Category: Technology

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Art Store Brings Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and More to Screens in 4K

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung Electronics today announced the addition of new pieces from Disney’s iconic portfolio to the Samsung Art Store,1 offering TV users worldwide a stunning new way to enjoy beloved visuals from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic — all in crystal-clear 4K resolution.
     
    “We’re thrilled to expand our collaboration with Disney to offer their most beloved artwork to our global community of Art Store users,” said Heeyeong Ahn, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By offering a diverse range of artistic content that transcends genres and generations, we aim to enrich the everyday lives of our users with art.”
     

     
    The new Disney Collection transforms living rooms into immersive digital galleries, featuring classic and contemporary works that celebrate storytelling, adventure and the beauty of our planet. From the heartwarming tales of Disney princesses from films like “The Little Mermaid,” “Snow White,” and “Tangled” to the legendary “Star Wars saga” and the breathtaking wildlife of “Planet Earth,” the collection also offers fans a chance to discover new favorites — all through the lens of stunning digital art.
     
    Samsung Art Store, a global digital art subscription platform available on Samsung TVs, now offers over 3,500 curated artworks from more than 800 artists and 70 world-class galleries and museums. First launched in 2017 with The Frame, the Art Store experience is now available on 2025 Samsung AI-powered Neo QLED and QLED TVs,2 giving more viewers access to premium art in 4K resolution.
     
    In addition to this latest Disney collaboration, users can easily enjoy masterpieces from world-renowned museums such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée d’Orsay, as well as a variety of contemporary and modern artworks showcased at Art Basel, from the comfort of their homes. The service also includes curated selections handpicked by professional art experts on a monthly basis, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
     
    For more information, visit www.samsung.com.
     
     
    1 The Disney Collection is now available in selected countries across Asia, North America (including the United States and Canada), and Europe, where the Samsung Art Store is supported.
    2 For models Q7F and above.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech – INMA launches new Advertising Initiative aimed at demystifying opaque digital ecosystem

    Source:  International News Media Association (INMA)

    NEW YORK (20 May 2025) – The INMA Board of Directors today approved an Advertising Initiative aimed at equipping media leaders with practical guidance on first-party data activation for advertising, premium ad products, revenue diversification strategies, measurement and attribution, AI, navigating brand safety, and evolved selling approaches.

    Former New York Times advertising executive Gabriel Dorosz will lead the INMA Advertising Initiative. Dorosz is the former executive strategy director, advertising, and head of audience strategy & insights at The New York Times. He previously served in strategy roles at WPP, FCB, Cramer-Krasselt, Blast Radius, CTG/Morpheus Media, and more.

    The Advertising Initiative will use practical research, case studies, and implementation guides to give CEOs and chief revenue officers the tools to build sustainable advertising revenue. Key deliverables for INMA members will include blogs, newsletters, Webinars, master classes, seminars, a Slack channel, reports, and Ask Me Anything sessions with members.

     

    “We want to simplify and demystify what is often opaque or overly complex about the digital advertising ecosystem for media leaders,” said Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA. “We want to focus on realistic implementation rather than theory. We want to bridge the gap between the cutting-edge possibility and business realities.”

    In a presentation to the INMA Board of Directors today, Dorosz recommended primary focus areas as:

    First-party data activation for advertising revenue: Building actionable strategies to collect, unify, and monetise first-party data specifically for advertising use cases and revenue growth – for example, segmentation models and clean rooms.

    Advertising format and product innovation: Developing high-performing advertising formats that deliver demonstrable results across channels such as video, audio, print-to-digital bridging, and cross-media packaging.

    Sales and revenue diversification strategies: Creating balanced approaches that maximise direct deals while expanding beyond traditional display formats such as events, branded content, and programmatic.

    Measurement and attribution excellence: Implementing frameworks that prove advertising impact and demonstrate ROI across platforms such as brand lift, incrementality, attention metrics, and cross-platform attribution.

    Secondary focus areas include:

    Talent and organisation design: Building the teams and structures needed to succeed in the evolving advertising landscape with focus on local market needs, talent attraction and development, and breaking silos.

    Brand safety and news environment value: Transforming news content challenges into premium advertising advantages through differentiation of premium news environment and performance case studies.

    AI-powered advertising operations: Deploying AI strategically across the advertising lifecycle – e.g. targeting, optimisation, dynamic pricing, and yield optimisation – to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and revenue.

    Ad industry insight and strategic partnerships: Understanding buyer perspectives, industry trends, insights and best practices (e.g., social, influencers, video), ad tech ecosystem dynamics, trade associations, and effective vendor relationships.

    Board members emphasised the need to balance revenue models as well as legacy vs. digital models. Dorosz talked about the need to speak to different buyer motivations in different markets, whether quality- or scale-focused. He also discussed balancing direct and programmatic advertising, with programmatic providing efficiency at lower CPMs while direct sales requiring more innovation and resources but offering premium opportunities.

    Board members suggested that the news industry could use an injection of creativity and ideas when it comes to advertising, with data and digital products crucial to success. Native advertising, events, and content commerce are also keys.

    Another emerging theme from INMA Board members is the need to shift the news industry storyline from reach to engagement. For example, direct traffic is much more valuable than social and search. Measurement priorities should shift from performance to brand lift, incrementality, attention, and top-of-the-funnel metrics.

    While legacy platforms such as print, television, and radio continue to deliver significant revenue to media companies, digital advertising and commerce is emerging as the future-proofing route for most. More than 75% of global advertising now goes to digital channels, Dorosz said.

    The Advertising Initiative is INMA’s sixth active initiative focused on news media’s emerging business models: Readers First Initiative led by Greg Piechota; Digital Platform Initiative led by Robert Whitehead; Product & Tech Initiative led by Jodie Hopperton; Newsroom Transformation Initiative led by Amalie Nash; and Generative AI Initiative led by Sonali Verma.

    About International News Media Association (INMA)

    The International News Media Association (INMA) is a global community of market-leading news media companies reinventing how they engage audiences and grow revenue in a multiplatform environment. The INMA community consists of more than 22,000 members at 1,000+ news media companies in 90+ countries, representing tens of thousands of news brands. INMA is the news media industry’s foremost ideas-sharing network with members connected via conferences, reports, Webinars, virtual meetings, awards competitions, and an unparalleled archive of best practices. Its initiatives focus on reader revenue, advertising & commerce, product & tech, generative AI, newsroom transformation, and the publisher relationship with tech platforms.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grangemouth workers receive ‘training guarantee’

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Grangemouth workers receive ‘training guarantee’

    Grangemouth workers receive ‘training guarantee’ to benefit from clean energy jobs.

    • Over 260 workers have received 1:1 skills support from Forth Valley College to support their transition into new, high-skilled jobs, with 184 workers already beginning training   

    • signals swift delivery of the Prime Minister’s commitment to a ‘training guarantee’ to secure a future for workers, as part of the Plan for Change  

    • Energy Secretary and Energy Minister join Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in first Grangemouth Investment Taskforce meeting today to discuss securing private investment and a long-term future for Grangemouth – backed by £200 million from the UK government, and £25 million from the Scottish Government   

    Petroineos refinery workers at Grangemouth are being actively supported through the Prime Minister’s commitment to a ‘training guarantee’ to help secure new well-paid work, as part of the UK and Scottish Governments’ pledge to secure a future for those affected by the closure of the oil refinery.   

    The government took swift action to protect workers after Petroineos confirmed their plans to close the refinery, including announcing up to £10 million to provide new skills support that will help the site’s workers into good clean energy jobs, as well as supporting new energy projects in the region. This also included a commitment from the Prime Minister in February to deliver a “training guarantee”.  

    This guarantee is now being delivered, with 184 out of 300 workers having now engaged in retraining activity with the majority of the remaining workforce registered for training.  

    Workers have been offered a wide range of training opportunities, including renewable energy upskilling courses and wind turbine engineering courses, paid for and supported by the UK and Scottish Governments. This will provide them with the vital skills needed to secure new jobs, including in the clean energy sector – which currently supports more than 42,000 jobs in Scotland.   

    Every Petroineos worker affected by the decision to close the oil refinery has now been provided the opportunity for 1:1 interviews with careers specialists at Forth Valley College.  

    These will help identify their skills, qualifications and training needs to create a programme of bespoke courses that will ensure their smooth transition into new roles – supporting the next generation of good jobs and driving economic growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change.  

    It comes as the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin and Energy Minister Michael Shanks join the Office for Investment, Scottish Enterprise, National Wealth Fund and Scottish National Investment Bank for the inaugural Grangemouth Investment Taskforce meeting today where they will discuss securing private investment in the future of the site – with 66 enquiries received so far.  

    Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said:  

    The workforce at Grangemouth is highly skilled with significant transferrable experience which our training commitment recognises by providing tailored support for workers into new employment opportunities. 

    As well as continuing to work to secure the site’s long-term industrial future, we want to ensure no worker is left behind and that they are equipped with the skills they need to secure good jobs. This is our Plan for Change in action. 

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

    The Scottish Government’s immediate focus has rightly been on supporting workers who have lost their jobs. We committed up to £450,000 to ensure that they are supported and assisted to secure other employment and to contribute their valuable skills to Scotland’s green economy.  

    That is why we are also working to secure Grangemouth’s role in that future and create an investible industrial strategy for the site. It’s clear that real progress is being made on the findings from Project Willow. We are working closely with Scottish Enterprise – who are already assessing nearly 70 inquiries aligned to the full range of technologies set out in the report – and we are determined to ensure we realise the full potential for the site’s transformation. 

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:  

    We know this is a worrying time for workers and their families at Grangemouth. I am pleased more than 260 highly skilled workers have already received support from Forth Valley College thanks to funding from the UK government as part of the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal package. 

    By offering bespoke training in renewable energy and wind turbine engineering, we’re not just supporting individual workers but also helping Scotland lead the way in clean energy jobs. We are determined that Grangemouth will have a green energy future and have committed £200 million through the National Wealth Fund toward that. 

    Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said:   

    The College continues to work extremely hard to make sure that all the Petroineos employees affected by the refinery closure, are able to access the support they need as they begin their transition into new training, careers and jobs.  

    We are making learning work in our Forth Valley communities and beyond, and we want to assure everyone that we will continue to be there for them as they take the next steps in their careers and their studies. 

    Steven Bell, former Hazardous Areas Technician at Petroineos Grangemouth Refinery, said:   

    The support I received from Forth Valley College with retraining during the redundancy process has been exceptional.  

    From my 1:1 meetings discussing courses that I would be interested in and what my future career path might be, right through to getting booked onto the courses I had selected, nothing was too much trouble.  

    All in all, I can say I am absolutely delighted with what Forth Valley College have provided for me during this process. 

    The training support has helped workers enter new employment. For example, former Hazardous Areas Technician Steven Bell took part in a range of courses that enabled him to renew his Electricians Grade Card, as well as courses in working in hazardous areas which will support him in his new role as a Compliance Supervisor with a company involved in the pharmaceutical and distillery sector.  

    It follows the publication of a feasibility report ‘Project Willow’ that provided nine proposals for Grangemouth, backed by £200 million from the UK government and £25 million from the Scottish Government, which will support jobs, unlock investment and drive growth.  

    The report sets out various options for the site, including plastics recycling, hydrogen production and other projects that could create up to 800 jobs by 2040. This will help to grow the economy and deliver on both governments’ shared ambition to secure a long-term future for Grangemouth – with Scottish Enterprise already receiving a high level of interest from potential investors.  

    The UK government is unlocking Scotland’s clean energy potential and recently awarded £55.7 million to the Port of Cromarty Firth to develop and manufacture new floating offshore wind farms in Scotland. It has also launched a Skills Passport to support oil and gas workers to identify routes into several roles in offshore wind including construction and maintenance.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guilty Verdicts for Maryland Members of a PCP and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Centered in D.C.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               WASHINGTON – Kenneth Watts, 57, of Upper Marlboro, Md., and James Kinard, 47, of Temple Hills, Md., were found guilty by a federal jury today for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large amounts of cocaine, fentanyl and PCP in the DMV. The conspiracy also used firearms to protect their narcotics and the proceeds from their trafficking operation.

               The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

               The jury found both defendants guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP. The jury also found defendant Kinard guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for August 7, 2025. Watts and Kinard each face a minimum-mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

               Watts has two prior felony drug convictions. Kinard has a prior 1995 conviction for second-degree murder while armed and a prior 2016 conviction assault with intent to commit robbery while armed and related offenses. Kinard was on supervised release during the investigation in this case.

               Three co-defendants pleaded guilty before the case went to trial on May 7.

               Melvin Grayson, 51, of District Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine, more than 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and more than one kilogram or more of PCP. Grayson faces a minimum-mandatory sentence of ten years. He  has two prior felony drug convictions from 1993.

               Tyrone Ragland, 56, aka “Tech,” of the District, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of PCP. Charles Cunningham, 58, of the District, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to their plea agreements, Ragland and Cunningham will be required to serve 15 years in prison. Cunningham has four prior felony drug convictions.

               According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, officers with the Prince George’s County Police Department intercepted a package containing six kilos of PCP at a FedEx facility in Maryland. The officers set up a controlled delivery of the package and stopped defendant Kenneth Watts after he picked it up. In Watts’ cell phone, investigators found text messages linking Watts to the package and to co-defendant Melvin Grayson.

               Through controlled purchases and wiretaps, evidence showed that Grayson distributed PCP, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The investigation also showed that defendants Ragland, Cunningham, Kinard and others conspired with Grayson to distribute the narcotics. In search warrants conducted at various residences, agents recovered four firearms, more than 2.5 kilos of PCP, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, and approximately $50,000 in cash. 

               This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Cross Border Task Force and the DEA Washington Field Office, with assistance from MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division and the Prince George’s County Police Department. The Cross Border Task Force is a part of the FBI’S Safe Streets Initiative and targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.

               This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

               The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar R. Mohanty and Iris Y. McCranie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

    23cr007

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Purpose Investments Inc. Announces May 2025 Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose”) is pleased to announce distributions for the month of May 2025 for its open-end exchange traded funds and closed-end funds (“the Funds”).

    The ex-distribution date for all Open-End Funds is May 28, 2025. The ex-distribution date for all closed-end funds is May 30, 2025.   

    Open-End Funds Ticker
    Symbol
    Distribution
    per share/unit
    Record
    Date
    Payable
    Date
    Distribution
    Frequency
    Apple (AAPL) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units APLY $0.1667 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Canadian Financial Income Fund – ETF Series BNC $0.1225¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units BRKY $0.1000 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF Units BTCY $0.0850 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units BTCY.B $0.0970 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF – ETF USD Units BTCY.U US $0.0815 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Credit Opportunities Fund – ETF Units CROP $0.0875 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Credit Opportunities Fund – ETF USD Units CROP.U US $0.0975 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield – ETF Units ETHY $0.0405 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Non-Currency Hedged Units ETHY.B $0.0500 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Ether Yield ETF – ETF Units Non-Currency Hedged USD Units ETHY.U US $0.0395 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – ETF Units FLX $0.0461 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units FLX.B $0.0551 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Flexible Credit Fund – Non-Currency Hedged USD – ETF Units FLX.U US $0.0385 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Global Bond Class – ETF Units IGB $0.0860¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Microsoft (MSFT) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF units MSFY $0.1100 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield Fund – ETF Series PAYF $0.1375¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Total Return Bond Fund – ETF Series PBD $0.0590¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Core Dividend Fund – ETF Series PDF $0.1050¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Enhanced Dividend Fund – ETF Series PDIV $0.0950¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Real Estate Income Fund – ETF Series PHR $0.0720¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose International Dividend Fund – ETF Series PID $0.0780 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Monthly Income Fund – ETF Series PIN $0.0830¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Multi-Asset Income Fund – ETF Units PINC $0.0840 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Conservative Income Fund – ETF Series PRP $0.0600¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund – ETF Series PYF $0.1100¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Series PYF.B $0.1230¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Premium Yield Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF USD Series PYF.U US $0.1200¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Core Equity Income Fund – ETF Series RDE $0.0875¹ 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Emerging Markets Dividend Fund – ETF Units REM $0.0950 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Canadian Preferred Share Fund – ETF Units RPS $0.0950 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose US Preferred Share Fund – ETF Series RPU $0.0940 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose US Preferred Share Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units2 RPU.B / RPU.U $0.0940 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Strategic Yield Fund – ETF Units SYLD $0.0970 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    AMD (AMD) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YAMD $0.2000 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Amazon (AMZN) Yield Shares Purpose ETF- ETF Units YAMZ $0.4000 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Broadcom (AVGO) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YAVG $0.1500 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Coinbase (COIN) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YCON $0.3000 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Costco (COST) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YCST $0.1000 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Alphabet (GOOGL) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YGOG $0.2500 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Tech Innovators Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YMAG $0.2000 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    META (META) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YMET $0.1600 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Netflix (NFLX) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YNET $0.1100 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    NVIDIA (NVDA) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YNVD $0.7500 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Palantir (PLTR) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YPLT $0.2500 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Tesla (TSLA) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Units YTSL $0.5500 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    UnitedHealth Group (UHN) Yield Shares Purpose ETF – ETF Series YUNH $0.1100 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
               
    Closed-End Funds Ticker
    Symbol
    Distribution
    per share/unit
    Record
    Date
    Payable
    Date
    Distribution
    Frequency
    Big Banc Split Corp, Class A BNK $0.1200¹ 05/30/2025 06/13/2025 Monthly
    Big Banc Split Corp – Preferred Shares BNK.PR.A $0.0700¹ 05/30/2025 06/13/2025 Monthly


    Estimated May 2025 Distributions for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund

    The May 2025 distribution rates for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund are estimated to be as follows:

    Open-End Fund Ticker
    Symbol
    Final distribution
    per unit
    Record
    Date
    Payable
    Date
    Distribution
    Frequency
    Purpose USD Cash Management Fund – ETF Units MNU.U US $ 0.3528 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose Cash Management Fund – ETF Units MNY $0.2370 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose High Interest Savings Fund – ETF Units PSA $0.1068 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly
    Purpose US Cash Fund – ETF Units PSU.U US $ 0.3495 05/28/2025 06/03/2025 Monthly

    Purpose expects to issue a press release on or about May 27, 2025, which will provide the final distribution rate for Purpose USD Cash Management Fund, Purpose Cash Management Fund, Purpose High Interest Savings Fund, and Purpose US Cash Fund. The ex-distribution date will be May 28, 2025.

    (1) Dividend is designated as an “eligible” Canadian dividend for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any similar provincial and territorial legislation.
    (2) Purpose US Preferred Share Fund Non-Currency Hedged – ETF Units have both a CAD and USD purchase option. Distribution per unit is declared in CAD, however, the USD purchase option (RPU.U) distribution will be made in the USD equivalent. Conversion into USD will use the end-of-day foreign exchange rate prevailing on the ex-distribution date.


    About Purpose Investments Inc.

    Purpose Investments is an asset management company with more than $21 billion in assets under management. Purpose Investments has an unrelenting focus on client-centric innovation and offers a range of managed and quantitative investment products. Purpose Investments is led by well-known entrepreneur Som Seif and is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent technology-driven financial services company.

    For further information please contact:
    Keera Hart
    Keera.Hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Investment funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 308

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 308
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    725 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Northern Georgia
    Eastern Kentucky
    Far Southwest North Carolina
    Eastern Tennessee
    Far Southwest Virginia

    * Effective this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from 725 PM
    until 200 AM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A mix of supercell thunderstorms and clusters will spread
    generally eastward this evening into the early overnight hours. A
    few tornadoes may occur with this activity, and a strong tornado and
    isolated very large hail will also be possible with any sustained
    supercell. Otherwise, an increasing threat for scattered to numerous
    damaging winds appears likely as thunderstorms attempt to organize
    into a line later this evening. Peak gusts may reach up to 60-70
    mph.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 35 miles north northeast of London KY
    to 20 miles southeast of Rome GA. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 303…WW 304…WW
    305…WW 306…WW 307…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
    storm motion vector 26030.

    …Gleason

    SEL8

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 308
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    725 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Northern Georgia
    Eastern Kentucky
    Far Southwest North Carolina
    Eastern Tennessee
    Far Southwest Virginia

    * Effective this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from 725 PM
    until 200 AM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A mix of supercell thunderstorms and clusters will spread
    generally eastward this evening into the early overnight hours. A
    few tornadoes may occur with this activity, and a strong tornado and
    isolated very large hail will also be possible with any sustained
    supercell. Otherwise, an increasing threat for scattered to numerous
    damaging winds appears likely as thunderstorms attempt to organize
    into a line later this evening. Peak gusts may reach up to 60-70
    mph.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 35 miles north northeast of London KY
    to 20 miles southeast of Rome GA. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 303…WW 304…WW
    305…WW 306…WW 307…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
    storm motion vector 26030.

    …Gleason

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW8
    WW 308 TORNADO GA KY NC TN VA 202325Z – 210600Z
    AXIS..50 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    35NNE LOZ/LONDON KY/ – 20SE RMG/ROME GA/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 45NM E/W /34NNE LOZ – 39NW ATL/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26030.

    LAT…LON 37548292 34148405 34148580 37548475

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

    Watch 308 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (60%)

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

    Mod (40%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (40%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (80%)

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

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Defending Against Drones

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 20, 2025
    Today’s hearing highlighted the growing use of drones and how Congress can strike the right balance in response
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Defending Against Drones: Setting Safeguards for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authorities.” Today’s hearing highlighted the growing use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and how Congress can strike the right balance in response. It also examined the existing statutory authorities that enable the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track, disable, seize, and even shoot down drones. Finally, the hearing also provided an opportunity to consider how to provide sufficient authorities to law enforcement while also safeguarding the national airspace and important privacy rights and civil liberties—including ensuring that actions to counter drones respect First and Fourth Amendment rights and Fifth Amendment due process.
    Durbin began by asking Professor Laura Donohue, Professor of Law at Georgetown University; Director of Georgetown’s Center on National Security and the Law; and Director of the Center on Privacy and Technology, about the balance of protecting privacy and civil liberties, as well as our security, when it comes to the use of UAS.
    According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are more than one million drones registered in the United States for commercial and recreational purposes. While most are harmless, UAS can pose serious safety risks when flown near airports, other critical infrastructure, or near mass gatherings like sporting events, parades, or concerts. Drones can also be used by malicious actors including criminals, cartels, terrorist groups, and foreign adversaries.
    “If I were sitting in Wrigley Field… and I saw a drone overhead, I would want to be sure it was a safe and friendly drone. I don’t know that when I’m sitting there. Somebody has to find out or at least ask the question. With over one million drones in our country today… it raises a question of who is going to monitor that activity to make sure these are safe… [and] don’t endanger anyone. At the same time, those drones could be gathering information… and there is a privacy angle there too. Who is protecting the privacy of the people that they are gathering information on?”Durbin said. “How do you balance this?”
    Professor Donohue responded, “As a matter of large scale, outdoor events, most states have regulations and law in place that prohibit the use of drones over large scale events” and noted that many have carveouts that don’t allow others to fly drones over private property without the consent of the property owner themselves. She also noted that the way to balance civil liberties concerns is to make sure there are restrictions.
    Durbin continued by asking Professor Donohue, “Let’s talk about the practical world: you have air traffic controllers monitoring commercial aircraft… but in terms of monitoring actual drone activity to the point of knowing whether it is complying with the state law and if it is not, what to do about it, what’s the answer there? How is it enforced?”
    Professor Donohue responded that both states and the FAA play a role. Currently, DOJ and DHS are also authorized to conduct counter drone operations to protect certain covered facilities and assets related to their missions. However, existing authorities do not sufficiently cover airports, critical infrastructure, or events that federal authorities do not have the capacity or resources to protect. The way to balance these authorities with civil liberties, Professor Donohue noted, is to make sure that there are appropriate restrictions on these authorities.
    Durbin concluded by asking, “Professor Donohue, if counter drone authorities are not drafted carefully, could they permit government authorities to intercept data or communications in violation of the Fourth Amendment?”
    Professor Donohue simply responded, “Yes.”
    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New research warns AI alone won’t fix bias in workplace recruitment

    Source:

    21 May 2025

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in human resources (HR) to streamline processes and enhance decision-making by helping employers efficiently sift through large volumes of job applications.

    However, relying on AI tools alone to screen candidates isn’t enough to improve diversity outcomes in workplaces, according to new research by the University of South Australia.

    Human resource management expert Associate Professor Connie Zheng, co-director of UniSA’s Centre for Workplace Excellence, has conducted research into how AI can affect hiring decisions when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion by reaching gender quotas, having racially diverse teams and recruiting LGBTIQA+ employees or people with disabilities.

    AI tools are being used by some HR professionals to assist in the recruitment process by screening job candidates, responding to applicant emails, or focusing on specialised tasks such as CV screening, job matching or voice and video analysis.

    Assoc Prof Zheng says two separate studies into the use of AI to enhance diversity and inclusion in hiring decisions looked beyond whether humans or AI make better choices.

    “We explored what conditions help AI tools to actually support more diverse hiring as we found that simply having a reliable AI tool isn’t enough to improve diversity in workplace recruitment,” she says.

    “Diversity only improves when the AI system can explain its decisions in terms of diversity, when hiring focuses on qualitative goals and not just numbers, and when an organisation has clear diversity guidelines.

    “These factors encourage HR professionals and decision-makers to reflect more carefully on their choices. In short, AI can help improve diversity in hiring, but only when used under the right conditions and organisational support for the application of new technology, as well as clear diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines.”

    Despite the growing popularity of AI in many fields including education, health care, manufacturing and finance, many HR professionals are hesitant to adopt the tools.

    Assoc Prof Zheng says some companies have several concerns and are reluctant to invest in AI for hiring decisions because they’re apprehensive about the limitations of the technology, particularly in terms of biased data.

    She says many also feel their existing HR teams are competent enough to manage recruitment without AI, despite these concerns shifting if HR departments face staffing reductions, increased workloads or heightened demands for efficiency.

    “Despite these reservations, many organisations view AI as a way to significantly save costs by streamlining manual processes. Some companies have the mindset that using AI in HR is efficiency driven – it will make them work faster. The main goal of using AI is to expedite the process, particularly when dealing with large volumes of job applications,” Assoc Prof Zheng says.

    “With AI, a hirer can use the technology to filter appropriate applicants rather than sifting through hundreds of CVs and job applications manually. The problem when the main goal is efficiency is that diversity issues often then take a backseat.”

    Whether the use of AI tools in recruiting helps reduce discrimination or instead intensifies the problem remains a subject of controversial debate. Assoc Prof Zheng’s ongoing collaborative research with HUMAINE – Human Centred AI Network led by Professor Uta Wilkens at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany – has revealed  that simply providing a reliable, AI support tool that is considerate of diversity needs doesn’t automatically lead to diversity enhancement.

    “Unless the organisation and its hirers are conscious about diversity and justice issues, using AI for talent acquisition isn’t going to lead to more diverse and inclusive outcomes,” Assoc Prof Zheng says.

    To access the research papers:

    • Wilkens, U., Lutzeyer, I., Zheng, C., Beser, A., & Prilla, M. (2025). Augmenting diversity in hiring decisions with artificial intelligence tools. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2025.2492867
    • Zheng, C., Wilkens, U. (2025). Antecedents of Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion with AI Tools—An HR Perspective. In: Moussa, M., McMurray, A. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Breakthrough Technologies in Contemporary Organisations. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-2516-1_12

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview: Connie Zheng, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management, Co-Director, Centre for Workplace Excellence, UniSA, E: Connie.Zheng@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E: melissa.keogh@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Celebrates Signing of Bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act into Law

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

    Washington, D.C. – In a major milestone for online safety and the protection of minors, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), today celebrated the signing of the bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act, landmark legislation to crack down on non-consensual and sexually exploitative imagery, including dangerous AI-generated deepfakes.

    “Let me be clear: no child, from Texas or anywhere in the world, should fall victim to AI-generated abuse,” said Dr. Cuellar. “Thanks to this law, families and individuals will finally have a way to demand action and accountability online. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Cruz, who co-led the bill in the Senate, and Congresswoman Salazar, who co-led it in the House, and I thank the president for swiftly signing it into law.”

    The new law strengthens enforcement tools for law enforcement, speeds up the removal of abusive content, and protects lawful speech. For victims of AI-generated abuse, this law is more than legislation. It’s long-overdue justice and an important step forward in addressing the fast-evolving risks posed by artificial intelligence and online exploitation.

    The TAKE IT DOWN Act passed both chambers with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Trump on May 19, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Doge’s Unsafe Retention of Personal Information

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Defending Our Government’s Electronic data: Bolstering Responsible Oversight & Safeguards (DOGE BROS) Act, legislation to hold Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accountable for their continued efforts to improperly access, and retain, individuals’ personally identifiable information (PII) including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and other financial information.
    “As unvetted and unqualified DOGE employees continue to recklessly access the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans, it’s important that we take steps to better protect this data,” Warner said. “For too long, our privacy laws have sat outdated, barely serving as a deterrent for improper handling or potential release of information. This legislation would enforce that privacy must be a priority when handling the data of the American public.”
    “Elon Musk and his ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ are wreaking havoc across the government and gaining access to Americans’ sensitive information without proper authorization, which poses significant privacy and national security concerns,” Kaine said. “That’s why I’m introducing this bill to increase the penalties for violating privacy laws and help safeguard Americans’ personal information.”
    “Elon Musk and his DOGE cronies have been illegally ransacking federal agencies to gain access to troves of Americans’ sensitive personal data – from Social Security numbers to medical records to bank account information. Strengthening penalties for the theft of this data will help further deter these illegal abuses and keep Americans’ private information safe,” Van Hollen said.
    “The American people do not want Elon Musk knowing their Social Security numbers and sifting through their financial information. Musk and his team of wildly unqualified DOGE employees have gone too far – and we are sick of it. The Senate needs to prove we care more about those we serve than Elon Musk. Let’s immediately pass this legislation to protect the data and privacy of the American people,” Alsobrooks said.
    “From day one, Elon Musk’s DOGE has taken a wrecking ball to the federal government and critical services for the American people, all while carelessly pursuing their sensitive personal data,” Luján said. “Congress must do more to protect that information and keep it out of the wrong hands. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to strengthen our privacy laws and put Americans’ privacy first.”
    “Elon Musk’s so-called ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ and his DOGE agents are wreaking havoc on the federal government and the programs millions of Americans rely on. There’s no reason DOGE should gain access to Vermonters’ personal information, and I’m working with my colleagues to hold DOGE accountable and protect peoples’ privacy and data,” Welch said. 
    The United States has existing laws that are designed to protect personal information held by the government. However, the penalties established in these various laws have not been properly adjusted or increased to account for inflation, making them far less impactful today. The DOGE BROS Act would increase five penalties for violation of federal privacy laws to better protect the sensitive information that DOGE is accessing in their reckless purge of the federal government. Specifically, the DOGE BROS Act would increase the following existing penalties for the unauthorized release of the following information:
    Individually Identifiable Information Contained Within Any Agency Record 
    Code Section: 5 U.S.C. §552a(i)(i, ii, iii)
    Current Penalty: up to $5,000
    Proposed Penalty: up to $30,000

    Information from Any Department or Agency of the United States Obtained Using a Computer Without Authorization
    Code Section: 18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(2)(B)
    Current Penalty: up to $250,000
    Proposed Penalty: up to $750,000

    Social Security and Medicare Data
    Code Sections: 42 U.S.C. §1306
    Current Penalty: up to $10,000
    Proposed Penalty: up to $25,000

    Tax Return Information
    Code Section: 26 U.S.C. §7213
    Current Penalty: up to $5,000
    Proposed Penalty: up to $25,000

    Census Data
    Code Section: 13 U.S.C. §214
    Current Penalty: up to $5,000
    Proposed Penalty: up to $25,000

    Copy of the bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Hochul Removes 24 Line Items From FY 2026 Budget

    Source: US State of New York

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    May 20, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Governor Hochul today removed 24 line items from the FY 2026 Enacted Budget in accordance with Article VII of the State Constitution. The rejected additions are duplicative or prior-year funding items that were fully expended and, therefore, not necessary.

    The full list of vetoes is available here.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Two Federal Treasury deposit auctions will take place on 21.05.2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    Application selection parameters
    Date of the selection of applications 05/21/2025
    Unique identifier of the application selection 22025132
    Deposit currency rubles
    Type of funds funds of the single treasury account
    Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units 50,000
    Placement period, in days 2
    Date of deposit 05/21/2025
    Refund date 05/23/2025
    Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating) Fixed
    Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum 20.05
    Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds
    Minimum spread, % per annum
    Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special) Urgent
    Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units 1,000
    Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs. 5
    Application selection form (open or closed) Open
    Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
    Venue for the selection of applications PAO Moscow Exchange
    Applications accepted: from 09:30 to 09:40
    Pre-applications: from 09:30 to 09:35
    Applications in competition mode: from 09:35 to 09:40
    Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 09:40 to 09:50
    Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful: from 09:40 to 10:00
    Submission to credit institutions of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 10:00 to 10:50
    Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions: from 10:00 to 10:50
    Deposit transfer time In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n
    Application selection parameters
    Date of the selection of applications 05/21/2025
    Unique identifier of the application selection 22025133
    Deposit currency rubles
    Type of funds funds of the single treasury account
    Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units 50,000
    Placement period, in days 182
    Date of deposit 05/21/2025
    Refund date 11/19/2025
    Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating) Floating
    Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum
    Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds Ruonmds
    Minimum spread, % per annum 0.00
    Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special) Urgent
    Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units 1,000
    Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs. 5
    Application selection form (open or closed) Closed
    Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
    Venue for the selection of applications PAO Moscow Exchange
    Applications accepted: from 12:00 to 12:10
    Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 12:10 to 12:20
    Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful: from 12:10 to 12:30
    Submission to credit institutions of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 12:30 to 13:20
    Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions: from 12:30 to 13:20
    Deposit transfer time In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

    RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

    RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a RUONIA rate value published on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.

    DS – discount – a value expressed in hundredths of a percent and rounded (according to the rules of mathematical rounding) to two decimal places, calculated by multiplying the value of the Key Rate of the Bank of Russia by the value of the required reserve ratio for other liabilities of credit institutions for banks with a universal license, non-bank credit institutions (except for long-term ones) in the currency of the Russian Federation, valid on the date for which interest is accrued, and published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

    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.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission on Cooperation and Development of the Russian Far East and the Northeast of China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Previous news Next news

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission on Cooperation and Development of the Russian Far East and the Northeast of China

    A meeting of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission on Cooperation and Development of the Russian Far East and the Northeast of the People’s Republic of China was held in Moscow. The Russian part of the commission is headed by Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev. The head of the Chinese part of the commission is Vice Chairman of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Guoqing.

    “Our meeting is taking place immediately after an important political event – the official visit of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Russia and his participation in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The leaders of our countries confirmed their course to strengthen good-neighborliness and cooperation. In late August – early September, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin plans to visit China to participate in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the celebrations of the anniversary of the victory over Japan and the end of World War II. Relations between Russia and China are an important stabilizing factor in global politics and economics. I am confident that the work of our commission as one of the bridges of cooperation between Russia and China is of particular importance today. In recent years, our countries have faced unprecedented challenges, destabilization of international relations and the global economy. At the same time, Russian-Chinese ties continue to strengthen. In 2024, mutual trade turnover once again set a record, reaching almost 245 billion US dollars. “I am confident that our meeting today will contribute to the implementation of the agreements of the heads of state and government, primarily in the development of cooperation between the Russian Far East and Northeast China,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.

    “In recent years, under the strategic leadership of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Sino-Russian relations reached the highest level in their history and have become the standard of cooperation between world powers and neighboring countries. Our leaders set a course and direction for our further interaction, sent the whole world a clear signal about the stable and healthy development of Sino-Russian relations at a high level, which introduced stability and positive to a complex international situation. The key task of today’s meeting is to implement agreements between our leaders and conduct appropriate preparations for the upcoming meeting between them, as well as for regular meetings of the heads of government. Currently, individual countries under various pretexts abuse tariff measures, which grossly violating the laws, rights and interests of other states and seriously contradicts the Rules of the WTO, damages the multilateral trading system, undermines the stability of the global economic order. Such actions have a negative impact on the world supplies and production chains. In these conditions, it is important for us to consistently deepen cooperation in all areas, including the interaction of the north-east of the People’s Republic of China and the Far East of the Russian Federation in order to make an even greater contribution to the development of our countries, ”said Zhang Gotsin.

    The results and promising areas of joint work in the Russian Far East and the North-East of the People’s Republic of China were discussed. Over 6 years (from 2018 to 2023), the trade turnover of the Russian Far East with the People’s Republic of China increased by almost 2.5 times and exceeded 1.9 trillion rubles in 2023.

    In the territories of advanced development and in the free port of Vladivostok, 65 investment projects with a total investment volume of 1 trillion rubles are being implemented with the participation of Chinese capital. Projects with the participation of Chinese companies in the total investment volume in the Far East make up 10%. In a number of large projects, Chinese companies are technological partners, carry out work on the construction of new enterprises, and participate in start-up work.

    Work on the creation of a new preferential regime – an international territory of advanced development – is being completed. The regime was developed in cooperation with representatives of China and other countries. The draft law on international territories of advanced development was adopted in the first reading by the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The regime will be created by the end of this year. Chinese companies are showing interest in interaction within the new legal framework. Five companies from China have already applied as residents.

    The development of transport infrastructure was discussed. In 2024, the volume of bilateral foreign trade cargo transportation through border crossings and seaports of Russia and China increased by 9% to almost 176 million tons. In 2024, land checkpoints on the border with China increased cargo turnover from 40.4 to 45.9 million tons. A significant contribution to the growth was made by the opening of two new bridge crossings in 2022: Blagoveshchensk – Heihe and Nizhneleninskoye – Tongjiang. In 2024, 6.2 million tons of cargo were transported through them.

    The construction of a bridge in the area of the settlements of Jalinda (Russia) and Mohe (China) can contribute to the increase in freight traffic. Amur Region and Heilongjiang Province have formed a promising freight base. The location of the bridge has been agreed upon. On the Russian side, key participants in the project and the main technical parameters have been determined.

    The Russian side invited Chinese partners to further develop the Northern Sea Route. In 2024, the number of voyages carried out by Chinese companies in the NSR waters doubled and amounted to 14 voyages.

    On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a project to create an innovative scientific and technological center on Russky Island is being implemented. Research and development centers in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, marine engineering, artificial intelligence and big data are being created. The construction of a pilot building is nearing completion. Chinese organizations and departments, representatives of scientific communities have been invited to participate in the implementation of joint projects in these areas.

    “This September, the anniversary, tenth Eastern Economic Forum will be held in Vladivostok with the participation of the President of the Russian Federation. This event is invariably an important platform for developing cooperation with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. China is traditionally one of the main guests of the Eastern Economic Forum. We invite our Chinese colleagues to take part in the work of the tenth Eastern Economic Forum in September this year,” said Yuri Trutnev.

    Summing up the meeting, Yuri Trutnev once again emphasized: “The Russian government is open to dialogue and is ready to provide support to Chinese partners in the Far East.”

     

    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 Security: Lexington Attorney Agrees to Plead Guilty to Embezzling More Than $3 Million From Companies and Relatives

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from relatives with disabilities

    BOSTON – A Lexington, Mass. attorney has been charged and agreed to plead guilty in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Massachusetts victims, including two of his own relatives.

    David Smerling, 75, has agreed to plead guilty to a Superseding Information charging him with four counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft. Smerling was previously indicted in January 2025 on charges of embezzling from a business partner.  

    “The alleged multi-million-dollar embezzlement that Mr. Smerling was originally charged with was, unfortunately, just the tip of the iceberg. Today’s charges allege that Mr. Smerling also preyed on a family member with special needs and another with dementia, allegedly stealing money these victims needed for their own care,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.

    “For anyone with elderly and vulnerable loved ones, these are frightening allegations,” said Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “David Smerling allegedly betrayed the trust of his victims and took full advantage – embezzling from them to line his own pockets while trying to cover up his crimes. The FBI will never stop working to protect the public from criminals like this, and we’re gratified to see him brought to justice.”

    According to court filings, between January 2016 and May 2020, Smerling embezzled more than $2.5 million from three Massachusetts companies for whom he worked as a bookkeeper. Specifically, it is alleged that Smerling transferred funds from the victim companies into a separate bank account that he controlled, before moving the money to bank accounts in his own name or directly from the companies’ accounts to bank accounts in his own name. Smerling allegedly concealed his scheme by changing the mailing address on victims’ bank statements to his home address and refusing to share the online banking password for the victims’ accounts.  

    Court filings further allege that, between May 2020 and August 2021, Smerling embezzled more than $470,000 from a trust established for the benefit of a relative with special needs for which Smerling served as the trustee. Smerling allegedly transferred trust funds to bank accounts he controlled before sending the funds to bank accounts in his wife’s name or using the funds to pay for personal expenses. It is alleged that Smerling concealed his scheme by making lulling payments to the beneficiary so he would not discover the trust had been depleted.  

    Court filings also allege that, between May 2023 and April 2025, Smerling embezzled more than $150,000 from a relative with dementia for whom Smerling served as the financial power of attorney. Specifically, Smerling allegedly transferred funds from the victim’s accounts to accounts he controlled, used a credit card in the victim’s name for personal purchases and took out a loan in the victim’s name. To conceal this scheme, Smerling allegedly misrepresented the purpose of the transfers to the financial institutions in which the victim’s accounts were held.  

    The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the wire fraud and money laundering charges. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Acting SAC Milka made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on the Department of the Air Force’s Posture and Readiness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    Watch Video Here 
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing on the Department of the Air Force’s posture within the current threat environment. During the hearing, the committee received testimony from the service’s leadership on the challenges they face and what may be needed to better address threats on the horizon.
    In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker emphasized the need to ensure long-term readiness and superiority through fighter aircraft such as the F-15E, as well as the necessity of modernizing our nuclear capabilities.
    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.
    Good morning. I begin with a common refrain: The United States faces its most dangerous threat environment since World War II. However, though many of our national security challenges mirror the 1930s, warfare looks much different today. Technological advances in artificial intelligence, hypersonic strike weapons, sixth-generation aircraft, and space-based weapons are transforming the nature of modern conflict. The Department of the Air Force is on the front lines of these changes.  Today we will hear from three representatives of that service.  We welcome Secretary Troy Meink, General Chance Saltzman, and General David Allvin. I thank all of them for being here and for their continued service to our nation.
    The committee understands that the Fiscal Year 2026 President’s Budget is not yet complete, and we are therefore aware that the three witnesses before us do not have the full budget picture. That being said, their testimony is still vital. It will help us consider how to support the mission of the Air Force and the Space Force, which is to be lethal and “ready to fight tonight,” as the slogan goes.
    One of our most pressing responsibilities is to ensure the long-term readiness and modernization of the Air Force. In the event of war, we need not only capability but also capacity. If we go to war in 2027, we will fight with the Air Force we have today, which is a mix of fourth-generation fighters, such as the F-15E and F-16, and fifth-generation fighters the F-22 and F-35. We need more fighter aircraft now, and we are working along with our colleagues in the House, Chairman Rogers, to keep the F-15EX line open through our reconciliation bill.
    Even as we plan for future systems, we must address the state of today’s fleet. The mission capability rates across many Air Force platforms remain unacceptably low. Some platform fleets are frequently less than 50 percent mission capable – and we’ll have questions about that. The F-35 fleet is available a mere 54 percent of the time. This is not just a maintenance issue.  It is a readiness issue, and it impacts our ability to deter adversaries and respond when necessary. Taxpayers are investing billions of dollars to support these aircraft, and our airmen, and our citizens, deserve higher readiness levels to defend our national interests. I expect our witnesses to provide a frank assessment of what is driving these poor rates and, more importantly, what is being done to reverse the trend.
    The Air Force also plays a key role in modernizing our nuclear forces. The service is responsible for two legs of the nuclear triad as well as a majority of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications system. These programs must stay on schedule to deliver the essential capabilities we need to deter nuclear threats. We cannot afford to allow these programs to flounder because of a lack of leadership and prioritization. This committee expects accountability among program managers and transparency with Congress to ensure we can modernize effectively, and I think this panel shares that sentiment. I look forward to hearing our witnesses explain how the Air Force manages these risks while preserving strategic stability.
    The U.S. Space Force has grown significantly in the last five years. That trend should continue, because our threats are growing as well.  Maintaining space superiority is a no-fail mission. Increased investment in this young service is absolutely vital.
    We also must invest in the facilities that support our service members. In the 2025 NDAA, this committee unanimously adopted a provision that requires the services to maintain a minimum four percent plant replacement value for infrastructure. That provision survived conference and was signed into law by the president. It is the law of the land. Let me say this again. This is the law of the land, and senior leaders should set the example to the Force by following the law – a law that was created, I must point out, because the services had long ignored this problem.
    We cannot make progress on any of these issues without those who wear the uniform and support the mission every day. Our airmen, guardians, and civilians are our greatest asset. Recruiting and retention continue to be major challenges, and we need to remain focused on supporting service members and their families with the resources, care, and career opportunities they deserve.
    I look forward to the hearing, and testimony from each of our witnesses about how they intend to ensure the Department of the Air Force has what it needs to meet today’s challenges, maintain our superiority in air and space, and prepare for the threats we face on the horizon.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Touts “MAINEiacs” Contribution to National Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), received commitment from General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, to support the KC-46 tanker program and remain focused on military readiness and availability. Last fall, it was announced that Bangor Air National Guard Base was a finalist to receive the KC-46A fueling tankers to replace the aging KC-135s. During the exchange, Senator King touted the tremendous contribution of the “MAINEiacs” to national defense, encouraged continued investment there, and reminded General Allvin of the strategic importance of Bangor Air National Guard Base and it’s refueling mission.
    “One way to help on the tanker capacity is the KC-46 which is at Bangor, affectionately known as the MAINEiacs. As you know, they provided enormous support during the Gulf War and anything on the east side of the United States, in terms of Europe, the Middle East, and it’s going to be an incredibly important capacity. They’re doing fantastically with their present fleet, but the KC-46 is the next generation. And as you pointed out yourself, tankers are the heart and soul of being able to keep our forces over the target. So, I hope that’s something on your agenda,” began Senator King.
    “Absolutely, Senator, and sort of the maniacs were on the list as part of one of the candidate locations, and the final location for preferred location will happen in the fourth quarter of this year,” replied General Allvin.
    “I appreciate that. Thank you very much,” said Senator King.
    Later in the hearing, Senator King stressed his concerns about military readiness to General Allvin, particularly regarding aircraft availability and maintenance. During their discussion, Senator King pointed out that the military operates with between 50-60% of their fleet available while commercial carriers often have more than 90% of their planes available for use.
    “General Allvin, I am concerned about availability and mission availability. You mentioned a couple of figures, 50%, 62%. The commercial air fleet is in the high 90s. Now, granted, there are more complicated systems in the military, but I believe, and this applies to the Navy as well, that we really don’t put enough emphasis on maintenance and availability. We’re talking about very expensive products here, very expensive aircraft, and if we had more of them ready to fly, we perhaps wouldn’t have to buy as many new ones. So, I see that closing that gap between 62% and 98% which is the commercial availability rate, would go a long way toward helping us with our budget and also helping us with our readiness,” said Senator King.
    “Senator, thank you for that. I would say that one of the big challenges is that the airlines have a profit model. They have a different business model, and so as they look at that, they generate their values,” responded General Allvin.
    “The difference is they have to meet a profit realization rate, and we don’t. The military doesn’t. And I think I’m just saying, surely, we can get beyond 62%,” replied Senator King.
    General Allvin agreed, “I do believe, Senator, we do need to improve. I think one of the big challenges, though, is what I was trying to address, is the KC 135 is the average one? It’s as old as me and I am no spring chicken. So, the airlines, they just throw those out because it becomes cost ineffective for them to maintain older platforms that it can still have the enough seats for passenger seats to maintain a profit. So, they’ll dump those off to the side.”
    I understand that. But do you believe that we can do better than 62%,” asked Senator King.
    I do believe we can do better, and I think it becomes more challenging the older the aircraft get, because we’re discovering new things all the time, because they’re breaking in new and different ways. Yes, Senator, we can. We can continue to do better,” finished General Allvin.
    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the armed forces, including Bangor’s 101st Air Refueling Wing. He recently secured key provisions in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that helps protect the Maine Air National Guard — guaranteeing that as the Air Force modernizes the tanker fleet, it replaces older aircraft on a one-for-one basis — and ensure support for all branches of the military to make sure that servicemembers can continue providing best in class services to protect the ‘territory of the brave.’ 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: First Busey Corporation Closes Depositary Share Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEAWOOD, Kan., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Busey Corporation (“Busey”) (Nasdaq: BUSE), the holding company for Busey Bank and CrossFirst Bank, today announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 8,600,000 depositary shares (inclusive of 600,000 depositary shares offered in connection with the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), each representing a 1/40th ownership interest in a share of its 8.25% Fixed Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per depositary share). As a result of the public offering, Busey received proceeds of approximately $207,477,500, net of estimated expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions.

    Piper Sandler & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. acted as joint bookrunning managers for the offering, and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is acting as the co-manager.

    A shelf registration statement, including a prospectus, with respect to the offering was previously filed by Busey with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 21, 2023. A prospectus supplement relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC. The offering has been made by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained free of charge by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Busey or any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement if you request it by emailing Piper Sandler & Co. at fsg-dcm@psc.com or calling Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-866-718-1649 or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company at 1-800-966-1559.

    Corporate Profile
    As of March 31, 2025, First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) was a $19.46 billion financial holding company headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.

    Busey Bank, a wholly-owned bank subsidiary of First Busey Corporation headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, had total assets of $11.98 billion as of March 31, 2025. Busey Bank currently has 62 banking centers, with 21 in Central Illinois markets, 17 in suburban Chicago markets, 20 in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, three in Southwest Florida, and one in Indianapolis. More information about Busey Bank can be found at busey.com.

    CrossFirst Bank, a wholly-owned bank subsidiary of First Busey Corporation headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, had total assets of $7.45 billion as of March 31, 2025. CrossFirst Bank currently has 16 banking centers located across Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. More information about CrossFirst Bank can be found at crossfirstbank.com. It is anticipated that CrossFirst Bank will be merged with and into Busey Bank on June 20, 2025.

    Through Busey Bank’s Wealth Management division, Busey provides a full range of asset management, investment, brokerage, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, tax preparation, and farm management services to individuals, businesses, and foundations. Assets under care totaled $13.68 billion as of March 31, 2025. More information about Busey’s Wealth Management services can be found at busey.com/wealth-management.

    Busey Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, FirsTech, Inc. (“FirsTech”) specializes in the evolving financial technology needs of small and medium-sized businesses, highly regulated enterprise industries, and financial institutions. FirsTech provides comprehensive and innovative payment technology solutions, including online, mobile, and voice-recognition bill payments; money and data movement; merchant services; direct debit services; lockbox remittance processing for payments made by mail; and walk-in payments at retail agents. Additionally, FirsTech simplifies client workflows through integrations enabling support with billing, reconciliation, bill reminders, and treasury services. More information about FirsTech can be found at firstechpayments.com.

    For the fourth consecutive year, Busey was named among 2025’s America’s Best Banks by Forbes. Ranked 88th overall, Busey was one of seven banks headquartered in Illinois included on this year’s list. Busey was also named among the 2024 Best Banks to Work For by American Banker, the 2024 Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions and Investments, the 2024 Best Places to Work in Illinois by Daily Herald Business Ledger, the 2025 Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the 2024 Best Companies to Work For in Florida by Florida Trend magazine. We are honored to be consistently recognized globally, nationally and locally for our engaged culture of integrity and commitment to community development.

    First Busey Corporation Contacts
    For Financials: For Media:
    Scott Phillips, Interim CFO Amy L. Randolph, EVP & COO
    First Busey Corporation  First Busey Corporation
    (239) 689-7167 (217) 365-4049
    scott.phillips@busey.com amy.randolph@busey.com
       

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Busey’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of Busey’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “position,” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Busey undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

    A number of factors, many of which are beyond Busey’s ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (1) the strength of the local, state, national, and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures, the threat or implementation of tariffs, trade wars, and changes to immigration policy); (2) changes in, and the interpretation and prioritization of, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and governmental policies (including those concerning Busey’s general business); (3) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets (including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East); (4) unexpected results of acquisitions, including the acquisition of CrossFirst, which may include the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions and the possibility that the transaction and integration costs may be greater than anticipated; (5) the imposition of tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the value of products produced by Busey’s commercial borrowers; (6) new or revised accounting policies and practices as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory banking agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (7) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of Busey’s assets (including the impact of sustained elevated interest rates); (8) increased competition in the financial services sector (including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and fintech companies) and the inability to attract new customers; (9) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (10) the loss of key executives or associates, talent shortages, and employee turnover; (11) unexpected outcomes and costs of existing or new litigation, investigations, or other legal proceedings, inquiries, and regulatory actions involving Busey (including with respect to Busey’s Illinois franchise taxes); (12) fluctuations in the value of securities held in Busey’s securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; (13) credit risk and risk from concentrations (by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral, and industry), within Busey’s loan portfolio and large loans to certain borrowers (including commercial real estate loans); (14) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (15) the level of non-performing assets on Busey’s balance sheets; (16) interruptions involving information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers; (17) breaches or failures of information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents; (18) the economic impact on Busey and its customers of climate change, natural disasters, and exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and droughts; (19) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact Busey’s cost of funds; (20) the ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; (21) the effectiveness of Busey’s risk management framework; and (22) the ability of Busey to manage the risks associated with the foregoing. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Mattr Reports Voting Results From Annual Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mattr Corp. (“Mattr” or the “Company”) (TSX: MATR) announced today in accordance with Toronto Stock Exchange requirements, the voting results from its Annual Meeting held May 15, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

    A total of 43,559,302 common shares were voted at the meeting representing 69.87% of the votes attached to all outstanding shares. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the meeting, including the election of all director nominees as follows:

    Name of Nominee % of Votes For % of Votes Against
    Laura A. Cillis 99.93 0.07
    Kathleen J. Hall 99.86 0.14
    Alan R. Hibben 99.84 0.16
    Kevin L. Nugent 98.26 1.74
    Michael Reeves 99.93 0.07
    Kathy Rethy 99.70 0.30
    Marvin Riley 99.77 0.23

    “I appreciate the continued strong support of Mattr’s shareholders for both our strategic direction and our experienced team of Directors who provide invaluable governance oversight,” said Mike Reeves, Mattr’s President and CEO. “With output expanding from our recently established production facilities, strong customer adoption of our newly developed technologies and meaningful growth opportunities for the recently acquired AmerCable business, I believe Mattr is well positioned to deliver accelerating shareholder returns over the coming years.”

    Detailed voting results for the meeting are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    About Mattr

    Mattr is a growth-oriented, global materials technology company broadly serving critical infrastructure markets, including transportation, communication, water management, energy and electrification. Its two business segments, Connection Technologies and Composite Technologies, enable responsible renewal and enhancement of critical infrastructure.

    For further information, please contact:

    Meghan MacEachern
    VP, Investor Relations & External Communications
    Telephone: 437.341.1848
    Email: meghan.maceachern@mattr.com
    Website: www.mattr.com

    Source: Mattr Corp.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: Spotify continues to change music. What’s next – will AI musicians replace music made by humans?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

    Spotify was started, according to its official claims, because its founders “love music and piracy was killing it”. In Mood Machine, music journalist Liz Pelly argues this is rewriting history.

    In fact, she points out, Spotify founder Daniel Ek initially patented a platform around 2006, for circulating “any kind of digital content”. Only months later did he and his co-founder decide music might be the most profitable form of content.


    Review: Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist – Liz Pelly (Hodder & Stoughton)


    Ek grew up in a working-class suburb of Stockholm. A neighbour recalled that, while still at school, Ek had set up a website-making business – and was earning more than his teachers. Rejected for a job at Google, he founded an ad-targeting business, Advertigo. After he sold it to tech entrepreneur Martin Lorentzon, the two men registered a new company: Spotify.

    ‘The Google of music’

    Spotify would allow users to find their desired piece of music quickly. Ek described it in 2009 as “essentially the Google of music”, Pelly writes. He had a “maniacal focus” on ensuring a user would get a virtually instantaneous response when they pressed play; no annoying buffering.

    Spotify launched in Europe in 2008 and in the United States in 2011. It listed on the stock market in 2018. Spotify has just recorded its first annual profit. It is valued at over US$100 billion: more than the three leading recording companies combined.

    It had 678 million users at March 2025: of them, 268 million were paying subscribers. The rest contribute to Spotify’s earnings by listening to advertisements: the so-called “freemium” model.

    Boon or bane of musicians?

    Music streaming now accounts for 84% of recorded music revenue, according to Pelly – and Spotify is the largest music streamer.

    Initially, Spotify looked like a boon to musicians, she writes. It could save music from the threat of “pirate” downloading, which gave no payments to creators. But many musicians are critical of the low payments artists get: fractions of a cent per stream.

    Spotify claims that in 2024 it paid out more than US$10 billion to the music industry. It claims nearly 1,500 artists are earning over US$1 million annually.

    Spotify pays the recording and publishing rights holders, not the singers and songwriters. How much the latter gets depends on their contracts with the record companies. The system is complicated, indirect and not that transparent.

    ‘Mixtapes still work’ – so do playlists

    Spotify gradually shifted towards playlists, to simplify the process of users selecting music. Some playlists, like “today’s top hits”, just consisted of the currently most popular songs. These are like the “top 40” format of many commercial radio stations.

    Spotify also hired music experts to compile their choice of the best new releases. The compilers of the most popular of these playlists, such as the playlist “rap caviar”, became very influential. A Spotify advertisement in 2013 made the analogy between playlists and mixtapes (as featured in Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity), claiming “mixtapes still work”.

    Spotify advertising claims ‘mixtapes still work’, referencing High Fidelity.

    Spotify also increasingly tried to increase passive listening. It introduced playlists geared to match the existing tastes of listeners and allow for how these might vary across the day. It termed this “music for every moment”: music to exercise to, background music for studying, music to help you sleep and so on. I have a playlist of songs about economics.

    Ek said in 2016: “we really want to soundtrack every moment of your life”.

    One of the parts of the book I found most intriguing was Pelly’s discussion of how this echoes a strategy developed by Thomas Edison around a century ago. He produced shellac 78 rpm records with titles such as “in moods of wistfulness” and “for more energy!”.

    In 2014, Spotify made large investments in “algorithmic personalisation”. This suggested music similar in key, tempo, time signature, acousticness, danceability, loudness, mode and energy to whatever the user was already choosing.

    This kept users “within their comfort zone (or as Spotify thought of it, their customer retention zone)”. But it meant users were much less likely to encounter new styles and artists, or broaden their musical horizons.

    Generic music and AI

    While Spotify denies it, Pelly claims Spotify commissions session musicians, playing under assumed names, to record very generic-sounding music, for playlists such as “chill instrumental beats”. Pelly gives an example of 20 songwriters using 500 names to produce thousands of tracks, streamed millions of times.

    A “looming cloud” is the prospect AI-generated music will displace human musicians and singers in Spotify’s playlists, Pelly writes. She mentions that Spotify blocked a start-up called Boomy, which released over 14.5 million AI-generated songs – and has since struck up a partnership with Warner.

    Another controversy is around Spotify’s Discovery Mode, which offers artists more promotion of their songs in exchange for accepting lower payments. But if most artists do this, the promotions cancel each other out, leaving all the artists worse off.

    How Spotify is changing music

    Pelly quotes an independent record label founder who says Spotify has changed the nature of the music being made.

    It’s not sustainable to put out challenging records […] you have to put out records that are going to get repeat listens in coffee shops […] that are going to be playlist friendly.

    This is despite some music fans saying the music they experience as “life-changing, really profound” is different from the songs they play most often.

    Songs streamed are only monetised after 30 seconds. This has created “a particular emphasis placed on perfecting song intros […] songwriters would just dive directly into the chorus”. So, no more songs with long waits for the vocals, like U2, the Temptations, Dire Straits or Pink Floyd.

    Artists who want their songs to appear on playlists need them to match a particular mood or context. This means songs increasingly “remain in a single emotional register throughout”.

    It may mean artists are less likely to release songs with marked tempo changes, such as Dexys’ Midnight Runners’ Come on Eileen (1982), Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven (1971), Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) or Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out (2004). There may still be much smaller tempo changes, such as Taylor Swift’s Evermore from 2020.

    Artists may now be less likely to release songs with marked tempo changes, such as Dexys’ Midnight Runners’ Come on Eileen.

    The “Spotify for artists” service provides artists with data about the streaming of their songs. A band planning a tour can see in which cities or countries they are most popular. They can even alter their set lists to include the songs particularly popular in particular areas.

    But Spotify monitors use of this facility, Pelly writes – and it is not clear how they use the data. Over time, it may encourage artists to repeat aspects of their most popular songs, rather than innovate and evolve.

    A serious look

    The book is interesting and informative, but somewhat dryer than some other recent exposes of the tech sector. Partly this is because Ek is a less colourful character than X’s Elon Musk, or Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg.


    Pelly does not provide the witty lines of tech journalist Kara Swisher’s Burn Book. She is not a gossipy former insider, like director of global public policy at Meta, Sarah Wynn-Williams.

    As an economist, I felt the book complemented sociologist Michael Walsh’s Streaming Sounds: Musical Listening in the Digital Age. Walsh describes the demand for music streaming. Pelly analyses the supply side.

    Pelly rightly describes her book as a “serious look” at Spotify. It brings together a lot of useful information about the company and raises good questions about whether it is changing the music industry – and music itself – for the better.

    The debate will continue, as AI increases its influence and artists become more concerned about their songs being “TikTok friendly”, as well as “Spotify friendly”. Perhaps there will be more songs like Steve’s Lava Chicken from A Minecraft Movie. Just 34 seconds long, it recently became the shortest song to make the UK top 40.

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

    ref. Spotify continues to change music. What’s next – will AI musicians replace music made by humans? – https://theconversation.com/spotify-continues-to-change-music-whats-next-will-ai-musicians-replace-music-made-by-humans-253630

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: ESCO Announces Divestiture of VACCO Industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    St. Louis, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) (ESCO, or the Company) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell VACCO Industries (VACCO) to RBC Bearings Incorporated (NYSE: RBC), an international manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered precision bearings and products, headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut.

    The Company expects to finalize the transaction upon receipt of certain customary regulatory approvals with expected gross cash proceeds of $310 million subject to typical post-closing adjustments. A sizable book gain is expected on the transaction, with a plan to use the net proceeds for paying down debt incurred in connection with the Maritime acquisition.

    Last August, the Company announced a strategic review of the VACCO business and the resulting divestiture supports ESCO’s long-term strategy to focus its portfolio on core high-growth end-markets. VACCO has been a part of ESCO since its formation in 1990 and is a key supplier of highly-technical mission-critical solutions. Bryan Sayler, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, “We view this transaction as a great outcome for all and are confident that VACCO and its dedicated management team and employees are positioned for a positive future with RBC Bearings.”

    ESCO was represented by Philpott, Ball & Werner, LLC as exclusive financial advisor and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP as legal advisor on this transaction.

    ESCO Technologies is a global provider of highly engineered products and solutions serving diverse end-markets. It manufactures filtration and fluid control products, advanced composites, as well as signature and power management solutions for aviation, Navy, space, and industrial customers. ESCO is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing RF test and measurement products and systems; and provides diagnostic instruments, software and services to industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, ESCO and its subsidiaries have offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide. For more information on ESCO and its subsidiaries, visit ESCO’s website at www.escotechnologies.com.

    SOURCE ESCO Technologies Inc.
    Kate Lowrey, Vice President of Investor Relations, (314) 213-7277

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eurojust ensures authorities receive critical information on new undetectable devices used in prisons

    Source: Eurojust

    20 May 2025|

    French authorities took action in 66 prisons across the country against a new type of device that prisoners are using to communicate with the outside world and continue their criminal activities. Following findings by the prosecutor of the Judicial Court of Paris JUNALCO that these devices are being sold worldwide, Eurojust ensured that critical information on the devices was transmitted to the Agency’s National Desks and Liaison Prosecutors. Authorities can now use this information to investigate whether the devices are being used in their own countries.

    Investigators uncovered a device that was being sold worldwide through online marketplaces and could bypass security gates undetected. The device is small, has few metal parts and has specific settings that make it easy to hide from security checks. French investigators estimate that around 5 000 devices were being used in French prisons for criminal activities such as drug trafficking, homicide and money laundering.

    During operation Prison Break in France in the early hours of 20 May, nearly 500 cells were searched across the country. Authorities were able to target all 5 000 devices active and take down the market website selling the phones. After concluding the actions in France, the prosecutor ensured that crucial information and technical specifications of the devices were shared with authorities across Europe and beyond. The information was transmitted to all the National Desks and Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust. They can now share it with their national authorities, who can determine whether the devices are being used in their prisons.

    If you are a national authority from a country without a Liaison Prosecutor and would like to receive the information transmitted today, please contact the French Desk at Eurojust.

    The following authorities carried out the operation in France:

    • Public Prosecutor’s Office J3 (cybercrime Unit); BL2C – PJPP (Cybercrime unit Préfecture de Police); Gendarmerie National

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: HTTPeak Launches “Lazy Admin,” an AI Solution That Saves Costs and Staff Hours, empowering business users with data insights and analysis in seconds, all via natural language

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HTTPeak introduces Lazy Admin, an AI-powered tool for Salesforce, enabling users to generate insights in seconds using natural language. This solution streamlines business operations, enhancing efficiency and decision-making, and positions HTTPeak as an emerging force in AI-driven business solutions.

    Photo Courtesy of Mustafa Parekh

    NEW YORK, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTTPeak, a thriving software company, has recently introduced Lazy Admin, an advanced yet simple AI-powered reporting and data analysis tool designed for Salesforce and custom applications. This cutting-edge solution helps users to generate reports and insights in seconds using natural language, significantly reducing the time and effort required for data insights and getting deeper analysis.

    This solution delivers a wide range of benefits designed to drive efficiency and smarter decision-making across the organization. It helps businesses save on costs and staff hours, while delivering faster insights—enabling teams to know more in less time. Users can explore the same data from multiple perspectives within seconds, empowering them to make informed decisions with confidence.

    With built-in data protection, seamless integration capabilities with external databases beyond Salesforce, and the ability to offer API access for partner apps, the solution not only strengthens internal operations but also extends its value across the tech ecosystem. Its intuitive interface makes it a cakewalk for everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Additionally, it can be trained to understand company-specific language and workflows, acting as a personalized data assistant—offering the power of a dedicated staff member at a fraction of the cost.

    HTTPeak’s launch of Lazy Admin marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to streamline business operations through AI-driven solutions. Mustafa Parekh, Founder of HTTPeak, notes, “Our goal with Lazy Admin is to democratize access to data insights, making it possible for anyone in the organization to analyze and understand their data without needing extensive technical expertise.”

    This approach aligns with the growing trend of AI adoption in business operations, where companies increasingly seek to leverage technology to enhance efficiency and decision-making.

    Lazy Admin is built on advanced algorithms that comprehend human language, allowing users to fetch reports and data insights quickly and efficiently. It not only organizes the data, but also helps to understand it much clearer by using a variety of visual charts. The tool supports both standard and custom Salesforce objects, enabling users to search data from leads, contacts, accounts, opportunities, and more. With the capability to get trained on the organization’s internal acronyms and business language, it enhances user interactions to feel more conversational, enabling an even more seamless and human-like experience for business users.

    For example, businesses can use Lazy Admin to analyze revenue segmented by stages or months or track cases closed by weeks, providing actionable insights that inform strategic decisions. The AI-powered Data Talk feature further enhances the analysis process by providing strategic recommendations and key takeaways, such as highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement, providing a clear understanding of current performance and future potential.

    It analyzes the overall trajectory of the business or dataset, offering strategic recommendations to optimize outcomes. Beyond just what’s visible in the data, it also considers external contributing factors—those not directly present in the dataset but highly relevant to the industry context and nature of the information. As a result, the insights generated support more effective, data-informed decision-making across the organization.

    In 2024, the software industry experienced significant growth driven by AI and cloud technologies. As businesses increasingly adopt AI solutions to enhance operational efficiency, tools like Lazy Admin are about to play a critical role. Mustafa Parekh emphasizes, “The integration of AI into business operations is not just about technology; it’s about empowering leaders with the insights they need to drive growth and innovation.” This integration is particularly important in today’s business environment, where timely and accurate data analysis can differentiate between success and stagnation.

    Lazy Admin offers a range of subscription options through quote-based pricing tailored to each organization’s unique needs. With features like inline record editing, custom object support, and premium customer service, the tool is designed to be both cost-effective and scalable. As adoption grows, the team remains focused on turning strong interest into long-term customer relationships.

    As the demand for AI-powered solutions continues to rise, HTTPeak is well positioned to capitalize on this trend. Mustafa Parekh adds, “We are committed to continuously improving Lazy Admin, ensuring it remains at the forefront of AI innovation in the Salesforce ecosystem.” This commitment to innovation is crucial in a dynamic market, where staying ahead of technological advancements is key to maintaining competitive advantage.

    Businesses interested in Lazy Admin can initiate the onboarding process through Salesforce AppExchange. Rather than a simple self-installation, the Lazy Admin team works closely with each organization to ensure a smooth and impactful implementation. This guided approach reflects our belief that businesses benefit from tailored support when adopting AI solutions. With the dynamic pricing customized to meet specific needs and usage patterns, Lazy Admin empowers organizations to maximize their Salesforce investment through seamless integration and powerful data analysis—without requiring deep technical expertise.

    Visit the Lazy Admin Website to learn how this innovative solution can transform your business operations.

    About HTTPeak
    HTTPeak is a software company that develops innovative AI-powered solutions for business operations. With Lazy Admin, HTTPeak aims to revolutionize data analysis and reporting, making it accessible and efficient for businesses worldwide. The company’s focus on AI-driven tools reflects its commitment to empowering businesses with cutting-edge technology that enhances productivity and decision-making.

    Contact information:

    Mustafa Parekh
    Founder, HTTPeak
    lazyadmin@httpeak.com
    https://lazyadmin.httpeak.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00a67c9c-e353-4381-b8df-4c7b2b7c1807

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Currenc Group Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Currenc Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) (“Currenc” or the “Company”), a fintech pioneer empowering financial institutions worldwide with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights

    • Total Processing Value (TPV) through Tranglo was US$1.30 billion for the first quarter of 2025, decreasing by 3.7% year-over-year. Total number of transactions decreased to 2.77 million for the first quarter of 2025 from 2.94 million for the same period of 2024. The decline in TPV was mainly due to the decline in business volume from the Hong Kong market.
    • Total revenues excluding TNG Asia and GEA1 were US$10.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year decrease of 11.5%, primarily due to the 23.1% decline in global airtime revenue.
          For the three-month period ended March 31,  
          2025     2024  
          $     $  
          (dollars in thousands)  
      Remittance revenue excluding TNG Asia & GEA     4,583       5,025  
                       
      Global Airtime Revenue     2,022       2,573  
      Indonesian Airtime Revenue     3,437       3,742  
      Total Revenue excluding TNG Asia & GEA     10,042       11,340  
                       
    • Total remittance revenues excluding TNG Asia and GEA, i.e., remittance revenues contributed by Tranglo, were US$4.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, down 8% year-over-year. The decline in remittance revenue was mainly due to a decrease in remittance revenue from the Hong Kong market. Tranglo’s overall take rate declined to 0.35% in the first quarter of 2025 from 0.37% in the same period of 2024.
    • Currenc’s global airtime transfer revenues were US$2.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year decrease of 23.1%. The growing availability of free Wi-Fi in Southeast Asian countries, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, has led to declining demand for Malaysia-Indonesia airtime transfers, resulting in a decline in global airtime business in the first quarter of 2025. As Currenc expects this trend to continue in Southeast Asian markets, the Company’s management plans to deemphasize airtime transfer and reallocate its resources and capital to expand its new AI product offerings.
    • Total direct costs of revenue were US$6.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year decrease of 20.7%.
    • The direct payout rate for Tranglo’s remittance business was 0.13% for the first quarter of 2025, flat compared to 0.12% for the same period of 2024. Currenc’s overall gross profit margin ratio for the first quarter of 2025 was 31.8%, compared to 33.6% for the same period of 2024.
    • Total operating expenses increased to $7.5 million for the first quarter of 2025 from $5.8 million for the same period of 2024. The increase was mainly due to expenses of $2.2 million in recognition of the incentive shares granted to employees upon the completion of the INFINT SPAC merger.

      As Currenc divested TNG Asia and GEA in August and July 2024, respectively, its operating costs now reflect the operating costs of Tranglo, WalletKu and the Company’s headquarters only. Also, with the rollout of its new AI initiatives, Currenc incurred $0.5 million in operating costs related to these new businesses in the first quarter of 2025. The new AI businesses are expected to contribute incrementally to revenues and positively impact EBITDA in 2025.

      • Tranglo’s operating costs for the first quarter of 2025 were $3.2 million, representing an increase of 14% from $2.8 million in the same period of 2024.
      • WalletKu’s operating costs were $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2025, as compared to $0.4 million for the same period of 2024.
      • Professional fees and director fees were $0.8 million and $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, respectively.
    • Other income totaled $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, mainly contributed by Tranglo.
    • EBITDA analysis
      For the three-month period ended March 31, 2025   Tranglo     WalletKu     TNG
    Asia 
    and GEA
        Headquarters
    and
    adjustments
        Group
     
    Total
     
          (dollars in thousands)  
      Net income (loss)     1,160       (136 )           (5,511 )     (4,487 )
                                               
      Add:                                        
      Income tax expenses     141                   (93 )     48  
      Interest expense, net     21                   1,066       1,087  
      EBIT     1,322       (136 )           (4,538 )     (3,352 )
      Depreciation and amortization                             554  
      EBITDA     1,322       (136 )           (4,538 )     (2,798 )
                                               
    • The Company’s total EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was a loss of $2.8 million.
    • Tranglo and WalletKu’s combined EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $1.2 million.
    • TNG Asia and GEA’s combined losses had no impact on the Company’s results from the fourth quarter of 2024 onwards as they were divested before the completion of the de-SPAC merger.
    • Headquarters expenses and adjustments recorded an EBIT loss of $4.5 million, mainly contributed by:
      • $2.2 million in “Operating Expenses” in recognition of the incentive shares granted upon completion of the de-SPAC merger.
      • $0.8 million for professional fees.
      For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024   Tranglo     WalletKu     TNG
    Asia
    and GEA
        Headquarters
    and
    adjustments
        Group
    Total
     
          (dollars in thousands)  
      Net income (loss)     1,070       (123 )     (1,039 )     (2,540 )     (2,632 )
                                               
      Add:                                        
      Income tax expenses     163                   (92 )     71  
      Interest expense, net                 242       1,069       1,311  
      EBIT     1,233       (123 )     (797 )     (1,563 )     (1,250 )
      Depreciation and amortization                             1,016  
      EBITDA     1,233       (123 )     (797 )     (1,563 )     (234 )
                                               
    • Net loss was US$4.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, primarily driven by the net loss of $5.5 million incurred by headquarters and adjustments.

    Management Comments
    “As demand for digital remittance continues to grow steadily, intensified market competition is compressing pricing,” said Alex Kong, Founder and Executive Chairman of Currenc. “Against this backdrop, we strove to maintain Tranglo’s healthy take rate while delivering TPV of US $1.30 billion in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring the strength of our core remittance platform and our disciplined strategic execution. Looking ahead, we are positioning Currenc for higher‑margin growth through two key initiatives: scaling our AI product offerings and expanding our remittance services into major corridors. We believe this combination of broader reach and AI‑driven innovation will support a more diversified revenue base and a structurally stronger bottom line.”

    Ronnie Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Currenc, commented, “While softer airtime demand weighed on our total revenues, our remittance business remained resilient amid a competitive environment in the first quarter of 2025, supporting a combined EBITDA for Tranglo and WalletKu of US $1.2 million. We are reallocating capital toward accelerating our AI initiatives and building higher‑margin remittance corridors to boost product value and operational scale, priming the Company for quality growth throughout the year. We also enhanced cost management and maintained Tranglo’s payout rate at 0.13%. Operating expenses rose to US $7.5 million, primarily due to a one‑time US $2.2 million share‑based incentive linked to the de‑SPAC merger, as well as costs related to our new AI initiatives. Outside of these expenses, our headquarters’ operating costs remained broadly stable. Going forward, this strengthened bottom line will allow us to invest in AI-driven growth while maintaining financial discipline.”

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, it uses EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure as described below, to understand and evaluate its core operating performance. This non-GAAP financial measure, which may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies, is presented to enhance investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s financial performance and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

    EBITDA is defined as net loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Currenc believes that EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating its operating results. This non-GAAP financial measure eliminates the impact of items that Currenc does not consider indicative of the performance of its business. While Currenc believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful in evaluating its business, this information should be considered supplemental in nature and is not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    About Currenc Group Inc.
    Currenc Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) is a fintech pioneer dedicated to transforming global financial services through artificial intelligence (AI). The Company empowers financial institutions worldwide with comprehensive AI solutions, including SEAMLESS AI Call Centre and other AI-powered Agents designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency and boost customer satisfaction for banks, insurance, telecommunications companies, government agencies and other financial institutions. The Company’s digital remittance platform also enables e-wallets, remittance companies, and corporations to provide real-time, 24/7 global payment services, advancing financial access across underserved communities.

    For additional information, please refer to the Currenc website https://www.currencgroup.com and the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contact
    Currenc Group Investor Relations
    Email: investors@currencgroup.com

    SOURCE: Currenc Group Inc.

     
    CURRENC GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
     
        Three months ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        US$     US$  
    Revenue     10,055,569       13,104,123  
                     
    Cost of revenue     (6,854,172 )     (8,696,562 )
    Gross profit     3,201,397       4,407,561  
    Selling expenses           (3,987 )
                     
    General and administrative expenses     (7,522,252 )     (5,824,208 )
                     
    Loss from operations     (4,320,855 )     (1,420,634 )
    Finance costs, net     (1,087,313 )     (1,311,363 )
    Other income     969,691       189,735  
    Other expenses     (402 )     (19,137 )
                     
    Loss before income tax     (4,438,879 )     (2,561,399 )
    Income tax expense     (48,479 )     (70,529 )
                     
    Net loss     (4,487,358 )     (2,631,928 )
    Net income attributable to non-controlling interests     (187,000 )     (403,056 )
                     
    Net loss attributable to Currenc Group Inc.     (4,674,358 )     (3,034,984 )
                     
    Net loss per share, basic and diluted (1)   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.09 )
                     
    Shares used in net loss per share computation, basic and diluted (1)     35,374,891       33,980,753  
                     
    Other comprehensive loss:                
    Foreign currency translation adjustments     171,532       368,135  
                     
    Total comprehensive loss     (4,315,826 )     (2,263,793 )
    Total comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests     (228,069 )     (407,798 )
    Total comprehensive loss attributable to Currenc Group Inc.     (4,543,895 )     (2,671,591 )
     
    (1) Retrospectively restated to reflect Reverse Recapitalization
    CURRENC GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
     
        March 31,
    2025
        December 31,
    2024
     
          US$       US$  
    ASSETS                
    Current assets:                
    Cash and cash equivalents     62,300,298       63,821,397  
    Restricted cash     40,978       40,742  
    Accounts receivable, net     2,103,924       2,115,681  
    Other financial assets     3,171,000        
    Amounts due from related parties     449,094       560,823  
    Prepayments, receivables and other assets     25,874,112       20,948,216  
    Total current assets     93,939,406       87,486,859  
    Non-current assets:                
    Equipment and software, net     1,118,661       1,055,520  
    Right-of-use asset     294,965       349,240  
    Intangible assets     3,000,978       3,386,117  
    Goodwill     12,059,428       12,059,428  
    Deferred tax assets     344,291       342,822  
    Total non-current assets:     16,818,323       17,193,127  
    Total assets     110,757,729       104,679,986  
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT                
    Current liabilities:                
    Borrowings     20,128,362       20,150,058  
    Receivable factoring     480,225       258,415  
    Other financial liabilities     3,329,550        
    Accounts payable, accruals and other payables     51,411,453       55,329,740  
    Amounts due to related parties     76,472,666       67,697,074  
    Convertible bonds     1,750,000       1,750,000  
    Lease liabilities     177,505       171,909  
    Total current liabilities:     153,749,761       145,357,196  
    Non-current liabilities:                
    Deferred tax liabilities     784,479       876,912  
    Employee benefit obligation     39,259       45,289  
    Lease liabilities     111,833       156,647  
    Total non-current liabilities:     935,571       1,078,848  
    Total liabilities     154,685,332       146,436,044  
                     
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)                
                     
    Shareholders’ deficit:                
    Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; 550,000,000 shares authorized 46,527,999 and 46,527,999 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively) (1)     4,653       4,653  
    Additional paid-in capital (1)     67,797,587       65,638,838  
    Accumulated deficit     (136,197,260 )     (131,522,902 )
    Accumulated other Comprehensive Loss     7,873       (108,122 )
    Total shareholders’ deficit attributable to Currenc Group Inc.     (68,387,147 )     (65,987,533 )
    Non-controlling interests     24,459,544       24,231,475  
    Total deficit     (43,927,603 )     (41,756,058 )
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit     110,757,729       104,679,986  
     
    (1) Retrospectively restated to reflect Reverse Recapitalization
    CURRENC GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
     
        Three months ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        US$     US$  
    Cash flows from operating activities:                
    Net loss     (4,487,358 )     (2,631,928 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:                
    Non-cash expense for Share-based compensation     2,158,749        
    Depreciation of equipment and software     123,799       142,518  
    Depreciation of right-of-use assets     53,712       41,981  
    Amortization of intangible assets     385,139       831,392  
    Deferred income taxes     (92,426 )     54,704  
    Disposal of fixed assets     401        
    Unrealized foreign exchange gain     328,269       (124,690 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
    Accounts receivable     33,923       (110,270 )
    Prepayments, receivables and other assets     (4,918,772 )     9,477,057  
    Escrow money payable           218,542  
    Client money payable           146,847  
    Accounts payable, accruals and other payables     (4,068,655 )     (7,014,740 )
    Interest payable on convertible bonds           952,736  
    Amount due from a director     729,198        
    Amount due to Immediate holding company     23,766        
    Amounts due from related parties     (3,652 )      
    Amounts due to related parties     8,245,995       (2,205,121 )
    Net cash used in operating activities     (1,487,912 )     (220,972 )
                     
    Cash flows from investing activities:                
    Decrease in short-term investments           615  
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (175,158 )     (12,058 )
    Proceeds received from disposal of PPE     596        
    Net cash used in investing activities     (174,562 )     (11,443 )
                     
    Cash flows from financing activities:                
    Proceeds from borrowings           639,210  
    Repayment of borrowings           (95,742 )
    Proceeds from receivable factoring     433,287       586,789  
    Repayment of receivable factoring     (218,974 )     (610,559 )
    Payment of principal elements of lease liabilities     (65,286 )     (46,295 )
    Payment of interest elements of lease liabilities     (7,416 )     (2,952 )
    Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities     141,611       470,451  
                     
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (1,520,863 )     238,036  
    Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and escrow money receivable at beginning of the period     63,862,139       58,960,384  
    Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and escrow money receivable at end of the period     62,341,276       59,198,420  
                     
    Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:                
    Income taxes paid     (140,905 )     (15,825 )
    Interest paid     (48,773 )     (346,270 )
    CURRENC GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    EBITDA Analysis for the First Quarter of 2025 and 2024
     
    For the three-month period ended March 31, 2025   Tranglo     WalletKu     TNG Asia and GEA     Headquarters and adjustments     Group Total  
        (dollars in thousands)  
    Net income (loss)     1,160       (136 )           (5,511 )     (4,487 )
                                             
    Add:                                        
    Income tax expenses     141                   (93 )     48  
    Interest expense, net     21                   1,066       1,087  
    EBIT     1,322       (136 )           (4,538 )     (3,352 )
    Depreciation and amortization                             554  
    EBITDA     1,322       (136 )           (4,538 )     (2,798 )
    For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024   Tranglo     WalletKu     TNG Asia and GEA     Headquarters and adjustments     Group Total  
        (dollars in thousands)  
    Net income (loss)     1,070       (123 )     (1,039 )     (2,540 )     (2,632 )
                                             
    Add:                                        
    Income tax expenses     163                   (92 )     71  
    Interest expense, net                 242       1,069       1,311  
    EBIT     1,233       (123 )     (797 )     (1,563 )     (1,250 )
    Depreciation and amortization                             1,016  
    EBITDA     1,233       (123 )     (797 )     (1,563 )     (234 )
                                             

    1 TNG Asia and GEA were divested in August 2024 and July 2024, respectively.
    2 Tranglo maintained a positive EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024.
    3 Tranglo and WalletKu maintained a combined positive EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024.

    ____________________________________
    1 Currenc divested TNG Asia and GEA in August 2024 and July 2024, respectively. As such, from the fourth quarter of 2024 onward, only Tranglo’s (digital remittance and global airtime transfer businesses) and WalletKu’s (Indonesian airtime business) results will be consolidated and reported in the Company’s financial statements.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Prairie Band Casino & Resort Transitions from Viz Explorer to Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Enterprise Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leader in advanced casino management solutions, is excited to announce that Prairie Band Casino has chosen the QCI Enterprise Platform to enhance its data-driven operations. This significant move from Viz Explorer to QCI demonstrates Prairie Band Casino & Resort’s commitment to improving the guest experience by leveraging superior analytics and real-time operational insights.

    As a prominent gaming destination, Prairie Band Casino & Resort is known for offering exceptional service to its patrons. With the adoption of the QCI Enterprise Platform, the casino will now utilize cutting-edge analytics, player development tools, and streamlined processes to drive performance optimization and guest satisfaction.

    John Tuckwin, Marketing Director for Prairie Band Casino & Resort, shared his enthusiasm for the transition: “Our switch to the QCI Enterprise Platform reflects our ongoing mission to provide an exceptional gaming experience. The platform’s ability to deliver real-time data and comprehensive analytics will allow us to make informed decisions that will enhance both our operational efficiency and the overall satisfaction of our guests. This partnership signifies a step forward in Prairie Band Casino & Resort’s goal to stay at the forefront of gaming technology, further solidifying its position as a premier destination in the region.”

    Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are thrilled to welcome Prairie Band Casino & Resort to our growing network of gaming properties. Their decision to implement the QCI Enterprise Platform underscores their commitment to innovation, and we look forward to helping them streamline their operations and maximize revenue opportunities.”

    Melissa Chiaurro, President of Viz Explorer, also commented on the collaboration:
    “We are thrilled to announce our extended partnership with Prairie Band Casino & Resort and their dedicated team. By integrating the QCI Enterprise Platform, they are poised to gain deeper insights into their operations, enabling more informed decision-making and enhanced customer experiences. This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting Prairie Band Casino & Resort in achieving their business objectives and delivering exceptional service to their guests. We look forward to the continued success of this partnership.”

    ABOUT Prairie Band Casino & Resort
    Prairie Band Casino & Resort opened January of 1998 and is owned and operated by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. It is located on tribal land just north of Topeka, Kansas. The casino offers more than 1,100 slot machines including Class II games; a 400-seat bingo hall; and 25 table games including blackjack, craps and roulette. There are four dining options, lobby bar, luxury hotel, on-site convenience store and RV park. The 12,000-square-foot Great Lakes Ballroom plays host to concerts and other live performances, and the award-winning Firekeeper Golf Course is only steps away.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI AGI Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Denver, Dallas, and Phoenix. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications.
    Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Top KingWin Ltd Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Minimum Closing Bid Price Rule

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Guangzhou, China, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Top KingWin Ltd (“Top KingWin” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: WAI) announced today that it received a formal notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) on May 19, 2025, that the Company has regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires the Company’s class A ordinary shares, par value of US$0.0025 each (the “Ordinary Shares”) to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share.

    The Nasdaq staff made this determination of compliance after the closing bid price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares has been at $1.00 per share or greater for the last 10 consecutive business days from May 5 to May 16, 2025. Accordingly, the Company has regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and this bid price deficiency matter is now closed.

    About Top KingWin Ltd

    Top KingWin’s main clients are entrepreneurs and executives in small and medium-sized enterprises in China. Services provided by Top KingWin to its clients including (i) corporate business training services, which mainly focus on providing training services of advanced knowledge and new perspectives on the capital markets, (ii) corporate consulting services, which mainly focus on providing a combination of customized corporate consulting services to fulfill client’s unique financial needs, (iii) advisory and transaction services, which mainly focus on connecting entrepreneurs and businesses with diversified sources of capital, and (iv) sales of devices to support artificial intelligence data collection and analysis. Its mission is to provide comprehensive services to address clients’ needs throughout all phases of their development and growth.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the use of proceeds from the Company’s offering, the intent, belief or current expectations of Top KingWin and members of its management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.

    For more information, please contact:

    Bonnie

    Email: IR@tcjhgw.cn

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Tactile Medical to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences in June

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINNEAPOLIS, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (“Tactile Medical”; the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TCMD), a medical technology company providing therapies for people with chronic disorders, today announced that management will be participating in two upcoming investor conferences. Tactile Medical is scheduled to present at the William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference in Chicago on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 3:20 p.m. CST and at the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in New York on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 2:35 p.m. EST.

    Event: William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference
    Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
    Time: 3:20 p.m. CST

    Event: Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference
    Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
    Time: 2:35 p.m. EST

    A live audio webcast of the presentations will be accessible under the “Events & Webcasts” section of the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.tactilemedical.com. An archive of the webcasts will be available for replay following the conference.

    About Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (DBA Tactile Medical)

    Tactile Medical is a leader in developing and marketing at-home therapies for people suffering from underserved, chronic conditions including lymphedema, lipedema, chronic venous insufficiency and chronic pulmonary disease by helping them live better and care for themselves at home. Tactile Medical collaborates with clinicians to expand clinical evidence, raise awareness, increase access to care, reduce overall healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of patients each year.

    Investor Inquiries:
    Sam Bentzinger
    Gilmartin Group
    investorrelations@tactilemedical.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Cipher Mining Announces Proposed Convertible Senior Notes Offering and Proposed Hedging Transaction to Place Borrowed Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: CIFR) (“Cipher” or the “Company”) today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “notes”) in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Cipher also expects to grant the underwriters of the notes offering an option to purchase up to an additional $22,500,000 aggregate principal amount of notes solely to cover over-allotments. Morgan Stanley is acting as the sole bookrunning manager for the offering.

    The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Cipher, will accrue interest payable semiannually in arrears and will mature on May 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Noteholders will have the right to convert their notes in certain circumstances and during specified periods. Cipher will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at Cipher’s election.

    The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), for cash at Cipher’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 22, 2028 and on or before the 30th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Cipher’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

    If certain corporate events that constitute a “fundamental change” occur, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require Cipher to repurchase their notes for cash. The repurchase price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date. In addition, unless Cipher has previously called all outstanding notes for redemption, noteholders may at their option require Cipher to repurchase their notes for cash on May 15, 2028 at a repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

    The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes will be determined at the pricing of the offering.

    Cipher intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to complete Phase 1 of the Black Pearl data center project (“Phase 1”), including: (i) purchasing at a discount the remaining balance of mining rigs required for Phase 1; (ii) paying expected tariffs and shipping costs for the mining rigs to be used for Phase 1; and (iii) paying other infrastructure-related capital expenditures in connection with Phase 1, and for general corporate purposes. On May 16, 2025, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Cipher Mining Infrastructure LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Cipher Black Pearl LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into an Amendment Agreement and Deed of Novation to the Future Sales and Purchase Agreement (the “2025 Amendment”) with Bitmain Technologies Delaware Limited, which amends the Company’s existing Future Sales and Purchase Agreement, dated December 16, 2023, as amended by the Supplemental Agreement, dated June 5, 2024, the Amendment Agreement, dated July 10, 2024 and the Notice of Exercise dated February 5, 2025 (together, the “Original Agreement”). The Original Agreement has been amended to include an updated delivery schedule that allows for rig delivery by June 23, 2025. Through such amendment, the Company aims to accelerate its rig deployment timeline and offset a portion of the expected tariffs. The Company also received a 10% reduction in cost in exchange for the Company’s early payment of the remaining balance outstanding under the Original Agreement. The amendment also provides the Company with additional incremental value from BTC-linked call options.

    Concurrently with the offering of the notes, Cipher also announced that Morgan Stanley, acting on behalf of itself and/or its affiliates, intends to offer, in a separate, underwritten offering, a number of shares of Cipher’s common stock borrowed from third parties (the “concurrent delta offering”), to facilitate hedging transactions (whether physical and/or through derivatives) by some of the purchasers of the notes. The number of shares of Cipher’s common stock subject to the concurrent delta offering will be determined at the time of pricing of the concurrent delta offering, and is expected to be no greater than commercially reasonable initial short positions of such hedging investors in the notes. The completion of the offering of the notes is contingent on the completion of the concurrent delta offering, and the completion of the concurrent delta offering is contingent on the completion of the offering of the notes.

    The offering of the notes and the concurrent delta offering are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Each of the offering of the notes and the concurrent delta offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the respective prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. Electronic copies of the respective preliminary prospectus supplements, together with the accompanying prospectus, will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the respective preliminary prospectus supplements, together with the accompanying prospectus, can be obtained, when available, by contacting: Morgan Stanley, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department.

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

    J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC acted as financial advisor to the Company.

    About Cipher

    Cipher is focused on the development and operation of industrial-scale data centers for bitcoin mining and HPC hosting. Cipher aims to be a market leader in innovation, including in bitcoin mining growth, data center construction and as a hosting partner to the world’s largest HPC companies. To learn more about Cipher, please visit https://www.ciphermining.com/.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws of the United States. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, such as, statements about the terms and completion of the notes offering and the concurrent delta offering, the use of proceeds from the notes offering, the effect of the hedging activities related to the notes offering on the market price of our shares of common stock, our beliefs and expectations regarding our future results of operations and financial position, planned business model and strategy, our bitcoin mining and HPC data center development, timing and likelihood of success, capacity, functionality and timing of operation of data centers, expectations regarding the operations of data centers, potential strategic initiatives, such as joint ventures and partnerships, and management plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “future,” “forecasts,” “opportunity,” “predicts,” “potential,” “would,” “will likely result,” “continue,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cipher and our management, are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: volatility in the price of Cipher’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and regulated industry in which Cipher operates, Cipher’s evolving business model and strategy and efforts we may make to modify aspects of our business model or engage in various strategic initiatives, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Cipher’s business, and the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and to identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 25, 2025, and in Cipher’s subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Cipher assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contacts:
    Investor Contact:
    Courtney Knight
    Head of Investor Relations at Cipher Mining
    courtney.knight@ciphermining.com

    Media Contact:
    Ryan Dicovitsky / Kendal Till
    Dukas Linden Public Relations
    CipherMining@DLPR.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: POET Technologies Announces Upsize and Amendments to Previously Announced Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Corporation“) (TSXV: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), the designer and developer of the POET Optical Interposer™, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and light sources for the data center, tele-communication and artificial intelligence markets, is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated April 28, 2025, in response to significant interest from a strategic investor and to allow for a more timely execution, it proposes to amend the terms of its previously announced non-brokered public offering to, among other things, increase the offering size to US$30,000,000 and make certain ancillary revisions to the offering structure, which will now be conducted as a non-brokered private placement (as amended, the “Offering”). The Offering Price (as defined herein) remains unchanged and represents a premium to the prevailing market price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”).

    In the revised Offering, the Corporation expects to issue 6,000,000 common shares of the Corporation (the “Common Shares”) and one common share purchase warrant (the “Warrant”) exercisable to acquire up to 6,000,000 Common Shares (the “Warrant Shares”) at a price of C$8.32 per Warrant Share for a period of five years from the date of issue. The combined price of one Common Share and the Warrant (in respect of one Common Share) will be equal to US$5.00 (the “Offering Price”).

    The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. No commission or finder’s fee will be paid by the Corporation, and no underwriter or sales agent will be engaged by the Corporation in connection with the Offering. The Corporation expects to complete the Offering on or about May 22, 2025.

    All Common Shares and Warrants issued under the Offering are expected to be distributed outside of Canada in reliance on OSC Rule 72-503 – Distributions Outside of Canada and, accordingly, all Common Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issued under the Offering will not be subject to a Canadian statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Offering remains subject to the final acceptance of the Exchange.

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

    About POET Technologies Inc.
    POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical engines, light source products and custom optical modules to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers.  POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems.  POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges across a broad range of communication, computing and sensing applications.  POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Singapore, Penang, Malaysia and Shenzhen, China. More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include, without limitation, the Corporation’s ability to complete the Offering on the terms announced and within the expected timeline, the Corporation’s expectations with respect to its products, the scalability of the POET Optical Interposer and the success of the Corporation’s products, the Corporation’s use of proceeds for the Offering and the Corporation’s ability to obtain the final approval of the Exchange. Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, management’s expectations regarding the size of the market for its products, the capability of its joint venture to produce products on time and at the expected costs, the performance and availability of certain components, and the success of its customers in achieving market penetration for their products. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the attractiveness of the Corporation’s product offerings, performance of its technology, the performance of key components, and ability of its customers to sell their products into the market. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Corporation’s filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Corporation’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Corporation can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by applicable securities laws.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. 120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 – Fax: 416-322-5075

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Plastics Dialogue sharpens focus on transparency and standards

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Plastics Dialogue sharpens focus on transparency and standards

    Barbados and Morocco delivered opening remarks on behalf of the co-coordinators. They highlighted the successful midterm review in April of the DPP’s work in 2025 and underscored the importance of delving deeper into each focus area to advance potential outcomes. They noted co-sponsors’ interest in the ongoing global efforts to reduce plastics pollution, particularly the negotiations led by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee under the United Nations, which is scheduled to hold its next round of talks in August 2025 in Geneva.
    The co-coordinators reported on the productive discussions held during a workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean on 16 May, highlighting the DPP initiative’s continued efforts to incorporate regional perspectives and to hear from smaller delegations. The first region-focused workshop, held alongside the April DPP meeting, had centred on Africa.
    They noted that regional experts underscored the importance of boosting trade and strengthening institutional regulatory capacities to address plastics pollution. The workshop emphasized strong support for small businesses, calling for technical assistance and financial incentives to help them participate in a more sustainable economy.
    Participants also highlighted the need to promote locally sourced, sustainable substitutes — such as banana peel, bamboo and sugarcane byproducts — alongside green finance mechanisms, while considering consumer awareness of non-plastic substitutes and cultural preferences for certain alternative materials. The discussion further stressed the value of enhanced regional cooperation and a unified regulatory approach to single-use plastics, with platforms such as Mercosur (Southern Common Market) and ALADI (Latin American Integration Association) identified as key avenues for regulatory cooperation and aligning standards. 
    Switzerland and China facilitated thematic discussions on the two focus areas. On the first topic — enhancing cooperation on applicable standards for non-plastic substitutes and alternatives — members heard from a diverse range of institutions and companies. The Codex Alimentarius Committee under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization presented its work on food packaging standards for traded goods, with a focus on food safety.
    Representatives from companies and associations in Peru, the Philippines and the Netherlands shared their experiences and challenges in navigating domestic and international regulations while using nature-compatible and biodegradable materials to replace single-use plastics. The United States also provided a debrief on recent discussions in the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, which explored domestic practices and the potential negative impacts of changes to food packaging regulations. The importance of cross-committee collaboration between the DPP and other WTO bodies was underscored.
    Participants expressed a shared commitment to addressing plastics pollution through the DPP, while cautioning against duplicating the work of existing WTO committees and international standard-setting organizations. Several emphasized the importance of the DPP focusing on its unique contributions — such as facilitating information exchange, sharing domestic experiences, and examining the commercial, environmental and safety dimensions of non-plastic alternatives. Many also underscored the need for international cooperation, the harmonization of standards and certification schemes, and equitable access to sustainable solutions, particularly for developing economies.
    On the second topic — enhancing transparency of trade flows of plastics — members received an update from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), which presented its work on developing statistical guidelines for measuring plastic flows throughout the life cycle. The European Union’s Joint Research Centre also gave a presentation on the bloc’s evolving policy landscape and its strengthened measures to track material flows of plastics across its value chain.
    Participants welcomed the guidelines as useful tools for monitoring the trade flow of goods with embedded plastics, as well as single-use plastic items. They encouraged broader knowledge sharing to include guidelines developed by other organizations and called for greater support to developing and least-developed members in building capacity for data collection.
    In conclusion, Australia thanked members and stakeholders for their inputs, emphasizing that transparency is a critical step toward effective policy design. It noted that the discussions underscored the potential of non-plastic substitutes and alternative materials, while also acknowledging the remaining challenges.
    Co-coordinators will provide updates on the next steps following further consultations.
    More
    DPP co-sponsors have identified eight areas for achieving possible outcomes at MC14. The remaining six areas include: supporting ongoing multilateral negotiations under the United Nations to reduce plastics pollution; exploring strategies to harmonize trade-related measures for single-use plastics; identifying best practices; improving access to relevant technologies and services; building capacity for developing members; and considering the potential development of domestic inventories of trade-related plastic measures.
    Launched in November 2020 by a group of WTO members, the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution currently consists of 83 co-sponsors, representing almost 90 per cent of global trade in plastics.

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    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 2025 State of Small Business Survey: Surge in AI, cybersecurity and social media demand

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: 2025 State of Small Business Survey: Surge in AI, cybersecurity and social media demand

    What you need to know:

    • Nearly half (47%) of SMBs updated their cybersecurity solutions to further protect their business. More than a third (38%) are actively using AI across multiple business functions, such as data analysis, marketing and customer service.
    • Over 56% of SMBs believe AI can help address issues with employee management and overall employee headcount.
    • 3 in 4 (76%) of SMBs agree that social media positively impacts their business performance.
    • But more than half (54%) of SMBs struggle to keep online content fresh and stay up to date with social media trends.

    NEW YORK, NY – Verizon Business today announced the findings of its sixth annual State of Small Business Survey, conducted by Morning Consult. The report shows small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are aggressively adopting technology to drive market growth and operational efficiency. The surge is fueled by increasingly accessible artificial intelligence (AI) and content creation tools, empowering SMBs to expand their marketing and sales capabilities and reach new markets.

    Social media is a critical driver, with 58% of SMBs now on TikTok, while 38% are actively integrating AI into their operations. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a fundamental transformation of how SMBs compete and thrive in the modern digital economy.

    “Small business owners are entering a new chapter of digital business with the rise of AI,” said Aparna Khurjekar, Chief Revenue Officer, Business Markets and SaaS, Verizon Business. “At Verizon, we are committed to supporting our SMB community in navigating their business through the latest technology to help deliver growth and protect their assets from emerging cyber threats.”

    Based on responses from 600 SMBs in the United States, the State of Small Business Survey identified the following key findings and insights:

    • Upgrading technology solutions for new ways of doing business. In the last year, almost half of small businesses (47%) implemented new technology platforms to bolster security for their increasingly digital operations. Social media continues to be a leading customer engagement tool among SMBs, with more than three in five decision-makers either launching content creation initiatives or increasing their investment in content creation during the past year.
    • AI adoption spreads in new ways. Today, 38% of SMBs are leveraging AI in one capacity or another. More than a quarter (28%) are using AI for marketing and social media, while 24% are using the technology for written communications. Nearly a quarter use AI to power digital personal assistants that can help them with customer service. Another 25% are using AI to boost their cybersecurity efforts. Meanwhile, SMBs are exploring AI for employee recruitment and retention, with 56% believing AI can help their business offset any pain points caused by reduced or frozen headcount and another 53% believing AI can help the business retain current staff.
    • SMBs turn to AI to help with employee management strategies. While more than two-thirds of decision makers surveyed believe employees need to be in-person for the business to function, they are turning to AI for support in navigating this new workforce. Nineteen percent (19%) of SMBs are using AI for recruitment and talent sourcing, and 56% believe AI can help their business offset any pain points caused by reduced or frozen headcount. More than half (53%) believe AI can help the business retain current staff.
    • Growing importance of cybersecurity. More than half of SMBs (52%) acknowledge that business growth likely increases the threat of cyberattacks on their business. Nearly half of the respondents (47%) invested in technologies to improve cybersecurity in the last year. A quarter of SMBs don’t believe their business is investing enough.
    • Content for social media continues to be king. Over the past year, SMBs have leaned heavily on social media as one of their leading customer outreach tactics. Facebook remains the number one most popular platform for these businesses, and 76% agree that social media positively impacts their business. A whopping 58% of them are on TikTok.

    As technology continues to evolve and become increasingly more accessible, many SMBs understand the vital importance of embracing the role of technology to grow and protect their business in this new era of digital transformation through AI.

    Visit our website to view the complete survey findings.

    For more information on Verizon’s Small Business Solutions, visit https://www.verizon.com/business/solutions/small-business/.

    MIL OSI Economics