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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyber sector is target for growth as Government supports businesses against serious organised cyber crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Cyber sector is target for growth as Government supports businesses against serious organised cyber crime

    The cyber sector will be a “prime target for economic growth” in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, as the government secures Britain’s future and delivers the Plan for Change.

    • Cyber will be a “prime target for economic growth” in upcoming Industrial Strategy as government secures Britain’s future and delivers the Plan for Change.
    • Boosting cyber sector will deliver double dividend of producing home grown jobs as well as protecting growth in other sectors.
    • UK to invest £8 million in Ukrainian cyber defences, more than £1 million to protect Moldovan elections, and extra £7 million in Laboratory for AI Security Research.

     The cyber sector will be a “prime target for economic growth” in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, as the government secures Britain’s future and delivers the Plan for Change. 

    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will say that boosting the cyber sector will deliver the double dividend of producing home grown jobs as well as protecting growth in other sectors by improving cyber security.

    Speaking at one of the country’s largest cyber security conferences on Wednesday, the minister will warn that the recent attacks on household retailers are “serious organised crime”. 

    But he will tell the audience of tech experts and business leaders gathered at CyberUK in Manchester that the digital world also presents a huge economic opportunity for the whole country – with the average cyber salary in North West England already climbing to £54,600. 

    He will announce that the government will turbo charge the sector in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, which will be a blueprint for kick-starting economic growth to put more money in working people’s pockets. 

    To ensure the government pulls every growth lever at its disposal, he will add the government is supporting an independent cyber growth report from experts at Imperial College and Bristol University, which will quickly deliver recommendations by the end of the summer. 

    Pat McFadden’s speech follows cyber attacks on M&S, the Co-op and Harrods, which he will address, saying: 

    Cyber attacks are not a game. Not a clever exercise. They are serious organised crime. The purpose is to damage and extort. The digital version of an old fashioned shake down. Either straight theft or a protection racket where your business will be safe as long as you pay the gangsters.   

    What we have seen over the past couple of weeks should serve as a wake-up call for businesses and organisations up and down the UK, as if we needed one, that cybersecurity is not a luxury but an absolute necessity.

    Turning to seize the economic prize on offer, he will explain:

    But there is enormous potential for cyber security to be a driving force in our economy – creating jobs, growth and opportunities for people. It’s already a sector on the up – with over 2,000 businesses across the UK.

    We want the benefits of the cyber industry to reach into communities all across the country. And that is why cyber will be a prime target for economic growth in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, as the Government secures Britain’s future. It is going to be a significant commitment, a vote of confidence in your sector, and one that will tell the world: the UK plans to be a global player in cyber security for decades to come.

    Cyber is already contributing to growth across the UK. The sector holds 67,000 jobs, up 6,600 in the last year, and revenues now top £13bn, up by 12% year-on-year.

    Recognising the potential for public and private sector cooperation to deliver growth, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will also deliver a progress update on the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) he launched last November. In just months, it has funded 10 PhDs at the University of Oxford; 9 researchers at The Turing Institute and pioneering research through 8 leading UK universities including Queen’s University Belfast and Lancaster University.

    He will rocket charge LASR with an additional £7 million of government funding and announce a new partnership with worldwide technology leader Cisco:

    Cisco will work with LASR, and in particular the NCSC, to run challenges across the UK and build a demonstrator here in the North West to showcase how our scientists and entrepreneurs can work together to manage the risks, build the skills and grasp the opportunities of AI security. This is the first collaboration of its kind with LASR, and will be a trailblazer where others can follow to help LASR drive cutting-edge research into the impact of AI on national security.

    Cementing the UK’s commitment to the security of its allies, he will announce the government is investing £1.1 million to give the Moldovan Government tools to protect the country’s upcoming Parliamentary Election, alongside additional funding for Ukraine:

    Ukraine has put up an incredibly brave fight against Putin’s cyberwarfare, and we have vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for as long as long as it takes to defend their sovereignty. And so we are going to invest £8 million in the Ukraine Cyber Programme over the next year to continue to counter the Kremlin’s cyber aggression.

    The speech comes as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launches a suite of measures to bolster cyber protection for individuals and businesses across the UK.

    Measures set to be unveiled by Minister Clark at CyberUK include:

    • A new Software Security Code of Practice will be published today by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to communicate essential steps every organisation developing or selling software should be taking to secure their products. 
    • This innovative guidance mirrors previous guidance issued by the government, called the AI Security Code of Practice, which will today be adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute as baseline steps organisations in all countries should follow. 
    • To help inoculate businesses against cyberattacks, the government will also drive investment into CHERI, a ‘magic chip’ that builds advanced memory protections in microprocessors, blocking up to 70 per cent of common cyber attacks. £4.5 million will be spent helping firms bring these chips to market, find customers and break down barriers to adoption.

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank sees opportunities in the cotton sector as it hosts partnership’s steering committee

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    CAIRO, Egypt, May 7, 2025/APO Group/ —

    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) recently hosted a two-day meeting of the Steering Committee of the Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC), a global platform established to support transformation and value addition in the cotton-textile-garment (CTG) sector in developing countries.

    With an initial focus on the C4+ countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire), PPC aims to drive sustainable transformation and value addition in the CTG sector by enhancing economic returns, creating employment opportunities, and promoting economic, social and environmental sustainability.

    Delivering the opening remarks at the meeting, held at Afreximbank Headquarters in Cairo from 28 to 29 April, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, noted that development of the cotton sector presents significant opportunities to enhance economic growth across Africa— contributing between 45 and 60 per cent of GDP and foreign exchange earnings in some countries. However, she highlighted a recent study by the Steering Committee which revealed that textile and garment manufacturing sector in some C4+ countries remains at a nascent stage.

    “Therefore, to upgrade and integrate into the global cotton sector value chain, we must address a range of issues, including low yields and limited processing capacity, climate change and variability, market fluctuations, global cotton prices, weak infrastructure and inadequate access to modern technology,” added Mrs. Awani.

    She emphasised that, as a member of the C4+ initiative, Afreximbank is committed to supporting African countries to move up the cotton value chain – transforming raw cotton into textiles and clothing. Working with strategic partners, Afreximbank aims to help establish modern textile and garment industries in C4+ countries and across the continent to realise the development aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    Mrs. Awani noted that the Steering Committee’s deliberations were centred on mobilising capital and investment to transform the African cotton sector. She highlighted several financial and non-financial instruments that Afreximbank could deploy to support this goal, including project preparation funding, tailored financing and advisory solutions, debt and equity financing, export advisory services, SME support, insurance solutions, digital platforms to  improve market access and compliance, and trade facilitation and investment promotion support.

    “Through our active participation in the Partenariat pour le Coton, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Africa’s drive for sustainable industrialisation and local value addition. By working alongside partners, we are helping unlock critical investments, strengthening technical capacity, and promoting sustainable practices across the cotton sector. The outcomes of this Steering Committee meeting represents an important step towards realising the C4+ countries’ vision of a globally competitive cotton-textile-garment industry. Afreximbank remains committed to championing initiatives that create jobs, boost trade and drive inclusive economic transformation,” Mrs. Awani informed participants during the meeting.

    Emphasising the importance of the outcome in his opening remarks, Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Chairperson of the steering committee stated: ‘I hope that the discussions over these two days will yield concrete results for the industrialisation and local processing of cotton in partner countries. We will be able to report these results to WTO members at our next discussion on cotton, scheduled for the 14th of May at the WTO, which will address all issues facing the cotton industry in the C4 and other developing countries.”

    The meeting, which brought together key stakeholders working to advance sustainable industrialisation across Africa’s CTG value chain, also included the formal signing of an amendment to the Trust Fund Agreement between Afreximbank and UNIDO. This amendment reinforces Afreximbank’s US$ 80,230 grant to finance a baseline study critical to the development of the cotton-to-textile value chain under the PPC – delivered within a WTO-FIFA cooperation framework.

    Participants included the Chairperson, Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); Mr. Gunther Berger, Managing Director at UNIDO; Ms. Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, Minister of Trade and Industry of Benin; and Mr. Eric Trachtenberg, Executive Director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), among others. Also present were technical partners including Gherzi Textile Organization, which has supported the PPC process since the baseline study phase, and Otto Group Scan-Thor Group.

    Membership of the PPC includes Afreximbank, WTO, UNIDO, ICAC, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), Better Cotton, FIFA, and the governments of the C4+ countries.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Milkshake tax’: why it’s about innovative approaches to health, not household costs

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David M. Evans, Professor of Sociotechnical Futures, University of Bristol Business School, University of Bristol

    Luis Molinero/Shutterstock

    The UK government is considering expanding its sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and other sweetened beverages, as part of new proposals announced in April 2025. The Treasury confirmed it plans to move forward not only with broadening the tax but also with lowering the sugar threshold that triggers it from 5g to 4g of sugar per 100ml.

    The changes, dubbed by critics as the “milkshake tax”, would end the current exemption for dairy-based drinks, as well as plant-based alternatives such as oat and rice milk. Chancellor Rachel Reeves first signalled the potential expansion in the 2024 budget, suggesting the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), to give it its official name, could be widened to cover a broader range of high-sugar drinks.

    Based on our research into dietary change, conducted as part of the H3 project on food system transformation, we see this as a welcome and timely development.

    Not everyone shares this optimism. Opponents of what they see as “nanny state” interventionist policies argue that the SDIL has failed to deliver any real improvements to public health. In a UK newspaper’s straw poll, for example, 88% of respondents claimed the sugar tax has not significantly reduced obesity rates. Shadow Chancellor Melvyn Stride described the proposed expansion as a “sucker punch” to households, particularly given the ongoing cost of living crisis.

    Scepticism around these proposals is not surprising. Many people, regardless of political affiliation, are wary of additional taxation. And indeed, there is evidence suggesting that fiscal tools such as taxes and subsidies can be blunt instruments. They are also often regressive, placing a disproportionate burden on lower-income households.

    These concerns are valid – but they don’t quite apply to the SDIL.

    Crucially, the SDIL is not a tax on consumers. It is levied on manufacturers and importers, who are incentivised to reduce the sugar content of their products to avoid the charge. According to Treasury figures, since the introduction of the SDIL, 89% of fizzy drinks sold in the UK have been reformulated to fall below the taxable threshold.

    For instance, the Japanese multinational brewing and distilling company group Suntory invested £13 million in reformulating drinks like Ribena and Lucozade, removing 25,000 tonnes of sugar, making the products exempt from the levy. This means households aren’t priced out of soft drinks – they can simply choose reformulated and presumably cheaper versions.

    It’s true that the UK is still grappling with a serious obesity problem. In England alone, 29% of adultsand 15% of children aged two to 15 are obese.

    But the SDIL is having an effect. Excessive sugar consumption is consistently associated with rising obesity rates in the UK and globally. There has been a clear reduction in the sales of sugar from soft drinks, and the SDIL is reported to have generated £1.9 billion in revenue since its introduction in 2018.

    Early signs suggest health benefits, too. One study found a drop in obesity rates among 10 to 11-year-old girls following the levy’s implementation. Another analysis suggests that the greatest health benefits will be seen in more deprived areas, and that it may actually help to narrow some health inequalities for children in England.



    Read more:
    Child obesity is linked to deprivation, so why do poor parents still cop the blame?

    Shifting responsibilty

    The government’s 2016 announcement of the sugar tax gave manufacturers time to reformulate products before the tax’s introduction in 2018.

    Of course, the SDIL is no silver bullet. There are many contributing factors to the obesity epidemic, ranging from genetic predisposition to “obesogenic” environments – social contexts that promote unhealthy eating and sedentary behaviour, such as areas with a lot of fast food restaurants, limited access to healthy food options and a lack of pavements, parks, or safe places to exercise.

    Questions remain about the negative health effects of reformulated drinks, some of which still contain high levels of sweeteners or additives. And in the broader context of the need for food system transformation, focusing solely on soft drinks may be too narrow an approach.



    Read more:
    Are artificial sweeteners okay for our health? Here’s what the current evidence says

    But the SDIL’s success lies not just in outcomes but in its design. It shifts responsibility from individuals to industry, encouraging systemic change rather than simply blaming people for making “bad” choices. The government’s 2016 announcement of the levy gave manufacturers a two-year head start, allowing them to reformulate and get their products to market before it took effect in 2018.

    It’s also telling that the idea of taxing milkshakes has sparked such outrage, while most people now accept the high taxation of tobacco. That’s because smoking, as a public health issue, has matured: its risks are well understood and widely acknowledged. Obesity, meanwhile, is still catching up, despite posing similar health threats, including as a leading cause of cancer.

    In the UK, there’s still a strong social stigma around discussing diet and weight. But given the scale and urgency of the obesity crisis, it could be time to overcome this reluctance. Effective change will require bold, systemic policies – not just public awareness campaigns – but multipronged and targeted interventions that reshape the economic and cultural environments in which people make food choices.

    Expanding the SDIL may not be a cure-all, but the evidence so far suggests it’s a smart step in the right direction.

    David M. Evans receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1).
    He is affiliated with Defra (the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) as a member of their Social Science Expert Group.

    Jonathan Beacham receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1).

    – ref. ‘Milkshake tax’: why it’s about innovative approaches to health, not household costs – https://theconversation.com/milkshake-tax-why-its-about-innovative-approaches-to-health-not-household-costs-255646

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mark Carney tells Donald Trump ‘Canada is not for sale’ in a high-stakes Oval Office meeting

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Stewart Prest, Lecturer, Political Science, University of British Columbia

    In a day of congenial menace at the White House, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney picked his spots carefully. He got his key message across — but got a largely unrelated earful in exchange from United States President Donald Trump.

    A trip to the White House has become a rite of passage for leaders around the world, with a series of predictable elements in the Trump era — from the blindside on social media to the handshake and the tense sitdown in the newly gilded Oval Office.

    Within the first few minutes of the meeting, Carney took an opportunity to interject with a clear pushback against Trump’s repeated assertions that Canada should become the “51st state.”

    The comments were carefully calibrated, using Trump’s own preferred language of real estate. After pointing out that some properties simply are not for sale, like the White House and Buckingham Palace, Carney asserted that Canada “will not be for sale, ever.”

    Trump repeatedly demurred in response, replying “never say never” and later in the meeting, “time will tell.” Carney, however, mouthed “never” as the president spoke — ostensibly joking but, in fact, clearly serious.

    Much of the rest of the meeting was dominated by Trump’s commentary, holding forth on everything from Carney’s recent election victory — for which the president claimed credit — to American attacks on Yemen and trade with China.

    Carney didn’t bite

    Without mentioning them by name, Trump also found time to remind the assembled media of his contempt for Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, and Canada’s former finance minister Chrystia Freeland — now handling the transport and internal trade portfolio for Carney — referring to her as “terrible.”

    Carney didn’t take the bait, and for the most part, seemed content to let Trump hold court, interjecting a couple of times to correct or redirect points Trump raised.

    In particular, Carney made clear that he sees the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USCMA) as a basis for future talks, committed Canada to a “step change” in its military investment and vowed to contribute to the president’s war on largely fictional fentanyl trafficking across the Canada-U.S. border.

    Carney also pushed back against Trump’s insistence that the U.S. does not need Canada, noting that the country is America’s “biggest client.” He was alluding to the fact that Canada buys more goods from the U.S. than any other country.

    Carney’s verbal pushback was further reinforced with some very effective face acting, reminiscent of Kamala Harris’s debate performance. The Carney head tilt seems destined to join the internet meme pantheon, a shortcut for “that’s sus” — “suspect” — that belongs to the ages.

    At the same time, almost everything Carney did say was met with skepticism and rebuttal.

    Indeed, the very idea of a new trade agreement and an end to tariffs on Canada was treated as an open question by Trump, who suggested that while USMCA was a “fine” agreement — miles better in his view than the very similar NAFTA agreement that preceded it — such a deal may no longer be needed.

    At one point, he even suggested USMCA be terminated outright.

    False claims

    As always, misinformation featured prominently in the president’s comments throughout the meeting with Carney. He returned repeatedly to his false claims about the U.S. subsidizing Canada. In doing so, he again confused a trade deficit with a financial subsidy. These falsehoods, moreover, were never directly rebutted by Carney.



    Read more:
    Trump’s obsession with trade deficits has no basis in economics. And it’s a bad reason for tariffs

    At another point, Trump said Canada could do nothing to convince him to remove tariffs.

    He later expanded on the point, returning to the idea that tariffs on things like Canadian energy, steel, aluminium and cars were not part of a trade negotiation, but rather an explicit attempt to end trade between the two countries in an attempt to reindustrialize the American economy.

    Simply put, under a thin veneer of supposed friendship and convivial conversation, Trump implied the U.S. no longer wants fair trade between the two countries, but no trade — unless it comes with an end to Canadian independence.

    Given the importance of the bilateral relationship, the meeting went as well as Canadians — and sympathetic Americans — could reasonably hope. Trump and his assembled cabinet secretaries did not gang up on Carney as they did on Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year.

    Instead, the meeting reinforced the idea that the two countries are indeed friends and they will continue to talk about the issues that divide them.

    Carney came across as polite yet assertive, and was largely treated with the respect due to a foreign head of government.

    Tariffs, trade

    At the same time, the two sides could not even agree on what they disagreed on. Carney emphasized the need for a refurbished agreement between the two countries addressing trade irritants in much the same way the two countries have done for decades. He went so far as to point out that the U.S. has taken advantage of the agreement with its approach to tariffs.



    Read more:
    Trump’s proposed tariffs against Canada and Mexico may be illegal, but that’s not the real problem

    Trump, conversely, remained committed to a project to fundamentally reorganize the American economy in a way that does not include Canada as an independent trading partner.

    As the president said, “time will tell” whose vision ultimately triumphs. But in the meantime, Canadians should expect a decidedly frosty friendship to continue.

    Stewart Prest 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. Mark Carney tells Donald Trump ‘Canada is not for sale’ in a high-stakes Oval Office meeting – https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-tells-donald-trump-canada-is-not-for-sale-in-a-high-stakes-oval-office-meeting-255931

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: After Strong Quarter, Radware Announces U.S. Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAHWAH, N.J., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, is executing an aggressive strategy to expand its market presence and accelerate growth across its cloud services business in the U.S. The company is making strategic new hires, adding tech alliances, and reinforcing its commitment to AI innovation. The announcement follows Radware’s report on its strong first quarter financial results.

    “Increasing business opportunities have led us to fast track an aggressive U.S. growth plan,” said Roy Zisapel, Radware’s president and chief executive officer. “We are doubling down our efforts in the region. This includes strengthening our bench of security experts, bringing more technical support and cloud delivery services closer to our customer base, and stepping up our competitive game. Our new U.S. executives have built a revenue generation engine designed to win customers and increase market share.”

    New U.S. leadership
    Radware is investing in a new team of seasoned security leaders, charged with overseeing growth across the region. Radware’s new U.S executives include Constance (Connie) Stack, chief growth officer; Randy Wood, senior vice president of North American sales; and Joshua Bafalis, director of acquisition sales.

    Stack joined Radware from NextDLP where she was CEO. During her 24-month tenure, she grew ARR by more than 300%, resulting in the company’s successful acquisition by Fortinet in August 2024. Wood previously served as senior vice president of North American sales at Akamai for five years, delivering consistent double-digit growth in application security during that time. Bafalis, formerly regional vice president of sales at Cloudflare, played a key role in scaling the Cloudflare channel and alliance business.

    Expanding workforce
    To accelerate growth, Radware has filled 30+ new positions in the U.S. across sales, marketing, cloud services, and customer support. The company has added account executive roles and cloud service engineers tasked with facilitating cloud delivery and a follow-the-sun service model. Interested candidates should visit the Radware careers page.

    New tech alliances
    In April, Radware announced a collaboration with SUSE. The partnership brings together the industry’s only Kubernetes Web Application and API Protection (KWAAP) from Radware with SUSE® Rancher Prime and SUSE® Security. The unique combination provides a world-class solution for modern application developers who need to secure distributed Kubernetes workloads at scale.

    Investing in AI
    Radware accelerated its AI innovation with the launch of AI SOC Xpert, a next-gen cloud service designed to fight AI-driven threats using agentic-AI threat detection and response. This addition to the Radware®EPIC-AI™ platform empowers SOC teams to instantly detect attacks, access real-time forensics, and deploy one-click, AI-generated remediation—cutting mean time to resolution by up to 95%.

    U.S. senior leadership commentary
    “Having spent the last 25 years of my career scaling early- and late-stage, venture- and PE-funded security start-ups to successful acquisitions, I know how to grow a SaaS business,” said Connie Stack, Radware’s chief growth officer. “We are putting these growth strategies into place, at scale at Radware. We have the tech and the team to dominate the U.S. application security market.”

    “Joining Radware is an exciting move,” said Randy Wood, Radware’s senior vice president of North American sales. “I know this space and the players in it; I’m confident that Radware’s superior tech can and will beat the competition. I see a clear path for Radware to lead. The strength of our first quarter performance is just the beginning—what’s ahead is even bigger.”

    “Many U.S. enterprises are still navigating their journey to the cloud and require both on-prem and cloud solutions,” said Josh Bafalis, Radware’s director of acquisition sales. “Unlike cloud-only competitors, Radware bridges on-prem and cloud seamlessly. We offer the expertise and tech to support businesses at every stage of their cloud transition without multi-vendor chaos and integration complexity.”

    About Radware
    Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

    Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, and YouTube.

    ©2025 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

    Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

    The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” For example, when we say in this press release that our superior tech can and will beat the competition, we are using forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan, financial and credit market fluctuations (including elevated interest rates), impacts from tariffs or other trade restrictions, inflation, and the potential for regional or global recessions; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cybersecurity and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, or if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; our use of AI technologies that present regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; risks related to the fact that our products must interoperate with operating systems, software applications and hardware that are developed by others; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns; our net losses in the past and the possibility that we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cybersecurity and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; complications with the design or implementation of our new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system; our reliance on information technology systems; our ESG disclosures and initiatives; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Carney to White House

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    “It’s a great honor to have Prime Minister Mark Carney with us. A few days ago, he won a very big election in Canada. And I think Canada chose a very talented person.” –President Donald J. Trump

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrMg-2sq-s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Thomson Reuters SYNERGY Conference

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Jeremy Hirschhorn, Second Commissioner, Client Engagement Group
    Panel discussion at the Thomson Reuters SYNERGY Conference
    Sydney, 13 March 2025
    (Check against delivery)

    Macro trends in taxation of large corporations

    Thank you for the opportunity to speak on today’s panel on the topic of preparing for tax change, particularly in the context of large corporations, whether domestic or multinational.

    I would like to start with 2 very important provisos: firstly, I’m reminded of the old adage, to be very cautious before making predictions, especially about the future. And secondly, that these are the observations of an administrator – the bricklayer, not the architect – and certainly not with the intention to be suggestions on policy or the merits of future policy directions.

    Today I will touch on the following 5 topics:

    • context as to the status quo in Australia
    • which country gets to tax a multinational’s profits?
    • increased focus on the uncertain topic of ‘tax certainty’
    • transparency giving confidence to other participants
    • the ‘fifth pillar’ of third-party data.

    Some context as to the status quo in Australia

    The Australian setting is, in some ways, an ideal one for a tax administrator. We have a general population with financial and economic literacy and a keen eye for where something is fair, or it isn’t, particularly when it comes to paying tax. Because most Australians honestly pay the tax that is due (perhaps not always enthusiastically or exuberantly, but recognising the benefits of our social compact), they are very focused on making sure that other participants, particularly the rich and powerful, are also making their contribution. This is reflected in our ‘tax gap‘ analysis, which estimates that the Australian system is collecting about 93% of the tax legally due and payable. Australians also demand fiscal responsibility from their Governments.

    The Australian social compact is based on an expectation Government will play a significant role in social matters, especially in health, disability services, aged care, and social security. Political differences mainly go to the level of this role, rather than its existence. There is also an expectation that Governments will show discipline and strive for balanced budgets over the economic cycle – to sustainably pay for the above!

    In the last 2 years, the Government has achieved a surplus, supported by historically high employment and commodity prices (and the tax that flows from these), and our largest taxpayers have contributed significant levels of corporate tax to Federal Government revenues (even after taking into account franking benefits). This revenue goes a long way to support the priorities for spending by the Government of the day.

    Taking a longer-term perspective, the nature of the Australian economy is that the level of corporate tax collections has been relatively high as a percentage of GDP compared with many other developed countries, perhaps due to the relative immobility of much of the corporate activity in Australia (such as mining). This means that any reduction in corporate tax rate would require a very significant increase in overall corporate investment to be revenue neutral. As such, Australian Governments, given the community’s expectation of fiscal discipline, have historically found it challenging to dramatically pivot away from the existing corporate tax base.

    Which country gets to tax a multinational’s profits?

    One current area of flux is the question global tax policy makers have been collectively thinking about for a number of years: in a global economy, who gets to tax corporate profits?

    We’ve seen a macro trend over the decades to reduce taxes in market jurisdictions (unless there was a physical presence), with reductions or elimination of withholding taxes, custom duties and tariffs. (And as an aside, the flip side of this macro trend is the focus of companies on optimising supply chains and transfer pricing, and tax administrations on challenging transfer mis-pricing). This trend has arguably been partially offset with the conversion of sales taxes to value-added taxes (VATs) which implicitly tax some value generated offshore. More recently, VATs have been bolstered to apply to imported ‘business to consumer’ (B2C) services and B2C low value goods (rarely captured under the superseded sales tax and customs duties regimes).

    In the global economy of 2025, the model of economic participation with limited physical presence in a jurisdiction is increasingly prevalent, and this puts strain on market jurisdictions’ tax collections. From a tax administration perspective, this has been exacerbated by the international tax system effectively allowing significant profits to be booked in neither the market jurisdiction nor the ownership jurisdiction (where the underlying intellectual property driving value was developed), in combination with corporate tax rate competition (often by previously comparably taxed, but now lowly taxed, jurisdictions).

    Until very recently, the focus of much international tax discussion was on providing additional (but carefully limited) taxing rights to market jurisdictions (and limiting incentives to book profits in intermediate untaxed or low taxed jurisdictions). Possible solutions being discussed included extending the coverage of VATs, the implementation of Digital Services Tax (DSTs), and the OECD’s pillars work. However, there is now a new countervailing argument that taxation by the market jurisdiction should be severely limited and taxation (or not!) of corporate profits should be reserved to the ownership jurisdiction.

    This debate is fundamentally driven not just by economic concepts, but by national interests and cultural views as to the role of taxation and what is fair. Multilateral consensus may be increasingly difficult, but bilateral arrangements are also challenging in an interconnected world, making this a delicate dance for governments from a policy perspective, as well as administrators.

    I note that the increased capability and use of AI if anything exacerbates this trend and tension, and also raises new tax technical, policy, practical and economic questions. For example, can a market country tax the value generated by (mobile) robots (even if it wants to) or is the value in the data and the physical data centres, and can a country tax that?

    Increased focus on tax certainty – but is the concept of tax certainty itself uncertain?

    Often there is a (simplistic) proposition that we need increased tax certainty. It is beyond today’s scope to explore in detail, but I wanted to briefly reflect on what ‘tax certainty’ means from different perspectives. My proposition is that there is a balance to be struck between the ‘certainty’ meant and desired by each stakeholder, and that the ‘certainty’ of one stakeholder group (including the tax administrator!) cannot be excessively privileged over others.

    For Governments, tax certainty at the very least means broad predictability of the tax base for the country to pay for recurrent programs the community expects the Government to adequately fund, like healthcare, law enforcement and education. As well, governments require certainty that new tax policy settings won’t create unintended market distortions or taxpayers seeking out arrangements for the purposes of tax (usually avoidance) that they otherwise wouldn’t. Putting it another way, tax policy should not be inadvertently defined by unintended loopholes. The retention of ‘tax sovereignty’ is also critical to any Government.

    For taxpayers, there is a desire for ‘tax legislative certainty’ and ‘tax administration certainty’ (often blurred together). A well-designed system will ideally provide as much technical certainty as possible as well as certainty in the administrator’s view of the law, allowing taxpayers to correctly anticipate their obligations, and take informed positions consistent with their risk posture where their analysis of the law might differ from the administrator’s. It includes some sense of a ‘statute of limitations’, that (most) matters will be finalised within a reasonable time. It also means that, in the event of a dispute, there is confidence that there is access to an independent legal system. Often there is an element of ensuring that there is not double taxation of the same profits in different jurisdictions. As an aside, I would suggest that ‘double inclusion’ (where the profits are taxed, but only at nominal rates, in one of the jurisdictions) is not the same as ‘double taxation’. I would also add that, in my experience, there remains significantly more ‘double non-taxation’ in the international tax system than ‘true’ double taxation.

    Another (often overlooked or discounted) element of tax certainty for taxpayers is ‘tax setting certainty’, i.e. that longer-term settings are relatively stable (although noting the need for every Government to retain tax sovereignty). Over the last decades, we have seen ‘favourable instability’ in the sense of a macro trend towards reductions (sometimes dramatic reductions) in corporate tax rates globally (and even in Australia, where it is sometimes forgotten that the top corporate tax rate was almost 50% 40 years ago). Arguably this has provided windfall gains to already deployed capital on long term projects.

    The corollary is that a company should be cautious in assuming ‘setting stability’ in modelling possible investment in a country that has an attractively low corporate tax rate (or has other incentives), but is running unsustainable deficits. At some stage that country is likely to be forced to change either its spending or its taxation. Therefore, in making capital deployment decisions, investors should consider more than the current fiscal settings, but also how a country may seek (or be forced) to change those settings in future: and even if the changes do not directly change the taxation of the enterprise, they may affect its employees or customers, resulting in other pressures on the enterprise’s profitability.

    A revenue authority or administrator needs the ability to check and, if need be, challenge affairs of taxpayers to ensure tax law is complied with. On the other hand, a tax administrator will be acutely sensitive to any concept of tax certainty (or measures to provide ‘tax certainty’) which can be used as a practical shield for aggressive tax planning.

    Transparency giving confidence to other participants

    Another element of ‘tax certainty’ is that the broader citizenry has confidence that all taxpayers, especially the largest ones, are meeting their obligations and do not have unfair access to concessions or loopholes. Transparency is critical in providing this certainty and confidence.

    I’ve spoken before about how important transparency is, and I might expand on it now, particularly how it touches each segment of taxpayers. Australia has had a significant focus in recent years in increasing transparency across the tax system.

    The first increase we’ve seen is in transparency to the public by companies around their specific tax affairs. This is seen in several avenues, both through the ATO’s reporting (such as the corporate tax transparency report), and by companies themselves publishing information on their websites (for example under the Board of Taxation Voluntary Tax Transparency CodeExternal Link).

    Secondly, we’ve seen an increase in transparency to the public by tax administrators as to the health of the system overall. Through the ATO’s tax gap program, we publish reports on the estimated difference between what we expect to collect and the estimated full amount that would have been collected if every taxpayer was fully compliant with the law. In 2023–24 we released 8 different reports on our observations for income tax and GST, especially regarding larger taxpayers, including settlement statistics for public and multinational businesses. We also publish information on our super guarantee compliance results, our resolved objections from taxpayers, and figures regarding help given to individuals and small businesses experiencing vulnerability.

    Thirdly, the ATO has increased transparency to taxpayers on our administrative view on key circumstances and tax settings. We do this because it’s important taxpayers across all segments can have confidence in how the ATO will view their arrangements and won’t be pursuing them for compliance issues in the future. Although challenged by some as somehow ‘extra-legal’, we consider that taxpayers are unambiguously better off if they know the ATO’s risk parameters – although taxpayers might not agree with our parameters, they must be better off being able to make an informed risk-based decision than operating in the dark!

    Fourthly, we are providing tax assurance reports to large taxpayers so that they know how they are viewed by the ATO, for example through our justified trust program. This is supplemented by ‘population level’ statistics as to tax behaviours of the ‘peer group’. This means that large taxpayers have much more knowledge of where they stand with the ATO, as well as relative to others.

    As the community expectation of transparency increases, and more taxpayers place importance on showing their compliance to internal and external stakeholders, I would posit that we are likely to see not only an increase in the volume of transparency across all of the aspects above, but also a standardisation and integration of currently disparate measures.

    Third-party data – the ‘fifth pillar’

    Under traditional analysis, there are 4 pillars of tax compliance: registration, lodgment, payment and correct reporting. Increasingly at the ATO we are ‘splitting out’ third-party reporting (i.e. reporting on the tax affairs of others) as a ‘fifth pillar’ in its own right.

    What has become increasingly critical in a modern tax system is reliance of the system on third-party data provided by large corporations (ideally the ones now showing high levels of compliance!) which fuels how taxpayers of all size interact with their tax obligations.

    Third-party data gives administrators the ability to feed information into the system that makes complying easier, and importantly, not complying harder. More and more information like interest and dividend income, standardised investment trust data, salary, health insurance data and information about contractors, are all going directly into tax systems. This trend will continue, and we’ll see the classic concept of ‘self-assessment’ (at least for those with simpler affairs) being gradually replaced with ‘assisted assessment’ where taxpayers are provided a comprehensive picture of their own data which they then largely simply confirm.

    Modern tax administrators, therefore, will be asking for new data sources from companies holding relevant information, and tax systems will increasingly be defined around the fifth pillar of third-party data, rather than vice versa.

    Conclusion

    All this speaks to the relative health of Australia’s tax system, and while the ATO will always primarily focus on its purpose, which is to collect the taxes due so that Government can provide the services that the Australian community requires, the questions and challenges that stem from further abroad are important to ponder in ensuring our resilience and effectiveness in an uncertain world.

    Thank you once again for the opportunity to appear on this panel and for your attention, and I look forward to responding to your questions and observations.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Statement on Appeals Court Decision Protecting TPS Holders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

    Today’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is more than a legal decision—it is a moral vindication for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, friends, and fellow Americans in all but paperwork. I stand with the families protected under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and I celebrate this moment with them.

    For years, these communities—mothers, fathers, students, nurses, faith leaders—have lived under a cloud of fear and uncertainty, targeted not just by policy, but by deeply hurtful rhetoric. President Trump once called countries like Haiti and nations in Africa “shithole countries”—a phrase not only vile, but steeped in ignorance and racism. Too many in the right-wing media and political class have echoed and amplified those sentiments, portraying TPS recipients as burdens, criminals, or outsiders who don’t belong. That is a lie.

    TPS holders are not faceless statistics. They are the home health aide caring for your aging parent. They are the teacher guiding your child through their first language. They are the worker harvesting your food, the technician repairing your streets, the entrepreneur revitalizing your local economy. Many have lived here for decades. They have children who are U.S. citizens. They pay taxes. They contribute. They believe in the American dream, even when America has not always believed in them.

    To revoke their legal status would not only have been cruel—it would have been catastrophic for our economy and unjust by every moral measure. The conditions in Haiti are nothing short of catastrophic. Entire communities are trapped by gang violence, unable to access food, clean water, or medical care. Mothers are forced to choose which child eats. Hospitals have shut down or been overrun, and schools lie in ruins. Kidnappings, rape, and extortion are rampant. The streets are ruled not by law but by fear. For many, there is no shelter, no security, and no hope on the horizon. What’s happening in Haiti would spark global outrage if it were occurring in any Western nation—but here, the world turns its eyes away. The courts have rightly rejected an attempt to turn back the clock on compassion and legality.

    But let us be clear: the damage of the past administration’s words and actions still lingers. No one who has lived in the shadow of deportation after building a life here forgets how fragile dignity can feel in the face of hate. This ruling is a step toward healing, but we must do more.

    We need permanent protections. We need immigration reform that centers humanity, justice, and economic reality—not political scapegoating. And we must call out racist language and policies for what they are: attacks on the soul of our nation.

    To the families affected by TPS: I see you. I stand with you. And I will fight with you until your place in this country is not just tolerated, but recognized and protected under the law.

    Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL 01)
    Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
    Member of the Congressional Black Caucus

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Speech to UNSW 16th ATAX International Conference

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Jeremy Hirschhorn, Second Commissioner, Client Engagement Group
    Speech delivered at the UNSW 16th ATAX International Conference
    on Tax Administration
    Sydney, 8 April 2025
    (Check against delivery)

    Thank you for having me today.

    In reflecting on this topic and preparing for today, I have realised the real topic I would like to discuss is trust:

    • The trust given to tax administrators to perform a vital function: to fairly collect tax so that Governments can provide services to citizens.
    • As part of this trust, the powers given to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to access sensitive financial information about people, as well as powers of enforcement.
    • The fact that this sensitive information is not only shared but compulsorily shared.
    • Given the trust placed in the tax administrator, the need for the tax administrator (and I would argue any Government agency and even systemically important private firm) to be worthy of that trust (and I emphasise here the subtle difference between aiming to be trusted versus striving always to be trustworthy).

    So today, I will only touch on some of the actual uses of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation by the ATO. The focus will be on how a tax administrator should approach its duty to be trustworthy in the area of data, automation and AI.

    If you are going to use automation and AI, make sure your data settings are right

    Good use of AI starts with a strong culture of ethical stewardship of all data use and sharing. This includes an ethical approach to transparency about how you are storing the data and the safeguards in place to protect it, and crucially, the ethical administration of systems.

    The ATO has a range of formal governance arrangements in place for use of data in the organisation, as well as a number of APS-wide ones we align our practices to. We’ve developed further guidelines including Chief executive instructions for our staff, and the ATO data ethics principles which are published on our website as our public commitment to Australian taxpayers. They lay out the protocols that govern how we collect and store data, what it’s used for, and who the data is shared with. The 6 data ethics principles are worth briefly highlighting for you here:

    1. Act in the public interest, be mindful of the individual which ensures we recognise our actions impact the community and individuals.
    2. Uphold privacy, security and legality which respects the privacy of every individual and the wider community and ensures we prioritise keeping their information safe protected and only securely shared within the law.
    3. Explain clearly and be transparent which acknowledges the need for us to be open and communicate how we use data in a way that is universally accessible and easy to understand.
    4. Engage in purposeful data activities which keeps us accountable to using data in a way which aligns with our purpose, and where it’s necessary to perform the functions we are responsible for.
    5. Exercise human supervision which highlights the importance we place on human oversight and accountability for our data activities and the decisions we make.
    6. Maintain data stewardship ensures we protect the data we hold and that when we acquire or share data, we will agree with other agencies and departments on how the data will be used and kept securely.

    Underpinning good decision making (whether by carbon or silicon!) is high quality data. The ATO has some of Australia’s largest data holdings, and we invest heavily in the quality of that data and work hard to make sure it’s usable.

    Without good data, you won’t get too far, in fact, you’ll probably go far in the wrong direction.

    We don’t ‘own’ taxpayer data, we hold it ‘on trust’

    Everyday Australians trust us to acquire and hold their private financial information. Importantly, this sharing is not freely chosen by individuals, but is compulsory.

    Further, in the context of information obtained under compulsory powers, taxpayers must provide us information even if that information would be self-incriminating. This particular exception to the general rule in a liberal democracy is justified on the basis that some financial information is uniquely in the possession of the taxpayer, and the job of a tax administrator could be easily frustrated without this exception.

    These factors emphasise the sensitivity and care with which we must treat taxpayer data. On-sharing of this data, even with other parts of Government, must be strictly in accordance with law. But perhaps more importantly, and a lesson from Robodebt, is that the tax administrator must continue to act as a steward of that data even after it has been legally shared.

    Beware ‘data hubris’

    It is very important to make sure your use of data takes into account its quality and reliability.

    We now tend to think of data as on a curve:

    • Level 1 is taxpayer provided data, where there is no bulk data set available, such as work-related expense claims where taxpayers keep their receipts.
    • Level 2 is where we can obtain data after the event to check that data, but maybe not at scale.
    • Level 3 is where the data can be sourced to be used as a risk indicator pre or post lodgment but it is not of a quality or type that would be productive to expose to taxpayers.
    • Level 4 is where the data is of a high enough quality that it can be used to assist taxpayers to comply as they lodge.
    • Level 5 is where the data is very high quality and can be used to pre-fill returns as presumptively correct.
    • Level 6 is where the data is so reliable that the tax system is actually designed around the data.

    Importantly, before making any decision based on data, it is critical to understand the potential impact on the taxpayer of the tax administrator making a mistake, and to ensure that you have the procedural and cultural safeguards to protect against ‘high impact actions’ made in error.

    This focus on potential errors is very hard. It forces you to understand the other person’s world (and how your actions may affect it). Thinking about errors requires a discipline as classic measures such as complaint levels or error rates do not get to the heart of whether your errors are impactful or not. Being a data-driven organisation arguably exacerbates (rather than improves) this challenge – it is all too easy to fall in the trap of ‘data hubris’.

    Ideally these potential errors are identified while they are still ‘potential’. However, a tax administrator must remain hyper-vigilant. Noting that most people are fundamentally honest, a high ‘hit rate’ should be viewed with great caution. It is more likely to be a sign of ‘data hubris’ than widespread non-compliance, and should be treated as such until proven otherwise. The UK Post Office scandal is a prime example of an institution having excessive trust in the computer systems and insufficient trust in ordinary people.

    AI may be a helper. It can move things around, it can link, synthesise and analyse information, and it can do some things much faster and more consistently than we as humans can. But AI cannot determine what constitutes fairness and reasonableness, having considered unique taxpayer circumstances with compassion and empathy. (And, in my experience, perhaps most dangerously, AI doesn’t know when to say it doesn’t know). AI should be thought of as a bionic arm. It’s an extension of our thinking and our actions; a tool – but not a replacement.

    What this means is that any decision which adversely affects the rights of taxpayers should be made by a human.

    But further, I would posit that, even in some future where AI passes some form of advanced Turing’s test for compassion and empathy, part of the social compact with citizens is that they want a human to make decisions with important impacts on their life.

    This does not mean that the use of automation and AI is limited to ‘service’, but ‘service’ enabled by automation and AI, such as pre-fill, is of extraordinary value to citizens in making their lives easier. Automation and AI can be very useful for risk analysis and case selection: for analysing documents for key information to support auditors getting to the heart of a matter quickly, and for nudging taxpayers in real time when they may be taking unwise actions.

    I would further posit that another element of the trust equation (at least for a tax administrator, if not every Government and large organisation) is that actions or decisions should be explicable by a human to the affected person in a way that the affected person can understand (even if automated or performed by AI). If you do not know why your organisation is doing things (‘the computer said so’), you are breaching your responsibility to be accountable to both the individual taxpayer, but also the broader system.

    Automation and AI will amplify your biases

    Building on the ‘data hubris’ point, automation and AI will reflect and possibly amplify previous hidden biases (whether you are a public or private sector organisation). An example of this was the Dutch child care scandal, where the risk rules underpinning an anti-fraud compliance program were found to be biased against non-citizens.

    Again, bias is a very tricky thing for individuals and institutions to self-identify, so it is important to be vigilant about possible implicit biases leading to systemic issues.

    Of course, the biases can be hiding in the original training set, but importantly can also arise from how you ‘train’ the AI on an on-going basis. I remember reading an article, probably 25 years ago, entitled “Is your spreadsheet a tax evader?”. The article was based on 2 premises:

    1. that pretty much every complicated spreadsheet has bugs and
    2. although the bugs might be evenly distributed at first (so the spreadsheet is equally likely to over or under calculate the tax bill), over time they become skewed due to how people using the spreadsheet respond to surprises.

    Where there is an unpleasant surprise, people will dig into it and find and fix the underlying bug. But where there is a pleasant surprise, people will be much less diligent in working out why (which means ‘pleasant’ bugs remain, but ‘unpleasant’ bugs are weeded out, so over time the tax spreadsheet will systemically understate tax payable).

    Similar risks apply to training an AI model. If your users/trainers only query ‘unpleasant’ results (from their perspective), the model will gradually skew, even if it started off unbiased. A tax administrator must be careful that their AI does not get progressively more defensive of the revenue, but similarly that a private sector tax AI model does not evolve into an aggressive tax planner!

    Data is uranium

    There is a strong temptation for a tax administrator to take on more and more data, a temptation strengthened in the era of AI, which can feed off sprawling data sets.

    It has often been said that ‘data is gold’ or ‘data is the new oil’. But I would say that ‘data is uranium’ (I wish I had coined this, but I have taken it from others). Before you get it you better know how you’re going to use and store it and there needs to be very good reasons to take the risk!

    I would also say that, as a tax administrator in a liberal democracy, and as part of the trust equation, the usefulness of the data must be measured against the intrusiveness of the request. Taking on data ‘just in case’, or because it might be handy for AI analysis will not pass the test.

    In fact, I would argue the opposite – that AI and digitalisation can enable tax administration with less intrusive data collection. In other words, as taxpayers are increasingly digitalised, a tax administrator should explore moving their administration (risk engines, etc.) to the taxpayer’s natural systems (and data), rather than needing to acquire and hold all that data. The further advantage of this philosophy is that it helps taxpayers to minimise their chance of making a mistake and coming to our attention.

    Automation and AI is now part of the job

    In my earlier points I urged caution about automation and AI. But this is in the context that it is now part of the core function of a tax administrator, from both service and compliance perspectives, as well as the efficient use of the resources provided to a tax administrator to acquit its duties.

    Do not focus so much on the risk of doing things, that you ignore the risk of not doing things!

    I have emphasised above that, before embracing automation and AI, it is necessary to get your data settings in order. For a period, you can rely on your governance around data and IT systems. At some point (probably now or soon), automation and AI become so critical that you can no longer rely on those governance frameworks, but need specific governance.

    And finally, just in case, be nice to Siri, she may have a long memory …

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Introduces App Store Freedom Act To Promote Competition & Protect Consumers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Cammack introduced the App Store Freedom Act, which seeks to promote competition and protect consumers and developers in the mobile app marketplace by prohibiting certain anticompetitive practices by dominant app store operators. 

    The bill supports interoperability and consumer choice by requiring large app store operators (100M+ U.S. users) to allow users to set third-party apps or app stores as default; install apps or app stores outside of the dominant platform; and remove or hide pre-installed apps. Additionally, the bill directs companies provide developers equal access to interfaces, features, and development tools without cost or discrimination. 

    “We must continue to hold Big Tech accountable and promote competition that allows all players to enter the field. For too long, consumers and developers have borne the brunt of anti-competitive practices on major app store marketplaces,” said Rep. Cammack. “Dominant app stores have controlled customer data and forced consumers to use the marketplaces’ own merchant services, instead of the native, in-app offerings provided by the applications and developers themselves. The results are higher prices and limited selections for consumers and anti-competitive practices for developers that have stifled innovation.”

    The bill additionally prohibits app stores from forcing developers to use the company’s in-app payment system, imposing pricing parity requirements, and punishing developers for distributing their apps elsewhere. 

    “At its core, this bill seeks to promote a competitive marketplace for consumers and developers, ensuring U.S. mobile users can choose the applications, payment methods and platforms that are best for them without unduly forcing developers to comply or the pay the price—both literally and figuratively—for straying from the dominant marketplaces’ preferences,” Rep. Cammack added.

    “The App Store Freedom Act could be a game-changer for American consumers by giving them more choice and control over their devices than ever before. We applaud Representative Kat Cammack for introducing common-sense rules of the road to permanently open up the app economy, unlock new opportunities for businesses and creators, and encourage even stronger tech innovation in the United States,” said Dustee Jenkins, Spotify Chief Public Affairs Officer.

    “CAF applauds Congresswoman Cammack for introducing the App Store Freedom Act, legislation that will establish a fair and competitive mobile app marketplace. This is a vital step towards empowering developers and consumers by ensuring a level playing field for all participants in the app ecosystem,” shared the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF).

    Read the text of the bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Co-Leads Legislation to Ban Non-Essential Helicopters in NYC

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis along with Congressmen Rob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), introduced H.R. 3196, the Improving Helicopter Safety Act, bipartisan legislation that would ban all non-essential helicopter flights within 20 miles of the Statue of Liberty. The bill is cosponsored by Congresswomen Grace Meng (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), and is supported by Stop the Chop NY/NJ.

     

    This bipartisan effort comes in response to a recent tragic helicopter crash over the Hudson River that claimed six lives, following decades of helicopter-related incidents in and around New York City. Beyond safety concerns, tourist helicopters continue to disrupt residential communities, particularly throughout Staten Island, due to their frequent low-altitude flights over densely populated neighborhoods at all hours of the day.

     

    “The tragic crash that claimed six lives in the Hudson River isn’t an isolated event, it’s the clearest sign yet of an industry that has operated without meaningful oversight for far too long and continues to pose an unacceptable public safety threat,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Congress must take action, which is why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ban non-essential helicopter traffic within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty and finally rein in these helicopter tour companies.”

     

    “While we have consistently worked to address the impact of non-essential helicopters on our communities, last month’s tragic crash should be a clarion call for every level of government to take action on helicopter safety,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “Rising congestion of non-essential helicopters, coupled with concerning safety records of air tourism operators, are causing a direct threat to public safety. Along with my colleagues from New Jersey and New York, we’re doing what is necessary to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.” 

     

    “The tragic helicopter crash last month on the Hudson River was not an isolated incident; it was the latest in a long line of preventable tragedies in the New York metropolitan region’s increasingly crowded and poorly regulated airspace,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “For far too long, non-essential helicopter flights have endangered public safety and shattered the peace of our neighborhoods. I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Improving Helicopter Safety Act with my colleagues Rob Menendez and Nicole Malliotakis to finally put an end to these dangerous flights in our region. We owe it to the victims, and to every resident living beneath these flight paths, to put safety first and prevent future disasters.”

     

    “Stop the Chop NY/NJ commends Representatives Jerry Nadler, Rob Menendez, and Nicole Malliotakis for today’s introduction of the ‘Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2025’ – common sense federal legislation that will, when passed, finally put an end to the dangerous helicopter conditions in the New York metropolitan area. For too long, tax-paying New Yorkers and Jerseyites have been subjected to excessive noise and air pollution, as well as the safety risks, of endless sightseeing and commuter helicopters flying, often at extremely low altitudes, over our homes, parks, and schools. We have sounded the alarm each time one of these nonessential helicopters has crashed while traversing our densely populated urban areas. However, the FAA has still not addressed the community’s concerns, harms, and pleas for relief. The multiple recent fatal crashes involving helicopters, coupled with the alarming shortage of air traffic controllers, demonstrate the need for immediate reform of the current Wild West-like conditions over NYC and surrounding communities. We also thank the additional Congressional co-sponsors: Representatives Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez, and LaMonica McIver. This non-partisan issue negatively impacts all who live or work near the NYC and NJ heliports and/or along the helicopter flight paths. It is heartening to see our elected officials joining forces across state lines and party affiliations to end this public harm,” said Stop The Chop NY/NJ. 

     

    At her April 24 press conference, Congresswoman Malliotakis shared that her office has been in contact with the FAA, having met with FAA Eastern Region Administrators last year, and with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to relay ongoing concerns from Staten Island residents regarding low-flying helicopter flights with some occurring every 10 to 15 minutes. Malliotakis previously called for tighter regulations, including a ban on non-essential helicopter flights over residential areas in cities with over 5 million people, stricter altitude requirements, enforceable no-fly zones, and a reduction in non-essential flights.

    VIEW THE BILL TEXT HERE

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Video: NAB CEO Andrew Irvine discusses 2025 Half Year Result

    Source: Premier of Victoria

  • MIL-OSI Global: Popes have been European for hundreds of years. Is it time for one from Africa or Asia?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

    Catholicism did not begin as a “white” faith. Born on the eastern rim of the Mediterranean, it spread through the trading routes and legions of the Roman Empire into Africa, Asia and, only later, what we now call Europe.

    Three early bishops of Rome: Victor I (c. 189–199), Miltiades (311–314) and Gelasius I (492–496), were Africans whose teaching shaped the church’s developing doctrine.

    They are venerated as saints, a reminder the papal office has never been racially defined.

    However, that history sits uneasily with the unbroken run of European popes that stretches from the early Middle Ages to the death of Francis last month. Francis, an Argentine, was the first pope from Latin America, but he was the son of an Italian immigrant family.

    Why, in a global communion of 1.4 billion faithful, has the modern conclave not looked beyond Europeans for a new pope? And what would need to change for it to do so?

    Change has been gradual

    The explanation lies less in colour than in logistics and culture.

    Europe was the political and demographic centre of Catholicism for centuries. Until the 19th century, travel to Rome from beyond Europe was protracted, dangerous and expensive. An elector who missed the start of a conclave was simply excluded.

    Papal politics, therefore, became tightly entwined with Italian city factions and, after 1870, the diplomatic rivalries of European powers.

    Even after steamships and railways made travel easier, longstanding practice and patronage ensured most future cardinals were trained at Roman universities, served in the Curia (the bureaucracy of the Vatican), and moved within a Euro-centric network of friendships. The College of Cardinals became overwhelmingly European in composition and culture.

    The 20th-century popes began to chip away at this European dominance in internal church governance:

    • Pius X abolished the secular veto in 1903 (used by Catholic monarchs to veto papal candidates)
    • Pius XI named the first modern Chinese cardinal in 1946
    • Paul VI limited papal electors to those under the age of 80 and started appointing non-European bishops in greater numbers.

    John Paul II and Benedict XVI continued this trend, while Francis made a point of elevating pastors from places as varied as Tonga, Lesotho and Myanmar.

    While Europe still claims the single largest bloc of votes in the conclave, there has been a decline in its cardinal representation from almost 70% in 1963 to 39% in 2025. The representatives from Africa and Asia have steadily increased.

    Of the 135 electors who are eligible to enter the Sistine Chapel to cast ballots for the new pope on May 7, 53 are European. Africa has 18 electors, Asia 23, Latin America 21, North America 16, and Oceania four. (Two, however, are sick and will not attend – one from Europe and one from Africa).

    This representation is disproportionately European, reflecting the gradual nature of shifts in the church’s structures.

    Shifting demographics

    The demographics of the Catholic church, meanwhile, are changing rapidly.

    Between 1980 and 2023, the Catholic population of Europe fell from 286 million to just under 250 million. Weekly mass attendance declined even more steeply.

    Over the same period, the number of Catholics in Africa almost tripled to 255 million. Asia climbed to about 160 million. And Latin America, though no longer expanding, remains home to roughly 40% of all Catholics, at 425 million.

    Vocations follow the same curve: seminaries in France and Germany are closing for lack of students, while Nigeria, India and the Philippines are sending their priests abroad to ease shortages in Europe.

    Africa and Asia have also significantly increased their representation among Cardinals at the highest level of the Church, from less than 10% in 1963 to more than 30% in 2025.

    Ultimately, these numbers will expand even further, catching up with baptismal registers in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

    What matters most during the conclave

    Observers often describe papal candidates as “progressive” or “conservative”, or speculate about a “Global South bloc” ready to storm the papal throne. Such language obscures what the electors actually consider when casting a ballot.

    Five practical questions tend to be important:

    1. Is the candidate known and trusted, and a man of faith and wisdom?

    Personal acquaintance still matters. Cardinals who have worked in Rome are well-placed because most electors have met them repeatedly.

    2. Can he govern the Curia?

    Leading the world’s oldest bureaucracy demands stamina, political tact, leadership acumen, relational skills and fluency in Italian, the everyday language of Vatican administration.

    There is also the ongoing issue of reform, particularly around the church’s sexual abuse crisis and financial matters.

    3. Will he be heard beyond Rome?

    A pope must travel, address parliaments and give press conferences. Because communication and symbolism are important, a command of English and comfort in front of the global media matter greatly.

    4. Is he a pastor?

    The ability to preach the Gospel compellingly, comfort the afflicted and speak credibly about the poor has been vital since John Paul II.

    5. Does he know and inhabit the tradition of the church?

    As part of this, a pope should also be able to represent and deepen the church’s teachings.

    Non-European papal candidates

    These criteria help explain why previous non-European hopefuls have fallen short.

    In 1978, for instance, Cardinal Aloísio Lorscheider of Brazil was judged too youthful and untested.

    In 2005, Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria, though admired, was seen as a transition figure at the age of 72. He also lacked experience in the Curia.

    In 2013, Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Brazil was persuasive on pastoral questions but hampered by his limited English and Italian, and by concerns the Vatican Bank needed a strong financial reformer.

    Could it change this year? There are several non-European candidates in the current conclave:

    • Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): the former archbishop of Manila, he is a gifted communicator in Italian and English. Some voters may fear he is not administratively capable and too closely identified with Francis, yet others see that continuity as an advantage.

    • Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo): a leading African voice on ecology and conflict mediation, he is admired for his courage and leadership in strife-torn Congo. Sceptics point to his limited network outside Africa and France. He may also be too conservative for some cardinals.

    • Peter Turkson (Ghana): a long-time curial prefect and articulate champion of economic justice. Age counts against him (he is 76), yet he could emerge as a compromise if the conclave stalls, as he seen to be doctrinally solid, open and charismatic.

    Any one of them would break the post-medieval pattern. None, however, would (or should) campaign as a flag-bearer for his continent.

    The church neither keeps a scorecard by hemisphere nor anoints popes to gratify civil notions of representation.

    The most important thing is whether a candidate can carry forward the mission of the church and speak in an effective way in an era marked by war, the climate crisis and rapid secularisation.

    Would a non-European pope be seismic?

    Symbolically, yes.

    A Filipino or Congolese pope would signal that Catholicism’s demographic heart now beats in Manila and Kinshasa, rather than Milan and Cologne.

    Practically, though, the change might be less dramatic.

    Whoever is elected inherits the same threefold task:

    • to guard church unity while being a place for all nations and peoples
    • to preach convincingly in a sceptical age and serve the poor and marginalised
    • to lead the a very diverse institution and reform the Curia so it serves rather than stifles evangelisation.

    Those challenges transcend region and skin tone.

    If the next pope happens to be African, Asian or Latin American, history will have turned a page. The universal body will have recognised, in the face of its evolving demographics, the gifts of a shepherd able to speak to followers in Kinshasa, Manila, Sao Paulo and Munich with equal conviction.

    The mystery of the conclave is that when the doors close, regional and political calculations fade. What remains is prayerful discernment about who can carry Saint Peter’s keys into an uncertain future.

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

    – ref. Popes have been European for hundreds of years. Is it time for one from Africa or Asia? – https://theconversation.com/popes-have-been-european-for-hundreds-of-years-is-it-time-for-one-from-africa-or-asia-255506

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The election of a new pope is announced with smoke: what do the colours mean, and how are they made?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Clare Johnson, Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology and Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy, Australian Catholic University

    For nearly 800 years the Catholic Church has utilised the process of the conclave to elect a new pope. “Conclave” means “with a key”, indicating the cardinal-electors are locked up with a key to conduct their deliberations.

    With no direct communication to the outside world, a key feature of the papal election process is the use of smoke to signal the result of ballots and to announce the election of a new pope.

    Black smoke means a new pope has not been elected. White smoke means there is a new pope.

    So where does this tradition come from – and how do they achieve the different coloured smoke?

    Sending messages with smoke

    Smoke signals are one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication between humans. For millennia, smoke signals have been used to indicate danger, to call for a gathering of tribes/nations, to transmit news and to warn of enemy invasions

    Many indigenous peoples (such as those of North America, South America, China and Australia) are known for their sophisticated use of smoke signalling techniques to indicate specific messages to those at a distance.

    These techniques can include changing the location of the fire (such as halfway up or at the top of a hill), adjusting the colour of smoke (using different types of foliage or damp/dry foliage) and the interruption or diversion of the smoke column at different intervals to produce particular patterns of smoke.

    Catholic incense

    Catholics utilise smoke in many rituals in the form of incense.

    Incense (from the Latin incendere, meaning “to burn”) signifies prayer, sacrifice and reverence for people and objects. This fragrant smoke symbolises the prayer of the assembly rising up to God. Psalm 141:2 asks “may prayer be set before you like incense”. In Revelations 8:3–5, an angel is “given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people”.

    Catholics use incense during entrance processions, as with these altar boys swinging the thurible.
    Bilderstoeckchen/Shutterstock

    Catholics inherited their use of incense from its use in Jewish temple rituals and Greek imperial court rituals.

    The smoke from the incense is used to show reverence toward the Gospel book, the presiding celebrant, the gifts of bread and wine offered at Mass, the altar, cross, the Easter Candle and the body of the deceased at a funeral.

    This holy smoke is a visual and olfactory signal of the congregation’s offerings of supplication and praise rising up to God.

    Crafting the smoke

    Once the conclave begins, the only form of communication between the cardinal-electors and the outside world will be smoke signals sent through the chimney of a stove specially installed in the Sistine Chapel for the duration of the conclave.

    The 1878 conclave was held at the Sistine Chapel. Smoke, depicted here, indicated there was no new pope.
    Wikimedia Commons

    The tradition of burning the ballots goes back to at least 1417, though it wasn’t until the 18th century that the first chimney was installed in the Sistine Chapel. At this time, the appearance of smoke at set times indicated no new pope had been elected; while the absence of smoke indicated there was a new pope.

    Prior to this it is likely that a new pope was simply announced from the loggia (central balcony) of St Peter’s Basilica and a written announcement was posted outside for people to read.

    Since 1914, white smoke has indicated the election of a new pope. A stereotypical association of the colour of the smoke – white (positive) and black (negative) – lies behind the use of the two contrasting smoke colours.

    In 1904, Pius X (who was pope from 1903–14) mandated that all notes taken by cardinals during the election were to be burned along with the ballots themselves. This burning of notes also increased the volume of smoke, making it clearly visible to the public outside when his successor Pope Benedict XV was elected in 1914.

    The use of chemicals to ensure either black or white smoke was introduced after the 1958 conclave when damp straw added to papers from an unsuccessful ballot did not ignite at first. White smoke appeared before eventually turning black, causing confusion among the crowd gathered outside.

    A crowd watches as black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel at the 1922 conclave.
    Wikimedia Commons/Bibliothèque nationale de France

    In 2013, the Vatican Press Office released the chemical formulae used to create black and white smoke.

    To generate black smoke, potassium perchlorate and anthracene (a component of coal tar) fuelled with sulfur are electrically ignited. To generate white smoke, potassium chlorate, milk sugar and pine rosin are ignited.

    Using these smoke signals, the cardinals can communicate from within the conclave immediately and directly to the faithful awaiting the announcement of the Church’s 267th Pope.

    Clare Johnson 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. The election of a new pope is announced with smoke: what do the colours mean, and how are they made? – https://theconversation.com/the-election-of-a-new-pope-is-announced-with-smoke-what-do-the-colours-mean-and-how-are-they-made-255595

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: India and Pakistan have fought many wars in the past. Are we on the precipice of a new one?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ian Hall, Professor of International Relations, Griffith University

    India conducted military strikes against Pakistan overnight, hitting numerous sites in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and deeper into Pakistan itself. Security officials say precision strike weapon systems, including drones, were used to carry out the strikes.

    Pakistan says at least eight civilians have been killed and many more injured.

    While there’s still much uncertainty around what’s happened, it is clear both sides are closer to a major conflict than they have been in years – perhaps decades.

    We’ve seen these kinds of crises before. India and Pakistan have fought full-scale wars many times over the years, in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999.

    There were also cross-border strikes between the two sides in 2016 and 2019 that did not lead to a larger war.

    These conflicts were limited because there was an understanding, given both sides possess nuclear weapons, that escalating to a full-scale war would be very dangerous. That imposed some control on both sides, or at least some caution.

    There was also external pressure from the United States and others on both occasions not to allow those conflicts to spiral out of control.

    While it’s possible both sides will exercise similar restraint now, there may be less pressure from other countries to compel them to do so.

    In this context, tensions can escalate quickly. And when they do, it’s difficult to get both sides to back down and return to where they were before.

    Why did India strike now?

    India says it was retaliating for a terror attack last month on mostly Indian tourists in heavily militarised Kashmir, which both sides claim. The attack left 26 dead.

    There was a claim of responsibility after the attack from a group called the Resistance Front, but it was subsequently withdrawn, so there’s some uncertainty about that.

    Indian sources suggest this group, which is relatively new, is an extension of a pre-existing militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been based in Pakistan for many years.

    Pakistan has denied any involvement in the tourist attack. However, there’s been good evidence in the past suggesting that even if the Pakistani government hasn’t officially sanctioned these groups operating on its territory, there are parts of the Pakistani establishment or military that do support them. This could be ideologically, financially, or through other types of assistance.

    In previous terror attacks in India, weapons and other equipment have been sourced from Pakistan. In the Mumbai terror attack in 2008, for instance, the Indian government produced evidence it claimed showed the gunmen were being directed by handlers in Pakistan by phone.

    But as yet, we have no such evidence demonstrating Pakistan is connected to the tourist attack in Kashmir.

    India has also repeatedly asked Pakistan to shut down these groups. While the leaders have occasionally been put in jail, they’ve later been released, including the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack.

    And madrassas (religious schools) that have long been accused of supplying recruits for militant groups are still permitted to operate in Pakistan, with little state control.

    Pakistan, meanwhile, claims that attacks in Kashmir are committed by local Kashmiris protesting against Indian “occupation” or Pakistanis spontaneously moved to take action.

    These two positions obviously don’t match up in any way, shape or form.

    A political cost to pay for not acting

    It remains to be seen what cost either side is willing to pay to escalate tensions further.

    From an economic standpoint, there’s very little cost to either side if a larger conflict breaks out. There’s practically no trade between India and Pakistan.

    New Delhi has likely calculated that its fast-growing economy will not be harmed by its strikes and others will continue to trade and invest in India. The conclusion of a trade deal with the United Kingdom, after three years of negotiations, will reinforce that impression. The deal was signed on May 6, just before the Pakistan strikes.

    And from the standpoint of international reputation, neither side has much to lose.

    In past crises, Western countries were quick to condemn and criticise military actions committed by either side. But these days, most take the view that the long-simmering conflict is a bilateral issue, which India and Pakistan need to settle themselves.

    The main concern for both sides, then, is the political cost they would suffer from not taking military action.

    Before the terrorist attack on April 22, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had claimed the security situation in Kashmir was improving, and ordinary Indians could safely travel in the region. Those claims were undermined by what occurred that day, making it crucial for the government to respond.

    And now, if Pakistan doesn’t react to the Indian strikes, its government and especially its military would have a cost to pay, too.

    Despite a patchy record of success, Pakistan’s army has long justified its outsize role in national politics by claiming that it alone stands between the Pakistani people and Indian aggression. If it fails to act now, that claim might look hollow.

    Little external mediation to bank on

    So, how does this play out? The hope would be there’s limited military action, lasting a few days, and then things calm down rapidly, as they have in the past. But there are no guarantees.

    And there are few others willing to step in and help deescalate the dispute. US President Donald Trump is mired in other conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and his administration’s diplomacy has so far been inept and ineffective.

    When asked about the Indian strike today, Trump replied it was a “shame” and he “hopes” it ends quickly.

    That’s very different from the strong rhetoric we’ve seen from US presidents in the past when India and Pakistan have come to blows.

    New Delhi and Islamabad will likely have to settle this round themselves. And for whoever decides to blink or back down first, there may be a substantial political cost to pay.

    Ian Hall receives funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He is also an honorary academic fellow of the Australia India Institute at the University of Melbourne.

    – ref. India and Pakistan have fought many wars in the past. Are we on the precipice of a new one? – https://theconversation.com/india-and-pakistan-have-fought-many-wars-in-the-past-are-we-on-the-precipice-of-a-new-one-256080

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Conversation Africa’s first 10 years: a story of new media powered by generosity

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Candice Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Editor

    Starting from scratch is daunting. And exhilarating. Your heart pounds, you can taste adrenaline, the sense of urgency and anticipation makes you high. I can recall each of these sensations 10 years after the thrilling moment when The Conversation Africa went live, and our first newsletter was sent out. Thanks to some nifty software, we were able to watch readers open their emails in real time in cities and towns in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Malawi, Zimbabwe as well as beyond in the US, the UK, India, France, Japan and Australia.

    We’d gone live. People were reading us. We’d launched and there was no going back.

    It was a tiny team that celebrated the moment: nine of us in an office in Johannesburg plus two colleagues from TC Australia who’d flown over to show us the ropes. Our promise when we launched was that we would “work with academics across Africa and internationally to bring informed expertise to a global audience”.

    It’s a promise we’ve kept. From a small team in an office in Johannesburg we’ve gone on to open offices in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. We’ve published 11,775 articles about African research, written by 7,540 academics, attracting over 180 million reads, helped by 935 republishers.

    It’s a model that works because of the generosity of donors, universities, academics and readers. And because we offer evidence-based insight you can trust.

    In retrospect the whole idea might have seemed mad. The impact of the 2008 financial crisis was still being felt. Nobody was in an expansive mood: governments were cutting budgets, economic growth was slow. At the time the media landscape was in bad shape as more titles hit the wall and those that elected to keep going were shrinking their operations.

    What tipped the balance to go for it was that The Conversation offered the opportunity of building – at scale – a partnership between academics and journalists anchored on the simple premise that researchers would be the writers, and the journalists would be the editors.

    The second factor was that the prototype had been built and was working extremely well. Four years prior to our launch The Conversation Australia (the mothership) had gone live. This was followed by editions in the UK, then in the US.

    All three were incredibly successful. It was clear to me that tapping into the vast world of academic research as the primary source of articles, and coupling this with the skills of journalists trained as editors, was a winning formula. Academics were keen to write (without being paid), there were journalists eager to apply their editing skills, and media outlets were hungry to pick up articles put out under a Creative Commons licence.

    The “why” all made sense. The “how” proved to be trickier.

    Money was a problem. The university sectors in other regions were the mainstay of the earlier editions. But universities on the continent were cash-strapped and hardly in a position to bankroll our endeavour. The answer was two-fold: find donors that were supporting the higher education sector in the hope that they would see the merits of the project; and secondly, ask universities for support, either in the form of money or by offering us rent-free accommodation.

    Both strategies worked. We raised enough cash to pay for the small team based in rent-free offices at the University of the Witwatersrand.

    The second tricky bit was fulfilling the promise of being The Conversation Africa. An office in Johannesburg wasn’t going to cut it. We set about finding more money so that we could expand our footprint. By 2017 our team could boast a colleague in Kenya working from an office gifted by the African Population and Health Research Centre. It took another two years to fulfil the promise with colleagues in Lagos (in an office at the Nigerian Academy of Sciences) and a colleague in Accra. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place with the launch of TC Afrique in 2023 with a team of two in Dakar.

    I put The Conversation Africa’s success down to generosity. The generosity of spirit of my colleagues. The generosity of donors. The generosity of universities. The generosity of academics who have volunteered to share their knowledge and approached the rigours of our editing with grace and forbearance. And finally the generosity of you, our readers, who express your appreciation in a host of different ways, not least by sharing articles you come across far and wide. Thank you.

    It’s been a remarkable and hugely fulfilling 10 years. The Conversation Africa has established itself as the source of articles you can trust. A rare commodity in these tricky times. Please continue to support us. We need you in our corner.

    – ref. The Conversation Africa’s first 10 years: a story of new media powered by generosity – https://theconversation.com/the-conversation-africas-first-10-years-a-story-of-new-media-powered-by-generosity-256011

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Police and retailer collaboration brings down organised crime groups

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Offenders brought to justice responsible for £8m of thefts

    • National intelligence unit sees 148 arrests in first year of operation 
    • 50% reduction in offending from organised crime groups identified 
    • Retailers praise dedication of team in affecting criminal justice outcomes  

    A national policing intelligence unit set up in partnership with retailers to tackle organised retail crime has been operational one year (1 May) and continues to reap results, identifying and bringing to justice crime groups responsible for £8m financial impact of offending.  

    Funded by the Home Office and the Pegasus Partnership (a collaboration between retailers and policing coordinated by CC Amanda Blakeman and PCC Katy Bourne), the team within Opal (policing’s national intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime) collects and develops intelligence around organised retail crime from retailers and police forces.  

    Since 1 May 2024, the team has received 153 referrals from retailers and police forces across England and Wales with 313 offenders and 105 linked vehicles identified as a result. Action taken following a referral can range from simply identifying an individual or vehicle right through to a complex investigation of an organised criminal network. 37 operations have been adopted from referrals totalling nearly 5,000 offences nationwide (4,710) with 148 arrests to date and 33 court outcomes resulting in custodial sentences and deportations where the offenders are foreign nationals.  

    Of the organised crime groups identified and monitored through Opal’s work, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in offending since 1 May 2024, demonstrating a clear impact in disrupting these high harm offenders and networks.1  

    The Pegasus Partnership was set up in October 2023 to bring policing and retailers together in tackling shop theft through improved information sharing, best practice and upskilling. A number of high profile convictions include; three offenders responsible for over 100 crimes nationwide brought to justice by Surrey Police and Opal, an individual who stole more than £50,000 worth of goods from Boots stores across the country investigated by South Wales Police and an offender who worked across 16 police force areas to steal high value electricals and perfumes who was convicted by Devon and Cornwall Police.  

    Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman is National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for volume crime. She said: 

    “Partnership and collaboration is vital in our fight against retail crime, policing cannot do this alone and through Pegasus we have built strong relationships and information sharing which enables us to target resources where they are most needed.  

    “Without the national intelligence coordination from Opal’s highly skilled team, many of these offenders brought to justice over the last year may never have been identified or at the very least, the huge scale of their offending may not have been identified. And in a lot of cases, the scale and level of offending is what has led to the most significant court outcomes.  

    “I’d like to thank the retailers and Government for their commitment to making the partnership the success it so clearly is and we look forward to seeing our collective impact continue.”  

    Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services at Mitie said:  

    “We’re proud to have supported the formation of Pegasus and despite only being a year the results are overwhelming. Through technology and collaboration, Pegasus is joining the dots between retailers and the police to secure appropriate outcomes for offenders and in turn drive safer communities across the UK.  

    “The financial impact of retail crime is only one piece of the puzzle and what the figures don’t show is the psychological impact of the current situation on shopworkers, many of whom feel unsafe in their workplace due to threat of attacks. The tide must turn, and this can only happen through effective data sharing agreements between retailers, security and police that leave violent criminals with no place to hide.” 

    Katy Bourne is Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner and APCC joint lead for Business and Retail Crime. She said: 

    “It was very clear that retailers were suffering from shop theft on an industrial scale and needed results, including a better method to share information and intelligence with police forces nationally.  This is why, one year ago, I convened our Pegasus Partnership – a unique collaboration of the country’s top retailers joining together to fund a specialist policing team and analysts. The results published today, on our first anniversary of operation, speak for themselves and show the power of collaboration, trust and hard work, leading to nearly 150 criminals arrested and put before the courts.  

    “I want to acknowledge the support of Chief Constable Blakeman and the OPAL team in galvanising a national police response to shop theft. The Opal team have exceeded the expectations of our Pegasus Partnership and the retailers have seen their investment return valuable results against organised retail crime groups and persistent offenders. 

    “As we look ahead, it is evident we have built a well-positioned and strong foundation for tackling organised retail crime gangs and I look forward to seeing these results increase. I am delighted that the Government can see the value too with an additional £5million given to extend OPAL’s capacity. This really is a huge step forwards in the fightback against shop theft that will benefit all retailers up and down our country.” 

    Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 

    “Through concerted police, retailer and government action, we can fight back against the currently unacceptable levels of shop theft blighting our communities.  

    “This is why we are providing £5 million pounds over the next three years to continue to support this work, significantly increasing funding and making government the largest financial backer of this initiative.  

    “But we can and must go further, which is why I will be discussing with police and retailers at our forthcoming Retail Crime Forum what more we can do to tackle this issue as a whole, targeting not just organised crime gangs and prolific offenders but all perpetrators of shop theft who bring misery to our high streets.  

    “And it is why through our Plan for Change we are putting 13,000 neighbourhood officers and PCSOs on the beat in every corner of the country – soon to be equipped with new powers to tackle assaults on shop workers and thefts under £200.” 

    Kari Rodgers is UK Retail Director at Primark. She said:  

    “Pegasus has been a significant step forward in fostering change and improving safety on our high streets and we welcome the collaboration and intelligence sharing it has facilitated. Our collective job in tackling retail crime is far from over and we remain fully committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow retailers, local police forces and the government to continue driving forward the progress made so far.” 

    Ben McDonald is Senior Senior Corporate Protection Manager at Morrisons. He said:  

    “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Pegasus to keep our communities safe. The partnership provides Morrisons with the opportunity to work closely with the police in order to prioritise organised retail offenders and bring them to justice. We hope this sends out the necessary deterrent to prevent further crime groups from offending.” 

    The organised retail crime team within Opal take referrals from retailers of any size, whether or not they are part of the Pegasus Partnership, and will work in a number of different ways to develop intelligence. This could be as simple as identifying an offender, linked offenders and/or vehicles through the Police National Database, looking at patterns of offending and MO’s which are repeated and working with retailers to share information packs about prolific offenders. The team will then support local police forces through an investigation, sharing intelligence, but also working with the Crown Prosecution Service and additional agencies as required.  

    Results from the Opal Organised Retail Crime team since 1 May 2024 include: 

    • 153 referrals impacting retail businesses, a third of which came from supermarkets.  
    • 313 offenders identified 
    • Offenders identified responsible for £8m loss to retailers 
    • 105 vehicles identified 
    • 37 operations (criminal investigations) adopted 
    • 1,407 positive outcomes 
    • 33 sentences handed out 
    • Total custodial sentences for all offenders of over 39 years  
    • 128 upskilling sessions run with retailers and retail organisations 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Policing Took Action – Now Others Must Step Up

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    We welcome today’s His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) final report on last summer’s disorder, which rightly recognises the bravery and professionalism of officers who acted decisively to protect communities and restore order. This was a successful operation, despite the complexity of events.

    Since the summer, 1,840 arrests have been made, with 1,103 individuals charged, reinforcing policing’s commitment to justice.

    The report fails to accurately assess policing’s role in countering harmful online content. It overlooks the reality that law enforcement cannot and should not regulate social media, placing unrealistic expectations on policing while ignoring the critical responsibility of platform providers and regulators. Without robust detection, moderation, and removal of false narratives, misinformation will continue to fuel unrest unchecked.

    Policing cannot function effectively when digital platforms allow harmful content to spread without consequence. The lack of accountability in the report undermines the broader need for a multi-agency response to misinformation and disorder.

    Public education also has a critical role to play. Equipping communities with the tools to assess online content critically must be a shared effort across government, tech companies, and civil society. Tackling misinformation requires a coordinated, multi-sector approach.

    We note the Inspectorate’s concerns about national debriefing. However, policing has already conducted multiple operational debriefs, covering both intelligence and crime, with extensive feedback gathered across forces. These insights, alongside HMICFRS recommendations, are being taken forward under NPCC leadership.

    Policing is advancing innovative technology solutions to enhance monitoring of misinformation and disinformation, building on social listening platforms used during the disorder. Strengthening collaboration with the Cabinet Office, we are now more closely integrated across government and policing to improve coordination.

    The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee has expanded the capacity for force neighbourhood teams to engage more effectively with their communities. Additionally, we have been developing advanced technology to better assess real-time public sentiment through enhanced community tensions monitoring.

    Policing will continue working with partners to implement these recommendations decisively, ensuring a proactive and resilient approach to disorder prevention while maintaining our commitment to public safety.

    Chief Constable BJ Harrington is the NPCC Lead for Operations and the former Gold Commander of Operation Navette. He said:

    “We appreciate the Inspectorate’s dedication in engaging with representatives from across policing and for recognising the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by our officers and staff during an extremely challenging period. The commitment of frontline officers to maintaining public safety, often in the face of significant personal risk, deserves acknowledgment, and we are pleased to see this reflected in the report.

    “The assertion that no debrief took place does not reflect the extensive review work that has been undertaken since the events last summer. In response to the disorder, policing conducted national debriefs covering both intelligence and crime, ensuring key insights were gathered and shared across forces. These debriefs, convened by the College of Policing and individual forces, allowed policing to review its approach, strengthen intelligence-sharing, and refine operational strategies.

    “We welcome the Inspectorate’s recommendations and we’ll continue working with partners to refine and improve our response to fast-moving and unpredictable disorder. However, it is important to recognise the broader role of communications in operational success and ensure a more comprehensive approach to tackling misinformation.”

    Chief Constable Gavin Stephens is Chair of the NPCC. He added:

    “Following the events of last summer, it was right that policing was questioned and scrutinised, and we recognise the Inspectorate’s role in that process.

    “However, a more balanced assessment is needed, particularly regarding policing’s role in tackling misinformation and disinformation. While there are lessons to learn, it is crucial to acknowledge that law enforcement does not – and should not – regulate online content. Responsibility for ensuring information is accurate and does not fuel harm lies with those posting it, platform providers and regulatory bodies.

    “The report states that policing has “no proper answer” for tackling misinformation and disinformation, but the issue extends far beyond law enforcement. No public sector organisation or body responsible for public safety is fully equipped to address the scale and complexity of the problem. Policing alone cannot be expected to lead or resolve this volatile challenge; it requires a coordinated, cross government approach. This reality must be acknowledged.

    “The report did not fully recognise the successes of the media strategy, particularly in delivering behaviour change and deterrence messaging, which are essential in countering rapidly spreading false narratives that can incite disorder.  I pay tribute to colleagues in local policing and communications, who worked tirelessly with media colleagues to ensure accurate information, and the consequences of involvement in violent disorder, were widely known and understood.

    “A proactive communication model is needed, one that enables policing to engage directly with communities, providing accurate and timely information without overreliance on traditional media. However, achieving this requires resources that policing simply does not currently have, as financial pressures continue to mount.

    “Strengthening intelligence alone is not enough to mitigate the risks posed by misinformation. A comprehensive approach is required – one that incorporates education during peacetime, stronger regulatory oversight, and independent messaging strategies extending beyond policing.

    “We remain committed to learning from these events, refining our approach, and ensuring policing is prepared, resilient, and proactive in facing future challenges.”

    Notes to editors

    The national policing response launched by NPCC – Operation Navette – was created to provide effective national coordination for the planning and response to demonstrations and disorder, as well as engagement and communication with forces, government and key national stakeholders. This included:

    • A national Gold group established and led by the NPCC Public Order and Public Safety Lead.
    • An intelligence coordination group led by the NPCC Intelligence Lead.
    • The activation of the national mobilisation plan and the development of national strategic public order research, with NPoCC assuming a central coordination function for all public order assets across the country.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to 12 Years’ Imprisonment in Connection with $17M Medicare Fraud Schemes

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    A California man was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $17 million through sham hospice companies and his home health care company.

    According to court documents, Petros Fichidzhyan, 44, of Granada Hills, schemed with others to bill Medicare for hospice services that were not medically necessary and never provided. Fichidzhyan and his co-schemers controlled hospice entities and used foreign nationals’ personal identifying information (PII) to conceal the scheme, using the PII to, among other things, open bank accounts, submit information to Medicare, and sign property leases. The defendant and his co-schemers also misappropriated the names and PII of several doctors, two of whom were deceased, to fraudulently bill Medicare for purported hospice services. Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million, of which Fichidzhyan received nearly $7 million, with more than $5.3 million laundered through a dozen shell and third-party bank accounts. Fichidzhyan also obtained more than $1 million in false claims paid to his home health care agency, which fraudulently used a doctor’s name and identifying information as having certified Medicare beneficiaries for home health care. When the doctor confronted Fichidzhyan about the fraud, Fichidzhyan attempted to cover up the scheme by paying the doctor $11,000.

    Fichidzhyan pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in February 2025. At sentencing, he was also ordered to pay $17,129,060 in restitution, and the court preliminarily ordered the forfeiture of a home bought with fraudulent proceeds. The government has seized $2,920,383 from bank accounts associated with the fraud. The sentence imposed today is the most recent step in the Justice Department’s ongoing effort to combat hospice fraud in the greater Los Angeles area.

    “For years, the defendant, working with others, ran multiple sham hospice and home health care schemes, fraudulently billing Medicare over $17 million,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s egregious scheme relied on layers of deception and sophisticated money laundering, and wasted millions in taxpayer money. With the help of our law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice is fully committed to stopping these criminal networks and protecting the public fisc.”

    “Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. Defrauding the Medicare program not only wastes valuable taxpayer dollars, it causes significant harm to enrollees,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office. “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who defraud federal health care programs.”

    “Mr. Fichidzhyan lined his pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The level of fraud and exploitation committed by the defendant is astounding and I’m proud of our investigators and prosecutors who were able to detect his schemes and hold him accountable.”

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Eric C. Schmale and Sarah E. Edwards of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cowardly criminals forced to face victims under flagship Bill

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Cowardly criminals forced to face victims under flagship Bill

    Victims will be better protected than ever thanks to new measures across the justice system following the introduction of the Victims and Courts Bill (7 May).

    • New powers for judges to punish offenders who refuse to attend sentencing
    • Parental responsibility to be restricted for perpetrators of child sex offences
    • New powers for Victims’ Commissioner to hold government to account

    For the first time ever, judges will be able to hand down prison punishments for cowardly criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearing.

    The powers of the Victims’ Commissioner will also be strengthened, empowering them to play a greater role in individual cases and requiring them to produce an independent report on compliance with the Victims’ Code.

    Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood said:

    This Bill will deliver long overdue reforms to ensure victims see justice done and are given the vital support they need as they rebuild their lives.

    There is still more work to do as we fix a justice system that was left on the brink of collapse, but this Bill is a step towards rebuilding victims’ confidence through our Plan for Change.

    Measures in the Bill to force offenders to attend their sentencing will go further than ever before. In recognition that those facing long sentences or Whole Life Orders may not be deterred solely by additional time behind bars, this government is going further and giving judges the power to impose a range of prison sanctions on top of additional years on their sentence to ensure heinous criminals who refuse to attend can be appropriately punished. 

    The Bill also extends the eligibility to all cases in the Crown Court, meaning that all offenders who attempt to evade justice could be subject to tough sanctions – such as confinement to their cell and loss of privileges, like extra time in the gym – as well as up to two more years behind bars.

    Offenders who have been ordered to attend by a judge but whose disruptive and disrespectful behaviour results in their removal from the courtroom will also be punishable by the same means.

    Minister Davies-Jones said:

    I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who   have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing.

    Justice isn’t optional – we’ll make sure criminals face their victims. 

    The Bill will also provide greater protection to victims by automatically restricting parental responsibility for vile offenders sentenced for a serious sexual abuse offence against their own child.

    Predatory parents will be prevented from actively taking steps in the child’s life, including requesting updates about the child’s schooling or seeking to interfere with their activities, better enabling the family to move forwards with their lives.

    London’s Independent Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said:

    For too long, offenders found guilty of some of the most heinous crimes have refused to attend sentencing hearings and face justice, their victims, and their victims’ families.

    I have worked closely with Jebina Islam, Farah Naz, and Ayse Hussein in spearheading this campaign and I want to pay tribute to their tireless campaigning, and also thank the family of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who have fought so hard for this. Over the last few years, I have met with Ministers, the Judiciary, and justice partners to help shape these proposals to ensure they meet the needs of victims. I am pleased this Government has listened and acted on our concerns and have included other measures, such as prison sanctions, which I hope will put an end to this cruel injustice.

    This Bill will also bring in other important reforms I have long called for, such as measures to remove parental responsibility from convicted child sex offenders, to ensure these victims are better protected, and new powers to strengthen the vital work of the Victims’ Commissioner. These are all welcome changes and I’ll continue to do everything I can to ensure victims’ and survivors’ voices and experiences are at the heart of criminal justice reform.

    To ensure the government and other agencies are held to account in delivering for victims, the Bill also bolsters the role of the Victims’ Commissioner. Under the new legislation, the Commissioner will be able to play a greater role in individual cases which raise systemic issues ensuring lessons are learned to benefit other victims or witnesses.

    The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

    These important and welcome reforms give the Victims’ Commissioner the statutory powers needed to deliver on the role’s promise: championing victims’ rights, scrutinising compliance with the Victims’ Code, holding agencies to account, and spotlighting the true victim experience to drive meaningful change. This marks a step towards a more accountable system that puts victims first.

    Crucially, it introduces much-needed oversight and accountability to how agencies respond to anti-social behaviour – an area where victims have too often felt unheard and unsupported.

    Taken together, the Bill delivers on multiple manifesto commitments and the Government’s Plan for Change – giving victims greater confidence in the justice system.

    Further information

    The Commissioner will also be required to produce an independent report on compliance with the Victims’ Code, holding agencies to account on their statutory requirement to comply with the Code. Providing independent scrutiny from a victim-focused perspective and calling out agencies who are not fulfilling their duty will ensure victims are aware of their rights, improving their experience of the justice system.

    Further measures within the Bill include:

    • Updating the Victim Contact Scheme and establishing a new Victim Helpline so victims have a clear route to request information about an offender’s release
    • Placing a duty on local authorities and social housing providers to co-operate with the Victims’ Commissioner in relation to victims ASB
    • Increased flexibility for the Director of Public Prosecutions in appointing Crown Prosecutors
    • Lord Chancellor can now prescribe, through Regulations, rates at which private prosecutors may recover their costs from Central Funds
    • Increased time limit for the Attorney General to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it is unduly lenient where a request is made to the Attorney General in the last 14 days of the current 28-day time-limit

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – 7 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/ldKrOs3XaXE

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ofIfSls-To

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SNP announce candidates for 2026 Scottish Parliament elections

    Source: Scottish National Party

    The Scottish National Party has published the list of its candidates selected for constituencies in the 2026 Scottish Parliament Elections.

    The Chair of the SNP’s election campaign committee, Angus Robertson MSP, described those selected by local party members as “a group of brilliant, talented and diverse candidates” to take forward the SNP’s positive vision for Scotland’s future at next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.

    “Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP will be offering the people of Scotland the opportunity to vote for party laser focussed on creating a vibrant economy in every part of our country” Mr Robertson said.

    He added that the candidates would equally be focussed on “tackling the challenges faced by our public services, and creating a better future for everyone who lives here”.

    Mr Robertson concluded by saying: “When people go to the ballot box next year, they can be assured that a vote for the SNP is a vote for a party who will always be on Scotland’s side.”

    The candidates selected by local SNP associations and members can be read below:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 7 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldKrOs3XaXE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Think your teams are engaged? Look at this key metric, says this Adecco Exec

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRUJ4w-ozY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: OP Mortgage Bank: Interim Report 1 January–31 March 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OP Mortgage Bank
    Interim Report 1 January–31 March 2025
    Stock Exchange Release 7 May 2025 at 10.00 EEST

    OP Mortgage Bank: Interim Report 1 January–31 March 2025

    OP Mortgage Bank (OP MB) is the covered bond issuing entity of OP Financial Group. Together with OP Corporate Bank plc, its role is to raise funding for OP Financial Group from money and capital markets.

    Financial standing

    The intermediary loans of OP MB totalled EUR 14,800 million (14,800)* at the end of March. Bonds issued by OP MB totalled EUR 14,800 million (14,800) at the end of March.

    OP MB’s covered bonds after 8 July 2022 are issued under the Euro Medium Term Covered Bond (Premium) programme (EMTCB), pursuant to the Finnish Act on Mortgage Credit Banks and Covered Bonds (151/2022). The collateral is added to the EMTCB cover pool from the member cooperative banks’ balance sheets via the intermediary loan process on the issue date of a new covered bond.
     
    At the end of March, 79 OP cooperative banks had a total of EUR 14,800 million (14,800) in intermediary loans from OP MB. 

    Impairment loss on receivables related to loans in OP MB’s balance sheet totalled EUR 0.0 million (0.0). Loss allowance was EUR 0.0 million (0.0) following the sale of the loan portfolio.

    Operating profit was EUR 1.7 million (2.3). The company’s financial standing remained stable throughout the reporting period. 

    * The comparatives for 2024 are given in brackets. For income statement and other aggregated figures, January–March 2024 figures serve as comparatives. For balance-sheet and other cross-sectional figures, figures at the end of the previous financial year (31 December 2024) serve as comparatives. 

    Collateralisation of bonds issued to the public

    The European covered bonds (premium) issued under the EMTCB programme worth EUR 25 billion established on 11 October 2022, in accordance with the Act on Mortgage Credit Banks and Covered Bonds (151/2022), totalled EUR 6,250 million. The cover pool included a total of EUR 6,882 million in loans serving as collateral at the end of March. Overcollateralisation exceeded the minimum requirement under the Act (151/2022).

    The covered bonds issued under the Euro Medium Term Covered Note programme worth EUR 20 billion established on 12 November 2010, in accordance with the Act on Mortgage Credit Banks (Laki kiinnitysluottopankkitoiminnasta, 688/2010), totalled EUR 8,550 million. The cover pool included a total of EUR 9,468 million in loans serving as collateral at the end of March. Overcollateralisation exceeded the minimum requirement under the Act (688/2010).

    Capital adequacy

    OP MB’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 372.0% (797.0) at the end of March. The ratio decreased due to an increase in total risk exposure amount based on a
    regulatory change. The changes in the EU Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR3), which entered into force on 1 January 2025, particularly affected the calculation of total risk exposure amount. The figures for the comparative period have been calculated based on the regulation in force in 2024. The minimum CET1 capital requirement is 4.5% and the requirement for the capital conservation buffer is 2.5%. The minimum total capital requirement is 8% (or 10.5% with the increased capital conservation buffer). OP MB fully covers its capital requirements with CET1 capital, which in practice means that it has a CET1 capital requirement of 10.5%. Estimated profit distribution has been subtracted from earnings for the reporting period.

    The capital adequacy requirement for credit risk is measured using the Standardised Approach (SA).

    OP MB belongs to OP Financial Group. As part of the Group, OP MB is supervised by the European Central Bank. OP Financial Group presents capital adequacy information in its financial statements bulletins and interim and half-year financial reports in accordance with the Act on the Amalgamation of Deposit Banks. OP Financial Group also publishes Pillar 3 disclosures.

    Own funds and capital adequacy, TEUR 31 Mar 2025 31 Dec 2024
    Equity capital 365,998 368,122
    Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) before deductions 365,998 368,122
    Excess funding of pension liability    
    Proposed profit distribution -1,341 -3,466
    Share of unaudited profits    
    Insufficient coverage for non-performing exposures    
         
    CET1 capital 364,657 364,656
    Tier 1 capital (T1) 364,657 364,656
    Tier 2 capital (T2)    
    Total own funds 364,657 364,656
         
    Total risk exposure amount, TEUR 31 Mar 2025 31 Dec 2024
    Credit and counterparty risk 3,185 18,581
    Operational risk (Standardised Approach) 94,841 26,636
    Other risks* 7 538
    Total risk exposure amount 98,034 45,755
    * Risks not otherwise covered.
         		    
    Ratios, % 31 Mar 2025 31 Dec 2024
    CET1 capital ratio 372.0 797.0
    Tier 1 capital ratio 372.0 797.0
    Capital adequacy ratio 372.0 797.0
    Capital requirement, TEUR    
    Own funds 364,657 364,656
    Capital requirement 10,294 4,804
    Buffer for capital requirements 354,363 359,852

    Joint and several liability of amalgamation 

    Under the Act on the Amalgamation of Deposit Banks (599/2010), the amalgamation of cooperative banks comprises the organisation’s central cooperative (OP Cooperative), the central cooperative’s member credit institutions and the companies belonging to their consolidation groups, as well as credit and financial institutions and service companies in which the above together hold more than half of the total votes. This amalgamation is supervised on a consolidated basis. On 31 March 2025, OP Cooperative’s member credit institutions comprised 79 OP cooperative banks, OP Corporate Bank plc, OP Mortgage Bank and OP Retail Customers plc.

    The central cooperative is responsible for issuing instructions to its member credit institutions concerning their internal control and risk management, their procedures for securing liquidity and capital adequacy, and for compliance with harmonised accounting policies in the preparation of the amalgamation’s consolidated financial statements.

    As a support measure referred to in the Act on the Amalgamation of Deposit Banks, the central cooperative is liable to pay any of its member credit institutions the amount necessary to preventing the credit institution from being placed in liquidation. The central cooperative is also liable for the debts of a member credit institution which cannot be paid using the member credit institution’s assets.

    Each member bank is liable to pay a proportion of the amount which the central cooperative has paid to either another member bank as a support measure or to a creditor of such a member bank in payment of an overdue amount which the creditor has not received from the member bank. Furthermore, if the central cooperative defaults, a member bank has unlimited refinancing liability for the central cooperative’s debts as referred to in the Co-operatives Act.

    Each member bank’s liability for the amount the central cooperative has paid to the creditor on behalf of a member bank is divided between the member banks in proportion to their last adopted balance sheets. OP Financial Group’s insurance companies do not fall within the scope of joint and several liability.

    According to section 25 of the Act on Mortgage Credit Banks (688/2010), which was valid at that time, the creditors of covered bonds issued prior to 8 July 2022 have the right to receive payment, before other claims, for the entire term of the bond, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the bond, out of the funds entered as collateral, without this being prevented by OP MB’s liquidation or bankruptcy. A similar and equal priority also applies to derivative contracts entered in the register of bonds, and to marginal lending facilities referred to in section 26, subsection 4 of said Act. For mortgage-backed loans issued prior to 8 July 2022 and included in the total amount of collateral of covered bonds, the priority of the covered bond holders’ payment right is limited to the amount of loan that, with respect to home loans, corresponds to 70% of the value of shares or property serving as security for the loan and entered in the bond register at the time of the issuer’s liquidation or bankruptcy declaration.

    Under section 20 of the Act on Mortgage Credit Banks and Covered Bonds (151/2022), which entered into force on 8 July 2022, the creditors of bonds issued after 8 July 2022, including the related management and clearing costs, have the right to receive payment from the collateral included in the cover pool, before other creditors of OP MB or the OP cooperative bank which is the debtor of an intermediary loan. A similar priority also applies to creditors of derivative contracts related to covered bonds, including the related management and clearing costs. Interest and yield accruing on the collateral, and any substitute assets, fall within the scope of said priority.

    Section 44, subsection 3 of the Act on Mortgage Credit Banks and Covered Bonds includes provisions on the creditor’s priority claim regarding cover pool liquidity support. According to said subsection, the creditor has the right to receive payment against the funds contained in the cover pool after claims based on the principal and interest of covered bonds secured by the cover assets included in the cover pool, obligations based on derivatives contracts associated with covered bonds, as well as administration and liquidation costs.

    Sustainability and corporate responsibility

    As of 2024, OP Financial Group has reported on its sustainability and corporate responsibility in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

    Responsible business is one of OP Financial Group’s strategic priorities. OP Financial Group’s sustainability programme guides the Group’s actions and is built around three themes: Climate and the environment, People and communities, and Corporate governance. Read more about the sustainability programme at www.op.fi/en/op-financialgroup/corporate-social-responsibility/corporate-social-responsibility-programme.

    At OP Financial Group, sustainability and corporate responsibility are guided by a number of principles and policies. OP Financial Group is committed to complying not only with all applicable laws and regulations, but also with a number of international initiatives that guide operations. The Group is committed to complying with the ten principles of the UN Global Compact initiative in the areas of human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption. OP Financial Group is a Founding Signatory of the Principles for Responsible Banking under the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). Furthermore, OP Financial Group is committed to complying with the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and the UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance. OP Financial Group’s biodiversity roadmap includes measures to promote biodiversity. OP Financial Group aims to grow its nature positive handprint by 2030. ‘Nature positive’ means that OP Financial Group’s operations will have a net positive impact (NPI) on nature.

    OP Financial Group has drawn up a Human Rights Statement and Human Rights Policy. The Group respects all recognised human rights. The Human Rights Statement includes the requirements and expectations that OP Financial Group has set for itself and actors in its value chains. OP Financial Group is committed to perform remediation actions if its operations have adverse human rights impacts.

    In March 2025, OP MB published a Green Covered Bond Report on the allocation and impacts of Finland’s first green covered bonds issued in March 2021 and April 2022. Under OP MB’s Green Covered Bond Framework, proceeds from the bonds have been allocated to mortgages with energy-efficient residential buildings as collateral. The environmental impacts allocated to the green covered bonds in 2024 were 58,000 MWh of energy use avoided per year and 5,500 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions avoided per year.

    Personnel

    At the end of the reporting period, OP MB had six employees. OP MB has been digitising its operations and purchases all key support services from OP Cooperative and its subsidiaries, reducing the need for its own personnel.

    Governing body members 

    The Board composition is as follows: 

    Chair Mikko Timonen Chief Financial Officer, OP Cooperative
    Members Satu Nurmi Business Lead, SME Financing, OP Retail
    Customers plc
      Mari Heikkilä Head of Group Treasury & ALM, OP Corporate Bank plc

    OP MB’s Managing Director is Sanna Eriksson. The deputy Managing Director is Tuomas Ruotsalainen, Senior Covered Bonds Manager at OP MB.

    Risk profile

    OP MB has a strong capital base, capital buffers and risk-bearing capacity. OP MB’s most significant risks are related to the quality of collateral and to structural liquidity and interest rate risks on the balance sheet, for which limits have been set in the Banking Risk Policy. The key credit risk indicators in use show that OP MB’s credit risk exposure is stable. OP MB has used interest rate swaps to hedge against its interest rate
    risk. Interest rate swaps have been used to swap home loan interest, intermediary loan interest and interest on issued bonds onto the same basis rate. OP MB has concluded all derivative contracts for hedging purposes, applying fair value hedges which have OP Corporate Bank plc as their counterparty. OP MB’s interest risk exposure is under control and has been within the set limit.

    The liquidity buffer for OP Financial Group is centrally managed by OP Corporate Bank and therefore exploitable by OP MB. At the end of the reporting period, OP Financial Group’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was 202% and the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) was 129%. OP MB monitors its cash flows on a daily basis to secure funding liquidity and its structural funding risk on a regular basis as part of the company’s internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP).

    An analysis of OP MB’s risk exposure should always take account of OP Financial Group’s risk exposure, which is based on the joint and several liability of all its member credit institutions. The member credit institutions are jointly liable for each other’s debts. All member banks must participate in support measures, as referred to in the Act on the Amalgamation of Deposit Banks, to support each other’s capital adequacy.

    OP Financial Group analyses the business environment as part of its ongoing risk assessment activities and strategy process. Megatrends and worldviews behind OP Financial Group’s strategy reflect driving forces that affect the daily activities, conditions and future of the Group and its customers. Factors currently shaping the business environment include climate, biodiversity loss, scientific and technological innovations, polarisation, demography and geopolitics. External business environment factors are considered thoroughly, so that their effects on customers’ future success are understood. OP Financial Group provides advice and makes business decisions that promote the sustainable financial success, security and wellbeing of its owner-customers and operating region while managing the Group’s risk profile on a longer-term basis. Advice for customers, risk-based service sizing, contract lifecycle management, decision-making, management and reporting are based on correct and comprehensive information.

    Outlook

    The global economic outlook has weakened due to increased tariffs and a higher level of uncertainty. The Finnish economy is likely to grow less than previously expected and the outlook is exceptionally uncertain. The escalation of geopolitical crises or a rise in trade barriers may affect capital markets and the economic environment of OP Financial Group and its customers.

    OP MB’s capital adequacy is expected to remain strong and its risk exposure favourable. This enables issuance of covered bonds in the future.

    Schedule for Interim Reports in 2025

    Half-year Financial Report 1 January–30 June 2025 30 July 2025
    Interim Report 1 January–30 September 2025 28 October 2025

    Helsinki, 7 May 2025

    OP Mortgage Bank
    Board of Directors

    For more information, please contact:
    Sanna Eriksson, Managing Director, tel. +358 10 252 2517

    DISTRIBUTION
    LSE London Stock Exchange
    Euronext Dublin (Irish Stock Exchange)
    Officially Appointed Mechanism (OAM)
    Major media
    op.fi 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: UNICOM Engineering Announces Strategic Partnership with E4 Computer Engineering to Deliver Advanced AI Infrastructure Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CANTON, Mass., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UNICOM Engineering announces a strategic partnership with E4 Computer Engineering, the Italian leader in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI-driven solutions. This collaboration expands UNICOM Engineering’s presence in the European market by offering comprehensive, integrated AI infrastructure solutions designed to accelerate deployment and optimize performance.

    The partnership combines UNICOM Engineering’s expertise in liquid cooling technologies and custom server solutions with E4’s extensive experience designing and deploying advanced HPC-AI and dense compute solutions across various sectors, including Research and Development, Banking, Government, Automotive, and Aerospace.

    “This strategic partnership with E4 Computer Engineering represents an important step in our European expansion strategy,” said Rusty Cone, General Manager of UNICOM Engineering. “Combining our engineering expertise and technology portfolio with E4’s market presence and industry knowledge, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver the next generation of AI-ready infrastructure solutions to the European market. Together, we’re enabling our customers to accelerate their AI initiatives while addressing critical challenges around power efficiency and sustainability.”

    Accelerating AI Adoption Through Advanced Infrastructure

    The partnership aims to deliver comprehensive infrastructure solutions optimized for AI workloads, including systems powered by the latest accelerated computing technologies. UNICOM Engineering brings its expertise in developing thermal management and immersion cooling solutions, which are crucial for handling the intense power densities of modern AI systems, while E4 contributes its extensive experience in designing, deploying, and supporting complex HPC and AI environments.

    “Organizations across EMEA are looking forward to harnessing the transformative potential of AI, but face significant infrastructure challenges,” said Cosimo Damiano Gianfreda, CEO and Co-founder of E4. “Our partnership with UNICOM Engineering allows E4 to address these challenges head-on, providing our customers with purpose-built solutions that deliver the performance they need while meeting their sustainability goals. We’re excited to combine our expertise to drive AI innovation across the Italian and Swiss markets.”

    This partnership enables enterprises to achieve faster time to value for their AI investments, with infrastructure solutions designed to deliver optimal performance while addressing the power and cooling challenges that often complicate AI deployments.

    About UNICOM Engineering
    UNICOM Engineering is a leading provider of purpose-built application platforms, appliances, and life cycle deployment services for solution providers and OEMs serving the global data center, storage, security, communications, video, and healthcare IT markets. We are best known for our solution design technologies, integration expertise, and unique deployment capabilities. Our turnkey platforms and appliances are designed for longevity and backed by life cycle management services. We create products and business solutions that solve deployment challenges, accelerate time to market, reduce ownership costs, and increase business efficiencies. For more information, visit www.unicomengineering.com.

    About E4
    E4 is an Italian provider of High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI-driven solutions. With a strong focus on innovation and technical excellence, E4 designs, develops, and delivers advanced computing systems and services to research institutions, enterprises, and government organizations. The company’s expertise spans various sectors, including scientific research, finance, automotive, aerospace and more. E4 is dedicated to helping its customers harness the power of cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and achieve their strategic objectives. For more information, visit www.e4company.com.

    Media Contacts

    UNICOM Engineering Contact:
    Lisa Ryan
    lisa.ryan@unicomengineering.com

    E4 Contact:
    Maria Chiara Marchi
    mariachiara.marchi@e4company.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day No Credit Check | Best Payday Loans For Bad Credit – IOnline Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHERIDAN, Wyo., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — During a financial emergency, a payday loan of $255 Online Same Day can be a great option for all the people who need other options available. These short-term loans provide borrowers cash in advance to pay for emergency expenses such as medical bills, auto repairs, home repairs, or other sudden bills without a traditional credit check.

    >>Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    In this post, we’ll discuss what the best payday loans for bad credit really is, how it works, and why it is often preferred by a lot of people in need of some quick cash. And, since we like to help, it won’t stop there. We’ll also be discussing the many advantages of such types of loans, the means of application with reputable sites such as IOnline Payday Loans and offer alternatives to those of you who think you’re after different forms of lending.

    This guide can help you understand your options if you have bad credit or no credit history at all, and how to make a decision for your short-term financial situation.

    $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day—What is it?

    A $255 payday loan online same day is a small cash advance intended to be used as a tool to help you get through to your next payday. It’s a short-term loan, usually a payment of a few weeks, and it tends to be available without a credit check. Approved for a loan is another of these companies that offer personal loans to people with sub-par or no credit, partly because approval is largely based on income and employment.

    The application is fast and easy—you can typically apply online and get an answer within minutes. By using services such as IOnline Payday Loans, however, you can have access to trustworthy lenders, Straight into your bank account and receive same-day funds.

    >>Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    How Payday Loans For Bad Credit Work?

    1 hour payday loans no credit check are short-term loans to help you when you’re in between paychecks and you need cash for emergencies. The process is fast and easy; borrowers complete an online application, ideally one specific to the type of loan (usually via services like IOnline Payday Loans),, and detail the amount they need and how long they need to repay it. Upon submission, the applicant is teamed up with the right lender.

    If their application is accepted, the loan is deposited into the borrower’s bank account, usually on the same day. The borrower generally is required to repay on his or her next payday and the money is drawn from the borrower’s account. There is no credit check to obtain one of these loans, so these loans are accessible even to those with bad credit or no credit. But borrowers should apply only if they’re sure they can repay on time; otherwise, late payments can bring additional fees.

    >>Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    How To Apply For $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day

    Follow these simple steps to Apply For no credit check payday loans via IOnline Payday Loans:

    1. Select Your Loan Size and Term:
    Choose how much you would like to borrow—between $100 and $5,000 is available with IOnline Payday Loans. Pick up a payment plan that suits your budget from 2 to 24 months.

    2. Prepare Required Documents:
    Have the following documents handy before you apply:

    • Current state or government-issued ID (such as driver’s license or passport).
    • Last 3 months of income proof.
    • Active bank account details.

    3. Complete the Online Application Form:
    Go to IOnline Payday Loans and click on “Apply Now.” Fill in the easy form with your personal details, the amount of loan you require, and the period you would like to repay it back.

    4. Provide Financial Details:
    Then come your job, income, and monthly expenses. This is so we can check if you qualify for the loan. Your information remains private and is only used on many online platforms matching you with the right lender.

    5. Get Matched with a Lender:
    IOnline Payday Loans will perform a quick search on its database, and find you a lender based on your needs. If you’re connected with a lender, you may be taken to the lender’s website to review and accept your loan.

    6. Read and Sign the Loan Contract:
    If and when you get a match, read the loan agreement closely. Be sure you know the interest rate, the date you will repay the loan, and any fees. If the terms are acceptable to you, electronically sign the document.

    7. Receive Your Funds:
    Your bank account is where the lender will deposit the money after signing. Funds are often received the same day or the next business day, as time may be required for the receiving bank to credit the payment to the account.

    Benefits of $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day

    Here are the advantages of $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day without any delay:

    1. Quick Approval and Same-Day Funding:
    One of the greatest advantages of a 1 hour payday loans no credit check is that in most cases, you will be approved very fast. The majority of the lenders approve the applications instantly and you may have the money in your bank account on the same day.

    2. No Credit Check Required:
    These loans generally do not require a standard credit check, making it easier for many people to qualify if they have poor credit or no credit history at all.

    3. Easy Online Application:
    You can do everything entirely online, without setting foot in an office. Take, for example, IOnline Payday Loans, which, although their name does not say they are a bad credit lender, the application process is very fast and easy. The form they request is very short to fill, and no fax is required.

    4. High Approval Rates:
    The $255 Payday Loans are relatively easy to qualify and approval is quick. You probably qualify as long as you’re 18+, earn a steady income, and have an active bank account.

    5. Flexible Repayment Options:
    Although these loans are temporary, many of the direct lenders are willing to discuss repayment terms. Depending on the lender, you might be able to push back the repayment date or even pay in installments.

    Other Alternatives To $255 Payday Loans Online Same-Day

    If you’re looking for more than just a $255 payday loan, here are other ways to find fast cash and also a few different alternatives:

    1. Tribal Loans For Bad Credit: These tribal loans are in larger amounts than payday loans and are repaid over a period of a few months to a few years. The monthly payments are fixed, and approval is typically easier, even for applicants with bad credit.

    2. No Credit Check Payday Loans: Federal credit union PALs provide a safer alternative to traditional payday loans. Loans are typically between $200 to $1,000, with reasonable interest rates and longer repayment periods.

    3. Cash Advance Loan Apps: Some Apps will let you borrow small amounts of your next paycheck with zero interest. They are perfect for when you need some quick cash and will be paid back in full on your next payday.

    4. Employer Salary Advance Programs: Some businesses let workers get a portion of their earned wages early, before payday. This is typically interest and fee-free and quick and easy.

    5. Family and Friends Loan: If you have a large personal network, borrowing from a loved one can be interest-free. Be sure to establish a clear method of repayment to keep relationships running without a hitch.

    Best Features of $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day

    Here are the best features of $255 payday loans online same day:

    1. Fast Online Application: $255 short-term loans can be requested online only through online platforms. And it’s fast, just a few minutes easy. Applicants, it turns out, have to fill out some forms that contain some personal and financial details—no long paperwork or visits to a physical office are required.

    2. Decision and Funding on the Same Day: These loans are designed to be used in an emergency, so most lenders give instant decisions once you apply. If approved, the loan typically is sent the same day, sometimes within hours. This feature is what makes $255 payday loans the perfect solution for sudden costs such as overdue bill payments or unexpected spending.

    3. No Credit Check Required: One of the biggest benefits is that most lenders don’t do a hard credit check. Also, they consider how much money you make and your repayment capacity. This, in turn, makes credit available to even those with poor or no credit history who would otherwise be turned down for a conventional bank loan.

    4. Fixed Loan Amount: The loan amount is usually from $100 to $255 for small, unexpected expenses. It prevents you from borrowing too much and makes payments straightforward. Borrowers know precisely how much they owe, and can plan accordingly, “reducing the risks that come with larger sums of money being owed.”

    5. Short Repayment Term: You’ll typically be required to repay the loan on your next payday, or 2 to 4 weeks later, depending on the lender. This short-term configuration keeps excitement from accumulating. But you should pay them back on time to avoid fees and making a habit of being in debt.

    Eligibility Requirements—$255 Payday Loans Online Same Day

    To get instant same-day approval for a $255 payday loan online, you are required to meet several conditions which are pretty basic but are crucial:

    1. Age Requirement: You need to be at least 18 to apply. This is to satisfy the requirements under law to be able to enter into a financial agreement that binds.

    2. Proof of Steady Income: Lenders want to see that you have a regular source of income, which could be from employment, benefits lettings, or self-employment.

    3. Valid Identification: You’ll have to give them a government-issued ID (a passport or driver’s license, for example). This contributes towards the verification of your identity requirements and satisfies anti-fraud rules.

    4. Active Checking Account: The reason you will need a bank account in your name is so that the lender has somewhere to deposit your loan and automatically collect monthly repayments.

    5. U.S. Residency: You need to be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident, and you need to reside in a state where payday loans are available legally. There are states where lenders are not allowed to lend money.

    Frequently Asked Questions—$255 Payday Loans Online Same Day

    1. Can I get a $255 payday loan with bad credit?

    Yes. The vast majority of direct lenders offering $255 payday loans do not conduct a hard credit check. They’re more interested in your income and your ability to repay than your credit score.

    2. When can I get the loan?

    If approved, most borrowers have the money in hand on the same day, sometimes within hours. Speed may differ depending on the date of application and your bank.

    3. Can I get a payday loan online safely?

    Yes, it is safe to use trusted channels such as IOnline Pay Day Loans. They utilize secure encryption to keep your personal and financial information safe during the application process.

    4. What if I can’t pay the money back on time?

    Failure to make a payment could result in fees or higher interest and could negatively impact your credit rating. If you can’t pay on time, contact your lender right away.

    5. Can I get more than one $255 payday loan?

    It can, but that doesn’t mean you should. Multiple loans can take you into a debt cycle. Borrow only as much as you need and can responsibly repay.

    Wrapping Up

    $255 Payday Loans online with instant approval are intended to assist you in paying emergency or unexpected expenses. These short-term loans offer few hurdles in the way of paperwork, don’t place much weight on credit scores and can typically fund loans within hours. Services such as IOnline Payday Loans simplify the process by linking borrowers with reputable lenders.

    While a helpful resource, it’s important to borrow responsibly and know the repayment terms. If you are looking for quick money and qualify on a few requirements, this loan can be a short-term fix to a difficult financial situation.

    Media Contact:
    Company Name: IOnline Payday Loans
    Registered Office Address: 1095 Sugar View Dr Ste 500 Sheridan, WY 82801
    Company Website: https://ionlinepaydayloans.com/
    Email: mria@ionlinepaydayloans.com
    Phone: 307-777-7311
    Contact person name: Mria

    Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about IOnline payday loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Ionline Payday Loans does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9168f5ec-7b9d-41d1-9489-33164e7b278a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Radware Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Highlights

    • Revenue of $72.1 million, an increase of 11% year–over–year
    • Cloud ARR of $80 million, an increase of 19% year-over-year
    • Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.27 vs. $0.16 in Q1 2024; GAAP diluted EPS of $0.10 vs. $(0.03) in Q1 2024
    • Cash flow from operations of $22.4 million in Q1 and $72.9 million over the trailing 12 months

    TEL AVIV, Israel, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, today announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    “We had a strong start to 2025 with first quarter revenue rising 11% year-over-year, marking our third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. In addition, our strong non-GAAP EPS growth and cash flow from operations reflect the high leverage in our business model,” said Roy Zisapel, Radware’s president and CEO.

    Financial Highlights for the First Quarter 2025
    Revenue for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $72.1 million:

    • Revenue in the Americas region was $27.4 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 1% from $27.1 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Revenue in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”) region was $28.4 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 25% from $22.7 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Revenue in the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) region was $16.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 7% from $15.3 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $4.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net loss of $1.2 million, or $(0.03) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024.

    Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $11.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $6.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024.

    As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term bank deposits, and marketable securities of $447.9 million. Cash flow from operations was $22.4 million in the first quarter of 2025.

    Non-GAAP results are calculated excluding, as applicable, the impact of stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, litigation costs, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net, and tax-related adjustments. A reconciliation of each of the Company’s non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included at the end of this press release.

    Conference Call
    Radware management will host a call today, May 7, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss its first quarter 2025 results and second quarter 2025 outlook. To participate on the call, please use the following numbers:
    U.S. participants call toll free: 1-877-704-4453
    International participants call: 1-201-389-0920

    A replay will be available for seven days, starting two hours after the end of the call, on telephone number 1-844-512-2921 (US toll-free) or 1-412-317-6671. Access ID 13752770.

    The call will be webcast live on the Company’s website at: http://www.radware.com/IR/. The webcast will remain available for replay during the next 12 months.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information and Key Performance Indicators
    In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Radware uses non-GAAP measures of gross profit, research and development expense, selling and marketing expense, general and administrative expense, total operating expenses, operating income, financial income, net, income before taxes on income, taxes on income, net income and diluted earnings per share, which are adjustments from results based on GAAP to exclude, as applicable, stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, litigation costs, acquisition costs, restructuring costs, exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net, and tax–related adjustments. Management believes that exclusion of these charges allows for meaningful comparisons of operating results across past, present, and future periods. Radware’s management believes the non-GAAP financial measures provided in this release are useful to investors for the purpose of understanding and assessing Radware’s ongoing operations. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is included with the financial information contained in this press release. Management uses both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating and operating the business and, as such, has determined that it is important to provide this information to investors.

    Annual recurring revenue (“ARR”) is a key performance indicator defined as the annualized value of booked orders for term-based cloud services, subscription licenses, and maintenance contracts that are in effect at the end of a reporting period. ARR should be viewed independently of revenue and deferred revenue and is not intended to be combined with or to replace either of those items. ARR is not a forecast of future revenue, which can be impacted by contract start and end dates and renewal rates and does not include revenue reported as perpetual license or professional services revenue in our consolidated statement of operations. We consider ARR a key performance indicator of the value of the recurring components of our business.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan, financial and credit market fluctuations (including elevated interest rates), impacts from tariffs or other trade restrictions, inflation, and the potential for regional or global recessions; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cybersecurity and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, or if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; our use of AI technologies that present regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; risks related to the fact that our products must interoperate with operating systems, software applications and hardware that are developed by others; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns; our net losses in the past and the possibility that we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cybersecurity and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; complications with the design or implementation of our new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system; our reliance on information technology systems; our ESG disclosures and initiatives; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

    About Radware
    Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

    Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, and YouTube.

    ©2025 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

    Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

    The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

    CONTACTS
    Investor Relations:
    Yisca Erez, +972-72-3917211, ir@radware.com

    Media Contact:
    Gerri Dyrek, gerri.dyrek@radware.com

    Radware Ltd.
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
           
      March 31,   December 31,
      2025   2024
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Assets      
           
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 114,239   98,714
    Marketable securities 55,118   72,994
    Short-term bank deposits 122,361   104,073
    Trade receivables, net 25,036   16,823
    Other receivables and prepaid expenses 9,627   14,242
    Inventories 13,511   14,030
      339,892   320,876
           
    Long-term investments      
    Marketable securities 31,229   29,523
    Long-term bank deposits 124,968   114,354
    Other assets 2,203   2,171
      158,400   146,048
           
           
    Property and equipment, net 14,584   15,632
    Intangible assets, net 10,758   11,750
    Other long-term assets 36,492   37,906
    Operating lease right-of-use assets 17,560   18,456
    Goodwill 68,008   68,008
    Total assets 645,694   618,676
           
    Liabilities and equity      
           
    Current liabilities      
    Trade payables 3,646   5,581
    Deferred revenues 119,329   106,303
    Operating lease liabilities 4,642   4,750
    Other payables and accrued expenses 55,678   51,836
      183,295   168,470
           
    Long-term liabilities      
    Deferred revenues 69,505   64,708
    Operating lease liabilities 12,497   13,519
    Other long-term liabilities 14,319   14,904
      96,321   93,131
           
    Equity      
    Radware Ltd. equity      
    Share capital 756   754
    Additional paid-in capital 560,833   555,154
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (140)   1,103
    Treasury stock, at cost (366,588)   (366,588)
    Retained earnings 130,194   125,850
    Total Radware Ltd. shareholder’s equity 325,055   316,273
           
    Non–controlling interest 41,023   40,802
           
    Total equity 366,078   357,075
           
    Total liabilities and equity 645,694   618,676
    Radware Ltd.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
    (U.S Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
             
        For the three months ended
        March 31,
        2025   2024
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
             
    Revenues   72,079   65,085
    Cost of revenues   13,990   12,812
    Gross profit   58,089   52,273
             
    Operating expenses, net:        
    Research and development, net   18,776   18,896
    Selling and marketing   31,281   29,701
    General and administrative   6,463   7,339
    Total operating expenses, net   56,520   55,936
             
    Operating income (loss)   1,569   (3,663)
    Financial income, net   4,875   3,608
    Income (loss) before taxes on income   6,444   (55)
    Taxes on income   2,100   1,167
    Net income (loss)   4,344   (1,222)
             
    Basic net income (loss) per share attributed to Radware Ltd.’s shareholders   0.10   (0.03)
             
    Weighted average number of shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share   42,663,787   41,750,203
             
    Diluted net income (loss) per share attributed to Radware Ltd.’s shareholders   0.10   (0.03)
             
    Weighted average number of shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share   44,192,474   41,750,203
    Radware Ltd.
    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information
    (U.S Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
           
      For the three months ended
      March 31,
      2025   2024
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    GAAP gross profit 58,089   52,273
    Share-based compensation 120   79
    Amortization of intangible assets 992   992
    Non-GAAP gross profit 59,201   53,344
           
    GAAP research and development, net 18,776   18,896
    Share-based compensation 1,223   1,722
    Non-GAAP Research and development, net 17,553   17,174
           
    GAAP selling and marketing 31,281   29,701
    Share-based compensation 3,076   2,551
    Non-GAAP selling and marketing 28,205   27,150
           
    GAAP general and administrative 6,463   7,339
    Share-based compensation 1,479   2,395
    Acquisition costs 153   220
    Non-GAAP general and administrative 4,831   4,724
           
    GAAP total operating expenses, net 56,520   55,936
    Share-based compensation 5,778   6,668
    Acquisition costs 153   220
    Non-GAAP total operating expenses, net 50,589   49,048
           
    GAAP operating income (loss) 1,569   (3,663)
    Share-based compensation 5,898   6,747
    Amortization of intangible assets 992   992
    Acquisition costs 153   220
    Non-GAAP operating income 8,612   4,296
           
    GAAP financial income, net 4,875   3,608
    Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net 492   153
    Non-GAAP financial income, net 5,367   3,761
           
    GAAP income (loss) before taxes on income 6,444   (55)
    Share-based compensation 5,898   6,747
    Amortization of intangible assets 992   992
    Acquisition costs 153   220
    Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net 492   153
    Non-GAAP income before taxes on income 13,979   8,057
           
    GAAP taxes on income 2,100   1,167
    Tax related adjustments 62   62
    Non-GAAP taxes on income 2,162   1,229
           
    GAAP net income (loss) 4,344   (1,222)
    Share-based compensation 5,898   6,747
    Amortization of intangible assets 992   992
    Acquisition costs 153   220
    Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net 492   153
    Tax related adjustments (62)   (62)
    Non-GAAP net income 11,817   6,828
           
    GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share 0.10   (0.03)
    Share-based compensation 0.14   0.16
    Amortization of intangible assets 0.02   0.02
    Acquisition costs 0.00   0.01
    Exchange rate differences, net on balance sheet items included in financial income, net 0.01   0.00
    Tax related adjustments (0.00)   (0.00)
    Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share 0.27   0.16
           
           
    Weighted average number of shares used to compute non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share 44,192,474   42,875,058
    Radware Ltd.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
    (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
             
        For the three months ended
        March 31,
        2025   2024
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Cash flow from operating activities:        
             
    Net income (loss)   4,344   (1,222)
    Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:        
    Depreciation and amortization   3,152   2,943
    Share-based compensation   5,898   6,747
    Amortization of premium, accretion of discounts and accrued interest on marketable securities, net   (161)   (73)
    Decrease in accrued interest on bank deposits   (1,790)   (9)
    Increase (decrease) in accrued severance pay, net   61   (58)
    Increase in trade receivables, net   (8,213)   (219)
    Decrease (increase) in other receivables and prepaid expenses and other long-term assets   (186)   605
    Decrease in inventories   519   1,004
    Increase (decrease) in trade payables   (1,935)   1,406
    Increase in deferred revenues   17,823   8,894
    Increase in other payables and accrued expenses   3,164   1,483
    Operating lease liabilities, net   (234)   (379)
    Net cash provided by operating activities   22,442   21,122
             
    Cash flows from investing activities:        
             
    Purchase of property and equipment   (1,112)   (1,774)
    Proceeds from (investment in) other long-term assets, net   109   (25)
    Investment in bank deposits, net   (27,112)   (17,898)
    Investment in, redemption of and purchase of marketable securities ,net   16,194   3,502
    Proceeds from other deposits   5,000   –
    Net cash used in investing activities   (6,921)   (16,195)
             
    Cash flows from financing activities:        
             
    Proceeds from exercise of share options   4   –
    Repurchase of shares   –   (839)
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   4   (839)
             
    Increase in cash and cash equivalents   15,525   4,088
    Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period   98,714   70,538
    Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period   114,239   74,626
    Radware Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA (NON-GAAP)
    (U.S Dollars in thousands)
           
      For the three months ended
      March 31,
      2025   2024
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    GAAP net income (loss) 4,344   (1,222)
    Exclude: Financial income, net (4,875)   (3,608)
    Exclude: Depreciation and amortization expense 3,152   2,943
    Exclude: Taxes on income 2,100   1,167
    EBITDA 4,721   (720)
           
    Share-based compensation 5,898   6,747
    Acquisition costs 153   220
    Adjusted EBITDA 10,772   6,247
           
           
      For the three months ended
      March 31,
      2025   2024
           
    Amortization of intangible assets 992   992
    Depreciation 2,160   1,951
      3,152   2,943

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Ads Reveals Interactive Ad Formats, the Samsung Television Network, and Full-Funnel Performance Solutions at NewFronts 2025

    Source: Samsung

    At IAB NewFronts 2025, Samsung Ads, the advanced advertising division of Samsung Electronics, is calling on brands to go beyond the status quo and unlock the full performance potential of connected TV (CTV).
    Kicking off the suite of announcements at NewFronts is the debut of STN, the Samsung Television Network, the broad-FAST channel of the future available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the #1 FAST app on Samsung Smart TVs. Offering an extensive slate of live sports, music, movies, and late-night programming, which will give brands unique opportunities to tap into the full power of the Samsung TV ecosystem at an unrivaled scale. Additionally, Samsung Ads is also unveiling a bold lineup of interactive and innovative, data-driven solutions including Optimal Reach, GameBreaks, Performance Conversion, and Data+, further transforming TV from a mass-reach channel into a powerful, performance-driven service built to achieve a multitude of advertiser KPIs.
    At the nexus of hardware, software, and advertising, Samsung Ads is transforming how brands connect with consumers across every screen. As the world’s #1 Smart TV brand for 19 years running with an unmatched ecosystem that spans across mobile and the entire connected home, over one billion consumers trust Samsung to power the moments that matter most. From interactive experiences to custom content, Samsung Ads turns attention into action and connects brands with audiences in the most meaningful and measurable ways.
    “It’s no longer enough for marketers to justify the status quo—they need breakthrough performance, and that’s exactly what Samsung Ads is built to deliver,” said Michael Scott, Vice President & Head of Ad Sales & Operations at Samsung Ads. “This year, we’re empowering our partners to go beyond the limits of traditional CTV with next-gen innovation, strategic partnerships, and tools that turn attention into action and media into measurable impact.”
    Samsung TV Plus Introduces Samsung Television Network; Doubles Down on Top Content Creators and Exclusive Partnerships
    Announced today, Samsung Television Network (STN) is a broad-FAST channel that brings viewers a curated selection of Samsung TV Plus’ most in-demand programming and A-list talent—from the Legends of Late Night David Letterman and Conan O’Brien to Emmy-winning series like Killing Eve—along with live sports and must-see events. Samsung Television Network will also serve as the live exclusive home for the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming tour. Advertisers can tap into the full power of Samsung’s TV ecosystem, elevating their brands around the network’s premier programming with touchpoints spanning the Samsung home screen, Samsung TV Plus UI, and interactive ads within commercial breaks.
    “As the #1 streaming service on Samsung TVs, we’re not just following viewer trends—we’re shaping them,” said Salek Brodsky, SVP and Global Head of Samsung TV Plus. “Through deep insights and personalized curation, we’re delivering the content audiences love in an unbeatable format. We’re rewriting the rules of streaming and teaming up with A-list talent to bring exclusive entertainment to the biggest screen in the home. This strategy has fueled more than 30% viewership growth this year, and with our newly announced partnerships, we’re positioning Samsung TV Plus for even greater momentum and market leadership in the year ahead.”

    Premium Programming and Exclusive Experiences
    Samsung TV Plus is experiencing a banner year for growth, surpassing 88 million monthly active users, and now offers an industry-leading lineup of nearly 700 channels in addition to its extensive on-demand library. With 92% of first-time viewers continuing to watch beyond the three-month mark—Samsung TV Plus outperforms the competition when it comes to viewer value and stickiness.
    Samsung TV Plus is a go-to partner for the biggest talent in the business—and to prove it, the ‘Legend of Late Night’ himself, David Letterman, joined Samsung on-stage during its NewFront presentation to discuss his award-winning, exclusive Samsung TV Plus channel, Letterman TV.
    Samsung TV Plus announced it is expanding its live event lineup with the Living the Dream Tour, offering fans exclusive access to the Jonas Brothers’ tour kicking off at MET LIFE Stadium on August 10th. Viewers can experience exhilarating performances, behind-the-scenes moments, and their favorite songs performed live—all from the biggest screen in the home.
    In another first, Samsung TV Plus is partnering with the global leader in podcasts, Spotify, to deliver a dedicated channel from ‘The Ringer,’ which is home to some of the most popular podcasts and most recognizable talent in sports and pop culture, exclusively to Samsung TV Plus. The channel will feature a curated lineup of video podcast episodes where fans can enjoy the best of their favorite shows such as Book of Basketball 2.0 with Bill Simmons, The Rewatchables, Higher Learning, and The Ringer-Verse, all in one place in a lean-back TV experience on the biggest screen in the house.
    Building on this momentum, the service unveiled its commitment to bringing standout creators to audiences nationwide, announcing new partnerships with some of the country’s top talent—including former NASA engineer turned mega-creator Mark Rober, whose STEM programming inspires and excites tens of millions of viewers across all ages along with top content creator Dhar Mann whose uplifting and inspiring family-friendly dramas tackle universal human truths.
    Additional content arriving on Samsung TV Plus:
    A-list Top Content Creators Take Center Stage
    Samsung TV Plus’s exclusive partnerships with Creators will feature new channels from top talent. Joining the service are Michelle Khare, Smosh, The Try Guys, Epic Gardening, The Sorry Girls, and Donut Media—bringing fan-favorite content that taps into passions from comedy, DIY, gardening, cars, and sustainability.

    VIP Access to the Biggest Moments
    Billboard: Launching this summer, through a new and exclusive partnership with Billboard, Samsung TV Plus is bringing the iconic brand to FAST. This new network will give fans VIP red carpet access to over 25 of the industry’s most iconic events, including live red carpets and coverage of tentpole cultural events, such as the Golden Globes and the Billboard Music Awards. Samsung TV Plus will also be the co-exclusive home for Billboard News, premiering new episodes weekly.

    Free Sports Streaming Just Got Even Bigger
    Samsung TV Plus now has one of the largest FAST sports offerings with over 50 channels and gives fans access to live local and national games from major and minor leagues with unparalleled sports coverage. New sports channels include Bally Sports Live with exclusive Minor League Baseball games and in-season NHL games from the Anaheim Ducks and the Dallas Stars with Victory+.

    From the Stage to Your Screen
    SMTOWN 2025: Samsung TV Plus is partnering with SM Entertainment to launch a dedicated SMTOWN channel, expanding its commitment to delivering the best-in-class K-Content to fans worldwide. The new channel will kick off with SMTOWN LIVE 2025 in L.A.—a star-studded 30th anniversary concert streaming live from Los Angeles on May 11, exclusively on Samsung TV Plus.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cheap overseas, ruinous in Australia: here’s how to make double-glazed windows the norm

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trivess Moore, Associate Professor in Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University

    New Africa/Shutterstock

    In Europe, double-glazed windows are standard. But in Australia, these energy-saving windows are remarkably uncommon.

    Correctly installed, the effect of double-glazing is remarkable. Instead of a house losing or gaining huge amounts of heat through its windows, double-glazed windows help keep the indoor temperature at a consistent temperature – reducing the need to crank up the air-con or heater.

    In hot parts of Australia, these windows would keep out heat. In cold, they would keep heat in. They also slash outside noise. Houses with double-glazing can add resale value and even improve occupant health.

    Why are they not standard? There are several reasons. But our research in Victoria found the main one is cost – double-glazing costs much more than a standard single-glazed window.

    Heat loss and gain through windows is responsible for about 1.5% of Australia’s total energy use. As climate change intensifies, making double-glazing standard in Australia would cut household energy bills and make life indoors more pleasant. Other countries are moving to even higher performance triple-glazed windows. But Australia is stuck.

    Why does double glazing work so well?

    Windows let light and often air into a home. But they can also be the main way heat enters or leaves. Double-glazing works by adding a gap between two panes, often filled with dense argon gas, which doesn’t transfer heat well. The window frame material is important, too, to reduce heat transfer.

    We measure the insulating quality of a window with a U-value – essentially, how much heat can be transferred through the glass. The lower this value, the more insulating the window.

    A basic single-glazed window has a U-value of about 6. On a typical Australian home, these windows mean significant air conditioning is often required to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors during summer and winter.

    Double-glazed windows with advanced design features common in North America and Europe typically have a U-value of 2.4 or less. When combined with wall and roof insulation, they can significantly reduce the need for heating or cooling. Triple-glazed are better still, with a U-value of 0.8 or less.

    Many countries with snowy winters have taken to double-glazed windows as a way to reduce heating costs.
    brizmaker/Shutterstock

    Standard overseas, rare in Australia

    In the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, double-glazed windows have been the norm for several decades. Commonly, these windows use argon gas between the two sheets and improve insulation further with low emittance coatings, thin transparent layers of metal which block solar rays.

    In many of these countries, single-glazed windows have largely disappeared and retrofitting older houses with double-glazing is routine.

    Anyone embarking on a renovation in Australia will soon discover double-glazing tends to be seen as a specialist eco-retrofit measure rather than something done as standard.

    In 2016, only 6% of windows installed in new houses in Australia had U-values below 4. In 2024, that figure was 19%, indicating high performance windows are slowly becoming more common. But there’s still much to do to make them the norm.

    Why is progress slow? We spoke to stakeholders in window manufacturing and building in Australia.

    These industry experts explained why Australia is lagging:

    • historically low-cost energy means the typical response to heat or cold is to install air conditioning

    • single-glazed windows have long been the norm

    • Australians often haven’t heard of high-performance windows or understand why they matter

    • only a few companies make these windows in Australia, meaning competition is limited and costs remain high

    • at present, there’s no requirement to include double-glazed windows in new builds or renovations

    • housing affordability issues mean owners want to keep upfront construction costs as low as possible.

    Window manufacturers in Australia are interested in moving into double-glazing, but the demand isn’t there yet.
    Anatoliy Cherkas/Shutterstock

    What should be done?

    In our research, many windows industry insiders told us they were ready to scale up production of higher performance windows. The skills and technologies needed are here. What’s missing was the demand.

    When we interviewed builders, they told us the choice of windows wasn’t simple. They had to weigh up material costs, existing supplier relationships and industry practices. Some told us it was cheaper at times to import from Europe or Asia than to buy Australian-made.

    In part, this is a chicken and egg problem. Prices are high because there’s little demand and demand is limited because prices are high.

    So what should be done?

    Overseas experience has shown boosting demand is the key. If double-glazed windows become more common, more manufacturers will enter the Australian market and prices will drop.

    The quickest way to do this would be to require their use in new construction and renovation.

    At first, the industry might struggle to meet this demand. But that would create clear incentives for new players here or overseas to meet the demand.

    Government support could help window manufacturers upgrade machinery and processes to be able to meet new demand.

    Subsidies could help offset the costs to households, if designed to sunset after a set period. Any subsidies should target groups such as vulnerable older Australians affected by energy poverty as well as renters on low incomes.

    Making this a reality is doable. After all, New Zealand did exactly this. In 2007, policymakers introduced new minimum performance requirements for windows. It took about four years to shift the market from single-glazed to predominantly double-glazed. Australia could do the same.

    Trivess Moore has received funding from various organisations including the Australian Research Council, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Victorian government and various industry partners. He is a trustee of the Fuel Poverty Research Network.

    Lisa de Kleyn received funding from Sustainability Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3000, for a short-term research project on the high performance window industry in 2023.

    Ralph Horne has received funding from various sources including the Australian Research Council, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Victorian government to support research related to this topic.

    Tom Simko 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. Cheap overseas, ruinous in Australia: here’s how to make double-glazed windows the norm – https://theconversation.com/cheap-overseas-ruinous-in-australia-heres-how-to-make-double-glazed-windows-the-norm-250280

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –