Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Mexico Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Keep Hands Off of New Mexico’s National Monuments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Luján, New Mexico Congressional Delegation: “Honor the voices of New Mexicans and confirm that you will leave the Organ Mountains, Rio Grande del Norte, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and all other national monuments intact”

    U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee led the New Mexico Congressional Delegation — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), members of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) — in urging the Trump-Musk Administration to leave New Mexican national monuments intact.

    The letter comes in anticipation of a number of harmful executive orders to be announced tomorrow by the Trump Administration, including one that will purportedly target America’s national monuments.

    “Our national monuments in New Mexico protect some of the most significant landscapes and cultural resources in the nation. The monuments were carefully curated and represent a balance of public land protection negotiated between local leaders, communities, Tribes, and our constituents. The areas protected under national monument status across the state are culturally valuable, archeologically and geologically unique, and represent a conservation legacy that should not be erased,” the lawmakers wrote. “National monuments are vitally important to our history and any proposals to reduce their boundaries will not be reflective of the voices of New Mexicans.”

    The lawmakers emphasized how crucial New Mexico’s national monuments are to the state’s economy, underscoring the significant revenue particular monuments under threat of elimination generate annually, “In New Mexico, we have a $3.2 billion outdoor recreation sector and monuments are a significant contributor to this robust economy. In 2022 alone, monument visitation resulted in $1.9 million in tax revenue. The economic impacts of visitation to Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP) surpassed the initial prediction by more than 50 percent. In just one year after its establishment, the Rio Grande del Norte (RGDN) National Monument saw a 40 percent increase in visitors, resulting in a 21 percent increase in Town of Taos lodgers’ tax revenue.”

    The lawmakers continued, highlighting the immeasurable cultural and economic impact of three national monuments in New Mexico under consideration for reduction or elimination: Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks, Rio Grande del Norte, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, “In OMDP in southern New Mexico, you will find significant petroglyph and archeological sites and walk among historic travelers’ routes. In northern New Mexico, RGDN boasts some of New Mexico’s most prized recreational opportunities in an area where the Rio Grande carves an 800-foot gorge through historic volcanic activity. RGDN offers immense economic value to northern New Mexico and provides access for traditional use like piñon nut collection. As for the third monument under review, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, the Bureau of Land Management recently celebrated the monument’s inclusion on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025. Not only is Tent Rocks “geologically surreal,” but it is also a sacred landscape to the Cochiti Pueblo.”

    The lawmakers concluded by demanding the Administration keep New Mexico’s national monuments intact, “There is no greater value to these natural landscapes than what is brought to the community through their continued protection. Withdrawing protections from these sites would threaten the economic benefits associated with New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy and it undermines our community and tribal voices. We urge you to honor the voices of New Mexicans and confirm that you will leave the Organ Mountains, Rio Grande del Norte, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and all other national monuments intact.”

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Dubuque, Iowa

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

    A Guatemalan man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison.  Jose Eleazar Aceves‑Garcia, age 30, from Guatemala, received the prison term after a November 20, 2024 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.

    In a plea agreement, Aceves-Garcia admitted that between January 2019 and January 2022, he distributed at least 400 pounds of ice methamphetamine to a co‑conspirator in the Dubuque area.  His fingerprints were on two packages, which contained a total of more than seven pounds of ice methamphetamine, that he mailed to the co-conspirator in Dubuque.  Aceves-Garcia also distributed a kilogram of heroin to the co-conspirator.

    Aceves-Garcia was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Aceves-Garcia was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Aceves-Garcia is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 23-CR-1022.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack Revolutionizes Crypto Trading with 100x Leverage, No KYC, and Exclusive Bonuses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BexBack, a rapidly expanding cryptocurrency derivatives platform, is setting new standards in the crypto trading industry. Since its launch in May 2024, BexBack has attracted over 500,000 registered users worldwide by offering features that appeal to both novice traders and seasoned investors. With its innovative offerings, including 100x leverage, no KYC requirements, and a variety of generous bonuses, BexBack is reshaping the landscape for crypto futures traders.

    100x Leverage: A Game-Changer in Crypto Trading

    At the core of BexBack’s appeal is its powerful 100x leverage, which allows traders to open larger positions with less capital. Whether the market is volatile or stable, this leverage amplifies potential profits, allowing traders to make the most out of even small price movements. This level of leverage can open the door for higher gains—turning an average trade into a potentially lucrative one. For example, with 100x leverage, a $1,000 trade can control $100,000 in value, giving traders the chance to earn massive profits in a fraction of the time.

    No KYC: Trade Anonymously and Efficiently

    Unlike many other platforms, BexBack operates with no KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, providing a seamless, anonymous trading experience. This unique feature enables users to trade crypto without going through lengthy identity verification processes, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer privacy and simplicity in their trading activities.

    Generous Bonuses for All Users

    BexBack’s bonus structure is designed to maximize trader opportunities:

    1. 100% Deposit Bonus – When users deposit funds, they receive a 100% deposit bonus, which can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. This bonus cannot be withdrawn but provides additional margin for traders to mitigate risks and enhance their trading strategies.
    2. $50 Welcome Bonus – New users who complete their first trade (open and close a position) are eligible for a $50 welcome bonus. This bonus can be used to offset losses or to trade further, providing users with the opportunity to get started without worrying about the initial cost of trading.
    3. Affiliate Program – BexBack also offers an affiliate program where users can earn up to 50% of their referrals’ trading fees, providing a passive income stream for active traders and affiliates.

    Key Features and Advantages of BexBack:

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    • Comprehensive Trading Tools: The platform offers a variety of tools, including a demo account with 10 BTC and $1,000,000 in virtual funds to help traders familiarize themselves with the platform risk-free.
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    Why Choose BexBack?

    BexBack is designed for traders who are looking to take advantage of high leverage, low fees, and maximum control over their trades. By offering a simple yet powerful platform, along with exceptional customer support and a wide range of financial incentives, BexBack is positioned as a leader in the competitive crypto trading market.

    With its powerful features, commitment to user satisfaction, and constant innovation, BexBack is poised to be the go-to platform for crypto futures trading in 2025 and beyond.

    About BexBack

    BexBack is a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange platform that offers high-leverage crypto futures trading with no KYC requirements. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack provides a seamless, anonymous trading experience for its global user base. Trusted by over 500,000 traders worldwide, the platform continues to grow by offering its users attractive bonuses, cutting-edge technology, and low-cost trading solutions.

    For more information about BexBack and to start trading today, visit www.bexback.com.

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

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

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/777151c3-1d82-4a51-908c-73307ede7db7

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Florida, once considered a swing state, is firmly Republican – a social anthropologist explains what caused this shift

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alexander Lowie, Postdoctoral associate in Classical and Civic Education, University of Florida

    Florida has attracted new residents since the pandemic, as well as a growth in conservative politics. iStock / Getty Images Plus

    Florida has undergone a dramatic political transformation over the past decade from a swing state to Republican stronghold.

    Florida’s recent congressional special election on April 1, 2025, showcased the state’s increasingly conservative identity, when Republicans won both congressional seats.

    Still, Democrats felt hopeful about these results, since the two Democratic contenders lost by slimmer margins in the 1st and 6th districts than in other recent elections.

    As a political anthropologist who has conducted fieldwork in central Florida, I’ve spent over five years tracking the growth of conservative political groups like the Proud Boys and Moms for Liberty, whose leaderships are based in Florida.

    I’ve seen firsthand how conservative activist networks and the growth of culture war politics, among other factors, have reshaped Florida’s political identity.

    Florida’s Republican state Sen. Randy Fine holds a victory party on April 1, 2025, in Ormond Beach, Fla.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    The state that stopped swinging

    Although political strategists have historically considered Florida a swing state in presidential elections, it has consistently voted Republican since 1948.

    It has only voted for Democratic presidential candidates five times since 1964, for Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and twice for Barack Obama. President Donald Trump has won Florida three times in a row, most recently winning the 2024 election in all but six of Florida’s 67 counties.

    The main battleground since 2000 has been the I-4 Corridor, which connects Tampa, Orlando and Daytona. In 2000, President George W. Bush won the corridor by 4,400 votes. Since Bush only won Florida by 537 votes, and thus the presidency, the area became a top priority for both political parties.

    Some Democrats have said Florida’s political evolution happened gradually and then all at once.

    In 2012, there were almost 1.5 million more registered Democratic voters than Republicans in Florida. In 2020, Democrats’ advantage dropped to about 97,000. And by September 2024, there were almost 1 million more registered Republicans than Democrats.

    Steve Schale, the head of Obama’s 2008 campaign in Florida, argues that this shift happened because the Democratic Party lost the support of some white voters.

    Republicans have also actively courted Hispanic voters, while Democrats falsely believed that young Hispanics would inherently lean toward their party.

    This assumption has hurt the Democratic cause because, for example, some Hispanic voters in Florida, like many Cuban Americans, have long favored Republican. In fact, Trump performed so well with Hispanics in Florida in 2024 that it was the only state in which he received more of the Hispanic vote than Kamala Harris.

    State-level conservative success

    Florida has also had a Republican governor since 1998, a state Senate Republican majority since 1995 and a state House majority since 1997. This Republican dominance has only grown since Trump’s 2016 election.

    In 2018, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received Trump’s endorsement and went from being relatively unknown in the gubernatorial primaries to the Republican nominee. He ultimately assumed office in 2019.

    Since then, DeSantis has successfully passed a slew of laws and policies reflecting the conservative values of what he saw as the new Floridian electorate.

    For example, DeSantis passed a six-week abortion ban measure into law in 2023.

    With DeSantis’ approval, Florida’s state Legislature also blocked diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state colleges in 2023 and banned lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity for public grade school students that same year.

    In 2023, the Florida governor also signed a law that allowed people to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

    The pandemic factor

    Some conservative political pundits and DeSantis supporters say that the governor’s COVID-19 policies are among the factors that have attracted newcomers to the state.

    Almost 300,000 people moved from out of state to Florida between April 2020 and April 2021, equal to roughly 903 people relocating to the state each day.

    The governor ordered Floridians to stay at home during April 2020, but many of his restrictions were lifted at the end of the month.

    DeSantis did not enforce mask mandates, vaccine requirements and other measures that were common in other states.

    During my fieldwork in Florida from 2022 through 2024, I met multiple people who moved to rural parts of the state because they did not want their lives to be severely restricted during the pandemic.

    One man in his early 50s stated, “During COVID my wife and I realized how screwed we were if things got really bad. We hated the lockdowns and got scared about not having enough food. If things got really bad, we didn’t want to trust other people, we wanted to be self-sufficient. So, we decided to get a place in the middle of the woods, on our own property, that we could go to if everything went to hell.”

    This couple settled on moving from out of state to a rural area of Florida, where they thought they had the best chance of avoiding future lockdown restrictions.

    DeSantis’ policy successes and his “freedom first” response to the pandemic have been celebrated by conservatives nationally.

    Moms for Liberty members in Viera, Fla., protest student face mask mandates in 2023.
    Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gety Images

    Florida’s home for the alt-right

    As Florida lawmakers have continued to push conservative policies since the pandemic, Florida-based activist groups like Moms for Liberty have mobilized to support and expand them.

    Moms for Liberty was founded in 2021 by three Florida former school board members who opposed COVID-19 regulations during the pandemic.

    Moms for Liberty is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, and is focused on reshaping public school curriculum to exclude what its members see as “woke” themes, like sexual orientation.

    The group lobbied for the 2022 Parental Rights in Education Act and the Stop-Woke Act, referred to by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. This law restricts Florida classrooms from teaching kids in kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity, and also limits instruction on these subjects in higher grades.

    Florida has increasingly become a stronghold for other kinds of political activists, some of whom were instrumental in the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. Florida was home to 11.5% of the 716 people who were initially charged with participating in the Capitol riots.

    The most notable of these Jan. 6 arrests is Enrique Tarrio, a Miami native who has served as the symbolic leader of the Proud Boys, an alt-right “Western chauvinist” group.

    Alt-right activists are a minority of Florida’s conservative population. In my fieldwork, I have spoken to many Florida conservatives who did not identify with the Proud Boys or other alt-right groups – but were still sympathetic to many of their populist and conservative causes.

    No longer in play?

    Florida is now a major Republican stronghold with Floridians becoming increasingly prominent in national politics. Trump’s Cabinet has 23 people – 16 of them are connected to Florida.

    These include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who served as a senator in Florida, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who served as Florida’s state attorney general.

    Though some Democrats may feel optimistic about the special election results, they have lost the Sunshine State, at least for now.

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

    ref. Florida, once considered a swing state, is firmly Republican – a social anthropologist explains what caused this shift – https://theconversation.com/florida-once-considered-a-swing-state-is-firmly-republican-a-social-anthropologist-explains-what-caused-this-shift-253905

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government signs new international agreement in boost to British business

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Government signs new international agreement in boost to British business

    Businesses will save time and money on repetitive legal action thanks to new international rules coming into force across the UK on 1 July.

    • Agreement will cut delays and costs for UK businesses
    • UK judgments against foreign suppliers will be recognised by participating countries overseas
    • This will boost the UK legal sector and drive economic growth, part of the government’s Plan for Change

    The UK Government has signed up to the Hague 2019 Convention, which means other countries will more easily recognise and enforce UK court judgments in cross-border disputes – sparing firms from costly and repetitive court battles.

    Currently, if a UK business wins a case in a UK court against a company based in another country, business leaders face the threat of time-consuming enforcement processes or even identical legal action overseas for the same dispute – causing delays, increasing costs and creating confusion to the consumer.

    The new rules will provide a simpler enforcement route to existing complex systems, giving one clear consistent set of shared rules – that the UK helped shape – making the process easier for everyone.

    Streamlining the process will save businesses time and money, encourage foreign companies to use the UK’s world-class lawyers and courts to settle their disputes and grow the economy overall.

    Justice Minister, Lord Ponsonby, said:

    This Convention delivers real benefits for British businesses dealing with international disputes.

    As part of our Plan for Change we’re boosting UK firms’ confidence to trade by minimising legal costs and ensuring justice across borders, all while cementing Britain’s role as a global legal powerhouse committed to the rule of law.

    The Convention will enhance international legal collaboration. It will apply to judgments in civil and commercial matters, strengthening the UK’s position as a global hub for dispute resolution.

    The 2019 Hague Convention is already being applied by 29 parties, from Ukraine to EU countries, with Uruguay joining last year. This means UK civil and commercial judgments will be recognised and enforced in these nations and that the UK will recognise judgments made in their courts.

    With 91 members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), a major multilateral forum for private international law rules which has produced numerous conventions including the 2019 Hague Convention, Hague 2019 has a potentially global reach. 

    The Convention will apply to judgments given in proceedings that commence on or after 1 July 2025 across the entire United Kingdom or in other participating countries.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI China: China deepens international collaboration to push forward deep-space exploration

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

    SHANGHAI, April 25 — China, with an open stance, is collaborating with the international community to drive breakthroughs in deep-space exploration and foster resource sharing, striving to build a shared future in space.

    On the occasion of Space Day of China, which is celebrated annually on April 24, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced a series of international collaboration initiatives to advance deep-space exploration.

    Seven institutions from six countries — France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States — have been authorized to borrow the lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission for scientific research.

    In 2020, the Chang’e-5 mission retrieved samples from the moon weighing about 1,731 grams, which were the first lunar samples in the world in over 40 years, helping advance humanity’s knowledge about the moon.

    Shan Zhongde, head of the CNSA, said China’s lunar exploration program has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual benefits, peaceful utilization and win-win cooperation, sharing achievements with the international community.

    He added that CNSA will continue to accept international applications for lunar sample research, expressing hope that global scientists will make new discoveries that expand human knowledge and benefit humanity.

    With the advancement of China’s lunar exploration program, international cooperation continues to deepen. The CNSA announced that the Chang’e-8 mission, which is scheduled for launch around 2029, will carry payloads from 11 countries and regions and one international organization.

    Developers of the instruments to be aboard the Chang’e-8 are from Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.

    The Chang’e-8 mission will target the Leibnitz-Beta Plateau near the lunar south pole region, working with the earlier Chang’e-7 mission to conduct scientific exploration and in-situ resource utilization experiments. These efforts will lay the groundwork for the future International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

    The ILRS, initiated by China, is a scientific experimental facility consisting of sections on the lunar surface and in lunar orbit, and is projected to be built in two phases: a basic model to be built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, and an extended model to be built in the 2040s.

    A total of 17 countries and international organizations, and more than 50 international research institutions, have joined the ILRS, according to Bian Zhigang, deputy director of the CNSA.

    Bian stressed that the ILRS will offer new opportunities and platforms for fostering global cooperation, technological innovation and shared development.

    China welcomes international partners to participate in various stages of the ILRS and at all levels of the mission. This will promote the use of space technology to benefit humanity and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity in the field of outer space, he said.

    Amjad Ali, a senior official with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) of Pakistan, said that the CNSA leads in inclusive space exploration, enabling emerging space nations like Pakistan to rise.

    The Chang’e-8 mission will carry a 30-kilogram lunar rover developed by SUPARCO, contributing to terrain mapping and regolith analysis.

    “The CNSA-SUPARCO partnership strengthens intercultural dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful collaboration, proving that shared dreams can unite nations among the stars,” he added.

    Humanity can reach deeper space through collaboration from lunar soil to Martian surface.

    China aims to launch the Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission around 2028, with the primary scientific goal of searching for signs of life. The retrieval of samples from Mars is the most technically challenging space exploration mission since the Apollo program, and no such retrieval has ever been accomplished, said Liu Jizhong, chief designer of the mission.

    Despite this mission’s considerable challenges and limited resources, China still plans to allocate 20 kilograms of resources for international collaboration.

    China invites global partners to jointly advance Mars exploration and research, thereby expanding humanity’s understanding of the red planet, said CNSA.

    Joining hands, humanity can unlock mysteries beyond the stars.

    An astronomical satellite jointly developed by China and France has detected a gamma-ray burst dating back 13 billion years, likely originating from the collapse of an early star forming a black hole or a neutron star. This discovery offers humanity a glimpse into the universe’s infancy.

    The discovery made by the Space-based multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) was also released on the Space Day of China.

    The SVOM project, a major bilateral space collaboration between China and France spanning nearly two decades, is a contribution that Chinese and French scientists and engineers have made to the international astronomy community through years of cooperation, integrating high-tech resources from both countries.

    “Together, we will pool efforts to promote the development of the world’s space industry, ensuring that space innovations serve and enhance human well-being across broader domains, at deeper levels, and to higher standards,” Shan emphasized at the opening ceremony for the Space Day of China.

    At the invitation of the Permanent Mission of China in Vienna, the Permanent Representatives of Kenya and South Africa to Vienna, along with diplomats from the Permanent Missions of Venezuela, Belarus, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan to Vienna, made a special trip to China to participate in the series of activities for the Space Day.

    Award-winning paintings created by Chinese children, depicting their space dreams, were presented to these diplomats.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: Best Crypto Casinos 2025: JACKBIT, Rated as Best Bitcoin Casino Without Verification & Fast Payout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    Disclaimers and Affiliate Disclosure

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56744353-5ea8-4e4a-92b6-514796bc963a

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Pope Francis and his “beloved tormented Syria”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Jacques Mourad*Homs (Fides Agency) – We have been celebrating Mass for Pope Francis every day since he went to heaven. We do this to remember him and pray for his soul.He was a person who chose to live humbly, close to all the poor, both in Argentina, when he was first a priest and then a bishop, and in Rome when he became Pope.This is a very important message, because it is the message of the Church, who is a mother.The Pope, bishops, and parish priests are shepherds who accompany the children of this Church, taking them by the hand and walking toward the Father. Not only on a spiritual level, through prayer or teaching, but also through caring for their bodies. The last months of the Pope’s life, spent in hospital, shed light on precisely these aspects, spiritual and physical. He himself understood the beauty of the art of care practiced by doctors and nurses.He seemed fragile in recent times, but I remember his strong attitude and his clear stance before the world’s most powerful figures. He was also strong when he met the leaders of Sudan and prostrated himself before them to kiss their shoes, asking them to agree to peace. He showed the same strength in Cuba when he met Patriarch Kirill.I also remember my first personal meeting with him, which took place at Casa Santa Marta after my escape. It was my first face-to-face encounter with Pope Francis, at Mass in Santa Marta, after my imprisonment. We greeted each other and he said to me: “Pray for me.” I remembered when he said it for the first time from the balcony of St. Peter’s Loggia on March 13, the day of his election. But when he asked me in person, it was different; it moved me deeply.The last time I saw him was on December 7, 2024.He welcomed me into his office with great simplicity, we talked about many things, and he listened to me the whole time. With his usual manner and laughter. The meeting took place in an atmosphere of joy.This human aspect was important and very beautiful for me. I was nervous that day because meeting the Pope is always a moment of grace. I left Santa Marta with my heart full of joy. I felt like I was flying. For me, that face is the face of the Church: sensitive to the human and spiritual side. We all need this attention from the Church, which must be clear and strong but at the same time must practice tenderness. And Pope Francis has truly been an example of this.There would be so much more to say, but I think the most important thing is to remember the space he gave to Syria. To stop the conflict, he called for a day of fasting and special prayer, just as he did for Ukraine. But I also think of the appeals he made for Gaza.“Beloved tormented Syria”, he always referred to it as such, even when he wrote to President Assad asking him to respect human rights for prisoners as well as for the people, and to allow Syrian migrants to return home. To prevent them from dying, he fought to create humanitarian corridors, which still exist today thanks in part to Sant’Egidio, asking parish priests throughout Europe to welcome Syrian refugees. He himself met them in Lesbos, taking some of them away with him on the papal plane.I remember the criticism he faced when he welcomed a Syrian Muslim family to the Vatican. It was a very important sign, which meant going beyond divisions based on religious identity to open up to humanity. In this perspective, the interreligious dialogue he promoted, as well as his friendship with the Imam of al-Azhar, which led to the Declaration on Human Fraternity, are also important. Now that he has gone to heaven, we must preserve his legacy and live it everywhere, because, as he showed us, the Church cannot remain closed within walls.*Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs, Hama, and Nebek
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Triada strikes back

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: Triada strikes back

    Introduction

    Older versions of Android contained various vulnerabilities that allowed gaining root access to the device. Many malicious programs exploited these to elevate their system privileges and gain persistence. The notorious Triada Trojan also used this attack vector. With time, the vulnerabilities were patched, and restrictions were added to the firmware. Specifically, system partitions in recent Android versions cannot be edited, even with superuser privileges. Ironically, this has inadvertently benefited malicious actors. While external malware now faces greater permission restrictions, pre-installed malware within system partitions has become impossible to remove. Attackers are leveraging this by embedding malicious software into Android device firmware. This is how one of our earlier findings, the Dwphon loader, functioned. It was built into system apps for over-the-air (OTA) updates. In March 2025, our research highlighted the Triada Trojan’s evolved tactics to overcome Android’s enhanced privilege restrictions. Attackers are now embedding a sophisticated multi-stage loader directly into device firmware. This allows the Trojan to infect the Zygote process, thereby compromising every application running on the system.

    Key takeaways:

    • We discovered new versions of the Triada Trojan on devices whose firmware was infected even before they were available for sale. These were imitations of popular smartphone brands, and they remained available from various online marketplaces at the time of our research.
    • A copy of the Trojan infiltrates every application launched on an infected device. The modular architecture of the malware gives attackers virtually unlimited control over the system, enabling them to tailor functionality to specific applications.
    • In the current version of Triada, the payloads we have analyzed exhibit several malicious behaviors depending on the host application. Specifically, they can modify cryptocurrency wallet addresses during transfer attempts, replace links in browsers, send arbitrary text messages and intercept replies, and steal login credentials for messaging and social media apps.

    The complete infection chain looks like this:

    Triada Trojan infection chain

    Kaspersky products detect the new version of Triada as Backdoor.AndroidOS.Triada.z..

    System framework with a malicious dependency

    Our initial investigation focused on native libraries included in the firmware of several devices, located in:

    • /system/framework/arm/binder.so
    • /system/framework/arm64/binder.so

    The file is not present in a reference Android version. We discovered that the suspicious library was loaded into Zygote, the parent process for every Android application, by an infected AOT-compiled Android system framework ( bootframework.oat) located in the same directory.

    Malicious dependency in boot-framework.oat

    The binder.so library registers a native method, println_native, for the android.util.Log class, used by applications installed on the device to write messages to Logcat. The implementation of this method calls a suspicious function, _config_log_println.

    Call to the suspicious function

    The _config_log_println function then calls two other functions that deploy three modules, contained in the rodata section of the malicious library, into every process launched on the device. One of the functions runs every time, while the other one only runs if the Android OS on the device is Version 9 or earlier.

    Execution of the two malicious functions

    Let us take a closer look at the modules that these launch.

    1. Auxiliary module

    This module from the rodata section of the malicious library is written to the application’s internal data directory under the name systemlibarm64_%N%.jar, where N is a random number.

    Loading the auxiliary module

    The auxiliary module registers a receiver that can load arbitrary code files, although we did not see this happen in the cases described below. We would later call this module auxiliary because other payloads relied on it to perform their malicious functions. For example, for the com.android.core.info.config.JvmCore class from this module, binder.so registers native methods that can intercept calls to arbitrary methods within the process where the malware is running.

    2. The mms-core.jar backdoor

    This module undergoes a double XOR decryption process with different keys pulled from the rodata section of the malicious library. After decryption, it is saved to disk as /data/data/%PACKAGE%/mms-core.jar and then loaded using DexClassLoader. Once the loading is complete, the payload file is deleted.

    Loading the backdoor

    This mmscore.jar is a new iteration of a backdoor we mentioned in our earlier reports. In contrast to past versions, which exploited and modified system files to load itself into Zygote, the malware now achieves reliable Zygote access by leveraging a compromised system framework. Similar to previous versions, the backdoor downloads and executes other payloads.

    3. Crypto stealer or dropper?

    Immediately upon starting, the binder.so library reads the file /proc/%PID%/cmdline, with %PID% representing the system process ID. This is how the Trojan determines the package name of a running app.

    Package name check

    Based on the package name, binder.so loads either a crypto stealer loader (if the application is cryptocurrency-related) or a dropper from the rodata section. Neither payload is encrypted.

    Triada crypto stealer

    In previous Triada versions we analyzed, cryptocurrency applications were immediately infected with a crypto stealer. However, in these latest samples, the malicious module is a loader specifically targeting apps with the following package names:

    The entry point for this malicious loader is the onCreate method within the com.hwsen.abc.SDK class. In latest versions this module requests a configuration from a GitHub repository. Using a pseudo-random number generator, the sample selects a number (0, 1, or 2), each corresponding to a specific repository address.

    Loading the configuration

    All field values within the configuration are encrypted using AES-128 in ECB mode and then encoded with Base64. An example of a decrypted configuration is shown below:

    If online equals true, the loader downloads a payload from the URL specified in the durl field. If errors occur, it uses durl2 and durl3 as backup links. The downloaded payload is decrypted using XOR with a hardcoded key and saved to the application’s internal data directory under the name specified in the vname parameter. The pkg and method fields represent the class name and method, respectively, that will be called after the crypto stealer is loaded via DexClassLoader.

    The downloaded payload attempts to steal the victim’s cryptocurrency using various methods. For example, it monitors running activities at preset intervals. This allows the Trojan to intercept attempts at withdrawing cryptocurrency and replace the victim’s crypto wallet addresses in the relevant text fields with addresses belonging to the attackers. To achieve this, the malware runs a depth-first search for all graphical sub-elements within the current frame, identifying the blockchain to which the funds are being sent. The Trojan then swaps the crypto wallet address with a hardcoded one and replaces the click handlers of all buttons in the application with a proxy handler that swaps the crypto wallet address again, ensuring the attackers can steal the funds. Interestingly, the crypto stealer also replaces image elements with generated QR codes containing attacker-controlled wallet addresses.

    Text and image replacement

    The Trojan also monitors the clipboard contents and, if it finds a crypto wallet address, it gets replaced with an address belonging to the attackers.

    Clipboard hijacking

    Dropper

    If the binder.so library happens to run in an app unrelated to cryptocurrency, it downloads a different payload. This is a dropper that calls the onCreate method within the com.system.framework.api.vp2130.services class. Depending on the version, it can extract up to three Base64-encoded additional modules from its own contents.

    • The dropper loads a com.android.packageinstaller.apiv21.ApiV21 class from the first module inside the system APK installer app. This class registers a receiver that allows other modules to install arbitrary APKs on the device and also uninstall any apps.

    Malicious receiver

    Beginning with Android 13, apps from untrusted sources are restricted from accessing sensitive permissions, such as those for accessibility services. To bypass these restrictions for sideloaded apps, the receiver installs them through an installation session in newer Android versions.

    • The com.system.framework.audio.Audio class is loaded from the second module to block network connections. Depending on the system architecture, it decodes and loads a native helper library. This library uses the xhook library to intercept calls to the getaddrinfo and android_getaddrinfofornet functions. These functions handle communication with the dnsproxyd service in Android, which performs DNS requests using a client-server model. If the attackers have sent a command to block a specific domain, its name is replaced by a hook redirecting to 127.0.0.1, making access to the original domain impossible.

    Intercepting the dnsproxyd communications functions

    Thus, the malware can block requests to anti-fraud services unless they use a custom DNS implementation.

    • The com.system.framework.api.init.services class is also loaded from the third module to download arbitrary payloads. For this purpose, the malware periodically transmits a wealth of device information (MAC address, model, CPU, manufacturer, IMEI, IMSI, etc.), along with the host application name and version, to its command-and-control server. Before being sent, the data is encrypted using AES-128 in CBC mode and then encoded with Base64. The C2 responds with a JSON file containing information about the payload, also encrypted with AES-128 in CBC mode. The infected device receives the key and initialization vector (IV) RSA-encrypted from the C2 within the same JSON.

    Decoding, loading, and running the payload

    For convenience, we will refer to this module as the Triada backdoor going forward. It is this module that holds the greatest interest for our research, as it provides the malware with a wide range of capabilities. A closer look at the Triada threat actor’s objectives yielded a somewhat surprising result. Whereas previous malicious samples mainly displayed ads and signed users up for paid subscriptions, the attackers’ priorities have now drastically changed.

    What Triada downloads

    To understand exactly how the attackers’ priorities have shifted, we decided to try downloading the payloads for various popular apps. We observed that the binder.so malicious library passes a flag to the dropper upon starting if the application’s name is on a list within its code. This list included both system apps and popular apps from official stores.

    Some apps from binder.so

    This list served as the starting point for our investigation. For all the listed applications, we sent requests to the malware C2, and some of them returned links to download payloads. As an example, this is the response we received from the Trojan after requesting a payload for Telegram:

    The payload information from the C2 server was received as an array of objects, with each containing two download URLs (primary and backup), the MD5 hash of the file to download, the module’s entry point details, and its ID. After downloading, the modules were decrypted twice using XOR with different keys.

    Triada decrypting the payload

    In addition to this, the response from the C2 contained other package names. By using these, we were able to obtain various further payloads.

    It should be noted that according to the Android security model, unprivileged users do not normally have access to certain application data. However, as mentioned earlier, the malware is loaded by the Zygote process, which allows it to bypass OS restrictions because each payload runs within the process of the app it targets. This means the modules can obtain any application data, and the attackers actively exploit this in subsequent stages of infection. Furthermore, each additional malware payload can use all the permissions available to the app.

    During module analysis, we also noted the significant skill of the Triada creators: each payload is tailored to the target app’s characteristics. Let us see which modules the Trojan loaded into some popular Android apps.

    Telegram modules

    For the Telegram messaging app, the Triada backdoor downloaded two modules at the time of this research. The first module (b8a745bdc0e083ffc88a524c7f465140) launches a malicious task within the messaging app’s context once every 24 hours. We believe that the attackers thoroughly examined Telegram’s internal workings before coding this task.

    Malicious task code

    Initially, the malicious task tries to obtain the victim’s account details. To do this, the module reads a string associated with the user key from the key-value pairs saved using SharedPreferences in the app settings XML file named userconfig. The string contains Base64-encoded serialized data about the Telegram user, which the messaging client code deserializes to communicate with the API. The malware takes advantage of this: Triada tries several reflection-based methods to read the user data.

    Deserializing victim account details

    The malware sends the following user information to the C2 server if it has not done so previously:

    • A serialized string containing the victim’s account details.
    • The victim’s phone number.
    • The contents of the tgnet.dat file from the application’s data directory.
      This file stores Telegram authentication data including the user’s token, which allows the attackers to gain complete control over the victim’s account.
    • The string with id=1 from the params table in the cache4.db database.

    This payload also contains unused code for displaying ads.

    The second module (fce117a9d7c8c73e5f56bda7437bdb28) uses Base64 to decode and then execute another payload (8f0e5f86046faed1d06bca7d3e48c0b8). This payload registers its own observer for new Telegram messages, which checks their content. If the message text matches regular expressions received by the Trojan from the C2 server, the message is deleted from the client. This module also attempts to delete Telegram notifications about new sessions.

    Filtering messages based on content

    Additionally, the malware tries to initiate a conversation with a bot that was no longer there at the time of our research.

    Initiating communication with an unknown bot

    Instagram module

    This module (3f887477091e67c6aaca15bce622f485) starts by requesting the device’s advertising ID from Google Play services, which it then uses as the victim ID. After that, a malicious task runs once every 24 hours, sequentially scanning all XML files used by SharedPreferences until it finds the first file whose name begins with UserCookiePrefsFile_. This file contains the cookies for active Instagram sessions, and intercepting these sessions allows the attackers to take over the victim’s account. The task also collects all files ending in batch from the analytics directory inside data.

    The malware reading the internal files

    These files, along with information about the infected device, are encoded in Base64 and sent to the C2 server.

    Browser module

    This module (98ece45e75f93c5089411972f9655b97) is loaded into the browsers with the following package names:

    • com.android.chrome
    • org.mozilla.firefox
    • com.microsoft.emmx
    • com.microsoft.emmx.canary
    • com.heytap.browser
    • com.opera.browser
    • com.sec.android.app.sbrowser
    • com.chrome.beta

    First, it establishes a connection with the C2 server over TCP sockets. Then, using the RSA algorithm, it encrypts an IV and key concatenation for AES-128 in CBC mode. The Trojan uses AES to encrypt the information about the infected device and then combines it with the key and IV into a single large buffer, which it sends to the TCP socket.

    Code snippet for C2 communication

    The C2 server responds with a buffer encrypted with the same parameters as the request it received from the infected device. The response contains a task to periodically substitute links opened in the browser. An example of this task is shown below.

    The link replacement works as follows. The module first checks the version and name of the browser that it is running in to register hooks for the methods that the browser uses for opening links.

    Launching browser-specific functionality

    We noted earlier that in the initial stages, the Trojan downloaded an auxiliary module that implements its functionality to intercept arbitrary methods. The browser module utilizes this to interfere with the process of opening pages in various browsers.

    Using the auxiliary module

    In addition, the malware uses reflection to replace the Instrumentation class instance for the app. The execStartActivity method, which launches app activities, is replaced in the proxy class.

    Malicious call in the Instrumentation proxy class

    In Android, application activities are launched by broadcasting an intent with a specific action. If the application has an activity with an intent filter that declares the ability to handle the action, Android will launch it. When an application opens a link in a browser, it creates and sends an Intent instance with the action android.intent.action.VIEW, including the URI to be opened. Triada substitutes the URI in the received Intent instance.

    Replacing the link in the Intent instance

    In the samples we analyzed, the C2 server sent links to advertising resources. However, we believe that the malware creators could also use this functionality for, say, phishing.

    WhatsApp modules

    For WhatsApp, the Trojan’s C2 server would provide two modules. One of these (d5bc1298e436424086cb52508fb104b1) runs a malicious task within the WhatsApp client’s context every five minutes. This task reads various keys essential for the client’s operation, as well as data about the active session.

    The Trojan reading WhatsApp login credentials

    This data, along with information about the victim’s device, is forwarded to the C2 server, giving the attackers complete access to the victim’s WhatsApp account.

    The other module (dc731e55a552caed84d04627e96906d5) starts by intercepting WhatsApp client functions that send and receive messages. The threat actor employed an interesting technique to work around class name obfuscation in WhatsApp code. The module’s code contains the names of the class and method being intercepted, specific to different WhatsApp versions. This likely required the attackers to manually analyze how each version worked. It is worth noting too that if the module’s code lacks the class names for the specific client version, the malware can request an interception configuration from the attackers’ C2 server.

    If the interception is successful, the module continues its operation by sending data about the infected device to the C2 server and receiving a TCP socket IP address in response. Commands are then transmitted through this socket, allowing the malware to perform the following actions:

    • Send arbitrary WhatsApp messages.
    • Delete sent messages on the device to cover its tracks.
    • Close the connection.

    Snippet of the command handler

    LINE module

    This module (1d582e2517905b853ec9ebfe77759d15) runs inside the LINE messaging app. First, the malware gathers information about the infected device and sends it to the C2 server. Subsequently, every 30 seconds, it collects internal app data, specifically the PROFILE_AUTH_KEY and PROFILE_MID values from the settings table in the naver_line database. The malicious module also obtains the UserAgent string and additional information to mimic HTTP requests as if they were coming from the messaging client itself. Additionally, the malware decrypts the user’s phone number and region from the naver_line database and uses reflection to obtain the application’s access token, which allows it to take over the victim’s account.

    Obtaining an access token

    The module sends the data it collects to the C2 server.

    Collecting and sending data

    Skype module

    This module (b87706f7fcb21f3a4dfdd2865b2fa733) runs a malicious task every two minutes that attempts to send information about the infected device to the C2. Once the C2 accepts the request, the task stops, and the Trojan begins reading internal Skype files every hour. Initially, the module tries to extract a token that allows access to the Skype account from the React Native framework keychain.

    Triada extracting a token from the keychain

    Failing to obtain the token through this method, the malware then tries to locate it within WebView cookies.

    Extracting a token from the cookies

    This token is then sent to the Trojan’s C2 server, thus compromising the victim’s account.

    The versions of Triada we have seen contain no payloads for Microsoft Teams or Skype for Business. However, we believe that after Microsoft sunsets Skype, the attackers might add new malicious modules for these apps.

    TikTok module

    This module (993eb2f8bf8b5c01b30e3044c3bc10a3) sends information about the infected device to the attackers’ server once a day. Additionally, the malware collects a variety of data about the victim’s account. For example, it reads cached TikTok cookies from an internal directory, which might have been used by WebView within the app. The attackers are interested in the msToken in these cookies, as it is necessary for interacting with the TikTok API. The module also extracts other information from the TikTok client, such as the user ID ( secUID), the UserAgent for API requests, and more. We believe that the attackers need this data to bypass TikTok API restrictions and simulate a real device when making API requests. Every five minutes, the malicious module attempts to send all data it collects to the attackers’ server.

    Stealing TikTok account data

    Facebook modules

    One of such modules (b187551675a234c3584db4aab2cc83a9) runs a malicious task every minute that compares the parent app package name against the following list:

    • com.facebook.lite
    • com.facebook.mlite
    • com.facebook.orca

    If the name matches one of the above, the malware steals the Facebook authentication cookies.

    Stealing Facebook credentials

    Another module (554f0de0bddf30589482315fe336ea72) sends data about the infected device to the C2. The server responds with a link to be opened in WebView, as well as JavaScript code to execute on the page. The malware can upload certain elements from this page to the C2 server, which potentially could be used by attackers to steal the victim’s account data.

    SMS modules

    These malicious components are injected into SMS apps. One of them (195e0f334beb34c471352179d422c42f) starts by registering its own proxy receiver for incoming SMS and MMS messages, as well as its own message observer. Following this, the malware retrieves rules from the C2 server, storing these in a separate database. The content of each received message is filtered on the basis of these rules.

    Checking message content

    The flexibility of these rules enables the malware to respond to specific SMS messages by extracting codes using regular expressions. We believe the Trojan creators primarily use this capability to sign victims up for paid subscriptions. Additionally, the module can send arbitrary SMS messages when instructed by the C2 server.

    Interestingly, the module contains unused code snippets that are valuable for analysis — they also function as message filtering rules. Each rule includes a string value that defines its type: an MD5 hash of certain data. The module code contains methods named matchWhatsapp and matchRegister that use the same rule type. Analysis of matchWhatsapp revealed that this malicious component previously could cover other modules’ tracks and delete SMS messages containing verification codes for logging in to the victim’s WhatsApp account. The use of the same rule type suggests that matchRegister is also employed by the malicious module to conceal its activity, possibly to secretly register accounts. This method is likely obsolete because the malware now supports receiving rules from the C2 server.

    Rule for intercepting WhatsApp verification SMS messages

    The second module (2ac5414f627f8df2e902fc34a73faf44) is likely an auxiliary component for the first one. The thing is, Android performs a check on the addressee when an SMS is being sent. If the message is being sent to a short code (premium SMS), the user will be prompted to confirm their intention to send. This measure aims to prevent financial losses for device owners encountering SMS Trojans. The SMSDispatcher class in the Android framework checks if the app has permission to send premium SMS messages. To do this, it calls the getPremiumSmsPermission method within the SmsUsageMonitor class, which stores premium SMS sending policies for each application using the SharedPreferences mechanism with the key premiumsmspolicy. The policies are integers that can take the following values:

    • 1: User confirmation is required before sending a premium SMS.
    • 2: The app is prohibited from sending premium SMS messages.
    • 3: Sending premium SMS messages is allowed, and user confirmation is not required.

    The malicious module sets the policy value for SMS messaging apps to 3, thereby clearing obstacles for the previous module. Notably, this is an undocumented Android feature, which further highlights the malware authors’ advanced skill level.

    Method for overriding premium SMS sending policies

    Reverse proxy

    As far as we know, this module (3dc21967e6fab9518275960933c90d04), integrates into the Google Play Services app. Immediately upon starting, it transmits information about the infected device to the C2 server. The server responds with an IP address and port, which the malware uses to listen for commands via a modified version of the EasySocket library. The commands are integers that can take three values:

    • 1: Establish a connection with an arbitrary TCP endpoint, assigning to it the ID transmitted in the command.
    • 2: Terminate the TCP connection with the specified ID.
    • 4: Send data over the TCP connection with the specified ID.

    Processing received data

    Thus, the main purpose of this module is to turn the infected device into a reverse proxy, essentially giving the attackers network access through the victim’s device.

    Call interception

    This module (a4f16015204db28f5654bb64775d75ad) is injected into the device’s phone app. It registers a malicious receiver that, upon receiving intents, can execute arbitrary JavaScript code using WebView.

    Executing arbitrary code via the malicious receiver

    The malware provides the JavaScript code with an interface to call certain Java functions. One of these functions takes the victim’s phone number and sends an intent that includes it.

    An intent with a phone number

    The command number is transmitted in the type field of the intent. However, the module lacks a handler for this number. We assume that it is implemented in a different payload that we were unable to obtain during our investigation.

    We also believe that this module is still under development. For example, similar to the browser module, it replaces the Instrumentation class to substitute the number opened using the android.intent.action.VIEW intent. However, the module lacks number substitution code.

    Instrumentation proxy class

    We strongly believe the number substitution functionality exists in another version of this module or will be added in the near future.

    Clipper

    Our data indicates that this module (04e485833e53aceb259198d1fcba7eaf) integrates into the Google Play app. Upon starting, it requests a comma-separated list of attackers’ cryptocurrency wallet addresses from the C2 server. If it cannot get the addresses, the Trojan uses hardcoded ones. After that, the module checks the clipboard every two seconds. If it finds a cryptocurrency wallet address, it replaces it with one controlled by the attackers. Additionally, the malware registers an event handler for clipboard changes, where it also checks and swaps the content.

    Clipboard hijacking

    Additional module

    In our previous report, we described the malicious modules downloaded by the initial Triada backdoor. We decided to check if the list of payloads had changed. Unfortunately, at the time of our research, the backdoor C2 server was not sending links to download additional modules. However, we noticed that the module entry points used a consistent special naming format – we will discuss this in more detail later. This allowed us to find another Triada malware sample in our telemetry. The module is named BrsCookie_1004 (952cc6accc50b75a08bb429fb838bff7), and is designed for stealing Instagram cookies from web browsers.

    Stealing cookies

    Campaign features

    Our analysis of this Trojan revealed several interesting details. For example, it shows similarities to earlier versions of Triada (308e35fb48d98d9e466e4dfd1ba6ee73): these implement the same logic for loading additional modules as the mmscore.jar backdoor deployed by the infected framework.

    Loading modules in older Triada versions

    Loading modules in mms-core.jar

    Furthermore, lines starting with PPP appear regularly in the module code.

    Creating log entries in an older Triada version

    Loading a module in binder.so in a newer Triada version

    Functions from the binder.so malicious library set system properties similar to those in previous Triada versions. These and other similarities lead us to believe that the sample we analyzed is a new version of Triada.

    While analyzing the modules, we encountered comments in Chinese, suggesting that the developers are Chinese native speakers. Additionally, one of the C2 servers used by the Triada modules, g.sxim[.]me, caught our attention. This domain was also used as a C2 server for a module of the Vo1d backdoor, suggesting a potential link to Triada.

    Distribution vector

    In all known infection cases, the device firmware had a build fingerprint whose last letter differed from officially published firmware fingerprints. Searching for similar fingerprints led us to discussion boards where users complained about counterfeit devices purchased from online stores. It is likely that a stage in the supply chain was compromised, with the vendors in online stores possibly being unaware that they were distributing fake devices infected with Triada.

    User complaining about a counterfeit device

    Translation:

    “The journey of a counterfeit device bought in [redacted]. Please keep this discussion in case it helps some poor fellow like me to restore the phone on their own. Previous version: 8Gb / 256Gb / 14.0.6.0 (TGPMIXN). Current version: 4Gb / 128Gb / 14.0.6.0 (TGPMIXM)”

    Victims

    According to KSN telemetry, our security solutions have detected over 4500 infected devices worldwide. The highest numbers of affected users were detected in Russia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Brazil. However, the actual number of infected devices could be much higher, given the unusual distribution method described in this article. The diagram below shows the TOP 10 countries with the highest numbers of users attacked between March 13 and April 15, 2025.

    TOP 10 countries with the highest numbers of users attacked by Triada, March 13 – April 15, 2025 (download)

    Separately, we decided to calculate the amount of cryptocurrency the Triada creators have stolen. To do this, we queried the Trojan’s C2 servers, receiving replacement wallet addresses in response. Findings from open-source research indicated that since June 13, 2024, the attackers had amassed more than $264,000 in various cryptocurrencies in wallets under their control. Below is a diagram showing the balance of several attacker-controlled wallets.

    A profitability chart for the threat actor’s TRON wallets (download)

    Conclusion

    The new version of the Triada Trojan is a multi-stage backdoor giving attackers unlimited control over a victim’s device. The modular architecture provides its authors with a range of malicious capabilities, including targeted delivery of new modules and mass infection of specific applications. If your phone has been infected with Triada, we recommend following these rules to minimize the consequences of malicious activity:

    • Install a clean firmware on your device.
    • Avoid using messaging apps, crypto wallets, or social media clients currently on your device before installing new firmware.
    • Use a reliable security solution to be promptly notified of similar threats on your device.

    Indicators of compromise

    Infected system frameworks

    f468a29f836d2bba7a2b1a638c5bebf0
    72cbbc58776ddc44abaa557325440bfb
    fb937b1b15fd56c9d8e5bb6b90e0e24a
    2ac4d8e1077dce6f4d2ba9875b987ca7
    7b8905af721158731d24d0d06e6cb27e
    9dd92503bd21d12ff0f2b9740fb6e529

    Infected native libraries

    89c3475be8dba92f4ee7de0d981603c1
    01dff60fbf8cdf98980150eb15617e41
    18fef4b6e229fc01c8b9921bb0353bb0
    21be50a028a505b1d23955abfd2bdb3e
    43adb868af3812b8f0c47e38fb93746a
    511443977de2d07c3ee0cee3edae8dc8
    716f0896b22c2fdcb0e3ee56b7c5212f
    83dbc4b95f9ae8a83811163b301fe8c7
    8892c6decebba3e26c57b20af7ad4cca
    a7127978fac175c9a14cd8d894192f78
    a9a106b9df360ec9d28f5dfaf4b1f0b5
    c30c309e175905ffcbd17adb55009240
    c4efe3733710d251cb041a916a46bc44
    e9029811df1dd8acacfe69450b033804
    e961cb0c7d317ace2ff6159efe30276a

    Modules

    Module C2 servers

    lnwxfq[.]qz94[.]com
    8.218.194[.]192
    g.sxim[.]me
    68u91[.]66foh90o[.]com
    jmll4[.]66foh90o[.]com
    w0g25[.]66foh90o[.]com
    tqq6g[.]66foh90o[.]com
    zqsvl[.]uhabq9[.]com
    hm1es[.]uhabq9[.]com
    0r23b[.]uhabq9[.]com
    vg1ne[.]uhabq9[.]com
    is5jg[.]3zweuj[.]com
    qrchq[.]vrhoeas[.]com
    xjl5a[.]unkdj[.]xyz
    lvqtcqd[.]pngkcal[.]com
    xc06a[.]0pk05[.]com
    120.79.89[.]98
    xcbm4[.]0pk05[.]com
    lptkw[.]s4xx6[.]com
    ad1x7[.]mea5ms[.]com
    v58pq[.]mpvflv[.]com
    bincdi[.]birxpk[.]com
    773i8h[.]k6zix6[.]com
    ya27fw[.]k6zix6[.]com

    CDN servers for delivery of malicious modules

    mp2y3[.]sm20j[.]xyz
    ompe2[.]7u6h8[.]xyz
    app-file.b-cdn[.]net

    GitHub configurations

    hxxps://raw.githubusercontent[.]com/adrdotocet/ott/main/api.json
    hxxps://raw.githubusercontent[.]com/adrdotocet2/ott/main/api.json
    hxxps://raw.githubusercontent[.]com/adrdotocet3/ott/main/api.json

    Triada system properties

    os.config.ppgl.ext.hws.cd
    os.config.ppgl.btcore.devicekey
    os.config.ppgl.version
    os.config.opp.build.model
    os.config.opp.build.status
    os.config.ppgl.status
    os.config.ppgl.status.rom
    os.config.ppgl.build.vresion
    os.config.hk.status
    os.config.ppgl.cd
    os.config.ppgl.dir
    os.config.ppgl.dexok
    os.config.ppgl.btcore.sericode
    os.config.verify.status
    os.config.alice.build.channel
    os.config.alice.build.time
    os.config.alice.service.status
    os.android.version.alice.sure

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Apr 25, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    Apr 25, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Fri Apr 25 05:51:25 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 250551

    Day 2 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1251 AM CDT Fri Apr 25 2025

    Valid 261200Z – 271200Z

    …THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS
    OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND ADJACENT WEST TEXAS AND THE TEXAS
    PANHANDLE…

    …SUMMARY…
    Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible on Saturday
    across portions of eastern New Mexico into West Texas and the Texas
    Panhandle.

    …Synopsis…
    An mid-level low will move across southern California and into the
    southern Great Basin on Saturday. As this trough advances east,
    mid-level ridging across the central CONUS will start to shift east
    through the day. A mid-level trough will amplify across Ontario and
    into the Northeast on Saturday and Saturday night. Surface high
    pressure will move into the Great Lakes in the wake of this trough.
    As low-pressure develops across the Rockies in response to the
    eastward advancing mid-level low, the pressure gradient will tighten
    across the Plains with strengthening southerly flow and northward
    moisture transport.

    …Southern High Plains…
    As low-pressure develops in the west, a southerly low-level jet will
    strengthen Friday night and early Saturday morning which will likely
    lead to widespread storm coverage in the vicinity of a surface front
    from the Texas Panhandle/southern Oklahoma/northern Texas. This
    ongoing convection could have significant impacts on northward
    moisture recovery, and any remnant boundaries could also be a focus
    for severe weather later in the day Saturday, particularly across
    the Texas Panhandle and vicinity. Details remain uncertain at this
    time due to ongoing MCSs this morning and the potential for several
    additional convective systems Friday and Friday night. However,
    there is relatively higher confidence in some severe weather threat
    across far eastern New Mexico, parts of the Texas Panhandle, and
    adjacent areas. This zone is where the greatest overlap in buoyancy
    and shear is expected, with some potential for outflow boundaries to
    be an additional focus for storms on Saturday. A few supercells may
    be possible with a threat for isolated large hail or wind gusts, and
    perhaps a tornado.

    ..Bentley.. 04/25/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z

    Top/Latest Day 1 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Malaria scorecard: battles have been won and advances made, but the war isn’t over

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Shüné Oliver, Medical scientist, National Institute for Communicable Diseases

    Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of malaria cases in the world. In this region 11 countries account for two-thirds of the global burden.

    World Malaria Day is marked on 25 April. What progress has been made against the disease, where are the gaps and what’s being done to plug them?

    As scientists who research malaria in Africa, we believe that the continent can defeat the disease. New, effective tools have been added to the malaria toolbox.

    Researchers and malaria programmes, however, must strengthen collaborations. This will ensure the limited resources are used in ways that make the most impact.

    The numbers

    Some progress has been made, but in some cases there have been reverses.

    • Between 2000 and 2015 there was an 18% reduction in new cases from 262 million in 2000 to 214 million in 2015. Since then, progress has stalled.

    • The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 2.2 billion cases have been prevented between 2000 and 2023. Additionally, 12.7 million deaths have been avoided. In 2025, 45 countries are certified as malaria free. Only nine of those countries are in Africa. These include Egypt, Seychelles and Lesotho.

    • The global target set by the WHO was to reduce new cases by 75% compared to cases in 2015. Africa should have reported approximately 47,000 cases in 2023. Instead there were 246 million.

    • Almost every African country with ongoing malaria transmission experienced an increase in malaria cases in 2023. Exceptions to this were Rwanda and Liberia.

    So why is progress stagnating and in many cases reversing?

    The setbacks

    Effective malaria control is extremely challenging. Malaria parasite and mosquito populations evolve rapidly. This makes them difficult to control.

    Africa is home to malaria mosquitoes that prefer biting humans to other animals. These mosquitoes have also adapted to avoid insecticide-treated surfaces.

    It has been shown in South Africa that mosquitoes may feed on people inside their homes, but will avoid resting on the sprayed walls.

    Mosquitoes have also developed mechanisms to resist the effects of insecticides. Malaria vector resistance to certain insecticides used in malaria control is widespread in endemic areas. Resistance levels vary around Africa.

    Resistance to the pyrethroid class is most common. Organophosphate resistance is rare, but present in west Africa. As mosquitoes become resistant to the chemicals used for mosquito control, both the spraying of houses and insecticide treated nets become less effective. However, in regions with high malaria cases, nets still provide physical protection despite resistance.

    An additional challenge is that malaria parasites continue to develop resistance to anti-malarial drugs. In 2007 the first evidence began to emerge in south-east Asia that parasites were developing resistance to artemisinins. These are key drugs in the fight against malaria.

    Recently this has been shown to be happening in some African countries too. Artemisinin resistance has been confirmed in Eritrea, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Molecular markers of artemisinin resistance were recently detected in parasites from Namibia and Zambia.

    Malaria parasites have also developed mutations that prevent them from being being detected by the most widely used rapid diagnostic test in Africa.

    Countries in the Horn of Africa, where parasites with these mutations are common, have changed the malaria rapid diagnostic tests used to ensure early diagnosis.

    The progress

    Nevertheless, the fight against malaria has been strengthened by novel control strategies.

    Firstly, after more than 30 years of research, two malaria vaccines – RTS,S and R21 – have finally been approved by the WHO. These are being deployed in 19 African countries.

    These vaccines have reduced disease cases and deaths in the high-risk under-five-years-old age group. They have reduced cases of severe malaria by approximately 30% and deaths by 17%.

    Secondly, effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets has been improved.

    New insecticides have been approved for use. Chemical components that help to manage resistance have also been included in the nets.

    Thirdly, novel tools are showing promise. One option is attractive toxic sugar baits. This is because sugar is what mosquitoes naturally eat. Biocontrol by altering the native gut bacteria of mosquitoes may also prove effective.

    Fourthly, reducing mosquito populations by releasing sterilised male or genetically modified mosquitoes into wild mosquito populations is also showing promise. Trials are currently happening in Burkina Faso. Genetically sterilised males have been released on a small scale. This strategy has shown promise in reducing the population.

    Fifthly, two new antimalarials are expected to be available in the next year or two. Artemisinin-based combination therapies are standard treatment for malaria. An improvement to this is triple artemisinin-based combination therapy. This is a combination of this drug with an additional antimalarial. Studies in Africa and Asia have shown these triple combinations to be very effective in controlling malaria.

    The second new antimalarial is the first non-artemisinin-based drug to be developed in over 20 years. Ganaplacide-lumefantrine has been shown to be effective in young children. Once available, it can to be used to treat parasites that are resistant to artemisinin. This is because it has a completely different mechanism of action.

    The end game

    It has been several years since the malaria control toolbox has been strengthened with novel tools and strategies that target both the vector and the parasite. This makes it an ideal time to double down in the fight against this deadly disease.

    In 2020, the WHO identified 25 countries with the potential to stop malaria transmission within their borders by 2025. While none of these countries eliminated malaria, some have made significant progress. Costa Rica and Nepal reported fewer than 100 cases. Timor-Leste reported only one case in recent years.

    Three southern African countries are included in this group: Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa. Unfortunately, all these countries showed increases in cases in 2023.

    With the new tools, these and other countries can eliminate malaria, getting us closer to the dream of a malaria-free world.

    Shüné Oliver receives funding from the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the South African Medical Research Council. She is associated with both the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the Wits Research Institte for Malaria.

    Jaishree Raman receives funding from the Gates Foundation, Global Fund, Wellcome Trust, National Research Foundation, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South African Medical Research Council, and the Research Trust. She is affiliated with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the Wits Institute for Malaria Research, University of Witwatersrand, and the Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria.

    ref. Malaria scorecard: battles have been won and advances made, but the war isn’t over – https://theconversation.com/malaria-scorecard-battles-have-been-won-and-advances-made-but-the-war-isnt-over-255230

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: Invitation to Q1 2025 results presentation in Oslo on 5 May

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Invitation to Q1 2025 results presentation in Oslo on 5 May  

    BW Energy will release its first quarter 2025 results on Monday, 5 May at 07:30 CEST.  

    The Company will hold a presentation followed by Q&A at Hotel Continental in Oslo, Norway, on the same day at 09:30 CEST. The presentation will include an extended review of optimisation and development projects in Brazil. It will be hosted by CEO Carl K. Arnet, CFO Brice Morlot, CSO Thomas Young, CTO Jerome Bertheau and CCO Thomas Kolanski. 

    You can also follow the presentation via webcast with supporting slides, available on: 

    Viewer Registration • Q1 2025 

    For further information, please contact: 

    ir@bwenergy.no  

     
    About BW Energy: 

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025.  

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Kudlow on Fox Business to Discuss Russia-Ukraine War, Tariff Negotiations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the ongoing negotiations to bring a peace deal to the Russia-Ukraine war, along with President Donald Trump’s strength in tariff negotiations with China.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on Trump’s toughness against Russia: “President Trump has continued not only to retain sanctions in place, but actually enforced them, which the Biden Administration never did. The Biden Administration talked tough, but they did not enforce sanctions. What President Trump has done is actually gone into secondary sanctions. I think you read about the fact that President Trump has gone in and sanctioned a Chinese refinery, the buyer of Russian crude [oil]. That is the way to deal with this. That’s the way to put maximum pressure on Russia, their banks, the purchasers of crude oil. That’s the way to deal with this. He’s doing it. The pressure has been maintained and mounting on Vladimir Putin.”
    Hagerty on weakening Russia by regaining U.S. energy independence: “You’re absolutely right, Dave. And President Trump’s been extremely clear about not only wanting to get back to energy independence, but energy dominance for America. That’s bad for Russia, that’s bad for Iran, that’s bad for Venezuela, but it’s great for our allies and for us.”
    Hagerty on the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war: “I think about the fact that [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent traveled to Ukraine to put in place a deal for critical minerals that would’ve engaged our economy with theirs. Zelenskyy said, of course I’ll sign it, but I’d like to wait [until] I get to meet with Vice President [JD] Vance in Munich. He goes to Munich—Vice President Vance is courteous enough to meet with him—and he tells Vice President Vance, I’d like to actually sign it with the president at the White House. We accede to that. We let him come to the White House, and what does he do? He tries to re-trade the deal on international TV in front of everybody. I think it really is amazing. I think how congenial President Trump has been in dealing with both of these parties. He wants to bring this to an end, and I’d like to say this: Dave, every week this waits, we’re losing roughly another 5,000 lives. It’s time for both parties, Russia and Ukraine, to get to the table and bring this to an end […] I don’t know the answer in terms of who’s advising Zelenskyy, and I would say this: had it been [Former President] Joe Biden in that Oval office, in that meeting, it would’ve worked, but it certainly is not going to work with President Trump. He wasn’t going to tolerate that sort of behavior. He wasn’t so hungry for a deal to be celebrating it in the Rose Garden. He sent Zelenskyy home, and he should have.”
    Hagerty on Trump’s strength against Iran’s terror regime: “Well, Dave, I’ll remind you that everyone said that the Abraham Accords couldn’t be done, but President Trump was able to deliver on that. If anybody can deliver peace in the Middle East, it’s Donald Trump. I think the Iranians should understand and appreciate the fact that President Trump is not going to take this anymore. It’s going to be maximum pressure. They are the greatest state sponsors of terror, not only in the region, but in the world. They’re in a very difficult place right now. You mentioned, Dave, oil prices are coming down. That’s not good for Iran, right? We started enforcing sanctions, rather than just talking about it the way the Biden Administration said, that’s not good for Iran. Their economy’s in a tough spot right now. Now is the time to negotiate. Now is the time to end this program of terror, to end their nuclear program, and bring peace back to the Middle East.”
    Hagerty on the tariff negotiations between the U.S. and China: “[China tends] to overplay their hand, whether it’s their use of the Belt and Road Initiative, or whether it’s the situation they find themselves in now, again, retaliating against President Trump when he warned them not to, and find themselves in an extraordinarily difficult box. China has a very export dependent economy. They’ve also not played by the same rules that every other major economy does. They steal intellectual property. They subsidize industries. They need to come to the table now and look to actually make a deal […] I worked very closely with the team that negotiated the phase one deal in the first Administration, because they worked with me on the two trade deals that we did with Japan. They committed, at that point, to $200 billion worth of purchases from America. They fell short. China needs to keep its word; China needs to step up. If you think about what happened during the Covid crisis, if you think about the spy balloon that flew across America, there’s a real issue of trust right now. That issue needs to be resolved. China needs to prove that it’s a reliable partner.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien, Faces Enhanced Penalty for Prior Felony Conviction

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CESAR A. LOBO-RAMOS (“LOBO-RAMOS”), age 38, a native of Honduras, pled guilty on April 22, 2025, to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.

    According to court documents, LOBO-RAMOS reentered the United States after being previously deported on April 10, 2018. LOBO-RAMOS came to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was arrested by the Kenner Police Department on November 2, 2023 for resisting arrest and obstruction of police. 

    LOBO-RAMOS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years, up to 1 year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.  He also faces a sentencing enhancement of 20 years because of a prior felony conviction for sexual battery in Jefferson Parish in 2010.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Banco Itaú Chile Files Material Event Notice announcing 2025 Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting Agreements

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTIAGO, Chile, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BANCO ITAÚ CHILE (SSE: ITAUCL) (the “Bank”) announced that it filed a Material Event Notice with the Chilean Commission for the Financial Market reporting the agreements taken at the Bank’s Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held today.

    The Material Event Notice is available on the company’s investor relations website at ir.itau.cl

    Investor Relations – Banco Itaú Chile

    IR@itau.cl / ir.itau.cl

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Democratic Senate Colleagues Demand President Trump Comply with Supreme Court Order to Return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Uphold Immigrants’ Right to Due Process

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Senators: “Our laws also do not allow you to send individuals from U.S. soil to El Salvador without due process”

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and 25 of his Democratic Senate colleagues recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to immediately comply with the Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S., and rescind his claim that he may transfer incarcerated U.S. citizens to El Salvador.

    In their letter, the senators condemn the Trump administration’s efforts to deport hundreds of migrants to a prison in El Salvador without due process. 

    “Your unprecedented actions threaten the constitutional protections of all Americans and violate the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded,” the senators wrote. 

    “The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,” they continued.

    Last month, the Trump Administration deported over 261 immigrants to El Salvador in violation of a federal court order. One of the migrants, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was deported despite a court order specifically prohibiting his removal. The Trump administration has so far resisted a Supreme Court order directing the administration to return Abrego Garcia to the United States. 

    In their letter, the senators demand that the Trump administration: 

    1. Immediately facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia by no longer paying the government of El Salvador to detain him
    2. End unlawful attempts to deport noncitizens without due process under the Alien Enemies Act, as the Supreme Court ordered
    3. Withdraw dangerous and offensive claims that the President may transfer U.S. citizens to a foreign prison

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear President Trump:

    We call on you to immediately rescind the dangerous and offensive claim that you may transfer incarcerated U.S. citizens to El Salvador. We further urge you to follow the law and adhere to all applicable court orders and immediately facilitate the return to the United States of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom your Administration illegally deported to El Salvador in direct contravention of a court order specifically prohibiting such removal. Your unprecedented actions threaten the constitutional protections of all Americans and violate the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded.

    With regard to your shocking assertion about transferring Americans to El Salvador, you cannot deport Americans to a foreign country for any reason. This nation’s founding fathers declared independence based on “repeated injuries and usurpations” by the then-King of Great Britain, including “transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences” and “depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.” Accordingly, Congress has passed no provision into law that would permit exiling United States citizens to a foreign country for any reason. One conservative legal scholar called your threats to deport U.S. citizens “obviously illegal and unconstitutional.”

    Our laws also do not allow you to send individuals from U.S. soil to El Salvador without due process. Further, the Executive Branch must comply with longstanding domestic and international law that prohibits the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to a place where the person would face certain serious human rights violations. Your Administration’s actions in sending individuals to a Salvadoran prison notorious for inhumane conditions underscore the urgency and applicability of these requirements. The bedrock principles of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause protect individuals from being “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” Throughout our nation’s history, the Supreme Court has long read the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process to require that the government provide persons with certain procedural due process protections, including notice and an opportunity to be heard before any such deprivation of liberty.

    Even under extraordinary wartime authorities such as the Alien Enemies Act, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that noncitizens should, at a minimum, have an opportunity to prove whether or not the Act should apply to them. In a statement accompanying the Supreme Court’s recent order for the federal government to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia and “ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” Justice Sotomayor noted that your Administration’s argument suggesting that the government is permitted to leave Mr. Abrego Garcia in the Salvadoran prison after wrongfully sending him there “implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U.S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene.” She went on to note that this is a “view [that] refutes itself.”

    You must immediately facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia, which is unquestionably within your power to do since your Administration is paying the government of El Salvador to detain him. As Judge Harvie Wilkinson, a conservative appointee of President Reagan, wrote in a unanimous Fourth Circuit opinion rejecting your Administration’s efforts to delay taking steps to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia back to the United States:

    The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.

    You must also end your unlawful attempts to deport noncitizens without due process under the Alien Enemies Act, as the Supreme Court ordered this weekend. You have no authority to openly defy court orders requiring you: (1) to return someone who has been wrongfully deported, or (2) to grant individuals the due process they are owed under our laws.  As Judge Boasberg wrote in his order last week concluding that probable cause exists to find the government in criminal contempt:

    The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders—especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it. To permit such officials to freely “annul the judgments of the courts of the United States” would not just “destroy the rights acquired under those judgments”; it would make “a solemn mockery” of “the constitution itself.” …“So fatal a result must be deprecated by all.”

    You must immediately facilitate the return to the United States of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, follow all court orders, and withdraw your dangerous and offensive claims that you may transfer U.S. citizens to a foreign prison. The Constitution demands it.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time to help combat climate change

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    British satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time to help combat climate change

    Satellite developed by British academics and engineers set to become the first in the world to measure condition of the Earth’s forests from space.

    • World’s first mission to map the world’s forests in 3D from space will use cutting edge tech to inform climate change policies and protect future generations.  

    • Supports UK sector worth around £18.9 billion and likely to attract further investment that can grow the economy and help drive our Plan for Change.  

    • Project has supported around 250 highly skilled jobs in Stevenage, bolstering UK’s 52,000 strong space workforce.

    A satellite developed by British academics and engineers is set to become the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests from space.   

    This work will be crucial to helping us understand how tropical forests are changing so we can protect future generations from climate breakdown and accelerate the transition to net zero under our Plan for Change.   

    From conception to construction, the satellite – called Biomass – has been built in the UK, capitalising on our industrial and academic expertise in space technology while opening up new opportunities to attract future backing from global investors watching its landmark launch on 29 April.  

    Throughout construction, it has supported approximately 250 highly skilled jobs at Airbus UK, in Stevenage, where it was manufactured, supporting the local economy and bolstering the UK’s 52,000 strong space workforce.  

    The Biomass satellite will launch from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Since 2016, the UK has won almost 91 million Euros in contracts for Biomass through its membership of the European Space Agency (ESA). 

    Conceived by University of Sheffield academic Professor Shaun Quegan, it is a hallmark of British innovation, facilitating jobs in everything from design and development to assembly integration and test. The satellite will create a 3D map of tropical forests after 17 months, then new (non-3D) maps every 9 months for the rest of the 5-year mission,  providing insights normally hidden from human sight because of the difficulty in accessing these environments.   

    Its revolutionary technology will help scientists capture vital data on the changes to carbon in forests as ecosystems are increasingly impacted by deforestation.    

    Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant said:

    The Biomass mission showcases British ingenuity at its very best, from conception in Sheffield to construction in Stevenage.      

    Britain is not only stepping to the forefront of the space industry, but of global climate action too.     

    Contributing to such great extent to a European mission set to deliver vital global results is testament to the UK’s industrial and academic expertise in space technology and will attract global investment into our vibrant space ecosystem, helping us boost growth and deliver our Plan for Change. 

    Both deforestation, which releases carbon dioxide, and forest growth, which soaks up CO2 from the atmosphere, are crucial parts of climate change.   

    Data on the biomass of tropical forests is very limited because they are difficult to access.      

    The Biomass satellite will be able to penetrate cloud cover and measure forest biomass more accurately than any current technology, which only see the top of the canopy. By providing better data it will help create a more accurate global carbon budget and better understanding of carbon sinks and sources which will help in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve net-zero goals.   

    Observations will also lead to better insight into the rates of habitat loss and, as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment.    

    Shaun Quegan, University of Sheffield’s Professor and lead proposer of the mission concept to the European Space Agency, said:

    It’s been a privilege to have led the team in the development of a pioneering mission that will revolutionise our understanding of the volume of carbon held in the most impenetrable tropical rainforests on the planet and, crucially, how this is changing over time. Our research has solved critical operational scientific problems in constructing the Biomass satellite.    

    Conceived and built in the UK, Biomass is a brilliant example of what we can achieve in collaboration with our partners in industry and academia. The mission is the culmination of decades of highly innovative work in partnership with some of the best scientists in Europe and the US.

    Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency said:

    The Biomass satellite represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand Earth’s carbon cycle. By mapping the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail, it will provide critical insights into how our planet is responding to climate change — helping scientists, policymakers, and conservationists take informed action. We’re proud of the leading role the UK has played in this important mission.  

    Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, said:

    Biomass is a groundbreaking mission that will advance our understanding of how carbon is stored in the world’s forests – delivering crucial data in the fight against climate change. With more than 50 companies involved across 20 nations, the team in Stevenage has shown exceptional leadership in delivering this flagship ESA mission.    

    Climate Minister, Kerry McCarthy, said:

    The UK is back in the business of climate leadership and protecting the world’s forests through emerging and cutting-edge technologies is crucial to tackling the climate crisis. 

    This innovative tool shows how climate action attract investment in the UK, driving growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts Five in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy that Used Semi-Trucks to Transport Liquid Meth from Mexico to Oklahoma

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    18 Now Convicted as Part of Drug Trafficking Organization Responsible for Approximately 16,000 Kilos of Methamphetamine with Estimated Street Value of $64,000,000

    OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted JUAN HERNANDEZ, 49, a Mexican-national living in Oklahoma City, JESSICA MUNIZ, 32, of Oklahoma City, and DENIS LEAL GUTIERREZ, 59, CESAR AZAMAR, 52, and ADRIAN NARVAEZ, 58, of Texas, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that specialized in transporting liquid methamphetamine by semi-truck from Mexico, through Texas, to Oklahoma City, and laundering the subsequent drug proceeds, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    “Coordinating their drug trafficking scheme across international borders and state lines, these defendants flooded our state with methamphetamine worth millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “I praise the exceptional work of the federal and state law enforcement, and the federal prosecutors, for untangling and disrupting this major drug operation and for stopping its flow of lethal drugs into our communities.”

    “This multi-year collaboration among the FBI, DEA, IRS, Oklahoma City Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has effectively dismantled a major drug trafficking organization that had been poisoning our community with deadly narcotics for years,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Together, we will continue to ensure those who participate in these dangerous criminal networks face the full weight of the American justice system.”

    On December 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a 16-count Second Superseding Indictment, charging the defendants for their respective roles in the DTO. The Second Superseding Indictment charged Gutierrez, Azamar, and Narvaez with drug conspiracy, Muniz with money laundering conspiracy, two counts of domestic money laundering, and five counts of international money laundering, and Hernandez with money laundering conspiracy, three counts of domestic money laundering, and three counts of international money laundering.

    On April 18, 2025, following a nine-day trial, a federal jury convicted the defendants on all counts.

    According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants and other co-conspirators worked with high-ranking members of a Mexico-based DTO to import liquid methamphetamine into the U.S. hidden in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. Gutierrez’s trucking company, DGC Express Co., had been responsible for transporting shipments of liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma as far back as February 2021. Another trucking company owned by Gutierrez, Dare Express Co., assumed responsibility for transporting the liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma and Georgia starting in at least May of 2023.  Evidence at trial further showed that Azamar was responsible for facilitating the transfer of the liquid methamphetamine from the Mexico-based semi-truck into the Dare Express semi-truck, which first occurred at a property rented by Gutierrez in Alamo, Texas, and later at the main business location of Dare Express in Edinburg, Texas. The Dare Express semi-truck used throughout 2023 to deliver liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma and Georgia was registered under Narvaez’s name, and both Gutierrez and Narvaez instructed the truck drivers to deliver this liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma and elsewhere.

    At trial, evidence also established that law enforcement seized significant amounts of methamphetamine during the investigation, including:

    • 907 kilograms on March 3, 2021, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma;
    • 92 kilograms on September 6, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
    • 615 kilograms on December 8, 2023, in Wellston, Oklahoma;
    • 42 kilograms on April 1, 2024, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma; and
    • 86 kilograms on April 2, 2024, in Newalla, Oklahoma.

    There was also evidence presented at trial about the DTO’s money laundering activities. A high-ranking member of this DTO in Mexico directed family members in Oklahoma, specifically his brother, Hernandez, and his niece, Muniz, to launder drug proceeds on his behalf. Testimony and other evidence, including court documents, CashApp records, international wire remitter service records, and records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Oklahoma Department of Corrections, also established that this DTO supplied Oklahoma prison gangs with methamphetamine, specifically the Irish Mob Gang, the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, and the Sureños. These gang members or their associates then sent payments for methamphetamine disguised as CashApp payments to Hernandez and Muniz, who then wired the money to close associates of the DTO’s head in Mexico.

    At sentencing, Gutierrez, Azamar, and Narvaez each face up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000.  Following their convictions for money laundering conspiracy, domestic money laundering, and international money laundering, Hernandez and Muniz face up to 20 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000 per charge.

    As part of the overall investigation and prosecution of this DTO, two additional defendants have previously been sentenced and 11 additional codefendants have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.  In total, law enforcement has attributed responsibility to this DTO for bringing approximately 16,000 kilograms of methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico at an estimated street value of $64,000,000.

    In November 2024:

    • EVER ALONSO PANDO, 47, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 96 months in federal prison, and three years of supervised release, for two counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and
    • HECTOR REYES, 43, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

    The remaining defendants have pleaded guilty as follows:

    • ADAN GARCIA MIRANDA, 29, of Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Miranda faces up to 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000,000;
    • JORGE RAUL VEGA GARCIA, 30, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Garcia faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
    • LUIS ALBERTO ROJAS PRECIADO, 28, of Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Preciado faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
    • JOSE ALFREDO EQUIHUA, 39, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Equihua faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
    • EDGAR RODRIGUEZ ONTIVEROS, 32, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Ontiveros faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
    • ADRIAN PEREZ, 39, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record shows that Perez has previous felony convictions that include being a felon in possession of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2022-4831 and using a vehicle to facilitate the intentional discharge of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2003-1656. At sentencing, Perez faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,250,000;
    • PHILLIP RAY HOWARD, 53, of Newalla, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record shows that Howard has previous felony convictions that include possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2005-878. At sentencing, Howard faces up to 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, 15 years in prison for the firearm possession charge, and fines of up to $5,250,000;
    • RAY DAVID LARA, JR., 44, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Perez faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,250,000;
    • HERIBERTO DONAN OCHOA, 33, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Ochoa faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000;
    • BRAULIO PADILLA, 50, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record reflects that Howard has several felony convictions, including for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a child under 12 and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case numbers CF-2010-4880 and CF-2019-155, respectively. At sentencing, Padilla faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,250,000; and
    • MICHAEL J. ESTRADA, 36, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. At sentencing, Estrada faces up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Provides Release Date for its 2025 First Quarter Results and Details of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (“Gran Tierra” or the “Company”) (NYSE American:GTE) (TSX:GTE) (LSE:GTE) announces that the Company will release its 2025 first quarter financial and operating results on Thursday, May 1, 2025, post-market. Gran Tierra will host its first quarter 2025 results conference call on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Gran Tierra’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Our Annual Meeting will be held as a virtual-only stockholder meeting with participation occurring electronically as explained further in the Proxy Statement dated March 18, 2025.

    How to Participate in the Virtual Annual Meeting

    Shareholders can participate electronically at https://web.lumiagm.com/208908912. We recommend that you log in 15 minutes before the Annual Meeting starts. If you are a registered stockholder, to attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares electronically and submit questions during the meeting, you will need the control number included on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card that accompanied your proxy materials. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and wish to attend the meeting, insert your name in the blank space included in the proxy form provided by your broker or other agent and submit such proxy form to your broker or other agent prior to the voting deadline to vote your shares and submit questions during the meeting. In addition, you must also register your appointment (of your broker or other agent) by emailing appointee@odysseytrust.com no later than the voting deadline and provide Odyssey with your name, email, number of shares appointed and name of broker or other agent where shares are held, so that Odyssey may email the appointee their control number. Guests may also view the event at https://web.lumiagm.com/20208908912 by registering as a guest.

    Full details on how to vote, change or revoke a vote, appoint a proxyholder, attend the virtual Annual Meeting, ask questions and other general proxy matters are available in the Proxy Statement available on the Company’s website at https://www.grantierra.com/events/2025-annual-meeting/.

    Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy in advance of the Annual Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting.

    How to Participate in the 2025 First Quarter Conference Call

    Interested parties may register for the 2025 first quarter conference call by clicking on this link. Please note that there is no longer a general dial-in number to participate, and each individual party must register through the provided link. Once parties have registered, they will be provided a unique PIN and call-in details. There is also a new feature that allows parties to elect to be called back through the “Call Me” function on the platform.

    Interested parties can also continue to access the live webcast from their mobile or desktop devices by clicking on this link, which is also available on Gran Tierra’s website at https://www.grantierra.com/investor-relations/presentations-events/. An audio replay of the conference call will be available at the same webcast link two hours following the call and will be available until May 2, 2026.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents the Company files with the SEC (when available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The Company makes available free of charge on its investor relations website copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the SEC.

    Contact Information

    For investor and media inquiries please contact:

    Gary Guidry
    President & Chief Executive Officer

    Ryan Ellson
    Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

    +1-403-265-3221
    info@grantierra.com

    About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

    Gran Tierra Energy Inc. together with its subsidiaries is an independent international energy company currently focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is currently developing its existing portfolio of assets in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador and will continue to pursue additional new growth opportunities that would further strengthen the Company’s portfolio. The Company’s common stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra is available at www.grantierra.com. Except to the extent expressly stated otherwise, information on the Company’s website or accessible from our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into and should not be considered part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221.

    Gran Tierra’s Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filings are available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s Canadian securities regulatory filings are available on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca and UK regulatory filings are available on the National Storage Mechanism website at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Pressley, Markey, McGovern Recount Harrowing Visit with Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil at ICE Facilities in Louisiana

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    At Press Conference, Lawmakers Shared Stories of Medical Neglect, Sleep Deprivation, Inadequate Food and Religious Accommodations, Cold Temperatures, Denial of Personal Necessities, and More

    Video (YouTube)

    BOSTON – Today, at Logan Airport in Boston, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) held a press conference to recount their harrowing visit to Louisiana where they met with Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil at ICE detention centers. The lawmakers made the visit yesterday to ICE facilities in Basile and Jena, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane conditions in retaliation for their protected speech.

    Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and Rep. McGovern were joined by House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02) and Representative Troy Carter (LA-02) on the visit, which also included a meeting with Wendy Brito, an asylum-seeker from El Salvador and New Orleans-area resident who never returned from a regular check-in last month with ICE.

    “Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully held in harrowing conditions at ICE facilities in Louisiana and enduring shameful indignities that no one person should ever have to – and yet they continue to center the dignity and humanity of all people,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “We will never stop fighting for Rümeysa, Mahmoud, and everyone who has been harmed by this cruel and callous White House. We reject Donald Trump’s draconian vision for our country, where dissenting voices are silenced and innocent people are disappeared off the street. He is a dictator, and the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance.”

    “It’s no secret that the detentions of Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are part of an alarming trend by the Trump administration: abduct students and secret them away to remote prisons in jurisdictions where the Administration expects to receive favorable court rulings through its forum shopping. Neither Öztürk nor Khalil has been charged with a crime. When a government imprisons individuals based on their words, denies constitutional due process for political convenience, and cloaks oppression in the language of national security, we must ring the alarm bells loudly and clearly across this country. What the Trump administration is doing is not immigration enforcement – it is authoritarianism,” said Senator Markey

    “What’s happening to Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil is a chilling and dangerous violation of their human rights. They’ve committed no crimes, they’ve been charged with no offenses, and they’ve broken no laws. Let’s not mince words: They are political prisoners—held in detention by a government which seeks to punish them for their views and silence their speech. That is immoral and wrong,” said Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. “Their arbitrary detention and deprivation of due process is a violation not only of their constitutional rights, but also their rights under international human rights law. This starts with Rümeysa and Mahmoud—but it ends with you. Now is the time to speak out before it is too late. Unless we fight back, this administration will continue weaponizing the government to violate the human rights of those who dare to disagree. We cannot and will not accept this as the new normal.”

    In Louisiana, the lawmakers held a media availability outside of the Basile facility to speak about their meetings, renew their calls for their release, demand accountability, and conduct oversight over the ICE facilities they are being held in. Full video of that media availability is available here.

    A full transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks at the Boston press conference, as delivered, is available below and the full video is available here.

    Transcript: Pressley Recounts Harrowing Visit with Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil at ICE Facilities in Louisiana
    Boston Logan Airport
    April 23, 2025

    Thank you all for being here today. Indeed, it was an honor to join my delegation partners, Senator Markey, Congressman McGovern, on this important congressional delegation. 

    It was an honor, and it was also our responsibility. It was essential that we go, not only to conduct oversight, but to bear witness. 

    Yesterday, we visited Louisiana to conduct oversight of two ICE detention facilities in Jena and Basile, where Mahmoud Khalil and my constituent, Rümeysa Öztürk are currently being held. 

    I know Rümeysa has become a symbol of the hurt and harm of the Trump administration, but she is a person. 

    She is a person and a brilliant scholar, a woman who is a committed community member, someone who was making meaningful contributions to public life and academia in Massachusetts. 

    She has asthma, and shamefully, she has not received adequate medical attention that she needs. 

    Rümeysa has not committed any crime. She was abducted, kidnapped in broad daylight -simply for co-authoring an op-ed that this White House didn’t like, one that called for the dignity and humanity of every person to be respected. 

    Detaining her serves no purpose other than to silence dissent, to stoke and instill fear – which is exactly what a dictator does. 

    Similarly, Mahmoud Khalil has not been convicted of any crime. He was simply exercising his right to free speech, something that should be protected and not punished. And now, instead of being home with his wife and their newborn son, he is being unlawfully detained at a facility thousands of miles away from the community he belongs to. 

    This is cruel, it is unjust, and it is unacceptable. 

    We had the chance to meet with Rümeysa and Mahmoud during our visit, to hear directly from them about their experiences and conditions inside these facilities.

    What we saw and heard was harrowing. It was heartbreaking, and it is enraging.

    They are being denied proper medical care. They are being deprived of sleep. They are not being fed nutritious meals. Rümeysa herself shared the story of having to wait three days, despite repeated requests, simply for toilet paper. And you can’t even get an extra blanket at night when you are cold.

    The cruelty is the point. 

    The women that I met are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, artists, teachers, activists. They are humiliated daily, degraded, and denied the basic necessities of any human being. 

    As I said, many of the women there have a history of doing humanitarian work, Rümeysa amongst them. She’s done humanitarian work with refugees, and she told us she was shocked that this sort of facility even existed in the country that she has grown to love – that this could exist in America, the country she loves dearly and has given so much to.

    Mahmoud, who has lived in Syria under Assad, knows exactly what authoritarianism looks like, and offered that that is exactly what we are seeing in this moment. This is authoritarianism in Donald Trump’s America.

    Despite these horrific experiences, what stood out to me the most about each of them was that their first concern – in fact, their first priority – was not to make appeal for their own respective cases and unique and extreme circumstances, but instead, they put their own well-being, safety, and uncertainty of their future to the side to advocate for those that are detained with them. 

    It was the compassion that they felt, the conviction that they walked with. Rümeysa came as someone who is a qualified researcher. She’s been actively listening to and spending time with the women that she is confined with, hearing their stories, and came with copious notes that she had collected. 

    Some of the stories she shared with us were stories of women being ripped away from their babies, women with breast cancer who can’t get the care that they need, pregnant women denied prenatal care. When I asked her if anyone she knew had experienced sexual abuse or assault, she told me she did not have the consent to share. 

    What Rümeysa and Mahmoud are experiencing isn’t an anomaly. There are hundreds of students just like them who had their visas revoked, and there are millions of people being held in similar conditions in facilities across this country. 

    These are private detention centers operated by billion dollar corporations. Like my opposition to private prisons and profiting off of mass incarceration, I vigorously oppose these companies making money on disappearing immigrants. 

    As someone who has visited several detention centers throughout my time in Congress, I can tell you that this visit is not about optics. It is about accountability. It is about transparency, and it is about affirming that no one in America – regardless of background, immigration status, political beliefs, and more – should have their constitutional rights to free speech and due process ripped away. 

    Before we met with Rümeysa, we went to one of the dorms – as the only woman in our delegation – when I entered, there were 15 women in the door clad in orange scrub outfits, and they just fell into my arms. 

    They were desperate and crying and fearful. And they kept asking, they kept saying, ‘I want to talk to you. I want to tell you what’s happening here, but will you protect us when you leave? Who will protect us?’ They were visibly shaking. 

    We went to conduct real-time oversight, we went to bear witness. I feel a responsibility to carry the stories that I heard in my heart and for that to inform my strategy and my advocacy. 

    Yesterday was a physically and emotionally grueling and depleting day, and it has only strengthened each of our collective resolve to fight for Mahmoud, Rümeysa, and all that are there who question if God has forgotten about them, if the world has forgotten about them. We will not. We cannot.

    Today, we’re sending a clear message to Rümeysa, Mahmoud, and everyone who has been harmed or stands to be harmed by this cruel and callous White House that we have not forgotten. We see you, and we are fighting for you every day. 

    And we’re sending a message to Donald Trump, Elon Musk and their Republican co-conspirators that Congress is watching, and we will not allow these abuses of power to go unchecked. 

    I want to thank Ranking Member Thompson and the House Homeland Security Committee for organizing this trip; Representative Troy Carter for hosting us; my friends and brother colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation, Senator Markey and Congressman McGovern, for showing up in solidarity and in strength. 

    This is what it means to conduct real-time congressional oversight. They’re flooding the zone, and so are we. 

    We will leverage every single avenue, tool available to us – we will be exhaustive. 

    This is what it means to conduct real-time oversight, and this is the type of bold activist leadership that this moment demands. 

    We must hold ICE and this hostile, lawless Trump administration accountable. We must protect our democracy and the fundamental rights of everyone who calls America home.

    And we must bring Rümeysa and Mahmoud home now.

    And with that, I’ll bring to the podium my brother colleague, Congressman McGovern, nationally known for his work in human rights.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: BREAKING: Pressley, Colleagues Visit Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, Tour ICE Facilities in Louisiana

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Pressley, Markey, McGovern Join Ranking Member Thompson, Rep. Carter to Conduct Oversight, Demand Accountability

    Watch Media Availability Here

    LOUISIANA – Today, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) visited the ICE detention facilities in Basile and Jena with her colleagues, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained, respectively. Joined by House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02), the Congresswoman’s visit included direct meetings with Ms. Öztürk and Mr. Khalil, two students who have been unlawfully detained by ICE and transported to Louisiana from their homes in retaliation for their protected speech. They also met with Wendy Brito, an asylum-seeker from El Salvador and New Orleans-area resident who never returned from a regular check-in last month with ICE.

    “Rümeysa Öztürk is my constituent, an accomplished scholar, and a valued member of our Massachusetts community. Like Rümeysa, Mahmoud Kahlil has committed no crime and is being punished by Donald Trump simply for exercising his right to free speech. Both are being unlawfully detained in ICE facilities a thousands miles away from home, and denied the dignity, medical care, and due process they deserve,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “We’re in Louisiana to demand answers, shine a light on this damning violation of their constitutional rights, and call for their immediate release. Our destinies are tied, and we will not allow these abuses of power to go unchecked.”

    Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, have pushed for answers and action since Öztürk’s March arrest. Last month, they led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.

    Earlier this month, the lawmakers sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release. Last week, Pressley, Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false. Last month, Congresswoman Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. Earlier in the week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement following reports of ICE activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.

    During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading advocate for a just and humane criminal legal system, and has visited prisons in Texas, California, and Massachusetts to hear from detainees, advocate for them, and conduct oversight on the conditions in which they are being detained. Rep. Pressley’s visit to Louisiana is a continuation of her advocacy for a People’s Justice Guarantee, her comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Guilty of Illegal Re-entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SANTIAGO PUENTE-GARCIA (“PUENTE-GARCIA”), age 25, a native of Mexico, pled guilty on April 11, 2025 for illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

    According to the indictment, PUENTE-GARCIA was previously removed from the United States on February 4, 2022.  He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024 and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter.

    PUENTE-GARCIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk set sentencing for

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Jury Returns Four Indictments

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    WAUSAU MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING FENTANYL AND METHAMPHETAMINE FOR DISTRIBUTION

    Christopher Harter, 49, Wausau, Wisconsin is charged in a two-count indictment with possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine for distribution. The indictment alleges that on March 7, 2025, Harter possessed 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

    If convicted, Harter faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on each count.

    The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the case.

    JACKSON COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING METHAMPHETAMINE FOR DISTRIBUTION

    Elvin Amundson, 39, Sparta, Wisconsin is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine for distribution.  The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on April 14, 2021.

    If convicted, Amundson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life.

    The charge against Amundson is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.

    ROTHSCHILD MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING A FIREARM

    Edward L. Jackson III, 28, Rothschild, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. The indictment alleges that on May 20, 2024, Jackson possessed a loaded Sig Sauer pistol. If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison.

    The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Wausau Police Department, the Wausau Police Department’s Community Resource Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force (CWNTF), with assistance from the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. The CWNTF is comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.

    MEXICAN CITIZEN FOUND IN EAU CLAIRE CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY REENTERING UNITED STATES

    Mario Govea-Monarca, 23, a citizen of Mexico found in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with reentering the United States after having been previously removed. The indictment alleges that on November 29, 2023, Govea-Monarca was found in the Western District of Wisconsin after having previously been removed and without having obtained the express consent of the United States Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

    If convicted, Govea-Monarca faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

    The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.

    All cases involving illegal immigration and firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Sara Jacobs, Michael McCaul Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Global Fragility Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    April 24, 2025

    Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10), Chairman Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Global Fragility Act – a landmark initiative to prevent and minimize violent conflict and promote stability around the world. The legislation saves U.S. taxpayer dollars by proactively addressing the root causes of conflict, rather than waiting and spending more to address the consequences of conflict.

    The Global Fragility Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Prevention and Stabilization Fund (PSF) and the Complex Crises Fund (CCF) – to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and prevent or respond to new or unexpected conflicts – until 2029. It enables the PSF and Economic Support Fund (ESF) to be used for cross-cutting monitoring, evaluation, and learning across diplomatic, development, and security sectors to identify the most effective foreign assistance programs and diplomatic approaches. The legislation also requires an annual senior Global Fragility Act Steering Committee meeting on policy alignment. In 2022, the Biden Administration selected four priority countries and one priority region to apply 10-year strategies pursuant to the Global Fragility Act: Mozambique, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Libya, and Coastal West Africa (Ghana, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea).

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “We should all be united in promoting data-driven, cost-effective ways to reform U.S. foreign policy. Since its inception, the Global Fragility Act has done exactly that – pioneering a new, innovative, and whole-of-government approach to prevent, minimize, and respond to conflict and instability around the world. This initiative saves American lives and taxpayer dollars and prevents us from being drawn into forever wars. I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Global Fragility Act to invest in conflict prevention tools and enable a more stable and secure world.”

    Rep. Michael McCaul said: “As our adversaries around the world become more aggressive, protecting U.S. national security requires intentional work to prevent malign regimes and extremist groups from fostering and exploiting instability in their regions to expand their influence. That’s why I’ve reintroduced the Global Fragility Reauthorization Act with Rep. Sara Jacobs — to ensure the State Department has the long-term tools it needs to prevent conflicts before they erupt, keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Credicorp Ltd.: Credicorp Declares S/40.00 per Share Cash Dividend for Fiscal Year 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Lima, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lima, Peru, April 24, 2025 — Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP | BVL: BAP), the leading financial services holding company in Peru with a diversified presence in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia and Panama, announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of S/40.00 per share for a total of S/3,775,292,680.00 in line with the Company’s Bye-Laws and taking into account the total net income attained in the 2024 financial year of S/5,501,254,379.37.  The cash dividend will be paid out on June 13, 2025, without withholding tax at source, to shareholders of record on May 19, 2025.

    Gianfranco Ferrari, CEO of Credicorp, commented: “This dividend reflects the record results we achieved in 2024, the strength of our diversified business model and its ability to generate sustainable earnings across cycles. We remain committed to our vision of generating the right impact on society, while driving disruption and innovation across our businesses to shape the future of financial services in the region.”

    The cash dividend will be paid in US Dollars using the weighted exchange rate published by the Peruvian Superintendency of Banks, Insurance and Pension Funds (Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP) for transactions at the close of business on June 11, 2025. The US Dollar dividend amount will be rounded up to four decimal places.

    About Credicorp
    Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru, with a diversified business portfolio organized into four primary lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP) and Banco de Crédito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco in Peru and Colombia; Insurance and Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Management and Advisory, through Credicorp Capital and ASB Bank Corp. Credicorp has a presence in Peru, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, and Panama.

    For further information, please contact the IR team:

    investorrelations@credicorpperu.com

    Investor Relations
    Credicorp Ltd.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 168

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL8

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 168
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    400 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Far Southeast New Mexico
    West Texas

    * Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 400 PM until
    1000 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3
    inches in diameter possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

    SUMMARY…Isolated thunderstorms are forecast to develop through the
    late afternoon and early evening. The stronger storms will likely
    become supercellular and pose mainly a threat for large to very
    large hail.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
    statute miles east and west of a line from 65 miles north northwest
    of Big Spring TX to 25 miles west southwest of Dryden TX. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 166…WW 167…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
    31015.

    …Smith

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW8
    WW 168 SEVERE TSTM NM TX 242100Z – 250300Z
    AXIS..70 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    65NNW BGS/BIG SPRING TX/ – 25WSW 6R6/DRYDEN TX/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 60NM E/W /37S LBB – 66SSE FST/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 31015.

    LAT…LON 33080072 29900143 29900376 33080314

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU8.

    Watch 168 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Low (10%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low ( 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (40%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (70%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Chikunga leads SA delegation at Brazil BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, is leading South Africa’s delegation to the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília, Brazil.

    The Ministerial meeting, taking place on Thursday, is one of several high-level engagements under the 2025 BRICS Presidency, led by Brazil, and is themed: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.

    The meeting will bring together Ministers responsible for gender and women’s affairs across BRICS member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to advance multilateral cooperation on women’s empowerment and gender-responsive governance.

    The BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting was first conceptualised during South Africa’s BRICS Presidency in 2023, when South Africa proposed the institutionalisation of a platform for Ministers responsible for women’s affairs.

    This initiative aimed to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment more centrally into BRICS multilateralism. Since then, both Russia in 2024, and Brazil in 2025, have continued the momentum, hosting sessions that advance this collaborative agenda.

    The 2025 Ministerial will focus on three priority areas:
    •    Women, Development and Entrepreneurship,
    •    Digital Governance, Misogyny and Disinformation, and
    •    Women’s Empowerment, Climate Action and Sustainable Development.

    The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities said Chikunga will participate in all three thematic debates scheduled for the Ministerial Meeting, where she will contribute to discussions on women’s economic empowerment, digital governance, and climate resilience.

    “Her participation underscores South Africa’s commitment to ensuring that gender equality is mainstreamed across all areas of governance, policy, and development within the BRICS framework. These themes reflect shared challenges and ambitions across the BRICS countries, particularly in the context of inclusive economic development, digital rights, and sustainability.

    “The meeting offers a strategic space for exchanging policy approaches, aligning efforts, and strengthening collective commitments to gender justice. South Africa’s participation is consistent with its broader commitment to women development, social inclusion, and multilateral solidarity,” the department said in a statement on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: Credicorp Ltd.: Credicorp’s “1Q25 quiet period”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Lima, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lima, PERU, April 24th, 2025 – Credicorp Ltd. (“Credicorp”) (NYSE: BAP | BVL: BAP) announces that in accordance with its corporate disclosure policies and to prevent any leaks of financial results and ensure fairness, the Company will start the quiet period for 1Q25’s earnings release on May 1st. This period will end on the date of the release, May 15th. During the quiet period, the Company will not disclose any financial information, comment on financial results, or respond to related questions.

    About Credicorp

    Credicorp (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, and Panama. Credicorp has a diversified business portfolio organized into four lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Crédito del Peru (“BCP”) and Banco de Crédito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco in Peru and Colombia; Insurance & Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Management & Advisory, through Credicorp Capital, Wealth Management at BCP and ASB Bank Corp.

    For further information, please contact the IR team:

    investorrelations@credicorpperu.com

    Investor Relations
    Credicorp Ltd.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. Schedules First Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. (“NCS” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: NCSM) will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2025 results on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. Central Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time). NCS will issue its first quarter 2025 earnings release the evening prior to the conference call.

    For those participants who wish to ask questions, please dial (800) 715-9871 (U.S. toll-free) or +1 (646) 307-1963 (international) and enter the Conference ID: 7182351. A listen-only option is also available through this link. It is recommended that participants join at least 10 minutes prior to the event start. The replay will be available in the Investors section of the Company’s website shortly after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for approximately seven days.

    NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of highly engineered products and support services that facilitate the optimization of oil and natural gas well construction, well completions and field development strategies. NCS provides products and services primarily to exploration and production companies for use in onshore and offshore wells, predominantly wells that have been drilled with horizontal laterals in both unconventional and conventional oil and natural gas formations. NCS’s products and services are utilized in oil and natural gas basins throughout North America and in selected international markets, including the North Sea, the Middle East, Argentina and China. NCS’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NCSM.” Additional information is available on the website, www.ncsmultistage.com.

    Contact:
    Michael Morrison
    Chief Financial Officer
    +1 281-453-2222
    IR@ncsmultistage.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: South Plains Financial, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUBBOCK, Texas, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Plains Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPFI) (“South Plains” or the “Company”), the parent company of City Bank (“City Bank” or the “Bank”), today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights

    • Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $12.3 million, compared to $16.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $10.9 million for the first quarter of 2024.
    • Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2025 was $0.72, compared to $0.96 for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $0.64 for the first quarter of 2024.
    • Average cost of deposits for the first quarter of 2025 was 219 basis points, compared to 229 basis points for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 241 basis points for the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 3.81% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.75% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 3.56% for the first quarter of 2024.
    • Nonperforming assets to total assets were 0.16% at March 31, 2025, compared to 0.58% at December 31, 2024 and 0.10% at March 31, 2024.
    • Return on average assets for the first quarter of 2025 was 1.16%, compared to 1.53% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 1.04% for the first quarter of 2024.
    • Tangible book value (non-GAAP) per share was $26.05 as of March 31, 2025, compared to $25.40 as of December 31, 2024 and $23.56 as of March 31, 2024.
    • The consolidated total risk-based capital ratio, common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and tier 1 leverage ratio at March 31, 2025 were 17.93%, 13.59%, and 12.04%, respectively.

    Curtis Griffith, South Plains’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We delivered strong first quarter results highlighted by solid deposit growth, healthy margin expansion as our cost of funds continued to improve, and loan growth that was in line with our expectations. Additionally, the credit quality of our loan portfolio continued to strengthen in the quarter which is a testament to our conservative culture and proactive approach to managing credit. While the outlook is uncertain, we believe that we are in an advantageous position relative to our peers and are actively looking to expand in both our metropolitan and rural markets. We have the liquidity, capital, and team to take advantage of opportunities that come our way. While the economy may slow and businesses may reduce their risk appetites, we will be ready to meet the needs of our customers in these uncertain times. We will also continue to add experienced lenders who fit our culture and want to bring their customers to a better, more stable bank. However, we will maintain our conservative credit culture and will never sacrifice credit quality for growth as we work to maintain the strong credit quality of our loan portfolio. While we see many opportunities to continue growing the Bank, we believe our share price does not reflect the value that we are creating. As a result, we spent $8.3 million to repurchase 250,000 shares in the first quarter, leaving approximately $7 million under our previously announced share repurchase program.”

    Results of Operations, Quarter Ended March 31, 2025

    Net Interest Income

    Net interest income was $38.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $38.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $35.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. Net interest margin, calculated on a tax-equivalent basis, was 3.81% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.75% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 3.56% for the first quarter of 2024. The average yield on loans was 6.67% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 6.69% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 6.53% for the first quarter of 2024. The average cost of deposits was 219 basis points for the first quarter of 2025, which is 10 basis points lower than the fourth quarter of 2024 and 22 basis points lower than the first quarter of 2024.

    Interest income was $59.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $61.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $58.7 million for the first quarter of 2024. Interest income decreased $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2025 from the fourth quarter of 2024, which was primarily comprised of a decrease of $692 thousand in loan interest income and a decrease of $408 thousand in interest income on other earning assets. The decline in interest income was due primarily to fewer days in the first quarter as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Interest income increased $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. This increase was primarily due to an increase of average loans of $60.0 million and higher loan interest rates during the period, resulting in growth of $1.6 million in loan interest income.

    Interest expense was $21.4 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $22.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $23.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. Interest expense decreased $1.4 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 and decreased $2.0 million compared to the first quarter of 2024. The $1.4 million decrease was primarily as a result of a 19 basis point decline in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and fewer days in the quarter, partially offset by an increase of $50.0 million in average interest-bearing deposits in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. The $2.0 million decrease was primarily as a result of a 34 basis point decline in the cost of interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by an increase of $83.4 million in average interest-bearing deposits in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the first quarter of 2024.

    Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest income was $10.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $13.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $11.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a decrease of $2.8 million in mortgage banking revenues, mainly as a result of a decrease of $3.0 million in the fair value adjustment of the mortgage servicing rights assets as interest rates that affect the value decreased in the first quarter of 2025. The decrease in noninterest income for the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the first quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a decrease of $1.8 million in mortgage banking activities revenue mainly from a decrease of $1.6 million in the fair value adjustment of the mortgage servicing rights assets as interest rates that affect the value decreased in the first quarter of 2025. This decrease in mortgage banking activities revenue was partially offset by growth in service charges on deposits revenue and bank card services and interchange revenue.

    Noninterest expense was $33.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $29.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $31.9 million for the first quarter of 2024. The $3.1 million increase from the fourth quarter of 2024 was largely the result of an increase of $2.1 million in personnel expenses, primarily from annual salary adjustments, increased health insurance costs as the fourth quarter of 2024 included annual rebates received, and increased annual incentive compensation expense. There were also increases in net occupancy expense, professional service expenses, and the ineffectiveness related to fair value hedges on municipal securities. The increase in noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the first quarter of 2024 was largely the result of an increase of $453 thousand in personnel expenses, largely a result of annual salary adjustments.

    Loan Portfolio and Composition

    Loans held for investment were $3.08 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to $3.06 billion as of December 31, 2024 and $3.01 billion as of March 31, 2024. The increase of $20.8 million, or 2.7% annualized, during the first quarter of 2025 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 occurred primarily as a result of organic loan growth experienced in commercial owner-occupied real estate loans and commercial goods and services loans, partially offset by a seasonal decrease in agricultural production loans. As of March 31, 2025, loans held for investment increased $64.1 million, or 2.1%, from March 31, 2024, primarily attributable to organic loan growth, occurring broadly across the real estate and commercial loan segments, partially offset by decreases in auto loans and other consumer loans.

    Deposits and Borrowings

    Deposits totaled $3.79 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to $3.62 billion as of December 31, 2024 and $3.64 billion as of March 31, 2024. Deposits increased by $171.6 million, or 4.7%, in the first quarter of 2025 from December 31, 2024. Deposits increased by $153.9 million, or 4.2%, at March 31, 2025 as compared to March 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $966.5 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $935.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and $974.2 million as of March 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 25.5% of total deposits as of March 31, 2025. The quarterly change in total deposits was mainly due to a seasonal increase of $70.2 million in public fund deposits and strong organic growth in retail and commercial deposits. The year-over-year increase in total deposits was primarily the result of continued organic growth in retail and commercial deposits.

    Asset Quality

    The Company recorded a provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025 of $420 thousand, compared to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $830 thousand in the first quarter of 2024. The provision during the first quarter of 2025 was largely attributable to net charge-off activity and increased loan balances, partially offset by improved credit quality as noted below in the nonperforming assets to total assets ratio.

    The ratio of allowance for credit losses to loans held for investment was 1.40% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 1.42% as of December 31, 2024 and 1.40% as of March 31, 2024.

    The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.16% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 0.58% as of December 31, 2024 and 0.10% as of March 31, 2024. A $19.0 million credit was placed back on accrual status at the end of the first quarter of 2025, based on sustained payment performance and improved credit structure. This credit was repaid in full subsequent to March 31, 2025. Annualized net charge-offs were 0.07% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 0.11% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 0.13% for the first quarter of 2024.

    Capital

    Book value per share increased to $27.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $26.67 at December 31, 2024. The change was primarily driven by $9.8 million of net income after dividends paid and by an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income of $2.7 million, partially offset by stock repurchases of $8.3 million. The tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP) decreased 28 basis points to 9.64% in the first quarter of 2025, largely due to growth of $173.0 million in tangible assets.

    Conference Call

    South Plains will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2025 financial results today, April 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-407-9716 (international callers please dial 1-201-493-6779) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call and conference materials will be available on the Company’s website at https://www.spfi.bank/news-events/events.

    A replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed on the investor section of the Company’s website as well as by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (international callers please dial 1-412-317-6671). The pin to access the telephone replay is 13752910. The replay will be available until May 8, 2025.

    About South Plains Financial, Inc.

    South Plains is the bank holding company for City Bank, a Texas state-chartered bank headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. City Bank is one of the largest independent banks in West Texas and has additional banking operations in the Dallas, El Paso, Greater Houston, the Permian Basin, and College Station, Texas markets, and the Ruidoso, New Mexico market. South Plains provides a wide range of commercial and consumer financial services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in its market areas. Its principal business activities include commercial and retail banking, along with investment, trust and mortgage services. Please visit https://www.spfi.bank for more information.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Some of the financial measures included in this press release are not measures of financial performance recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP financial measures include Tangible Book Value Per Share, Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets, and Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Income. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide both management and investors a more complete understanding of the Company’s financial position and performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and are not a substitute for any analysis based on GAAP financial measures.

    We classify a financial measure as being a non-GAAP financial measure if that financial measure excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding or including amounts, that are included or excluded, as the case may be, in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time in the United States in our statements of income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows. Not all companies use the same calculation of these measures; therefore, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as presented by other companies.

    A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this press release.

    Available Information

    The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under www.spfi.bank and, more specifically, under the News & Events tab at www.spfi.bank/news-events/press-releases). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company’s web site, in addition to following the Company’s press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

    The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company’s web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect South Plains’ current views with respect to future events and South Plains’ financial performance. Any statements about South Plains’ expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. South Plains cautions that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based largely on South Plains’ expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond South Plains’ control. Factors that could cause such changes include, but are not limited to, the impact on us and our customers of a decline in general economic conditions and any regulatory responses thereto; potential recession in the United States and our market areas; the impacts related to or resulting from uncertainty in the banking industry as a whole; increased competition for deposits in our market areas and related changes in deposit customer behavior; the impact of changes in market interest rates, whether due to a continuation of the elevated interest rate environment or further reductions in interest rates and a resulting decline in net interest income; the lingering inflationary pressures, and the risk of the resurgence of elevated levels of inflation, in the United States and our market areas; the uncertain impacts of ongoing quantitative tightening and current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; increases in unemployment rates in the United States and our market areas; adverse changes in customer spending and savings habits; declines in commercial real estate values and prices; a deterioration of the credit rating for U.S. long-term sovereign debt or uncertainty regarding United States fiscal debt, deficit and budget matters; cyber incidents or other failures, disruptions or breaches of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyber-attacks; severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, geopolitical instability or other external events, including as a result of changes in U.S. presidential administrations or Congress; the impacts of tariffs, sanctions and other trade policies of the United States and its global trading counterparts and the resulting impact on the Company and its customers; competition and market expansion opportunities; changes in non-interest expenditures or in the anticipated benefits of such expenditures; the risks related to the development, implementation, use and management of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learnings; potential costs related to the impacts of climate change; current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions; and changes in applicable laws and regulations. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties to which South Plains’ business and future financial performance are subject is contained in South Plains’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of such documents, and other documents South Plains files or furnishes with the SEC from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements due to additional risks and uncertainties of which South Plains is not currently aware or which it does not currently view as, but in the future may become, material to its business or operating results. Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and South Plains does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, new information, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All forward-looking statements, express or implied, included in the press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

    Contact: Mikella Newsom, Chief Risk Officer and Secretary
      (866) 771-3347
      investors@city.bank

    Source: South Plains Financial, Inc.

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Consolidated Financial Highlights – (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands, except share data)

      As of and for the quarter ended
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
    Selected Income Statement Data:                            
    Interest income $ 59,922     $ 61,324     $ 61,640     $ 59,208     $ 58,727  
    Interest expense   21,395       22,776       24,346       23,320       23,359  
    Net interest income   38,527       38,548       37,294       35,888       35,368  
    Provision for credit losses   420       1,200       495       1,775       830  
    Noninterest income   10,625       13,319       10,635       12,709       11,409  
    Noninterest expense   33,030       29,948       33,128       32,572       31,930  
    Income tax expense   3,408       4,222       3,094       3,116       3,143  
    Net income   12,294       16,497       11,212       11,134       10,874  
    Per Share Data (Common Stock):                            
    Net earnings, basic $ 0.75     $ 1.01     $ 0.68     $ 0.68     $ 0.66  
    Net earnings, diluted   0.72       0.96       0.66       0.66       0.64  
    Cash dividends declared and paid   0.15       0.15       0.14       0.14       0.13  
    Book value   27.33       26.67       27.04       25.45       24.87  
    Tangible book value (non-GAAP)   26.05       25.40       25.75       24.15       23.56  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, basic   16,415,862       16,400,361       16,386,079       16,425,360       16,429,919  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, dilutive   17,065,599       17,161,646       17,056,959       16,932,077       16,938,857  
    Shares outstanding at end of period   16,235,647       16,455,826       16,386,627       16,424,021       16,431,755  
    Selected Period End Balance Sheet Data:                            
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 536,300     $ 359,082     $ 471,167     $ 298,006     $ 371,939  
    Investment securities   571,527       577,240       606,889       591,031       599,869  
    Total loans held for investment   3,075,860       3,055,054       3,037,375       3,094,273       3,011,799  
    Allowance for credit losses   42,968       43,237       42,886       43,173       42,174  
    Total assets   4,405,209       4,232,239       4,337,659       4,220,936       4,218,993  
    Interest-bearing deposits   2,826,055       2,685,366       2,720,880       2,672,948       2,664,397  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   966,464       935,510       998,480       951,565       974,174  
    Total deposits   3,792,519       3,620,876       3,719,360       3,624,513       3,638,571  
    Borrowings   110,400       110,354       110,307       110,261       110,214  
    Total stockholders’ equity   443,743       438,949       443,122       417,985       408,712  
    Summary Performance Ratios:                            
    Return on average assets (annualized)   1.16 %     1.53 %     1.05 %     1.07 %     1.04 %
    Return on average equity (annualized)   11.30 %     14.88 %     10.36 %     10.83 %     10.72 %
    Net interest margin(1)   3.81 %     3.75 %     3.65 %     3.63 %     3.56 %
    Yield on loans   6.67 %     6.69 %     6.68 %     6.60 %     6.53 %
    Cost of interest-bearing deposits   2.93 %     3.12 %     3.36 %     3.33 %     3.27 %
    Efficiency ratio   66.90 %     57.50 %     68.80 %     66.72 %     67.94 %
    Summary Credit Quality Data:                            
    Nonperforming loans $ 6,467     $ 24,023     $ 24,693     $ 23,452     $ 3,380  
    Nonperforming loans to total loans held for investment   0.21 %     0.79 %     0.81 %     0.76 %     0.11 %
    Other real estate owned $ 600     $ 530     $ 973     $ 755     $ 862  
    Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.16 %     0.58 %     0.59 %     0.57 %     0.10 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans held for investment   1.40 %     1.42 %     1.41 %     1.40 %     1.40 %
    Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (annualized)   0.07 %     0.11 %     0.11 %     0.10 %     0.13 %
      As of and for the quarter ended
      March 31
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
    Capital Ratios:                            
    Total stockholders’ equity to total assets   10.07 %     10.37 %     10.22 %     9.90 %     9.69 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)   9.64 %     9.92 %     9.77 %     9.44 %     9.22 %
    Common equity tier 1 to risk-weighted assets   13.59 %     13.53 %     13.25 %     12.61 %     12.67 %
    Tier 1 capital to average assets   12.04 %     12.04 %     11.76 %     11.81 %     11.51 %
    Total capital to risk-weighted assets   17.93 %     17.86 %     17.61 %     16.86 %     17.00 %

    (1)  Net interest margin is calculated as the annual net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, divided by average interest-earning assets.

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Average Balances and Yields – (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025   March 31, 2024
           
      Average
    Balance
      Interest   Yield/Rate   Average
    Balance
      Interest   Yield/Rate
    Assets                                          
    Loans $ 3,074,568     $ 50,577       6.67 %   $ 3,014,537     $ 48,940       6.53 %
    Debt securities – taxable   510,354       4,692       3.73 %     554,081       5,511       4.00 %
    Debt securities – nontaxable   153,229       1,014       2.68 %     156,254       1,024       2.64 %
    Other interest-bearing assets   386,979       3,859       4.04 %     298,969       3,475       4.67 %
                                               
    Total interest-earning assets   4,125,130       60,142       5.91 %     4,023,841       58,950       5.89 %
    Noninterest-earning assets   171,683                     184,293                
                                               
    Total assets $ 4,296,813                   $ 4,208,134                
                                               
    Liabilities & stockholders’ equity                                          
    NOW, Savings, MMDA’s $ 2,302,344       15,511       2.73 %   $ 2,285,981       17,997       3.17 %
    Time deposits   441,895       4,316       3.96 %     374,852       3,666       3.93 %
    Short-term borrowings   3             0.00 %     3             0.00 %
    Notes payable & other long-term borrowings               0.00 %                 0.00 %
    Subordinated debt   63,984       835       5.29 %     63,798       835       5.26 %
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   46,393       733       6.41 %     46,393       861       7.46 %
                                               
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,854,619       21,395       3.04 %     2,771,027       23,359       3.39 %
    Demand deposits   934,775                     958,334                
    Other liabilities   66,073                     70,860                
    Stockholders’ equity   441,346                     407,913                
                                               
    Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity $ 4,296,813                   $ 4,208,134                
                                               
    Net interest income         $ 38,747                   $ 35,591        
    Net interest margin(2)                   3.81 %                     3.56 %

    (1)  Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
    (2)  Net interest margin is calculated as the annualized net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, divided by average interest-earning assets.

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

      As of
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
               
    Assets          
    Cash and due from banks $ 56,006     $ 54,114  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks   480,294       304,968  
    Securities available for sale   571,527       577,240  
    Loans held for sale   13,931       20,542  
    Loans held for investment   3,075,860       3,055,054  
    Less:  Allowance for credit losses   (42,968 )     (43,237 )
    Net loans held for investment   3,032,892       3,011,817  
    Premises and equipment, net   50,873       52,951  
    Goodwill   19,315       19,315  
    Intangible assets   1,569       1,720  
    Mortgage servicing rights   24,906       26,292  
    Other assets   153,896       163,280  
    Total assets $ 4,405,209     $ 4,232,239  
               
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 966,464     $ 935,510  
    Interest-bearing deposits   2,826,055       2,685,366  
    Total deposits   3,792,519       3,620,876  
    Subordinated debt   64,007       63,961  
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   46,393       46,393  
    Other liabilities   58,547       62,060  
    Total liabilities   3,961,466       3,793,290  
    Stockholders’ Equity          
    Common stock   16,236       16,456  
    Additional paid-in capital   89,799       97,287  
    Retained earnings   395,652       385,827  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (57,944 )     (60,621 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   443,743       438,949  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,405,209     $ 4,232,239  

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
    2025
      March 31,
    2024
                   
    Interest income:              
    Loans, including fees $ 50,570     $ 48,932  
    Other   9,352       9,795  
    Total interest income   59,922       58,727  
    Interest expense:              
    Deposits   19,827       21,663  
    Subordinated debt   835       835  
    Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures   733       861  
    Other          
    Total interest expense   21,395       23,359  
    Net interest income   38,527       35,368  
    Provision for credit losses   420       830  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   38,107       34,538  
    Noninterest income:              
    Service charges on deposits   2,141       1,813  
    Income from insurance activities   28       34  
    Mortgage banking activities   2,113       3,945  
    Bank card services and interchange fees   3,379       3,061  
    Other   2,964       2,556  
    Total noninterest income   10,625       11,409  
    Noninterest expense:              
    Salaries and employee benefits   19,441       18,988  
    Net occupancy expense   4,027       3,920  
    Professional services   1,730       1,483  
    Marketing and development   905       754  
    Other   6,927       6,785  
    Total noninterest expense   33,030       31,930  
    Income before income taxes   15,702       14,017  
    Income tax expense   3,408       3,143  
    Net income $ 12,294     $ 10,874  

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Loan Composition
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

      As of
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
                   
    Loans:              
    Commercial Real Estate $ 1,126,800     $ 1,119,063  
    Commercial – Specialized   366,796       388,955  
    Commercial – General   584,705       557,371  
    Consumer:              
    1-4 Family Residential   569,799       566,400  
    Auto Loans   261,629       254,474  
    Other Consumer   64,090       64,936  
    Construction   102,041       103,855  
    Total loans held for investment $ 3,075,860     $ 3,055,054  

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Deposit Composition
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

      As of
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
                   
    Deposits:              
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 966,464     $ 935,510  
    NOW & other transaction accounts   1,302,642       498,718  
    MMDA & other savings   1,082,596       1,741,988  
    Time deposits   440,817       444,660  
    Total deposits $ 3,792,519     $ 3,620,876  

    South Plains Financial, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

      For the quarter ended
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income                                      
    Net income $ 12,294     $ 16,497     $ 11,212     $ 11,134     $ 10,874  
    Income tax expense   3,408       4,222       3,094       3,116       3,143  
    Provision for credit losses   420       1,200       495       1,775       830  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income $ 16,122     $ 21,919     $ 14,801     $ 16,025     $ 14,847  
      As of
      March 31,
    2025
      December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
    Tangible common equity                            
    Total common stockholders’ equity $ 443,743     $ 438,949     $ 443,122     $ 417,985     $ 408,712  
    Less:  goodwill and other intangibles   (20,884 )     (21,035 )     (21,197 )     (21,379 )     (21,562 )
                                 
    Tangible common equity $ 422,859     $ 417,914     $ 421,925     $ 396,606     $ 387,150  
                                 
    Tangible assets                            
    Total assets $ 4,405,209     $ 4,232,239     $ 4,337,659     $ 4,220,936     $ 4,218,993  
    Less:  goodwill and other intangibles   (20,884 )     (21,035 )     (21,197 )     (21,379 )     (21,562 )
                                 
    Tangible assets $ 4,384,325     $ 4,211,204     $ 4,316,462     $ 4,199,557     $ 4,197,431  
                                 
    Shares outstanding   16,235,647       16,455,826       16,386,627       16,424,021       16,431,755  
                                 
    Total stockholders’ equity to total assets   10.07 %     10.37 %     10.22 %     9.90 %     9.69 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets   9.64 %     9.92 %     9.77 %     9.44 %     9.22 %
    Book value per share $ 27.33     $ 26.67     $ 27.04     $ 25.45     $ 24.87  
    Tangible book value per share $ 26.05     $ 25.40     $ 25.75     $ 24.15     $ 23.56  

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