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Category: Machine Learning

  • MIL-OSI: Subsea7 and SLB OneSubsea awarded EPCI contract for bp’s Ginger project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Luxembourg – 29 April 2025 – Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a substantial1 engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract by bp to Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA) for the Ginger project offshore Trinidad and Tobago.

    The Ginger project is a notable project award under the new global framework agreement between bp and Subsea Integration Alliance partners SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7.

    Building on a long-standing successful relationship, this agreement establishes a new way of working that enables system-level optimisation through increased transparency and early engagement. Further, the framework defines a novel commercial model that effectively aligns incentives for accelerated and maximised value creation among all stakeholders involved, throughout the life of joint projects.

    For the Ginger EPCI project, Subsea7 will supply a diver-installed tie-in system, a flexible production flowline, and associated infrastructure. SLB OneSubsea will deliver four standardised vertical monobore subsea trees and tubing hangers, optimised for speed of delivery and installation. It will also deliver the first high-integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS) manifold in the region, which will unlock considerable safety, efficiency and environmental gains. bp’s Ginger development is located off the southeast coast of the island of Trinidad, at water depths of up to 90 metres.

    Project management and engineering activities will begin immediately at Subsea7’s office in Houston, Texas, with offshore operations scheduled for 2026.

    Craig Broussard, Senior Vice President for Subsea7 for Gulf of Mexico said, “This is a significant project for the region, and one which will benefit from decades of collaboration between bp, Subsea7, and SLB OneSubsea. Our combined expertise and efforts are focused on achieving bp’s goal of first gas in 2026.”

    Olivier Blaringhem, CEO of Subsea Integration Alliance said, “This is an exciting and important project for our novel global framework with bp, which expands our EPCI collaboration to Trinidad and Tobago. Through the capability and agility of our partners Subsea7 and SLB OneSubsea, we provide key assets and expertise to create value for the long-term and deliver the best possible total cost of ownership on the Ginger project.”

    (1)   Subsea7 defines a substantial contract as being between $150 million and $300 million.

    *******************************************************************************
    Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industry’s partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.
    Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA) is a strategic global alliance combining the strengths of SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7. Working closely with SIA gives customers unique access to integrated subsea solutions—including field development planning, EPCI contracting models, end-to-end project delivery—and total life cycle solutions.
    Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Børs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

    *******************************************************************************

    Contact for investment community enquiries:
    Katherine Tonks
    Investor Relations Director
    Subsea7
    Tel +44 20 8210 5568
    ir@subsea7.com

    Contact for media enquiries:
    Ashley Shearer
    Communications Manager
    Subsea7
    Tel +1-713-300-6792
    ashley.shearer@subsea7.com

    Moira Duff
    Director of External Communications
    SLB
    Tel: +1 (713) 375-3407
    Email: media@slb.com

    Forward-Looking Statements: This document may contain ‘forward-looking statements’ (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘future’, ‘goal’, ‘intend’, ‘likely’ ‘may’, ‘plan’, ‘project’, ‘seek’, ‘should’, ‘strategy’ ‘will’, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the ‘Risk Management’ section of the Group’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; (xvii) global availability at scale and commercially viability of suitable alternative vessel fuels; and (xviii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This information is inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 29 April 2025 at 19:30 CET.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MAINE’S 207 AREA CODE PROJECTED TO LAST UNTIL 2045, ACCORDING TO NEW NANPA FORECAST

    Source: US State of Maine

    Significant 35-Quarter Extension Highlights Effectiveness of PUC’s Preservation Efforts

    April 29, 2025

    Hallowell, Maine – The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) has released an updated forecast extending the life of Maine’s iconic 207 area code to the first quarter of 2045. This marks a significant 35-quarter extension from its previous forecast, which projected 207 would be exhausted by the second quarter of 2036.

    The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which has long prioritized the preservation of the 207 area code, welcomed the announcement as validation of its ongoing efforts to delay the need for a second area code in the state.

    “The 207 area code is a valuable asset to Maine residents and businesses alike,” said Commission Chair Philip L. Bartlett II. This extension gives us nearly 20 more years before a second area code could be necessary – a welcome milestone that reflects years of proactive work by Commission staff.

    NANPA attributes the revised projection to reduced historical and projected demand for new numbers. The Maine PUC credits its active code conservation strategies, which have included regular engagement with telecommunications carriers to prevent unnecessary release of central office codes the limited blocks of numbers within an area code. Staff have worked with providers to identify alternative numbering solutions, thereby maximizing existing resources and reducing demand for 207 numbers.

    The Commission also points to the pending implementation of rate center consolidation a practice that merges multiple geographic areas for numbering purposes as a contributing factor to the extension.

    Beyond Maine, the North American Numbering Plan as a whole has faced concerns about number exhaustion. However, NANPA now projects the broader system will remain viable until sometime between 2054 and 2061.

    About the Commission The Maine Public Utilities Commission regulates electric, telephone, water and gas utilities to ensure that Maine citizens have access to safe and reliable utility service at rates that are just and reasonable for all ratepayers while also helping achieve reductions in state greenhouse gas emissions. Commission programs include Maine Enhanced 911 Service, gas safety and Dig Safe. Philip L. Bartlett, II serves as Chair, Patrick Scully and Carolyn Gilbert serve as Commissioners.

    Learn more about the Commission at https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/.

    CONTACT: Susan Faloon, Media Liaison CELL: 207-557-3704 EMAIL: susan.faloon@maine.gov WEBSITE: https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release

    Montrouge, 29 April 2025

    Evolution of Crédit Agricole S.A.’s governance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Biographies

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

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

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

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

    Press contacts Crédit Agricole S.A.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool launches landmark 2040 plan to create “framework for a better future”

    Source: City of Liverpool

    A detailed, data-led report looking at how to create a better future for Liverpool’s half a million residents over the next 15 years has been published.

    The Liverpool 2040 Plan, which has been published online, sets out a step-by-step framework to foster greater collaborations across dozens of key organisations to make Liverpool the UK’s leading city of opportunity – for all.

    This strategic vision, documented in a 37-page publication, has been launched with a commitment from city leaders “to work closer together than ever before” on a series of common issues and to influence and guide public sector reform on key areas such as education, employment, housing and health.

    Set out as “a framework for a better future”, the wide-ranging plan has been developed by the Liverpool Strategic Partnership, whose membership has been increased to include more than 20 organisations. Collectively the LSP has a combined workforce of more than 60,000 people and an annual spend of £10bn a year.

    The overall aim of the Liverpool 2040 Plan is to offer greater opportunities to the city’s residents, of all ages and backgrounds, in a united effort to make it a better city to live, learn, work and play in.

    The Liverpool 2040 plan also sets out how city partners will collaborate to improve life-long educational standards whilst addressing deep rooted socio-economic and health inequalities, as well as global challenges such as climate change.

    Work is already on some fronts, with Liverpool last week being awarded Marmot City status for its work in tackling health inequalities and has been appointed the world’s first UN Accelerator City for its work on reduce the carbon footprint in the entertainment industry.

    However, Liverpool, whose population is set to grow by 10% over the coming decade, is a city where a third of residents are classed as economically inactive and where one in five have a disability. And at a neighbourhood level, life expectancy can vary by up to 14 years for residents living just four miles apart.

    Such challenges, set against unprecedented pressures on public finances, has led city leaders to come together in a renewed effort to identify and align common priorities. This approach is underpinned by a commitment to analyse and share intelligence to inform and strengthen joint-working to identify and maximise opportunities presented by new government policies.

    The 2040 timeline also aligns with other key data-rich programmes as identified in the State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 report and the city region goal to achieve New Zero status also by 2040.

    This shared ambition is set around eight key priorities, each to be measured against five specific outcomes, with a clear intent to provide a long-term vision for the type of city the next generation should be inheriting.

    The eight pillars of the 2040 plan are:

    1. The Next Generation – key aim: For Liverpool to be UNICEF Child Friendly City.
    2. Healthy Lives – key aim: To improve life expectancy and reduce health inequalities in poorest communities.
    3. A Fair Transition to Net Zero – key aim: For Liverpool to be a zero-waste city.
    4. Safe, Cohesive and Clean Communities – key aim: To improve safety at neighbourhood level.
    5. Quality Homes – key aim: To work at eliminating homelessness and rough sleeping.
    6. Inclusive Economic Growth – key aim: To develop city-wide innovation and skills strategy.
    7. An Exciting and Distinctive City – key aim: For Liverpool to build on top 5 UK visitor city destination status.
    8. Vibrant Public Services – key aim: To be a leading innovator based on data-led evidence.

    The LSP, overseen by a board of chief executives, chaired by the chief executive of Liverpool City Council, has also been refreshed in response to the Strategic Futures Panel’s recommendations around strengthening the city’s approach to public service reform.

    The LSP has also been devised to enable Liverpool to speak with one voice to national government and its departments. It also provides a shared platform for the city to take advantage of any new government opportunities.

    The Liverpool 2040 Plan has also identified a priority focus on public service reform, with an emphasis on what makes sense for local areas to meet the needs of local people.  This will build on key initiatives including Liverpool City Council’s new neighbourhood model, the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), the Complex Lives project, the North Liverpool Public Service Reform Prototype, and the development of an Office of Public Service Innovation.

    The Liverpool 2040 plan, which has been endorsed by Liverpool City Council’s cabinet, replaces the former City Plan that was published in 2020.

    This previous city plan was in need of a refresh to reflect on the lessons and consequences of Covid-19 pandemic, the commissioner-led intervention to improve Council performance, as well as recent socio-political issues like a new UK government, last summer’s civil unrest. It also needed to respond to wider issues like the global energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as the rise of AI and understanding and identifying the challenges and opportunities it presents.

    Member of the Liverpool Strategic Partnership are:

    • Liverpool City Council
    • University of Liverpool
    • Liverpool John Moores University
    • Liverpool Hope University
    • Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
    • City of Liverpool College
    • Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
    • Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Service
    • Torus
    • The Riverside Group
    • Onward Homes
    • Merseyside Police
    • Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
    • HMPS – Liverpool Prison
    • Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
    • NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership
    • Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust
    • Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
    • Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
    • Department for Work and Pensions, North West

    Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The Liverpool 2040 Plan sets out the beginning of a 15-year journey to shape Liverpool as the UK’s leading city of opportunity – for all.

    “The Liverpool 2040 Plan sets out a clear vision of how to be a better city and sets the foundations to guide the changes needed well into the rest of the 21st century.

    “it’s clear our major organisations need to work much harder and smarter together. For Liverpool to be a better city, we need to do better on a lot of levels – and I’m heartened by the desire and commitment in so many of our partner organisations to do that.

    “This is the city that delivered both the best-ever European Capital of Culture and Eurovision. Through a potent mix of imagination, inspiration and collaboration we saw mass participation on an unprecedented scale, delivering remarkable results with huge economic benefits. Under the biggest spotlight and phenomenal pressure, Liverpool performs. And excels. Like few cities can.

    “But on another level, too many of our residents are not living their best life. Opportunity is not knocking in the way it should in the world of education and employment. The health and wealth for a lot of our residents is below the national average. Much of our housing is poor quality, so many of our children are not benefitting from the best possible start in life. That is unacceptable. That needs to change.

    “This Liverpool 2040 plan provides the best possible platform for us to start that journey, informed by data every step of the way to ensure we all make the right decisions to ensure we create an environment that nurtures and fosters talent and opportunity.

    “We need to fully address the fundamental issues we face – in education, employment, health, housing, transport and employment – and its eight guiding priorities will shape how we respond to the challenges and maximise the opportunities over these next 15 years.

    “I’m deeply encouraged by how many partners right across the public, private and voluntary sector have signed up to a vision of offering greater opportunities than ever before to our residents. We all have a role to play in making Liverpool the best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business – where no-one is left behind.

    “Rest assured myself, my cabinet and this Council will work tirelessly with the Metro Mayor and the city region combined authority to make our case to the UK Government where and when it is needed. The Council cannot make these improvements alone. And not all the solutions are financial – reform and policy changes are just as vital to delivering the changes we need.

    “Lasting change takes time, which is why we have set a 15-year timeline for our vision. Despite this, we are determined that our residents will see immediate and incremental improvements in the here and now, and I am deeply optimistic about the progress we can make together on an ongoing basis.”

    Andrew Lewis, Chair of the Liverpool Strategic Partnership and Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council said: “Public services across the country, and particularly here in Liverpool, are facing unprecedented challenges, including rising demand for services, limited public funding and increasing complexity of needs. 

    “These challenges cannot be met by any one organisation acting alone. So it’s vital to have a strong strategic partnership across Liverpool.  Together we represent the full range of public services for our city, committing to work together on a shared strategy for Liverpool 2040, prioritising our investments, sharing data and evidence, and transforming services together.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smith Statement on Trump’s First 100 Days

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    Today, Rep. Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement as President Trump reaches the end of his first 100 days in his second presidency.

    “The first 100 days of Trump’s second presidency have been marked with illegal firings of federal employees, chaotic tariff policies, unconstitutional deportations without due process, and mindless cuts to essential federal programs.

    “As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump should be bringing the country together to face our current economic and global challenges. Instead, he has used the last 100 days in office to further divide the American people, commit retribution, cause more economic uncertainty, and threaten global stability. From firing nuclear safety employees to cutting cancer research funding, his choices have left Americans less safe.

    “As this Administration continues down this incompetent and unlawful path, it is incredibly important for citizens to remain engaged and involved in their communities. It will be equally important for Congress to stand against his policies and to build a coalition that fights for the working people. We must advocate for a better path forward and provide a reasonable alternative.”

    ###

    BACKGROUND

    • More than 280,000 United States federal civil services layoffs have been announced by the Trump Administration across 27 agencies.
      • 99 percent of USAID employees have been let go, reducing American investment in famine prevention, disease prevention, and global development and humanitarian initiatives.
      • More than 2,400 workers were fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including staff at the Seattle Veterans Affairs office.
      • The Trump Administration fired the employees who help make sure there are affordable, safe child care options across Washington State.
    • The Trump Administration disrupted $430 billion in federal funds from disease research to child care to veterans’ assistance.
      • Additionally, the Administration froze all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding with an executive order. This funding was going to projects to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters.
      • The Trump Administration cut funds to the Head Start program, which provides early child care for more than 15,000 low-income children and their families.
    • President Trump boasted he would end the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine on day one, but both conflicts continue to rage on.
    • The Trump Administration has defied an order from the Supreme Court of the United States ordering that the Administration facilitate the release of a Maryland man from a mega-prison in El Salvador.
    • The Trump Administration faces more than 150 of lawsuits from state and local governments over their illegal firings, removal of promised funds, and illegal deportations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nomad Internet Launches the FWA Exchange Store, Helping Entrepreneurs to Build Their Wireless Empire

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nomad Internet is proud to launch the FWA Exchange Store — the new way to buy, activate, and manage wireless services across the U.S.

    This all-in-one platform is made for digital builders, resellers, and wireless operators who want full control without technical barriers. No license required. No coding skills needed. All that is required is a vision and internet access.

    Unlimited 5G Plans at Fingertips

    Choose from Verizon and T-Mobile nationwide plans:

    • Verizon Unlimited 5G — $75/month
    • T-Mobile Unlimited 5G — $60/month

    Activate, suspend, or modify plans directly from the dashboard.

    Bring Your Own Modem and Get Online Fast

    If the device is already available, just buy a SIM, enter the SIM ID and IMEI, and activate instantly. There is no complex setup and no waiting around.

    Special Launch Offer: Verizon Dragon Modem — Only $99

    The Dragon Modem is built for the FWA Exchange.
    Key Features:

    • Real-time usage tracking
    • Instant on/off toggling
    • Future-ready for geofencing

    Launch price: $99 — inventory is limited.

    The FWA Dashboard: The Ultimate Wireless Control Hub

    The FWA dashboard ties it all together:

    • Activate or suspend services
    • Assign stacks to customers
    • Track data usage, billing, and balances
    • Scale from 1 to 1,000 modems easily

    The FWA Dashboard puts total control at fingertips.

    What’s Coming Next

    Nomad is already building next-gen features:

    • Dual-SIM and antenna-enabled modems
    • Bundle kits with wallet credit
    • API tools and white-label dashboards
    • Community leaderboards and bonuses

    Join the movement, which is already 2,000+ resellers strong, at https://fwaexchange.com and be a part of the future of connectivity.

    The FWA Exchange enhances the Nomad Wholesale Network, helping entrepreneurs across the U.S. launch and grow their own wireless services.

    About Nomad Internet

    Nomad Internet is America’s largest wireless internet provider for rural, remote, and underserved communities. We deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity where traditional providers cannot.

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: Nomad Internet
    Contact Person: Manish Roshan
    Email: manish.roshan@nomadinternet.email
    Website: https://nomadinternet.com
    Phone: +1 281 800 1000

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by the Nomad Internet. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cfa4d6fa-2c6e-4a31-8add-b637fc3b9dad

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Phalanx Launches DeepIQ: New AI-Powered Document Intelligence Feature Empowers Founders with Unmatched Post-Send Insights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Arlington, VA , April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Phalanx, the document intelligence company behind the fast-growing platform SendTurtle, today announced the launch of DeepIQ. DeepIQ is a powerful new feature within SendTurtle that enables startups, founders, and consultants to make better business decisions through higher visibility and analytics on the documents they send. Over 4 million U.S. startups and small teams share sensitive docs daily. However, most teams have no visibility into what happens after they share, losing momentum, missing signals, and wasting time. 

    DeepIQ analytics dashboard

    With DeepIQ, users can track views, opens, and activity on every document sent; see page-by-page heatmaps of viewership and bounces; and identify signals of interest or intent based on engagement. Phalanx DeepIQ uses AI to help small business owners, consultants, and sales teams to track document data after they hit send, including opens and engagement, allowing them to uncover intent in real time. DeepIQ turns file sharing into a smart, data-driven workflow, while consistently being part of the company’s commitment to data security. 

    Phalanx operates at the powerful intersection of  AI, document intelligence, security, and workflow automation to give founders and consultants a critical edge in how they send, track, and close deals. In today’s fast-paced, remote-first world, founders and business owners often rely on shared documents to tell their story, pitch their value, and move deals forward. But without insight into how those documents are being received, follow-up becomes guesswork, and opportunities are missed. Whether it’s an investor pitch deck or a client proposal, knowing who engaged (and how) can shape next steps, unlock better timing, and ultimately close more deals with confidence.

    Phalanx DeepIQ launches at a critical time, as businesses demand smarter, safer, and more actionable ways to manage high-stakes documents. The document analysis market is valued at several billion dollars, with the secure file sharing sector projected to exceed $25 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, the e-signature market is forecasted to surpass $35 billion by 2030, and AI-driven productivity tools are expected to unlock over $100 billion in business efficiency gains.

    “Whether you’re a founder, consultant, or small team, every document you send represents a crucial opportunity,” said Ian Garrett, CEO and co-founder of Phalanx. “DeepIQ transforms file sharing into a real-time feedback loop: giving businesses the engagement intelligence to have the clarity, control, and confidence every time they hit send.”

    The feature rollout is part of Phalanx’s broader evolution from secure file-sharing to a full-scale document management platform – designed specifically for the pace and needs of modern teams. The company aims to address the question professionals have once they hit send, empowering them to make data-driven decisions.

    DeepIQ is now available to all SendTurtle Pro users, with plans starting at an affordable $15/month. Existing Free plan users can upgrade their plan to activate the feature in their dashboard today.

    Document view heatmaps

    About Phalanx

    Phalanx empowers business owners to protect their sensitive data without compromising Founded in 2021 by Ian Garrett and Austin Garrett, Phalanx began as an enterprise cybersecurity platform, helping organizations protect critical data. After working with hundreds of startups and witnessing firsthand how founders struggle with scattered tools and zero visibility after hitting “send,” the team built SendTurtle: a fast, secure, and smart way to share documents. What started as Phalanx ShieldWolf, a powerful data security engine, has evolved into SendTurtle, a document intelligence platform designed for the modern builder. With built-in privacy, engagement insights, and AI-driven recommendations, SendTurtle makes sending high-stakes documents smarter, safer, and stress-free—for founders, consultants, and teams alike.

    Press inquiries

    Phalanx
    https://phalanx.io/
    Vicki Apodaca
    vicki@phalanx.io
    4201 Wilson Blvd, Floor 3, Arlington, VA 22203

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://youtube.com/embed/RUJZlY6TIaI  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bilirakis Shepherds Bipartisan Bill to Protect Victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery through House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

    Washington, DC:  This week, the House passed the TAKE IT DOWN ACT, a bill Congressman Gus Bilirakis has helped shepherd through the legislative process in the House.  This bill would criminalize the publication of non-consensual, sexually exploitative images—including AI-generated deepfakes—and require platforms to remove images within 48 hours of notice.  To see Congressman Bilirakis speaking on the House Floor in support of this important bill, click here.  This bill will also help address a problem that recently occurred in Pasco County.  The Pasco Sheriff’s Office acted quickly to investigate and arrest an elementary school teacher on child pornography charges.  However, during its investigation, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office discovered that the teacher was using yearbook photos of his students to create AI-generated child erotica. While the individual was able to be charged for some of the images, there were many more images in his possession that the police were unable to charge him for. The TAKE IT DOWN Act will help to close this loophole.   The TAKE IT DOWN Act will protect and empower victims of real and deepfake NCII while respecting speech by:

    1. Criminalizing the publication of NCII in interstate commerce. The bill makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly publish NCII on social media and other online platforms. NCII is defined to include realistic, computer-generated pornographic images and videos that depict identifiable, real people. The bill also clarifies that a victim consenting to the creation of an authentic image does not mean that the victim has consented to its publication.
    2. Protecting good faith efforts to assist victims. The bill permits the good faith disclosure of NCII, such as to law enforcement, in narrow cases.
    3. Requiring websites to take down NCII upon notice from the victim. Social media and other websites would be required to have in place procedures to remove NCII, pursuant to a valid request from a victim, within 48 hours. Websites must also make reasonable efforts to remove copies of the images. The FTC is charged with enforcement of this section.
    4. Protecting lawful speech. The bill is narrowly tailored to criminalize knowingly publishing NCII without chilling lawful speech. The bill conforms to current First Amendment jurisprudence by requiring that computer-generated NCII meet a “reasonable person” test for appearing indistinguishable from an authentic image.

    “I am glad we are one step closer to protecting victims of online sexual exploitation. Giving victims rights to flag non-consensual images and requiring social media companies to remove that content quickly is a pivotal and necessary change to the online landscape,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), who serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. “And by ensuring that AI-generated deep-fake content is included in these protections, Congress is showing its commitment to fighting 21st Century harms that are plaguing our children and grandchildren.  I applaud Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Stacey Plaskett (D-VI)  for their tireless work on this issue, as well as our entire Subcommittee for their efforts to ensure final passage in the House.  I encourage my Senate colleagues to expedite passage so it can be signed into law by President Trump.”

    While nearly every state has a law protecting people from non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including 30 states with laws explicitly covering sexual deepfakes, these state laws vary in classification of crime and penalty and have uneven criminal prosecution. Further, victims struggle to have images depicting them removed from websites, increasing the likelihood the images are continuously spread and victims are retraumatized.   In 2022, Congress passed legislation creating a civil cause of action for victims to sue individuals responsible for publishing NCII. However, bringing a civil action can be incredibly impractical. It is time-consuming, expensive, and may force victims to relive trauma. Further exacerbating the problem, it is not always clear who is responsible for publishing the NCII.  The TAKE IT DOWN Act has received widespread support from over 100 organizations, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and tech industry leaders.  Leaders from both large and small social media platforms, dating apps, and tech organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Internet Works, are rallying behind the bipartisan legislation. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, spearheaded a letter with 23 additional groups calling for the swift passage of this bill. The National Fraternal Order of Police has also sent a letter to Senate leadership endorsing the legislation. In November 2024, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, Microsoft, and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging the passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act.

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Microsoft’s Bargaining Delays Leave Video Game Workers Without Union Contracts Two Years Later

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    NATIONWIDE – Video game workers at Microsoft subsidiary ZeniMax Media—represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 2100, 2108, and 6215—are calling out Microsoft for the lack of progress toward a union contract.

    In early 2023, quality assurance testers at ZeniMax formed the first video game studio union at Microsoft, becoming the first group of workers to organize under a labor neutrality agreement between CWA and the company. The workers began contract bargaining negotiations with Microsoft later that year, on April 25.

    Despite early progress, including agreements on artificial intelligence and contractors, talks have stalled as Microsoft has failed to address workers’ concerns about a lack of remote work options and the company’s unilateral decision to replace in-house quality assurance work with outsourced labor without notifying the union.

    “It’s become increasingly clear that although Microsoft tries to position itself as a good-faith employer, there’s another story being told behind the scenes at the bargaining table,” said ZeniMax Workers United-CWA Local 2108 member and Senior QA tester Autumn Mitchell. “We are frustrated. Our union will continue fighting until we secure a first contract, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes—even if that means withholding our labor.”

    ZeniMax Workers United-CWA (ZWU-CWA) union members overwhelmingly voted to call on leadership to authorize a strike earlier this month, and ZWU-CWA members further ramped up the pressure with pickets outside ZeniMax offices in both Maryland and Texas last week.

    “We are approaching the three-year anniversary of CWA’s groundbreaking labor neutrality agreement with Microsoft,” said CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos. “Thousands of workers have freely and fairly chosen union representation with CWA under the agreement. It’s time for Microsoft’s negotiators to make bargaining contracts with these workers a priority so that together we can fully realize the promise of our partnership.”

    ###

    About CODE-CWA

    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: RESEND – Northstrive Biosciences Strengthens IP Portfolio with New US Patent Filings for EL-22 and EL-32 Programs Covering Obesity and Animal Health

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Northstrive Biosciences Inc. (“Northstrive”), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) (the “Company,” “PMGC,” “we,” or “our”), today announced the filing of four novel patent applications for its two candidates EL-22 and EL-32. These patent applications cover the animal market, as well as treating muscle loss in obese patients, both as standalone and combination therapies alongside GLP-1 receptor agonists.

    The Company filed the following four patents today:

    • EL-22 in Animals: Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Encouraging Muscle Growth in Animals (Patent Application No. 19/191,246).
    • EL-32 in Obesity as Monotherapy and Combination with GLP-1: Updated patent filings for Pharmaceutical Composition for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments (Patent Application No. 19/191,209), and Combination Therapy for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists (Patent Application No. 19/191,226).
    • EL-32 in Animals: Animal Feed Additive to Encourage Muscle Growth (Patent Application No. 19/191,258).

    The Company believes these newly filed patent applications support the development of Northstrive’s engineered probiotic platform, designed to advance human obesity care by preserving muscle mass while reducing fat mass, with additional potential applications in animal health.

    “We believe that EL-22 and EL-32 have the potential to treat obesity in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists, while also serving as the foundation to a potential range of animal health products”, said Deniel Mero, Co-Founder of Northstrive. “These patent applications strengthen our IP portfolio as we advance on our mission transform the standard of care for obesity and break into the animal health market.”

    Northstrive’s patent portfolio now includes 8 patent applications and 5 issued patents that provide adequate protection in focus markets, including the USA, Japan, China and Korea.

    Licensed Product /
    Nation    		 Patent Application
    Serial No.    		 Title:
    EL-32 USA US 18/627,462 Pharmaceutical composition for alleviation, treatment, and prevention of sarcopenia containing microorganism transformed with cell surface display vector operably linked with gene encoding myostatin and activin A proteins as active ingredient
    EL-32 Korea 10-2022-0136606 A pharmaceutical composition for alleviation, treatment and prevention of sarcopenia containing a microorganism transformed with a vector expressing myostatin and activin A on the cell surface as an active ingredient
    EL-22 USA US 18/895,501 Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Treating Muscle Loss in Obese Patients
    EL-22 USA US 18/895,519 Combination Therapy of a Fusion Protein of Myo-2 with a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Use in Treating Muscle Loss in Obese Patients
    EL-22 (Animals)
    USA    		 US 19/191,246 Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Encouraging Muscle Growth in Animals
    EL-32 USA US 19/191,209 Pharmaceutical Composition for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments
    EL-32 USA US 19/191,226 Combination Therapy for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists
    EL-32 (Animals) USA 19/191,258 Animal Feed Additive to Encourage Muscle Growth
         
    Patent No. Registration No. Title:
    EL-22 Korea 10-0857861-0000 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof
    EL-22 Korea 10-0872042-0000 Cell Surface Expression Vector of Myostatin and Microorganisms Transformed Thereby
    EL-22 USA US 8470551 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof
    EL-22 Japan US 5634867 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof
    EL-22 China ZL200780101116.2 Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof


    About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.

    Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Northstrive’s lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity’s pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com.

    About PMGC Holdings Inc.

    PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. Currently, our portfolio consists of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Research Inc., and PMGC Capital LLC. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in PMGC’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    IR Contact:
    IR@pmgcholdings.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 2025 first-quarter results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris (France), April 29, 2025

    A SOLID START TO THE YEAR, WITH SUCCESSFUL REFINANCING 
    AND VESSEL CAPACITY AGREEMENT TERMINATED

        Q11
    Revenue2   $301M (+10%)
    Adjusted EBITDA2   $143M (+35%)
    Net Cash Flow   $(20)M (vs $30M)

    Including a $42M interest payment in March 2025 (historically paid in Q2)

    Sophie Zurquiyah, Chief Executive Officer of Viridien:

    “The first quarter of 2025 was marked by two significant milestones for the Group: the termination of the vessel capacity agreement, completing our transition toward an asset-light model, and the successful refinancing of our bonds. The end of the vessel capacity agreement opens a new chapter of enhanced flexibility in our cost base and stronger cash generation, while our bond refinancing reflects the financial market’s confidence in the execution of our strategy and our long-term potential.

    In parallel, our financial results for the first quarter of 2025 confirm the robust performance of our business, with commercial wins, solid profitability, and cash generation fully aligned with our long-term ambitions.

    Assuming moderate fluctuations in the oil market, we expect to achieve our target of approximately $100M in Net Cash Flow generation for the year and to continue our deleveraging journey.”

    Q1 2025 Highlights2

    • Group
      • IFRS Revenue, EBITDA and Net Income of respectively $258 million, $99 million, $(28) million
      • Group revenue increased thanks to sustained momentum in Geoscience and successful Earth Data sales. Sensing & Monitoring comparison base returned to a more normalized level
    • Group Adjusted EBITDA of $143 million, up 35%, benefited from (i) revenue growth at Geoscience, (ii) revenue growth and the end of vessel commitment penalty fees at Earth Data, and (iii) cost reductions at Sensing & Monitoring
    • Cash flow of $22 million before the $42 million bond interest payment in Q1 (historically paid in Q2). Net Cash Flow of $(20) million after interest payment and negative working capital impact
    • Final milestones of our financial roadmap achieved: successful refinancing of our April 2027 $447 million and €578 million notes, replaced with $450 million 10% and €475 million 8.5% senior secured notes due October 2030
    • Net debt at $974 million and liquidity at $257 million
    • Digital, Data and Energy Transition (DDE)
      • Revenue at $214 million, up 16% with growth both at Geoscience (+25%) and Earth Data (+7%)
      • Adjusted EBITDA at $137 million, up 32%
        • Geoscience:
          • Revenue at $110 million (+25%)
          • Solid performance driven by continued adoption of our most advanced Elastic FWI technologies worldwide
          • North America outperforming and sustained interest of MENA clients for high-quality imaging
          • Low Carbon: minerals study in Saudi Arabia and new win for carbon sequestration in the North Sea
          • HPC & Digital: new HPC customers in Materials Science and Image Rendering operating on our platform
        • Earth Data:
          • Revenue at $104 million (+7%)
          • Cash EBITDA at $39 million (+12%)
          • Early results show game-changing imaging at Laconia and environmental permit received for a program in Brazil. Active on multiple reprocessing projects worldwide
          • Low Carbon: CCUS screening package projects funded by industrial emitters in Europe
    • Sensing and Monitoring (SMO)
      • Revenue at $87 million, nearly stable (-2%), with a return to a more normalized comparison base
      • Adjusted EBITDA at $14 million (+37%), driven by cost reduction impact on profitability
        • Sustained activities in Land with strong momentum on nodal systems
        • New Businesses: new infrastructure monitoring contracts signed in North America; pursuing several geotechnical monitoring opportunities in rail and mining sectors worldwide; awarded a new project for our Marlin Ports & Logistics solution in Asia
    • Full-Year 2025 financial outlook
      • In 2025, assuming a stable E&P Capex environment, performance is expected to be driven by:
        • Geoscience: growth supported by industry-leading technology and strong backlog
    • Earth Data: stronger Cash EBITDA KPI following the end of vessel commitment penalty fees
      • Sensing & Monitoring: further savings expected from the restructuring plan
      • New Businesses: growth and first- year positive contribution to Group profitability
    • Financial objective:
      • Net Cash Flow of approximately $100 million, assuming moderate oil market fluctuations
    • Following the successful refinancing completed in Q1, Viridien will continue focusing on cash flow generation and deleveraging
    • Q1 2025 Conference call
      • The press release and presentation will be available on our website www.viridiengroup.com at 5:45 p.m. (CET)
      • An English-language analysts’ conference call is scheduled today at 6:00 p.m. (CET)
      • Participants should register for the call here to receive a dial-in number and access code, or participate via the live webcast here
      • A replay of the conference call will be available the following day for a period of 12 months in audio format on the Company’s website

    The Board of Directors met on April 29, 2025, and closed the consolidated financial statements as of
    March 31, 2025. Please note that the figures and information published in this press release have not been audited nor have they been subject to any limited review by Viridien’s statutory auditors.

    About Viridien:

    Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resources, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,400 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

    Investors contact:

    VP Investor Relations and Corporate Finance
    Alexandre Leroy
    alexandre.leroy@viridiengroup.com
    +33 6 85 18 44 31

    Q1 2025 – Financial Results

    Key Segment P&L figures (1)
    (in millions of $)    		 2024 2025 Var.
    %
    Q1 Q1
    Exchange rate euro/dollar 1.09 1.04 (5%)
    Segment revenue 273 301 10%
    DDE 185 214 16%
    Geoscience 88 110 25%
    Earth Data 97 104 7%
    SMO 89 87 (2%)
    Land 45 51 14%
    Marine 34 25 (26%)
    Beyond the core 11 11 4%
    Segment EBITDAs 105 142 36%
    Adjusted (2)Segment EBITDAS 106 143 35%
    DDE 104 137 32%
    SMO 10 14 37%
    Corporate and other (8) (8) -1%
    Segment operating income 28 65 136%
    Adjusted (2)Segment operating income 29 66 130%
    DDE 35 66 87%
    SMO 2 8 303%
    Corporate and other (9) (9) -1%
    1) Unaudited figures
    2) Adjusted for non-recurring charges and gains    		      
    Other KPI (1)
    (in millions of $)    		 2024 2025 Var.
    %
    Q1 Q1
    Geoscience Backlog 227 329 45%
    Total Capex 58 61 5%
    EDA Library net book value (2) 471 489 4%
    Liquidity 440 257 -42%
    o.w. undrawn RCF 90 110 (3) 22%
    Gross debt (2) 1 316 1 120 -15% 
    o.w. accrued interests 43 2 -96%
    o.w. lease liabilities 108 124  15%
    Net debt (2) 966 974 1%
    1)   Unaudited figures
    2)   Post IFRS15 and 16
    3)   $125M RCF fully undrawn, o/w. $15M ancillary guarantee facility    		      
    Consolidated IFRS Income Statements (1)
    (in millions of $)    		 2024 2025 Var.
    %
    Q1 Q1
    Exchange rate euro/dollar 1.09 1.04 (5%) 
    Revenue 249 258 4%
    EBITDA 80 99 24%
    Operating Income 20 56 185%
    Equity from Investment (0) (0) 2%
    Net cost of financial debt (24) (26) 6%
    Other financial income (loss) 0 (46) –
    Income taxes 2 (13) –
    Net Income / Loss from continuing operations (3) (29) –
    Net Income / Loss from discontinued operations 0 1 –
    Net Income / (Loss) (3) (28) –
    Shareholder’s net income / (loss) (3) (28) –
    Basic Earnings per share in $ (0.42) (3.88) –
    Basic Earnings per share in € (0.38) (3.74) –

    1)   Unaudited figures

    Cash Flow items (1)
    (in millions of $)    		 2024 2025 Var.
    %
    Q1 Q1
    Segment EBITDA 105 142 36%
    Income Tax Paid (3) (4) (26%)
    Change in Working Capital & Provisions (0) (47) –
    Other Cash Items (1) (1) 13%
    Cash provided by Operating Activity 102 91 (9%)
    Total Capex (58) (61) (5%)
    Acquisitions and Proceeds of Assets 0 (1) –
    Cash from Investing Activity (58) (62) (7%)
    Paid Cost of Debt 2 (39) –
    Lease Repayment (12) (10) 17%
    Cash from Financing Activity (10) (49) –
    Discontinued Operations Acquisitions (3) (0) 89%
    Net Cash Flow 30 (20) –
    Financing cash flow (3) (129) –
    Forex and other (4) (6) –
    Net increase/(decrease) in cash 23 (155) –

    1)   Unaudited figures

    CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – March 31, 2025

    Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of operations

        Three months ended March 31,
    (In millions of US$, except per share data) Notes 2025 2024
    Operating revenues   257.5 248.6
    Other income from ordinary activities   0.1 0.1
    Total income from ordinary activities   257.6 248.7
    Cost of operations   (171.0) (192.8)
    Gross profit   86.6 55.9
    Research and development expenses – net   (4.0) (4.9)
    Marketing and selling expenses   (7.7) (8.8)
    General and administrative expenses   (18.1) (21.3)
    Other revenues (expenses) – net 5 (0.3) (1.1)
    Operating income (loss)   56.4 19.8
    Cost of financial debt – gross   (27.4) (27.4)
    Income provided by cash and cash equivalents   1.6 3.1
    Cost of financial debt, net   (25.8) (24.3)
    Other financial income (loss) 6 (46.2) (0.0)
    Income (loss) before incomes taxes and share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method   (15.5) (4.5)
    Income taxes   (12.9) 2.1
    Net income (loss) before share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method   (28.4) (2.4)
    Net income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method   (0.2) (0.2)
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations   (28.6) (2.6)
    Net income (loss) from discontinued operations   0.7 0.0
    Consolidated net income (loss)   (28.0) (2.6)
    Attributable to:      
    Owners of Viridien S.A. $ (27.8) (3.0)
    Non-controlling interests $ (0.2) 0.4
    Net income (loss) per share      
    Basic (a) $ (3.88) (0.42)
    Diluted (a) $ (3.88) (0.42)
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations per share      
    Basic (a) $ (3.97) (0.42)
    Diluted (a) $ (3.97) (0.42)
    Net income (loss) from discontinued operations per share (a)      
    Basic (a) $ 0.09 (0.00)
    Diluted (a) $ 0.09 (0.00)

    (a)   As a result of the July 31, 2024 reverse share split, the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2023 has been adjusted retrospectively. The number of ordinary shares outstanding has been adjusted to reflect the proportionate change in the number of shares

    See the notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

    Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss)

        Three months ended March 31,
    (In millions of US$) Notes 2025 (a) 2024 (a)
    Net income (loss) from statements of operations   (28.0) (2.6)
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges   (0.3) 0.3
    Variation in translation adjustments   9.9 (5.8)
    Net other comprehensive income (loss) to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (1)   9.6 (5.5)
    Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan   (0.5) 0.0
    Net other comprehensive income (loss) not to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (2)   (0.5) 0.0
    Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the period,
    net of taxes (1) + (2)    		   9.1 (5.5)
    Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period   (18.9) (8.1)
    Attributable to:      
    Owners of Viridien S.A.   (18.8) (8.4)
    Non-controlling interests   (0.1) 0.3

    (a) Including other comprehensive income related to discontinued operations which is not material

    Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of financial position

    (In millions of US$) Notes March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024
    ASSETS      
    Cash and cash equivalents   146.6 301,7
    Trade accounts and notes receivable, net   343.7 339,9
    Inventories and work-in-progress, net   162.4 163,3
    Income tax assets   13.5 22,9
    Other current assets, net   78.1 74,0
    Assets held for sale, net   26.4 24,5
    Total current assets   770.7 926,2
    Deferred tax assets   39.5 43,6
    Other non-current assets, net   8.6 8,9
    Investments and other financial assets, net   24.2 25,7
    Investments in companies under the equity method   5.9 1,1
    Property, plant and equipment, net   212.1 220,6
    Intangible assets, net   569.3 535,4
    Goodwill, net   1,086.4 1,082,8
    Total non-current assets   1,946.0 1,918,1
    TOTAL ASSETS   2,716.7 2,844,3
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
    Financial debt – current portion 3 43.8 56,9
    Trade accounts and notes payables   101.3 120,9
    Accrued payroll costs   92.4 84,5
    Income taxes payable   17.8 20,4
    Advance billings to customers   18.1 19,2
    Provisions — current portion   18.8 19,7
    Other current financial liabilities   0.0 0,5
    Other current liabilities   207.7 182,5
    Liabilities associated with non-current assets held for sale   2.2 2,4
    Total current liabilities   502.1 507,0
    Deferred tax liabilities   18.4 18,4
    Provisions — non-current portion   30.9 28,8
    Financial debt – non-current portion 3 1,076.4 1,165,6
    Other non-current financial liabilities   0.0 0,0
    Other non-current liabilities   1.8 1,7
    Total non-current liabilities   1,127.5 1,214,5
    Common stock: 11,214,681 shares authorized and 7,161,465 shares with a €1.00 nominal value outstanding at March 31, 2025   8.7 8,7
    Additional paid-in capital   118.7 118,7
    Retained earnings   1,009.0 1,036,5
    Other Reserves   37.5 55,2
    Treasury shares   (20.1) (20,1)
    Cumulative income and expense recognized directly in equity   (1.4) (1,1)
    Cumulative translation adjustment   (103.3) (113,3)
    Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.   1,049.2 1,084,7
    Non-controlling interests   38.0 38,1
    Total equity   1,087.2 1,122,8
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   2,716.7 2,844,3

    See the notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

    Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of cash flows

        Three months ended March 31,
    (In millions of US$) Notes 2025 2024
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
    Consolidated net income (loss)   (28.0) (2.6)
    Less: Net income (loss) from discontinued operations   (0.7) (0.0)
    Net income (loss) from continuing operations   (28.6) (2.6)
    Depreciation, amortization and impairment   21.2 24.2
    Impairment and amortization of Earth Data Surveys   24.3 39.0
    Depreciation and amortization of Earth Data surveys, capitalized   (4.2) (3.8)
    Variance on provisions   (0.7) 0.3
    Share-based compensation expenses   1.1 0.9
    Net (gain) loss on disposal of fixed and financial assets   0.1 –
    Share of (income) loss in companies recognized under equity method   0.2 0.2
    Other non-cash items   30.9 1.2
    Net cash-flow including net cost of financial debt and income tax   44.3 59.4
    Less: Cost of financial debt   25.8 24.3
    Less: Income tax expense (gain)   12.9 (2.1)
    Net cash-flow excluding net cost of financial debt and income tax   83.0 81.6
    Income tax paid   (4.1) (3.2)
    Net cash-flow before changes in working capital   78.9 78.4
    Changes in working capital   11.6 22.3
    – change in trade accounts and notes receivable   24.9 33.6
    – change in inventories and work-in-progress   6.3 0.2
    – change in other current assets   (0.2) (2.1)
    – change in trade accounts and notes payable   (19.8) 15.4
    – change in other current liabilities   0.0 (24.8)
    Net cash-flow from operating activities   90.5 100.7
           
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
    Total capital expenditures (tangible and intangible assets) net of variation of fixed assets suppliers   (61.2) (58.2)
    Proceeds from disposals of tangible and intangible assets   0.0 0.5
    Dividends received from investments in companies under the equity method   – 0.2
    Total net proceeds from financial assets   – –
    Variation in other non-current financial assets   2.3 (3.3)
    Net cash-flow from investing activities   (58.9) (60.8)
        Three months ended March 31,
    (In millions of US$) Notes 2025 2024
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
    Repayment of long-term debt   (1,074.2) (0.2)
    Total issuance of long-term debt   964.2 –
    Call premium   (21.9) –
    Refinancing transaction costs paid   (11.7) –
    Lease repayments   (9.8) (11.8)
    Financial expenses paid   (38.8) 2.0
    Dividends paid and share capital reimbursements:      
    — to owners of Viridien   – –
    — to non-controlling interests of integrated companies   – –
    Net cash-flow from financing activities   (192.2) (10.0)
           
    Effects of exchange rates on cash   6.0 (4.1)
    Net cash flows incurred by discontinued operations   (0.3) (2.9)
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (155.0) 22.9
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   301.7 327.0
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   146.6 349.9

    See the notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

    Unaudited Interim Consolidated statements of changes in equity

    Amounts in millions of
    US$, except share data    		 Number of Shares issued Share capital Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Other reserves Treasury shares Income and expense recognized directly in equity Cumulative translation adjustment Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A. Non-controlling interests Total equity
    Balance at January 1, 2024 7,136,763 8.7 118.7 980.4 27.3 (20.1) (1.4) (90.8) 1,022.8 41.5 1,064.3
    Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)       0.0         0.0   0.0
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)             0.3   0.3   0.3
    Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)               (5.7) (5.7) (0.1) (5.8)
    Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3) – – – 0.0 – – 0.3 (5.7) (5.4) (0.1) (5.5)
    Net income (4)       (3.0)         (3.0) 0.4 (2.6)
    Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4) – – – (3.0) – – 0.3 (5.7) (8.4) 0.3 (8.1)
    Exercise of warrants                      
    Dividends                 –   –
    Cost of share-based payment       0.8         0.8   0.8
    Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company         9.7       9.7   9.8
    Balance at March 31, 2024 7,136,763(a) 8.7 118.7 978.2 37.0 (20.1) (1.1) (96.5) 1,024.9 41.8 1,066.7
    Amounts in millions of
    US$, except share data    		 Number of Shares issued Share capital Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Other reserves Treasury shares Income and expense recognized directly in equity Cumulative translation adjustment Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A. Non-controlling interests Total equity
    Balance at January 1, 2025 7,161,465(b) 8.7 118.7 1,036.5 55.2 (20.1) (1.1) (113.3) 1,084.7 38.1 1,122.8
    Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)       (0.5)         (0.5)   (0.5)
    Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)             (0.3)   (0.3)   (0.3)
    Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)               9.9 9.9 0.0 9.9
    Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)       (0.5) – – (0.3) 9.9 9.0 0.0 9.1
    Net income (loss) (4)       (27.8)         (27.8) (0.2) (28.0)
    Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)       (28.4)     (0.3) 9.9 (18.8) (0.1) (18.9)
    Dividends                 – – –
    Cost of share-based payment       0.7         0.7   0.7
    Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company         (17.7)       (17.7)   (17.7)
    Changes in consolidation scope and other       0.2         0.2   0.2
    Balance at March 31, 2025 7,161,465 8.7 118.7 1,009.0 37.5 (20.1) (1.4) (103.3) 1,049.2 38.0 1,087.2

    (a)   Pro forma following Reverse Share Split
    (b)   Reverse Share Split: Pursuant to a delegation from the Combined General Meeting of shareholders of May 15, 2024, and a sub-delegation from the Board of Directors held on the same day, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has decided to implement a reverse share split on the basis of 1 new share of €1.00 nominal value for 100 old shares of €0.01 nominal value

    1All variations refer to the same period last year
    2Unless otherwise stated, all figures and comments are referring to “Segment” (i.e. pre-IFRS 15), as defined in the 2024 Universal Registration Document’s glossary, under section 8.7

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ethical Web AI (EWA) announces ground-breaking Software partnership with AWS and full AWS Marketplace Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ethical Web AI (d/b/a Bubblr Inc.) (OTCQB: BBLR), a world-leading innovator in Generative AI security solutions, today announced it had become a validated partner with the world’s leading cloud platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS), making its enterprise-grade Generative AI Security solution (AI Vault) available on AWS Marketplace.

    This is a highly significant milestone for EWA and validation of its innovative approach to enterprise software development. This collaboration brings scalable, real-time protection and governance for generative AI applications/ChatGPT directly to enterprises worldwide. Through integration with AWS Marketplace, EWA can leverage all of its expertise in scalable cloud-based deployment while offering its customers a quick and seamless method of procurement.

    With the rapid adoption of generative AI tools by both SMEs and Fortune 500 companies, organisations face a growing need to secure AI integrations, ensure data integrity and enforce compliance at scale. AI Vault offers a simple, flexible, and robust solution that allows the client to fully unlock ChatGPT’s potential to drive productivity gain whilst safeguarding against the threat of data leakage and reputational damage through the misuse of confidential company info.

    EWA has developed a fully patented solution that puts the client in control of how it manages and controls the use of ChatGPT across the enterprise. Its unique solution allows the client to define key sensitive terms that can redacted from prompts augmented by proprietary contextual parameters/criteria. This ensures that all potentially damaging/proprietary data is prevented from augmenting the public LLMs/. The solution sits within the client infrastructure/intranet, with all client-identifying data fully anonymised. Sophisticated reporting allows the client to monitor precisely how the generative AI app is being used within the organisation. AI Vault has been optimised to run solely on AWS cloud infrastructure.

    “Our Validated AWS Partner Status combined with the seamless Marketplace integration is a huge step forward for EWA and in democratising secure and responsible AI adoption at scale,” said Tom Symonds, CEO of Ethical Web. “We’re very excited to offer our customers the best in-breed AWS cloud solution and a seamless path to securing their generative AI initiatives without compromising innovation. Without robust oversight, these benefits can be overshadowed by risks to data integrity, brand reputation, and compliance.”

    Key Benefits of AI Vault on AWS Marketplace:

    • Secure ChatGPT: Real-time protection against sensitive data accidentally being shared, misuse by employees, and blocks either us as suppliers or Open AI from getting any visibility of any sensitive data or any personal data
    • End-to-end governance: Audit logging, usage visibility, and policy enforcement across teams and applications. The customer has complete control of who has access to Gen AI with complete visibility of what it is being used for.
    • Seamless AWS Integration: Using the client’s existing cloud infrastructure
    • Scalable by Design: Suitable for startups and Fortune 500s alike, with simple deployment

    Accelerating Time to Market for SMEs with AWS Marketplace

    For SMEs looking to integrate AI into their operations quickly, AWS Marketplace provides a frictionless procurement and deployment experience:

    • Fast Onboarding: Get started in minutes with preconfigured templates and integrations.
    • Flexible Billing: Consolidated billing through AWS—no News Vendors or contracts needed.
    • No Infrastructure Headaches: Deploy within your existing AWS environment without a complex setup.
    • Enterprise-Grade from Day One: Access the same security and compliance features used by global enterprises—without enterprise-level overhead.
    • Scalability as You Grow: Easily scale usage and security policies as your AI footprint expands.

    About Ethical Web AI
    Ethical Web AI is an AI-based cybersecurity technology company currently commercializing its enterprise AI Vault™ solution. Built upon its powerful IP and patent estate, it is the first in a planned suite of SaaS products to champion a private, safe, and high-value AI experience.

    AI Vault initially targets the global enterprise marketplace with innovative solutions that protect businesses from advanced threats.

    Media and investor contact – tom.symonds@ethicalweb.ai

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management. They are subject to several uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Company’s current plans and expectations, future operations, and financial condition. The Company reserves the right to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, future events or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM reports first quarter 2025 results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    April 29, 2025, 6 p.m. CET

    Solid start of the year, Q1 sales supported by continued AI-related strength

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today reports its Q1 2025 results (unaudited).

    Financial highlights

    € million Q1 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025
    New orders 697.9 731.4 834.2
    yoy change % at constant currencies 10% 8% 14%
           
    Revenue 639.0 809.0 839.2
    yoy change % at constant currencies (8%) 27% 26%
           
    Gross profit 337.8 407.2 447.8
    Gross profit margin % 52.9 % 50.3 % 53.4 %
           
    Operating result 187.1 222.3 266.2
    Operating result margin % 29.3  % 27.5  % 31.7  %
           
    Adjusted operating result 1 191.8 227.0 271.0
    Adjusted operating result margin %1 30.0  % 28.1  % 32.3  %
           
    Net earnings (losses) 173.1 225.8 (28.9)
    Adjusted net earnings  1 178.9 231.5 191.9

    1 Adjusted figures are non-IFRS performance measures.  Refer to Annex 3 for a reconciliation of non-IFRS performance measures.

    • New orders of €834 million in Q1 2025 increased by 14% over the same period last year at constant currency (increased by 20% as reported), supported by strong GAA 2nm orders, and a relatively solid contribution from the Chinese market in the quarter.
    • Revenue of €839 million increased by 26% at constant currencies (increased by 31% as reported) from Q1 of last year, above the midpoint of the guidance (€810-850 million).
    • Gross profit margin increased to 53.4%, up from both Q1 of last year (52.9%) and up from prior quarter (50.3%). The increase compared to prior quarter was driven by a favorable product and customer mix.
    • Adjusted operating result margin of 32.3% is an improvement of 2.3% points compared to the same period last year, and an increase by 4.2% points compared to the previous quarter. This was mainly due to higher gross profit margin and moderated operating expenses (with year-on-year SG&A reducing from 11.4% to 9.1% as a percentage of revenue).
    • Our reported net results included an impairment of €215 million from our stake in ASMPT, triggered by the reduced market valuation in the recent period. There is no cash impact. Following the impairment, and in line with our accounting policy, the changes in the market value of ASMPT will be included in our quarterly net results in case of further decline or until the impairment charge has been reversed.

    Comment

    “ASM continued to deliver strong results in the first quarter of 2025. Sales increased by 26% at constant currencies, to €839 million, which was above the midpoint of our €810-850 million guidance,” said Hichem M’Saad, CEO of ASM. “The year-on-year increase was largely driven by robust sales in the leading-edge logic/foundry segment as leading customers continued moving towards high-volume manufacturing of the 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) node.

    Market conditions continued to be mixed in the first quarter. Demand in the AI-related segments, including leading-edge logic/foundry and DRAM HBM memory, remained strong, while most of the other market segments remained sluggish. Bookings increased to €834 million in Q1 2025, up 14% year-on-year at constant currencies. Strong GAA orders, healthy demand from memory customers, especially for HBM-related DRAM applications, and solid demand from Chinese customers mainly contributed to the solid bookings. The cash position increased to a strong level of slightly more than €1.1 billion on the back of robust free cash flow of €264 million.

    The gross margin increased to a high level of 53.4%, largely driven by product and customer mix. The gross margin also benefited from ongoing cost reduction programs. For the full year 2025, we now expect the gross margin to be in the upper half of the target range of 46%-50%. This excludes any potential direct impact from tariffs, which at this point is difficult to predict. We have prepared various scenarios to mitigate potential financial impact, leveraging our global supply chain capabilities and diversified manufacturing operations in combination with passing on impact into the value chain.”

    Outlook

    Global trade tensions and recent announcements of reciprocal tariffs have increased macroeconomic uncertainty. It is too early to tell what the impact on GDP and the semiconductor market will be. So far, our discussions with key customers have not materially changed. 

    We expect our sales in 2025 to grow by a double-digit percentage range of a 10-20% year on year, at constant currencies, and ahead of the WFE market, which is forecast to grow slightly this year. While we have reasonable visibility that we will achieve the lower end of the range, achieving the higher end will require some upside opportunities to materialize which at this point is still uncertain. In view of the recently increased exchange rate volatility and ASM’s significant US$ revenue exposure (>80% of sales) we decided to change our guidance from absolute Euro amounts to growth rates at constant currencies. 

    For Q2 2025 we expect sales to increase compared to Q1 by a range of +1% to +6% at constant currencies. This implies continued double-digit year-on-year sales growth in Q2 2025 at constant currencies.

    We continue to be confident that our gate-all-around sales will increase strongly in 2025. Supported by robust HBM-related DRAM demand, we expect healthy memory sales in full year 2025, albeit lower than the very strong level in 2024. The power/analog/wafer market is still in a cyclical downturn and the outlook for this segment has further weakened for the rest of the year. 

    Underpinned by strong R&D engagements, we believe ASM remains well positioned in the coming years to benefit from increasing ALD and Epi intensity with the transition to a tighter and more complex device architecture in logic with GAA and in DRAM with 4F2.

    Annual General Meeting

    On March 27, 2025, ASM published the agenda, convocation, and other materials for the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held on May 12, 2025, in Almere, which as also earlier announced, includes, amongst other things, resolutions on:

    • the annual accounts of 2024;
    • the remuneration report 2024;
    • the proposal to declare a regular dividend of €3.00 (three euros) per common share;
    • the reappointment of Mr. Verhagen (for two years) as member of the Management Board;
    • the reappointment of Ms. Van der Meer Mohr (for four years), Mr. Sanchez (for four years) and Ms. Kahle-Galonske (for one year) as members of the Supervisory Board;
    • the appointment of EY Accountants B.V. as auditor to audit the annual accounts for the financial year 2026 and as assurance provider of sustainability information for the financial years 2025 and 2026.

    Please refer to the AGM documents available on our website for more detailed information.

    Share buyback program

    In our Q4 press release, ASM announced that the Management Board has authorized a new share repurchase program of up to €150 million of the company’s common shares for the 2025/2026 period. As announced in a separate press release today, the share buyback program will start on April 30, 2025.

    About ASM

    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, changes in import/export regulations, pandemics, epidemics and other risks indicated in the company’s reports and financial statements. The company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.

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

    Quarterly earnings conference call details

    ASM will host the quarterly earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CET. Conference-call participants should pre-register using this link to receive the dial-in numbers, passcode and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call. 
    A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at this link.

    Contacts  
    Investor and media relations Investor relations
    Victor Bareño Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8500 T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salinas’ Bipartisan Bill to Promote Scientific Research Standards Passes Committee

    Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR) announced that her bipartisan bill with Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) passed out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Introduced earlier this week, the Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act would develop technical standards and best practices for nucleic acid screening.

    “From treating and diagnosing diseases to developing new vaccines, nucleic acids are used for a variety of important purposes,” said Rep. Salinas. “My legislation would help standardize screening processes and protocols for universities, companies, and researchers who work with nucleic acids. I’m proud to see this bill pass out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee with strong bipartisan support, and I’ll continue advocating for commonsense solutions that will ensure America remains a global leader in scientific research and innovation.” 

    Biotechnology companies routinely produce custom-ordered nucleic acids for university, industry, nonprofit, and government researchers. Although industry has worked to develop international standards related to screening molecules of concern, U.S.-led efforts are still required to further increase adoption of sufficiently rigorous protocols.

    The Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to carry out programs to support the development of technical standards and best practices related to nucleic acid screening. It would codify nucleic acid screening activities outlined in former President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

    The bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Young Push DOJ, FTC to Use Every Available Resource to Protect Americans’ Data Amid 23andMe Bankruptcy Proceedings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to leadership at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressing the need for the agencies to exercise all available authorities to protect the sensitive genomic information of Americans, including in the bankruptcy proceedings of 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company that holds the DNA and sensitive information of millions of individuals.

    The senators highlighted the attempts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other foreign adversaries to collect this type of genomic data from Americans and the various ways in which the PRC has used sensitive biometric data for surveillance efforts.

    “As the Chinese government has realized, genomic data is incredibly valuable. Biological data is critical to biomedical discovery, particularly when, as here, it contains substantial amounts of personal genomic data. It can be used to create, design, and optimize everything from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to optimizing AI models for medical applications,” the senators wrote. “The PRC also has demonstrated a sustained effort to leverage genomic and other biometric data for extensive surveillance; accessing this data – either directly or indirectly – could further enable PRC transnational surveillance, including posing counter-intelligence threats to the United States. In addition, genomic data can be used to create dual-use technologies that, on the one hand, could help create vaccines for diseases, but on the other hand, can be weaponized by our adversaries to for malign intent.”

    While applauding the recent actions by the Justice Department in current proceedings, the senators underscored the need to take more steps to ensure that bad actors are prevented from acquiring, legally or illegally, Americans’ genomic information. 

    The senators continued, “In addition to the Department’s recent filing, and any anticipated CFIUS review, the Department, in conjunction with the Commission and other U.S. agencies as appropriate, must closely monitor the sale or transfer of, or access to, 23andMe’s genomic databank, regardless of whether that activity is in the ordinary course of business, for compliance with all applicable statutes related to national security and consumer protection.”

    This is the latest effort by Sen. Warner to safeguard Americans’ data and sensitive information from adversaries. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Sen. Warner has worked to ensure the U.S. is prepared to counter threats posed by foreign adversaries including the PRC across various sectors. Sen. Warner spearheaded the push to force CCP-based Bytedance to divest from TikTok in order to allow the app to continue operations in the United States. Last year, Sen. Warner introduced the Countering CCP Drones and Supporting Drones for Law Enforcement Act, legislation to cut off dangerous CCP drone companies from the U.S. telecommunication infrastructure. Sen. Warner also introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to improve information sharing between private companies and the Intelligence Community in order to mitigate the threat that foreign adversaries including the CCP pose to United States companies in foreign jurisdictions on projects relating to energy generation and storage, including in the critical minerals industry, and earlier this year, Sen. Warner introduced legislation aimed at shoring up America’s response to financial threats stemming from the PRC.

    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

    Dear Attorney General Bondi and Chairman Ferguson:

    We write to urge the Department of Justice (“Department”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) to exercise the full scope of their legal and statutory authorities in 23andMe Holding Co. (“23andMe”)’s bankruptcy proceeding. We commend the Department on its April 22, 2025 filing in the 23andMe bankruptcy proceeding, recognizing that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) should review this transaction in light of the substantial national security concerns involved. However, additional action from agencies are necessary in order to prevent adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), from acquiring millions of Americans’ genomic data.

    Chinese authorities have already collected genomic data on millions of their own citizens, and continue to actively target foreign companies, including in the U.S., for acquisition or investment, as well for theft, in order to obtain foreign individuals’ genomic data, creating serious implications for national security, public health, economic security, and Americans’ privacy. As the Chinese government has realized, genomic data is incredibly valuable. Biological data is critical to biomedical discovery, particularly when, as here, it contains substantial amounts of personal genomic data. It can be used to create, design, and optimize everything from biopharmaceuticals and medical devices to optimizing AI models for medical applications. The PRC also has demonstrated a sustained effort to leverage genomic and other biometric data for extensive surveillance; accessing this data – either directly or indirectly – could further enable PRC transnational surveillance, including posing counter-intelligence threats to the United States. In addition, genomic data can be used to create dual-use technologies that, on the one hand, could help create vaccines for diseases, but on the other hand, can be weaponized by our adversaries to for malign intent.

    In order to prevent China from weaponizing this data, or outcompeting the U.S. economically, the U.S. must urgently prioritize the protection of biological and genomic data, particularly of Americans, starting with that held by 23andMe.

    As the Department notes in its recent filing, its Data Security Program must be better utilized to ensure the protection, and prevent the acquisition, of Americans’ sensitive genomic data. In addition to the Department’s recent filing, and any anticipated CFIUS review, the Department, in conjunction with the Commission and other U.S. agencies as appropriate, must closely monitor the sale or transfer of, or access to, 23andMe’s genomic databank, regardless of whether that activity is in the ordinary course of business, for compliance with all applicable statutes related to national security and consumer protection. Chairman Ferguson’s letter to the Office of the U.S. Trustee lays out a clear rationale for robust oversight by the Justice Department over the legal obligations and protections that 23andMe owes its customers (“users”). 23andMe’s users also should have the ability to remove their genetic data from acquisition by a foreign government or entities under the control or influence of a foreign government, including data associated with other personally-identifiable information and any other data generated by 23andMe that uses genetic data in the aggregate.

    23andMe’s users provided their sensitive, personal genetic data to a privately-owned U.S. company, potentially without fully understanding the implications of this data falling into the hands of adversaries, including cybercriminals and foreign nation-states. Further, the genetic information held in 23andMe’s databank has implications for relatives of 23andMe users who share common genetic markers, creating additional privacy concerns for such individuals who had no opportunity to consent to how 23andMe’s data could be used in ways that affect them.

    Outside of this proceeding, we urge the Department, the Commission, and other relevant federal entities to closely monitor future transactions, and use all levers as appropriate, where foreign entities, particularly those under the control or influence of foreign nations of concern, are attempting to purchase – through bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise-Americans’ sensitive biologic and genomic data. To this end, we encourage the DOJ to evaluate any appropriate updates to its recently-released Final Rule,6 implementing Executive Order 14117 on “Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern”, to address any novel risks posed by potential acquisition (and resale) of 23andMe data by covered vendors.

    In addition, the Department and the Commission must work with lead agencies to support the cybersecurity of genomic data. In March 2022, 23andMe suffered a security breach that compromised the genetic information of millions of users, underscoring concerns around genomic data privacy and misuse.

    In short, it is paramount to our national and economic security that there is a whole-of­ government approach to protecting Americans’ sensitive genomic data, including by preventing malign entities from gaining access to such data through commercial acquisition, cyberattacks, or other illicit means. We remain committed to working with the Department, the Commission, and the Administration broadly on this issue.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Castro Introduces Resolution of Inquiry Compelling the Administration to Release Records to Justify Deportation of Individuals

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    April 29, 2025

    The Resolution of Inquiry (ROI) comes amidst the deportations of individuals without due process to El Salvadoran gulags

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (ROI), a procedural tool that directs the Trump Administration to provide Congress with all records – created on or after January 20th, 2025 – relating to the removal of United States individuals to El Salvador. The President is requested, and the Secretary of State is directed, to transmit these records, including agreements, funding and legal justifications, to the U.S. House of Representatives no later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution.

    “The Trump Administration has provided no legal and legitimate justification for the unfounded deportation of individuals to El Salvador’s most brutal gulags. Kilmar Abrego Garcia and others are rotting in the bowels of these barbaric prisons despite irrefutable court orders – from the Supreme Court down – that have instructed the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia and other individuals. Now, they are setting in motion the deportation of U.S. citizens without cause.

    “Every government official who serves our country makes a commitment to uphold the rule of law. Donald Trump and his Administration have disgraced our Constitution – slashing due process and every legal tenet that holds our democracy together. Each day they go unchecked is another day our democracy and our rights are assaulted.

    “Any government official propagating this disaster is breaking the law. I am demanding that the President, the Secretary of State, and other officials involved transmit all records – from agreements made with the Government of El Salvador, to funding provided by the United States, to salient documents and communications – that justify these unconstitutional actions. We will not stop until the Administration is held accountable and Mr. Abrego Garcia and others are brought home.”

    Background:

    A resolution of inquiry (ROI) is a simple resolution that makes a direct request or demand of the President or the head of an executive department to furnish the House with specific information and documentation in the Administration’s possession to justify any action taken by the Administration.

    Congressman Castro’s ROI demands that the President transmit to the U.S. House of Representatives no later than 14 days after the adoption of this resolution, copies of all:

    • Documents, charts, or tables, including notes from meetings, audio recordings, all email and telephone records, correspondence, and AI large language model conversation transcripts related to the deportation of individuals to El Salvador;
    • Agreements or arrangements made with the Government of El Salvador regarding the removal of individuals from the United States to El Salvador and the detention of those individuals by the Government of El Salvador, including on behalf of the United States;
    • Funding provided by the United States to the Government of El Salvador to support the detention of individuals;
    • And legal justification for such agreements.
    A PDF of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 100 DAYS OF INVESTMENT: $5+ Trillion in New Investment Fuels America’s Future

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump has secured over $5 trillion in new U.S.-based investments in his first 100 days, which will create more than 451,000 new jobs as he sets the stage for a new era of American prosperity. From advanced manufacturing to cutting-edge artificial intelligence infrastructure, these historic investments — spurred by President Trump’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing American industry — will reinforce the U.S. as the global leader in innovation and economic growth.
    The announcements keep coming. In recent days:
    IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
    Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new, high-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs.
    Merck & Co. announced a $1 billion investment to build a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs — part of the company’s commitment to invest more than $9 billion over the next four years.
    “Since the advent of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Merck has allocated more than $12 billion to enhance our domestic manufacturing and research capabilities, with additional planned investments of more than $9 billion over the next four years.”

    Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
    The company credited President Trump’s landmark 2017 tax cuts for enabling its rapid expansion: “Pro-growth policies like the @POTUS @WhiteHouse 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped make investments like this possible. Since enactment, Amgen has invested ~$5B in capital expenditures. This amounts to an additional downstream output to the U.S. economy of approximately $12B.”

    The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
    Here is the non-exhaustive list of investments secured in President Trump’s second term:
    Project Stargate, led by Japan-based Softbank and U.S.-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a $500 billion private investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.
    Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.
    NVIDIA, a global chipmaking giant, announced it will invest $500 billion in U.S.-based AI infrastructure over the next four years amid its pledge to manufacture AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. for the first time.
    IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.
    Johnson & Johnson announced a $55 billion investment over the next four years in manufacturing, research and development, and technology.
    Roche, a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced a $50 billion investment in U.S.-based manufacturing and research and development, which is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs.
    Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
    United Arab Emirates-based ADQ and U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners announced a $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and energy infrastructure.
    Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, announced a $23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing facilities across the U.S., which will create 4,000 new jobs.
    Hyundaiannounced a $21 billion U.S.-based investment — including $5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs.
    Hyundai also secured an equity investment and agreement from Posco Holdings, South Korea’s top steel maker.

    United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.
    France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
    Merck & Co. announced it will invest a total of $9 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility — including in a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs.
    Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.
    Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network, including re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois, manufacturing plant.
    Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in biotechnology, announced a $3 billion agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at its North Carolina manufacturing facility.
    NorthMark Strategies, a multi-strategy investment firm, announced a $2.8 billion investment to build a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
    Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs for a total of 1,500 new jobs.
    Chobani, a Greek yogurt giant, announced a $1.2 billion investment to build its third U.S. dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs — adding to the company’s earlier announcement that it will invest $500 million to expand its Idaho manufacturing plant.
    GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.
    Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
    Schneider Electric announced it will invest $700 million over the next four years in U.S. energy infrastructure.
    GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
    Abbott Laboratories announced a $500 million investment in its Illinois and Texas facilities.
    AIP Management, a European infrastructure investor, announced a $500 million investment to solar developer Silicon Ranch.
    London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.
    Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.
    Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
    The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
    Clasen Quality Chocolate announced a $230 million investment to build a new production facility in Virginia, which will create 250 new jobs.
    Fiserv, Inc., a financial technology provider, announced a $175 million investment to open a new strategic fintech hub in Kansas, which is expected to create 2,000 new, high-paying jobs.
    Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.
    TS Conductor announced a $134 million investment to build an advanced conductor manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which will create nearly 500 new jobs.
    Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
    Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
    Charms, LLC, a subsidiary of candymaker Tootsie Roll Industries, announced a $97.7 million investment to expand its production plant and distribution center in Tennessee.
    Toyota Motor Corporation announced an $88 million investment to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory, securing employment for the 2,000 workers at the factory.
    AeroVironment, a defense contractor, announced a $42.3 million investment to build a new manufacturing facility in Utah.
    Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
    India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.
    Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
    Cyclic Materials, a Canadian advanced recycling company for rare earth elements, announced a $20 million investment in its first U.S.-based commercial facility, located in Mesa, Arizona.
    Guardian Bikes announced a $19 million investment to build the first U.S.-based large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in Indiana.
    Amsterdam-based AMG Critical Minerals announced a $15 million investment to build a chrome manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.
    NOVONIX Limited, an Australia-based battery technology company, announced a $4.6 million investment to build a synthetic graphite manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
    LGM Pharma announced a $6 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas.
    ViDARR Inc., a defense optical equipment manufacturer, announced a $2.69 million investment to open a new facility in Virginia.
    That doesn’t even include the U.S. investments pledged by foreign countries:
    United Arab Emirates announced a $1.4 trillion investment in the U.S. over the next decade.
    Saudi Arabia announced it intends to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
    Japan announced a $1 trillion investment in the U.S.
    Taiwan announced a pledge to boost its U.S.-based investment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: U.S. Energy Storage Industry Commits $100 Billion Investment in American-Made Grid Batteries

    Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

    Headline: U.S. Energy Storage Industry Commits $100 Billion Investment in American-Made Grid Batteries

    WASHINGTON, D.C., April 29, 2025 – Today the American Clean Power Association (ACP), on behalf of the U.S. energy storage industry, announced a historic commitment to invest $100 billion into building and buying American-made grid batteries. This investment is expected to fuel the creation of 350,000 jobs across the battery energy storage industry and transform the United States into a global battery manufacturing leader.  
    This announcement aligns with actions taken by the Trump Administration to unleash American energy and develop critical minerals in the United States. The industry’s investment will advance a manufacturing expansion in the United States with the aim of enabling American-made batteries to meet 100% of domestic energy storage project demand.
    “The energy storage industry is providing essential power when needed most while boosting domestic manufacturing and creating jobs across the country,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of ACP. “Today’s historic commitment will invest billions of dollars into American communities and position the United States as a manufacturing leader in battery technology that is critical to national and grid security.”   
    Building a Pathway to 100% American-Made Grid Batteries 
    The U.S. energy storage industry is committed to investing $100 billion in American grid batteries, including both capital for building new battery manufacturing facilities and procurement of American-made batteries for U.S. energy storage projects. Through this commitment, the industry will advance American battery manufacturing leadership, enhance U.S. energy security, provide energy affordability and reliability, and drive international competitiveness.  
    This investment represents a clear pathway to supplying 100% of U.S. energy storage projects with American-made batteries by 2030. A pro-business environment, supported by stable tax and trade policy and streamlined permitting, is essential to the industry fulfilling this commitment. 
    Booming U.S. Energy Storage Deployments Fuel Manufacturing Resurgence 
    Battery energy storage is now a leading energy resource boosting electric grid reliability and keeping energy costs low for families and businesses across America. Since FERC Order 841 was issued in 2018, energy storage deployment has grown 25x. The ongoing growth in energy storage deployment is driving investment in American battery manufacturing facilities.  
    The energy storage industry is making significant progress in laying the groundwork for a domestic battery energy storage supply chain, building or expanding more than 25 manufacturing facilities for grid-scale energy storage. With today’s investment commitment, the industry has announced plans to rapidly expand ongoing efforts.  
    The Role of Battery Storage in Unleashing American Energy Dominance 
    As communities across the country grapple with skyrocketing energy demand, aging grid infrastructure, and concerns over reliability, battery energy storage is providing a ready-to-deploy solution to these challenges.  
    Energy storage optimizes all existing power generation, lowering energy bills and hardening the grid against extreme weather events like blizzards and heat waves. As the economy grows, energy storage provides important peaking capacity, freeing up more gas generation to serve as base load and enabling more energy production.  
    Energy storage has also been critical for supporting American industrial and technological might, from metals manufacturing in West Virginia to new data centers and AI infrastructure in Texas and Arizona. The need for energy storage resources continues to be strong across the country, as 31 states currently have energy storage projects under construction. 
    “Form Energy is proud to be ramping up manufacturing at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia, advancing our mission to strengthen the U.S. electric grid with domestically produced, multi-day energy storage. Situated on the historic site of the former Weirton Steel mill—a cornerstone of America’s industrial past—the newly built Form Factory 1 is proving that America’s greatest manufacturing epoch isn’t behind us; it’s unfolding now.” Mateo Jaramillo, Co-founder & CEO of Form Energy, noted, “This investment in American manufacturing not only supports the creation of high-quality jobs in West Virginia but also ensures that the U.S. remains a leader in energy innovation. As the energy storage industry commits to investing $100 billion in American-made grid batteries by 2030, Form Energy is excited to play a key role in building a more reliable, resilient, and secure energy future for our country.” 
    “Fluence investments in American battery cell, module, enclosure, thermal management, and controls manufacturing are delivering domestic energy storage products starting this year and will help power U.S. economic growth for decades to come,” said John Zahurancik, Fluence President, Americas. “Our manufacturing facilities in Utah, Texas, Tennessee, and Arizona support more reliable and cost-effective energy production while creating a resilient U.S. supply chain that advances American innovation, jobs, and energy security. These investments are about building the future of energy—right here in the United States.” 
    “LG Energy Solution is fully committed to expanding US energy storage manufacturing, with our fist factory lines expected to begin production in 2025 in Holland, Michigan, where we will adapt existing lines to provide 16.5GWh of ESS batteries, with an additional11GWh of capacity planned for the beginning of 2026.” Said Jaehong Park, CEO, LG Energy Solution Vertech. “We have expanded our investment in US manufacturing to meet rising demand; we have currently committed $1.4 billion to our production plan in Holland, MI, with additional investments and capacity expansion to come.” 
    “Battery energy storage is keeping the lights on and costs low for consumers across the county. Developers are committed to sourcing batteries made in America to deploy this essential energy resource to more Americans for energy stability and cost savings in the face of increasing demand,” said Stephanie Smith COO, Eolian. “As manufacturers begin ramping up domestic supply, streamlining federal and state policies and permitting processes will make the difference in getting this industry moving quickly and competitively.” 
    “Battery energy storage is key to meeting America’s rapidly expanding electricity needs,” said Craig Cornelius, President and CEO of Clearway Energy Group. “As we deploy energy storage at record pace, this investment reflects the industry’s commitment to building these critical grid infrastructure projects with American-made batteries.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Full legislative text can be found HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Wearable Devices Ltd. Announces a Warrant Inducement Transaction for $1.2 Million in Gross Proceeds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Yokneam Illit, Israel, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wearable Devices Ltd. (the “Company” or “Wearable Devices”) (Nasdaq: WLDS, WLDSW), an award-winning pioneer in artificial intelligence (“AI”)-based wearable gesture control technology, today announced its entry into a warrant inducement agreement with an existing institutional investor of the Company for the immediate exercise of warrants to purchase up to 625,000 of its ordinary shares (the “January Warrants”), and warrants to purchase up to 205,500 of its ordinary shares (the “November Warrants”, and together with the January Warrants the “Existing Warrants”), at a reduced exercise price of $1.45 per ordinary share, for gross cash proceeds of approximately $1.2 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other transaction expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the warrant inducement transaction for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

    In consideration for the immediate exercise in full of the Existing Warrants, the investor will receive, in a private placement (the “Concurrent Private Placement”), new unregistered warrants to purchase up to 1,661,000 of its ordinary shares (the “New Warrants”). The New Warrants will have an exercise price of $1.45 per ordinary share, will be exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire five years following the date of issuance. The closing of the warrant inducement transaction is expected to occur on or about April 30, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    The private placement of the New Warrants and the ordinary shares underlying the New Warrants offered to the institutional investor will be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. Accordingly, the securities issued in the Concurrent Private Placement may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

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

    About Wearable Devices Ltd.

    Wearable Devices Ltd. is a pioneering growth company revolutionizing human-computer interaction through its AI-powered neural input technology for both consumer and business markets. Leveraging proprietary sensors, software, and advanced AI algorithms, the Company’s innovative products, including the Mudra Band for iOS and Mudra Link for Android, enable seamless, touch-free interaction by transforming subtle finger and wrist movements into intuitive controls. These groundbreaking solutions enhance gaming, and the rapidly expanding AR/VR/XR landscapes. The Company offers a dual-channel business model: direct-to-consumer sales and enterprise licensing. Its flagship Mudra Band integrates functional and stylish design with cutting-edge AI to empower consumers, while its enterprise solutions provide businesses with the tools to deliver immersive and interactive experiences. By setting the input standard for the XR market, Wearable Devices is redefining user experiences and driving innovation in one of the fastest-growing tech sectors. Wearable Devices’ ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Nasdaq under the symbols “WLDS” and “WLDSW,” respectively.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “will” or other comparable terms. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss the expected closing date of the warrant inducement transaction, the use of proceeds, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the trading of our ordinary shares or warrants and the development of a liquid trading market; our ability to successfully market our products and services; the acceptance of our products and services by customers; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on March 20, 2025 and our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Michal Efraty
    IR@wearabledevices.co.il

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Huntress Debuts Industry-Disrupting Managed SIEM to Democratize Cybersecurity for Businesses of All Sizes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLUMBIA, Md. and SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Huntress announced the general availability of its modern Managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution at the RSA Conference, introducing enhanced integrations for log sources and expanded compliance capabilities. Fully managed by Huntress’ 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), Huntress Managed SIEM removes the complexity, meaningless noise, and unpredictable costs that traditional SIEM products bring, turning the old model on its head and delivering much more than compliance.

    Huntress Managed SIEM enables customers to spot and neutralize threats earlier in the attack chain than they would with an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution alone. Another benefit – Managed SIEM customers experience a fast time to value after deployment, thanks to expert eyes on their environment from day one. For example, threat hunting performed by the Huntress SOC discovered an RDP brute force attack less than 15 hours after the customer deployed Huntress.

    Advancing its mission to make enterprise-grade cybersecurity accessible beyond the Fortune 1000, Huntress unveiled the general availability of its Managed SIEM with new and expanded functionality, including:

    • Enhanced log ingestion with 20+ new integrations, encompassing firewall, password management, and identity data sources, like 1Password, Keeper Security, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, pfSense, SonicWall, Sophos, Ubiquiti, WatchGuard, Barracuda Networks, LastPass, BitWarden, Duo, DNSFilter, and CloudGen.
    • 24/7 detection, response, and threat hunting for specific tradecraft led by Huntress’ elite SOC team to detect and neutralize noisy but effective threats like RDP brute force attempts that often go unnoticed.
    • Expanded detection rules, rapid data rehydration capabilities, and enhanced search speed up investigations and enable the Huntress SOC to remediate risks quickly.
    • Extended data retention up to 7 years for region-specific compliance, financial auditing, PCI-DSS mandates, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Essential Eight.
    • Predictable, stable, and industry-disruptive pricing based on Huntress’ ability to store only the necessary data for threat hunting, investigation, and compliance.

    “Security incidents can happen in minutes, and protection shouldn’t be reserved only for companies with big budgets and teams. SIEM providers talk a big game with promises of a single pane of glass, actionable visibility, and improved compliance and security posture, but the reality is complexity, noise, and soaring storage costs. We dropped the big data-lake mentality and built our SIEM to store only the data required for threat hunting and compliance, which earned us a spot on Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list. We are ready to unshackle security teams from lengthy integrations, customizing rules, and sifting through massive amounts of data looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Chris Bisnett, CTO and Co-founder of Huntress.

    Because the elite Huntress SOC already monitors threats 24/7 for millions of endpoints and identities, its Managed SIEM gives fast and effective herd immunity from emerging threat actor tradecraft. Anything caught for one organization helps Huntress’ SOC shut it down faster for the next.

    “Huntress Managed SIEM is incredibly beneficial as it seamlessly integrates information from firewalls, endpoints, and antivirus solutions, allowing us to see an incident’s full scope, rather than just isolated parts. We have been able to get our clients up and running quickly and provide detailed assessments and actionable remediation steps. Ultimately, Huntress Managed SIEM is an invaluable tool for our business. I’d confidently recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities, ensure thorough incident analysis, and support rapid recovery efforts,” said Dan Paquette, President of Key Methods.

    Additional Resources:

    About Huntress
    Huntress is the enterprise-grade, people-powered cybersecurity solution for all businesses, not just the 1%. With fully owned technology developed by and for its industry-defining team of security analysts, engineers, and researchers, Huntress elevates underresourced tech teams, whether they work within outsourced IT environments or in-house IT and security teams.

    The 24/7 industry-leading Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC) covers cyber threats for outsourced IT and in-house teams through remediation with a false-positive rate of less than 1%. With a mission to break down barriers to enterprise-level security and always give back more than it takes, Huntress is often the first to respond to major hacks and threats while protecting its partners and shares tradecraft analysis and threat advisories with the community as they happen.

    As long as hackers keep hacking, Huntress keeps hunting. Join the hunt at www.huntress.com and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

    Huntress Contact:
    press@huntresslabs.com

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315a5cde-01b3-4aa5-9eac-f9cc2ff39442

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: VSORA Raises $46 Million to Bring World’s Most Powerful AI Inference Chip to Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Europe’s only provider of more powerful, energy-efficient and cost-effective AI Chips than other solutions from global market leaders
    • Funding will enable VSORA to produce its cutting-edge AI chip in 2025

    PARIS, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VSORA, a French innovator and the only European provider of ultra-high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) inference chips, today announced that it has successfully raised $46 million in a new fundraising round.

    The investment was led by Otium and a French family office with additional participation from Omnes Capital, Adélie Capital and co-financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund.

    In citing their reasons for investing in VSORA, all recognize that VSORA is poised to establish itself as a global leader in AI chips by redefining cost-effective, high-performance AI inference deployment at scale with a purpose-built architecture that overcomes inherent GPU limitations.

    “This funding marks a pivotal moment for VSORA as we accelerate our mission to revolutionize AI chips and ensure Europe’s technological sovereignty in AI computing,” says Khaled Maalej, VSORA Founder and CEO. “It will drive the finalization of our technology and the launch of our production, enabling VSORA to play a crucial role as the sole alternative to non-European chip designers. We are grateful for our investors’ trust and look forward to continuing our collaboration with industry leaders to bring our chip to market.”

    The new funding will support the production stage of VSORA’s Jotunn8 (J8) chip targeted for silicon in 2025. VSORA has forged partnerships with global semiconductor industry leaders, ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies and production capabilities that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

    In parallel, VSORA continues to move forward with strategic stakeholders to prepare for the industrialization phase, paving the way for the emergence of a key global European player in AI chip innovation.

    “In a market dominated by global giants like Nvidia, VSORA is a unique opportunity for France and Europe, home to world-class engineering talent,” comments Gaspard de Veyrac, Principal at Otium. “Otium is proud to provide them with the means to realize their ambitions. With this funding, VSORA has the necessary tools to reshape the future of AI computation and secure a significant position in the global AI chip market.”

    VSORA and Jotunn8
    Founded in France, VSORA is working to reshape the future of AI inference by revolutionizing AI processing with its unique chip engineered for superior performance and efficiency and set to redefine AI inference processing. It is designed for key applications such as generative AI—ChatGPT, for instance—in data centers, autonomous driving, robotics and edge AI.

    The explosive growth of AI and generative AI applications has ignited an urgent demand for high-performance, cost-effective inference solutions. AI inference—the process of deploying trained AI models to generate real-time insights and predictions—is projected to grow at a 16% CAGR from $124 billion in 2025 to $255 billion in 2030.

    The Jotunn8 (J8) chip shatters performance barriers of conventional GPUs, delivering concrete performance that surpasses today’s AI chips from global-leading industry players. Specifically, J8 delivers more than three times the performance of existing solutions while consuming less than half the power. This significant leap in efficiency addresses the critical challenges of deployment cost, cost per query and energy consumption in large-scale AI deployment.

    Offering 3,200 teraflops of compute power, the J8 chip shatters the performance barriers of conventional GPUs, delivering real-world performance that surpasses today’s AI accelerators.

    Unlike traditional accelerators optimized for training, VSORA’s technology focuses on inference making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications. It increases throughput and reduces the processing cost and cost per query.

    About VSORA
    VSORA provides high-performance silicon solutions for AI data center inference, autonomous driving, robotics and edge AI applications. Founded in 2015 by a team of DSP experts, AI scientists and engineers with a long history of successes, VSORA has offices in France and Taiwan.

    Connect with VSORA:
    Website: www.vsora.com
    Email: info@vsora.com
    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vsora/

    About Otium
    Otium is a long-term investment holding company founded in 2009 by Pierre Edouard Sterin. With €1.6 billion ($1,892 billion) in assets as of December 31, 2024, spread across more than 1,310 investments—including the Smartbox group and stakes in French unicorns PayFit and Owkin—Otium invests amounts ranging from a few hundred thousand euros to several tens of millions of euros. Companies are funded at every stage of their development, from seed funding to growth capital, and Otium takes either majority or minority stakes with no holding period constraints. Otium pursues a diversification strategy by financing projects in tech, industrials, leisure, healthcare, hospitality and real estate. Otium invested €255 million in 2024. www.otiumcapital.com

    About Omnes Capital
    Omnes is a leading private equity firm dedicated to energy transition. With over €6.7 billion ($7,580 billion) in assets under management, our teams support long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs through our four core businesses: renewable energy, sustainable cities, deep tech and co-investment. For over 20 years, Omnes has been applying its expertise to help businesses grow in more than 15 countries, with a particular focus on sustainable development. As part of its approach as a responsible investor, the company has created the Omnes Foundation to support non-profit organizations working for children and young people in the fields of education, health, social and economic integration. www.omnescapital.com

    About EIC Fund
    The European Innovation Council Fund from the European Commission is an agnostic Fund: it invests across all technologies and verticals, and all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It provides the investment component of the EIC Accelerator blended finance. The European Investment Bank acts as investment adviser to the EIC Fund.

    The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies, bridging with and crowding in market players, and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding.

    The Fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries.
    https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-fund_en

    For more information, contact:
    Nanette Collins
    Public Relations for VSORA
    nanette@nvc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Expands Direct Access to AI Assistant With Side Button on Galaxy A Series

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung Electronics today announced that select Galaxy A series devices will soon support AI assistant activation through the side button, bringing a fan-favorite feature from the Galaxy S series to more users and furthering Samsung’s vision of democratizing the latest AI experiences. With this update,1 users will be able to enjoy smarter AI experiences, including launching Gemini,2 Google’s AI-powered assistant, by simply pressing and holding the side button. Samsung introduced Awesome Intelligence3 on the latest Galaxy A series – Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G – including select fan-favorite AI-powered features that open up Galaxy’s incredible mobile AI experiences to more users. Now, the upcoming update makes it easier for even more Galaxy A series users around the world to complete everyday tasks more intuitively with direct access to Gemini with the side button.
     
    Known for its balance of performance and value, the Galaxy A series now offers a smarter mobile experience thanks to this update. With easier access to Gemini, users can effortlessly check their schedule, find nearby restaurants or get recommendations for birthday gifts using voice commands. They can also carry out tasks across apps4 with just a single command – like finding a dinner spot on Google Maps and sending the address to a friend through Messages – spanning Samsung, Google and select third-party apps.
     
    “Samsung and Google have been working together to deliver seamless, intuitive and meaningful AI experiences, making the latest technology more accessible for more users,” said Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited that Galaxy A series users will now be able to activate Gemini faster and more naturally through a simple gesture that brings intelligent support into the flow of daily tasks.”
     
    Faster access to Gemini means help is ready in everyday moments – like making last-minute dinner plans. With a simple voice command, users can say “Find French, pet-friendly restaurants with terrace seating nearby” to Gemini and get suggestions in seconds, making it easy to pick a spot and share it with a friend, without typing a single word.
     
    The software update will roll out globally to select Galaxy A series models starting in early May.
     
    For more information about the Galaxy A series, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsungmobilepress.com and Samsung.com
     
     
    1 Availability and supported features may vary by market, carrier and device model. This update will be only available on Galaxy A56 5G, A55 5G, A54 5G, A36 5G, A35 5G, A34 5G, A26 5G, A25 5G, A25e 5G and A24 running One UI 7, and is scheduled to begin rolling out in May. Timing subject to change.2 Internet connection and compatible operating system required. Availability may vary by device, country/region, and language.3 Awesome Intelligence is available on Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G. Availability of Awesome Intelligence features may vary by country/region, One UI/OS version, device model, and carrier.4 Requires internet connection and Google Account login. Service availability may vary by country/region, language, and device model. Works on compatible apps. Feature availability may differ depending on subscription and results may vary. Set up may be required for certain functions or apps. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Ernst Standing up for Taxpayers in Washington

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has been leading the fight in Washington to end taxpayer-funded union time (TFUT), the insane practice of requiring taxpayers to foot the bill for federal employees engaging in union activity while on the clock, including lobbying Congress for higher pay, negotiating telework agreements, and securing other cushy perks.
    While data was not released under the Biden administration, the most recent report from 2019 showed federal employees spent 2,606,390 hours engaged in union activities while on the clock for the American people, costing taxpayers $160 million in just one year.
    To uncover the true cost of TFUT, Senator Ernst demanded in December 2024 that 24 federal agencies provide accurate and up to date data. Ernst’s efforts have already uncovered the jaw-dropping details of the true cost to taxpayers at three federal agencies.
    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) revealed an 11% increase in costs since 2019, racking up more than $400,000 annually.
    NY POST | Nuclear agency had 11% increase in taxpayer-funded union time from five years ago, records show
    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) similarly admitted that north of $400,000 was spent every year for union activity.
    NY POST | NASA spent over $400K taxpayer dollars on union time last year
    The real bombshell came from the Defense Health Agency (DHA), which oversees the TRICARE health benefits for servicemembers, who said its bureaucrats spent 87,000 hours on union activity costing taxpayers $3.3 million.
    NY POST | Workers at Defense Health Agency spent $3.3 million and 87,000 hours working on their own union benefits
    Because the data from these three agencies is just the tip of the iceberg, Senator Ernst sent a letter to the Trump administration requesting that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) resume tracking and publicly disclosing the total cost of TFUT across government to provide taxpayers with a true accounting. The Trump administration has agreed and will soon publish a government-wide report. Ernst also introduced the Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act to require the annual public disclosure of the cost of TFUT to the American people.
    Transparency is an important step but Ernst has also introduced the Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallet Act to require federal unions to reimburse taxpayers for all costs involving TFUT to potentially save the American people more than a billion dollars over the next decade.
    Her bill will ensure that no more tax dollars are spent on bureaucrats securing cushy perks as was the case at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Ernst uncovered that the IRS’s union secured a cushy telework agreement allowing employees to come in just two days per two-week pay period. To rub salt in the wound, all of the negotiations were done on taxpayers’ dime.
    NY POST | IRS workers only had to show up to work once a week in person, before Trump took over
    Last week, Ernst sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner about how his department has been ground zero for TFUT abuse by bureaucrats. She detailed examples of bureaucrats launching real estate careers, going on beach vacations, and even sitting in jail cells all while allegedly on union time.
    THE DAILY CALLER | Joni Ernst Reveals More Examples Of HUD Bureaucrats Bilking Taxpayers
    Ernst’s efforts to fight for taxpayers have earned her sweeping praise.
    NY POST | Public-sector workers spent 87,000 hours screwing you — just at one agency, just in two years
    The New York Post Editorial Board wrote about Senator Ernst and called her, “A fierce advocate for the troops as well as a staunch fighter against fraud and waste as head of the Senate DOGE caucus.”
    The Public Labor Unions Accountability Committee, who advocates for holding public sector unions accountable, has applauded Ernst’s work and emphasized that American taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going.
    FOX NEWS | MARY KATHARINE HAM: Teachers union bosses put themselves first, teachers and students last
    Fox News contributor, OutKick columnist, and Senior Advisor to the Public Labor Unions Accountability Committee Mary Katharine Ham praised Ernst’s efforts and demanded that public sector unions be removed from politics. Ham also called out the true cost of public sector unions on the Ruthless podcast and the Guy Benson Show.
    WASHINGTON EXAMINER | No more union time on taxpayer dime
    The Washington Examiner Editorial board applauded Ernst’s Protecting Taxpayer’s Wallet Act in a piece calling for the end of union time on the taxpayers’ dime.
    Americans For Fair Treatment, an advocacy group for getting union spending out of politics, has also praised the Protecting Taxpayer’s Wallet Act and called for its swift passage to bring a little fiscal sanity to Washington.
    SEAN HANNITY | IR-MESS! IRS Workers Only Had to Show Up for Work One Day a Week Before Trump 2.0: Report
    Hannity called out the insanity of IRS bureaucrats only having to show up once a week after Senator Ernst unearthed the arrangement.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: BMA Easter ops turn the tide on illegal border crossings

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Tuesday, April 29, 2025

    The Border Management Authority (BMA) has successfully thwarted over 6 200 attempted illegal crossings into South Africa over the Easter period, marking a dramatic 63% increase in enforcement success compared to the same time last year.

    The 10-day operation, which ran from 15 to 24 April, saw 6 253 would-be illegal migrants detected — up from 3 841 in 2024 Easter period. 

    The sharp rise in prevention is the result of a sweeping digital overhaul of South Africa’s border control systems.

    For the first time during an Easter period, the BMA deployed cutting-edge surveillance tools, including AI-powered night-vision drones, advanced body cameras, and smart monitoring equipment. The technology allowed for real-time tracking and faster interception of illegal activities, signalling a bold new era in border security.

    “While we are still early in the reform process, the digital transformation of border management is clearly yielding meaningful progress,” said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. 

    “The success of Easter operations to clamp down on illegal immigration follows on similar improvements over the 2024/25 Festive Season, indicating sustained improvement in the efficiency of border management.”

    The Easter season is traditionally a high-traffic period across South Africa’s ports of entry, prompting the BMA to scale up its enforcement activities annually. This year, however, the technological edge proved to be a game-changer.

    “We still have a long way to go but the digital transformation of the border environment has set South Africa on a new trajectory towards secure and efficient border management. I congratulate and am encouraged by the enthusiasm with which digital reforms are being implemented by the BMA leadership,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa aims for greater influence in global economic policies at G20

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa’s Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) has been a significant milestone for African representation in global economic decision-making. 

    This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who underscored Africa’s strategic vision to reshape global economic frameworks and assert the continent’s interests on the world stage.

    Delivering a keynote address at the T20 Africa High-Level Policy Dialogue in Pretoria, he emphasised both the continent’s potential and its challenges.

    “This gathering emphasises the need for Africa to address the persistent challenges of economic development, political instability, and governance weaknesses. 

    “It calls for a critical evaluation of current interventions aimed at strengthening Africa’s priorities, including economic growth, sustainable development, and global governance reforms. Africa is ours, and we must create the Africa we want,” the hold the attendees. 

    The T20, or Think 20, produces, discusses, consolidates and presents ideas on how to face current and emerging challenges that may be addressed by the G20. 

    Key themes included leveraging the continent’s young population, promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and addressing systemic challenges such as unemployment, especially youth joblessness, infrastructure gaps, and economic marginalisation. 

    WATCH | T20 Africa High-Level Policy Dialogue

    The country’s second-in-command stressed the importance of digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies as critical tools for African development.

    According to the Deputy President, South Africa’s representative underscored the significance of the African Union’s new permanent membership in the G20, calling it a “transformational moment in global governance”.

    He said South Africa’s Presidency’s theme of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability” aims to reimagine multilateralism and prioritise the needs of the Global South.

    Critical priorities include mobilising finance for a Just Energy Transition, ensuring debt sustainability for developing economies, and creating strategic approaches to critical mineral development that prioritise local value addition.

    Mashatile believes that the dialogue represents a crucial step in positioning Africa as an active participant in global economic discussions, rather than a passive recipient of international policies.

    He said Africa currently stands at a crucial juncture in its development journey, with a growing population and vast natural resources, yet it remains underdeveloped.

    The Deputy President is of the view that the presence of a youthful population offers a range of possibilities for the development of the continent.

    He also touched on the challenges facing multilateralism, which have been apparent for an extended period. 

    “Therefore, we should take a dim view and strongly discourage the erosion of multilateralism, as it poses a potential threat to global growth and stability. A fair, transparent, equitable, and inclusive international order is essential for economic stability and sustained growth.” 

    He warned that the ongoing trade tensions may result in a rising cost of living due to increased prices, particularly for manufactured goods, potentially exacerbating the sluggish economic growth across our continent. 

    “It is necessary that we respond collectively and decisively as Africans, while increasing capacity and capability to reduce dependency.“

    According to the Deputy President, a fair, inclusive global order is possible, but it requires leadership grounded in equity, responsibility, and cooperation. 

    “The G20 should form part of this as we seek to unite as country states and develop policies that are progressive for the interest of all. We intend to work with like-minded countries and progressive institutions to establish a more equitable, representative, and just international order.” 

    While the G20 is not a substitute for existing international institutions, he said it must complement and accelerate progress on already agreed global commitments.

    “Let us remember that the strength of the G20 lies in its diversity and inclusivity. Strengthening African agency within this framework not only empowers African States but also increases the credibility and efficacy of global governance. 

    “South Africa’s G20 Presidency will remain accountable to the continent and to its people.” – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: US-China trade war could hurt Nigerian entrepreneurs: why, and how they should prepare

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tolu Olarewaju, Economist and Lecturer in Management, Keele University

    As China and the United States lock horns in a trade war, slamming tariffs on each other, entrepreneurs in Nigeria are vulnerable to the fallout. In 2024, 27.8% of imports into Nigeria came from China. In the same year, US exports to Nigeria reached US$4.2 billion. Economist and entrepreneurship researcher Tolu Olarewaju unpacks what could happen if Chinese products destined for the American market were diverted to developing economies, including Nigeria.

    What dangers do the tariff tensions pose to Nigeria’s entrepreneurs?

    China is the world’s biggest manufacturing nation, producing far more than its population consumes domestically. It is already running an almost US$1 trillion goods surplus, meaning it exports more goods than it imports.

    China is often producing those goods at below the true cost of production due to domestic subsidies and state financial support, like cheap loans for favoured firms.

    If the goods it currently exports are unable to enter the US because tariffs have made them too expensive, Chinese firms could seek to divert them to other countries. This could be beneficial for some consumers. But it could undercut entrepreneurs who make competing products in these countries and threaten jobs and wages.

    Looking at the past profile of Chinese exports to Nigeria, these are some Nigerian goods that could be replaced by cheaper goods from China:

    Textiles and garments: Nigeria is the largest producer of textiles in west Africa. The Nigerian textile, apparel, and footwear sector contributed 2.97% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2023 and contracted by 1.75% in the first quarter of 2024. Locally made fabrics, garments and leather goods can easily be replaced by Chinese products, especially in the low-cost and mass-market segment. This is because China is one of the sector’s largest producers globally and can export at low cost.

    In 2024, the US was the top destination for China’s textiles exports.

    Furniture and home décor: Nigerian artisans are skilled at producing wooden furniture, home décor items, and other interior products. However, China is a global leader in furniture manufacturing. It offers mass-produced, inexpensive items. The wide variety and affordability could displace Nigerian furniture makers. The furniture market in Nigeria is expected to generate revenue of US$5.11 billion in 2025 and experience an annual growth rate of 2.93% between 2025 and 2029.

    Footwear: The Nigerian footwear market is valued at US$2.57 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow annually by 9.83%. The Nigerian footwear industry produces around 50 million pairs of shoes annually and employs over 500,000 people. China is one of the largest producers of footwear. In the US, 61.9% of all shoes are imported from China. Nigerian shoe manufacturers may find it difficult to compete with the flood of affordable Chinese-made footwear.

    Beauty, cosmetic, and skincare products: The Nigerian soap market is growing. It generated revenue of US$660.5 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$1.07 billion by 2030. With a population of over 200 million, the demand for soap products is increasing. China is a major supplier of inexpensive, mass-produced beauty products.

    What are the biggest challenges holding back Nigerian entrepreneurs?

    Weak infrastructure: Frequent power outages make it difficult for businesses to operate and distribute their products. This is a significant barrier, especially in the age of digital technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Poor road conditions also make it difficult to transport goods.

    High inflation: Nigeria’s headline inflation rate on a year-on-year basis stood at 24.48% in January 2025, and 29.90% in January 2024. High inflation raises the cost of raw materials, fuel, utilities and transport.

    Inflation also means a reduction in the purchasing power of consumers. While inflation should make Nigeria a less attractive market, Chinese goods are typically cheaper than local or western alternatives, even when inflation affects import costs.

    Interest rates for business loans are high in Nigeria. This reduces profit margins and makes it harder to maintain affordable prices for consumers.

    A poor business environment: Nigeria’s unpredictable political and economic landscape, characterised by shifting policies, and inconsistent regulations, makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to plan. They need to be able to forecast expenses, set pricing strategies or invest in long-term projects.

    Corruption also increases the costs of doing business and makes the business environment more uncertain.

    While it might seem logical for the government to protect the domestic business environment with blanket tariffs as suggested by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a more strategic approach is needed, one that focuses on targeted tariffs and investing in sectors with strong growth potential.

    Limited access to finance and high interest rates: Access to finance is a major barrier due to high interest rates and unreasonable collateral requirements for business credit.

    Currency depreciation and exchange rate volatility: The Nigerian naira has depreciated against foreign currencies in recent years. Entrepreneurs who rely on imports for raw materials or equipment have been hit hard by fluctuating exchange rates. Rising import costs can lead to even higher production costs. For businesses looking to export, this volatility can reduce the profitability of foreign sales, discouraging expansion into international markets.

    What should Nigeria’s entrepreneurs do to prepare for any potential fallout from the China-US trade war?

    Identify niche market needs: They should identify a market need that is not being met or that is under-served and cannot easily be met by Chinese goods.

    Focus on customer service: This way, entrepreneurs can build customer loyalty and reputation despite the influx of cheap goods.

    Embrace innovation: Nigerian entrepreneurs should be open to new ideas and technologies that can help them create new products and services, increase efficiency and reduce costs.

    Diversify supply chains: Relying heavily on imports from one country, especially raw materials, machinery, or electronics, can lead to shortages and price hikes if trade tensions escalate. Businesses should identify alternative suppliers, explore local sourcing options, and build stockpiles of essential inputs.

    Explore new export markets: Nigerian entrepreneurs should exploit regional trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area for easier access to African markets.

    Adaptability and value creation: Businesses that focus on value creation are best positioned not just to survive but to thrive amid global shifts. Raw material exporters (for example, cashew and cocoa) may be vulnerable to price shocks. Value-added products offer better margins and greater market protection. Entrepreneurs should consider investing in light manufacturing or local processing, such as turning cocoa into chocolate.

    – US-China trade war could hurt Nigerian entrepreneurs: why, and how they should prepare
    – https://theconversation.com/us-china-trade-war-could-hurt-nigerian-entrepreneurs-why-and-how-they-should-prepare-254840

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Denounces Trump’s Disjointed International Student Visa Revocations That Drives Away Top Talent

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this month, the Trump Administration abruptly and arbitrarily removed thousands of international students from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) database, which schools and the federal government use to monitor visa compliance.  Students at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design were among those reported to be impacted.

    Multi-state litigation was launched on behalf of students and communities nationwide affected by the revocations, and those fearful they could be next, and the courts sided with the international students, forcing the Trump Administration to halt and reverse its wave of visa revocations.  But with uncertainty and concern still high among families and schools, 35 U.S. Senators are taking action to help impacted foreign students and local schools and universities and warning that President Trump is driving away top talent and harming U.S. interests.

    Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) joined with Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 33 of their Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration to reconsider recent decisions to revoke student visas in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons.

    The 35 U.S. Senators began by urging the Administration to undo unlawful student visa revocations, writing: “We recently learned that your agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records across the country. These actions to end student status reflected an unannounced change in policy and were inconsistent with existing laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance governing the maintenance and termination of student status—that is why we welcomed the news late last week that in response to litigation around the country, ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations. We now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance and ensure that all future actions to end student status fully comply with the law.”

    The Senators continued by highlighting the lack of reasoning provided in many of these visa revocations, writing: “[S]tudents across the country—who by all accounts appear to have followed all of the applicable laws and agency guidance—have reported visa revocations with no clear explanation as to the basis to terminate status. SEVP has completed at least 4,736 total terminations of student visa holders’ SEVIS records. By DHS’s own admission, the statute and regulations do not provide SEVP the authority to terminate nonimmigrant status by terminating a SEVIS record. Your decision to reverse such terminations is therefore prudent and required by law.”

    The Senators then outlined the Trump Administration’s apparent violation of federal law in revoking these visas, writing: “Current laws, regulations, and agency guidance also require notice to be provided when a student’s status is being terminated or revoked. Here, it is not clear that students were provided the notice required by law. Many students were notified by universities that they have lost their student status when their SEVIS records have been terminated, without being provided any information about potential reinstatement. Some students received emails that their visas were revoked and were directed to self-deport, with no clear information as to the basis for their revocation or means by which they can appeal the revocation. Some students only learned about losing status when arrested by masked federal agents. These reports suggest that students were not given notice of the termination of their status in a manner consistent with existing laws, regulations, and agency guidance.”

    The Senators conclude with an appeal to the Administration to reconsider these visa revocations and warning to adhere to federal law, before making a series of immigration requests, writing: “Students who have entered through our legal immigration system and followed the law remain unsure of what, if any, steps they may take to maintain their status and safeguard themselves from immigration enforcement. While we are relieved that ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations, we now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance. Finally, we understand that you are contemplating additional actions to end student status. Any such changes must be consistent with applicable statutes, including requirements for notice with respect to changes that would deprive a student of their status and ability to live and study in the United States and place them at risk of detention.”

    In addition to Reed and Durbin, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennett (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and Acting Director Lyons:

    We recently learned that your agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records across the country. These actions to end student status reflected an unannounced change in policy and were inconsistent with existing laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance governing the maintenance and termination of student status—that is why we welcomed the news late last week that in response to litigation around the country, ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations.  We now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance and ensure that all future actions to end student status fully comply with the law.

    Foreign students must navigate a complicated mix of agencies to maintain their status. Under current regulations and policy, students who enter into the United States on an F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa are admitted to the United States for “duration of status.”  This essentially means that F-1 and J-1 visa holders may be in good standing as long as they comply with the terms and conditions of their status, even if their visa has expired.  Students who enter on an M-1 visa for vocational education are admitted for a fixed time period to complete their course of study.  The Office of Student Exchange and Visitor Programs (SEVP), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), works with universities and program administrators to determine whether F-1 and M-1 students are meeting requirements for their visas and terminate SEVIS records as appropriate under SEVP regulations.  The Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the J-1 exchange visitor visa, but their records are maintained by SEVIS. Existing regulations and agency guidance inform students and other visa holders of how they might lose their student status, including that they cannot be convicted of serious crimes, cannot work unless authorized by DHS, and must be completing the education or program related to their visa. However, students across the country—who by all accounts appear to have followed all of the applicable laws and agency guidance—have reported visa revocations with no clear explanation as to the basis to terminate status. SEVP has completed at least 4,736 total terminations of student visa holders’ SEVIS records. By DHS’s own admission, the statute and regulations do not provide SEVP the authority to terminate nonimmigrant status by terminating a SEVIS record. Your decision to reverse such terminations is therefore prudent and required by law.

    Current laws, regulations, and agency guidance also require notice to be provided when a student’s status is being terminated or revoked. Here, it is not clear that students were provided the notice required by law. Many students were notified by universities that they have lost their student status when their SEVIS records have been terminated, without being provided any information about potential reinstatement. Some students received emails that their visas were revoked and were directed to self-deport, with no clear information as to the basis for their revocation or means by which they can appeal the revocation. Some students only learned about losing status when arrested by masked federal agents.  These reports suggest that students were not given notice of the termination of their status in a manner consistent with existing laws, regulations, and agency guidance.

    Once a student’s visa is revoked, although their status is not automatically terminated, removal proceedings may be initiated against them, allowing them to be detained at the discretion of DHS. Similarly, when a student’s SEVIS record is terminated, the student is no longer in an authorized period of stay in the United States, and students and their universities cannot regularly maintain student records in SEVIS, as is required to maintain student status. In addition, upon SEVIS record termination, the student must depart the United States or take other action to restore legal status, and DHS “may investigate to confirm the departure of the student.”

    Students who have entered through our legal immigration system and followed the law remain unsure of what, if any, steps they may take to maintain their status and safeguard themselves from immigration enforcement. While we are relieved that ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations, we now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance. Finally, we understand that you are contemplating additional actions to end student status. Any such changes must be consistent with applicable statutes, including requirements for notice with respect to changes that would deprive a student of their status and ability to live and study in the United States and place them at risk of detention.

    We also request information to better understand how your departments are implementing any new, unannounced policies with respect to identifying students for status revocation. Please provide the following information by May 12, 2025:

    1. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing the revocations of nonimmigrant visas, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.

    2. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing how nonimmigrants are to be notified of visa revocations, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.

    3. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing the terminations of SEVIS records, issued from January 20, 2025 to April 25, 2025.

    4. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing how student visa holders are to be notified of SEVIS terminations, issued from January 20, 2025 to April 25, 2025.

    5. Any guidance issued by DOS, DHS, and/or the Department of Justice governing the initiation of removal proceedings or immigration enforcement against student visa holders and other nonimmigrants, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.

    6. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS regarding the use of artificial intelligence to search national databases, criminal records, and social media to identify nonimmigrants for visa revocation or to otherwise end status, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.

    7. The total number of student visas (F-1, M-1, or J-1 visas) that have been revoked since January 20, 2025 to date, disaggregated by:

    a. Student’s country of origin;

    b. Consulate or embassy that issued the visa;

    c. Visa category/Optional Practical Training (OPT);

    d. Date of revocation;

    e. University of study;

    f. Type of degree or field of study;

    g. Notice provided;

    h. Legal basis for revocation;

    i. Any grace period to allow students to make travel or other arrangements; and

    j. Whether the student’s SEVIS record was also terminated.

    8. The total number of SEVIS record terminations that have been issued since January 20, 2025 to April 25, 2025, disaggregated by—

    a. Student’s country of origin;

    b. Visa category/Optional Practical Training (OPT);

    c. Date of revocation;

    d. University of study;

    e. Type of degree or field of study;

    f. Whether the termination was initiated by the university or by DHS;

    g. Basis for termination;

    h. Notice provided;

    i. Any grace period to allow students to make travel or other arrangements; and

    j. Whether the student’s visa was revoked.

    9. The number of student visa holders on F-1, M-1, J-1 nonimmigrant status issued Form I862, Notice to Appear, initiating removal proceedings.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairwoman Lisa McClain, Chairman Guthrie, and Rep. Salazar Celebrate the House Passing Legislation to Protect Children from Deepfake Exploitation

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

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

    WASHINGTON— House Republican Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) released the following statements after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act:

    “I’m proud to have voted in favor of the TAKE IT DOWN Act. This important legislation will protect our kids from deepfake exploitation and hold the perpetrators of these horrifying crimes accountable. I want to thank Congresswoman Salazar for leading the bill, Chairman Guthrie for getting it across the floor, and First Lady Melania Trump for supporting victims and their families,” Chairwoman McClain said.

    “Thank you to the many supporters, and especially the survivors, whose stories and steadfast advocacy helped us take quick, decisive, and targeted action to prevent the spread of explicit, non-consensual AI-generated images, including giving law enforcement the tools they need to stop these predators. Our work does not end here, as the Committee on Energy and Commerce remains committed to protecting kids and all Americans from online predators and other 21st century threats to their health and well-being,” Chairman Guthrie said.

    “My TAKE IT DOWN Act’s passage is a bipartisan victory to protect victims of real and deepfake revenge pornography. This bill shows Congress at its best, working together to empower victims, especially women and girls. It equally holds offenders and Big Tech accountable. Special thanks to Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, and Conference Chair McClain for their leadership in getting this done,” Congresswoman Salazar said. 

    Chairwoman McClain has expressed her support for this bill, including during a roundtable discussion with the First Lady in April.

    The bill criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate images (“NCII”) or the threat to publish NCII in interstate commerce. The bill requires covered internet platforms to establish and implement a notice and takedown process within one year of enactment. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US-China trade war could hurt Nigerian entrepreneurs: why, and how they should prepare

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tolu Olarewaju, Economist and Lecturer in Management, Keele University

    As China and the United States lock horns in a trade war, slamming tariffs on each other, entrepreneurs in Nigeria are vulnerable to the fallout. In 2024, 27.8% of imports into Nigeria came from China. In the same year, US exports to Nigeria reached US$4.2 billion. Economist and entrepreneurship researcher Tolu Olarewaju unpacks what could happen if Chinese products destined for the American market were diverted to developing economies, including Nigeria.

    What dangers do the tariff tensions pose to Nigeria’s entrepreneurs?

    China is the world’s biggest manufacturing nation, producing far more than its population consumes domestically. It is already running an almost US$1 trillion goods surplus, meaning it exports more goods than it imports.

    China is often producing those goods at below the true cost of production due to domestic subsidies and state financial support, like cheap loans for favoured firms.

    If the goods it currently exports are unable to enter the US because tariffs have made them too expensive, Chinese firms could seek to divert them to other countries. This could be beneficial for some consumers. But it could undercut entrepreneurs who make competing products in these countries and threaten jobs and wages.

    Looking at the past profile of Chinese exports to Nigeria, these are some Nigerian goods that could be replaced by cheaper goods from China:

    Textiles and garments: Nigeria is the largest producer of textiles in west Africa. The Nigerian textile, apparel, and footwear sector contributed 2.97% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2023 and contracted by 1.75% in the first quarter of 2024. Locally made fabrics, garments and leather goods can easily be replaced by Chinese products, especially in the low-cost and mass-market segment. This is because China is one of the sector’s largest producers globally and can export at low cost.

    In 2024, the US was the top destination for China’s textiles exports.

    Furniture and home décor: Nigerian artisans are skilled at producing wooden furniture, home décor items, and other interior products. However, China is a global leader in furniture manufacturing. It offers mass-produced, inexpensive items. The wide variety and affordability could displace Nigerian furniture makers. The furniture market in Nigeria is expected to generate revenue of US$5.11 billion in 2025 and experience an annual growth rate of 2.93% between 2025 and 2029.

    Footwear: The Nigerian footwear market is valued at US$2.57 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow annually by 9.83%. The Nigerian footwear industry produces around 50 million pairs of shoes annually and employs over 500,000 people. China is one of the largest producers of footwear. In the US, 61.9% of all shoes are imported from China. Nigerian shoe manufacturers may find it difficult to compete with the flood of affordable Chinese-made footwear.

    Beauty, cosmetic, and skincare products: The Nigerian soap market is growing. It generated revenue of US$660.5 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$1.07 billion by 2030. With a population of over 200 million, the demand for soap products is increasing. China is a major supplier of inexpensive, mass-produced beauty products.

    What are the biggest challenges holding back Nigerian entrepreneurs?

    Weak infrastructure: Frequent power outages make it difficult for businesses to operate and distribute their products. This is a significant barrier, especially in the age of digital technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Poor road conditions also make it difficult to transport goods.

    High inflation: Nigeria’s headline inflation rate on a year-on-year basis stood at 24.48% in January 2025, and 29.90% in January 2024. High inflation raises the cost of raw materials, fuel, utilities and transport.

    Inflation also means a reduction in the purchasing power of consumers. While inflation should make Nigeria a less attractive market, Chinese goods are typically cheaper than local or western alternatives, even when inflation affects import costs.

    Interest rates for business loans are high in Nigeria. This reduces profit margins and makes it harder to maintain affordable prices for consumers.

    A poor business environment: Nigeria’s unpredictable political and economic landscape, characterised by shifting policies, and inconsistent regulations, makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to plan. They need to be able to forecast expenses, set pricing strategies or invest in long-term projects.

    Corruption also increases the costs of doing business and makes the business environment more uncertain.

    While it might seem logical for the government to protect the domestic business environment with blanket tariffs as suggested by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a more strategic approach is needed, one that focuses on targeted tariffs and investing in sectors with strong growth potential.

    Limited access to finance and high interest rates: Access to finance is a major barrier due to high interest rates and unreasonable collateral requirements for business credit.

    Currency depreciation and exchange rate volatility: The Nigerian naira has depreciated against foreign currencies in recent years. Entrepreneurs who rely on imports for raw materials or equipment have been hit hard by fluctuating exchange rates. Rising import costs can lead to even higher production costs. For businesses looking to export, this volatility can reduce the profitability of foreign sales, discouraging expansion into international markets.

    What should Nigeria’s entrepreneurs do to prepare for any potential fallout from the China-US trade war?

    Identify niche market needs: They should identify a market need that is not being met or that is under-served and cannot easily be met by Chinese goods.

    Focus on customer service: This way, entrepreneurs can build customer loyalty and reputation despite the influx of cheap goods.

    Embrace innovation: Nigerian entrepreneurs should be open to new ideas and technologies that can help them create new products and services, increase efficiency and reduce costs.

    Diversify supply chains: Relying heavily on imports from one country, especially raw materials, machinery, or electronics, can lead to shortages and price hikes if trade tensions escalate. Businesses should identify alternative suppliers, explore local sourcing options, and build stockpiles of essential inputs.

    Explore new export markets: Nigerian entrepreneurs should exploit regional trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area for easier access to African markets.

    Adaptability and value creation: Businesses that focus on value creation are best positioned not just to survive but to thrive amid global shifts. Raw material exporters (for example, cashew and cocoa) may be vulnerable to price shocks. Value-added products offer better margins and greater market protection. Entrepreneurs should consider investing in light manufacturing or local processing, such as turning cocoa into chocolate.

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

    – ref. US-China trade war could hurt Nigerian entrepreneurs: why, and how they should prepare – https://theconversation.com/us-china-trade-war-could-hurt-nigerian-entrepreneurs-why-and-how-they-should-prepare-254840

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –