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Category: Technology

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Western Cape launches Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing System

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Western Cape Government marked a significant milestone in its commitment to safer roads and smarter service delivery with the official launch of the Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing (CLLT) system.

    “If we are to grow our economy and create more jobs, we need to ensure that our residents have the skills that they need to participate in the economy, and a driver’s licence is a critical requirement for many jobs, so we must make getting a driver’s licence as easy as possible for all our residents,” said Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku.

    The event took place at the Beaufort West Driving Licence Testing Centre on Monday and showcased a live demonstration of a state-of-the-art digital testing system that replaces the traditional manual booklet method.

    This innovation is set to transform the learner’s licence testing process across the Western Cape.

    “This digital shift is a big step toward safer roads and a stronger economy. By improving driver skills through fair and efficient testing, we’re also boosting employability, supporting the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy,” said the MEC.

    The new system is being rolled out in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and ultimately aims to improve the quality of drivers on Western Cape roads.

    Benefits include promoting safer and more responsible driving through standardised testing, reducing opportunities for corruption, supporting hearing-impaired applicants with on-screen multilingual instructions to eliminate the need for an interpreter, and delivering faster and more accurate results through instant digital processing.

    “This is not just a technological upgrade – it’s a values-driven transformation. The system ensures that every applicant, regardless of ability, is treated with fairness and dignity,” added Sileku.

    The testing terminals, each secured with fingerprint verification, connect directly to the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) and generate randomised test questions. 

    Results are automatically verified and securely processed, significantly improving both accuracy and data integrity.
    The CLLT classroom includes fully networked workstations, touch-screen kiosks, and a 6kVA uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to maintain continuity in the event of electricity outages. 

    All provincial driving licence testing centres outside of the metro have been equipped with the new CLLT system, with the Western Cape Mobility Department currently engaging the City of Cape Town regarding its roll-out of the new system.

    Residents can make appointments for learner’s licence testing at their local Driving Licence Testing Centre and prepare for their tests using free downloadable study guides for road signs, vehicle controls and the rules of the road via www.natis.gov.za.

    The provincial government remains committed to building a safe and accessible transport environment that supports a thriving economy.– SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tackling human trafficking

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Gone are the days when human trafficking felt like an obscure crime that occurs under the cover of night in far off places we have never heard of. 

    Every so often we hear of suspected human trafficking cases, and it is likely that you and I could have already interacted with a trafficked person(s) without even knowing it.

    This as police rescued 44 illegal immigrants who were found locked in a house in Gauteng’s Parkmore suburb recently.

    It was also reported in March that over 30 Ethiopian nationals were able to escape from a house in Johannesburg’s Lombardy East. In that case, it is suspected that the 30 were victims of a human trafficking syndicate.

    In January, over 20 Ethiopians were rescued from a house in Johannesburg. The rescue followed a similar one in August 2024 where 82 Ethiopians were also found at a house in Johannesburg.

    Additionally, human trafficking does not only take place on home soil. In March, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed that 23 South Africans who were part of a group of 7000 people from various countries, were rescued from Myanmar.

    Before leaving South African shores in 2024, the men and women were lured by an employment agency to Thailand under the pretences of lucrative jobs that were advertised on various social media platforms.
    According to DIRCO, the adverts promised the victims good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses, and other lucrative benefits. However, once in Thailand, they were transported to Myanmar against their will.

    They were held captive for more than four months in a cybercrime compound in Myanmar, which borders Thailand. 

    “The crime of human trafficking is a hidden one. It is a very different one in the sense that you are given promises of a better life through whatever means elsewhere. You wilfully participate in those engagements without knowing that as soon as you arrive at your destination, what you have been promised is no longer there,” said Deputy Director-General (DDG) Lucky Mohalaba.

    Mohalaba is the DDG for Court Administration at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD).

    “The courts are currently dealing with those matters [of human trafficking] and it ranges from sexual exploitation to forced labour,” he said in an interview with SAnews.

    Legislation

    He added that there are other forms of crimes in relation to the “Trafficking in Persons Act which may include harbouring, transporting [and] assisting in whatever form that those who have been trafficked are able to be moved around within our borders.”

    This as the objects of South Africa’s Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 2013, among others, are to give effect to the country’s obligations concerning the trafficking of persons in terms of international agreements and to provide for the prevention of trafficking in persons and for the protection of and assistance to victims of trafficking, among others.

    According to the legislation, any person who delivers, recruits, transports, transfers, harbours, sells, exchanges, leases or receives another person within or across the borders of the Republic, by means of the threat of harm, abduction and kidnapping among others, for the purpose of any form or manner of exploitation, is guilty of the offence of trafficking in persons.

    It also states that any person who adopts a child, facilitated or secured through legal or illegal means; or concludes a forced marriage with another person, within or across the borders of the Republic, for exploitation purposes of that child or other person in any form, is guilty of an offence.

    A person convicted of an offence of trafficking (by delivering, recruiting, transporting transferring harbouring and selling among others another person by means of a threat of harm, fraud and kidnapping among others, is liable to a fine not exceeding R100 million or imprisonment, including imprisonment for life, or such imprisonment without the option of a fine or both.

    According to the National Prosecuting Agency, the passing of the trafficking legislation is a result of South Africa’s ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children.

    Additionally, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said the protocol -which was adopted by the United Nations in November 2000 – is the world’s primary legal instrument to combat human trafficking.

    Mohalaba stressed that government is tackling human trafficking.

    “What we can say to the public is that government is doing quite a lot of work in relation to this matter. But working together with civil society as well as communities, as a department we are of the view that we can do a lot to further curb instances and the incidence of trafficking in persons in South Africa,” he said from his office at the DOJ&CD.

    Increased effort 

    There is tangible evidence that the work government is doing in this area is paying off with the county having moved to a better spot on the United States of America’s (USA) annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

    In 2024, South Africa moved from Tier 2 Watch List of the report to Tier 2. 

    Released in June last year, the report, which is available on the US Department of State website among others, notes that while South Africa does not “fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking… [it] is making significant efforts to do so.”

    “The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period; therefore South Africa was upgraded to Tier 2. These efforts included increasing prosecutions of traffickers; identifying and referring more trafficking victims to protection services; and increasing the number of shelters available to assist trafficking victims,” the report stated.

    It also took note of government’s National Inter-Ministerial Committee for Trafficking in Persons (NICTIP) to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts which included the Border Management Authority, the Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Team and the Financial Intelligence Center.

    He said that work done includes ensuring that there is domestic legislation in place that deals with trafficking in persons and that the country has in place mechanisms to identify, assess victims or suspected victims of trafficking and ensuring that there are shelters to accommodate victims while court processes continue.

    “As a result of our responses, we moved to Tier 2 as these are some of the issues the country has addressed. Of course, our aim is to ensure that we move a level higher up which will include putting more effort into ensuring that there’s appropriate training for officials that are dealing with these matters.  We are working on this,” he explained.

    According to the TIP, the placement of countries into various tiers is not based on the size of a country’s problem “but on the extent of government efforts to meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.”

    These standards include the prohibition of severe forms of trafficking in person and punishing acts of such trafficking.
    Tier 2 Watch List countries are those whose governments don’t fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making moves to “bring themselves into compliance” with the standards.

    Tier 2 countries are those whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. Additionally, Tier 1 countries are those in which governments fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

    The TIP also has Tier 3 countries whereby governments do not fully meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.

    Mohalaba added that the NICTIP which the department and the NPA are co-chairing, is “seized with coordinating a lot of efforts around the trafficking in persons across the country.”

    “It also includes NGOs [non-government organisations] who take part in the discussions so that all of us working together are able to move our country forward and prevent this scourge in trafficking of persons.”

    The report however flagged several issues including that law enforcement did not have the capacity and training to refer victims of trafficking to care and that victim services remained insufficient among others.

    The report states that over “180 countries have ratified or acceded to the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (the UN TIP Protocol), which defines trafficking in persons and contains obligations to prevent and combat the crime.”

    Collaboration 

    South Africa’s Parliament passed the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons, 2013 Act which came into operation in August 2015.

    “Again, we must appreciate the collaboration amongst the law enforcement agencies and particularly communities and civil society to ensure that these serious matters are addressed.

    The act requires the DOJ&CD to develop the draft National and Policy Framework (NPF) which also requires the Minister of Justice to table the approved NPF in Parliament within one year after the commencement of the Act.

    Added to that, the NFP is to be reviewed within three years after its publication in the government gazette and at least once every five years thereafter. The first NPF was approved by the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster in 2019 with the revised one having been approved by Cabinet in August 2023. It was tabled in Parliament in February 2024.

    The framework comprises four pillars – namely: prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships.

    “Trafficking is an international crime, and States have been encouraged to put in laws that deal with this. We are using the NFP to compliment the legislation working together with civil society to make sure that we combat and deal with issues of trafficking in persons,” said the DDG.

    The NPF states that trafficking in persons is a “serious crime and a grave violation of human rights posing a serious challenge to communities and to society at large.”

    In the document, government states that it is committed to preventing trafficking, as well as to assist and protect victims and to prosecute perpetrators.

    “People go to great lengths to ensure that when people are trafficked, that it falls within the ambit of organised crime. We really want to appeal to the public that we should be vigilant when we see instances of people being trafficked in our villages, townships, in towns or any other areas we see the potential of people being trafficked,” said the DDG.

    He added that the review of the policy framework will be made in 2027.

    “As a country, we remain resolute in working with whichever country across the globe to ensure that the issues of trafficking in persons are actually made a priority across the world.” –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Former President Tsai visits UK Parliament and delivers speech at LSE, deepening bilateral ties

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    May 20, 2025  

    No. 165  

    Former President Tsai Ing-wen visited Europe from May 10 to 19, traveling to Lithuania and Denmark before continuing to the United Kingdom. On May 15, the first day of her stay in the United Kingdom, she visited the UK Parliament at the invitation of British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Cochairs Sarah Champion MP and Lord Rogan. She was warmly welcomed by parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. 

     

    The former president met with House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and took part in a reception at the House of Lords, where she delivered a speech. She exchanged greetings with nearly 50 parliamentarians and staff, including former Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza, House of Lords Deputy Speaker Baroness Finlay, Trade Envoy to Taiwan Lord Faulkner, Labour Friends of Taiwan Chair Navendu Mishra MP, former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation and Technology Ben Spencer MP, and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP.

     

    In her address at the House of Lords, former President Tsai said that the growing threat of antidemocratic forces was testing democracy around the world, adding that this demonstrated the need for Taiwan and the United Kingdom to work together in defense of freedom and democracy. She commended the House of Commons for passing a motion last November clarifying that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 made no reference to Taiwan. This was important in countering reckless behavior in the Taiwan Strait, she explained. Highlighting Taiwan’s position on the front line of defending democracy, former President Tsai said that Taiwan was a critical deterrent to China’s expansionist ambitions and would continue to contribute to protecting democratic values.

     

    APPG Cochair Champion noted that Taiwan and the United Kingdom had a deep friendship and shared core values. She said that the United Kingdom should continue to pay attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which she added were essential to global security and prosperity. Cochair Champion noted that in recent years the Taiwan-UK partnership had deepened. She expressed hope that cooperation would expand in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, economic resilience, and other areas.

     

    Former President Tsai also delivered a speech titled “In an Era of Shifting World Order: Taiwan as a Stabilizing Force” at her alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The event was moderated by incoming LSE Law School Dean Andrew Murray, who represented the university and LSE President Larry Kramer. Around 100 people, including General Counsel Elizabeth Messud, attended the speech. In her remarks, former President Tsai noted that the international community was experiencing a reassignment of security responsibilities and a rebalancing of trade relations. She said that to appropriately respond to multiple challenges such as economic fragmentation, political extremism, and military conflict, the function of multilateralism was becoming even more important. The former president emphasized that Taiwan had shown a high degree of resilience in turbulent times in the past, such as during supply chain restructuring, and had proven to be a trustworthy and competitive strategic partner. She added that Taiwan was ready to play a more proactive role in the new world order by further deepening cooperation with democratic countries and contributing to the global trade system. Her remarks were enthusiastically received by the audience. 

     

    During her visit to the United Kingdom, former President Tsai also gave an address at Cambridge University, met with faculty and students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, attended a forum hosted by the Royal United Services Institute, and met with Taiwanese people working in the United Kingdom on technology startups and in the arts.

     

    Taiwan-UK relations have witnessed significant progress in recent years. In 2023, the United Kingdom signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement with Taiwan, becoming the first European country to establish a formal economic and trade framework with Taiwan. The United Kingdom is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, third-largest source of investment, and fifth-most popular destination for Taiwanese students studying abroad. The countries collaborate closely in fields such as technological innovation, renewable energy, and societal resilience. Taiwan will further work together with the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries to advance democratic resilience and prosperity. It looks forward to the United Kingdom continuing to demonstrate its commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region by deploying naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait and taking other concrete actions. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: WSO2 Acquires Leading API Analytics and Monetization Startup Moesif

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX , May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WSO2, the leader in enterprise digital infrastructure technology, today announced it has acquired Moesif, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in advanced API analytics and monetization. The all-cash acquisition marks a strategic milestone in WSO2’s long-term plan to accelerate global growth through targeted inorganic opportunities.

    As part of the agreement, Moesif will operate as an independent subsidiary under WSO2’s API Management Business Unit. The Moesif brand and current product offering will be retained, and its leadership along with its team will continue to drive existing business and expand customer growth globally. Moesif customers will continue receiving the same level of service and support, while benefiting from WSO2’s global presence and expanded product offerings. Moesif’s advanced API analytics and monetization capabilities will also be integrated into WSO2’s product portfolio, bringing enhanced value to existing and future customers.

    “This acquisition is a first step in our strategy to establish WSO2 as a global technology leader through select inorganic opportunities,” said Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, founder and CEO of WSO2. “Moesif brings market-leading capabilities in API analytics and monetization, areas that are increasingly critical to digital businesses today. This is just the beginning—we’re committed to exploring further opportunities that align with our long-term goal to help enterprises deliver seamless, high-impact digital experiences.”

    The acquisition enhances WSO2’s positioning in the API management space by adding best-in-class analytics and monetization tools that help businesses optimize, measure, and generate revenue from their APIs. Moesif’s offerings will complement WSO2’s comprehensive API management platform, creating a synergy that benefits both customer bases.

    “Joining WSO2 is a natural next step in Moesif’s journey,” said Derric Gilling, founder and CEO of Moesif. “We share a deep commitment to empowering developers and businesses to build powerful digital experiences. As part of WSO2, we’ll continue to innovate rapidly, serve our customers with excellence, and now reach an even broader global audience.”

    WSO2 customers will start gaining access to Moesif’s capabilities as part of an enhanced product suite, while Moesif customers will benefit from WSO2’s global support infrastructure and expanded services.

    About WSO2
    Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) to thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence and APIs for securely delivering the next generation of AI-enabled digital services and applications. Our open-source, AI-driven, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in and enables rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has more than 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with over USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

    About Moesif
    Moesif is the leading AI-driven API analytics and monetization platform that helps companies build better developer experiences, monitor API usage, and drive revenue. With powerful tools for observability, governance, and product-led growth, Moesif empowers engineering and product teams to optimize APIs as a business channel. Moesif serves customers across many industries including logistics, fintech, and enterprise software including leading enterprises like UPS, Covetrus, and UK Royal Mail. Moesif was founded in 2017 and is based in San Francisco, US. Investors include Craft Ventures, Merus Capital, Heavybit, and Fresco. Visit www.moesif.com to learn more.

    Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Scrum Alliance and Miro Forge Strategic Partnership to Empower Agile Teams and Drive Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Scrum Alliance®, the global leader in agile certification and professional membership, is thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking new partnership with Miro, the innovation workspace. This exciting collaboration, part of the recently launched Scrum Alliance Mission Sponsorship Program, represents a powerful alliance dedicated to empowering agile teams and individuals. Together, Scrum Alliance and Miro are committed to helping professionals navigate complexity, adapt to rapid change and excel in today’s fast-paced world.

    As a partner, Miro will join Scrum Alliance’s calling to deliver new resources, educational content, exclusive member benefits and high-impact initiatives aligned with the Scrum Alliance mission: to advance real-world agility.

    “At Scrum Alliance, we see agility as a catalyst for real business performance—accelerating delivery, sharpening collaboration, and strengthening leadership,” said Scrum Alliance CEO Tristan Boutros. “In an environment defined by constant and often unprecedented change, agility empowers organizations to respond with speed and confidence. Our partnership with Miro brings powerful alignment around those outcomes. As a Mission Sponsor, Miro will support our members with new, high-impact benefits and collaborate with us to advance key initiatives that fuel agility where it matters most—in the results.”

    Through this partnership, Scrum Alliance members will gain access to a range of benefits, including educational content developed in collaboration with Miro and members-only webinars designed to strengthen agile practice and collaboration.

    “Miro is deeply committed to the agile community. Its members are some of our greatest fans and champions, so it’s essential we seek out new and innovative ways to contribute meaningfully back to the community,” said Dave Ross, Chief Agile Evangelist at Miro. “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership through this sponsorship, supporting the educational journeys of agile practitioners as this community expands and evolves. We’re hugely grateful to the Scrum Alliance for making this opportunity possible.”

    Miro provides a visual workspace that enables distributed teams of any size to collaborate seamlessly across strategy, design, product development and process management. Trusted by more than 90 million users across 250,000 organizations—including leading brands such as Nike, IKEA, Deloitte and Cisco—Miro helps accelerate innovation and deliver solutions that meet customer needs.

    “The Mission Sponsorship Program represents a bold new way for Scrum Alliance to advance our mission in collaboration with values-aligned organizations, and we’re thrilled to welcome Miro as our first-ever Mission Sponsor,” said Tracee Aliotti, Chief Marketing Officer. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to empowering agile teams and driving innovation. I’m excited about the opportunity to build lasting, purpose-driven collaborations that elevate both our organizations and the global agile community.”

    Scrum Alliance and Miro will also collaborate on a new “Agility in Practice” educational series, co-branded blog articles and resource development for Scrum Alliance User Groups worldwide. These initiatives aim to provide agile practitioners with practical tools and insights for innovation in distributed and hybrid team environments.

    The Mission Sponsorship Program was created by Scrum Alliance to build long-term, symbiotic partnerships that go beyond traditional sponsorship models. By partnering with organizations that share its values and vision, Scrum Alliance seeks to expand its impact and better support its global community of agile practitioners.

    About Scrum Alliance
    As the first not-for-profit focused on agile education and professional credentialing, Scrum Alliance continues to advance its position of Agile for Anyone™ by equipping professionals and their organizations with the education, skills, and community needed to succeed in today’s ever-evolving workplaces.

    Learn more at www.scrumalliance.org.

    About Miro

    Miro is the Innovation Workspace that enables teams of any size to build the next big thing. The platform’s infinite canvas enables teams to quickly move from idea to outcome. Miro is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Amsterdam, and serves more than 90M users worldwide. Miro was founded in 2011 and currently has more than 1,600 employees in 13 hubs around the world. To learn more, please visit https://miro.com. 

    Miro and the Miro logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealtimeBoard, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

    Contact: press@miro.com

    Learn more at www.miro.com.

    Media Contact
    Bethany Rhodes
    Uproar by Moburst for Scrum Alliance
    bethany@moburst.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Charli Capital Revolutionizes Private Equity Investing with Smart Deal Finder, Offers Access to Over 2 Million Private and Public Companies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Charli Capital, the force behind the proprietary Multidimensional AI™, is excited to unveil its latest breakthrough: Smart Deal Finder—a game-changing tool designed to reshape how investors, analysts, and financial leaders identify and evaluate opportunities across public and private markets. From venture capitalists to CFOs and CEOs, Smart Deal Finder delivers powerful insights not only to guide investment decisions but also to benchmark performance, track market sentiment, and understand how companies stack up against competitors in real time.

    Smart Deal Finder introduces a frictionless, intelligent experience for surfacing investment-grade companies—without the need for complex filters, tedious prompts, or keyword gymnastics. With a single, intuitive query, users can instantly identify businesses that align with their investment strategies, accessing detailed insights that have traditionally been out of reach.

    “We’re simplifying the future of deal discovery,” said Kevin Collins, CEO of Charli Capital. “With Smart Deal Finder, users get a data-rich, analyst-quality experience—without needing a team of researchers. This is about empowering every investor to discover the overlooked, the emerging, and the exceptional—with speed and confidence.”

    What Makes Smart Deal Finder a Game-Changer?

    Charli’s signature interface now offers a “Shopify-like” marketplace for investments, where investors can explore and purchase detailed scorecards and deep-dive reports in seconds. It’s all powered by the trusted depth of Charli’s Multidimensional AI™, known for its unmatched accuracy across more than 2 million companies.

    Built for Everyone—from Private Investors to Institutional Analysts to C-Suite Executives

    • Instant Access, No Commitment
      Explore high-potential deals with no subscription required. Simply log in, search, and evaluate—when and how you want.
    • Actionable, Qualified Deal Flow
      Gain access to real-time insights across 2 M+ companies—including financials, sentiment analysis, and investment-grade indicators to validate every opportunity.
    • Ask. Discover. Invest.
      Use natural language to find exactly what you’re looking for. Charli interprets your investment goals and uncovers deals that match—no technical filters required.
    • Built for How You Work
      From desktop to mobile, the experience is fast, interactive, and built for decision-making. Add companies to watchlists, purchase insights, and download reports—all in a few clicks.
    • Enterprise-Ready Intelligence
      For enterprise clients, Smart Deal Finder integrates directly into your internal platforms, giving teams and clients the power of Charli’s investment intelligence under your own brand.

    A New Era for Investment Discovery

    Whether you’re looking to spot rising stars in emerging markets or validate targets across fragmented private equity landscapes, Smart Deal Finder removes the guesswork and delivers clarity. It’s investment intelligence—on demand.

    Try the Smart Deal Finder today by visiting www.charliai.com

    About Charli Capital
    Charli Capital is redefining the future of private investing with a first-of-its-kind dual-sided network, powered by Charli’s multidimensional AI. Our platform empowers investors to uncover hidden opportunities, access high-quality deal flow, and engage in a new era of data-driven, intelligent capital allocation. Charli Capital is where next-generation investment decisions begin.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Fatema Bhabrawala
    Director of Media Relations
    fbhabrawala@allianceadvisors.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AI-Powered Defense at the Edge: Check Point Launches New Branch Office Security Gateways with 4x Faster Threat Prevention Performance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced major advancements to its family of Quantum Force Security Gateways. All Quantum Force Security Gateways for the data center and perimeter are receiving a 15%-25% performance boost in threat prevention throughput – delivered automatically via software update. In parallel, Check Point is launching a new lineup of AI-powered Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways designed to provide enterprise-level firewall security with up to a 4x increase in threat prevention performance from previous models.

    These four new branch firewalls deliver industry-leading 99.9% block rate, lightning-fast cloud application performance, and are optimized for SD-WAN to meet the growing demands of hybrid networks and the modern distributed workforce. According to the latest data from Check Point Research (CPR), branch offices are now facing an average of 713 weekly attack attempts per location, a 36% rise from the same period last year. Additionally, 50% of branch offices encounter attempts to exploit vulnerabilities from external sources, highlighting the urgent requirement for robust branch security and scalable management in the AI era.

    “As we continue to prioritize innovation and efficiency, Check Point’s new Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateway firewalls are built for speed, simplicity, and security,” said Nataly Kremer, Chief Product Officer at Check Point. “They’re 4x faster than previous models, optimized for SD-WAN, and backed by our latest AI-powered threat prevention. And with automatic performance upgrades, existing Quantum Force customers will receive a 15-25% performance boost with a software update — no hardware changes required.”

    Today’s branch offices play a crucial role in engaging directly with customers but often represent the most vulnerable point in network security. Their direct links to the public cloud and the internet make them more susceptible to cyber threats. With the current threat environment and a staggering 44% rise in cyber-attacks year over year, as highlighted in CPR’s 2025 Security Report, there is a significant need to implement strong enterprise firewalls that can effectively defend against online threats without impacting network performance by causing delays or disruptions.

    “World Wide Technology (WWT) provides security products and services to customers across a variety of industries including financial services, manufacturing, retail and healthcare with distributed branch offices,” said Chris Konrad, Vice President of Global Cyber at WWT. “Check Point’s new next-generation Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways with enhanced AI powered threat prevention, empower us to protect these customers from the latest attacks on branch offices. These innovations help our clients reduce risk, streamline operations, and scale securely across hybrid environments — turning cyber resilience into a competitive advantage.”

    Check Point’s Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways capabilities include:

    • Industry-leading threat prevention: A 4x boost in threat prevention throughput with a tried and tested industry leading 99.9% block rate based on Miercom’s 2025 security benchmark report.
    • Optimized for Cloud Applications: Lightning-fast security performance for SaaS apps by optimizing for SD-WAN, expanding network connectivity up to 10X to 10 GbE, and increasing port capacity 2X.
    • Unified Management: Top rated unified security management for enterprise, campus, branch, and cloud environments along with zero-trust policy across the entire enterprise.

    “Branch offices are often the soft spots in enterprise security, providing vulnerable entry-points for attacks and compromising the security posture across the enterprise,” said Pete Finalle, Security Research Manager, at IDC. “Check Point’s new Quantum Branch Office Security Gateways deliver robust threat prevention to the edge, enabling organizations to secure their branch offices from emerging cyber threats while keeping pace with the demands of the hybrid workforce.”

    Availability
    The four new Check Point Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways are available now through our network of global partners. For more details about Check Point Quantum Force, visit our website or check out our blog.

    Follow Check Point via:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
    X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
    Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 

    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements  
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Revenera’s FlexNet Publisher Enterprise Expands Ability to Rapidly Scale License Servers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ITASCA, Ill., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Revenera, producer of innovative platforms that help technology companies build better products, accelerate time-to-value, and monetize what matters, today announced the availability of FlexNet Publisher Enterprise.

    As a global leader in monetization, Revenera empowers software, SaaS and intelligent device producers with a suite of entitlement management and monetization solutions that help customers grow recurring revenue and protect their IP. FlexNet Publisher, one component of Revenera’s monetization solutions, is the de-facto standard for on-premises software licensing, enjoying broad adoption across industries.

    As demand for resource-intensive, high-performance software accelerates – primarily fueled by innovations in cloud computing and AI – companies are running large-scale on-premises license servers to keep pace. FlexNet Publisher Enterprise now allows organizations to scale capacity with fewer resources, boosting performance and reliability while significantly reducing operational costs.

    “The software industry is facing a serious capacity scaling challenge, largely driven by the demands of high-performance computing and AI/ML chip advancements,” said Priji Thomas, VP Product Management at Revenera. “Revenera’s FlexNet Publisher Enterprise meets the challenge of high-volume license management by delivering the enhanced capacity required for efficient use of computational resources, reducing operational and maintenance costs, streamlining operations, and improving customer satisfaction by ensuring seamless access to applications.”

    For industries that rely on advanced simulation, animation, and electronic design automation, FlexNet Publisher Enterprise delivers the robust, scalable infrastructure required to support increased workload demands while ensuring service continuity.

    “At Synopsys, enabling our customers to design and deliver advanced systems on chips (SoCs) is critical to meeting the growing demands of AI, silicon proliferation, and software-defined systems,” said Rajendra Kundapur, executive director of R&D at Synopsys. “By collaborating with Revenera to expand FlexNet Publisher license server capacity, we’ve strengthened our ability to efficiently manage resources, scale to meet increasing needs, and maintain our rapid pace of innovation in support of our customers.”

    Key Benefits of FlexNet Publisher Enterprise:

    • Enhanced Capacity and Lower Costs: Supports up to 12x the current capacity, dramatically reducing the need for large-scale license servers, resulting in improved performance with significantly lower maintenance and operational costs.
    • Streamlined Operations: Simplified infrastructure and improved reliability ensure customers can focus on core business priorities rather than license management.
    • Improved End-User Satisfaction: Optimized performance ensures uninterrupted access, boosting end-user satisfaction to ultimately drive higher renewal rates and recurring revenue for producers.

    For full product details about FlexNet Publisher Enterprise, please visit: https://path.revenera.com/fnl-product-track/swm-ds_flexnet-publisher-enterprise.

    Follow Revenera

    About Revenera
    Revenera helps product executives build better products, accelerate time to value, and monetize what matters. Revenera’s leading solutions help software and technology companies drive top-line revenue with modern software monetization, understand usage and compliance with software usage analytics, empower the use of open source with software composition analysis, and deliver an excellent user experience—for embedded, on-premises, cloud, and SaaS products. To learn more, visit www.revenera.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1e57c00-f9e4-4dee-8018-9a6e84941354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Accelerates Threat Detection and Response with AI-Powered Security Management for the Modern Enterprise

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced the launch of its next generation Quantum Smart-1 Management Appliances, delivering 2X increase in managed gateways and up to 70% higher log rate, with AI-powered security tools designed to meet the demands of hybrid enterprises. Fully integrated within the Check Point Infinity Platform, these new appliances offer faster, more intelligent threat detection and response through a unique hybrid mesh architecture and integration with over 250 third-party solutions.

    “Security teams today face more pressure than ever — from rising AI-generated threats to managing fragmented infrastructures. Our new Quantum Smart-1 Management Appliances simplify that complexity,” said Nataly Kremer, Chief Product Officer at Check Point. “Our new Quantum Smart-1 Management Appliances combine AI, speed, precision, and automation to help organizations manage on-premise, cloud, and distributed IT deployments — faster and smarter.”

    With growing pressures on security teams, their management systems need to evolve. The rise of remote work, branch offices, and distributed teams has greatly increased the areas vulnerable to attacks. Check Point Research’s AI Security Report found that AI services are now used in over 51% of enterprise networks every month, widening security risks and making security policies vital. The new Smart-1 Management Appliances are built to give security teams the speed and agility to stay ahead, the appliances unify operations across on-premises, cloud, and remote environments — streamlining security management while enhancing visibility and control.

    Key Benefits of the New Smart-1 Management Appliances:

    • Scale with Confidence: Manage up to 10,000 gateways — supporting business growth without rearchitecting security infrastructure
    • Faster Response, Lower Risk: Achieve up to 70% higher log processing speeds to accelerate threat detection and response
    • Built-in Compliance Readiness: Store up to 70TB of logs locally for long-term data retention and regulatory requirements
    • Smarter Operations: Consolidate management functions and reduce complexity across hybrid environments
    • Open Ecosystem: Integrate with over 250 third-party solutions

    Now in their 7th generation, the Quantum Smart-1 Management appliances are available in five models — including the high-performance 7000 Ultra — enabling security teams to consolidate infrastructure, reduce operational complexity, and gain faster insights from a single device. The appliances streamline policy and firewall management and can be enhanced with AI-powered tools such as, Infinity AI Copilot, Infinity Playblocks, Policy Advisor, Policy Insights, Compliance, and Infinity AIOps.

    In its recent AI-Powered Cyber Security Platform Benchmark, Miercom recognized Check Point as the top performer across both management usability and security efficacy, validating the strength of the platform that powers Smart-1 Management Appliances. “The Check Point Infinity Platform demonstrated superior security efficacy, consistently outperforming its peers in the test category of comprehensive threat prevention and response, as well as excelling in the AI-powered testing scenarios,” said Rob Smithers, CEO at Miercom. Its AI-driven architecture, hybrid mesh deployment model, and unified security operations prove that Check Point is setting the pace for next-generation cyber security.”

    Quantum Smart-1 Management appliances are available now. For more information, please visit our website or check out our blog.

    Follow Check Point via:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
    X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
    Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 

    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements  
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Atomic Canyon Raises $7M led by Energy Impact Partners to bring AI-Powered Innovation to Nuclear Energy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Atomic Canyon, the developer of the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered search and generative AI tools for the nuclear power industry, today announced it has raised $7 million to accelerate deployments across the country. 

    The seed round was led by the Elevate Future Fund from Energy Impact Partners (EIP), with participation from Commonweal Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, Wischoff Ventures, Tower Research Ventures, and previous angel investors. As part of the investment, Jenny Gao, a Vice President of Energy Impact Partners, will join the Atomic Canyon board of directors.

    Atomic Canyon’s flagship product, Neutron Enterprise, addresses a challenge in the nuclear industry. By securely connecting to internal data sources at nuclear power plants and external authoritative technical and regulatory data sources, it provides AI-powered search and generative AI capabilities across vast repositories of technical documentation. 

    The platform is being rolled out at PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant in Avila Beach, California, where it is transforming how staff access and use the plant’s estimated two billion pages of documents. Initial work shows that Neutron Enterprise reduces document search time from hours to seconds, enabling more strategic use of expert resources while improving regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

    “Our Neutron Enterprise installation at Diablo Canyon demonstrates the transformative power of AI in nuclear operations,” said Trey Lauderdale, CEO of Atomic Canyon. “Nuclear plants deal with enormous volumes of documentation required for regulatory compliance and safe operations. Where plant staff previously spent up to eight hours gathering documentation before starting critical work, our technology allows them to find the exact documents they need in seconds, dramatically increasing productivity while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance. For a typical nuclear facility, this translates to thousands of engineering hours redirected to higher-value activities monthly, enhancing overall operational excellence and allowing skilled professionals to focus on the most critical aspects of plant reliability.”

    Neutron Enterprise leverages FERMI, Atomic Canyon’s family of AI models, which are specifically trained on nuclear terminology. These models were developed in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, using their Frontier supercomputer, the world’s first to achieve exascale computing. The platform integrates with multiple data sources at nuclear facilities, including record management and work management systems, while maintaining strict role-based access controls to ensure data security.

    “Energy Impact Partners is committed to investing in technologies that can help solve our global energy challenges, and nuclear power is an essential part of that solution,” said Jenny Gao, Vice President at Energy Impact Partners. “Atomic Canyon’s innovative use of AI represents an advancement in information access and analysis in the nuclear sector. As the global demand for nuclear energy grows, innovative technologies like Neutron Enterprise at Diablo Canyon create a compelling opportunity to enhance productivity, yield substantial cost savings and make nuclear power more competitive in our energy mix.”

    The new funding will be used to expand Atomic Canyon’s team, enhance the Neutron platform, and develop additional integrations with third-party data sources and AI tools for next-generation nuclear technologies. These partnerships will further strengthen Neutron’s ability to help nuclear power professionals find and generate relevant information across internal and external sources.

    “This investment presents an exciting opportunity to have AI solve the very energy challenges that AI is creating,” added Lauderdale. “The computational demands of artificial intelligence are driving unprecedented electricity consumption, with estimates suggesting data centers could consume 20% of global electricity by 2030. By streamlining information access and knowledge management, we’re making nuclear power more attractive and accessible as a reliable energy source capable of meeting this growing demand for true, clean, energy independence.”

    With the funding, Atomic Canyon also announced its board of advisors including: Juliann Edwards, the Chief Development Officer of The Nuclear Company and the chair of U.S. Women in Nuclear; Bud Albright, the former Chair and CEO of the United States Nuclear Industry Council; David Nelson, former CIO of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Jon Guidroz, SVP of the small modular reactor technology developer Aalo Atomics and former Senior Strategy Officer and Senior Director of Energy and Resources at Microsoft.

    For more information about Atomic Canyon and the Neutron platform, visit www.atomic-canyon.com.

    About Atomic Canyon:
    Atomic Canyon is transforming the nuclear energy sector with AI-powered solutions that streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and support regulatory compliance. Neutron Enterprise, which leverages FERMI AI models that are specifically trained on nuclear terminology, is currently in use at PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant as the only dedicated AI platform for document search, retrieval, augmented generation, and knowledge management, establishing a new standard for precision, efficiency, and data management. These models were developed in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, utilizing Frontier, the world’s fastest supercomputer, along with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) ADAMS database.

    About Energy Impact Partners

    Energy Impact Partners LP (EIP) is a global energy technology investor with a proprietary model designed to drive innovation. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and some of the world’s most forward-thinking energy and industrial companies to advance innovation for a better energy future. Investing in venture, growth/private equity and credit, EIP seeks attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors by leveraging its differentiated strategy and industrial ecosystem. With over 80 corporate partners and over $4.5 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally with over 100 professionals based in its offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Palm Beach, London, Cologne and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit www.energyimpactpartners.com

    Press Contact: atomiccanyon@launchsquad.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aptean Expands DACH Manufacturing ERP Footprint Through Acquisition of VLEX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KULMBACH, Germany and ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aptean Inc., a global front-runner of AI-driven ERP solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Vlexgroup AG (“VLEX”), a leading provider of variant-manufacturing focused ERP solutions for SME customers in the DACH region headquartered in Kulmbach, Germany.

    The acquisition of VLEX further increases Aptean’s DACH footprint while also bolstering its ERP capabilities for the variant-manufacturing sector.

    For over 40 years, VLEX has provided mission-critical variant-manufacturing solutions designed to manage complex, diverse, and fast-moving challenges across the SME manufacturing sector in the DACH region. With deep industry expertise, VLEX’s talented team aligns with Aptean’s strategic focus on the SME manufacturing industry in the DACH region, further strengthening commitment to innovation and excellence.

    “VLEX has a proven track record with over four decades of experience delivering mission-critical variant-manufacturing solutions across the DACH market,” said TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean. “VLEX’s product VlexPlus delivers state of the art software solutions specifically designed to manage the complex needs of the variant manufacturing industry and is backed by a team of seasoned industry experts. VLEX will be an important driver in our strategy to scale our DACH manufacturing capabilities. Welcoming the VLEX team and customers into the Aptean family marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to innovation and success.”

    “We are delighted to join a global organization like Aptean, where together we can continue to develop and deliver innovative solutions to our customers. The combination of our businesses offers an exciting opportunity for VLEX’s future growth given our shared commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Being part of Aptean presents our customers and our team with exciting opportunities for growth and development and we can’t wait to get started,” said Jens Pfeil-Schneider, Chairman Managing Director of VLEX.

    About VLEX

    For over 40 years, VLEX has been a reliable partner for digital transformation and automation in medium-sized manufacturing companies and wholesale businesses. At the heart of their offer is the cloud-enabled ERP software VlexPlus, which acts as a central data and process hub, mapping all processes in the Customer’s value chain right down to the shop floor. Developed for the complex requirements of variant and order manufacturers, the ERP software is based on one of the most modern technology and process frameworks available today. It enables consistently networked work across system and company boundaries. To learn more visit: https://www.vlexplus.com/

    About Aptean
    Aptean is a global provider of industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. Aptean’s solutions and services help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com. Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other companies and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

    For Media Inquiries Please Contact
    MediaRelations@aptean.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Correction: NBPE – April Monthly Net Asset Value Estimate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HEADLINE ALTERATION

    The headline for NB Private Equity Partners announcement released on 28/05/2025 at 07.00 am should read – NBPE – April Monthly Net Assety Value Estimate

    The announcement text is unchanged and is reproduced in full below.

    NBPE Announces April Monthly NAV Estimate

    St Peter Port, Guernsey 28 May 2025

    NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.2bn1, FTSE 250, listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today announces its 30 April 2025 monthly NAV estimate.

    NAV Highlights (30 April 2025)

    • NAV per share was $27.29 (£20.43), a total return of 0.4% in the month
    • Approximately 62% of fair value based on private company valuation information as of Q1 2025 or based on 30 April 2025 quoted prices
    • Based on information received so far, private company valuations increased fair value by 0.4% during Q1 2025 on a constant currency basis
    • NBPE expects to receive additional updated Q1 2025 financial information which will be incorporated in future monthly NAV updates
    • $307 million of available liquidity at 30 April 2025
    • ~151k shares repurchased during April 2025 at a weighted average discount of 33% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.02 per share. Year to date, NBPE has repurchased ~680k shares at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.10 per share
    As of 30 April 2025 Year to Date One Year 3 years 5 years 10 years
    NAV TR (USD)*
    Annualised    		 0.8% 3.4% 4.1%
    1.4%    		 87.7%
    13.4%    		 160.7%
    10.1%
    MSCI World TR (USD)*
    Annualised    		 (0.8%) 12.6% 39.0%
    11.6%    		 96.6%
    14.5%    		 157.2%
    9.9%
               
    Share price TR (GBP)*
    Annualised    		 (8.0%) (8.9%) 3.6%
    1.2%    		 99.0%
    14.7%    		 189.5%
    11.2%
    FTSE All-Share TR (GBP)*
    Annualised    		 4.3% 7.5% 22.6%
    7.0%    		 67.9%
    10.9%    		 75.9%
    5.8%

    * All NBPE performance figures assume re-investment of dividends on the ex-dividend date and reflect cumulative returns over the relevant time periods shown. Three-year, five-year and ten-year annualised returns are presented for USD NAV, MSCI World (USD), GBP Share Price and FTSE All-Share (GBP) Total Returns.

    Portfolio Update to 30 April 2025

    NAV performance during the month driven by:

    • 1.1% NAV increase ($13 million) attributable to changes in foreign exchange
    • 0.9% NAV decrease ($10 million) attributable to changes in prices of quoted holdings (which now constitute 5% of portfolio fair value)
    • 0.3% NAV increase ($4 million) from the value of private holdings
    • 0.2% NAV decrease ($3 million) attributable to expense accruals

    $53 million of realisations in 2025 year to date

    • $6 million of proceeds received during the month of April, consisting primarily of full and partial realisations of GFL, Corona Industrials and Inflection Energy

    $307 million of total liquidity at 30 April 2025

    • $97 million of cash and liquid investments with $210 million of undrawn credit line available

    2025 Share Buybacks

    • ~151k shares repurchased in April 2025 at a weighted average discount of 33%; buybacks were accretive to NAV by ~$0.02 per share
    • Year to date, NBPE has repurchased ~680k shares at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.10 per share

    Portfolio Valuation

    The fair value of NBPE’s portfolio as of 30 April 2025 was based on the following information:

    • 5% of the portfolio was valued as of 30 April 2025
      • 5% in public securities
    • 57% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 March 2025
      • 57% in private direct investments
    • 38% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 December 2024
      • 38% in private direct investments

    For further information, please contact:

    NBPE Investor Relations        +44 (0) 20 3214 9002
    Luke Mason        NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com  

    Kaso Legg Communications        +44 (0)20 3882 6644

    Charles Gorman        nbpe@kl-communications.com
    Luke Dampier
    Charlotte Francis

    Supplementary Information (as at 30 April 2025)

    Company Name Vintage Lead Sponsor Sector Fair Value ($m) % of FV
    Action 2020 3i Consumer 83.9 6.6%
    Osaic 2019 Reverence Capital Financial Services 66.9 5.3%
    Solenis 2021 Platinum Equity Industrials 59.8 4.7%
    BeyondTrust 2018 Francisco Partners Technology / IT 47.7 3.8%
    Monroe Engineering 2021 AEA Investors Industrials 44.7 3.5%
    Business Services Company* 2017 Not Disclosed Business Services 40.1 3.2%
    Branded Cities Network 2017 Shamrock Capital Communications / Media 38.9 3.1%
    True Potential 2022 Cinven Financial Services 35.2 2.8%
    Mariner 2024 Leonard Green & Partners Financial Services 33.7 2.7%
    FDH Aero 2024 Audax Group Industrials 32.9 2.6%
    Marquee Brands 2014 Neuberger Berman Consumer 31.4 2.5%
    GFL (NYSE: GFL) 2018 BC Partners Business Services 30.6 2.4%
    Staples 2017 Sycamore Partners Business Services 29.6 2.3%
    Auctane 2021 Thoma Bravo Technology / IT 29.1 2.3%
    Fortna 2017 THL Industrials 28.7 2.3%
    Viant 2018 JLL Partners Healthcare 27.3 2.2%
    Stubhub 2020 Neuberger Berman Consumer 26.4 2.1%
    Engineering 2020 NB Renaissance / Bain Capital Technology / IT 26.3 2.1%
    Benecon 2024 TA Associates Healthcare 25.5 2.0%
    Agiliti 2019 THL Healthcare 25.3 2.0%
    Kroll 2020 Further Global / Stone Point Financial Services 25.0 2.0%
    Solace Systems 2016 Bridge Growth Partners Technology / IT 24.6 1.9%
    Excelitas 2022 AEA Investors Industrials 24.1 1.9%
    Addison Group 2021 Trilantic Capital Partners Business Services 23.8 1.9%
    Exact 2019 KKR Technology / IT 23.3 1.8%
    CH Guenther 2021 Pritzker Private Capital Consumer 21.2 1.7%
    Bylight 2017 Sagewind Partners Technology / IT 19.9 1.6%
    Constellation Automotive 2019 TDR Capital Business Services 19.0 1.5%
    Real Page 2021 Thoma Bravo Technology / IT 18.8 1.5%
    Tendam 2017 PAI Consumer 18.3 1.4%
    Total Top 30 Investments                             $982.1 77.6%

    *Undisclosed company due to confidentiality provisions.

    Geography % of Portfolio
    North America 77%
    Europe 22%
    Asia / Rest of World 1%
    Total Portfolio 100%
       
    Industry % of Portfolio
    Tech, Media & Telecom 23%
    Consumer / E-commerce 22%
    Industrials / Industrial Technology 17%
    Financial Services 14%
    Business Services 12%
    Healthcare 9%
    Other 4%
    Energy 1%
    Total Portfolio 100%
       
    Vintage Year % of Portfolio
    2016 & Earlier 9%
    2017 16%
    2018 15%
    2019 13%
    2020 13%
    2021 18%
    2022 6%
    2023 2%
    2024 8%
    Total Portfolio 100%

    About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
    NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

    LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

    About Neuberger Berman
    Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $515 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of March 31, 2025.

    1Based on net asset value.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange Launches Hot Coins Trading Week Campaign Series Ahead of 14th Anniversary Celebration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A Media Snippet available here.

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, the world’s longest-serving crypto exchange, is excited to announce the launch of its Hot Coins Trading Week campaign series, marking the beginning of pre-anniversary celebrations leading up to the platform’s 14th milestone in June. The first round of the campaign focuses on carefully selected spot and futures pairs that have gained significant traction among the exchange’s user base of over 7 million.

    The first round, which runs from May 26 to June 2, 2025, features a diverse selection of trending pairs including TRUMP, PI, and AI16Z. The campaign offers substantial rewards totaling 50,000 USDT across two prize pools, including exclusive benefits for new users and trading volume-based rewards for active participants:

    • New User Exclusive Prize Pool: First-time BTCC traders can earn 10 USDT by achieving 10,000 USDT in cumulative trading volume.
    • Trading Champions: High-volume traders compete for rewards ranging from 5 USDT to 800 USDT based on trading volume.

    “These selected pairs not only reflect current market trends, but also align with our users’ trading behavior observed over the past quarter,” said Alex, Head of Operations at BTCC. “After 14 years, we know what our community wants to trade. This campaign gives our traders straightforward spot trading on the assets they’re most excited about, with more rounds featuring different coins coming as we build up to our June anniversary.”

    The timing of this campaign series strategically positions BTCC as it approaches its 14th anniversary milestone in June. The exchange has built a reputation for longevity and stability in the volatile cryptocurrency market, making it one of the industry’s most established platforms.

    Users can participate in the current round through BTCC’s platform, with additional rounds to be announced in the coming weeks. The exchange encourages traders to stay updated on campaign developments and anniversary celebrations through BTCC’s official X account.

    About BTCC

    Founded in 2011, BTCC is one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, offering secure and user-friendly trading services to millions of users globally. With a commitment to security, innovation, and community building, BTCC continues to be a trusted platform in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

    Website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

    X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

    Contact: press@btcc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [GLOBALDATA PLC – 27 05 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 GLOBALDATA PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 27 MAY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 0.01p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 11,013,008 1.3655    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 11,013,008 1.3655    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 8,500 186.375p
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 22,247 187.75p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 28 MAY 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Students of the Polytechnic Institute of Social Sciences won the tournament of young chefs

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Polytechnics won the Yunus Akhmetzyanov Young Chefs Tournament, which was held in Kazan at the Kazan-Expo International Exhibition Center. Students from Moscow, the Sverdlovsk Region, Tatarstan, and other regions of Russia participated in the competition. ISPO SPbPU was represented by three teams of 2nd and 3rd year students.

    To get to the final of the international tournament, the guys had to pass a serious competitive selection. The participants had to prepare an original set of three dishes (appetizer, main course, dessert) on the theme “National Lunch of Your Region”. The ISPO teams presented dishes of St. Petersburg cuisine, successfully passed the semi-finals and performed well in the final stage.

    Egor Ivanov, Ekaterina Romanova and Aleksandr Kiselev won in the Fundamental Knowledge category. The guys prepared a set called “Petrovsky Nocturne”, consisting of forshmak with gorgonzola mousse, a hot dish – chicken roll, mashed potatoes with spinach, wild mushroom mousse, and a dessert called “Blancmange”.

    In the nomination “Technologies of the Future” the best were Irina Murtazina, Darya Shramova and Ivan Voronin. They presented the set “Gold of the North”. Cloudberry was used in each of the three dishes: in the quail appetizer “Northern Desire”, the hot dish of rabbit lapin à Petersburg and in the dessert “White Forest”.

    In the nomination “Art of serving a dish”, the first place was taken by Maria Petrova, Anastasia Semenova and Andrey Bratok. The team prepared a set called “Monplaisir”: bruschetta with roast beef in honey-mustard sauce, duck breast sous-vide under raspberry sauce with pumpkin and celery puree and a tarte charlotte dessert. The guys said that they were inspired by the 19th century, when European culture, including gastronomic culture, came to the Northern capital.

    The jury included international pastry chef, TV presenter, author of cookbooks Nina Tarasova, head of the tournament directorate Mikhail Sharipov, chef and brand chef of the Kazan restaurant chain Andrey Sakhovsky and other experts. The tournament participants received recommendations from authoritative chefs not only from Russia, but also from representatives of other countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco.

    After the tournament, Azerbaijani chef Tahir Amiraslanov visited the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education. In 1984, he graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Soviet Trade. Now Tahir Amiraslanov is the general director of the Center for Azerbaijani National Culinary Arts, the president of the national association of chefs of Azerbaijan, and the author of books on cooking and the art of nutrition. Tahir Amiraslanov gave a lecture to students of the ISPO. He shared stories from his student days, revealed the secrets of preparing some dishes, their composition and serving. After a tour of the Museum of the History of the Development of Public Catering in St. Petersburg, Tahir Amiraslanov donated his books to the ISPO.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Invests in Green Jobs for Youth

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 28, 2025                                                     Ottawa, Ontario                                                            Natural Resources Canada

    Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, announced $15 million to create 470 employment and skills training opportunities for youth across Canada in natural resources sectors including energy, forestry, mining, earth sciences and clean technology.

    Through the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) – Green Jobs, employers in natural resources sectors can apply for funding to hire, train and mentor youth aged 15 to 30 for up to 12 months. These job opportunities will ensure that Canada’s natural resources sectors remain a source of economic growth and prosperity in the future.

    STIP – Green Jobs is part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), which supports youth in gaining the hands-on skills and experience they need to effectively transition into the labour market.

    Visit Natural Resources Canada’s STIP – Green Jobs page to find out how to apply to be an employer or an intern. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Former President Tsai visits UK Parliament and delivers speech at LSE, deepening bilateral ties

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    May 20, 2025  
    No. 165  

    Former President Tsai Ing-wen visited Europe from May 10 to 19, traveling to Lithuania and Denmark before continuing to the United Kingdom. On May 15, the first day of her stay in the United Kingdom, she visited the UK Parliament at the invitation of British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Cochairs Sarah Champion MP and Lord Rogan. She was warmly welcomed by parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. 
     
    The former president met with House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and took part in a reception at the House of Lords, where she delivered a speech. She exchanged greetings with nearly 50 parliamentarians and staff, including former Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza, House of Lords Deputy Speaker Baroness Finlay, Trade Envoy to Taiwan Lord Faulkner, Labour Friends of Taiwan Chair Navendu Mishra MP, former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation and Technology Ben Spencer MP, and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP.
     
    In her address at the House of Lords, former President Tsai said that the growing threat of antidemocratic forces was testing democracy around the world, adding that this demonstrated the need for Taiwan and the United Kingdom to work together in defense of freedom and democracy. She commended the House of Commons for passing a motion last November clarifying that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 made no reference to Taiwan. This was important in countering reckless behavior in the Taiwan Strait, she explained. Highlighting Taiwan’s position on the front line of defending democracy, former President Tsai said that Taiwan was a critical deterrent to China’s expansionist ambitions and would continue to contribute to protecting democratic values.
     
    APPG Cochair Champion noted that Taiwan and the United Kingdom had a deep friendship and shared core values. She said that the United Kingdom should continue to pay attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which she added were essential to global security and prosperity. Cochair Champion noted that in recent years the Taiwan-UK partnership had deepened. She expressed hope that cooperation would expand in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, economic resilience, and other areas.
     
    Former President Tsai also delivered a speech titled “In an Era of Shifting World Order: Taiwan as a Stabilizing Force” at her alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The event was moderated by incoming LSE Law School Dean Andrew Murray, who represented the university and LSE President Larry Kramer. Around 100 people, including General Counsel Elizabeth Messud, attended the speech. In her remarks, former President Tsai noted that the international community was experiencing a reassignment of security responsibilities and a rebalancing of trade relations. She said that to appropriately respond to multiple challenges such as economic fragmentation, political extremism, and military conflict, the function of multilateralism was becoming even more important. The former president emphasized that Taiwan had shown a high degree of resilience in turbulent times in the past, such as during supply chain restructuring, and had proven to be a trustworthy and competitive strategic partner. She added that Taiwan was ready to play a more proactive role in the new world order by further deepening cooperation with democratic countries and contributing to the global trade system. Her remarks were enthusiastically received by the audience. 
     
    During her visit to the United Kingdom, former President Tsai also gave an address at Cambridge University, met with faculty and students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, attended a forum hosted by the Royal United Services Institute, and met with Taiwanese people working in the United Kingdom on technology startups and in the arts.
     
    Taiwan-UK relations have witnessed significant progress in recent years. In 2023, the United Kingdom signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement with Taiwan, becoming the first European country to establish a formal economic and trade framework with Taiwan. The United Kingdom is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, third-largest source of investment, and fifth-most popular destination for Taiwanese students studying abroad. The countries collaborate closely in fields such as technological innovation, renewable energy, and societal resilience. Taiwan will further work together with the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries to advance democratic resilience and prosperity. It looks forward to the United Kingdom continuing to demonstrate its commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region by deploying naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait and taking other concrete actions. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China promotes digital transformation of electronic information manufacturing

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

    BEIJING, May 28 — China has released an implementation plan for the digital transformation of the electronic information manufacturing industry, setting a goal for major enterprises to achieve a numerical control rate of over 85 percent in key production processes by 2027.

    Released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology along with other government organs, the plan underscores the electronic information manufacturing industry as a strategic, fundamental, and pioneering sector of the national economy.

    With a large overall scale, long industrial chains, and broad coverage, it plays a key role in integrating the real and digital economies, advancing new industrialization and fostering new quality productive forces, according to the plan.

    The plan further outlines that by 2027, new information infrastructure will be largely established to support the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of the electronic information manufacturing industry. This infrastructure will see advanced computing and artificial intelligence deeply integrated into industry development.

    It envisions that by 2030, a relatively sound data infrastructure system for the electronic information manufacturing industry will be in place, and an industrial database will be largely completed. By then, a number of flagship smart products will be developed, and a digital ecosystem will take shape.

    The efficiency and quality of the digital transformation will see significant improvements, and new breakthroughs in moving up towards the top end of the global value chain are expected to be achieved by 2030.

    Efforts will be made to promote digital transformation across the entire industrial chain and speed up the trial and adoption of innovative products such as smart wearable devices and intelligent robots, according to the plan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Richtech Robotics Announces Preliminary Inclusion in US small-cap Russell 2000® Index

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Las Vegas, NV, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Richtech Robotics Inc. (Nasdaq: RR) (“Richtech Robotics” or the “Company”), a Nevada-based provider of AI-driven service robots, announces that it has been selected for preliminary inclusion in the US small-cap Russell 2000® Index, according to a preliminary list of additions published by FTSE Russell on Friday, May 23, 2025. The newly reconstituted indexes are expected to take effect after US market close on June 27, 2025, as part of the 2025 Russell Indexes reconstitution. Membership in the Russell 2000® Index, which remains in place for one year, is based on membership in the broad-market Russell 3000® Index. The Company’s stock will also be automatically added to the appropriate growth and value indexes.

    “We believe our preliminary inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index represents a significant validation of the momentum we’re building at Richtech Robotics,” said Matt Casella, President of Richtech Robotics. “It reflects growing market confidence in our long-term vision and the impact our AI-driven automation is having across the service industry. We’re proud of our team’s commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and delivering value to both our customers and shareholders.”

    Russell indices are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. According to the data as of the end of June 2024, about $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell US indexes, which belong to FTSE Russell, a prominent global index provider.

    For more information on the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes and the Russell indexes reconstitution, visit the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

    About Richtech Robotics

    Richtech Robotics is a provider of collaborative robotic solutions specializing in the service industry, including the hospitality and healthcare sectors. Our mission is to transform the service industry through collaborative robotic solutions that enhance the customer experience and empower businesses to achieve more. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge automation, we aspire to create a landscape of enhanced interactions, efficiency, and innovation, propelling organizations toward unparalleled levels of excellence and satisfaction. Learn more at www.RichtechRobotics.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Richtech Robotics’ inclusion in the Russell Index and the potential impact, if any, of such inclusion on Richtech Robotics’ stock.

    These forward-looking statements are based on Richtech Robotics’ current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, risks and uncertainties related to Richtech Robotics’ products, industry and general economic and market conditions. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Richtech Robotics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025, the IPO registration statement and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for Richtech Robotics to predict those events or how they may affect Richtech Robotics. If a change to the events and circumstances reflected in Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements occurs, Richtech Robotics’ business, financial condition and operating results may vary materially from those expressed in Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements.

    Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Richtech Robotics assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Investors:
    CORE IR
    Matt Blazei
    ir@richtechrobotics.com

    Media: 
    Timothy Tanksley
    Director of Marketing
    Richtech Robotics, Inc
    press@richtechrobotics.com
    702-534-0050

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Amy Dolan, 20-Year Mortgage Veteran, Joins Rate in Philadelphia, PA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, announced the addition of Amy Dolan as a new loan officer serving the greater Philadelphia area. With more than two decades of mortgage experience, Dolan brings deep knowledge of loan origination and underwriting to help local buyers confidently navigate the home financing process.

    A recognized industry leader, Dolan is a seven-time All-Star Club Award Recipient and has built a reputation for delivering consistent, high-quality service to homebuyers. Her decision to join Rate reflects a shared commitment to streamlining the mortgage process while putting the customer first.

    “I chose the mortgage industry because helping people achieve their dream of homeownership drives me,” said Dolan. “There’s nothing more rewarding than guiding someone through one of the biggest decisions of their life.”

    Dolan’s community involvement spans well beyond real estate. For the past 14 years, she has led and developed her local youth and high school wrestling program, mentoring student-athletes and building team culture at the grassroots level.

    “We are delighted to welcome Amy to Rate, where her 20 years of mortgage lending experience and deep understanding of underwriting guidelines will ensure a seamless mortgage process for her customers,” said Jeff Nelson, Chief Production Officer – East. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have Amy on our team.”

    This appointment underscores Rate’s continued commitment to investing in experienced loan originators who are trusted in their markets and dedicated to customer care.

    About Rate
    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include: Top 5 Mortgage Lender by Inside Mortgage Finance for 2024; Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years. Visit rate.com for more information.

    Media Contact

    press@rate.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2234cbc-d2ee-4e13-b625-b9c17329982f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Zero Hash Secures Regulatory Approval to Operate in Argentina, Accelerating Global Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zero Hash, the leading crypto and stablecoin infrastructure platform, today announced it has secured regulatory approval to operate in Argentina through its approval as a registered Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) with the National Securities Commission (CNV) of Argentina. This marks another significant milestone in Zero Hash’s strategic global expansion plans. Zero Hash was awarded approval after completing a rigorous registration process overseen by Argentina’s financial regulatory authorities, who have established some of the most comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks in Latin America.

    The newly obtained registration enables Zero Hash to onboard Argentinian customers to its growing suite of digital asset services, including stablecoin payments, payouts, and crypto trading services, in full compliance with local regulatory requirements. The achievement adds to Zero Hash’s extensive global regulatory footprint and marks Zero Hash’s continued growth in Latin America following its previous expansion into Brazil.

    “Securing regulatory approval in Argentina represents the continued acceleration in our international growth strategy,” said Edward Woodford, CEO of Zero Hash. “This registration allows us to serve the vibrant Argentinian market, reinforcing our commitment to operate within jurisdictional regulatory frameworks to serve customers anywhere, anytime, 24/7/365.”

    Argentina has emerged as one of Latin America’s most dynamic cryptocurrency markets. Research shows that 65% of Argentina’s population frequently uses mobile wallets and payment applications for transactions, one of the highest adoption rates in Latin America. Additionally, Argentina has the eighth-largest volume in stablecoin payouts among the more than 60 countries handled by Zero Hash’s global stablecoin payouts rail. Like other markets worldwide, Argentinians use digital assets to protect against high inflation and currency instability.

    The extensive regulatory process requires compliance with stringent anti-money laundering protocols, comprehensive KYC procedures, and robust security standards. With this approval, Zero Hash can now:

    • Provide compliant digital asset services to Argentinian businesses and consumers.
    • Establish local operations to better serve the regional market.
    • Contribute to the growth of Argentina’s emerging digital economy.

    “We build our business through proper regulatory channels,” added Stephen Gardner, Chief Legal Officer at Zero Hash. “Our approach has always been to work collaboratively with local regulators to ensure we meet or exceed compliance requirements in every market we enter.”

    This regulatory approval comes at a crucial time for Argentina’s growing freelance workforce. Recent survey data highlights significant challenges within the country’s traditional financial infrastructure, with 88% of respondents indicating that current local banking and payment systems fail to adequately serve freelancers due to high fees, currency volatility issues, and payment delays.

    “Our entry into Argentina addresses a genuine market need,” added Woodford. “Our research shows that an overwhelming 92% of Argentinian freelancers prefer cryptocurrency payment options. We’ve incorporated these options for our local teams in Argentina, recognizing they deserve fair compensation without diminishing their earnings through unfavorable exchange rates. This reflects the real-world utility of digital assets in providing financial stability, reducing transaction costs, and enabling timely compensation for services rendered.”

    About Zero Hash
    Zero Hash is the leading infrastructure provider for crypto, stablecoin, and tokenized assets. Its API and embeddable dev-kit enables innovators to easily launch solutions across cross-border payments, commerce, trading, remittance, payroll, tokenization and on/off-ramps.

    Zero Hash powers solutions for some of the largest and innovative companies including Interactive Brokers, Stripe, Shift4, Franklin Templeton, Felix Pago, Kalshi and LightSpark. Zero Hash Holdings is backed by investors, including Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and NYCA.

    In the United States, Zero Hash LLC is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business and a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 U.S. jurisdictions. Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC are licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Zero Hash Trust Company LLC has been approved by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks as a non-depository trust company. For information about our global regulatory footprint, including our Argentinian registrations, see here.

    Zero Hash Disclosures

    The Zero Hash services and product offerings may not be available in all jurisdictions, including in the State of New York. Crypto and stablecoin holdings held in Zero Hash accounts are not subject to FDIC or SIPC protections in the U.S., or any such equivalent protections that may exist outside of the U.S. Zero Hash’s technical support and enablement of any asset is not an endorsement of such asset and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any crypto asset. The value of any cryptocurrency, including digital assets pegged to fiat currency, commodities, or any other asset, may go to zero.

    Learn more by visiting zerohash.com or following us on X @ZeroHashX

    Media Contacts
    Zero Hash
    Shaun O’Keeffe
    (855) 744-7333
    media@zerohash.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • UPSC launches new online application portal to streamline exam registration process

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant move to improve the examination process for aspirants, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched a new Online Application Portal, effective from May 28. The portal is designed to simplify and speed up the registration and application process for various UPSC examinations, making it more user-friendly and efficient.

    The new portal, available at [https://upsconline.nic.in](https://upsconline.nic.in), has been structured into four key sections presented as separate cards on the homepage. These include Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form, and Examination.

    The first three sections contain details common to all exams and can be completed at any time, allowing candidates to register their information in advance. Only the fourth section, related specifically to each examination, needs to be filled in when an exam is officially announced. This section will include the exam notification, application form, and application status.

    This setup allows candidates to complete most of the application process ahead of time, helping them avoid last-minute delays and ensuring they are prepared as soon as a new examination is announced. The system enables the reuse of personal and academic information, making the process faster and reducing errors.

    All candidates are required to freshly register on the new portal and fill out their profiles and applications. The older One Time Registration (OTR) system will no longer be applicable. The portal offers detailed instructions on its homepage and within each section to assist candidates with application submission and document uploads.

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to use their Aadhaar Card as their primary identity document during the registration process. Using Aadhaar will allow for quick, seamless authentication and verification of identity and details, creating a permanent and unified record for use across all future UPSC examinations.

    The new portal will be used for the first time for applications to the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam-II, 2025, and the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy (NDA & NA) Exam-II, 2025, both of which are being notified on May 28, 2025.

    With this digital reform, UPSC aims to bring greater transparency, convenience, and efficiency to its recruitment process, supporting the broader push toward digital governance in public service administration.

  • MIL-OSI Canada: NFB animator Co Hoedeman dies at age 84

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 27, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is mourning the passing of distinguished animator and director Co Hoedeman, who died on May 26 in Montreal at the age of 84.

    Born in Amsterdam on August 1, 1940, Co was a master of stop-motion animation whose 1977 NFB production The Sand Castle received the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

    “Co Hoedeman was a master animator, whose long career at the NFB was distinguished by innovative filmmaking and powerful humanitarian themes. He cared deeply for the well-being of children and was also a fierce defender of the importance of public filmmaking. The NFB and the Canadian animation community have lost a dear friend and colleague. Fortunately for us, we have his legacy of beloved works, which embody so much of his unique spirit,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson.

    Select biography

    Shortly after directing his early films with the NFB, including his award-winning Oddball (1969), Co travelled to Czechoslovakia in 1970 to study puppet animation and then returned to the NFB to begin a series of stop-motion gems.

    Tchou-tchou (1972), created with wooden blocks, received the British Academy award (BAFTA) for Best Animated Film.

    During the 1970s, Co created a series of acclaimed animated films based on Inuit traditional stories, collaborating closely with artists from Nunavut and Nunavik.

    Following his Oscar win for The Sand Castle, he continued to experiment with a range of techniques and themes.

    In 1992, he worked with Indigenous inmates at La Macaza Institution to create The Sniffing Bear, a cautionary tale about substance abuse. In 1998, he began work on a beloved children’s series about Ludovic, a young teddy bear, available in the NFB collection Four Seasons in the Life of Ludovic.

    After completing his final film with the NFB, Marianne’s Theatre (2004), Co began a busy independent animation career. He collaborated with the NFB on the co-production 55 Socks (2011), a deeply personal project drawing on his childhood memories during a dark period of Dutch history, the Hunger Winter of 1944–45. He would also adapt his Ludovic character into a popular children’s TV series.

    In 2003, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the NFB paid tribute to Co and his importance to Quebec cinema with an exhibition entitled “Exposition Co Hoedeman – Les Jardins de l’enfance.” The exhibition was presented the following year at the Musée-Château d’Annecy in France.

    Co was interviewed in 2013 for the NFB online anthology Making Movie History and was the subject of the 1980 NFB documentary Co Hoedeman, Animator. All of his NFB films are available online free of charge at nfb.ca.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Want an advanced AI assistant? Prepare for them to be all up in your business

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Isabel Pedersen, Professor of Communication and Digital Media Studies, Ontario Tech University

    Sophisticated AI assistants are becoming commonplace in people’s lives. (Shutterstock)

    The growing proliferation of AI-powered chatbots has led to debates around their social roles as friend, companion or work assistant.

    And they’re growing increasingly more sophisticated. The role-playing platform Character AI promises personal and creative engagement through conversations with its bot characters. There have also been some negative outcomes: currently, Character.ai is facing a court case involving its chatbot’s role in a teen’s suicide.

    Others, like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, promise improved work efficiency through genAI. But where is this going next? Amid this frenzy, inventors are now developing advanced AI assistants that will be far more socially intuitive and capable of more complex tasks.

    The applications of generative AI keep growing.
    (Shutterstock)

    Future shock

    The shock instigated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT two years ago was not only due to the soaring rate of adoption and the threat to jobs, but also because of the cultural blow it aimed at creative writing and education.

    My research explores how the hype surrounding AI affects some people’s ability to make professional judgments about it. This is due to anxiety related to the vulnerability of human civilization, feeding the idea of a future “superintelligence” that might outpace human control.

    With US$1.3 trillion in revenue projected for 2032, the financial forecast for genAI drives further hype.

    Mainstream media coverage also sensationalizes AI’s creativity, and frames the tech as a threat to human civilization.

    Raising the alarm

    Scientists all over the world have signalled an urgency around the implementations and applications of AI.

    Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize winner and AI pioneer, left his position at Google over disagreements about the development of AI and regretted his work at Google because of AI’s progress. The future threat, however, is much more personal.

    Recreating users

    The turn in AI underway now is a shift toward self-centric and personalized AI tools that go well beyond current capabilities to recreating what has become a commodity: the self. AI technologies reshape how we perceive ourselves: our personas, thoughts and feelings.

    The next wave of AI assistants, a form of AI agents, will not only know their users intimately, but they will be able to act on a user’s behalf or even impersonate them. This idea is far more compelling than those that only serve as assistants writing text, creating video or coding software.

    These personalized AI agents will be able to determine intentions and carry out work.

    Iason Gabriel, senior research scientist at Google DeepMind, and a large team of researchers wrote about the ethical development of advanced AI assistants. Their research sounds the alarm that AI assistants can “influence user beliefs and behaviour,” including through “deception, coercion and exploitation.”

    There is still a techno-utopian aspect to AI. In a podcast, Gabriel ruminates that “many of us would like to be plugged into a technology that can take care of a lot of life tasks on our behalf,” also calling it a “thought partner.”

    Senior research scientist at Google DeepMind, Iason Gabriel, discusses the implications of AI.

    Cultural disruption

    This more recent turn in AI disruption will interfere with how we understand ourselves, and as such, we need to anticipate the techno-cultural impact.

    Online, people express hyper-real and highly curated versions of themselves across platforms like X, Instagram or Linkedin. And the way users interact with personal digital assistants like Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa has socialized us to reimagine our personal lives. These “life narrative” practices inform a key role in developing the next wave of advanced assistants.

    The quantified self movement is when users track their lives through various apps, wearable technologies and social media platforms. New developments in AI assistants could leverage these same tools for biohacking and self-improvement, yet these emerging tools also raise concerns about processing personal data. AI tools involve the risk of identity theft, gender and racial discrimination and various digital divides.

    More than assistance

    Human-AI assistant interaction can converge with other fields. Digital twin technologies for health apply user biodata. They involve creating a virtual representation of a person’s physiological state and can help predict future developments. This could also lead to over-reliance on AI Assistants for medical information without human oversight from medical professionals.

    Other advanced AI assistants will “remember” people’s pasts and infer intentions or make suggestions for future life goals. Serious harms have already been identified when remembering is automated, such as for victims of intimate partner violence.



    Read more:
    Features like iPhone’s and Facebook’s ‘Memories’ can retraumatize survivors of abuse

    We need to expand data protections and governance models to address potential privacy harms. This upcoming cultural disruption will require regulating AI. Let’s prepare now for AI’s next cultural turn.

    Isabel Pedersen receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    – ref. Want an advanced AI assistant? Prepare for them to be all up in your business – https://theconversation.com/want-an-advanced-ai-assistant-prepare-for-them-to-be-all-up-in-your-business-253271

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Public health and private equity: What the Walgreens buyout could mean for the future of pharmacy care

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Patrick Aguilar, Professor of Practice of Organizational Behavior, Washington University in St. Louis

    Pharmacies are more than just stores – they’re vital links between people and their health care.

    One of us, Patrick, witnessed this firsthand in 2003 while working as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens in a midsize West Texas town. Each day involved handling hundreds of prescriptions as they moved through the system – meticulously counting pills, deciphering doctors’ handwriting and sorting out confusing insurance issues. The experience revealed that how pharmacies are owned and managed is as much a public health issue as it is a financial one.

    Fast-forward to today, and Walgreens – one of the world’s largest pharmacy chains, which filled nearly 800 million U.S. prescriptions in 2024 – is at a turning point. In March, the company announced it would be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners for US$10 billion, just 10% of its peak market value. That deal takes the storied pharmacy chain off the public market for the first time in nearly 100 years.

    We’re professors who study the intersection of medicine and business, and we think this deal offers a window into the future of pharmacy care. It matters not just to pharmacists but also to the tens of millions of Americans who rely on outlets like Walgreens to meet their everyday health needs.

    The rise and struggles of Walgreens

    A lot has changed in the pharmacy industry since 1901, when Charles R. Walgreen Sr. purchased the Chicago drugstore where he served as a pharmacist. The company went public in 1927, expanded rapidly throughout the 20th century and grew to 8,000 stores by 2013. By 2014, a merger with the European pharmacy chain Alliance Boots made Walgreens one of the largest pharmacy chains in the world.

    More recently, however, the picture for the pharmacy industry hasn’t been so rosy. Labor costs have risen. Front-end retail sales – things like snacks, greeting cards and cosmetics – have fallen. And financial pressures from pharmacy benefit managers – those third-party groups that manage the cost of prescription drug benefits on the behalf of insurers – have grown.

    All of these things have significantly constrained revenues across the industry, leading stores to shutter. Some estimates suggest that as many as one-third of U.S. retail pharmacies have closed since 2010.

    Against that backdrop, Sycamore Partners’ March acquisition of Walgreens raises big questions. What does Sycamore see in this investment, and what might their strategies imply about the future of American pharmacy care?

    Framing the private equity bet

    Private equity firms typically buy companies, streamline their operations and seek to sell them for a profit within five to seven years of the acquisition.

    This growing movement of private equity into the global economy is by no means limited to health care. In 2020, private equity firms employed 11.7 million U.S. workers, or about 7% of the country’s total workforce. The total assets under management by such investors have grown by over 11% annually over the past two decades, a trend that’s expected to continue.

    In looking at Walgreens, Sycamore, like many of these businesses, likely sees an opportunity to buy low, cut costs and improve profitability. One survey of private equity investors found that the most common self-reported sources of value creation in these deals for companies of Sycamore’s size were changing the product and marketing it more robustly to drive demand, changing incentives for those within the business, and facilitating a high-value exit.

    While private owners may have more patience than public markets, critics argue that private equity firms tend to have a short-term focus, looking for quick, predictable services of margin improvement – like, for example, cutting jobs.

    There’s some evidence in favor of that claim. One study found that employment often drops in the years following a private equity buyout. And if the focus shifts to repaying debt or prepping for resale, long-term projects, such as investing in future innovation, can get deprioritized.

    The history of privatized public companies offers a mix of successes and failures. Dell Technologies and hotel chain Hilton are two prominent examples of companies that went private, restructured successfully and came back stronger. In those cases, going private helped management focus without the constant pressure of quarterly earnings reports.

    On the other hand, companies such as Toys R Us, which was taken private in 2005 and filed for bankruptcy in 2018, show how high debt and missed innovation can lead to collapse.

    What’s next for Walgreens

    So, where does this leave Walgreens − and the investors involved in the deal?

    If part of the returns will be driven by “buying low” – the easiest indicator of potential future success to measure as of today – Sycamore started well: Its purchase price represents a mere 8% premium over the market trading value on the day of the announcement, significantly less than the 46% seen across industries in 2023. That said, Sycamore financed 83.4% of the purchase with debt, a number on the high end for these kinds of transactions. Health care groups have pointed to this number while raising concerns that innovation-focused investments may take a back seat to debt obligations.

    As the dust settles on the purchase, Sycamore has indicated an interest in splitting Walgreens into three business units: one focused on U.S. pharmacies, one on U.K. pharmacies and one on U.S. primary health care through its VillageMD subsidiary.

    That’s not unusual: Sycamore has used a similar approach before with its investment in the office supply retailer Staples, a strategy that has garnered strong financial returns but been called into question for its long-term sustainability.

    Given the significant financial challenges VillageMD has faced since its acquisition by Walgreens, this represents an opportunity to separately evaluate and optimize its performance. Meanwhile, Sycamore’s historic focus on retail and customer-focused businesses might help it modernize the in-store experience or optimize staffing.

    For more than a century, Walgreens has survived and adapted to sweeping changes in retail. Now, it’s entering a new chapter – one that could reshape not just its own future but the role of pharmacies in American life.

    Will Sycamore help Walgreens thrive, using its resources to strengthen services and deliver more value to customers? Or will pressure to generate quick returns create problems? Either way, the answer matters – not just for investors but for anyone who’s ever relied on their neighborhood pharmacy to stay healthy.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Public health and private equity: What the Walgreens buyout could mean for the future of pharmacy care – https://theconversation.com/public-health-and-private-equity-what-the-walgreens-buyout-could-mean-for-the-future-of-pharmacy-care-253598

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: High electricity prices zapping your budget? Here are 5 ways to save

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Hannah Wiseman, Professor of Law, Penn State

    Pennsylvania residents may get sticker shock when they see their electric bills this summer. Aging infrastructure, extreme weather, transmission bottlenecks and increased demand are sending electricity rates soaring.

    Widespread rate hikes across the commonwealth started in December 2024 and are continuing in 2025. Rising prices are related to how the wholesale electricity market in Pennsylvania operates, among other factors. Utilities are paying much more than in previous years to ensure they can meet their customers’ future demand, and these costs are being passed on to consumers.

    For example, Philadelphia residents were among those hit with a 10% rate increase that went into effect in January 2025 for all residential customers of PECO, Pennsylvania’s largest electric and gas utility. Some of PECO’s residential customers will see an additional 12.5% rate increase kick in on June 1, 2025.

    A notice from PECO sent May 21, 2025.

    As Penn State University professors who research energy law and electricity markets, we want to suggest five ways Pennsylvania consumers can lower their electric bills amid price hikes.

    1. Use less

    Much like when gasoline prices rise, the best response for individual consumers when electric rates go up is often to use less electricity.

    The largest efficiency improvements typically involve weatherizing a home – for example, adding insulation or sealing drafty windows and doors. Installing energy-efficient appliances such as heat pumps or changing your thermostat setting a few degrees can also save money.

    Weatherization has an added benefit: improved health. In addition to maintaining a more comfortable indoor temperature, weatherizing paired with ventilation improvements can improve indoor air quality and control indoor moisture and mold.

    Making a home more energy efficient can be tricky for low-income people, who might not be able to afford the costs, and renters, who don’t own the premises. However, Pennsylvania offers several programs to help residents make energy efficiency improvements, and organizations such as the Philadelphia Energy Authority try to reach low-income households.

    Through the state’s low income usage reduction program, eligible tenants can receive help installing energy-saving features with written permission from their landlord. The multifamily weatherization assistance program has also provided grants for weatherization measures such as insulation and “air sealing to reduce infiltration” in buildings with five or more units that meet income criteria for residents.

    In Pennsylvania, residential electricity rates are expected to climb 10% or more in each of the next three years.
    MStudioImages/E+ Collection via Getty Images

    2. Shop around – but buyer beware

    Pennsylvania has what is called “retail electricity choice,” which means residents can pick who generates their electricity. For example, consumers can shop around for different rates charged per kilowatt-hour of electricity they consume or for electricity produced from wind and solar power.

    But electricity customers cannot choose who carries that electricity to their residences. That is done by a regulated electric distribution company, or utility, with a monopoly on service.

    Consumers can sometimes reduce their bills by choosing a cheaper offer for generation. But retail choice can be risky if consumers do not carefully read the conditions of the contract.

    For example, some plans charge a higher rate than the default rate from the distribution company. Others charge different rates depending on whether the electricity is consumed during peak or off-peak hours. And still others lock customers into long contracts at a fixed price. This becomes undesirable if the default electricity rate drops lower than the contracted rate.

    3. Try solar

    For those who own their home, installing rooftop solar panels is another way to avoid higher electric bills.

    The cost of solar panels has fallen steadily for many years, and rising electric rates make the economics of solar better.

    Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg, Pa., installed solar panels to offset power consumption.
    Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Pennsylvania also has fairly advantageous rules for “net metering, which allows solar homeowners to get credits from the utility for excess solar power fed back into the grid.

    For example, say a customer uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a month and their rooftop solar panels generate 1,200 kilowatt-hours. They won’t have to pay for the 1,000 kilowatt-hours they used, and those additional 200 kilowatt-hours will be credited on their next monthly electric bill.

    Additionally, a number of federal and state tax incentives are available for rooftop solar energy in Pennsylvania. These incentives offset some of the up-front costs of installing solar panels.

    Buying solar panels is a high up-front expense, however, even with tax credits. Programs such as Solarize Greater Philadelphia can help reduce the cost. But keep in mind that not all properties have roofs that are large, strong or sunny enough to benefit from solar.

    For homeowners with suitable roofs, third-party solar is another option. This is when a company installs and continues owning the solar panels and charges the customer a fixed rate for the electricity produced by the solar panels. This rate is typically cheaper than the rate offered by the utility. But as with any contract, consumers need to read the fine print carefully and understand the long-term obligation.

    4. Go to a public hearing

    Local electric utilities are regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Pennsylvania residents can file formal complaints with the PUC about rate hikes, or they can attend one of PUC’s public input hearings.

    At these hearings, consumers can voice their concerns or argue against certain utility expenditures, such as lobbying expenses that utilities sometimes recoup through charges to customers.

    Consumers might want to pay particular attention to the commission’s proceedings as it considers new electric rates and regulation for data centers and other large-load customers. These rates will determine which costs are shouldered by the data center operators and which costs wind up on the electric bills of all Pennsylvanians.

    Consumers can file comments to advocate for a rate-sharing plan they believe will be fair.

    5. Think holistically

    As Americans continue to digitize their lives, electricity demand – and therefore prices – will likely continue to rise.

    Existing electric power grids are strained by increasing demand.
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images

    Given that growing electricity demand contributes to higher future rates, consumers may want to think about the energy-intensive online applications they use, such as data storage and all the AI features that tech companies are integrating into their products.

    Consumers might also want to consider the types of energy they want produced in their neighborhood. Many people understandably oppose constructing new energy facilities in their communities due to the aesthetic impacts, use of land and in some cases pollution. But this opposition can also slow the construction of new energy generation.

    Better processes for community involvement can enable the construction of generation with fewer negative impacts. These processes include, among other things, more detailed developer-community discussions and more comprehensive and thoughtful community benefits agreements. These agreements allow communities to negotiate services and resources that the energy developer will provide them. Such offerings might include vocational training programs, financial or other donations, or commitments to hire local labor.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

    Hannah Wiseman receives or has recently received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Arnold Ventures, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She is a member of the Center for Progressive Reform.

    Seth Blumsack receives or has recently received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Heising Simons Foundation, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Center for Rural Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

    – ref. High electricity prices zapping your budget? Here are 5 ways to save – https://theconversation.com/high-electricity-prices-zapping-your-budget-here-are-5-ways-to-save-256049

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin visits the Metalloobrabotka 2025 exhibition at the Expocentre Fairgrounds

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    This year marks the 25th anniversary of the international exhibition.

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalworking – 2025”. With the Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov

    May 28, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025”. The stand of LASSARD LLC. General Director of LASSARD LLC Oleg Nefedov gives explanations

    May 28, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025”. The stand of LASSARD LLC. General Director of LASSARD LLC Oleg Nefedov gives explanations

    May 28, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025”. The stand of LASSARD LLC. General Director of LASSARD LLC Oleg Nefedov gives explanations

    May 28, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalworking – 2025”. With the Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov

    The International Specialized Exhibition “Equipment, Devices and Tools for the Metalworking Industry” – “Metalloobrabotka” has been held since 1984 and is one of the largest international industry expositions in the machine tool industry. This year is the 25th anniversary international exhibition. The event will be attended by more than 1.2 thousand companies, including about 840 from 50 regions of Russia, as well as exhibitors from Belarus, China, India, Korea, Italy, Turkey and South Korea.

    The exhibition’s business program is focused on applied tasks and strategic issues of development of basic industries.

    The key focus of the business part is on the implementation of the national project “Production and Automation Tools” – its goals and key indicators, government support measures, as well as issues of technological leadership as a priority area of industrial policy, including issues of import independence, development of scientific and technical potential and training of highly qualified personnel.

    The event serves as a key platform for presenting advanced developments in the machine tool industry, and also contributes to the formation of sustainable production and technological chains. The exhibition is aimed at promoting industrial cooperation, strengthening ties between manufacturers, suppliers and consumers, implementing domestic solutions and expanding import-independent supplies of equipment and components.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Solar and wind power curtailments are increasing in California

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    May 28, 2025

    The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the grid operator for most of the state, is increasingly curtailing solar- and wind-powered electricity generation as it balances supply and demand amidst rapid renewables capacity growth.

    Grid operators must balance supply and demand to maintain a stable electric system. The output of wind and solar generators is reduced either through price signals or, rarely, through an order to reduce output during periods of:

    • Congestion, when power lines don’t have enough capacity to deliver available energy
    • Oversupply, when generation exceeds customer electricity demand

    In 2024, CAISO curtailed 3.4 million megawatthours (MWh) of utility-scale wind and solar output, a 29% increase from the amount of electricity curtailed in 2023.

    Solar accounted for 93% of all the energy curtailed in CAISO in 2024. CAISO curtailed the most solar in the spring, when solar output was relatively high and electricity demand was relatively low, because moderate spring temperatures meant less demand for space heating or air conditioning.

    In 2014, a combined 9.7 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar photovoltaic capacity had been built in California. By the end of 2024, that number had grown to 28.2 GW.

    CAISO also curtails solar generation to leave room for natural gas generation. A certain amount of natural gas generation must stay online throughout the day to comply with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards and to have generation online in time to ramp up in the evening hours.

    Solar energy supplies almost half of CAISO’s electricity demand between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., but demand increases in the later evening hours when people come home from work and turn up air conditioners or electric heaters and turn on lights, ovens, computers, and televisions. This need is especially apparent on hot summer evenings after the sun has set and no longer produces solar power overnight.

    CAISO is trying to reduce curtailments in several ways:

    • Trading with neighboring balancing authorities to try to sell excess solar and wind power
    • Incorporating battery storage into ancillary services, energy, and capacity markets
    • Including curtailment reduction in transmission planning

    In addition, starting this year, companies are planning to use excess renewable energy to make hydrogen, some of which will be stored and mixed with natural gas for summer generation at the Intermountain Power Project’s new facility scheduled to come online in July.

    The Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) is a real-time market that allows participants outside of CAISO to buy and sell energy to balance demand and supply. In 2024, more than 274,000 MWh of curtailments were avoided by trading within the WEIM, equivalent to about 8% of the electricity curtailed that year. The Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) is expected to be operational by May 2026 and will allow CAISO another outlet to sell solar energy.

    To further reduce renewable curtailments and increase the stability of the grid, CAISO is promoting the addition of flexible resources that can quickly respond to sudden increases and decreases in demand. Battery storage, recently the key flexible resource to come online, allows some renewable energy to be stored and used 4-8 hours later in the day. Batteries can charge using excess solar power at midday and then discharge that energy when the sun is going down, providing electricity during hours when it is most needed. Battery capacity in CAISO increased by 45% in 2024, from 8.0 GW in 2023 to 11.6 GW in 2024 according to our survey of recent and planned capacity changes. However, in the spring, more solar energy than can be used within a day is often produced. Without more transmission capacity or a long-term storage solution, high curtailments during this time of year can still occur.

    Principal contributor: Lori Aniti

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Major investment banks raise 2025 China economic growth forecasts

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

    BEIJING, May 28 — Leading financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, have recently raised their forecasts concerning China’s GDP growth in 2025, given that China’s pro-growth policies are helping the Chinese economy maintain its growth momentum, while recent China-U.S. trade talks in Geneva have also yielded substantive results.

    Goldman Sachs released a research report on May 13, in which it decided to raise its forecast for China’s GDP growth in 2025 by 0.6 percentage points, elevating it from 4 percent to 4.6 percent.

    “We are raising our forecasts for China’s 2025 export value growth to 0 from -5 percent previously,” said Shan Hui, chief China economist at Goldman Sachs. Accordingly, within the GDP breakdown by the expenditure approach, Goldman Sachs raised the net export contribution to China’s GDP growth prediction from -0.5 percentage points to 0.1 percentage points.

    Nomura, meanwhile, also increased China’s GDP growth forecast in a report released on May 19. According to the report, the easing of trade tensions between China and the U.S. is a material positive for China’s economy, especially for Q2, as exporters might try to front-load their shipments before the 90-day tariff pause ends. In addition, retail sales in China produced a robust performance in Q1 with the support of its expanded trade-in program.

    Notably, China’s National Bureau of Statistics revealed that retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country’s consumption strength, had expanded 5.1 percent year on year in China in April.

    “As such, we have raised our Q2 GDP growth forecast from 3.7 percent year on year to 4.8 percent, and slightly raised both Q3 and Q4 growth forecasts from 3.6 percent to 4 percent. For the entire year, we have increased our GDP growth forecast to 4.5 percent year on year from 4 percent,” said Lu Ting, chief China economist at Nomura.

    J.P. Morgan revised China’s GDP growth forecast to 4.8 percent year on year from 4.1 percent. Zhu Haibin, chief China economist at J.P. Morgan, cited a slew of pro-growth measures as major contributors to sound economic growth amid trade headwinds.

    “Since the end of September last year, China has witnessed the most profound and extensive policy adjustment in recent years,” Zhu said, adding that China has proposed a raft of more proactive fiscal policy measures this year, including setting the deficit-to-GDP ratio at around 4 percent and issuing more government bonds to shore up the economy.

    Morgan Stanley raised China’s GDP growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points to 4.5 percent, citing improving household and public consumption in China in 2025.

    According to Xing Ziqiang, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, the key driver of personal consumption growth will likely be the consumption goods trade-in program, with coverage expanded to include less-durable goods. He added that public consumption growth is also expected to rise thanks to the government debt swap program.

    “AI breakthroughs this year have reminded the market about China’s often-overlooked supply chain and innovation strength abundance, supported by a robust ecosystem that integrates infrastructure, data, talent and energy. We believe the AI revolution will give a boost to China’s potential GDP over the medium term by generating more labor equivalent value,” said Xing.

    Financial institutions, including Standard Chartered and UBS, have also published views that the Chinese economy had displayed strong resilience amid uncertainties — with helpful fiscal and monetary policies taking effect.

    “Data showed strong growth in retail sales of goods subsidized as part of the government’s consumer goods trade-in program and solid expansion in infrastructure and manufacturing investment, supported by frontloaded government bond issuance. These factors likely will remain supportive for growth in Q2,” read a Standard Chartered report released on May 21.

    Thomas Fang, head of China global markets at UBS, said this basket of government policies has sent a strong signal to stabilize growth, injecting solid and predictable confidence into the real economy and capital market.

    Moreover, several high-profile bankers have visited China recently, including Chair of Citigroup John Dugan and CEO of Carlyle Group Harvey Schwartz. They have expressed optimism about the prospects of China’s economic development and willingness to commit to long-term cooperation with China.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: FDCTech Engages E.F. Hutton to Lead Capital Raise and Advise on Uplisting to a Senior Exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    E.F. Hutton’s leadership has advised on over $750 million in private credit deals, reinforcing its commitment to strategic financing and diversified investment solutions.

    Irvine, CA, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FDCTech, Inc. (“FDC” or the “Company,” PINK: FDCT), a fintech-driven firm specializing in acquiring and scaling small to mid-size legacy financial services companies, today announced that it has engaged E.F. Hutton & Co. LLC (“E.F. Hutton”) as its financial advisor. E.F. Hutton will provide general financial advisory services to FDCTech, including assistance in identifying and evaluating financing opportunities and potential strategic transactions. The engagement letter with E.F. Hutton became effective as of May 23, 2025.

    E.F. Hutton, a brokerage firm under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Joseph T. Rallo, has advised on over $750 million in private credit transactions across sectors including consumer, defense, industrials, healthcare, real estate, and technology. The firm’s global expertise in complex financial transactions and strategic capital solutions will help FDCTech pursue its growth and capital raise initiatives.

    Since December 2021, FDCTech has been rapidly growing its revenue and balance sheet, reflecting the success of its expansion and integration strategy. In February 2025, the Company engaged Lucosky Brookman LLP, a nationally recognized corporate and securities law firm, to assist in exploring an uplisting to a senior national securities exchange, such as the Nasdaq Capital Market or the New York Stock Exchange. Today’s announcement of E.F. Hutton’s engagement is another crucial step in the Company’s plan to pursue an uplisting and access broader capital markets.

    By leveraging E.F. Hutton’s extensive global network and deep industry relationships, FDCTech aims to accelerate its growth trajectory in 2025 and beyond, in line with its mission to become a leader in diversified financial services driven by its proprietary technology infrastructure. The Company intends to capitalize on E.F. Hutton’s advisory and capital markets expertise to support its multi-jurisdictional growth strategy and maximize long-term shareholder value.

    For more information on the Company’s results and strategic plans, please visit our SEC filings or the Company’s website.

    E.F. Hutton

    E.F. Hutton & Co. is a broker-dealer headquartered in New York, NY that provides advisory and financing solutions to a variety of clients including corporates, sponsors, and public-private partnerships. The Executive Team at E.F. Hutton & Co. has a proven track record of providing unwavering strategic advice to clients across the globe, including the US, Asia, Europe, UAE, and Latin America.

    Lucosky Brookman LLP

    Lucosky Brookman LLP is a full-service corporate and securities law firm providing sophisticated legal representation to public and private companies, institutional investors, and entrepreneurs. The firm specializes in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance. With extensive experience in securities law and exchange listings, Lucosky Brookman assists companies in navigating complex financial transactions and regulatory frameworks.

    FDCTech, Inc.

    FDCTech, Inc. (“FDC”) is a regulatory-grade financial technology infrastructure developer designed to serve the future financial markets. Our clients include regulated and OTC brokerages and prop and algo trading firms of all sizes in forex, stocks, commodities, indices, ETFs, precious metals, and other asset classes. Our growth strategy involves acquiring and integrating small to mid-size legacy financial services companies, leveraging our proprietary trading technology and liquidity solutions to deliver exceptional value to our clients.

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    This press release’s statements may be forward-looking statements or future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets, and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. The Company does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or updated status of such forward-looking statements or information provided by the third party. Therefore, in no case will the Company and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or any related damages.

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    FDCTech, Inc.
    info@fdctech.com
    www.fdctech.com
    +1 877-445-6047
    200 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 300,
    Irvine, CA, 92618

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