale, which continue to be successfully monetized. By leveraging this geological similarity, the Company is maturing the potential of horizontal and multi-lateral drilling, a proven method in Canada to enhance deliverability and maximize recovery from these reservoirs.

    Don Streu, President and CEO of Condor, commented: “We continue to be very pleased with the early results of our workover program and are excited to have a second service rig operating. The multiple successes of world-class developments in the WCSB showcases how carbonate reservoirs can deliver impressive production rates and recoveries. The geological characteristics in Uzbekistan – thick reservoirs interbedded with evaporites – are strikingly similar to those found in Western Canada, where decades of production have been economically sustained. By employing advanced horizontal and stacked drilling techniques, we could achieve even higher deliverability and maximize recovery from our Jurassic carbonate reservoirs, mirroring the positive Canadian analogue outcomes.”

    ABOUT CONDOR ENERGIES INC

    Condor Energies Inc is a TSX-listed energy transition company that is uniquely positioned on the doorstep of European and Asian markets with three distinct first-mover initiatives: increasing natural gas and condensate production from its existing fields in Uzbekistan; an ongoing project to construct and operate Central Asia’s first LNG facility in Kazakhstan; and a separate initiative to develop and produce lithium brine in Kazakhstan. Condor has already built a strong foundation for reserves, production and cashflow growth while also striving to minimize its environmental footprint.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities legislation. Such statements are generally identifiable by the terminology used, such as “anticipate”, “appear”, “believe”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “budget”, “outlook”, “scheduled”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “in the process of” or other similar wording. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, information concerning: the timing and ability to perforate up to 25 meters of previously unperforated reservoir; the timing and ability for material untapped hydrocarbon potential to exist within the carbonate formations of the Company’s license area; the timing and ability for carbonate platforms to contain thick reservoir sections interbedded with laterally extensive evaporite layers to create ideal conditions for hydrocarbon trapping; the timing and ability for the Company’s reservoirs to be analogous to carbonate formations in Canada’s Western Canada Sedimentary Basin; the timing and ability to mature the potential of horizontal and multi-lateral drilling to maximize recovery; the timing and ability to employ advanced horizontal and stacked drilling techniques; the timing and ability to drill new wells and the ability of the drilled wells to become producing wells; projections and timing with respect to production; the timing and ability to obtain future funding on favorable terms, if at all; the timing and ability to increase production by executing the planned drilling and workover programs; and the timing and ability to obtain various approvals and conduct the Company’s planned development activities.

    ABBREVIATIONS

    The following is a summary of abbreviations used in this news release:

    boe Barrels of oil equivalent*
    boepd Barrels of oil equivalent per day
    km2 Square kilometers
    Mscf  Thousand standard cubic feet of gas
       

    * Barrels of oil equivalent (“boe”) are derived by converting gas to oil in the ratio of six thousand standard cubic feet (“Mscf”) of gas to one barrel of oil based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 Mscf to 1 barrel, utilizing a conversion ratio at 6 Mscf to 1 barrel may be misleading as an indication of value, particularly if used in isolation.

    The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    For further information, please contact Don Streu, President and CEO or Sandy Quilty, Vice President of Finance and CFO at 403-201-9694.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Primech AI, a Subsidiary of Primech Holdings, Launches AI-Powered Automated Toilet Cleaning Robot, Hytron

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                                                       

    Hytron Enhances Hygiene Standards at Temasek Polytechnic, Marks a Monumental Leap in Cleaning Technology

    SINGAPORE, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech AI Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: PMEC), announces the launch of Hytron, a cutting-edge AI-powered automated toilet cleaning robot, now operational and enhancing hygiene standards at Temasek Polytechnic. This innovative technology introduces unprecedented levels of cleaning efficiency, setting new benchmarks in the industry.

    (Primech AI’s COO, Charles Ng, and CTO, Richard Zhang, proudly commemorate the successful deployment of the Hytron robot at Temasek Polytechnic. Image: Primech AI)

    Hytron is engineered to address the high demands for cleanliness in high-traffic areas such as offices, malls, and hospitals. Equipped with advanced AI, Hytron autonomously navigates and cleans toilet fixtures with a precision down to less than one millimeter, surpassing conventional cleaning methods. Its ability to navigate in three-dimensional spaces and perform touch-based cleaning allows it to remove stubborn stains effectively, ensuring a thorough and consistent clean every time.

    The technical superiority of Hytron lies in its integration of force-sensitive sensors and 3D recognition technologies, enabling it to adapt and respond to the nuances of different cleaning environments. This level of precision and adaptability sets Hytron apart from competitors, highlighting its unique position in the market.

    “The launch of Hytron at Temasek Polytechnic has already shown fantastic results, with significant improvements in restroom cleanliness and overall hygiene,” said Charles Ng, Vice President of Innovation and Technology at Primech Holdings and Co-Founder COO of Primech AI. “Hytron not only elevates the standard of cleanliness but also enhances the operational efficiency for facilities managers, offering a scalable solution that meets the growing global demands for hygiene.”

    The market potential for restroom-cleaning robots like Hytron is vast. With the global commercial cleaning products market projected to reach USD 121.29 billion by 2023, according to data from market research and consulting firm Grand View Research, growing at a CAGR of 7.91% from 2024 to 2030, the introduction of automated solutions like Hytron is timely. This growth is driven by increasing hygiene awareness and the need for more efficient cleaning solutions in public and private spaces worldwide.

    Primech AI, in collaboration with Temasek Polytechnic, plans to expand this cleaning initiative by introducing more robots to clean more toilets on campus, modernizing, streamlining, and humanizing toilet cleaning processes. Hytron’s successful deployment marks the beginning of its potential expansion into other cleaning applications, reinforcing Primech AI’s position as a leader in the field of robotic cleaning solutions. This technology not only promises to revolutionize the way cleaning tasks are approached but also offers substantial cost savings and health benefits, making it a game-changer in the cleaning industry.

    Additional images of Hytron in operation can be found at https://primech.ai/

    See Hytron in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBFBTs5vRjs

    (Hytron being deployed at Temasek Polytechnic, autonomously executing a restroom cleaning cycle, leveraging advanced AI algorithms for precise positioning and optimal task completion.Image:Primech AI)

    About Primech Holdings Limited
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore, with expanding operations in Malaysia. With a legacy of excellence and innovation in the facility services industry, Primech’s operating subsidiary, Primech A & P, offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Additionally, CSG Industries Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Primech Holdings, manufactures and supplies various high-quality cleaning products under its brand, extending its reach and capabilities within the industry. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.   

    About Primech AI
    Primech AI is a leading robotics company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation in technology. With a team of passionate individuals and a commitment to collaboration, Primech AI is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with groundbreaking solutions that make a meaningful impact on society. For more information, visit www.primech.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
    Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President                                        
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC                                         
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Announces Closing of Upsized $36 Million Underwritten Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Additional capital following public offerings in May and July 2024 to fund technology advancements and growth opportunities

    New York, N.Y., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear”), a leading vertically integrated advanced nuclear energy and technology company developing portable clean nuclear energy solutions, today announced that it has closed its previously announced upsized $36 million firm commitment, registered underwritten public offering.

    In the offering, NANO Nuclear sold 2,117,646 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 1,217,646 shares of common stock at $17.00 per share and associated warrant, less underwriting discounts and expenses. Such warrants include warrants to purchase 158,823 shares of common stock which were purchased by the underwriter at closing pursuant to a partial exercise of its offering over-allotment option. The underwriter retains an option through November 22, 2024, to purchase an additional 317,646 shares of common stock. The warrants are exercisable immediately, have a term of five years, and have an exercise price of $17.00 per share. The warrants will not trade on any market.

    This offering follows NANO Nuclear’s initial public offering which closed on May 10, 2024, and its underwritten follow-on offering which closed on July 15, 2024, from which NANO Nuclear received total gross proceeds of over $30 million.

    NANO Nuclear expects its net proceeds from the offering, after underwriting commissions and offering expenses, will be approximately $32.6 million. NANO Nuclear intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for (i) research and development of its products and technologies, including its ‘ZEUS’ and ‘ODIN’ microreactors and nuclear fuel transportation design optimization, fuel facility investigations and development, test work and scoping studies, and other technology research and development; (ii) marketing, promotion and business development activities; and (iii) regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, hiring additional employees, retaining additional contractors and building out NANO Nuclear’s new Nuclear Technology Headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NANO Nuclear will also use the proceeds for general working capital and may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire, license and invest in complementary products, technologies, or additional businesses, although NANO Nuclear currently has no agreements or commitments with respect to any such transaction.

    “We have worked extremely hard to establish NANO Nuclear as one of the leaders in the U.S. advanced nuclear energy market. It is incredibly gratifying to see the continued support from our current shareholder base as well as new fundamental and institutional investors in this oversubscribed financing round, which will fuel our efforts to further develop and refine our proprietary technologies,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “With over $65 million raised in under 6 months as a public company, we are positioned to drive shareholder value and realize our vision of becoming a leading, diversified, and vertically integrated nuclear energy company.”

    The Benchmark Company, LLC acted as the sole book-running representative for the offering. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP acted as counsel to NANO Nuclear. Lucosky Brookman LLP acted as counsel to The Benchmark Company. Withum Smith+Brown PC are NANO Nuclear’s registered independent auditors.

    Registration statements relating to this public offering were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and declared. This registration statement can be obtained by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Please see such registration statement for additional information regarding NANO Nuclear.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About NANO Nuclear Energy Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across four business lines: (i) cutting edge portable microreactor technology, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation and (iv) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s products in technical development are “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For further information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release or related events contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements (including statements related to the public offering and the proposed use of proceeds from such offering, as described herein) related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “seek,” “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which may be beyond our control. Readers are cautioned that actual results may differ materially and adversely from the results implied in forward-looking statements. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the business of a start-up business operating a highly regulated industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and the Company therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release, and forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CareCloud Pays Off Credit Line, Signs an Updated Credit Facility Agreement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOMERSET, N.J., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — — CareCloud, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CCLD, CCLDO, CCLDP), a leader in healthcare technology solutions for medical practices and health systems nationwide, today announced that it has fully paid down its credit facility line with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”), achieving a key 2024 objective. Additionally, CareCloud requested and secured a reduction in its borrowing fees and lowered its overall revolving credit facility limit.

    “We are thrilled to have reached this important strategic milestone,” said Norm Roth, Interim CFO and Corporate Controller of CareCloud. “We started 2024 with a $10 million outstanding balance and a clear goal to significantly increase our free cash flow, allowing us to fully pay down this debt. We are pleased to have accomplished this ahead of schedule, achieving a zero balance at the end of the third quarter.”

    “Along with eliminating the credit facility balance — which had been incurring interest expense since the beginning of the year — we sought and achieved a reduction in the available amount of our credit line. This reduction will lower the annual anniversary and unused revolving line facility fees. These savings amount to approximately $140,000 on an annual basis. Moreover, these cost reductions are a small part of a larger plan to accelerate free cashflow and revitalize our business model as we continue to strategically drive efficiencies across the organization,” said Roth.

    Pursuant to the Company’s Ninth Loan Modification Agreement, dated October 25, 2024, with Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (the “Agreement”), the Company continues to maintain an unused, but available, credit facility line of $10 million. The information contained in this press release is a summary of certain relevant portions of the Agreement and Form 8-K, which are filed with Securities and Exchange Commission.

    About CareCloud

    CareCloud brings disciplined innovation to the business of healthcare. Our suite of technology-enabled solutions helps clients increase financial and operational performance, streamline clinical workflows and improve the patient experience. More than 40,000 providers count on CareCloud to help them improve patient care while reducing administrative burdens and operating costs. Learn more about our products and services including revenue cycle management (RCM), practice management (PM), electronic health records (EHR), business intelligence, patient experience management (PXM) and digital health at www.carecloud.com.

    Follow CareCloud on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations or future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “could”, “intends,” “expects,” “plans,” “goals,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “possible,” “potential,” “target,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

    Our operations involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, and any one of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect our results of operations and whether the forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements reflecting management’s expectations for future financial performance and operating expenditures, expected growth, profitability and business outlook, the impact of pandemics on our financial performance and business activities, and the expected results from the integration of our acquisitions.

    These forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our (or our industry’s) actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We do not have an ongoing obligation to update shareholders regarding future proxy or vote trends, even if they are materially different from those experienced to date. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of the risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s ability to manage growth, migrate newly acquired customers and retain new and existing customers, maintain cost-effective global operations, increase operational efficiency and reduce operating costs, predict and properly adjust to changes in reimbursement and other industry regulations and trends, retain the services of key personnel, develop new technologies, upgrade and adapt legacy and acquired technologies to work with evolving industry standards, compete with other companies products and services competitive with ours, and other important risks and uncertainties referenced and discussed under the heading titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not assume any obligations to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    SOURCE CareCloud

    Company and Investor Contact:
    Stephen Snyder
    President
    CareCloud, Inc.
    ir@carecloud.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Avid Capital Partners Unveils Comprehensive Financial Services Suite, Launches Disruptive Newsletter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avid Capital Partners, an innovative financial services firm, today announced the launch of its comprehensive suite of services designed to level the playing field between retail, high-net-worth individuals, public and private companies, and institutional investors.

    Avid Capital Partners brings together a proven combination of digital marketing prowess, strategic investment banking capabilities, and expert consulting services. The firm’s unique approach leverages its vast network and proven track record to identify and capitalize on under-the-radar investment opportunities.

    Avid Capital Partners is not your typical Wall Street firm. Our team has consistently outperformed the market by identifying hidden gems before they hit the mainstream. Many of our early investments have generated 100% returns with some reaching many multiples higher.

    Avid Capital Partners’ service offerings include:

    1. Digital Marketing: With a network of over 20,000 followers across social media platforms, Avid Capital Partners can produce and distribute compelling, targeted content, precisely conveying company messaging to a wide audience of investors.
    2. Strategic Partnerships: We maintain relationships with select investment banks and family offices, allowing us to facilitate introductions for companies seeking funding opportunities. Our role is to connect promising businesses with appropriate financial institutions while ensuring alignment of interests for all parties involved. We prioritize building long-term partnerships that create mutual value for all parties involved.
    3. Consulting: Avid Capital Partners offers comprehensive advisory services for high-net-worth investors, public and private companies, and institutions. The firm’s expertise includes fundamental and technical analysis, portfolio management, and assessment of company holdings.

    Avid Capital Partners recently launched their second newsletter, 6 Reasons This Tiny Biotech Could Surge Later This Month — Avid Capital Partners. The publication alerted investors to an opportunity that has now yielded a double in three weeks (+115% low to high).

    At Avid Capital, our track record speaks volumes – we encourage you to review our performance and see the results for yourself.

    About Avid Capital Partners

    Avid Capital Partners is a forward-thinking financial services firm that combines innovative digital marketing, strategic investment banking, and expert consulting services. With a focus on identifying under-the-radar investment opportunities and fostering long-term relationships, Avid Capital Partners is committed to delivering exceptional value to its diverse clientele of high-net-worth individuals, public and private companies, and institutional investors.

    For more information, please visit https://avidcapital.co

    Contact us: Info@AvidCapital.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Silicon Motion Announces Annual Cash Dividend Payable Quarterly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAIPEI, Taiwan and MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NasdaqGS: SIMO)(“Silicon Motion” or the “Company”), a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices, announces today its annual cash dividend of $2.00 per ADS.

    The Board of Directors of the Company has declared an annual dividend of $2.00 per ADS1,2 which will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.50 per ADS3 according to the following anticipated record and payment dates:

    Record Date Payment Date
    November 14, 2024 November 27, 2024
    February 13, 2025 February 27, 2025
    May 8, 2025 May 22, 2025
    August 7, 2025 August 21, 2025
       

    The Company’s depository bank’s DR books will be closed for issuance and cancellation on each of the record dates.

    “Silicon Motion’s business outlook and our ability to generate free cash flow remains strong. Our focus continues to be in distributing a meaningful portion of this to our shareholders as dividend,” said Wallace Kou, President and CEO of Silicon Motion.

    The payment of the annual dividend to be paid in quarterly installments will be made according to the anticipated record and payment dates unless subsequently changed by the Board. The declaration and payment of future cash dividends is subject to the Board’s continuing determination that the payment of dividends is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and is in compliance with all laws and agreements of the Company applicable to the declaration and payment of cash dividends.

    ABOUT SILICON MOTION:

    We are the global leader in supplying NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices.  We supply more SSD controllers than any other company in the world for servers, PCs and other client devices and are the leading merchant supplier of eMMC and UFS embedded storage controllers used in smartphones, IoT devices and other applications.  We also supply customized high-performance hyperscale data center and specialized industrial and automotive SSD solutions.  Our customers include most of the NAND flash vendors, storage device module makers and leading OEMs.  For further information on Silicon Motion, visit us at www.siliconmotion.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although such statements are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on them. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual market trends or our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the unpredictable volume and timing of customer orders, which are not fixed by contract but vary on a purchase order basis; the loss of one or more key customers or the significant reduction, postponement, rescheduling or cancellation of orders from one or more customers; general economic conditions or conditions in the semiconductor or consumer electronics markets; the impact of inflation on our business and customer’s businesses and any effect this has on economic activity in the markets in which we operate; the functionalities and performance of our information technology (“IT”) systems, which are subject to cybersecurity threats and which support our critical operational activities, and any breaches of our IT systems or those of our customers, suppliers, partners and providers of third-party licensed technology; the effects on our business and our customer’s business taking into account the ongoing U.S.-China tariffs and trade disputes; the uncertainties associated with any future global or regional pandemic; the continuing tensions between Taiwan and China including enhanced military activities; decreases in the overall average selling prices of our products; changes in the relative sales mix of our products; changes in our cost of finished goods; supply chain disruptions that have affected us and our industry as well as other industries on a global basis; the payment, or non-payment, of cash dividends in the future at the discretion of our board of directors and any announced planned increases in such dividends; changes in our cost of finished goods; the availability, pricing, and timeliness of delivery of other components and raw materials used in the products we sell given the current raw material supply shortages being experienced in our industry; our customers’ sales outlook, purchasing patterns, and inventory adjustments based on consumer demands and general economic conditions; any potential impairment charges that may be incurred related to businesses previously acquired or divested in the future; our ability to successfully develop, introduce, and sell new or enhanced products in a timely manner; and the timing of new product announcements or introductions by us or by our competitors. For additional discussion of these risks and uncertainties and other factors, please see the documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2024. Other than as required under the securities laws, we do not intend, and do not undertake any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release.

    _________________

    1 One ADS is equivalent to four ordinary shares.
    2 $2.00 per ADS is equivalent to $0.50 per ordinary share.
    3 $0.50 per ADS is equivalent to $0.125 per ordinary share.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: QuestionPro Appoints Chris Robson as Vice President, Managed Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuestionPro, a global leader in online survey and research services announces Chris Robson has joined the company in the newly created position of Vice President, Managed Services. Robson will create this new division which is focused on helping QuestionPro customers get the most out of its robust research platform.

    Well known as a research industry thought-leader, Robson is a mathematician by training who has worked at both large enterprises as well as startups. Immediately prior to joining QuestionPro, he was the Global Head of Data Science at Human8, a global brand consultancy where he developed new methodologies including the application of Generative AI and LLMs. Earlier in his career he managed advanced research teams and large software teams (70+ people) at HP.

    He was also Chief Innovation Officer and Global Head of Research Science at ORC, where he led a team of analysts and statisticians to embrace and adopt new approaches for data-centered insights. Robson also co-founded and ran two successful research analytics agencies: Parametric Marketing and Deckchair Data. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Mathematics from the Brunel University of London.

    Robson will have overall responsibility for establishing and growing QuestionPro’s Managed Services Group which provides services to clients who need assistance to go above and beyond the capabilities of the company’s existing suite of research platforms. This can include project management, study design, custom programming, reporting and analytics. Whether it is providing end-to-end project support, simply customizing the appearance of a single question or running advanced analytic methods the group ensures that clients can get the answers they need for their business decisions.

    In particular, Robson will apply his deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to not only integrate AI across the QuestionPro platform, but also leverage it for new ways to drive consumer insights through emerging techniques like synthetic data.

    “I’ve known and worked with Chris for close to 20 years,” said Vivek Bhaskaran, founder and CEO of QuestionPro. “In fact, he helped build some of our early features like MaxDiff and others. It’s great to have him on board full time to launch a new division and also ensure our customers benefit from the application of AI across our platform.”

    About QuestionPro:
    Founded in 2006, QuestionPro is a global provider of online survey and research services that help companies make better decisions through data. Our fully integrated online platform includes surveys, research & insights, customer experience (CX) and workforce/employee experience software. We additionally offer polling, journey mapping, employee 360s and data visualization. Our clientele ranges from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, who rely on us for insights about customers, employees, and the marketplace. With offices in the US, Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and India, we offer customers 24-7 access to highly trained support specialists and engineers. More information is available at www.questionpro.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9035859-cb80-41e3-be32-21eab55be2d3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Viewpointsystem Joins the AR Alliance for Augmented Reality Wearable Devices

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PISCATAWAY, N.J., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The AR Alliance announces that Viewpointsystem, a leader in the development of advanced eye tracking and gaze tracking solutions, including eye-tracking-based smart glasses, has joined the alliance as an associate member.

    The AR Alliance provides a supportive and neutral environment for organizations of all sizes to take an active role in advancing and strengthening the augmented reality hardware development ecosystem. Diverse organizations across the expanding, global AR ecosystem work together through the AR Alliance to speed innovation of breakthrough technologies and processes for building AR wearables and devices that create a meaningful and positive experience for users.

    “We are building AR together,” said Dr. Bharath Rajagopalan, Chair, AR Alliance, and Director of Strategic Marketing, STMicroelectronics. “The promise of AR and its potential market are so vast that there is ample room for all our member companies to succeed together. The AR Alliance is the place where concrete work takes place to harmonize approaches for advancing, unifying, and growing the global AR supply chain and accelerating innovation. We are excited for Viewpointsystem to join us in this important work and bring their technology leadership in eye tracking to help enable the AR market.”

    “Eye tracking is one of the most promising technologies to unlock the full potential of AR,” explained Nils Berger, CEO and Founder of Viewpointsystem. “It already enhances AR experiences with intuitive controls, like selecting objects with your eyes. But its potential goes far beyond that, enabling the detection of cognitive load and emotional states, allowing devices to respond seamlessly to users’ needs. At Viewpointsystem, we’ve moved eye tracking from the lab to real-world applications, showing its readiness for future mass-market AR devices.”

    About the AR Alliance
    The AR Alliance Founding Board Members are represented by STMicroelectronics, META, Essilor Luxottica, Corning, Dispelix, Optofidelity, MICROOLED, Google, and Qualcomm.

    Organizations of every size and at any spot in the ecosystem are respected, heard, and advocated for via the AR Alliance’s non-competitive environment. Flexible membership levels allow companies of varying strategies, maturity, and resources to engage.

    To learn more about membership in the AR Alliance, please visit www.thearalliance.org.

    About Viewpointsystem
    Viewpointsystem, an innovative deep-tech company based in Vienna, Austria, is at the forefront of integrating eye tracking into industrial and commercial applications. Specializing in enhancing operational efficiency, the company develops internationally award-winning smart glasses used by enterprise customers worldwide.

    Their technology is particularly valuable in areas like manufacturing, maintenance, and training, where it aids in real-time guidance and decision-making. With experience from over 200 use cases across five verticals, Viewpointsystem helps businesses streamline processes, reduce errors, and improve overall productivity.

    Viewpointsystem’s integration technology, Digital Iris Inside, sets a new industry benchmark by providing proven, best-in-class eye tracking and human insight technology ready for integration into external devices. Viewpointsystem continues to lead the way in evolving the technology from mere eye tracking to comprehensive perception and emotional analysis in human-machine interaction​.

    MEDIA CONTACTS

    Areeb Lakhani
    Program Manager – The AR Alliance
    Areeb.Lakhani@ieee-isto.org

    Jana Riethausen
    PR & Communications Lead – Viewpointsystem
    j.riethausen@viewpointsystem.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Baker Hughes Awarded Contracts to Supply Petrobras with Flexible Pipe Systems, Associated Services across Several Fields

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Company to support projects in Brazil’s pre-salt fields, reinforcing position as a leading provider of flexible pipe for deepwater and high CO2projects
    • Local manufacturing boost Brazilian economy, strengthen energy supply chain

    HOUSTON and LONDON, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR), an energy technology company, announced Monday significant contracts with Petrobras to provide 77 km of flexible pipe systems to be deployed in Brazil’s pre-salt fields. The agreement was signed Oct. 15, 2024, following an open tender.

    The multi-year project includes risers and flowlines for hydrocarbon production and associated gas and water injection with support for equipment storage, maintenance and installation. Delivery is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, and the equipment will be utilized across Petrobras’ Búzios, Libra, Berbigão, Sururu and Sépia fields.

    These systems will also address the critical issue of stress-induced corrosion cracking from CO2 (SCC-CO2), which can affect flexible pipes in pre-salt fields with high concentrations of the gas. Baker Hughes’ flexible pipes have proven effective at mitigating this issue, which can arise as gas is reinjected into wells to reduce flaring and enhance oil recovery. Petrobras has committed to limiting CO2 emissions to the atmosphere in their operations, and CO2 storage is an important tool for producing lower-carbon barrels.

    “Brazil’s Santos Basin contains incredible potential to help power Latin America into the future,” said Amerino Gatti, executive vice president, Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes. “Operating in deep waters with high CO2 concentrations presents unique challenges. Baker Hughes’ combination of industry-leading subsea technology and engineering, expertise in offshore operations, and extensive experience in the region will assist Petrobras to unlock and develop this potential, delivering these vital resources safely and efficiently.”

    Baker Hughes has been deeply involved in the development of Brazil’s offshore oil and gas fields for decades, and its localization strategy contributes to the nation’s economy while strengthening its energy supply chain. The company’s plant in Niteroi, Brazil, where these systems will be manufactured, is a major supplier of flexible pipe systems for the industry and employs hundreds of people in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

    The company has announced several agreements with Petrobras throughout 2024, including additional contracts for 69.1 km of flexible pipe systems and associated services in the third quarter. Other awards have included integrated well construction services in the Buzios field and integrated solutions for workover and plug and abandonment services across Petrobras’ pre-salt and post-salt fields.

    About Baker Hughes
    Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Media Relations

    Brian Reynolds
    +1 346-315-6663
    brian.reynolds@bakerhughes.com

    Investor Relations

    Chase Mulvehill
    +1 346-297-2561
    investor.relations@bakerhughes.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.25 Per Share

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable November 21, 2024, to shareholders of record on November 7, 2024.

    About Franklin Electric
    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2023 and America’s Climate Leaders 2023 by USA Today.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SWA Lithium and Koch Technology Solutions Sign License for First Commercial DLE Project in North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EL DORADO, Ark., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SWA Lithium, the Joint Venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor which is developing the South West Arkansas Project (“SWA” or the “Project”), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a license agreement with Koch Technology Solutions LLC (“KTS”) to deploy and use KTS’ Li-ProTM Lithium Selective Sorption (“Li-Pro LSS”) technology at the JV’s commercial plant for the SWA Phase 1 Project.

    The license agreement allows the JV to utilize KTS’ technology for the lifetime of the first phase of the Project, with an option for utilization in subsequent phases of the Project. Considerations and benefits of the license agreement include:

    • Rights to use the Li-Pro LSS technology for subsequent phases of the JV’s SWA Project;
    • Certain technology performance guarantees for lithium recovery, contaminant rejection and water use;
      • Lithium recovery ≥ 95.00%
      • Impurity rejection Calcium, Sodium, Potassium & Magnesium ≥ 99%
    • Technical support from KTS to fully integrate the Li-Pro LSS technology into overall process plant design;
    • Continued exclusive joint development of the technology in the Smackover Formation;
    • Technical support from KTS during commissioning and startup;
    • License payment phased over several milestones; and
    • Continued collaboration and technology refinement between SWA Lithium and KTS.

    Standard Lithium’s Director, President & COO, Dr. Andy Robinson commented: “Signing this license agreement is the culmination of over two years of close work with the KTS team to refine the direct lithium extraction (‘DLE’) technology and integrate it into the JV’s flowsheet. The Li-Pro LSS technology is now sufficiently scaled-up, tested and derisked, so not only is the JV comfortable committing to its use at commercial scale, but KTS is also able to offer performance guarantees for its commercial deployment. We view this as a significant derisking event for the Project, and it points to the successful ongoing partnership with the KTS team.”

    Garrett Krall, Business Leader for Koch Technology Solutions, said: “This license agreement for use of our Li-Pro LSS technology is another key milestone in the development of DLE as a commercially viable, economic and environmentally responsible solution to deliver against future lithium demand.”

    UPDATED PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL-SCALE DLE COLUMN

    Standard Lithium is also pleased to announce the continued successful operation of the commercial-scale DLE column at its wholly-owned Demonstration Plant (“Demo Plant”) near El Dorado, Arkansas. The Company installed a commercial-scale DLE column in late March 2024 and has been operating the column continuously. The column is a Li-Pro LSS unit, supplied by KTS and identical to those currently being integrated into the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study for the SWA Project.

    Since commissioning, the column has exceeded the targeted design parameters for lithium recovery and rejection of impurities. Key technical highlights of the commercial-scale DLE column are provided below:

    • Lithium recovery efficiency of 95.4%: During a four-month continuous operating period (1st April to 31st July 2024), the Li-Pro LSS process achieved an average lithium recovery (i.e. after loading and elution) of 95.4% from the 90 gallons per minute (gpm) incoming brine flow (the average incoming brine contained 183 mg/L lithium during the same period).
    • Excellent contamination rejection rate: During the same period, the DLE process rejected, on average;
      • Sodium – 99.9%
      • Calcium – 99.6%
      • Magnesium – 99.2%
      • Potassium – 99.7%
      • Boron – 95.4%
        High and consistent contaminant rejection at the DLE stage means that the eluate (the initial lithium chloride solution) is easier and cheaper to further refine and concentrate using tested and proven steps to make a concentrated and purified lithium chloride solution. This solution can then be converted to a battery quality carbonate, as has been demonstrated multiple times and at several different scales, both at the Demo Plant and off-site with various third-party vendors.
    • Nearly 10,000 operational cycles for the Li-Pro LSS technology: The commercial-scale Li-Pro LSS column has completed over 725 operational cycles, and the Li-Pro LSS technology has completed over 9,740 operational cycles at the Demo Plant (as of early October 2024).
    • Over 24 million gallons of brine processed: As of the end of September 2024, the Demo Plant had processed 24,446,306 gallons (92,539,335 litres) of Smackover brine, produced directly from the formation and reinjected continuously back into the same formation.

    Figure 1 – Side elevation of operators working on the commercial-scale DLE column at Standard Lithium’s Demonstration Plant near El Dorado, Arkansas.

    About Standard Lithium Ltd.

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Additionally, the Company is advancing the Phase 1A project in partnership with LANXESS Corporation, a brownfield development project located in southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “S5L”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

    About Equinor

    Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Our purpose is to turn natural resources into energy for people and progress for society. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Stavanger (Norway), Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf. We are present in around 30 countries worldwide.

    About Koch Technology Solutions (KTS)

    Koch Technology Solutions is the technology licensing business of Koch Engineered Solutions (KES). KTS creates value for its customers across a growing portfolio of technologies including direct lithium extraction, the polyester value chain, and 1,4-Butananediol plus its derivates. KTS combines its exclusive technologies, expertise, and capabilities with those of other KES companies to provide overall solutions to optimize customer’s capital investments and existing manufacturing assets.

    Qualified Person

    Marek Dworzanowski, EUR ING, CEng, HonFSAIMM, FIMMM, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43 -101 – Technical Report Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Consulting Metallurgical Engineer who is independent of the Company, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information in this news release.

    Twitter: @standardlithium
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-lithium/

    Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, continued operation of the LSS column, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, the continued accuracy of current contaminant rejection rates, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c4dea63-0750-44b2-bea8-e287cc9be29c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FlexShopper Announces a Purchase Option for 91% of its Outstanding Series 2 Preferred Stock at a 50+% Discount to Liquidation Preference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FlexShopper, Inc. (Nasdaq: FPAY), (“the Company”), a leading online lease-to-own retailer and payment solutions provider, today announced that it has entered into a purchase option agreement with the majority holder of the Company’s Series 2 Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), in which FlexShopper has the option to redeem 91% of FlexShopper’s Preferred Stock at a 50+% discount to the second quarter of 2024 liquidation preference of approximately $43 million. The discount is based upon the date of repayment and the option to purchase lasts for a one-year period. In addition, further payments to the seller of the Preferred Stock may be required based upon the purchase price in a change of control in the next 12 months or patent settlement announcements in the next 24 months.

    “We are excited to pursue options to redeem over 90% of our outstanding Series 2 Preferred Stock at a significant discount to its liquidation preference. We believe this opportunity will enhance shareholder value by improving our cost of capital, simplifying our capital structure and transferring $23 million of equity value to our common shareholders, representing approximately $1 per share. In addition, the redemption of our Series 2 Preferred Stock at a 50%+ discount will be highly accretive to earnings and will contribute approximately $4 million to annual operating income,” said Russ Heiser, CEO of FlexShopper.

    Expected Benefits of the Redemption of FlexShopper’s Series 2 Preferred Stock owned by PIMCO:

    Highly Accretive to Earnings. The Company expects to save approximately $4 million in annual payment-in-kind (PIK) dividends. As a result, FlexShopper expects the repurchase transaction to be highly accretive to net income to common and Preferred Series 1 shareholders once completed.

    Material Discount in Liquidation Preference Price: As part of the agreement, FlexShopper has the option to repurchase its Series 2 Preferred Stock at a 50+% discount to its liquidation preference. The current liquidation preference, as of the end of the second quarter of 2024, is valued at approximately $43 million, with an option to purchase at approximately $20 million.

    Increase in Common Equity Value: By redeeming 91% of the Preferred Stock, the approximately $23 million of savings would benefit common shareholders. The savings are equivalent to ~$1 per share in value, based on the Company’s share count at June 30, 2024.

    Illustrative Non-GAAP Changes in FlexShopper’s Enterprise Value and Stock Price Based on 91% Redemption of FlexShopper’s Series 2 Preferred Stock

        Actual
    Valuation at
    June 30,
    2024    		     Pro-forma
    Valuation at
    June 30,
    2024    		     Expected
    change ($)    		     Expected
    change (%)    		  
    Common Equity   $ 30,057,074 (1)   $ 52,917,027 (7)   $ 22,859,953       76 %
    Net Debt   $ 132,086,383 (2)   $ 132,086,383 (2)     –       –  
    Series 1 Preferred Stock   $ 288,296 (3)   $ 288,296 (3)     –       –  
    Series 2 Preferred Stock   $ 47,301,212 (4)   $ 24,441,259 (8)   $ (22,859,953 )     (48 )%
    Total Enterprise Value   $ 209,732,965 (5)   $ 209,732,965 (5)     –       –  
    Share Price   $ 1.28 (6)   $ 2.25 (9)   $ 0.97       76 %

      

    (1) Common Shares Equivalent(1.1) times Actual Share Price at June 30, 2024.
       
    (1.1) Common shares outstanding at June 30, 2024 plus common shares increased using the Treasury Stock Method upon exercise of warrants, stock options and performance share units at June 30, 2024.
       
    (2) Short- and long-term loans minus cash at June 30, 2024.
       
    (3) Common shares upon conversion of Series 1 Preferred Stock at June 30, 2024 times Actual Share Price at June 30, 2024.
       
    (4) Series 2 Preferred Stock at liquidation preference at June 30, 2024 which includes the balance sheet amount and accrued dividends.
       
    (5) Actual Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Common Equity plus Actual Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Net Debt plus Actual Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Series 1 Preferred Stock plus Actual Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Series 2 Preferred Stock.
       
    (6) Share Price of Common Stock at June 30, 2024.
       
    (7) Actual Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Total Enterprise Value minus Pro-forma Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Series 2 Preferred Stock, minus Pro-forma Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Series 1 Preferred Stock, minus Pro-forma Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Net Debt.
       
    (8) Series 2 Preferred Stock, after the redemption of the Series 2 Preferred Stock owned by the majority holder, at liquidation preference at June 30, 2024 plus the current purchase price per the purchase option
       
    (9) Pro-forma Valuation at June 30, 2024 of Common Equity divided by Common Shares Equivalent (as defined in 1.1)


    About FlexShopper

    FlexShopper, Inc. is a leading national financial technology company that offers innovative payment options to consumers. FlexShopper provides a variety of flexible funding options for underserved consumers through its direct-to-consumer online marketplace at Flexshopper.com and in partnership with merchants both online and at brick-and-mortar locations. FlexShopper’s solutions are crafted to meet the needs of a wide range of consumer segments through lease-to-own and lending products.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” or other comparable terms. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expectations of the redemption of over 90% of the Company’s outstanding Series 2 Preferred Stock, the expectation that the redemption of our Series 2 Preferred Stock would be highly accretive to earnings or would improve our company’s share price, lease originations, the expansion of our lease-to-own program; expectations concerning our partnerships with retail partners; investments in, and the success of, our underwriting technology and risk analytics platform; our ability to collect payments due from customers; expected future operating results and expectations concerning our business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including, among others, the following: our ability to obtain adequate financing to fund our business operations in the future; the failure to successfully manage and grow our FlexShopper.com e-commerce platform; our ability to maintain compliance with financial covenants under our credit agreement; our dependence on the success of our third-party retail partners and our continued relationships with them; our compliance with various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those related to consumer protection; the failure to protect the integrity and security of customer and employee information; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and FlexShopper assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

    Contacts

    For FlexShopper:
    Investor Relations
    ir@flexshopper.com

    Investor and Media Contact:
    Andrew Berger, Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    Tel: (216) 464-6400
    andrew@smberger.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Newly Published Research Shows 14-Day Monitoring Detected Almost Three Times More Nonsustained Ventricular Tachycardia Than Standard 48-Hour Monitoring in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart condition affecting about 1 in 500 people and is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under 35, including among athletes.1
    • NSVT (nonsustained ventricular tachycardia), a known marker for increased risk of SCD in HCM, was detected in nearly 50% of HCM patients in the study undergoing long-term continuous ambulatory ECG monitoring of up to 14 days with a Zio®XT LTCM ECG patch device; 63% of NSVT episodes detected only after 48 hours, suggesting that Holter monitoring would miss the majority of episodes.
    • NSVT episodes clinically judged to be higher risk were identified in 24% of the study population and were detected more frequently during 14-day monitoring (3-fold greater diagnostic yield vs 48 hours).

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRTC), a leading digital health company focused on creating trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease, today announced that the results of the Extended Ambulatory ECG Monitoring Enhances Identification of Higher-Risk Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (EXAMINE-HCM) study have been published in Heart Rhythm Journal. The findings were also presented at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting in 2023, and most recently, at the International HCM Summit 8 in Boston, MA (October 25-28, 2024).

    The newly published research highlights the value of 14-day long-term, uninterrupted2 continuous monitoring (LTCM), using a Zio® XT patch ECG device, for detecting nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), a known marker for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The findings support more informed decisions about care pathways and interventions, particularly by capturing arrhythmias that would go undetected by standard 48-hour monitoring, such as with a conventional Holter device monitoring period. Prior research has demonstrated that NSVT episodes occurring with higher heart rate, longer duration, and greater frequency are associated with increased risk of SCD3 and practice guidelines place greater emphasis on these episodes (8 consecutive beats, >200 bpm, 2 runs in consecutive 2-day period) in clinical decision-making regarding use of primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).4 These NSVT episodes clinically judged to be higher risk were detected in only 8% of the study population through 48 hours, but in 24% of patients through 14-days.       

    “The EXAMINE-HCM study provides important new insights into how we manage patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy identified with ventricular arrhythmias,” said Martin S. Maron, MD, study lead investigator, HCM expert, and Medical Director, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center. “By extending the monitoring period beyond the traditional 48 hours, we have been able to detect nonsustained ventricular tachycardia episodes that may have otherwise gone undetected with traditional shorter monitoring periods, which may offer the potential to inform more tailored clinical decision-making to help prevent sudden cardiac death in this high-risk population.”

    Overall, the study authors concluded that traditional 48-hour short-term cardiac monitoring is significantly less effective compared to extended 14-day continuous monitoring for both NSVT and NVST detection with features judged to be high risk in patients with HCM. These data support the need for additional clinical studies to evaluate the significance of longer-term monitoring for NSVT detection and relationship to future risk for sudden death in HCM.

    Key findings from the Extended Ambulatory ECG Monitoring Enhances Identification of Higher-Risk Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy study:

    • 48% of study patients (n=114) with HCM experienced NSVT episodes, and high-risk NSVT was detected in 24% (n=56) of study patients during the 14-day monitoring period.
    • 63% of NSVT episodes (n=72) were detected during a 3 to 14-day continuous monitoring period, compared to 37% (n=42) of NSVT episodes detected during the standard 48-hour Holter monitoring period. This resulted in a 2.7-fold higher diagnostic yield for detecting NSVT during the 14-day extended monitoring period compared to the initial 48 hours (48% vs. 18%; p<0.001).
    • 64% of NSVT episodes clinically judged to be higher risk (n=36); 8 consecutive beats, >200 bpm, 2 runs in consecutive 2-day period)) were detected during a 3 to 14-day continuous monitoring period, compared to 36% (n=20) of high-risk NSVT episodes detected during the standard 48-hour Holter monitoring period. Therefore, the diagnostic yield of high-risk NSVT was 3.0-fold greater over the entire 2 weeks of monitoring vs. only the first 48 hours (24% vs. 8%; p<0.001).
    • 17% of patient profiles were re-classified with respect to risk of sudden cardiac death (n=40) based on their extended 14-day continuous monitoring period. The number of patients at high-risk for SCD increased 2.3-fold (95% CI: 1.2, 4.3) vs. 48-hour monitoring, with 18 (8%) of study patients reclassified from low- or intermediate-risk to high-risk for SCD. In addition, 22 (9%) of patients were reclassified from low to intermediate risk.

    Importance of Detecting NSVT in HCM Patients

    HCM is a genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 500 people and one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD), especially in individuals under 35, including among athletes. HCM is caused by mutations in genes controlling the production of heart muscle proteins, resulting in thickening of the left ventricle wall. These changes can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently and disrupt its electrical signaling. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a well-recognized marker for SCD risk in patients with HCM.

    Standard Holter monitoring captures only up to 48 hours of data, potentially missing episodes of NSVT that can occur later. This study shows that extended monitoring can detect NSVT that would otherwise go unnoticed, providing clinicians with clinical actionable information needed to make timely interventions such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

    The findings underscore the importance of long-term continuous monitoring (LTCM) for patients with HCM. By detecting NSVT that would otherwise go undetected, clinicians are better equipped to assess sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk and recommend interventions like ICD placement.

    This study highlights the value of extended monitoring as an important tool for risk stratification in HCM patients, complementing current American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines, which recommend monitoring every 1 to 2 years but do not yet specify the optimal duration for detecting arrhythmias.

    “There is an abundance of clinical evidence demonstrating that uninterrupted, continuous, patch-based monitoring with the Zio® long-term continuous monitoring service leads to increased diagnostic yield of Afib, atrial arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, more accurate ectopic burden estimation, and lower rates of retesting,”5 said Mintu Turakhia, MD, iRhythm’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer and EVP, Product Innovation. “This study adds to the evidence by showing how ascertainment of NSVT could be missed during risk stratification, in this case specifically for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, depending on the diagnostic test being used.”

    About the Study

    The EXAMINE-HCM study was a single-center, prospective study focused on patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a common genetic heart disease and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young adults. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical profile of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), a key marker for SCD risk, using extended continuous ambulatory ECG monitoring. The primary goal was to assess the benefit of long-term monitoring compared to traditional 48-hour Holter monitoring, with a focus on NSVT episodes of longer duration, greater frequency, and occurring with a higher heart rate, which have been associated greater risk of SCD.

    The study enrolled 236 consecutive adult patients diagnosed with HCM (mean age 49 ± 12 years; 72% male), none of whom had prior implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or permanent pacemakers. These patients were being evaluated for SCD risk stratification. Participants wore the Zio® XT long-term continuous (LTCM) patch ECG device (iRhythm Technologies, Inc.), a long-term continuous monitoring ECG patch device, for 14 days. The Zio patch recorded ECG data continuously, offering an extended wear time compared to traditional 48-hour Holter monitors. After the 14-day monitoring period, patients returned the device for data analysis, which was performed using artificial intelligence (AI)-powered algorithms and validated by certified cardiographic technicians.

    NSVT was defined as more than 3 consecutive ventricular beats at a rate of ≥120 beats per minute (bpm) lasting for less than 30 seconds and terminating spontaneously. High-risk NSVT episodes were defined as those with one or more of the following: ≥8 consecutive beats, a rate of >200 bpm, or ≥2 runs within a 48-hour period, all of which are associated with a higher risk of SCD.

    The study’s primary objective was to compare the prevalence, burden, speed, and length of NSVT episodes detected during the initial 48-hour period (standard Holter monitoring) versus the full 14-day extended monitoring period.

    Key outcomes included the detection of NSVT with features judged to be higher risk and its potential impact on SCD risk stratification. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) SCD risk score was calculated based on both the 48-hour and full 14-day data, and patients were stratified into low, intermediate, and high-risk SCD categories over a 5-year period.

    This project was supported by an investigator-initiated grant from iRhythm Technologies, Inc. Results presented are scientific data and not product or marketing claims.

    Zio XT is indicated for use on patients who may be asymptomatic or who may suffer from transient symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness, pre-syncope, syncope, fatigue or anxiety.

    To learn more about the study, visit Heart Rhythm. To learn more about the value of the Zio LTCM service, which has been demonstrated in over 100 original scientific research manuscripts6, visit iRhythmTech.com..

    About iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
    iRhythm is a leading digital health care company that creates trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease. Combining wearable biosensors and cloud-based data analytics with powerful proprietary algorithms, iRhythm distills data from millions of heartbeats into clinically actionable information. Through a relentless focus on patient care, iRhythm’s vision is to deliver better data, better insights, and better health for all. To learn more about iRhythm, including its portfolio of Zio products and services, please visit irhythmtech.com.

    Media Contact:
    Kassandra Perry
    irhythm@highwirepr.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Stephanie Zhadkevich
    investors@irhythmtech.com

    1“Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).” Www.Heart.Org, American Heart Association, Aug. 2024, www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiomyopathy/what-is-cardiomyopathy-in-adults/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy.

    2“Uninterrupted” refers to uninterrupted ECG recording.

    3Wang W, Lian Z, Rowin EJ, Maron BJ, Maron MS, Link MS. Prognostic implications of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in high-risk patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2017;10.

    4Ommen et al. 2024 AHA/ACC/AMSSM/HRS/PACES/SCMR Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2024 Jun 4;149(23):e1239-e1311.

    5Reynolds et al. Comparative effectiveness and healthcare utilization for ambulatory cardiac monitoring strategies in Medicare beneficiaries. Am Heart J. 2024;269:25–34. Accessed January 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2023.12.002

    6Data on file. iRhythm Technologies, 2023: https://www.irhythmtech.com/providers/evidence/list-of-clinical-articles

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Echoes of a Lost Gaza – Al Jazeera documentary on a brutal war

    Pacific Media Watch

    Mariam Shahin has been making films about Gaza for more than 30 years.

    She has also made many documentaries and short films for Al Jazeera English since it launched in 2006.

    When she moved to Gaza in 2005, she felt a powerful sense of optimism following the Israeli withdrawal.

    Mariam Shahin . . . revisiting the Gaza people and lives the film maker has met over the years. Image: MS

    But by 2009, war had badly damaged its infrastructure, neighbourhoods, businesses and communities — and that optimism had evaporated.

    Now, in the wake of the even more destructive war that began on 7 October 2023, Shahin seeks out the people she has met in Gaza over the years.

    She reflects on the wasted potential and devastated lives after 16 years of blockade and a year of one of the most destructive wars in Middle East history.


    Echoes of a Lost Gaza: 2005-2024.     Video: Al Jazeera

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Daily Press Briefing – October 28, 2024 – 2:00 PM

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Spokesperson Matthew Miller leads the Department Press Briefing, at the Department of State, on October 28, 2024

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzr1hZL12Pk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: AH64: Tank Killer! | U.S. Army

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    About the U.S. Army:

    The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

    Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
    Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

    Connect with the U.S. Army online:
    Web: https://www.army.mil
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts #AH64 #Apache #TankKiller

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bUNAkohYvI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: National Police Commissioner provides update on crime combatting operations across the country

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    The National commissioner of the SAPS General Fannie Masemola to provide update on crime combatting operations across the country

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A68AbNODuUI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Somaliland elections: what’s at stake for independence, stability and shifting power dynamics in the Horn of Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Brendon J. Cannon, Associate Professor, Khalifa University

    Somaliland is due to hold a presidential election on 13 November 2024.

    The results of the election will be important for two main reasons. First, what the leadership outcome will mean for Somaliland’s democratic credentials. Second, it will have implications for Somaliland’s push for recognition as an independent state.

    Thirty-three years ago, Somaliland declared its unilateral withdrawal from the Somali Union. It is an independent state in reality but unrecognised in law. Like other unrecognised states such as Taiwan, it doesn’t fly a flag at the United Nations in New York. It also suffers from a lack of access to global financing, and humanitarian and development aid, most of which must come via Mogadishu.

    Somaliland’s determination to achieve recognition was evident in January 2024 when it signed an agreement with neighbouring Ethiopia. Under this deal, Ethiopia would get access to the sea via a 19km strip of coastline, possibly near the port of Berbera (though three sites have been identified), and Addis Ababa would recognise Somaliland’s statehood. The agreement, which has yet to be ratified, was met with a storm of protests, including from Somalia.

    Somaliland is run by the ruling party, Kulmiye, which is led by Muse Bihi Abdi, Somaliland’s president since 2017. The party has been in power since 2010. The main opposition party is Waddani (also spelled Wadani), led by Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi (or Ciro/Irro).

    I have carried out a decade of research and fieldwork in Somaliland. In my view, this election carries weight in terms of Somaliland’s democratic health, as well as its prospects for peace and stability – within its borders and in the region.

    Somaliland’s democracy, like all democracies, relies on giving politicians and parties the chance to win elections. It is the voters who will decide who gets to run Somaliland next, and they face a clear choice between Kulmiye and Waddani.

    Political landscape

    Somaliland’s 2024 presidential election will be a test of its democratic institutions and a critical moment in its quest for independence.

    Kulmiye can point to milestones on the road to Somaliland’s recognition. It was in power when Somaliland and Taiwan (Republic of China) recognised one another and swapped diplomats.

    The party can also claim success for a strategy to get support from western states for Somaliland’s formal recognition. This includes the staffing and funding of Somaliland’s overseas missions in London, Washington DC and Dubai, among others. These act as non-accredited embassies for the country.

    Their work resulted in a non-official visit to Washington, DC by Bihi in 2022. The same year, a UK parliamentary delegation visited Hargeisa.

    Somaliland and Ethiopia also reached their agreement in January 2024. This is the closest Somaliland has come to gaining official recognition from another state.

    Read more: Somaliland has been pursuing independence for 33 years. Expert explains the impact of the latest deal with Ethiopia

    Like the ruling party, the opposition party Waddani fully supports the agreement with Ethiopia. It sees recognition from Somaliland’s huge neighbour – which also happens to host the headquarters of the African Union – as a first step to gaining official recognition.

    However, based on my recent interviews with a Waddani official, the party is likely to adopt a broader approach if it wins the upcoming election. Instead of focusing solely on western states like the US and the UK, Waddani plans to approach African and global south states, such as Senegal and Kenya, for support.

    This potential shift reflects an understanding that both regional and global dynamics are changing.

    Waddani’s broader diplomatic strategy is reinforced by its recent coalition with KAAH (the Somali acronym for Alliance for Equity and Development). KAAH is a young political association rather than a formal political party. Somaliland has a constitutional limit of three official parties.

    KAAH was formed, in part, by experienced politicians. In building a coalition, Waddani and KAAH hope to displace Somaliland’s current third party, the Justice and Welfare Party.

    KAAH’s support is partially based in Somaliland’s eastern region, which has experienced violent upheavals in recent years. This coalition promises to better incorporate the eastern regions and clans into the government should Waddani win.

    Regardless of the outcome of the election, one issue unites Somaliland’s political parties: the push for independence.

    Regional implications

    A peaceful election would reinforce Somaliland’s claim as a stable, democratic entity.

    Mogadishu should not expect any winds of change to blow from Hargeisa if Waddani wins. Three generations and counting have been raised in a de-facto independent Somaliland and they remember the violent dissolution from the Somali Union. This included the bombing of Hargeisa, the destruction of Berbera port and the displacement of thousands of people. Somalilanders largely support independence.

    Neither Waddani nor Kulmiye will be wishy-washy on this issue. And there will be forward movement on the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement. This is likely to lead to increased tensions in the Horn region. As it is, Ethiopia and Somaliland are disturbed by the prospect of a resurgent Somalia supported by Egypt with arms and troops.

    Read more: Somaliland crisis: delayed elections and armed conflict threaten dream of statehood

    There won’t be a shooting war – Mogadishu still has far too many problems with al-Shabaab, clan infighting and a lack of resources and training. But history shows that states take extreme measures if they feel existentially threatened.

    Mogadishu’s stance is to retake Somaliland at all costs. And it has much of the world’s tacit support for its “one Somalia” policy. That makes Somaliland a textbook case of an existentially threatened state.

    Risks that lie ahead

    There are some risks of instability regardless of who wins the election.

    The Isaaq clan controls much of the political and economic landscape. This may intensify tensions, especially if minority clans feel sidelined. Waddani’s promise of inclusivity may appeal to marginalised groups, but clan-based grievances have grown over the past decade.

    There’s also the risk of unrest among Isaaq loyalists if power shifts too much. And allegations of electoral fraud or voter suppression could fuel protests.

    After 2022’s violent postponement due to election disputes, maintaining peace will require transparency, clan reconciliation and careful oversight to prevent renewed conflict.

    Despite these risks, Somaliland is again (better late than never) going to the polls. Regardless of who wins, this is good news for Somaliland and its ongoing push for independence recognition.

    – Somaliland elections: what’s at stake for independence, stability and shifting power dynamics in the Horn of Africa
    – https://theconversation.com/somaliland-elections-whats-at-stake-for-independence-stability-and-shifting-power-dynamics-in-the-horn-of-africa-242131

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese supply chain expo to promote global industrial cooperation

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Oct. 28 — The second China International Supply Chain Expo will be held in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30, and will focus on promoting international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, a Chinese trade official said on Monday.

    As the world’s first national-level exhibition focusing on supply chains, the expo aims to connect upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, bring together enterprises of various sizes, and help companies better integrate into global industrial and supply chains, said Zhang Shaogang, deputy director of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, at a press conference.

    This year’s expo will feature more than 600 domestic and foreign exhibitors. Overseas exhibitors will constitute 32 percent of participants at the 2024 expo, up from 26 percent at the first expo held last year, Zhang said.

    U.S. companies will contribute the largest share of overseas participation at the expo this year, while the number of participants from Europe and Japan will also significantly surpass that of the first expo, Zhang added.

    This shows foreign investors remain optimistic concerning the outlook of the Chinese market and that China is still considered their top supply chain partner for global resource allocation, said Zhang.

    Similar to last year, the expo will have areas dedicated to supply chains for clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, healthy living, green agriculture and supply chain services.

    In addition, this year’s expo has introduced a new exhibition area dedicated to advanced manufacturing chains — showcasing the latest achievements in the integration of technological and industrial innovation.

    Unlike many expos, the supply chain expo is not about showcasing products. It is, instead, about presenting chains, ecosystems and scenarios, Zhang added.

    Rather than focusing on short-term transactions, it emphasizes long-term cooperation and common development among upstream, midstream and downstream enterprises, Zhang explained. Exhibitors attend not to compete for clients, but to join hands and seek partnership.

    Hungary is the guest country of honor at this year’s expo. The Hungary Pavilion will showcase Hungary’s leading industries, unique resources, cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and national brand image.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More Scottish energy projects unlocked to deliver clean power

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Consultation on proposed changes to improve the planning system for large energy projects in Scotland

    • UK and Scottish governments set out proposals to streamline the system for determining energy infrastructure consents in Scotland
    • consultation to reform outdated processes with the aim to cut delays and create a fairer system, in which communities can have their say from the outset
    • the move could help to unlock Scotland’s pipeline of energy projects, driving forward the UK’s clean power mission and energy independence

    The planning process for new clean energy infrastructure in Scotland will be improved under UK and Scottish government proposals to reform outdated legislation that can delay new projects being built. 

    In collaboration with the Scottish Government, the UK government has today (28 October) launched a consultation on proposed changes that will make the system for considering large energy projects in Scotland more efficient, while also ensuring that affected communities can have their say on proposals at the right time in the process. 

    Currently it can take up to four years to approve large electricity infrastructure projects in Scotland, such as power lines and onshore wind farms, under UK legislation that has been in place since 1989.

    This system can create uncertainty for investors and communities, which in turn can lead to higher costs being passed onto bill payers. In England and Wales, new large-scale electricity projects can take around half as long on average to be determined compared to Scotland, thanks to previous legislative reforms to streamline the process. 

    By making vital updates to the energy consents system in Scotland, the UK and Scottish governments aim to support the rollout of new clean energy projects while giving communities early and meaningful opportunities to be heard. The consultation proposes making it a requirement that communities and wider stakeholders are consulted at pre-application stage. 

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:  

    Scotland has huge potential to propel the UK towards our clean power by 2030 goal, with its natural resources, energy expertise and highly skilled workforce.  

    Together with the Scottish Government, we are modernising outdated bureaucratic processes to make sure Scotland is firmly open for business as we build the UK’s clean energy future.  

    This will help to accelerate new clean, homegrown energy – taking us a step closer to energy independence and protecting billpayers from the rollercoaster of volatile fossil fuel markets for good.

    Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin said:

    These long-awaited UK legislative reforms will help support Scotland realise our clean power ambitions, while providing investors with confidence that a more robust and efficient process is being applied.

    This will in turn support our net zero ambitions, enable economic growth and ensure our communities have an enhanced opportunity to be heard.

    Today’s announcement forms the next step in joint work from the two governments to cement Scotland’s role in making the UK a clean energy superpower.  

    It comes after the UK government confirmed Aberdeen as the headquarters for the publicly-owned company Great British Energy, that will own and invest in clean power projects across the UK. This month, Scottish and UK governments also signed an agreement to support clean energy supply chains and infrastructure, via new partnerships between Great British Energy and Scottish public bodies. 

    The proposed reforms aim to provide developers and communities with an updated system when submitting plans for large clean energy projects. The changes cover the entire process from pre-application to challenging decisions, tackling issues that have already been addressed in England and Wales under previous reforms. They include: 

    • Pre-application requirements: New standardised processes for both onshore and offshore developers to engage with local communities and stakeholders before submitting an application to the Scottish Government for new energy infrastructure. This will involve communities at an earlier stage and improve the quality and speed of applications, with new powers for the Scottish Government to reject any that do not meet requirements. The Scottish Government will also be able to charge fees for pre-application services, helping to deliver the new system effectively. 

    • Appealing decisions: Standardising the appeals process, with set criteria for challenging decisions on new energy infrastructure and a 6-week time limit in which objections can be raised. Currently challenges to large onshore projects must be brought by judicial review within three months, which can lead to lengthy delays.  

    • Public Inquiries: Reforming the public inquiry process which is automatically triggered when Planning Authorities raise objections to new energy infrastructure. These inquiries can take an average of 18 months and have cost the Scottish Government £1.9 million since 2021. Under the proposals, inquiry sessions will still be held where necessary, but other forms of decision making will also be deployed on a case-by-case basis guided by a specialist reporter.

    • Changes to planning consent: New powers to allow the Scottish Government to revoke, suspend or vary consents for energy infrastructure projects under specific circumstances. This will allow for necessary amends to be made, without the applicant having to restart the process. 

    • Necessary wayleaves: A new power for the Scottish Government to charge developers a fee for submitting wayleave applications to place overhead lines on private land. Similar fees are charged in England and Wales, and will help the Scottish Government to meet an expected increase in applications in the rollout of new clean energy projects.   

    Notes to editors:  

    The consultation, launched today, will run for 4 weeks until 26 November. Read more about the consultation.

    All decisions on new energy infrastructure projects in Scotland are devolved and applications over 50MW are made to the Scottish Government. The UK government is responsible for energy policy and the legislative framework (i.e. Electricity Act 1989) is reserved for the UK Parliament.  

    Changes to the Planning Act 2008 (such as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) helped to speed up decision making on energy infrastructure projects in England and Wales. The proposed reforms in this consultation will update the approvals process for energy infrastructure in Scotland.  

    Following the consultation process, the UK government will bring forward the necessary legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK statement for 75th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK general statement delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, at the 75th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, October 2024.

    Location:
    Geneva
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you, Chair, High Commissioner,

    Let me start by paying tribute to those humanitarians who have so tragically lost their lives in the past year – not least among them the UNHCR colleagues whom we have lost in the course of their duties in Lebanon. They have paid the ultimate price in their labour for peace and humanitarianism.

    We are deeply concerned about the escalating humanitarian situation in the Middle East and in Lebanon. The UK emphasises all parties’ obligation to comply with international humanitarian law and to ensure protection for civilians and civilian infrastructure. My government has been clear: the fighting must stop, the hostages must be freed, and there must be safe and free humanitarian access to those in need.

    Turning to the themes of the Executive Committee, as we face future uncertainties and ever-increasing global displacement, we need to continue to work in solidarity and in unity to find solutions. Forcibly displaced persons demand and expect that the international community takes responsibility.

    My government’s commitment to multilateralism and multilateral solutions is clear and deep-rooted. The UK will work hand-in-hand with UNHCR to respond to the growing list of protracted and emerging crises. We will tackle climate and nature emergencies and global development challenges together, by working for peace and promoting global economic development and growth to develop sustainable solutions. And we welcome the High Commissioner’s recent visit to London and the contact he has had with UK Ministers.

    But clearly, the situation in countries of origin needs international attention too. We need to address root causes and invest in early anticipatory action that builds resilience and independence. We need partnerships that promote local leadership. And we need to empower women and girls.

    Where needs arise, UNHCR must continue to provide protection for the most vulnerable. But clearly, more predictable and more sustainable support is needed so that increasingly stretched resources can be used more efficiently to keep pace with rising needs. UNHCR’s ongoing commitment to reform, efficiencies and effectiveness is an important part of this.

    The UK is committed to seeking sustainable solutions together. Not just because inclusion in national systems is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do. And we support national ownership and the leadership of hosting countries, who I want to recognize here for their generosity, where this is in refugees’ best interests.

    This is why, at last year’s Global Refugee Forum, the UK highlighted the need to look beyond traditional humanitarian partnerships to galvanize joint sustainable action. And we have been working hard with our partners over the last ten months to put those commitments into action.

    We must be led by the needs of displaced people wherever and whenever we find them. But I want to point to two specific crises which demand our attention. Firstly, Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in flagrant breach of the UN Charter. This year, the UK provided £100 million in humanitarian assistance and like my Czech colleague I want to pay tribute to the British people who have extended sanctuary to almost 300,000 Ukrainians since the start of the invasion.

    And Sudan which is perhaps the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis with almost 25 million people in need of assistance. Thank you, High Commissioner, for speaking out so clearly about the scale and horror of the conflict. We have provided almost £100m in assistance for Sudan this year.

    And finally, on statelessness, we are grateful to UNHCR for its leadership of the I Belong campaign. The achievements are a strong foundation on which to launch the Global Alliance, which the UK is honoured to join. We know statelessness can be ended, and we look forward to working with others on this shared mission.

    I’ll end by reiterate the UK’s gratitude to all UNHCR staff who tirelessly provide assistance to those who need it, so often in such difficult and dangerous circumstances. Let us, through the Executive Committee, show them our sustained support.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –