NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Starmer treating Scotland as an afterthought as he avoids by-election

    Source: Scottish National Party

    Scotland will always be an afterthought to Labour

    Keir Starmer’s reported absence from the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse is yet another example of how the Labour party treats Scotland, says Katy Loudon, the SNP’s candidate in the by-election.

    In comments reported in the Daily Record, Labour’s Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar said that he didn’t expect Keir Starmer to be campaigning in the by-election, excusing his absence on the basis of “national security”. Yet he has found time to campaign in local elections in England.

    Other reports describe how Keir Starmer is not playing well on the doorsteps in light of widespread backlash to Labour decisions like cutting the Winter Fuel Payment from 900,000 Scottish pensioners, and £5 billion of cuts to support for people with disabilities.

    Katy Loudon said his absence shows that Scotland is little more than an afterthought to this Labour government, and it is no surprise he will be avoiding this by-election.

    “The Labour Party has lost its way, saying they’ll reduce bills by £300 and then doing the opposite and cutting support for disabled people”, she said.

    She continued by saying, “The Prime Minister is clearly embarrassed by his own record, but he owes it to the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse to answer for it.

    “While Keir Starmer remains missing in action, the SNP under John Swinney’s leadership is taking action to keep key bills lower and improve our NHS.”

    Cllr Loudon concluded: “This election is a chance to send a message to Labour that we expect them to keep their promises  – and to vote for the SNP, a party that always wants what’s best for Scotland.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra to Host Passport Fairs in Council Bluffs and Sioux City

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) announced that his office will host two in-person passport fairs in Council Bluffs and Sioux City. 

    Iowans interested in attending must register beforehand by either emailing our office at IA04passports@mail.house.gov or calling our office at 202-225-4426.

    “I’m excited to announce that our office will hold two passport fairs in Council Bluffs and Sioux City. These events are a great opportunity for Iowans to have their questions answered by professionals and submit applications to get a new passport or renew an existing passport,” saidRep. Feenstra. “I encourage anyone who needs help with their passport to attend one of our passport fairs, and as always, I urge Iowans who need assistance with federal agencies to contact our office online at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at 202-225-4426.”

    Constituents who wish to get a new passport or renew an existing passport must come with a completed application, government-issued ID, proof of citizenship, a State Department approved 2”x 2” printed passport photo, and method of payment (money order, credit card, or check; cash will not be accepted).

    The passport fair in Council Bluffs will be held on Tuesday May 13th from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce office. The address is 149 West Broadway Council Bluffs, IA 51503.

    The passport fair in Sioux City will be held on Wednesday May 14th from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Sioux City Public Library in the Gleeson Room. The address is 529 Pierce Street Sioux City, IA 51101.

    You can find the passport application HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA, non-profits partner to honor fallen Veterans during Memorial May

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

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    WASHINGTON — Throughout May, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration is joining forces with non-profit organizations Carry The Load, Travis Manion Foundation and Victory for Veterans to pay homage to Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries through a series of events, volunteer opportunities and shared stories.

    Through coordination between the National Cemetery Administration, Carry The Load, the Travis Manion Foundation and Victory for Veterans there will be over 70,000 anticipated volunteers visiting 54 VA national cemeteries throughout Memorial May. NCA has collaborated with Carry the Load for eight years, the Travis Manion Foundation for four years and Victory for Veterans for two years on Memorial May activities. Volunteers can learn more about events remembering and honoring military service members interred in VA’s 156 national cemeteries at the organization links below and on the NCA Memorial May webpage.

    “These collaborations allow us to express our collective appreciation for Veterans’ service and sacrifice,” said Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters. “Through shared efforts, we honor their legacy and ensure their stories are never forgotten.”

    Carry The Load Memorial May Activities

    Beginning May 1, Carry The Load volunteers will visit 17 VA national cemeteries, traveling thousands of miles along three routes culminating in CTL’s signature May 25-26 Dallas Memorial March along the historic Katy Trail. Marchers carry signs, banners and American flags honoring a fallen friend or family member. Those who want to participate should register in advance. 

    Travis Manion Foundation Memorial May Activities

    This year’s Travis Manion Foundation’s The Honor Project will be the largest in its history with 2,500 volunteers visiting over 50 cemeteries in more than 25 states throughout Memorial Day weekend. Family and friends are invited to submit a Fallen Heroes request and a foundation volunteer will visit the gravesite, lay a hand-crafted commemorative token and pause for a moment of reflection.

    Victory for Veterans Memorial May Activities

    Volunteers with Victory for Veterans will recognize Veterans by placing a flower on every Veteran’s grave. Since 2021, the program has expanded operations to place flowers at 10 VA national cemeteries. It’s expected that this year may exceed 390 volunteers with over 27,000 flowers placed. Visit the list of partnering VA national cemeteries, if you’d like to participate.

    Over 5.4 million people — including 4.1 million Veterans from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA national cemeteries. NCA honors eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation.

    VA also encourages all Americans to use the Veterans Legacy Memorial to share memories and stories about Veterans they’ve loved and lost. VLM is the nation’s largest online memorial space dedicated to Veterans, with more than 10 million interactive pages where family, friends, and others can submit written tributes, photos, biographies, documents, and other information.

    For information about VA burial benefits, visit any one of VA’s 156 national cemetery locations, visit online at VA burial benefits and memorial items or call toll-free at 800-827-1000. To pre-plan a burial for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

    Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is a faith-based charter school a threat to religious freedom, or a necessity to uphold it? The weighty decision lies with the Supreme Court

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

    Supporters of charter schools rally outside the Supreme Court building on April 30, 2025, during oral arguments over a proposed Catholic charter school. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    As demonstrators gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

    Charters are typically public schools of choice, funded by taxpayer dollars. Unlike regular public schools, they are free from most state regulations on curriculum and teacher qualifications. Until now, however, charters, like other public schools, have been secular.

    The litigation over St. Isidore reveals a built-in tension in the First Amendment religion clauses, under which “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” While the free exercise clause guarantees people the right to believe as they wish, controversy remains over what constitutes an “establishment” of religion.

    Here, the specific question is the extent to which, if any, states can spend public funds to allow parents to enroll their children in a faith-based charter school. Supporters are appealing a 2024 ruling from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, which held that a religious charter school violated state law, as well as the Oklahoma and federal constitutions.

    The Oklahoma Supreme Court bench in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City.
    AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

    Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican supporter of St. Isidore, has said the case “stands to be one of the most significant religious and education freedom decisions in our lifetime.”

    On the other hand, the attorney for St. Isidore’s challengers – led by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who blocked the school’s opening – said that a victory for St. Isidore “would result in the astounding rule that states not only may but must fund and create public religious schools, an astounding reversal from this court’s time-honored precedents.”

    It remains to be seen whether a ruling in favor of St. Isidore’s would prove to be a win for religious freedom, as Stitt claimed, or a threat. Even so, as a professor focused on education law, I believe an order to continue expanding taxpayer aid to faith-based institutions looks more likely after Wednesday’s arguments, where five of the eight participating justices seemed sympathetic to St. Isidore.

    The issues

    The Supreme Court faces two key questions.

    First, do the teachings of “a privately owned and run school constitute state action simply because it contracts with the state to offer a free educational option for interested students?” In other words, is a charter school a state actor?

    Second, the justices will weigh how the First Amendment religion clauses apply to a faith-based charter school. According to the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The question is whether Oklahoma violates the free exercise clause by excluding schools from the charter program “solely because the schools are religious.” If so, is the exclusion justified by concerns about the government “establishing” religion?

    The dispute over St. Isidore comes at a time when the Supreme Court has been steadily expanding the limits of aid to faith-based schools. Starting in 2016, a trio of cases have held that states cannot deny institutions and believers generally available, taxpayer-funded aid based solely on their religions. These cases covered aid to enhance playground safety at a Missouri preschool, the right to participate in Montana’s educational tax credit program, and providing tuition assistance to Maine parents in districts lacking public secondary schools.

    The other issue – the “state actor” question – essentially asks whether a state-funded school teaching Catholicism would constitute the government promoting a religion, in violation of the First Amendment’s prohibition against doing so.

    The Supreme Court building on April 30, 2025, the day of oral arguments in St. Isidore’s case.
    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Drummond, Oklahoma’s attorney general, is also a Republican. However, he reversed his predecessor’s action allowing St. Isidore’s creation, arguing that the school “misuses the concept of religious liberty by employing it as a means to justify state-funded religion.”

    In a 2024 brief to the Supreme Court, Drummond noted that Oklahoma’s “charter schools bear all of the hallmarks of a public school,” such as being entirely state-funded. During April arguments, his attorney emphasized that charters are “required to be public schools by the Congress of the United States and the legislatures of 47 states.”

    If this argument prevails, it means St. Isidore is a government actor, and therefore it cannot promote any one religion over another.

    The state action claim may be difficult for St. Isidore’s supporters to overcome. However, the ace in the hole is the Supreme Court’s recent trend of expanding the boundaries of government aid to faith-based schools and their students.

    In fact, Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion in all three of those cases. Excluding a religious preschool “from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand,” he wrote in the 2016 decision.

    Justice Amy Barrett, a supporter of increased aid to faith-based schools, recused herself from participating in the oral arguments, without explanation. This leaves five justices who support expanding public aid for faith-based schools: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Roberts.

    Oral arguments

    During questioning, Roberts commented that St. Isidore’s creation seems like “much more comprehensive [state] involvement” with a religious organization, compared with the previous cases that expanded taxpayer aid to religious schools – leaving the door open to speculation over how he might vote. Nevertheless, he and the other four proponents of aid appeared open to St. Isidore’s argument that to exclude faith-based schools from charter programs is unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of religion.

    “All the religious school is saying is don’t exclude us on account of our religion,” Kavanaugh commented. He added, “You can’t treat religious people and religious institutions and religious speech as second class in the United States.”

    The remaining justices – Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson – appeared skeptical of expanding state aid to faith-based schools.

    Illustrating the tensions within the First Amendment, Sotomayor remarked to the attorney representing St. Isidore, “what you’re saying is the free exercise clause trumps the essence of the establishment clause.”

    Jackson said to the same attorney that St. Isidore is “not being denied a benefit that everyone else gets. It’s being denied a benefit that no one else gets, which is the ability to establish a religious public school.”

    If Roberts agrees with these three justices, resulting in a 4-4 tie, the judgment of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma would remain undisturbed.

    In the words of the baseball sage Yogi Berra, “it ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” The court is expected to rule near the end of its term, likely in late June.

    This article includes material from an article originally published on Jan. 31, 2025.

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

    – ref. Is a faith-based charter school a threat to religious freedom, or a necessity to uphold it? The weighty decision lies with the Supreme Court – https://theconversation.com/is-a-faith-based-charter-school-a-threat-to-religious-freedom-or-a-necessity-to-uphold-it-the-weighty-decision-lies-with-the-supreme-court-253536

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What causes RFK Jr.’s strained and shaky voice? A neurologist explains this little-known disorder

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Indu Subramanian, Clinical Professor of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles

    U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an April 16, 2025, news conference in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong via Getty Images

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has attracted a lot of attention for his raspy voice, which results from a neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia.

    Kennedy, 71, says that in his 40s he developed a neurological disease that “robbed him of his strong speaking voice.” Kennedy first publicly spoke of the quiver he had noticed in his voice in a 2004 interview with journalist Diane Rehm, who also had spasmodic dysphonia.

    In 2005, Kennedy was receiving shots of botulinum toxin, the neurotoxin that is now used in Botox as well as to treat migraines and other conditions, every four months. This first-line treatment for dysphonia helps to weaken the vocal folds that contract abnormally with this condition. He used botulinum toxin injections for 10 years and then stopped using them, saying they were “not a good fit” for him.

    Kennedy initially developed symptoms while in the public eye teaching at Pace University in New York. Some viewers wrote to him suggesting that he had the condition spasmadic dysphonia and that he should contact a well-known expert on the disease, Dr. Andrew Blitzer. He followed this advice and had the diagnosis confirmed.

    I am a movement disorders neurologist and have long been passionate about the psychological and social toll that conditions such as dysphonias have on my patients.

    Kennedy says his condition began in 1996, when he was 42.

    Types of dysphonias

    In North America, an estimated 50,000 people have spasmodic dysphonia. The condition involves the involuntary pulling of the muscles that open and close the vocal folds, causing the voice to sound strained and strangled, at times with a breathy quality. About 30% to 60% of people with the condition also experience vocal tremor, which can alter the sound of the voice.

    Typically, a neurologist may suspect the disorder by identifying characteristic voice breaks when the patients is speaking. The diagnosis is confirmed with the help of an ear, nose and throat specialist who can insert a small scope into the larynx, examine the vocal folds and rule out any other abnormalities.

    Because the disorder is not well known to the public, many patients experience a delay in diagnosis and may be misdiagnosed with gastric reflux or allergies.

    The most common type of spasmodic dysphonia is called adductor dysphonia, which accounts for 80% of cases. It is characterized by a strained or strangled voice quality with abrupt breaks on vowels due to the vocal folds being hyperadducted, or abnormally closed.

    In contrast, a form of the condition called abductor dysphonia causes a breathy voice with breaks on consonants due to uncontrolled abduction – meaning coming apart of the vocal folds.

    Potential treatments

    Spasmodic dysphonia is not usually treatable with oral medications and sometimes can get better with botulinum toxin injections into the muscles that control the vocal cords. It is a lifelong disorder currently without a cure. Voice therapy through working with a speech pathologist alongside botulinum toxin administration may also be beneficial.

    Surgical treatments can be an option for patients who fail botulinum toxin treatment, though surgeries come with risks and can be variably effective. Surgical techniques are being refined and require wider evaluation and long-term follow-up data before being considered as a standard treatment for spasmodic dysphonia.

    The sudden, uncontrollable movements caused by irregular folding of the vocal folds are referred to as spasms, which gave rise to the name spasmodic dysphonia.

    Dysphonias fall into a broader category of movement disorders

    Spasmodic dysphonia is classified as a focal dystonia, a dystonia that affects one body part – the vocal folds, in the case of spasmodic dysphonia. Dystonia is an umbrella term for movement disorders characterized by sustained or repetitive muscle contractions that cause abnormal postures or movements.

    The most common dystonia is cervical dystonia, which affects the neck and can cause pulling of the head to one side.

    Another type, called blepharospasm, involves involuntary muscle contractions and spasms of the eyelid muscles that can cause forced eye closure that can even affect vision in some cases. There can be other dystonias such as writer’s cramp, which can make the hand cramp when writing. Musicians can develop dystonias from overusing certain body parts such as violinists who develop dystonia in their hands or trumpet players who develop dystonia in their lips.

    Stigmas and psychological distress

    Dystonias can cause tremendous psychological distress.

    Many dystonias and movement disorders in general, including Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that result in tremors, face tremendous amounts of stigma. In Africa, for instance, there is a misconception that the affected person has been cursed by witchcraft or that the movement disorder is contagious. People with the condition may be hidden from society or isolated from others due to fear of catching the disease.

    In the case of spasmodic dysphonia, the affected person may feel that they appear nervous or ill-prepared while speaking publicly. They may be embarrassed or ashamed and isolate themselves from speaking to others.

    My patients have been very frustrated by the unpredictable nature of the symptoms and by having to avoid certain sounds that could trigger the dysphonia. They may then have to restructure their word choices and vocabulary so as not to trigger the dysphonia, which can be very mentally taxing.

    Some patients with dysphonia feel that their abnormal voice issues affect their relationships and their ability to perform their job or take on leadership or public-facing roles. Kennedy said in an interview that he finds the sound of his own voice to be unbearable to listen to and apologizes to others for having to listen to it.

    A 2005 study exploring the biopsychosocial consequences of spasmodic dysphonia through interviews with patients gives some insight into the experience of people living with the disorder.

    A patient in that study said that their voice sounded “like some kind of wild chicken screeching out words,” and another patient said that it “feels like you’re having to grab onto a word and push it out from your throat.” Another felt like “there’s a rubber band around my neck. Someone was constricting it.” And another said, “It feels like you have a sore throat all the time … like a raw feeling in your throat.”

    Patients in the study described feeling hopeless and disheartened, less confident and less competent. The emotional toll can be huge. One patient said, “I used to be very outgoing and now I find myself avoiding those situations.” Another said, “People become condescending like you’re not capable anymore because you don’t speak well.”

    As conditions such as spasmodic dysphonia become better recognized, I am hopeful that not only will treatments improve, but that stigmas around such conditions will diminish.

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

    – ref. What causes RFK Jr.’s strained and shaky voice? A neurologist explains this little-known disorder – https://theconversation.com/what-causes-rfk-jr-s-strained-and-shaky-voice-a-neurologist-explains-this-little-known-disorder-250769

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What makes people flourish? A new survey of more than 200,000 people across 22 countries looks for global patterns and local differences

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Victor Counted, Associate Professor of Psychology, Regent University

    Flourishing is about your whole life being good, including the people and places around you. Westend61 via Getty Images

    What does it mean to live a good life? For centuries, philosophers, scientists and people of different cultures have tried to answer this question. Each tradition has a different take, but all agree: The good life is more than just feeling good − it’s about becoming whole.

    More recently, researchers have focused on the idea of flourishing, not simply as happiness or success, but as a multidimensional state of well-being that involves positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment − an idea that traces back to Aristotle’s concept of “eudaimonia” but has been redefined within the well-being science literature.

    Flourishing is not just well-being and how you feel on the inside. It’s about your whole life being good, including the people around you and where you live. Things such as your home, your neighborhood, your school or workplace, and your friends all matter.

    We are a group of psychological scientists, social scientists and epidemiologists who are all contributors to an international collaboration called the Global Flourishing Study. The goal of the project is simple: to find patterns of human flourishing across cultures.

    Do people in some countries thrive more than others? What makes the biggest difference in a person’s well-being? Are there things people can do to improve their own lives? Understanding these trends over time can help shape policies and programs that improve global human flourishing.

    What does the flourishing study focus on?

    The Global Flourishing Study is a five-year annual survey of over 200,000 participants from 22 countries, using nationally representative sampling to understand health and well-being. Our team includes more than 40 researchers across different disciplines, cultures and institutions.

    With help from Gallup Inc., we asked people about their lives, their happiness, their health, their childhood experiences, and how they feel about their financial situation.

    The study looks at six dimensions of a flourishing life:

    1. Happiness and life satisfaction: how content and fulfilled people feel with their lives.

    2. Physical and mental health: how healthy people feel, in both body and mind.

    3. Meaning and purpose: whether people feel their lives are significant and moving in a clear direction.

    4. Character and virtue: how people act to promote good, even in tough situations.

    5. Close social relationships: how satisfied people are with their friendships and family ties.

    6. Financial and material stability: whether people feel secure about their basic needs, including food, housing and money.

    We tried to quantify how participants are doing on each of these dimensions using a scale from 0 to 10. In addition to using the Secure Flourish measure from Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program, we included additional questions to probe other factors that influence how much someone is flourishing.

    For example, we assessed well-being through questions about optimism, peace and balance in life. We measured health by asking about pain, depression and exercise. We measured relationships through questions about trust, loneliness and support.

    Who is flourishing and why?

    Our first wave of results reveals that some countries and groups of people are doing better than others.

    We were surprised that in many countries young people are not doing as well as older adults. Earlier studies had suggested well-being follows a U-shape over the course of a lifespan, with the lowest point in middle age. Our new results imply that younger adults today face growing mental health challenges, financial insecurity and a loss of meaning that are disrupting the traditional U-shaped curve of well-being.

    Married people usually reported more support, better relationships and more meaning in life.

    People who were working – either for themselves or someone else – also tended to feel more secure and happy than people who were seeking jobs.

    People who go to religious services once a week or more typically reported higher scores in all areas of flourishing – particularly happiness, meaning and relationships. This finding was true in almost every country, even very secular ones such as Sweden.

    It seems that religious communities offer what psychologists of religion call the four B’s: belonging, in the form of social support; bonding, in the form of spiritual connection; behaving, in the cultivation of character and virtue through the practices and norms taught within religious communities; and believing, in the form of embracing hope, forgiveness and shared spiritual convictions.

    But some people who attend religious services also report more pain or suffering. This correlation may be because religious communities often provide support during hard times, and frequent attendees may be more attentive to or more likely to experience pain, grief or illness.

    Your early years shape how you do later in life. But even if life started off as challenging, it doesn’t have to stay that way. Some people who had difficult childhoods, having experienced abuse or poverty, still found meaning and purpose later as adults. In some countries, including the U.S. and Argentina, hardship in childhood seemed to build resilience and purpose in adulthood.

    Globally, men and women report similar levels of flourishing. But in some countries there are big differences. For example, women in Japan report higher scores than men, while in Brazil, men report doing better than women.

    Where are people flourishing most?

    Some countries are doing better than others when it comes to flourishing.

    Indonesia is thriving. People there scored high in many areas, including meaning, purpose, relationships and character. Indonesia is one of the highest-scoring countries in most of the indicators in the whole study.

    Mexico and the Philippines also show strong results. Even though these countries have less money than some others, people report strong family ties, spiritual lives and community support.

    Japan and Turkey report lower scores. Japan has a strong economy, but people there report lower happiness and weaker social connections. Long work hours and stress may be part of the reason. In Turkey, political and financial challenges may be hurting people’s sense of trust and security.

    One surprising result is that richer countries, including the United States and Sweden, are not flourishing as well as some others. They do well on financial stability but score lower in meaning and relationships. Having more money doesn’t always mean people are doing better in life.

    In fact, countries with higher income often report lower levels of meaning and purpose. Meanwhile, countries with higher fertility rates often report more meaning in life. These findings show that there can be a trade-off. Economic progress might improve some things but weaken others.

    One of the authors reflects on what the survey data reveals about what helps people truly flourish across the world.

    The big picture

    The Global Flourishing Study is helping us see that people all over the world want many of the same basic things: to be happy, healthy, connected and safe. But different countries reach those goals in different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to flourishing. What it means to flourish can look different from place to place and from one person to another.

    One challenge with the Global Flourishing Study is that it uses the same set of questions in all 22 countries. This method, known as an etic approach, helps us compare results across cultures. But it can miss the nuance and local meanings of flourishing. What brings happiness or purpose in one country or context might not mean the same thing in another.

    We consider this study to be a starting point. It opens the door for more emic studies – research that uses questions and ideas that fit the values, language and everyday life of specific cultures and societies. Researchers can build on this study’s findings to expand how we understand and measure flourishing around the world.

    Tyler J. VanderWeele reports consulting fees from Gloo Inc., along with shared revenue received by Harvard University in its license agreement with Gloo according to the University IP policy.

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

    – ref. What makes people flourish? A new survey of more than 200,000 people across 22 countries looks for global patterns and local differences – https://theconversation.com/what-makes-people-flourish-a-new-survey-of-more-than-200-000-people-across-22-countries-looks-for-global-patterns-and-local-differences-243671

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: St Albans Mayor to lead VE Day 80 celebrations

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    St Albans Mayor, Councillor Jamie Day, will lay a wreath at the City’s war memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

    He will be joined by Councillors, Honorary Aldermen, senior Council officers and representatives of the Royal British Legion.

    Everyone is welcome at the event at the memorial in St Peter’s Street at 9.30am on Thursday 8 May.

    It will be an opportunity for the community to come together and pay their respects to the millions of victims of the Second World War.

    Beforehand, the Town Crier, Stephen Potter, will join more than 300 criers across the UK and Commonwealth and read the VE Day 80 Proclamation. He will do so at 9am by the Clock Tower.

    VE Day occurred on 8 May 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered to Britain and its allies, bringing an end to the Second World War in Europe.

    A veterans’ coffee morning, hosted by the Mayor, will take place at St Albans City and District Council’s main offices from 10.30am after the wreath laying.

    Any veteran wishing to attend should email mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk with family and friends welcome to do so on their behalf.

    The Union flag will be flown from St Albans Museum + Gallery where a new display exploring the varied wartime experiences of local people launches in the Assembly Room at 10am.

    This display highlights the unique personal stories of eight individuals from across the District with topics ranging from evacuation to life as a Prisoner of War.

    Also in the Assembly Room, there will be a free performance of wartime songs by a local choir on Saturday 10 May.

    There will be two sessions, at noon and 2pm, when the community group The Monday Choir will sing the hits of Vera Lynn and other 1940s favourites. 

    The Charter Market on Saturday 3 and Wednesday 7 May will be VE Day-themed with traders encouraged to put up red, white and blue bunting as well as other appropriate decorations.

    Cllr Day, the Mayor of St Albans City and District, said:

    It is a great honour to lead the District’s celebration of VE Day 80.

    I hope many of our residents will join me at the war memorial as a wreath is laid in memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and way of life.

    There are many other events people can attend and I would urge them, for example, to go along to the Museum + Gallery to see the VE Day display and listen to the choir.

    I am particularly looking forward to hosting a coffee morning for our veteran servicemen and women.

    This will be a chance for me to meet people from our District and thank them for their service to the country.

    BEACON LIGHTINGS

    Among the other events taking place around the District to mark the historic occasion are beacon lightings at Highfield Park, Harpenden Common and Redbourn.

    This is part of a national initiative with more than 1,000 beacons being lit at 9.30pm across the country.

    The Highfield Park event, organised by Highfield Park Trust, begins at 8.30pm with the Town Crier reading the proclamation at 9.20pm.

    The Harpenden Common event, organised by Harpenden Town Council, takes place from 9.15pm.

    At Redbourn, there will be a short service at St Mary’s Church at 8pm followed by the 9.30pm beacon lighting at the village’s war memorial. This is being organised by Redbourn Parish Council.

    Following the beacon lightings, people will be encouraged to join in the communal singing of  I Vow To Thee My Country and the National Anthem.

    WHEATHAMPSTEAD VE DAY EXHIBITION

    At Wheathampstead, the Parish Council is organising a free VE Day exhibition at Marford Memorial Hall, 11am to 5pm, on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May.

    Curated by the local history society, it will feature photographs, uniforms and other artefacts to bring to life the wartime stories of residents and evacuees.

    There will also be a street café selling 1940s style cakes and other treats.

    THE CATHEDRAL

    At the Cathedral on Thursday 8 May, there will be a special Choral Evensong at 5pm, sung by the Abbey Singers. Everyone is welcome and the event will include prayers for peace across the world.

    At 6.30 pm, the Cathedral along with other churches, including St Peter’s, will join the nationwide Ring Out celebrations with a glorious ringing of the bells.

    Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533;  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Online Casinos: JACKBIT Rated Top Casino Site In 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LARNACA, Cyprus, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the demand for online gambling for real money grows, players face a crowded market of options, making it challenging to identify the best online casinos that pay real money. Our team meticulously evaluated numerous platforms, and JACKBIT emerged as the clear leader in delivering an unmatched real money casino experience.

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    Whether you’re chasing jackpots on the best online casino slots or strategizing at blackjack tables, JACKBIT offers a seamless and rewarding platform that stands out among top online casinos. This review explains why JACKBIT stands out as the top online casino, detailing its bonuses, games, payment options, and more. Ready to dive in? Join JACKBIT Casino and claim your 30% rakeback and 100 free spins!

    A Closer Look at the Best Online Casino: JACKBIT

    JACKBIT has secured the top spot in our rigorous evaluation of the best online casinos for real money. Below, we break down the key factors that make it the leading real money casino for 2025.

    JACKBIT – The Top Online Casino for Real Money

    Since its 2022 launch under a Curacao eGaming Commission license, JACKBIT has set a new benchmark for real-money online casinos. Its standout feature is a no KYC policy, allowing players to register and play with maximum privacy—a game-changer for those seeking legit online casinos.

    As a best paying online casino, JACKBIT processes withdrawals instantly, ensuring you access your winnings without delay. Imagine depositing, playing Sweet Bonanza, and cashing out a big win in minutes—that’s the JACKBIT experience.

    New players get a sign-up bonus of 30% rakeback and 100 free spins with no wagering requirements—perfect for trying out all the platform’s games and features.

    For example, a $100 deposit could yield $30 back plus free spins on Book of the Dead, giving you a head start. JACKBIT keeps the fun going with ongoing offers: a VIP club that gives up to 30% rakeback, social media rewards, and Pragmatic Play’s Drops & Wins tournaments with a €2 million prize pool.

    GET 30% RAKEBACK AND 100 FREE SPINS AT JACKBIT!

    With over 7,000 casino games real money options from 91 top providers like Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, and Play’n Go, JACKBIT caters to every taste. From high-RTP slots to live dealer blackjack, the variety is staggering.

    Its sportsbook is equally impressive, boasting thousands of monthly live events across 140+ sports, including football, basketball, and esports like League of Legends. This makes JACKBIT a one-stop shop for all gambling needs, from casual slot spins to high-stakes sports betting.

    The platform’s sleek, intuitive interface is available in multiple languages (English, Japanese, French, Spanish), ensuring accessibility. High-end SSL encryption protects your data, and 24/7 customer support via live chat and email guarantees prompt assistance.

    Whether you’re new to online casinos that pay real cash or a seasoned player, JACKBIT’s player-centric design and flexible payment options make it the best casino online real money for 2025.

    Pros and Cons of JACKBIT Casino

    Here’s a balanced look at JACKBIT’s strengths and potential drawbacks:

    • Pros:
      • No KYC policy for maximum privacy
      • Instant deposits and withdrawals
      • Over 7,000 games from top providers
      • Extensive sportsbook with live betting
      • Generous welcome bonus and VIP rewards
      • Supports 16+ cryptocurrencies and traditional methods
      • 24/7 customer support
    • Cons:
      • Relatively new platform (launched 2022)
      • Some bonuses may have wagering requirements
      • Bonuses may be game-specific
      • Availability may be restricted in certain regions

    How to Join JACKBIT

    Joining JACKBIT is quick and user-friendly, designed to get you playing in minutes, even if you’re new to real money casinos:

    1. Visit JACKBIT Casino: Click here to navigate to JACKBIT Casino to access the sign-up page.
    2. Sign Up
      1. Click Sign Up, enter your email, and a password.
      2. No personal details needed—registration is instant.
      3. Make Your First Deposit
        1. Go to the Cashier, choose Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Visa.
        2. Deposit at least $50 (or crypto equivalent).
        3. For crypto, just scan the QR code—funds appear instantly.
        4. Enter Bonus Code
          1. In the deposit window, enter the current promo code (e.g., WELCOME).
          2. Check the Promotions page for the latest code.
          3. Receive Your Bonus
            1. Automatically get 30% rakeback plus 100 free spins (no wagering).
            2. Start Playing
              1. Explore over 7,000 slots, table games, and live sports betting.

                2. Pro Tip: Double-check your email and bonus code before you deposit to avoid any hiccups.

                How We Selected JACKBIT as the Best Online Casino

                Choosing the best online casino for real money play required a strict evaluation process to ensure safety, value, and enjoyment. Here’s how we landed on JACKBIT:

                License and Security

                JACKBIT operates under a Curacao eGaming license, a trusted authority in online gambling. It uses high-end SSL encryption to safeguard player data and transactions, ensuring a secure environment. Regular audits confirm game fairness, making it a reliable real cash online casino (Casinos Blockchain).

                Bonuses and Promotions

                We prioritized casinos with generous, fair bonuses. JACKBIT’s 30% rakeback and 100 free spins with no wagering requirements outshine many competitors. Ongoing promotions, like VIP rakeback up to 30% and weekly $10,000 prize pools, add significant value for regular players.

                Casino Games

                A diverse game library is crucial. JACKBIT’s 7,000+ games, from high-RTP slots to live dealer tables, cater to all preferences. It’s sportsbook, with 140+ sports and thousands of live events, ensures variety, keeping the experience fresh for top online casinos real money users.

                Casino Game Providers

                JACKBIT works with top providers—Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, and Play’n Go—to offer fair, eye-catching games with seamless performance, making it a standout online casino.

                Banking Methods

                Flexible, fast payments are essential. JACKBIT accepts over 16 cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Solana—for instant, fee-free transactions, and also offers familiar payment methods such as Visa.This aligns with the best online casino payouts expectations.

                Customer Support

                Reliable support is non-negotiable. JACKBIT offers 24/7 live chat and email support, with prompt, professional responses, ensuring players are never left stranded (AskGamblers).

                JACKBIT’s excellence across these criteria—privacy, speed, variety, and support—makes it the undisputed best online casino for 2025.

                CLAIM 30% RAKEBACK + 100 NO-WAGER SPINS—NO KYC!

                What Players Look for in the Best Online Casinos

                When searching for the best online casino, players typically prioritize several key features that enhance their gaming experience and ensure a safe and fair platform. Here’s how JACKBIT meets these expectations:

                1. Security and Licensing: Players seek assurance that their data is secure. JACKBIT’s Curacao license and SSL encryption provide a safe online casino environment.
                2. Game Variety: A broad selection of casino games real money options is essential. JACKBIT’s 7,000+ games and sportsbook cater to all preferences.
                3. Bonuses and Promotions: Generous offers like JACKBIT’s no-wagering welcome bonus and ongoing promotions boost player value.
                4. Payment Options: Flexible methods, including cryptocurrencies and cards, ensure convenience. JACKBIT’s instant withdrawals set it apart as a best paying online casino.
                5. Customer Support: 24/7 support via live chat and email ensures players can resolve issues quickly.
                6. User Experience: An intuitive interface, available in multiple languages, makes JACKBIT accessible and enjoyable.

                JACKBIT’s alignment with these priorities solidifies its status as the top online casino.

                Best Online Casino Games

                JACKBIT’s vast game selection makes it a top online casino, catering to both casual spinners and strategic bettors alike.

                Online Slots

                JACKBIT boasts a vast slot collection, including fan-favorites like Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play, 96.5% RTP), Hand of Anubis, and Mega Moolah (progressive jackpot). These slots feature vibrant themes, bonus rounds, and multipliers, making them ideal for players seeking the best online casino slots. For example, Sweet Bonanza offers cascading reels and a 21,100x max win, perfect for thrill-seekers.

                Blackjack

                A blend of luck and strategy, JACKBIT’s blackjack variants include Classic Blackjack, Multi-Hand, and European Blackjack. Players aim to beat the dealer with a hand close to 21, making it a favorite for those seeking skill-based wins at a real money online casino.

                Roulette

                This classic game of chance offers American and European versions. Players bet on outcomes like red/black or specific numbers, with European Roulette’s lower house edge (2.7%) appealing to savvy gamblers. Its simplicity adds excitement to the best casino online real money experience.

                Poker

                JACKBIT’s poker options, like Caribbean Stud and Three Card Poker, pit players against the house. These games blend strategic depth with high win potential, appealing to different play styles and ramping up the thrill of real-money online casinos.

                Live Dealer Games

                Enjoy more than 250 live dealer games streamed in real time for a true casino atmosphere. Titles like Lightning Roulette and Infinite Blackjack let you chat with professional dealers, making real-money play more immersive.

                Sportsbook

                JACKBIT’s sportsbook covers 140+ sports, including football, basketball, and esports like CS:GO. With thousands of monthly live events and diverse betting types (e.g., over/under, parlays), it’s a haven for sports bettors (Silentbet).

                This varied selection lets JACKBIT serve everyone—from slot lovers to sports bettors—cementing its status as the top online casino.

                GET 30% RAKEBACK + 100 ZERO-WAGER SPINS—JOIN NOW!

                Best Online Casino Payment Methods

                JACKBIT’s payment options are tailored for speed and flexibility, making it a top choice for online casinos that pay real money:

                Cryptocurrency

                JACKBIT excels with 16+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether. These offer instant, fee-free deposits and withdrawals, with enhanced privacy—perfect for players seeking best online casino payouts. To deposit Bitcoin, log in, select BTC, scan the QR code, and confirm; funds appear instantly (Trustpilot).

                Debit/Credit Cards

                Visa and MasterCard provide instant deposits, ideal for players new to real money casinos. Withdrawals take 1–3 days, standard for traditional methods.

                E-Wallets

                While cryptocurrencies dominate, e-wallets like Skrill may be available, offering fast, secure transactions for players avoiding direct bank details.

                Wire Transfer

                Suitable for high rollers, wire transfers enable large withdrawals but take 1–5 days with potential fees, less ideal for quick payouts.

                JACKBIT’s focus on fast, secure transactions aligns with the needs of players at top online casinos real money platforms.

                Mobile Gaming at JACKBIT

                In today’s fast-paced world, mobile gaming is essential for the best online casinos. JACKBIT’s platform is fully optimized for mobile devices, allowing players to enjoy casino games that pay real money on smartphones and tablets. The mobile interface mirrors the desktop experience, offering intuitive navigation, fast loading times, and access to all features, including deposits, withdrawals, and bonuses. Whether you’re spinning slots or betting on sports, JACKBIT ensures a seamless mobile experience, making it a top online casino for on-the-go play.

                UNLOCK YOUR 30% RAKEBACK & 100 FREE SPINS—KYC-FREE!

                Responsible Gambling at Online Casinos

                Gambling with real money at sites like JACKBIT is exciting, but it’s vital to play responsibly. JACKBIT offers tools to help you stay in control:

              • Deposit Limits: Choose a maximum amount you can add to your account.
              • Loss Limits: Cap how much you can lose over a set period.
              • Wagering Limits: Restrict the size of your bets in a given timeframe.
              • Session Time Limits: Track and limit how long you play each session.
              • Cooling-Off Periods: Pause your account temporarily when you need a break.
              • Reality Checks: Get pop-up reminders showing how long you’ve been playing.

              JACKBIT’s commitment to responsible gambling ensures a safe, enjoyable experience. Players should wager only what they can afford to lose and seek support if needed, such as through the National Council on Problem Gambling (1-800-522-4700).

              JACKBIT Conclusion: The Best Online Casino for 2025

              Our team reviewed dozens of real-money casinos and named JACKBIT the top choice for 2025. Its no-KYC policy, instant withdrawals, and library of over 7,000 high-payout games make it stand out. New players get 30% rakeback plus 100 free spins on sign-up, and ongoing VIP rewards and tournaments add even more value. With flexible payment options, strong security, and 24/7 support, JACKBIT delivers a reliable experience.

              Whether you prefer high-RTP slots or sports and esports betting, you’ll find it here. Built around responsible-gaming tools and a player-first design, JACKBIT is the best online casino for real-money play in 2025.

              Frequently Asked Questions

              • Is JACKBIT a legitimate online casino?

              JACKBIT is licensed by the Curacao eGaming Commission, ensuring strict regulatory compliance for fairness and security in online gambling for real money.

              • What bonuses does JACKBIT offer?

              JACKBIT provides a 30% rakeback and 100 free spins welcome bonus with no wagering requirements, plus ongoing promotions and a rewarding VIP program for players.

              • Can I play on JACKBIT from my mobile device?

              Yes, JACKBIT’s platform is fully optimized for mobile devices, offering seamless access to games and betting options on smartphones and tablets for real money play.

              • What currencies does JACKBIT accept?

              JACKBIT supports 16+ cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether, alongside traditional methods like Visa and MasterCard for deposits and withdrawals in real money casinos.

              • How fast are withdrawals at JACKBIT?

              Cryptocurrency withdrawals at JACKBIT are processed instantly, while traditional methods like Visa or bank transfers may take 1-3 days, ensuring quick access to winnings.

              • Does JACKBIT offer live dealer games?

              Yes, JACKBIT features over 250 live dealer games, including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, hosted by professional dealers for an immersive real money casino experience.

              Email: support@JACKBIT.com

              Legal Disclaimer

              This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or gambling advice. All information is presented “as is,” with no warranties regarding accuracy or completeness. Readers are responsible for verifying information and ensuring compliance with local gambling laws. Gambling involves financial risk and potential addiction. Gamble responsibly, only wagering what you can afford to lose. Seek help from organizations like the National Council on Problem Gambling if needed. Some links may be affiliate links, earning a commission at no cost to you. JACKBIT is licensed outside your jurisdiction and may be restricted in certain regions.

              A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dffa4a83-8d63-4896-b946-7c34d8acc993

              The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Crypto Casinos 2025: JACKBIT, Ranked as Top Bitcoin Casino Without Verification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LARNACA, Cyprus, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Looking for the best crypto casino that actually delivers in 2025? JACKBIT has quickly earned a strong reputation among Bitcoin gamblers for its fast payouts, vast game selection, and fair bonuses. In this review, we break down everything you need to know about JACKBIT so that you can decide if it’s the right fit for your next big win.

    ✅JOIN JACKBIT NOW AND DIVE INTO THE BEST CRYPTO GAMING EXPERIENCE!

    JACKBIT Casino Review 2025: Best Crypto Casino For Bitcoin Players

    JACKBIT keeps crypto gaming simple. Fast sign-ups, real Bitcoin casino games, immersive live tables, lucrative bonuses, and no-nonsense payout options when it’s time to cash out. Whether you’re spinning slots or betting on sports, everything just works fast and smoothly at this crypto casino site.

    Here are a few key takeaways from JACKBIT:

    • Fast Crypto Payments: JACKBIT supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more, with quick deposits and even faster withdrawals.
    • Huge Game Library: Thousands of slots, table games, and live casino games from top providers like Pragmatic Play and Evolution.
      Sportsbook Included: Bet on live sports, esports, and major leagues without switching sites.
    • User-Friendly Design: Clean, simple layout that works great on desktop and mobile, without any confusing menus or slow load times.
    • Regular Bonuses: Ongoing promotions, reload bonuses, tournaments, and rewards for loyal players.
    • Anonymous Play: No KYC checks for crypto players. Register, deposit crypto, and start playing quickly.
    • Safe and Licensed: Operates under a Curacao license with strong security measures to protect players.

    JACKBIT Casino Bonuses And Promotions

    Welcome Offers
    JACKBIT keeps it simple for new players. Right after signing up, you can jump into the action with JACKBIT’s promotions.

    • 30% Rakeback + 100 First Deposit Free Spins + No KYC
    • Sports Welcome Bonus: First bet cashback of at most 100%.

    ✅START TODAY WITH 30% RAKEBACK AND 100 FREE SPINS !!

    Other Promotions

    • 3+1 FreeBet
    • Bet Insurance
    • Social Media Bonuses
    • NBA Playoffs Cashback

    Tournaments And Prize Pools
    JACKBIT is big on competition. Every week, players can join casino and sports tournaments with prize pools that often hit six figures. This includes:

    1. Daily Tournament – 1,000 Free Spins (FS)
    2. Weekly Tournament – Prize pool of up to $10,000
    3. Pragmatic Play’s Drops & Wins Campaign – Reward pool of up to €2,000,000

    Loyalty Rewards
    JACKBIT has one of the strongest VIP programs with a 30% cashback. JACKBIT’s Rakeback VIP program is designed for players who want real, daily rewards without complicated point systems. Every bet you place, win or lose, earns you a percentage back straight into your account.

    Unlike traditional VIP clubs, the crypto casino’s system rewards regular players right away, making it one of the most straightforward loyalty programs around. As the best crypto casino, JACKBIT ensures that loyal players receive tangible benefits every day.

    JACKBIT Game Selection: Slots, Table Games, And Live Casino

    JACKBIT Casino offers one of the most complete gaming libraries in the crypto casino world. With thousands of games across different categories, it’s built to satisfy every type of player, whether you’re after fast spins, strategic gameplay, or live action. JACKBIT stands out as the best Bitcoin casino, providing an exceptional experience for all players. Here’s a closer look at what’s waiting for you inside.

    Classic And Video Slots
    If you enjoy simple, old-school gameplay, JACKBIT’s huge collection of classic slots brings back the nostalgia. The slot games section ranges from simple 3-reel machines with fruits, bars, and lucky sevens to cutting-edge video slots packed with bonus rounds, free spins, and multipliers. Big names like Gates of Olympus and Sugar Rush from Pragmatic Play are favorites here, delivering colorful graphics and high win potential.

    ✅WANT TO WIN BIG? JOIN JACKBIT AND ENJOY HASSLE-FREE CRYPTO GAMING!

    Table Games And Video Poker

    JACKBIT’s table games cover every casino essential. You’ll find multiple versions of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker on this crypto-gambling site. The gameplay is smooth, the rules are easy to follow, and there’s a wide range of betting options in the table games section. Fans of strategy will appreciate JACKBIT’s video poker section too, with classics like Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild offering solid return-to-player (RTP) rates.

    Instant Games, Scratch Cards, And Video Bingo
    For those who like quick wins, JACKBIT’s instant games and scratch cards are worth a look. Titles like Aviator add a unique twist, where you bet on a plane’s flight and cash out before it crashes. Meanwhile, video bingo games offer a mix of slot-style excitement and traditional bingo fun.

    Jackpot Games
    Players hunting for life-changing payouts should explore JACKBIT’s jackpot games. These slots offer progressive prizes that can reach six or even seven figures.

    Live Casino Games
    JACKBIT’s live casino offers an authentic casino experience right on your device. Games like live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and game shows such as Mega Wheel are hosted by skilled dealers in real-time, providing an immersive experience that’s nearly as thrilling as being at a physical casino. As one of the best crypto casinos, JACKBIT ensures a seamless, secure, and exciting gaming experience for crypto enthusiasts.

    Supported Cryptocurrencies And Payment Methods At JACKBIT

    Crypto Options
    JACKBIT makes it easy for crypto users to jump right into the action. You can deposit and play using a wide range of coins, including:

    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Solana (SOL)
    • XRP
    • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
    • Monero (XMR)
    • Dash (DASH)
    • Binance Coin (BNB)
    • Tether (USDT)
    • USD Coin (USDC)
    • DAI
    • Dogecoin (DOGE)
    • Shiba Inu (SHIBA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)

    With so many options, you’re not tied to just Bitcoin, and transactions are usually fast with lower fees.

    ✅GET IN ON THE ACTION – REGISTER AT JACKBIT AND PLAY WITH CRYPTO!

    Buy Crypto With Traditional Methods
    Even if you don’t already have crypto, JACKBIT has you covered. You can buy digital coins directly through the site using:

    • VISA
    • Mastercard
    • Skrill
    • Neteller
    • Pix

    This is great for players who are just getting started with crypto or want the convenience of topping up without leaving the casino site.

    JACKBIT’s Mobile Gaming Experience

    JACKBIT works well on mobile without making you download an app. You just open your browser, log in, and start playing. The site loads quickly, and games run smoothly, even on older phones. Whether you’re a slots admirer, a sports enthusiast, or like to play immersive live casino games, JACKBIT’s mobile version has got you covered, making it one of the best crypto casinos for on-the-go gaming.

    Buttons are big enough to tap without mistakes, and the pages don’t lag or freeze during play. Depositing and withdrawing crypto is just as simple as it is on a desktop. Even the live dealer games, which can sometimes be tricky on small screens, run without issues on this crypto casino site. If you like gaming on the go, JACKBIT’s mobile experience is solid and reliable, making it the best Bitcoin casino for mobile users.

    JACKBIT Security, Fairness, And Licensing

    JACKBIT operates under a gaming license issued by the government of Curacao, which is one of the most reputable and reliable online gambling licenses in the world. This allows JACKBIT to offer its services anywhere in the world.

    The site uses SSL encryption to protect personal and financial information, so your data stays private during transactions. Payments are processed through secure blockchain networks, adding another layer of safety for crypto users.

    As for fairness, JACKBIT works with trusted game providers like Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and NetEnt, big-time software providers known for using certified random number generators (RNGs). For those who value privacy, JACKBIT stands out as the best no-KYC casino, allowing you to enjoy your favorite games without the need for intrusive identity checks.

    Customer Support At JACKBIT Casino

    JACKBIT offers several ways to get help when you need it. The fastest option is their 24/7 live chat, where you can connect with a support agent in under a minute most of the time. The staff is friendly, polite, and usually gets straight to the point without sending you in circles.

    You can also reach out via email if your question isn’t urgent. Responses through email typically come within a few hours, sometimes faster, depending on when you send your message.

    JACKBIT’s Help Center has a basic FAQ section that covers common issues like deposits, withdrawals, and account verification, though it could be a bit more detailed.

    Overall, customer support at JACKBIT is dependable. You’re not left hanging or dealing with confusing answers. Whether you have a simple question or a problem with a transaction, you can expect real help without long waits.

    Pros And Cons Of Playing At JACKBIT

    Pros

    • Accepts A Wide Range of Cryptocurrencies: JACKBIT supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and more, giving players real flexibility in how they deposit and withdraw.
      Fast Payouts: Crypto withdrawals are processed quickly, often hitting your wallet within minutes to a few hours.
    • Huge Game Selection: With thousands of slots, table games, live dealer options, and even sports betting, there’s always something new to try.
    • Mobile-Friendly: No casino app is needed to play on the go. JACKBIT runs smoothly on your phone’s browser, making it easy to play from the get-go.
      Tournaments and Rakeback: Apart from one-time bonuses, JACKBIT’s regular tournaments and a daily rakeback program give real value back to players.
    • Fair Gaming Providers: Games come from trusted names like Evolution and Pragmatic Play, ensuring random, fair results.
      Buy Crypto On-Site: If you don’t own crypto yet, you can easily buy it with a card or e-wallet inside JACKBIT.

    Cons

    • No Traditional Welcome Bonus: Unlike some casinos, JACKBIT doesn’t offer a huge upfront match bonus, focusing more on ongoing rewards.
    • Restricted Countries: Some regions aren’t able to register due to licensing restrictions.
    • Limited FAQ Details: The Help Center could be more detailed for players who like self-service answers.

    ✅LEVEL UP YOUR CASINO EXPERIENCE – SIGN UP ON JACKBIT TODAY!

    Who Should Play At JACKBIT?

    JACKBIT is a great fit if you want a casino that’s easy to use, fast with crypto, and packed with options. It’s perfect for players who:

    • Prefer crypto over traditional banking: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other coins are welcome here.
    • One Account To Play Them All: Like switching between slots, sports betting, and live casinos without opening multiple accounts.
    • Want quick payouts: No lengthy verification procedures or longer waiting periods.
    • Play mostly on mobile: JACKBIT’s site works just as smoothly on your phone as it does on your laptop.
    • Appreciate simple, no-hassle bonuses: Simple and clear bonus terms with lenient wagering requirements.
    • Value privacy and fast registration: Sign up, deposit, and start playing in just a few clicks.

    If that sounds like your style of gaming, JACKBIT is built for you.

    In Conclusion: JACKBIT’s Reputation As The Best Crypto Casino
    After years of reviewing countless casinos, it’s clear JACKBIT stands out in 2025. It’s built for real players, the ones who want fast crypto payments, a huge variety of games, and a reliable support option. JACKBIT doesn’t waste your time with flashy promises it can’t keep. Instead, it focuses on what matters the most. Like reliable payouts, fair games, and a full gaming experience that keeps you coming back for more.

    The daily rakeback, fast-paced tournaments, and wide crypto support give you real rewards beyond a typical casino bonus. Whether you’re into slots, table games, sports betting, or live dealers, JACKBIT covers it all without cutting corners.

    If you’re seeking the best crypto casino that offers consistent rewards and a top-tier gaming experience, JACKBIT is the smart choice. Ready to experience it yourself? Join JACKBIT today and start playing the way crypto gaming was meant to be.

    FAQ’s
    1. Is JACKBIT Casino safe and legit?

    Yes, JACKBIT operates under a Curacao gaming license and uses SSL encryption to protect player data. All games come from trusted providers with certified fair results, making JACKBIT a secure choice for crypto gambling.

    2. Can I play at JACKBIT Casino on mobile?

    Yes! JACKBIT works smoothly on mobile browsers without needing to download an app. You can play slots, bet on sports, or play live dealer games easily from your phone or tablet.

    3. How fast are withdrawals at JACKBIT?

    Withdrawals at JACKBIT are usually processed within minutes to a few hours, especially for Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies. There are no hidden fees when cashing out.

    4. Which cryptocurrencies can I use at JACKBIT Casino?

    At JACKBIT, you can use Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Solana (SOL), XRP, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Monero (XMR), Dash (DASH), Binance Coin (BNB), Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), DAI, Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIBA), and Chainlink (LINK).

    Email: support@jackbit.com

    Legal Disclaimer

    This content is for informational purposes only and not legal, financial, or gambling advice. Ensure compliance with local gambling laws. No warranties are made regarding accuracy. Readers are responsible for verifying information and ensuring legal compliance. Gambling may be restricted in some regions.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Some links may be affiliate links, earning a commission at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on objective evaluation, and partnerships do not influence conclusions.

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Jackbit. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

    Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d19f2b6-48b6-4360-9b75-b40a6445b94d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Data Storage Corporation Schedules First Quarter 2025 Business Update Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELVILLE, N.Y., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (“DSC” and the “Company”), a leading provider of multi-cloud hosting, managed cloud services, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and IT automation, integrating seamlessly with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, today announced plans to host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to discuss the Company’s progress and the financial results for the first quarter of 2025, which ended March 31, 2025.

    The conference call will be available via telephone by dialing toll-free 877-407-9219 for U.S. callers or for international callers +1-412-652-1274. A webcast of the call may be accessed at  DSC Q1 2025 Earnings Call or on the Company’s News & Events section of the website,  www.dtst.com/news-events.

    A webcast replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website (www.dtst.com/news-events) through November 15, 2025. A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately three hours following the call, through May 22, 2025, and can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 for U.S. callers or + 1-201-612-7415 for international callers and entering conference ID: 13753165. 

    About Data Storage Corporation
    Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) through its subsidiaries is a leading provider of multi-cloud hosting, fully managed cloud services, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, IT automation, and voice & data solutions. Recognizing that data migration is a critical step in transitioning from on-premises systems to the cloud, DSC provides comprehensive migration services to ensure seamless, secure, and efficient data transfer, minimizing downtime and optimizing performance.

    Through its owned and operated cloud platform, built on IBM Power Cloud infrastructure, DSC delivers managed high-performance, scalable, and secure cloud solutions with interoperability across its infrastructure partners, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

    Tier 3 data centers support the Company’s CloudFirst platform deployments across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. DSC provides mission-critical solutions to a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations.

    As a leader in the multi-billion-dollar managed cloud hosting and business continuity market, DTST is recognized for its expertise in cloud infrastructure, IT modernization, and data migration, enabling clients to transition to the cloud with confidence and operational continuity.

    For more information, please visit www.dtst.com or follow us on X @DataStorageCorp.

    Safe Harbor Provision
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include the Company’s ability to grow its presence in Europe. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    212-671-1020
    DTST@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Varonis Recognized for Innovation in Data Security by Global InfoSec Awards at RSAC 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI and SAN FRANCISCO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RSA CONFERENCE 2025 – Varonis Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNS), the leader in data security, today proudly announced it received four Global Infosec Awards during the RSA Conference 2025.

    Varonis won the Innovative Service award for its Managed Data Detection and Response. The Varonis Data Security Platform received the Editor’s Choice for Cloud Security, the Market Innovator award for Data-Centric Security, and the Market Innovator award for Data Security Posture Management.

    The panel of judges recognized Varonis for finding, fixing, and alerting to threats to data across IaaS, SaaS, and hybrid environments with game-changing automation. The Varonis Data Security Platform stood apart for helping organizations protect data and reduce risk in the AI age.

    “Other solutions surface problems that IT and security teams are left to fix,” said Varonis Field CTO Brian Vecci. “Varonis goes beyond finding issues — we solve them with automation. We’re helping customers avoid breaches and fines, all while easing the workloads of stretched-thin security teams. We’re thrilled to be recognized with four 2025 Global InfoSec Awards for our world-class architecture, innovation with automation and AI, and end-to-end coverage.”

    “Varonis embodies three major features we judges look for to become winners: understanding tomorrow’s threats, today, providing a valuable solution, and innovating in unexpected ways that can help mitigate cyber risk and get one step ahead of the next breach,” said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine.

    Additional Resources

    About Varonis
    Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) is the leader in data security, fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and detects advanced threats with AI-powered automation.

    Thousands of organizations worldwide trust Varonis to defend their data wherever it lives — across SaaS, IaaS, and hybrid cloud environments. Customers use Varonis to automate a wide range of security outcomes, including data security posture management (DSPM), data classification, data access governance (DAG), data detection and response (DDR), data loss prevention (DLP), AI security, and insider risk management.

    Varonis protects data first, not last. Learn more at www.varonis.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Tim Perz
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    646-640-2112
    investors@varonis.com

    News Media Contact:
    Rachel Hunt
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    877-292-8767 (ext. 1598)
    pr@varonis.com

    About the Global InfoSec Awards
    This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s thirteenth year of honoring InfoSec innovators from around the Globe. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early stage, later stage, or public companies in the INFORMATION SECURITY (INFOSEC) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com

    About the Judging
    The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables. CDM has a flexible philosophy to find more innovative players with new and unique technologies, than the one with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking “What’s Next?” so we are looking for best of breed, next generation InfoSec solutions.

    About Cyber Defense Magazine
    Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of cyber security news and information for InfoSec professions in business and government. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products, and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power.

    CDM Media Inquiries:
    Irene Noser, Marketing Executive
    marketing@cyberdefensemagazine.com
    1-833-844-9468
    International: 1-646-586-9545
    www.cyberdefensemagazine.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 1 Hour Payday Loans Online No Credit Check Direct Lenders Guaranteed Approval – IOnline Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHERIDAN, Wyo., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Life is full of surprises—medical bills, home or car repairs, or even travel expenses and sometimes you need a little help. In those situations, waiting days for instant payday loans approvals doesn’t make sense. That’s when 1 Hour Payday Loans with No Credit Check come out the smartest. The loans are meant to provide short-term financial relief, even if your credit isn’t great. In this guide, we’re going to break down how these fast loans function and their benefits. We’ll also explain the basics of IOnline Payday Loans, another trustworthy lender known for approving loans within the hour. Get emergency funds with an easy application and there’s no hard credit check with IOnline!

    Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    1-Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check— What is it?

    1-Hour Payday Loans With No Credit Check are typically small loans— $100 to $1,500, that are meant to be used to cover emergency expenses, such as medical bills, car repairs or unpaid rent. The main characteristic of these loans is they do not require a standard credit check, such as the one conducted by banks, which often means that are available even to people with bad credit or no credit history at all.

    Lenders consider current income, employment status and the borrower’s repayment ability, not a credit score. Once approved, the funds tend to be deposited directly into the borrower’s bank account that day. But these loans carry high interest rates and are supposed to be repaid on the next payday, so that’s why they got the name. They provide a quick fix, but it’s important to use them responsibly — or you risk falling into a cycle of debt.

    Click Here to Apply for No Credit Check Loans >>

    Types of 1-Hour Payday Loans Online No Credit Check Instant Approval

    1-Hour payday loans online with no credit check instant approval can be in a variety of forms to suit a variety of short-term financial needs. 1-Hour payday loans online with no credit check instant approval or payday loans online no credit check instant approval can be in a variety of forms. All of them are based on fast approval and quick funding, but they have distinct terms and purposes. Here are the primary kinds, all with the option of immediate approval without any credit check:

    1. Traditional Payday Loans:

    Instant payday loans online can help borrowers receive $100 to $1,500 without heavy paperwork or long wait times. One-hour payday loans are these things that you if you could simply get one, would solve all of your problems. Borrowers are lent a small amount —usually between $100 and $1,500 and must repay it by their next payday. Lenders don’t make hard credit checks, but they look at income and employment. Money is sent 24/7 and arrives the same day if approved.

    2. Installment Payday Loans:

    Unlike traditional payday loans, installment loans allow you to repay in multiple payments, which are available through Personal Money Network and the direct lenders we work with, have the flexibility to repay in multiple payments over the period of your loan. These are perfect for borrowers who want the flexibility of more time for repayment.

    3. Bad Credit Payday Loans:

    Online payday loans for bad credit cater to borrowers with low credit scores, focusing on income and bank activity instead. These are loans for people with bad or no credit; they are offered and marketed specifically for borrowers in this situation. Lenders don’t use a credit score but instead look at your financial situation today — such as regular income and how much activity is in your bank account. Bad credit payday loans can be approved instantly and you can have the money in your account within an hour.

    4. Same-Day Payday Loans:

    Same-day payday loans are structured to guarantee that when you apply, the cash is deposited directly into your account within a few hours of approval. Same-day payday loans, or no credit check payday loans with same-day approval, are structured to guarantee. No credit checks, no prolonged procedures and no bureaucracy at all. Provided you satisfy a few basic eligibility criteria, including age, income, and bank account verification, you can have the money in your account in as little as a few hours, perfect for a financial emergency.

    How To Apply 1 Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check?

    Getting a 1-hour payday loan with no credit check is not difficult. Follow these simple measures so that your application gets approved:

    1. Select a Trusted Lender: Select a reputable, licensed lender such as IOnline Payday Loans, with quick approvals, secure sites and without hard credit checks.
    2. Complete the Online Application Form: Check the lender’s website and fill out a brief application. You will be required to provide your full name, contact information, employment details, income, and banking information.
    3. Submit Documents for Verification: As proof of identity and income, you will need to upload files including your government-issued ID (driver’s license or passport), recent pay stubs and a bank statement that demonstrates regular deposits.
    4. Wait For Instant Approval Decision: Once you’ve completed the form and uploaded your documents, the lender will process your application and provide a decision in minutes with no hard credit pull.
    5. Receive Funds Within 1 Hour: Once approved, the money is transferred directly into your bank account–often in an hour or less, because processing time varies from bank to bank.

    Some lenders even offer instant payday loans online with guaranteed approval, based solely on income verification.

    Features & Benefits of IOnline Payday Loans

    Here are the amazing benefits of choosing the IOnline Payday loans:

    • Easy online application: IOnline Payday Loans has made applying for a payday loan straightforward and easy. No long paperwork or in-person visits are required. This quick digital process means that you receive credit matching and approval even quicker, making it great for people who need access to money quickly to deal with emergencies or unexpected expenses.
    • High Approval Rates: IOnline Payday Loans has one of the highest approval rates in the market and can allow you to get money on the same day you apply. Also, IOnline connects users with a vast network of lenders, even those with bad credit can have a good shot at being approved.
    • No Hard Credit Checks: Unlike other lenders, IOnline Payday Loans does not perform hard credit checks which can have a detrimental effect on your credit score. Instead, they conduct soft checks or use other methods such as income verification or employment history.
    • Loan Amounts and Terms Vary: IOnline lends from $100 up to $5,000, with loan terms between 2 and 24 months. This variation allows borrowers to select a loan that best suits their circumstances and budget. Whether you need some quick cash for an emergency, or a little more with longer to repay, IOnline finds you the ideal loan that suits your personal financial circumstances without added pressure on you.
    • Clear Fees and Interest Rates: Transparency is one of the best attributes that customers appreciate at IOnline Payday Loans. Any fees, interest rates and repayment terms are disclosed to you before you accept the loan. APRs fall typically between 5.99% and 35.99%, depending on your lender and your financial profile.

    Why is IOnline Payday Loans the best choice for you?

    Here are some additional reasons which will make IOnline payday loans the best choice for your instant approval loan:

    1. Lending decisions for the public service: IOnline Payday Loans will consider borrowers who receive income through TANF and SSI. They accept those as legitimate sources of income, lending to people who are not conventionally employed.
    2. Completely Online—No Phone Calls: At IOnline Payday Loans, the entire money lending process is performed online, and phone calls are not needed. This allows the loan application process to be faster, more confidential and more accommodating.
    3. Loans for the Unemployed: Even if you are currently unemployed you may be eligible for a loan if you have regular income from other sources such as social security, pensions or benefits. Moreover, IOnline Payday Loans refers applicants to lenders who are all willing to help regardless of employment status.
    4. Flexible Repayment Terms: The loan periods range from 2 to 24 months, so borrowers may select their own repayment schedule based on their level of income. This eases the repayment burden and helps borrowers make their repayments more comfortable.

    Process For Application: IOnline Payday Loans

    To qualify for 1 Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check through IOnline Payday Loans, simply do the following:

    Step 1: Selecting Your Loan Amount

    Consider how much you really need and whether or not you really will be able to repay it on time. Look at your income and expenses, then select a repayment amount that feels comfortable to you. Ensure the repayments are within your budget—failure to meet repayments could mean additional charges and penalties.

    Step 2: Organize Your Documents

    You’ll have to include some documents to prove you qualify, and to help speed your application along. When you are ready to apply for a loan through IOnline Payday Loans, have the following prepared:

    • A government-issued ID
    • Evidence of having been paid in the last 3 months (such as bank statements or payslips)
    • Your bank account details

    Step 3: Complete Application Form

    The application form at IOnline Payday Loans is fast and simple to fill out. Click on the “Apply Now” button on the top right of the screen and fill out the form in a few minutes. You’ll provide your basic details, including your full name, email, zip code, loan amount and how long you need to repay it. Then, hit the “Next” button.

    Step 4: Check If You Qualify

    As you enter your personal information and the amount of the loan, you will also be asked for a little more detailed information including the status of your job, financial situation and monthly expenses. This is to see if you qualify for a loan and your details are kept safe all the way till they are received by IOnline Payday Loans & your lender.

    Step 5: Wait till you get a lender

    Once we have your information, IOnline Payday Loans will search our lender network for the right lender for you. This typically lasts only a couple of minutes, and in around 2 minutes you’ll find out whether you have a match or not. If you’re approved, you will be brought to the lender’s website to complete the process. And if you don’t find you’re approved, you’ll also definitely hear from us soon.

    Step 6: Sign the Contract & Receive Your Funds

    Once you’re matched with a lender, they’ll provide you with a loan agreement. Take the time to read through the terms, check the fees and be sure that it’s manageable for you. If you’re in agreement, simply sign and return the form — and you’re finished!

    Eligibility Requirements: IOnline Payday Loans

    There are fairly straightforward requirements you’ll need to meet to apply with most lenders. These usually include:

    1. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible.
    2. You must bring an official, government-issued ID with you—a driver’s license or a passport.
    3. You must have a bank checking account name to get funds.
    4. You will need evidence of regular income, whether from work, benefits or other regular sources.
    5. They will require you to provide a permanent residential address and some lenders might request proof of your address.
    6. You do need to reside in a state the lender operates in, borrowing ranges by state.
    7. To qualify for online no credit check instant approval, applicants must meet basic eligibility like age, ID and income.
    8. U.S. citizenship, permanent residency or a long-term visa is usually a prerequisite.
    9. A legitimate social security number is frequently required for identity and credit verification.

    Types of Other No Credit Check Payday Loans

    Small Payday Loans Online No Credit Check:

    Small payday loans online no credit check are perfect for emergencies under $500 and usually come with fast approvals. These are small, short-term loans, usually in the range of $500 or less, that are made with no credit check. They are perfect for those few emergency costs and can be approved within a few minutes.

    $255 Online Payday Loans Same Day No Credit Check:

    These loans are for $255 and they are meant to be taken out and returned the same day—no traditional credit check is required. They’re a favourite in states like California that have eyes on such loan amounts. $255 payday loans online loans same day no credit check are a quick fix for small emergencies, ideal for short-term borrowing needs.

    Tribal Loans for Bad Credit:

    Tribal loans are loans issued by Native American-operated lenders. They also commonly work around state regulations and provide flexible terms, which can make them an option for people with low or no credit history.

    $500 Loan No Credit Check Direct Lender:

    $500 loan no credit check direct lenders are made directly from lenders (not brokers) and don’t require a credit check. You could be approved for a loan of $500 and receive funds quickly, making it an ideal solution for emergency expenses.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Is it possible to get a 1 Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check?

    Yes, a lot of lenders do provide instant decisions and quick funding. Some lenders will okay the loan in a matter of minutes, but funds transfer normally takes 1 business day but also varies depending on your bank.

    2. Does applying for a 1 hour payday loan have an effect on my credit score?

    Most no-credit-check lenders employ soft inquiries or alternative data, so it does not hurt your credit score to apply.

    3. Am I eligible for these loans in every state?

    No, some rules and regulations would determine availability. Payday loans are illegal in some states, while other states regulate or restrict them.

    Wrapping Up

    1 Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check is a quick and easy way to get a couple of days or a week when you need it the most. Whether it’s a crisis or an incidental emergency, services such as IOnline Payday Loans can connect you with trustworthy contracting lenders in just a few minutes. Services like IOnline Payday Loans help you connect with some of the best online payday loans available quickly and securely. Remember to always borrow responsibly, check the terms before you apply, and try to borrow the money you can afford to pay back.

    Project 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

    contact person email: mria@ionlinepaydayloans.com

    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/4201c2bd-e15f-40f8-89d7-7f5ad360b1fc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Drone-Mounted Lidar Systems for Bathymetric Surveys Market Expected to Reach $890 Million By 2032

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Bathymetry is a rising subset of uses in the drone universe. Bathymetry is the study of the “beds” or “floors” of water bodies, including the ocean, rivers, streams, and lakes. LIDAR and drones drive this segment. According to a recent industry report from Grand View Research said: “The drone-mounted LiDAR systems for bathymetric surveys market is projected to experience significant growth, with the global LiDAR drone market expected to reach around $892 million by 2032. The market is driven by factors such as increasing demand for high-precision geospatial data, technological advancements in LiDAR sensors, and the integration of LiDAR with AI and machine learning. Advancements in LiDAR technology, such as improved accuracy and reduced costs, have made it more accessible for a wide range of applications. Moreover, LiDAR integration with drones and autonomous vehicles is driving market expansion. The airborne segment dominated the U.S. LiDAR industry with a revenue share of over 44.9% in 2024. Airborne LiDAR holds a dominant position in the U.S. market and is also the fastest-growing segment, driven by its extensive use in large-scale mapping, urban planning, and environmental monitoring. The ability of airborne LiDAR to cover vast areas with high accuracy makes it an essential tool for applications such as topographic mapping, flood risk assessment, and forest management. The integration of LiDAR systems with advanced drones and aircraft has further enhanced its utility, enabling cost-effective and efficient data acquisition. The rise of smart city initiatives and infrastructure development projects in the U.S. is another key factor propelling the growth of airborne LiDAR.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), EHang (NASDAQ: EH), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS).

    Grand View Research continued: “The mobile & UAV accounted to hold significant market share in 2024. The mobile and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) LiDAR segment is experiencing significant growth in the U.S., primarily due to its versatility and ability to collect data in dynamic environments. Mobile LiDAR systems, mounted on vehicles, are widely used for road mapping, urban modeling, and autonomous vehicle navigation. UAV-based LiDAR has gained traction in industries like agriculture, construction, and mining, where flexibility and accessibility are critical. The reduced cost of UAV platforms and advancements in compact LiDAR sensors have made this technology more accessible to a broader range of industries. Additionally, advancements in miniaturization and cost reduction are opening up new opportunities for LiDAR applications. Smaller, more affordable sensors are becoming available for use in drones, allowing for rapid aerial mapping and surveying in hard-to-reach areas.”

    ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Drone as a Service (DaaS) Offerings Expand to Bathymetric Surveys for Underwater Terrain Mapping for Commercial and Government Customers – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its DaaS offerings have expanded to include bathymetric surveys, a specialized method of mapping underwater terrain using drones equipped with sonar. These surveys are important for critical underwater depth and contour data to support maintenance, dredging, environmental planning, and aquatic development for both commercial and government customers.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS bathymetric surveys are now available in South Florida through the recently acquired Wallace Surveying where the team has both golf course and Intracoastal Waterway project relationships and surveying expertise. Utilizing advanced sonar and ZenaDrone drones, high-resolution underwater maps help customers make informed decisions ─ from enhanced water management and lake and channel design strategies, to ensuring long-term sustainability.

    “The Wallace team brings key customer relationships and bathymetric survey expertise that will enhance our national DaaS drone offerings. Bathymetric surveys using aerial drones offer faster, safer, and more cost-effective data collection, especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments. Unlike conventional manned survey vessel methods, drones require fewer personnel, reduce operational risks, and can access shallow or narrow areas with greater precision,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    According to DataIntelo market research, the global Bathymetry Survey Sonar Market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023, this market is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%. This encompasses sonar systems utilized in bathymetric surveys, including those deployed on drones.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS business will incorporate the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series of multifunction autonomous drones to provide a variety of service solutions from land surveys to power line inspections or power washing, made accessible and cost effective through an Uber-like business model on a regular subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving superior results, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision farming applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments without the need for specialized training.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO) announced recently that official marketing approval from the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Defense Export Controls Agency (DECA) was received for the DropAir™ Precision Airdrop System, developed in collaboration with Heven Drones (“Heven”).

    Heven is a leading U.S. drone manufacturer with roots in Israel that specializes in custom autonomous UAV platforms. This authorization from DECA enables ParaZero and Heven to actively market their joint DropAir-integrated solution to global clients across commercial, defense, and humanitarian sectors.

    The DropAir system, integrated with Heven’s advanced UAVs, enables accurate and safe aerial delivery of critical payloads, including medical supplies, tactical equipment, and humanitarian aid. The combined solution is designed for autonomous deployment, enhanced safety, and mission-critical precision—especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) recently announced the launch of its eBee VISION next generation application software featuring a variety of critical updates. Of particular note, is the capability for autonomous position updates with map referencing to provide precise navigation even in GNSS-denied areas where satellite signals are unavailable or unreliable due to various factors.

    AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “Of the many new features provided in our latest software update, overcoming GNSS-denied shortfalls marks a significant leap forward in drone operations especially for defense personnel, public safety agencies and industrial teams working in high-stakes, GNSS-denied environments. Whether operating in dense urban centers, near critical installations, or in contested zones with active signal interference, our global eBee VISION customers can now maintain full navigational command of their drone using only the camera and map-based interface. This feature directly addresses a core challenge faced by tactical and industrial drone operators in today’s complex mission environments. Our technical team will continue to work relentlessly on refinements and ongoing advancements to ensure AgEagle remains at the forefront of UAV innovation.”

    EHang (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology platform company, recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. (“EHang General Aviation”), and its joint venture company in Hefei, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. (“HeYi Aviation”), have been granted the first batch of Air Operator Certificates (“OC”) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”).

    This milestone officially marks the launch of China’s human-carrying flight era in the low-altitude economy, allowing citizens and consumers to purchase flight tickets for low-altitude tourism, urban sightseeing, and diverse commercial human-carrying flight services at related operation sites in Guangzhou and Hefei. In the future, operators will also gradually expand into more other scenarios such as urban commuting based on operational conditions legally and compliantly. The issuance of the first batch of OCs sets a new benchmark for the low-altitude economy and urban air mobility and further unleashing a more powerful vitality of the new-quality productive forces.

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced it has secured a $3.4 million order for its Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAS system from renowned European defense contractor for their governmental end client. This marks the initial deployment of the Iron Drone Raider in Europe and represents a major milestone in the global expansion of Ondas’ counter-UAS business.

    “Ongoing geopolitical instability and the rapid proliferation of hostile drone technologies have intensified the urgency for effective counter-UAS capabilities across NATO-aligned and partner nations,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas. “This order reflects the rising global demand for autonomous aerial defense systems that can be rapidly deployed, scaled, and adapted to modern threat environments. Iron Drone Raider delivers a differentiated solution for military and homeland security operators charged with safeguarding critical infrastructure and civilian populations from increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.”

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why do people continue to support politicians who attack their democracies? Expert Q&A

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Scott Williamson, Associate Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford

    Ahead of a public event in London on May 8 on what the latest research can tell us about the state of democracy, The Conversation asked Scott Williamson, Associate Professor in Comparative Political Economy at the University of Oxford, to help us understand why people don’t always immediately push back when politicians attack their democracies.

    Your findings show that people around the world have relatively similar ideas about what democracy means and are relatively committed to this idea of democratic governance. So why are so many people polarised about whether today’s crop of politicians are attacking our democracies and what to do about it?

    Most people in most countries say it is important to them that they live in a democracy. Research by my colleagues and me also suggests that people tend to agree that competitive elections and protections for civil liberties are central elements of democratic governance.

    Yet, many people who claim to care about democracy also support political leaders and movements that have attacked democratic institutions and values.

    We have to recognise that even when people agree about the fundamental definition of democracy, there is still plenty of room to disagree over the specifics of how democracy is implemented in practice.

    Democracy in decline? The risk and rise of authoritarianism

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    Get tickets here

    Anti-democratic political leaders can take advantage of these disagreements to argue that their actions defend rather than disrupt democracy. Their supporters will often be motivated to believe these claims, especially where politics and the media are highly polarised.

    In the US, Donald Trump and the Republican party have long argued they are protecting American democracy from the deep state and the Democratic party. A prominent example is the claim that Democrats stole the 2020 election, and that subsequent charges against Trump were an attempt at political persecution.

    This message is consistently amplified by rightwing media. Such claims are false, but they create a framework for justifying Trump’s actions in democratic terms.

    A second potential problem is that people who understand democracy similarly and view democracy favourably may still decide that opposing anti-democratic leaders is less important than securing other political objectives. Several recent studies suggest that people in many countries, including the United States, are reluctant to make such trade-offs. Commitment to democracy is relatively strong.

    However, this research also highlights certain conditions under which people may begin to give up this commitment. Some people will care less about democracy if they can secure significantly better economic outcomes. In ongoing research with my co-authors, we also show that perceived threats to safety are especially likely to induce democratic trade-offs.

    One important finding from these studies is that people are strongly committed to maintaining competitive elections in their countries, but they are more willing to give up civil liberties and constraints on executive power in exchange for preferred economic and security outcomes. Some people are openly sympathetic to a majoritarian vision of democracy that empowers elected leaders to ignore institutional constraints if it means giving the people what they want.

    The relatively weaker commitment to these aspects of democracy means that anti-democratic leaders who first focus on undermining political freedoms and expanding their own power, rather than undercutting elections, are less likely to face a backlash.

    This well-used playbook may explain why Trump has faced relatively inconsistent pushback from the public, despite brazenly seizing legislative powers and violating civil liberties.

    Because Trump won the 2024 election, and because many Americans likely believe that subsequent elections will still meet democratic standards, they may tolerate attacks on civil liberties and checks and balances – especially if it gives them policy outcomes they prefer.

    Yet, it is important for Americans who care about democracy to recognise that several of Trump’s actions directly threaten the ability of the United States to hold free and fair elections in the future. The president and his allies have deployed lawsuits and withheld legally obligated funding in an effort to silence critical voices in the media, universities, NGOs, businesses, the legal community, and the Democratic party. Such actions are already muting criticisms of Trump and will make it harder for opposition to compete fairly in upcoming elections.

    Vice president J.D. Vance recently accused European leaders of “running in fear” from voters over immigration. What did you make of his intervention?

    These comments are a good example of how political leaders who attack democracy often claim to be defending democracy instead. A common strategy is to claim that they are the true representatives of the people and their preferences. As a result, their actions must be democratic, and those who oppose them are blocking the will of the people.

    Such claims about immigration should be viewed as a rhetorical cudgel used by the extreme right to beat back accusations of their own anti-democratic stances. Even if their immigration policies are more preferred by the public, this stronger alignment on a single issue should constitute only a small piece of the pie in terms of evaluating their democratic credentials.

    And their claims to represent public opinion on immigration stand on shaky ground at best. Attitudes toward immigration are complicated and multifaceted. Though negative views on the issue are clearly prevalent, attitudes have become more favourable over time in several European countries.

    Negative voices are often louder but do not necessarily represent the majority. Public opinion also fluctuates. In the United States, Trump was perceived more favourably than Kamala Harris on immigration during the 2024 election. But already by late April, a majority of Americans expressed opposition to Trump’s extreme approach.

    How can defenders of democracy meet these challenges?

    In countries where anti-democratic parties are on the rise, political leaders and the public should resist normalising them. The more they are treated as just any other party, the more people may begin to perceive their anti-democratic politics as acceptable.

    When anti-democratic parties come to power, it is important for their opponents to push back as forcefully as possible before the party can consolidate an authoritarian regime. As the political system becomes more repressive, people will increasingly hide their views, and it will be harder to mobilise opposition moving forward.

    For these efforts to succeed, it is important for the opposition to remain as unified as possible. If the ruling party can use its power to make elections less fair, state institutions more biased, and protests more dangerous, then the opposition will need to make use of every advantage they can to oust the government. A divided opposition will be much more likely to fail.

    Scott Williamson receives funding from the UKRI/EPSRC Frontier Research Guarantee Scheme (EP/Y036832/1) for the project Democratic Values and Authoritarian Legitimacy (DEVAL).

    – ref. Why do people continue to support politicians who attack their democracies? Expert Q&A – https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-continue-to-support-politicians-who-attack-their-democracies-expert-qanda-255565

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Robert Macfarlane’s new book is a plea to feel the pulse of our rivers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Julian Dobson, Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University

    beerlogoff/Shutterstock

    Suggesting that a river could be alive has the potential to change everything. Robert Macfarlane, one of Britain’s best-read writers on the natural environment, has done just this in his latest book.

    At one level, Is A River Alive? is a travelogue of adventuring in extreme environments: a lucid, lyrical addition to a genre Macfarlane has made his own. His odyssey through the cloudforests of Ecuador, the stricken rivers of Chennai in India and the tumultuous rapids of the Mutehekau Shipu in north-east Canada has it all: larger-than-life companions, astonishing revelations about the natural world and inadvisable levels of personal risk (including some particularly scary whitewater kayaking).

    Like all good odysseys, it’s a journey of psychological and spiritual self-discovery with a profound sense of nostos, an ancient Greek word meaning the journey home. But it’s much more than that.

    This is a quest with an agenda and an urgency and one that puts its cards on the table from the outset. If a river is alive, our perceptions, laws and politics must change course to recognise that, Macfarlane argues.

    That recognition must be rapid, because we’re already seeing the consequences of treating rivers – and the natural world – as “limitless source and limitless sump”, as he puts it. As an illustration, think of Lake Ontario in the 1990s, which he suggests was so chemically polluted that you could develop photographic film in its water.



    Read more:
    Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

    This is new territory for Macfarlane, who shows a sharper critical edge than in his earlier work but also engages more personally and emotionally with his material. Wrecked or restored relationships between humans and the natural world prompt the writer, like a contemporary William Blake, to throw down a moral gauntlet to those who hold economic and political power.

    While lacking the anticolonial anger of Indian author Amitav Ghosh’s polemic The Nutmeg’s Curse, Macfarlane comes to comparable conclusions. Ghosh declares in his book that “if non-human voices are to be restored to their proper place, then it must be, in the first instance, through the medium of stories”. Is A River Alive? seeks to do that.



    Read more:
    Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights. Now they need people who will defend these rights in court

    Interrogating a mystery

    Macfarlane engages seriously with knotty complexities. A river may be alive, but not in any way that can be readily incorporated into human systems. “If you interrogate a mystery, don’t expect answers in a language you can understand,” he muses. He also insists on the necessity of opening our perceptions to the life of and in a river: “to imagine that a river is alive causes water to glitter differently.”

    Macfarlane adopts an animist outlook, declaring non-human entities to have voices and worth in and of themselves. His stance is part of a wave of thinking and writing that is transporting such beliefs from the margins of western spirituality and scholarship into mainstream literature.

    This is vital work, but the challenge shouldn’t be overestimated. If you address these questions from a government perspective, you quickly get quagmired in legal systems and questions of ownership. The result, critics say, is ecological injustice, silencing the voices of nonhumans and of the humans who speak up for them. Yet action to give legal rights to rivers is increasing, from the Rio los Cedros in Ecuador to the Whanganui in Aotearoa New Zealand.

    Logics of inaction

    These are important victories, and work to foreground the rights of nature is gathering pace in the UK. In my own city of Sheffield, my colleagues and I are part of a growing network of academics and community organisations working with the River Dôn project, exploring how the river that runs through our city centre could be given a voice, legal status and, we hope, stronger protection from environmental damage.

    This work joins an increasing flow of thinking in universities, cities and communities that challenges extractive mindsets. But such voices remain sidelined even as the evidence of the damage wrought by the rapacious exploitation of Earth becomes starker.

    My own research has shown how “logics of inaction” persist – even when policymakers know they need to invest in and protect the natural world (in cities, urban parks and wild places), they find reasons to avoid doing so. More often than not, it comes down to money – finances are too tight, or the benefits aren’t obviously quantifiable.

    Even when the benefits of natural spaces are compiled and described in terms that pose no philosophical challenge – they support human health and wellbeing, relationships, participation in society – these benefits are deemed insufficient to stop the cycle of neglect. Indeed, as UK chancellor Rachel Reeves recently declared, developers should “stop worrying about bats and newts” and “focus on getting things built”.

    Is a River Alive? may not stem the tide of environmental destruction. But for those frustrated by the logics of inaction of short-term decision-making, it provides timely and necessary inspiration.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Julian Dobson 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. Robert Macfarlane’s new book is a plea to feel the pulse of our rivers – https://theconversation.com/robert-macfarlanes-new-book-is-a-plea-to-feel-the-pulse-of-our-rivers-247580

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are a threat to global food security

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lotanna Emediegwu, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Billion Photos/Shutterstock

    Donald Trump’s tariffs will make many things more expensive for his fellow US citizens. The price of imported cars, building materials and some tech will go up – and so will the cost of the food on American dining tables.

    The US currently imports around 16% of its food supply, with a large proportion of its fruit and vegetables coming from countries now hit by tariffs.

    Mexico stands out. It supplies over half the fresh fruit and nearly 70% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the US.

    And even when it comes to home grown produce, the US still depends on imported fertiliser for its crops, with Canada providing up to 85% of its neighbour’s supply.

    So grocery bills for American families, especially for fresh produce (and processed foods dependent on foreign ingredients) will get higher. But there will also be a noticeable effect on food prices outside the US.

    The consequences could be particularly serious for developing economies that rely on stable international prices to secure affordable food imports. The prices of many global staples including maize, wheat and soybeans are benchmarked against US markets so when disruptions occur, they reverberate globally.

    Research I conducted with a colleague found that when international prices are disturbed, local food prices, especially in developing countries, go up.

    Take global maize prices, which this year rose by 7% between April 2 (Trump’s “liberation day”) and April 11. Our study suggests this will immediately lead to a similar increase in local maize prices in places like sub-Saharan Africa.

    This is where many of the world’s poorest people live, with hundreds of millions in households earning below the World Bank’s poverty line of US$2.15 (£1.61) per day. When much of that income is spent on food, a 7% increase in the price of maize could be devastating.

    Growth market

    According to another study, tariffs on agricultural products such as fertiliser will increase global production costs, potentially lowering crop yields and worsening food insecurity.

    While the US has reduced tariffs on Canadian potash from 25% to 10%, other fertiliser producers face steeper levels (up to 28% for another major exporter, Tunisia, before Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were paused).

    This is especially worrying for agriculture in countries like Brazil, India and Nigeria, which are still reeling from fertiliser shortages caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine. As with food costs, US tariffs are likely to drive up prices in the global fertiliser market, making it more expensive for everyone, everywhere.

    And when the cost of farming rises, crop production can suffer. This could significantly weaken food production in developing countries that are already battling climate change and volatile markets.

    Another study I conducted found that countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia – already struggling with food insecurity – are among the most vulnerable to local food price shocks. These economies depend heavily on food imports and face high exposure to currency fluctuations and transport costs.

    A banana field in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
    giulio napolitano/Shutterstock

    If the trade war escalates, farmers in these regions may be forced to abandon staple crops for cash commodities such as cocoa or coffee, deepening their reliance on volatile global markets and reducing their food self-sufficiency. Global inequality will worsen unless things change.

    One option would be to protect essential agricultural imports, especially fertilizers and staple foods, from punitive tariffs. This would stabilise prices and protect vulnerable economies. The recently announced 90-day pause for negotiations offers a glimmer of hope, but it must be used wisely to build a more equitable trading system.

    In the long term, developing countries need to bolster the resilience of their food systems. My research recommends investing heavily in mechanised agriculture which is resilient to climate change, incentivising farmers with government support, and strengthening regional trade.

    The global food system is heavily interconnected. Decisions made in Washington can quickly affect food prices in Lagos, Cairo and New Delhi. And if tariffs go unchecked, they may unleash a silent and subtle crisis – one measured not in GDP, but in millions of empty stomachs.

    Lotanna Emediegwu 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. Why Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are a threat to global food security – https://theconversation.com/why-donald-trumps-trade-tariffs-are-a-threat-to-global-food-security-255064

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is dark and brilliant

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Lang, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Fine Art , University of Lincoln

    The Royal Academy’s latest exhibition, Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo offers a rare glimpse into the dark and moody world of the renowned writer best known for his novels The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables.

    The exhibition is set in exceptionally low lighting, a necessary measure to preserve the fragile drawings, which are usually only accessible under archival conditions. This dim ambience enhances the foreboding atmosphere of Hugo’s works, which are often landscapes featuring cathedrals that appear to be in ruin or emerging from mist or dust clouds.

    These drawings are reminiscent of Dennis Creffield’s gestural, energetic and dark, cathedral sketches. Hugo’s are similar, but much smaller and with a more post-apocalyptic and surreal twist.

    Titles like The Dead City attest to this, while Breakwater on Jersey, with its obscure imagery that recalls looking up a steep incline towards some towers, evokes a sense of Gothic horror, reminiscent of Dracula.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Other drawings in the exhibition are more surreal. One features a giant mushroom with a face looming over a desolate landscape, eerily evoking nuclear war (something that Hugo could not have possibly fathomed in 1850). Windmill on the Roof of a Farmhouse depicts a windmill improbably emerging from another building, adding to the surreal quality of Hugo’s work. And, one of the first drawings visitors encounter is of a poisonous tree with a skull emerging from its shadow, setting the tone for the exhibition.

    The Serpent resembles a Chinese dragon twisting through the sky over the sea with a mountain obscured in mist below its fire-breathing jaws. The light specs illuminating the water add to the mystery, as the light source itself remains unclear. Is the light emanating from the dragon’s mouth or from behind the mountain? This ambiguity adds to the surreal quality of the work.

    The Bowels of Leviathan is one of the largest and most abstract pieces in the exhibition. Loose brushwork, possibly created with a large brush or feather (as suggested by the wall text) fills the surface. Vertical lines appear like prison bars in a dark arch (one of many allusions to Les Misérables in the exhibition), while the title actually refers to the Parisian sewers – a recurring theme in Hugo’s novel.

    Several drawings in the exhibition can be interpreted as metaphors for political turmoil. Lighthouse at Casquets, Guernsey features a heavily tilting ship, while Boat without Sails depicts what appears to be a single piece of wood from a ship wreck, or perhaps a raft afloat.

    Ship in a Storm further emphasises the theme of stormy waters, reflecting the turbulent political landscape of Hugo’s time. His father was a general in the Napoleonic empire, which crumbled when Victor was 12. He saw the Bourbon monarchy restored, then the revolutions of 1830 and 1848. Not only a witness, Hugo was deeply involved in politics, resulting in his exile to the Chanel Islands, where he made most of the drawings on display, during the reign of Napoleon III.

    The Durande Ship After Sinking and The Wreck are positioned on either side of Octopus, a fantastical depiction of what lies beneath the stormy seas. Or perhaps life after the storm, strange and other worldly. There are two versions of Octopus on display, both of which would not look out of place as illustrations for a H.P. Lovecraft novel. These pieces suggest a strange and otherworldly life after turmoil and the sense of uncertainty feels oddly present today.

    Hugo’s use of lace imprints and collage, such as postage stamps, was avant-garde for his time. He combined charcoal, pen, brown ink and wash, gouache, graphite, and more, showcasing his experimental approach to art. Compositionally, these works are sophisticated and live up to Van Gogh’s description of them as “astonishing things”.

    Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is a captivating exhibition that offers a rare opportunity to experience the dark and surreal world of one of history’s most celebrated writers and artists. The exhibition is a must-see for art lovers and fans of Victor Hugo alike.

    Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo is on at the Royal Academy, London until June 29 2025.

    Martin Lang 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. Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is dark and brilliant – https://theconversation.com/astonishing-things-the-drawings-of-victor-hugo-at-the-royal-academy-is-dark-and-brilliant-255262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Current legal frameworks can’t protect the oceans from deep-sea mining and the negative impacts on humankind

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Susan Reid, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia

    A soil boring boat used to collect geological information from the seafloor. (Shutterstock)

    The international legal order is floundering. The geopolitical and resource policy priorities of the United States are shifting.

    These changes now implicate the international framework for governing the seabed: on April 24, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that moves toward allowing deep-sea mining by the Americans.

    Driven by a critical minerals expansionary agenda, the U.S. is considering measures to fast-track approvals for corporations to mine the international seabed.

    What is the difference — for marine environments — between excavation under an international legal framework or U.S. domestic law? Both systems permit state and private organizations to mine vulnerable marine ecosystems: does an international framework offer stronger environmental protections than U.S. law?

    A ‘constitution’ for the ocean

    Under the United Nations’ watch, ocean conditions have declined.

    The international seabed zone encompasses 54 per cent of the planet’s surface. The designation was created in 1994 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). When described as the “constitution for the oceans,” UNCLOS deceivingly implies that its role is protective. However, the treaty functions as architecture for exploiting ocean resources.

    It does this by dividing the ocean into zones that control how and where nations and corporations can exploit the seas. As well, it supports the idea of the ocean as a vast, exploitable resource. Weak environmental protections are offered in return. UNCLOS speaks little of either the ocean itself or of diverse human-ocean relationships.

    It is a constitution for the ocean, without the ocean.

    PBS reports on the impacts of deep-sea mining.

    Regulating mining

    UNCLOS established the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to manage the international seabed as the “common heritage of humankind.” Since it was established 30 years ago, the ISA has prioritized the development of a regulatory framework for commercial mining. But the ISA’s stewardship of the deep seabed as humankind’s common heritage involves more than the advancement of commercial mining.

    Given the multiple ocean crises intensifying under the impacts of climate change, it is bewildering that the ISA could still be pursuing such a destructive regime.

    Under UNCLOS, the ISA has legal responsibilities to protect the marine environment. Yet it doesn’t have a comprehensive environmental policy, environmental management plan or dedicated scientific division. This is despite the central role marine science plays in understanding and protecting the ocean. Instead, the ISA appears to be patching together environmental regulations on the fly.

    Extractive interests

    The scientific data that the ISA relies on comes from the very companies seeking to mine the seabed. Commercial miners conduct their own environmental assessments and benchmarks, and as such, the ISA’s governance approach appears to be one of companies self-regulating.

    Despite the “ocean emergency” and scientific concerns about marine ecological risks, the ISA maintains an extractivist path.

    It is now finalizing regulations to allow commercial mining in the Clarion–Clipperton zone of the North Pacific Ocean. If all exploration licences currently issued in this zone are converted to exploitation licenses, this will be the largest mining operation the planet has ever experienced.

    The ISA’s 170 members, including the U.S., have upheld a consensus-based governance approach. In doing so, they’ve prevented any unilateral claims to the international seabed. Although the U.S. never ratified UNCLOS, it too has largely observed the consensus-based legal order. Until now.

    The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian deep-sea mining company, recently announced its intention to bypass the ISA and work with the Trump administration to pursue seabed mining in international waters. To do so, it will rely on the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA), administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Congress had previously noted that this domestic law was always considered a temporary measure until the development of an acceptable system under UNCLOS.



    Read more:
    Terminations at U.S. government agencies that monitor extreme weather events will have negative effects

    In principle, NOAA’s deep ocean scientific expertise enables it to competently oversee U.S. seabed mining. This includes assessing the potential environmental impacts of mining and ensuring the protection of the marine environment. It has already developed DSHMRA mining regulations within a “precautionary and adaptive management framework.”

    Before granting a mining licence, NOAA is required to prepare and publish an environmental impact statement. However, recent staff cuts and the new administration’s rollback of marine environmental protections potentially compromise its oversight capacity.

    How NOAA’s scientific teams feel about fast-tracking a “gold rush” is another story.

    The ISA has denounced its snubbing by The Metals Company. However, by shopping around for a jurisdiction of convenience, TMC has inadvertently shone a spotlight on gaps in the ISA’s environmental governance approach.

    Future marine research

    In the meantime, momentum for a ban or moratorium is growing.

    Without a foundational science policy or in-house scientific expertise, the ISA is ill-equipped to safeguard the deep ocean. Marine science offers a way to better understand the deep ocean and its vulnerabilities and can help re-imagine the ISA’s direction toward a more generative role as an environmental steward.



    Read more:
    Humanity depends on the ocean — Here is what we need to prioritize for immediate ocean science research

    Through marine social sciences, ocean humanities and Indigenous knowledge, other pathways can be explored toward a better understanding of human-ocean relationships. The ISA has the potential to step up to its planetary stewardship role by developing policy guidelines to guide such transitions. The oceanographic background of the ISA’s new secretary-General, Leticia Carvalho, bodes well. Perhaps this may happen through a renewed focus on marine science — time will tell.

    Susan Reid 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. Current legal frameworks can’t protect the oceans from deep-sea mining and the negative impacts on humankind – https://theconversation.com/current-legal-frameworks-cant-protect-the-oceans-from-deep-sea-mining-and-the-negative-impacts-on-humankind-254967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The woman who turned the Met Gala into the biggest party of the year

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén, SweAmfo/ASF Research Fellow at USC School of Cinematic Arts | Fulbright Scholar, University of Southern California

    Diana Vreeland takes a drag from her cigarette as she greets Andy Warhol. Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

    The annual Met Gala in New York City is a dazzling collision of celebrity, fashion and media frenzy.

    The event is ostensibly a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which houses a vast collection of historical costumes and fashion artifacts.

    But for many people, it’s that time of year when their social media feeds become awash with posts, stories and live streams of A-list actors, musicians and influencers ascending the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to showcase their elaborate outfits.

    Zendaya at the 2024 Met Gala, which was themed ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.’
    Neilson Barnard/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

    The gala has come a long way since its early days as an intimate fundraising event for the local fashion industry and New York’s old-guard elite.

    Through my research at the Met’s Thomas J. Watson Library, I discovered the ways in which a former fashion editor named Diana Vreeland elevated this formerly stuffy charity ball into a global media sensation.

    A low-key affair

    Philanthropist and arts patron Irene Lewisohn launched the Museum of Costume Art in 1937 to promote the preservation and study of historical clothing. In 1946, New York fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert helped bring the museum’s collection under the purview of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the caveat that it would operate independently of the museum’s budget. It was then renamed the Costume Institute.

    Dorothy Shaver burnished the reputation of the Costume Institute in its early years.
    Erwin Blumenfeld/Condé Nast via Getty Images

    In 1948, Lambert organized the inaugural gala to raise funds for the institute. The following year, Lord & Taylor president Dorothy Shaver established a formal management structure for both the institute and its annual gala, streamlined operations, and helped burnish the reputation of the fledgling institution among New York’s social elite. During her tenure, gala revenues climbed steadily, from US$31,723 in 1949 to $118,775 in 1958 – roughly $1.3 million in today’s dollars.

    The Met Gala that Shaver shaped looked similar, in many ways, to today’s: There was a theme, a formal dinner, live entertainment and a fashion parade that attendees could participate in. There were also a photographers row, where guests could be snapped by famed fashion photographers for a fee, and raffles with department store prizes.

    After Shaver’s death in 1958, department store executives continued to steer the gala, but attendance and revenue waned. In 1961, in an effort to cut costs and revive interest, the event was moved into the museum itself.

    The gala needed a reinvention. Soon, it would get one.

    Vreeland’s vision

    Diana Vreeland took the reins of the Met Gala in 1973.

    She’d had a storied career in fashion journalism, including stints as fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue.

    Vreeland, however, understood that in order for the gala to grow, it needed to become a newsworthy event that would be of interest to those who might not even attend the gala itself. So she selected spectacular, sometimes controversial themes that would generate interest from the press.

    Vreeland’s first exhibition in 1973 was bold: a tribute to a single designer, Cristóbal Balenciaga.

    “The World of Balenciaga” was funded by the Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and five Spanish banks – a controversial move, considering Spain was still under Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. The show featured Franco’s granddaughter’s wedding dress as one of the central pieces.

    Some curators also bristled at Vreeland’s unorthodox approach to exhibition planning, such as blurring time periods, displaying clothes without providing historical context and prioritizing beauty over scholarship.

    “She knows fashion and who wore it,” one former museum official said, “but she doesn’t know history.”

    Nonetheless, critics deemed the gala and its accompanying exhibition a huge success. American designer Stan Herman declared that the garments “belong in a museum, like good paintings.”

    In the coming years, Vreeland’s other themes included “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design,” “The ‘10s, ’20s and ’30s,” and “American Women of Style.” The latter was accompanied by a Vogue magazine spread starring actress and model Marisa Berenson, who channeled iconic American “it girls” like Irene Castle, Consuelo Vanderbilt and Josephine Baker.

    Models and actresses wear costumes and masks for the Costume Institute’s 1974 exhibition ‘Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design.’ Diana Vreeland is seated in the center, sans mask.

    Buzz and pizzazz

    Before Vreeland, coverage of the gala was limited to society pages and publications like Women’s Wear Daily.

    Vreeland knew how to generate buzz because she thought like an editor. She also knew how to charm the press. Vreeland popularized words like “pizzazz,” “splendeur” and “deeveen.” She told tales of discovering model and actress Lauren Bacall and the work of fashion designer Roy Halston. She regaled reporters with stories of allegedly visiting Buffalo Bill in Wyoming.

    Under Vreeland’s leadership, media coverage of the gala and exhibitions exploded, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, People, Interview, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Revista Hola!, ABC de las Americas, Il Tempo, Paris Herald Tribune and Tokyo’s High Fashion, among others. During her tenure, she also opened the doors to reporters and photographers so they could cover the night of the event.

    In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily she said, “I am an entertainer. And I believe in wit, and good nature, and laughter.”

    Corporate controversies

    With “The World of Balenciaga,” Vreeland also pioneered the use of corporate sponsorships to finance the exhibitions and parties. In 1982, Pierre Cardin Management funded “La Belle Époque,” a Met Gala theme associated with the relaunch of the famed Paris restaurant Maxim’s, in which Cardin had invested.

    In 1983, Vreeland courted controversy again with the first exhibition honoring a living designer — Yves Saint Laurent — underwritten by the Pierre Bergé Foundation. Bergé was Saint Laurent’s life and business partner.

    The show was launched amid rumors of the designer’s declining health and growing criticism of the museum being exploited as a publicity platform.

    “One day the god of the Temple of Dendur will cry: ‘I am not on earth to share a museum with a bunch of fashion freaks!’” critic John Heilpern groused in the East Side Express.

    The following year, Ralph Lauren became the central sponsor and guest of honor for “Man and the Horse.”

    Diana Vreeland and designer Ralph Lauren at the 1984 gala, which was themed ‘Man and the Horse’ and sponsored by Lauren.
    Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images

    The Met set

    Under Vreeland, a new kind of guest list also emerged.

    The rise of celebrity culture in the 1960s gave birth to the “jet set” – beautiful people whose fame transcended traditional society circles.

    Vreeland embraced this shift. She made space at the gala for the likes of Andy Warhol, Bianca and Mick Jagger, Halston and his Halstonettes, David Bowie, Cher, Diana Ross, Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson.

    Their presence helped transform the gala from society soirée to pop culture phenomenon.

    After Vreeland’s death in 1989, the event lost some its splendor under the guidance of museum curators. Women’s Wear Daily columnist Aileen Mehle later lamented the decline, writing that the event had become “a far cry from the dear old Diana Vreeland days when that fashion oracle called the Costume Institute’s shots, and elegance and anticipation abounded.”

    In the late 1990s, however, the museum curators who had run the event since Vreeland’s death ceded control back to the fashion industry. High-end brands like Chanel, Versace and Christian Dior sponsored the Met Gala, while fashion editors such as Liz Tilberis and Anna Wintour chaired the event.

    By channeling Vreeland’s vision, they were able to turn the gala into the global media spectacle it is today, which now thrives in an era of social media and global branding.

    This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Styles,” is co-chaired by rapper-producer Pharrell Williams, who is also the artistic director of Menswear at Louis Vuitton. The LVMH conglomerate – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton – is the sponsor, showing how the gala continues to operate as a platform where corporate branding, celebrity culture and high culture converge.

    Taylor Swift attends the 2014 Met Gala, themed ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion.’
    Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

    Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén received funding from Fulbright (2023-2024)

    – ref. The woman who turned the Met Gala into the biggest party of the year – https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-turned-the-met-gala-into-the-biggest-party-of-the-year-250363

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pandas and politics − from World War II to the Cold War, zoos have always been ideological

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John M. Kinder, Professor of History and American Studies, Oklahoma State University

    Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji walks around his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in September 2023 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s sweeping range of more than 130 executive orders and other decisions aim to upend everything from long-standing immigration policy to the control of a performing arts center.

    But so far, zoos are not among the many issues the Trump administration has focused on.

    That might no longer be the case.

    Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2025, to restore “truth and sanity” at federal history sites.

    “Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history,” Trump wrote in the executive order, “replacing facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” As a corrective, he instructed Vice President JD Vance to ferret out “improper ideology” at the Smithsonian Institution, a group of museums and research centers created and funded by the federal government.

    The executive order also applied to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., which has been part of the Smithsonian since 1890.

    For Trump’s critics, the suggestion that zoos might be indoctrinating visitors was absurd.

    NBC “Late Night” host Seth Meyers joked about the executive order on his show on April 2, characterizing it as evidence of an authoritarian personality.

    “Seriously, what the hell is ‘improper’ ideology at the zoo? Trump is starting to get into weird dictator s—,” Meyers said.

    Meyers’ astonishment should come as no surprise. Zoos go to great lengths to portray themselves as scientifically objective and politically neutral.

    Yet as a scholar of wars’ effects on American culture and society, I know that zoos have always been ideological, sending subtle – and not so subtle – messages about topics that have little to do with animals.

    Historically, zoos have been used to justify colonial exploitation. They have lent weight to eugenicist ideas about racial hierarchy. And they have served as backdrops for all kinds of political theater.

    During the 1920s and 1930s, for example, Italian strongman Benito Mussolini liked to climb inside the lion cage at the Rome Zoo to demonstrate the courage and vitality he associated with fascist politics.

    As I argue in my 2025 book “World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age,” the links between zoos and national politics are especially pronounced in periods of war.

    Benito Mussolini, the longtime fascist dictator of Italy, visits a zoo in Rome in 1924.

    World war zoos

    Zoo ownership and funding models depend on the individual zoo, but many zoos receive at least some government funding to operate.

    At the start of World War II, most governments required zoos to embrace an ideology of sacrifice – a willingness to set the needs of the state above their own.

    For zoos in North America and the British Empire, this meant slashing workers’ pay, rationing food supplies and offering uniformed soldiers special access to zoo facilities.

    It also meant destroying animals considered a threat to public safety, especially in the event of a bombing or assault that could set them free. In 1939, the London Zoo killed more than 200 animals, starting with the black widow spiders and venomous snakes. Other zoos did the same, slaughtering their animal collections as a precaution against possible escape.

    Joan the hippo at the London Zoo gets a drink of water in June 1939.
    Fox Photos/Getty Images

    Authoritarian governments during World War II exercised almost total control over their nations’ zoos.

    Under Adolf Hitler, German zoos enforced “Aryan-only” visitation policies, festooned their grounds with swastikas, hosted galas for Nazi dignitaries and exhibited animals looted from zoos in occupied nations.

    In Japan, the governor of Tokyo ordered the Ueno Zoo to carry out a series of “propaganda killings” aimed at strengthening public commitment to the wartime struggle. Starting in August 1943, zoo staff shot, electrocuted, stabbed and strangled more than 20 animals, including a polar bear, an American bison, a python and a leopard cub.

    Tokyo’s zoo also starved to death three elephants named Jon, Tonki and Hanako. Weeks after the zoo held an official funeral for its animals, two of the three elephants that were not actually dead continued to suffer, their cages covered in bunting so the public would not see the ghastly evidence.

    Even as the fighting raged, the Soviet government directed its zoos to develop practical measures to help the war effort. At the Moscow Zoo, staff taught people how to breed mice and rabbits for medical applications, such as vaccine testing.

    All the while, Soviet zoo employees had to demonstrate ideological vigilance in the workplace. Any slipup could mean official sanction, loss of position or worse.

    Cold War zoos

    During the Cold War, governments around the world continued to view zoos through an ideological lens.

    This was especially true in Berlin, where the city’s two zoos – one in the capitalist West, the other in the communist East – became symbols of competing ideological worldviews.

    No zoo animals were more ideologically fraught in the Cold War than giant pandas, endemic to the forested mountains of central China.

    In the 1950s and 1960s, American zoos were denied permission by the U.S. government to import pandas from China. The State Department considered them “enemy goods.”

    First lady Pat Nixon welcomes pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972.

    That changed in 1972, when President Richard Nixon, during a thawing of the Cold War, famously returned from China with Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the first giant pandas who were gifted to and exhibited in the U.S. in decades.

    The National Zoo unveiled China’s latest “soft power ambassadors” in January 2025. Three-year-old pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao are set to remain in D.C. for 10 years – long enough to win the hearts and minds of millions of zoo visitors.

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

    – ref. Pandas and politics − from World War II to the Cold War, zoos have always been ideological – https://theconversation.com/pandas-and-politics-from-world-war-ii-to-the-cold-war-zoos-have-always-been-ideological-255305

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David Yamane, Professor of Sociology, Wake Forest University

    About 86 million American adults own at least one of the estimated 400 million firearms in the U.S. today. Paul Campbell, iStock / Getty Images Plus

    An Asian American and lifelong liberal from the San Francisco Bay Area, I became a first-time gun owner as a 42-year-old in 2011. I began a now 14-year journey into an unfamiliar and complex world of firearms. In my work, I draw on both my personal experiences and sociological observations to understand the long-standing presence of a robust legal gun culture in America.

    In contrast to the dominant scholarly approaches, which focus on gun deviance and harm, I find there is more to firearms than criminal violence, injury and death; more to gun owners than straight white men; and more to gun culture than democracy-destroying right-wing politics.

    Let me share five observations essential to understanding guns in America:

    1. Guns are normal

    About 86 million American adults – 1 in 3 – own at least one of the estimated 400 million firearms in the U.S. today.

    Imagine if everyone who uses TikTok in the U.S. owned a gun – and then add the population of New York City. That is enough gun owners to fill over 1,000 NFL stadiums.

    Humans have used projectile weapons like rocks and spears from the beginning. This unbroken history continues in every society, with firearms as the weapon of choice in all but the most isolated communities. People who could legally own guns in colonial America commonly did so. Even today, civilian firearms ownership remains exceptionally high in the U.S. compared with other industrialized nations.

    The right of everyday Americans to own guns is a deep part of American culture, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and many state constitutions.

    2. Gun culture 2.0

    The culture of guns in the U.S. has evolved over time.

    Before the mid-1800s, people primarily used firearms for practical purposes: hunting for food, defense from and offense against indigenous populations, controlling enslaved people, expanding territory and fighting against oppressive rulers.

    Kevin Dixie, at a firearms retailer and gun range in Ballwin, Mo., believes that gun rights are about empowering minority communities and ensuring freedom for every American.
    AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

    Starting in the mid-1800s, Americans developed a more complex gun culture that included recreational hunting, organized target shooting and gun collecting. These elements continue today, but, in a shift, Americans increasingly own guns for self-defense.

    Evidence for the evolution to what I call “Gun Culture 2.0” appears in three key areas: surveys about why people own guns, the loosening of gun-carrying laws beginning in the 1980s, and changes in both the types of firearms sold and how companies market them, especially toward small, concealable pistols.

    3. Gun ownership is diverse

    Black Americans have a particularly strong tradition of gun ownership dating at least to the 19th-century abolitionist movement.

    Today, 1 in 4 Black Americans, as well as 1 in 5 Latinos and 1 in 4 women, personally own a gun. Twenty percent of gun owners consider themselves politically liberal. For every four evangelical Protestants who own handguns, three people who don’t identify with any religion own them too. Scholars are even beginning to discover the importance of LGBTQ+ gun owners.

    Gun Culture 2.0 is more diverse and inclusive than the United States’ historical gun culture because security is a universal human concern.

    The response to feelings of insecurity varies. Portfolios of protective measures in the U.S. include home security systems, dogs, the hyperlocal social networking service Nextdoor, gated communities and firearms.

    4. Guns are lethal tools

    Many tools like knives and chainsaws are lethal, meaning they have the capacity to cause death. Guns differ because their lethality is by design. Consequently, guns can make dangerous situations more deadly.

    Despite their ubiquity and deadly potential, accidental firearm deaths are relatively rare and declining in the U.S., numbering fewer than 500 annually in recent years. Most gun deaths are intentional, with suicides accounting for 58% and homicides for 38% of 46,728 gun deaths in 2023.

    While the U.S. has a moderate overall suicide rate compared with other developed countries, it has a firearm suicide rate that substantially exceeds these other nations. This is because firearms are widely available and highly lethal. When people attempt suicide using guns, they die in up to 90% of cases.

    Similarly, although the U.S. is not exceedingly violent or criminal compared with peer nations, its criminal violence is more deadly because these lethal tools are more frequently involved.

    Starting in the mid-1800s, Americans developed a more complex gun culture that included recreational hunting, as depicted in this 1852 lithograph of woodcock hunters.
    Universal History Archive/Getty Images

    5. Guns are paradoxical

    Despite high rates of firearm suicide and homicide, most guns in the U.S. will not kill anyone, and most American gun owners will not commit violence against themselves or others. My calculations, based on the 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, indicate that just one gun death occurred per 8,560 firearms and 1,840 gun owners – meaning at least 99.99% of guns and 99.95% of gun owners were not directly involved in fatalities that year.

    These observations collectively point to a final insight: Guns resist simple categorization and embody multiple paradoxes.

    To different people, they are fun and frightening, dangerous and protective, diffuse and concentrated, unifying and divisive, attractive and repulsive, interesting and controversial, useful and useless, good and bad, and neither good nor bad.

    This is to say, guns are not inherently anything. They take on different meanings according to the various purposes to which people put them.

    A realistic view requires maintaining a clear-eyed understanding of the lethal capabilities of firearms. But the tendency to focus exclusively on firearms-related harms, while understandable, becomes a problem, in my view, when it fails to acknowledge the normality of guns and the diversity of gun owners.

    David Yamane has received funding from The Louisville Institute for the Study of American Religion to study church security. He is a member of the Liberal Gun Club, National African American Gun Association, and National Rifle Association, and financially supports the Liberal Gun Owners 501c4 and Walk the Walk America 501c3 organizations.

    – ref. Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms – https://theconversation.com/guns-in-america-a-liberal-gun-owning-sociologist-offers-5-observations-to-understand-americas-culture-of-firearms-251084

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Deporting international students risks making the US a less attractive destination, putting its economic engine at risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David L. Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Boston University students march to demand the school declare itself a sanctuary campus to protect their peers from the federal government regardless of their immigration status, on April 3, 2025. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    In early April 2025, the Trump administration terminated the immigration statuses of thousands of international students listed in a government database, meaning they no longer had legal permission to be in the country. Some students self-deported instead of facing deportation.

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced that it would reverse the terminations after courts across the country determined they did not have merit.

    These moves come as the White House seeks to enhance vetting and screening of all foreign nationals.

    The State Department in March announced plans to use artificial intelligence to review international students’ social media accounts.

    As an administrator and scholar who specializes in international higher education, I know that international students in the United States have long been subjected to a high level of vetting, screening and monitoring.

    Inserting additional bureaucracy into current processes could make the U.S. a less attractive study destination. I believe this would ultimately hamper the Trump administration’s ability to achieve its “America First” priorities related to the economy, science and technology, and national security.

    International students in the US

    The U.S. has long been the global leader in attracting international students. But competition for these students is increasing as other countries, such as Germany and South Korea, enact strategies for attracting international education.

    The U.S. hosts 16% of all students studying outside of their home country, down from 22% in 2014 and 28% in 2001, according to the Institute of International Education. Of the more than 1 million international students who were present in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 academic year, 54% came from just two countries, China and India.

    Most international students pursue graduate degrees in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And, according to the National Science Foundation, international students make up a significant portion of enrollment at the master’s and doctoral levels.

    How international students are screened

    International students in the U.S. are already subjected to intense screening and continuous monitoring. These measures include:

    • Vetting the student’s school. Before they can apply for a visa, international students must be admitted to a school authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to enroll people on student visas.

    • Vetting at the embassy. As part of the visa application process, international students are subjected to national security reviews carried out by various intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In some cases, such as when a U.S. consular officer in their home country decides that more information is required from external sources to determine visa eligibility, additional screenings occur. That is done through a process known as administrative processing.

    • Vetting upon arrival. When they arrive in the U.S., international students are again screened by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. If the officer is unable to verify any information, the student is sent to secondary inspection, a secure interview area where the student waits while officers complete additional assessment. The student is then either admitted to the U.S. or forced to depart the country.

    • Ongoing monitoring while in the U.S. If permitted to enter the country, students must enroll full time, earn good grades and notify their school within 10 days of substantive changes to their circumstances.

    Examples include a change to their address, academic major or financial sponsor. And school officials are required to report this information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s National Security Investigations Division.

    Students participating in temporary, postgraduation training programs must continue to comply with reporting requirements. And certain STEM graduates, and their employers, are subject to additional requirements. They include certification of training plans, annual evaluations and site visits.

    Most international students prefer to study in the U.S., recent research shows. But they are willing to change their preferences as other countries introduce friendlier visa policies, such as more flexible post-study work opportunities and lower visa costs.

    Given the current level of screening and monitoring already imposed on international students in the U.S., it is unclear how additional measures would add value.

    Boston University police officers speak to each other as students protest outside a dean’s office demanding the school declare itself a sanctuary campus, on April 3, 2025.
    Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Critical to an America First agenda

    President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda aims to grow the U.S. economy.

    It also intends to maintain U.S. leadership in science and technology and enhance national security.

    Trump administration officials have underlined the importance of recruiting top global talent. And Trump has said that international students who graduate from U.S. colleges should be awarded a green card with their degree.

    During the 2023-2024 academic year, international students contributed US$43.8 billion to the U.S. economy through tuition and living expenses, which supported an estimated 378,175 U.S. jobs.

    Their contributions don’t end following graduation, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Many go on to launch successful startups at a rate that is eight to nine times higher than their domestic peers. In fact, 25% of billion-dollar companies in the U.S. were founded by a former international student.

    Such companies include Eventbrite, Grammarly, Moderna, OpenAI, Robinhood and SpaceX.

    International students also help the U.S. maintain global leadership in STEM.

    Consider that 45% of STEM workers in the U.S. holding a doctoral degree were born outside the U.S.

    A 2024 report cautions that the U.S. is failing to develop domestic STEM talent at all levels of the education system. Just 3.2% of U.S. high school graduates are estimated to enter the STEM workforce.

    Moreover, the country’s ability to attract and retain international STEM talent is decreasing due to immigration restrictions and increased global competition.

    Finally, international students are critical to establishing global networks and promoting soft power diplomacy. This is evidenced by the U.S. having graduated more world leaders than any other nation.

    Further restricting the ability of international students to study in the U.S. will ultimately redirect talent to other countries, allies and adversaries alike.

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

    – ref. Deporting international students risks making the US a less attractive destination, putting its economic engine at risk – https://theconversation.com/deporting-international-students-risks-making-the-us-a-less-attractive-destination-putting-its-economic-engine-at-risk-249245

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NHS: Farage’s dire healthcare plans will “cost lives” say Greens

    Source: Scottish Greens

    01 May 2025 Health

    Reform are a threat to people and planet.

    More in Health

    The leader of Reform UK’s plans to introduce private healthcare insurance to the UK would “cost lives”, says Scottish Greens health spokesperson Gillian Mackay MSP.

    The statement was said by the millionaire politician Nigel Farage during an interview with Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, where he said “I do not want it [the NHS] funded through general taxation.”

    The Reform UK MP implied that he would instead replace it with a system of private insurance, which would cost working people across Scotland more.

    Scottish Greens have always stood up for publicly owned healthcare in Scotland and criticised moves from the Labour UK government to implement privatisation in sectors of the NHS south of the border.

    Scottish Greens health spokesperson Gillian Mackay MSP said:

    “Nigel Farage is a millionaire who has no problem funding his own healthcare, but he wants to push these dire plans to punish the least well off in society, the families and communities most likely to need crucial healthcare.

    “Healthcare must always be accessible and free for everyone. We have that right now in Scotland, and any suggestion to introduce private insurance is a blatantly obvious attempt to Americanise our healthcare system.

    “I have no doubt that these proposals from Farage would cost lives. Charging patients to access healthcare will have tragic consequences for those who need healthcare the most.

    “Our NHS needs help to deal with the disastrous staffing crisis caused by the withdrawal from the EU – which Scotland didn’t vote for -, and recovery from one of the worst health crises in centuries. This kind of political distraction isn’t going to help the nurses, doctors and patients; it simply drives profit from ill health.

    “Scottish Greens have always worked to protect Scotland’s NHS, in the 2025/26 budget we supported a £2 billion increase in frontline NHS funding in order to reduce waiting times, improve access and ensure everyone can access the healthcare they need.

    “With the real prospect of a far right  Reform government without a single MP in Scotland, independence has never been so crucial. Next year, Scotland can reject the dire and dangerous ideas of Reform UK and Nigel Farage, by voting for Scottish Green MSPs who will protect our NHS, put money in people’s pockets and tackle the climate emergency.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Unmanned Drones Carrying Bathymetric Lidar Systems Being Utilized to Cover Larger Areas Quickly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – LIDAR is being used in more industries across all markets and in many environments… one of which is water. People have studied the underwater depth of river, sea, and ocean floors for thousands of years to be able to safely navigate boats through the water. Today, such depth measurements are done using advanced technology that includes either sound (sonar), or laser pulses (LiDAR). The study of underwater topographies is called bathymetry, whereas studying underwater depths is known under terms such as seafloor mapping or imaging. According to a recent report from Precedence Research the global LiDAR market, including bathymetric LiDAR, is projected to reach a substantial $13.74 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 21.56% from 2024 to 2033. This growth is driven by increased adoption in various sectors, including autonomous vehicles, infrastructure development, and environmental applications like forestry and flood modeling. A recent article by an industry insider said: “Bathymetric LiDAR was first used to detect submarines. However, many more applications have been developed that use bathymetric LiDAR as a result of advancing sensor technology. With smaller platforms including unmanned drones and small helicopters that can carry heavier payloads, bathymetric LiDAR systems can cover large areas quickly and capture accurate 3D data that includes the seabed and surrounding terrain of different water bodies.   Over time, bathymetric LiDAR has proven to be a fast, reliable, accurate, and safe technique for rapidly mapping nearshore waters, beaches, coastal engineering structures, and more. Compared to traditional methods, such as sonar-based systems or manual depth soundings, bathymetric LiDAR can generate more detailed and precise maps of underwater topography. It also allows for seamless mapping of both water and surrounding land, with the ability to reach up to three times the visible water depth.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUST).

    The article continued: “The advantage of using green light for bathymetric LiDAR is that it penetrates further into the water than other frequencies, to capture deeper depths that standard bathymetry methods may miss. Green light also scatters less off suspended particles than other wavelengths, reducing inaccuracies caused by suspended sediment or algae in the water column.   Bathymetric LiDAR is also a more sustainable and safer option for underwater mapping as it doesn’t require expensive and fuel-consuming survey vessels, or people entering the water. These might get lost or injured during surveys, while the use of bathymetric LiDAR sensors eliminates such potential risks. Bathymetric LiDAR technology offers rapid, accurate, and cost-effective data collection for hydrographic surveying, which involves measuring the physical features of water bodies (depth, currents, and underwater topography). Using bathymetric LiDAR, submerged archeological sites are found and studied, such as ancient shipwrecks and submerged settlements.”

    ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Drone as a Service (DaaS) Offerings Expand to Bathymetric Surveys for Underwater Terrain Mapping for Commercial and Government Customers – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its DaaS offerings have expanded to include bathymetric surveys, a specialized method of mapping underwater terrain using drones equipped with sonar. These surveys are important for critical underwater depth and contour data to support maintenance, dredging, environmental planning, and aquatic development for both commercial and government customers.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS bathymetric surveys are now available in South Florida through the recently acquired Wallace Surveying where the team has both golf course and Intracoastal Waterway project relationships and surveying expertise. Utilizing advanced sonar and ZenaDrone drones, high-resolution underwater maps help customers make informed decisions ─ from enhanced water management and lake and channel design strategies, to ensuring long-term sustainability.

    “The Wallace team brings key customer relationships and bathymetric survey expertise that will enhance our national DaaS drone offerings. Bathymetric surveys using aerial drones offer faster, safer, and more cost-effective data collection, especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments. Unlike conventional manned survey vessel methods, drones require fewer personnel, reduce operational risks, and can access shallow or narrow areas with greater precision,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    According to DataIntelo market research, the global Bathymetry Survey Sonar Market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023, this market is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%. This encompasses sonar systems utilized in bathymetric surveys, including those deployed on drones.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS business will incorporate the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series of multifunction autonomous drones to provide a variety of service solutions from land surveys to power line inspections or power washing, made accessible and cost effective through an Uber-like business model on a regular subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving superior results, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision farming applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments without the need for specialized training.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, recently announced it has been awarded a $46.6M contract by the Italian Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the delivery of its JUMP® 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS). The five-year contract encompasses the procurement of JUMP 20 air vehicles, engineering services, initial sustainment and onsite technical support – ensuring rapid fielding and operational readiness from day one.

    JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing UAS with 30 pounds of payload capacity, 13+ hours of endurance and an operational range of 185 km (115 mi). Purpose-built for expeditionary operations, the system can be stored and transported with ease and autonomously launched and recovered without personnel intervention, making it ideal for dynamic on-the-move operations.

    In a new whitepaper, Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), says that emerging cost-effective precision strike solutions that can be safely recovered and reused offer a strong alternative to more commonly deployed ‘One-Way Attack’ or First Person View (FPV) drones.

    In the new paper, USE IT, DON’T LOSE IT: The Case for Recoverable and Reusable Loitering Munitions, FLIR Defense argues that newer, advanced loitering munition unmanned aircraft systems (LMUAS) are better suited to support operations in the ‘atmospheric littoral.’ An emerging strategic concept, the atmospheric littoral describes the very low-altitude airspace (up to several hundred feet above ground level) which, if controlled, can significantly enhance the ground maneuver of combat units.

    Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUST) recently announced the launch of a cloud portal for Ouster Gemini, its digital lidar perception platform for security, intelligent transportation systems, crowd analytics, and logistics. With the cloud portal, users can seamlessly configure, manage, and view all of their on-premise Ouster Gemini lidar deployments through a unified interface.

    Ouster Gemini combines Ouster’s 3D digital lidar with AI-powered perception software to accurately detect, classify, and track people and vehicles, even in adverse weather or low light conditions. The solution offers seamless integration with video management systems and traffic controllers, delivering high-performance real-time 3D situational awareness to enhance security, safety, and operational efficiency.

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, recently announced the formation of its Public Safety Advisory Board. This new initiative reinforces Draganfly’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical technologies that support enforcement and public safety agencies worldwide. Renowned global public safety expert and Homeland Security advisor Paul Goldenberg will serve as the inaugural Chair of the Board.

    With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, global security, and national intelligence, Goldenberg brings unparalleled expertise to the role. Recently named America’s Most Influential Person in Homeland Security, he has advised U.S. Presidents, members of Congress, and international security bodies on counterterrorism, cybercrime, and public safety. As a former senior member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), Goldenberg led pivotal initiatives, including the DHS Cybersecurity Task Force and the Countering Foreign Influence Task Force. He currently serves as Chief Advisor for Policy and International Policing at the Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Transnational Security at the University of Ottawa, and a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association Southern Border Security Committee.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Buxton Helmsley Announces Corporate Transformation, Director and Officer Appointments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Announces Recent Corporate Transformation and Further Plans Involving Reimagined Enterprise

    Announces Commencement of USD$50mm Private Placement of Common Stock Ownership in Buxton Helmsley Parent Company, Having Received Immediate Subscriptions, and Exploring Possible Direct Listing on New York Stock Exchange

    Substantial Majority of Offering Proceeds to Be Temporarily Allocated Toward Launch of Inaugural Fund, with Parent Company Investors Obtaining Fee-Free Indirect Fund Exposure and Unique Economic Benefits Not Experienced by Unaffiliated Limited Partners

    Alexander E. Parker, Ranked Among the Top 15% of Global Activist Investors by Engagement Volume According to Bloomberg’s “Activism League Tables,” Appointed as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

    Appoints Independent Financial Industry Veterans Charles Garcia, Rumbi Petrozzello, and Beth Haddock to Board of Directors

    Appoints Tenured Financial and Venture Capital Professional Johnathan Flickinger as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    Appoints Former BNP Paribas and UBS Equity Research Head Weiyee In [殷 維一] as Head of Capital Markets Research

    Plans to Form The Buxton Helmsley Foundation, to Begin Operations in Q4 2025

    NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Buxton Helmsley, Inc. (together with certain of its affiliates, “BH”, “we”, or the “Company”), a New York City-based alternative asset manager, today announced a series of actions taken between February and April 2025. These initiatives follow the continued success of its flagship low-correlation defensive activism strategy, which has consistently captured opportunities across market cycles. BH has also unveiled plans involving a USD$50 million private placement of common stock in parent company Buxton Helmsley, Inc. (offering unique benefits to investors distinct from underlying BH fund offerings):

    • Commencement of USD$50 Million Private Placement of Common Stock in Parent Company, Buxton Helmsley, Inc. – BH has commenced a Rule 506(c) private placement of USD $50 million of common stock (the “New Private Offering”). Immediately prior to commencement (under Rule 506(b)), BH secured initial subscriptions. A substantial majority of the proceeds from the New Private Offering will be allocated to sponsoring BH’s inaugural investment fund, carrying forward an expanded version of the defensive activism strategy developed by Alexander E. Parker. This initiative further solidifies the Buxton Helmsley name among the top 15% of global activist investors by engagement volume, as ranked within Bloomberg’s “Activism League Tables.” BH has also begun exploring a potential direct listing of its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

      BH is preparing to launch its largest investor advocacy initiative to date, targeting a global corporation with a market capitalization of over $5 billion. Evidence of extensive insider trading among senior executives and “hush money” payments to whistleblowers is anticipated to drive an immediate, majority board refresh, allowing for BH to thereafter unlock significant operational and financial improvements. Given the anticipated media coverage and heightened investor interest once the initiative becomes public, pricing for future BH common stock sales will likely be adjusted upward following the public disclosure of this latest and largest campaign. Prospective investors wishing to participate under the current terms of the New Private Offering are encouraged to inquire about investing before the public announcement.

      Interested investors should inquire via e-mail at ir@buxtonhelmsley.com.

    • Commencement of Investor Discussions and Acceptance of New Private Offering Subscriptions – BH has initiated discussions with investment banks, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors, and has begun accepting New Private Offering subscriptions. All investors must be accredited, and reasonable steps will be taken to verify accreditation in accordance with U.S. securities laws. The New Private Offering is not being conducted in any jurisdiction where such an offering would be unlawful under that jurisdiction’s securities laws, and eligibility screening will apply to all investors, regardless of domicile.
    • Appoints Financial Industry Veterans Charles Garcia, Rumbi Petrozzello, and Beth Haddock to Board of Directors:
      • Charles Garcia – Mr. Garcia serves as the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a Member of Audit Committee at BH, where he contributes his expertise in executive leadership, corporate governance, and financial oversight. With significant experience across capital markets and financial services, he brings valuable perspective to the Company’s leadership structure. Before joining BH, Mr. Garcia founded Climb Leadership International, a company dedicated to fostering leadership excellence at Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and financial technology firms. His distinguished career includes serving as a Managing Director at Citadel and Director of Business Development at BlackRock. Mr. Garcia began his professional journey at Bloomberg LP, where he spearheaded the company’s strategic expansion across Latin America. Beyond his corporate achievements, Mr. Garcia has made significant academic contributions as an adjunct professor at Columbia University, and as a professor and Assistant Dean at Long Island University Post’s School of Business. His combined experience in financial markets, leadership development, and academia provides BH with comprehensive governance expertise.
      • Rumbi B. Petrozzello, CPA CFF CFE – Ms. Petrozzello serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee and a Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee at BH, where she contributes her extensive expertise in accounting, forensic investigation, and compliance oversight. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), she brings critical financial governance skills to the firm’s leadership team. Before joining BH, Ms. Petrozzello established herself as a principal at Rock Consulting, where she provides specialized consulting services focused on internal control adequacy and litigation support for accounting and financial matters. At Seramount, a professional services and research firm, she serves as Head of Strategy, Consulting, driving initiatives to advance high-performing, inclusive workplaces. Her leadership experience includes serving as past President of the New York State Society of CPAs, in addition to actively serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Ms. Petrozzello’s combination of forensic accounting expertise, strategic consulting experience, and professional leadership provides BH with exceptional financial oversight capabilities.
      • Beth Haddock, Esq. – Ms. Haddock serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee at Buxton Helmsley, bringing over 25 years of strategic leadership in financial services, fintech, and corporate governance. She has held leadership roles across diverse environments, from large public multinationals to privately held startups, with revenues ranging from under $100 million to over $10 billion. Her background includes leadership roles at AXA S.A., Brown Brothers Harriman, Guggenheim Investments, and AdvisorEngine (acquired by Franklin Templeton), driving growth through strategic corporate development, risk management, and operational execution. Beth’s expertise spans finance, regulation, and market development, with notable initiatives including the launch of new European Union service centers, successful government grant applications, compliance program redesigns, and global fund expansion. With over seven years of experience in emerging technologies, she is well-versed in regulatory strategy, compliance, and litigation. Beth has led high-impact legal and compliance departments, holds a patent for measuring return on investment with relation to compliance initiatives, and is the author of Triple Bottom-Line Compliance, where she advocates for pragmatic, sustainable governance frameworks that deliver protection, productivity, and long-term value.
    • Appoints Alexander E. Parker as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer – Mr. Parker’s defensive and transformative investor engagement campaigns have resulted in the Buxton Helmsley name, over the course of approximately a decade, being ranked among the top 15% of global activist investors (according to Bloomberg, based on investor engagement volume). With a proven track record of impact-oriented investing to resolve market integrity issues and to catalyze positive corporate transformations, Mr. Parker has successfully led the firm’s investor advocacy initiatives by combining straightforward business acumen with a deep knowledge of securities, accounting, and legal obligations at publicly traded companies. Before establishing his leadership at BH, Mr. Parker built a reputation as an effective whistleblower, with securities regulators subsequently charging violations at entities he identified. His investor engagement campaigns have gained recognition in prestigious publications, including The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. Mr. Parker studied finance and economics at Mercy University of New York City, where he participated in the school’s honors business program. Based in Manhattan, he maintains an influential network that advances Buxton Helmsley’s investor objectives. Mr. Parker has been featured in leading financial publications including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, The Irish Times, and TheStreet.com. As a licensed investment professional through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and a FINRA-appointed arbitrator, he brings additional credibility and regulatory insight to his leadership role.
    • Appoints Johnathan J. Flickinger as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer – Mr. Flickinger has been appointed to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at BH, bringing nearly a decade of experience in financial management and private equity operations. His career spans public multinational organizations and high-growth startups, where he has led initiatives to scale internal operations and strengthen financial reporting. Prior to joining BH, Mr. Flickinger held roles at AngelList, Unilever, and The Livekindly Collective. He has overseen compliance operations for emerging venture firms, global financial planning and analysis initiatives, and has included implementation of post-acquisition financial reporting controls across international organizations. Before joining BH, Johnathan founded a venture-backed fintech company delivering an AI-native solution for registered investment advisors. Recognized for his ability to build scalable financial infrastructure, Mr. Flickinger brings to the firm a distinctive blend of corporate finance acumen, entrepreneurial perspective, and strategic leadership.
    • Appoints Weiyee In [殷 維一] as Head of Capital Markets Research – Mr. In serves as the Head of Capital Markets Research and Chair of the Expert Advisory Board at BH, where he leverages his extensive background as a publishing Wall Street analyst and senior executive at global financial institutions. With expertise spanning technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) equities, Mr. In has played a pivotal role in shaping investment strategies across multinational banks, including UBS and BNP Paribas. Mr. In has also engaged in digital asset custody and institutional trading at several chartered financial institutions. Over his career, he has held leadership roles in equity research, sustainability strategy (ESG), and regulatory advisory, developing AI-driven solutions for financial compliance frameworks such as MiFID II, GDPR, and AML/KYC regulations. A native of New York City, Mr. In has spent much of his career as an expatriate, working in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and across Southeast Asia. As an active angel investor and advisor, he has contributed to fintech, AI, data analytics, and industrial automation startups across Asia and Europe. His work in digital ledger technology (DLT) integration, trade analytics, and financial custody solutions has driven innovation in institutional investment and regulatory compliance.
    • Revocation of Historical “Buxton Helmsley” Trademark Licensees – On February 24, 2025, BH acquired the “Buxton Helmsley” trademark and related intellectual property (the “BH IP”) from BH founder Alexander E. Parker. Immediately prior to BH’s acquisition of the BH IP, Mr. Parker formally revoked the authorization to use the BH IP from two unaffiliated entities (Buxton Helmsley Holdings, Inc. and The Buxton Helmsley Group, Inc.), both of which have no shared economic interest or affiliation with BH. BH expressly disclaims any and all activities of these entities for which it is entirely unaffiliated. Immediately after BH’s acquisition of the BH IP, BH filed for formal registration of the BH IP with the USPTO.
    • Formation of Buxton Helmsley USA, Inc. – Following the formation and acquisition of the BH IP, BH formed Buxton Helmsley USA, Inc., a newly-registered exempt reporting advisor, having filed the necessary documents with the State of New York.
    • Plans to Form The Buxton Helmsley Foundation in Q4 2025 – As part of its continuing commitment to driving positive public impact, BH plans to establish The Buxton Helmsley Foundation (the “BHF”) in Q4 2025. Concurrent with the formation of BHF, BH will appoint a board of trustees to manage the charitable affairs of BHF. BHF will focus on strategic philanthropy, including medical research and innovation, development of education and economic opportunity, and whistleblower protection. BHF will manage its endowment, comprised of contributions from BH and external donors, to drive a long-term and sustainable impact.

      Mr. Parker intends to donate to BHF his direct personal economic interest in a pending lawsuit filed against defendants Assertio Holdings, Inc. and its Chief Executive Officer, Brendan P. O’Grady. The suit alleges defamation per se (the “Assertio Defamation Claim”) arising from the defendants’ response to a scheme of clinical data fraud alleged by multiple former executives-turned-whistleblowers of an Assertio subsidiary (specifically, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the maker of cancer drug Rolvedon, previously clinically tested as Rolontis). Mr. Parker will request that the BHF board of trustees earmark such funds for allocation to cancer-focused causes.

      To view the official court filing for Mr. Parker’s Assertio Defamation Claim: https://www.buxtonhelmsley.com/asrt/

      The official court transcript from the most recent hearing in which Mr. Parker is a party to (though, BH and its affiliates are not a party to): https://www.buxtonhelmsley.com/asrt/

    “This transformation marks a defining moment in Buxton Helmsley’s trajectory,” said Alexander E. Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “What was once a broader, multi-pronged enterprise has now been reimagined as a focused, high-conviction enterprise dedicated solely to alternative asset management. With this sharpened mission and a newly fortified leadership team of industry-leading professionals, Buxton Helmsley is positioned to deliver institutional-grade strategy, integrity-driven investing, and scalable impact. The launch of our $50 million private offering, alongside the formation of The Buxton Helmsley Foundation, underscores our commitment to shaping capital markets and societal outcomes alike, with both precision and purpose, to leave a long-term legacy.”

    Accredited investors interested in the USD$50 million New Private Offering may obtain more details at: https://www.buxtonhelmsley.com/news-and-insights/announcements/our-next-chapter

    About Buxton Helmsley

    Buxton Helmsley, Inc. is a New York City-based alternative asset management firm, managing both active and passive investment strategies across a range of asset classes, with a general focus on opportunities in North America and Europe. The firm’s investment approach is based on deep fundamental analysis and risk management, with a focus on ensuring disclosure obligations are being upheld under applicable accounting standards and securities laws.

    Disclosures Related to Private Offering

    The information provided within this press release by Buxton Helmsley, Inc. (“BH”) and its affiliates is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or investment products. This information does not constitute investment, legal, tax, or other advice. BH makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information contained herein.

    BH is an alternative asset manager and has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) and, as such, investors will not be entitled to the benefits of the Investment Company Act. Investments in BH may involve a high degree of risk and may employ speculative investment practices. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The value of investments may fluctuate, and investors may lose the entire amount invested. Investment in any of the investment funds or securities offered by BH is available only to eligible investors pursuant to the relevant offering documents, which should be read in their entirety.

    BH and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the information contained herein. Access to this website may be restricted under the securities laws in certain jurisdictions. Readers should verify that they are permitted to access this information under applicable law, given that this information may be republished. BH disclaims any and all liability for any unlawful access to this information.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    The information herein contains “forward-looking statements.” Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “explores,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “seeks,” “could,” “should” and/or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans, or goals are forward-looking and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There is no assurance that any idea or assumption herein is, or will be proven, correct, or that any of the objectives, plans or goals stated herein will ultimately be undertaken or achieved. If one or more of such risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of BH’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, any actual results may vary materially from any outcomes indicated or suggested by these statements. Accordingly, any and all forward-looking statements should not be regarded nor interpreted as a representation by BH that any and/or all future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated will ever be achieved.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NOTICE OF VIRTUAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF COINSHARES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ON 30 MAY 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of CoinShares International Limited (the “Company”) will take place on Friday, 30 May 2025 at 14:00 BST in the form of a hybrid virtual event at 2 Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4UA.

    The entire Annual General Meeting will be broadcast live online (audio and video) via Wavecast.io and will be open for all shareholders who are entered in the Company’s stock register on the record day of the Annual General Meeting. The exercise of shareholder rights, in particular the exercise of voting rights, requires registration for the meeting in due time and in the proper form and will be performed by poll during the meeting or by granting power of attorney to Company proxies. The location of the Annual General Meeting for the purposes of the minutes is the Company’s registered office, 2 Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4UA. 


     RIGHT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND NOTICE

    Shareholders wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting must:

    1. on the record date, which is 16 May 2025, be registered in the Company’s share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB. Shareholders, whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee, must temporarily register the shares in their own name at Euroclear Sweden AB. Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must, no later than 15 May 2025, via their nominee, temporarily register the shares in their own name in order to be entitled to participate at the general meeting. In order to re-register shares in time, shareholders should make the request via their nominee in good time before this date.
    2. notify the Company of any intended participation at the general meeting no later than 15 May 2025. Notice of participation at the general meeting may be given by following the registration instructions detailed on the Reports Portal on the Company’s website or here. Upon notification, the shareholder must state their full name, personal identification number (date of birth for non-Swedish investors) or corporate registration number, postal and email address, as well as the number of shares held.

    PROPOSED AGENDA

    1. Opening of the Annual General Meeting
    2. Election of the Chairman of the Annual General Meeting
    3. Preparation and approval of voting list
    4. Approval of the agenda
    5. Determination of whether the general meeting has been duly convened
    6. Election of one person to certify the minutes
    7. Presentation of the Annual Report, consolidated financial statements and the audit report
    8. Resolution regarding the adoption of the group income statement and group balance sheet
    9. Determination of the number of members of the Board of Directors and the number of Auditors
    10. Determination of remuneration to the Board of Directors and the Auditor
    11. Election of the Board of Directors and the Auditor
    12. Resolution on the approval of the Board of Director’s Remuneration Report
    13. Resolution regarding authorising the Board of Directors to decide on repurchase and transfer of own shares
    14. Resolution regarding amendments to the Company’s articles of association
    15. Closing of the Annual General Meeting

    PROPOSALS FOR RESOLUTIONS

    ITEM 2: OPENING OF THE MEETING AND ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL MEETING

    The Nomination Committee, appointed in accordance with the instruction for the Nomination Committee as resolved by the Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2022 and comprising of the Chairman of Nomination Committee, Michael Carlton (appointed by Daniel Masters), Jean-Frédéric Mognetti (appointed by Mognetti Partners Limited),  Paul Davison (appointed by Russell Newton) and Johan Lundberg (representative of the Board of CoinShares International Limited), proposes that Daniel Masters, Chairman, be appointed as the Chair of the Annual General Meeting 2025.

    ITEM 3: PREPARATION AND APPROVAL OF THE VOTING LIST

    The voting list proposed for approval is the voting list drawn up by the Company Secretary, based on the register of shareholders provided by Euroclear Sweden AB, shareholders having given notice of participation and being present at the Meeting, and postal votes received.

    ITEMS 9-11: DETERMINATION OF REMUNERATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE AUDITORS, ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE AUDITORS AND ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The Nomination Committee proposes that:

    Item 9

    The Board of Directors shall consist of 6 directors and that the Company should have one registered public auditor’s firm as auditor. 

    Item 10

    To increase the remuneration of the Board of Directors to the amount of GBP 70,000 per annum to each of the non-employed Directors, which includes all committee membership and committee chair positions. The proposed increase in the remuneration reflects the increased responsibilities associated with the move to the regulated segment of Nasdaq Stockholm in 2022, as well as ensuring that the Company can continue to attract and retain the right candidates for the Board of Directors. It is proposed that remuneration to the Chairman remain unchanged at GBP 125,000 per annum, provided that the Chairman is not an employee.

    Remuneration to the Auditor be paid in accordance with approved invoices.

    Item 11

    For the period up to the end of the Annual General Meeting in 2026, Jean-Marie Mognetti, Carsten Køppen, Johan Lundberg, Viktor Fritzén and Christine Rankin be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors and that Daniel Masters be re-elected as the Chairman of the Board.

    Baker Tilly International (including any of its affiliates or member firms) (collectively, “Baker Tilly”) be elected to serve as the Company’s auditor for the period ending at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in 2026, unless the Board elects to appoint another audit firm that, at the time of appointment, audits an equal or greater number of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registrants than Baker Tilly, based on the most recent data published by a recognized and independent provider of audit industry data, such as Audit Analytics or a comparable organization that tracks and reports on the number of SEC registrants audited by accounting firms. Information regarding the candidates nominated by the Nomination Committee for re-election to the Board of Directors is available on the Company’s website under the Investor Relations section.

    ITEM 12: RESOLUTION ON APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S REMUNERATION REPORT 

    Under the Swedish Corporate Governance Code, the Board of Director’s is required to prepare a report for each financial year regarding paid and outstanding remuneration to Board members, the CEO and the deputy CEO who are covered by the guidelines. As the Company has no deputy CEO and the Board members do not receive any remuneration other than that decided by the Annual General Meeting, the report for the financial year 2024 only covers the Company’s CEO. According to the Swedish Corporate Governance Board’s rules on remuneration to senior executives and on incentive programs, the report must contain an overview of each of the outstanding and concluded incentive programs completed during the year.

    The Board of Directors suggests that the Annual General Meeting approve the remuneration report for the financial year 2024.

    ITEM 13: RESOLUTION REGARDING AUTHORISING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DECIDE ON REPURCHASE AND TRANSFER OF OWN SHARES 

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on purchases of the Company’s own shares in accordance with the following, main terms:

    1. Share repurchases may be made on Nasdaq Stockholm or any other regulated market.
    2. The authorisation may be exercised on one or more occasions before the 2026 Annual General Meeting.
    3. The maximum number of own shares that may be repurchased so that the Company’s holding of shares at any given time does not exceed 15% of the total number of shares in the Company.
    4. Repurchases of the Company’s own shares on Nasdaq Stockholm (or any other regulated market) may only be made at a price of no more than 5% above the average trading price of the 5 business days prior to the repurchase.
    5. Payment for the shares shall be made in cash.

    In addition, the Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on transfer of own shares, with or without deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, in accordance with the following, main terms:

    1. Transfers may be made on (i) Nasdaq Stockholm or (ii) outside of Nasdaq Stockholm in connection with the acquisition of companies, operations, or assets.
    2. The authorisation may be exercised on one or more occasions before the 2026 Annual General Meeting.
    3. The maximum number of shares that may be transferred corresponds to the number of shares held by the Company at the point in time of the Board of Directors’ decision on transfer.
    4. Transfers of shares on Nasdaq Stockholm (or any other regulated market)  may only be made at a price of no more than 5% above the average trading price of the shares 5 business days prior to the transfer. For transfers outside of Nasdaq Stockholm, the price shall be set so that the transfer is made at market terms, except for delivery of shares in connection with employee stock option programs.
    5. Payment for transferred shares may be made in cash, through in-kind payment, or through set-off against claims with the Company.

    The purpose of the authorisations is to give the Board of Directors greater scope to act and the opportunity to adapt and improve the Company’s capital structure and thereby create further shareholder value, and/or capitalise on or take advantage of any attractive acquisition, investment or related opportunities. The authorisation may also be used in order to enable delivery of shares in connection with employee stock option programs.

    The Board of Directors shall have the right to decide on other terms for repurchases and transfers of own shares in accordance with its authorisation. The Board of Directors also has the right to authorise the Chairman, the CEO, or the person designated by the Board to make such minor adjustments that may be necessary in connection with the execution of the Board’s decision to repurchase or transfer shares.

    A valid resolution in favour of the Board’s proposal requires the approval of shareholders with at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the votes and shares represented at the Annual General Meeting.

    ITEM 14: RESOLUTION REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Company’s Articles of Association be amended by deletion of the existing articles 3.6.2, 17.2.7 and 24.12 and the insertion of new articles 3.6.2, 17.2.7 and 24.12 as follows:

    “3.6.2            the Directors may, by unanimous consent only, during any period of two consecutive calendar years, resolve to allot and issue in one or more tranches such number of ordinary shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares issued pursuant to, in connection with or upon conversion of any subsequently issued convertible bonds) as does not in the aggregate exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding any ordinary shares held in treasury) at 9am on 1st January of such year (rounded down to the nearest whole share), without the offer, issue  or allotment of such shares or the issue or conversion of any subsequently issued convertible bonds being subject to the provisions of Article 3.2 provided always that any such allotment, issue, or conversion is effected solely in connection with bona fide transactions for business purposes only (and for the avoidance of doubt the terms of this Article 3.6.2 shall not include the issuance of shares or convertible securities as consideration or compensation  for services rendered by employees, consultants, directors, or any other individuals in a personal capacity) and provided further that any issuance or allotment to any natural person pursuant to this Article 3.6.2 shall be subject to the unanimous approval of the remuneration committee as required by and in accordance with the terms of reference for such remuneration committee and shall not in aggregate in any calendar year exceed five percent (5%) of the total number of ordinary shares in issue at the time of such offer;” 

    “17.2.7          the creation of any charge or other security over any assets or property of a Group Company to secure borrowings, or indebtedness in the nature of borrowings, of that Group Company which, when aggregated with all other such borrowings or indebtedness, would exceed £200,000,000 (OTHER THAN in the ordinary course of its Business, and, DISREGARDING any amounts borrowed from other Group Companies) provided always that, subject to applicable law, nothing in these Articles (including without limitation this provision) shall restrict or prevent or be deemed to restrict or prevent the issuance by the Company of any corporate or convertible bonds or other debt instruments on an unsecured basis.”

    “24.12           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within these Articles, meetings of the Board shall be held at such locations and in such manner, and resolutions of Directors passed in writing shall be signed, so as to cause the Company to:

                         24.12.1    be resident for taxation purposes in Jersey; and

                         24.12.2   comply with the Taxation (Companies – Economic Substance) (Jersey) Law 2019.”,

    (such proposed amendments together, the “Board Proposals”).

    A valid resolution in favour of the Board Proposals requires the approval of shareholders with at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the votes and shares represented at the Annual General Meeting.

    NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES

    The total number of shares in the Company as of the date hereof amounts to 66,678,210 shares, with a corresponding number of votes. The Company holds 883,259 own shares.

    FURTHER INFORMATION

    Copies of accounts, audit report, remuneration report, proxy form, complete proposals and all other relevant documents are available on the Company’s website.

    The shareholders are hereby notified regarding the right to, at the annual general meeting, request information from the Board of Directors and the CEO.

    Jersey, 1 May 2025
     CoinShares International Limited
    The Board of Directors

    About CoinShares

    CoinShares is Europe’s largest and leading digital asset investment and trading group by AuM, managing billions of assets on behalf of a global client base. Our mission is to expand investing into digital assets with our trusted, regulated, best-in-class product suite that provides investors with trust and transparency when accessing cryptocurrencies. We believe that Bitcoin and blockchain networks are landmark innovations that will fundamentally reshape the global financial system and the way we interact digitally, and investors should be able to participate in this transformation. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF. CoinShares has multiple touchpoints with financial regulatory bodies around the world, including the AMF, JFSC and FINRA.

    For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com
    Company | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com
    Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lloyds Bank PLC: 2025 Q1 Interim Management Statement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Lloyds Bank plc
    Q1 2025 Interim Management Statement
    1 May 2025

    Member of the Lloyds Banking Group

    FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the business, strategy, plans and/or results of Lloyds Bank plc together with its subsidiaries (the Lloyds Bank Group) and its current goals and expectations. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about the Lloyds Bank Group’s or its directors’ and/or management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as, without limitation, ‘believes’, ‘achieves’, ‘anticipates’, ‘estimates’, ‘expects’, ‘targets’, ‘should’, ‘intends’, ‘aims’, ‘projects’, ‘plans’, ‘potential’, ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘considered’, ‘likely’, ‘may’, ‘seek’, ‘estimate’, ‘probability’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘deliver’, ‘endeavour’, ‘prospects’, ‘optimistic’ and similar expressions or variations on these expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements concern or may affect future matters, including but not limited to: projections or expectations of the Lloyds Bank Group’s future financial position, including profit attributable to shareholders, provisions, economic profit, dividends, capital structure, portfolios, net interest margin, capital ratios, liquidity, risk-weighted assets (RWAs), expenditures or any other financial items or ratios; litigation, regulatory and governmental investigations; the Lloyds Bank Group’s future financial performance; the level and extent of future impairments and write-downs; the Lloyds Bank Group’s ESG targets and/or commitments; statements of plans, objectives or goals of the Lloyds Bank Group or its management and other statements that are not historical fact and statements of assumptions underlying such statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will or may occur in the future. Factors that could cause actual business, strategy, targets, plans and/or results (including but not limited to the payment of dividends) to differ materially from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic and business conditions in the UK and internationally (including in relation to tariffs); imposed and threatened tariffs and changes to global trade policies; acts of hostility or terrorism and responses to those acts, or other such events; geopolitical unpredictability; the war between Russia and Ukraine; the conflicts in the Middle East; the tensions between China and Taiwan; political instability including as a result of any UK general election; market related risks, trends and developments; changes in client and consumer behaviour and demand; exposure to counterparty risk; the ability to access sufficient sources of capital, liquidity and funding when required; changes to the Lloyds Bank Group’s or Lloyds Banking Group plc’s credit ratings; fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, exchange rates, stock markets and currencies; volatility in credit markets; volatility in the price of the Lloyds Bank Group’s securities; natural pandemic and other disasters; risks concerning borrower and counterparty credit quality; risks affecting defined benefit pension schemes; changes in laws, regulations, practices and accounting standards or taxation; changes to regulatory capital or liquidity requirements and similar contingencies; the policies and actions of governmental or regulatory authorities or courts together with any resulting impact on the future structure of the Lloyds Bank Group; risks associated with the Lloyds Bank Group’s compliance with a wide range of laws and regulations; assessment related to resolution planning requirements; risks related to regulatory actions which may be taken in the event of a bank or Lloyds Bank Group or Lloyds Banking Group failure; exposure to legal, regulatory or competition proceedings, investigations or complaints; failure to comply with anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing, anti-bribery and sanctions regulations; failure to prevent or detect any illegal or improper activities; operational risks including risks as a result of the failure of third party suppliers; conduct risk; technological changes and risks to the security of IT and operational infrastructure, systems, data and information resulting from increased threat of cyber and other attacks; technological failure; inadequate or failed internal or external processes or systems; risks relating to ESG matters, such as climate change (and achieving climate change ambitions) and decarbonisation, including the Lloyds Bank Group’s or the Lloyds Banking Group’s ability along with the government and other stakeholders to measure, manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change effectively, and human rights issues; the impact of competitive conditions; failure to attract, retain and develop high calibre talent; the ability to achieve strategic objectives; the ability to derive cost savings and other benefits including, but without limitation, as a result of any acquisitions, disposals and other strategic transactions; inability to capture accurately the expected value from acquisitions; and assumptions and estimates that form the basis of the Lloyds Bank Group’s financial statements. A number of these influences and factors are beyond the Lloyds Bank Group’s control. Please refer to the latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed by Lloyds Bank plc with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of certain factors and risks. Lloyds Bank plc may also make or disclose written and/or oral forward-looking statements in other written materials and in oral statements made by the directors, officers or employees of Lloyds Bank plc to third parties, including financial analysts. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of today’s date, and the Lloyds Bank Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The information, statements and opinions contained in this document do not constitute a public offer under any applicable law or an offer to sell any securities or financial instruments or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or financial instruments.

    FINANCIAL REVIEW

    Income statement

    The Group’s profit before tax for the first three months of 2025 was £1,177 million, 26% lower than the same period in 2024. This was driven by higher operating expenses and a higher impairment charge. Profit after tax was £881 million (three months to 31 March 2024: £1,159 million).

    Total income for the first three months of 2025 was £4,371 million, broadly in line with the same period in 2024 (three months to 31 March 2024: £4,385 million). Net interest income of £3,244 million was up 4% on the prior year (three months to 31 March 2024: £3,127 million), driven by a higher margin and higher average interest-earning assets. Other income decreased by 10% to £1,127 million (three months to 31 March 2024: £1,258 million). The decrease in other income reflected improved performance in UK Motor Finance, with fleet growth and higher average vehicle rental values, which was more than offset by negative market volatility and a reduction in income from fellow Lloyds Banking Group undertakings.

    Total operating expenses of £2,884 million were 6% higher than in the prior year. This reflects higher costs, combining inflationary pressures, timing of strategic investment including planned higher severance front-loaded into the first quarter of 2025 and business growth costs, partly offset by cost savings and continued cost discipline. This is alongside higher operating lease depreciation, as a result of fleet growth, the depreciation of higher value vehicles and declines in used electric car prices over 2024.

    No net remediation charge was recognised by the Group in the first three months of 2025 (three months to 31 March 2024: £25 million). There have been no further charges relating to motor finance commission arrangements. The Supreme Court heard the appeal of the Wrench, Johnson and Hopcraft decision in early April and has stated that it is likely to produce its judgment in July. The FCA has indicated that the decision will inform its next steps in the discretionary commission arrangements (DCA) review and that it will confirm within six weeks of the decision if it is proposing a redress scheme and if so, how it will take that forward. The FCA has also noted that its next steps on non-DCA complaints will be informed by the decision.

    The impairment charge was £310 million, up from £70 million in the three months to 31 March 2024. Asset quality remained resilient in the quarter. The charge included strong portfolio performance in Retail, more than offset by a higher charge in Commercial Banking, partly due to the non-recurrence of a release from loss rates used in the model in 2024. The charge also included a £100 million central adjustment to address downside risks to the base case related to the potential impact from US tariff policies announced at the start of April. These were becoming apparent around the balance sheet date and were determined to not be fully captured within the modelled divisional ECL allowances. This is partially offset by benefits to the MES from small increases to house price and wage growth expectations.

    FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

    Balance sheet

    Total assets were £5,143 million, or 1%, higher at £616,356 million at 31 March 2025 (31 December 2024: £611,213 million).

    Financial assets at amortised cost were £3,135 million higher at £508,032 million (31 December 2024: £504,897 million) with increases in loans and advances to customers. This included growth of £4,807 million in UK mortgages and growth across UK Retail unsecured loans, credit cards, UK Motor Finance and the European retail business. Lending balances reduced in Commercial Banking as a result of repayments of government-backed lending. The growth in loans and advances to customers was partly offset by a £908 million reduction in reverse repurchase agreements, a £302 million reduction in loans and advances to banks and a £1,474 million reduction in debt securities.

    Cash and balances at central banks decreased 1% to £42,000 million. Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss increased by £733 million, due to increased reverse repurchase agreements. Derivative financial assets were £520 million lower at £3,715 million (31 December 2024: £4,235 million), driven by interest rate and currency movements in the period. Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income were stable in the period at £30,682 million. Other assets were £1,853 million higher, primarily reflecting increased settlement balances.

    Total liabilities were £3,230 million higher at £574,696 million (31 December 2024: £571,466 million). Customer deposits of £456,574 million increased in the period by £4,780 million. Retail deposits increased by £2,637 million in the period, driven by net inflows to limited withdrawal and fixed term deposits alongside higher current account balances. Commercial Banking deposits were up in the quarter, aided by short term balances.

    Other liabilities increased by £1,034 million reflecting increased settlement balances, while debt securities in issue decreased by £2,789 million, with higher levels of maturities in the period.

    Total equity increased to £41,660 million at 31 March 2025 (31 December 2024: £39,747 million). The increase primarily reflected profit attributable to ordinary shareholders alongside unwind of the cash flow hedge reserve and issuance of an AT1 capital instrument in February 2025 to Lloyds Banking Group plc.

    Capital

    The Group’s common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio reduced to 13.6% at 31 March 2025 from 13.7% at 31 December 2024. Profit for the first three months of the year was offset by the accrual for foreseeable ordinary dividends and an increase in risk-weighted assets.

    The Group’s total capital ratio at 31 March 2025 remained at 19.9% (31 December 2024: 19.9%). The increase in CET1 capital and the issuance of a new AT1 capital instrument were offset by the increase in risk-weighted assets and a reduction in tier 2 capital reflecting an instrument call and other movements.

    Risk-weighted assets increased by £3,955 million to £190,951 million at 31 March 2025 from £186,996 million at 31 December 2024. This reflects the impact of lending growth, but also includes a temporary c.£2.5 billion increase primarily due to hedging activity that is expected to reverse by the third quarter. The growth in risk-weighted assets was partly offset by continued optimisation activity and other movements.

    The Group’s UK leverage ratio increased to 5.5% at 31 March 2025 from 5.4% at 31 December 2024, reflecting an increase in the total tier 1 capital position, partially offset by an increase in the leverage exposure measure. The latter reflects increases across loans and advances and other assets, due in part to lending growth, partially offset by a reduction in the measure for securities financing transactions.

     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (UNAUDITED)
               
      Three
    months
    ended
    31 Mar
    2025
    £m    		     Three
    months
    ended
    31 Mar
    2024
    £m    		  
           
    Net interest income 3,244     3,127  
    Other income 1,127     1,258  
    Total income 4,371     4,385  
    Operating expenses (2,884 )   (2,728 )
    Impairment (310 )   (70 )
    Profit before tax 1,177     1,587  
    Tax expense (296 )   (428 )
    Profit after tax 881     1,159  
           
    Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders 774     1,069  
    Profit attributable to other equity holders 98     86  
    Profit attributable to equity holders 872     1,155  
    Profit attributable to non-controlling interests 9     4  
    Profit after tax 881     1,159  
               
     
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
               
      At 31 Mar
    2025
    £m    		     At 31 Dec
    2024
    £m    		  
               
    Assets          
    Cash and balances at central banks 42,000     42,396  
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 3,054     2,321  
    Derivative financial instruments 3,715     4,235  
    Financial assets at amortised cost 508,032     504,897  
    Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income 30,682     30,344  
    Other assets 28,873     27,020  
    Total assets 616,356     611,213  
    Liabilities          
    Deposits from banks 3,899     3,144  
    Customer deposits 456,574     451,794  
    Repurchase agreements 38,474     37,760  
    Due to fellow Lloyds Banking Group undertakings 3,981     4,049  
    Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 4,538     4,630  
    Derivative financial instruments 5,327     5,787  
    Debt securities in issue at amortised cost 42,492     45,281  
    Other liabilities 12,844     11,810  
    Subordinated liabilities 6,567     7,211  
    Total liabilities 574,696     571,466  
    Total equity 41,660     39,747  
    Total equity and liabilities 616,356     611,213  
               

    ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    1.  Basis of presentation

    This release covers the results of Lloyds Bank plc together with its subsidiaries (the Group) for the three months ended 31 March 2025.

    The Group’s Q1 2025 Interim Pillar 3 Disclosures can be found at: www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/investors/financial-downloads.html.

    Accounting policies

    The accounting policies are consistent with those applied by the Group in its 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

    2.  Loans and advances to customers and expected credit loss allowance

    At 31 March 2025 Stage 1
    £m    		     Stage 2
    £m    		   Stage 3
    £m    		   POCI
    £m    		   Total
    £m    		     Stage 2
    as % of
    total    		   Stage 3
    as % of
    total
    Loans and advances to customers                          
    UK mortgages 275,816     31,912   4,137   6,016   317,881     10.0   1.3
    Credit cards 13,875     2,327   261   –   16,463     14.1   1.6
    UK unsecured loans and overdrafts 9,660     1,325   171   –   11,156     11.9   1.5
    UK Motor Finance 14,197     2,491   131   –   16,819     14.8   0.8
    Other 18,462     471   151   –   19,084     2.5   0.8
    Retail 332,010     38,526   4,851   6,016   381,403     10.1   1.3
    Business and Commercial Banking 25,778     2,946   1,160   –   29,884     9.9   3.9
    Corporate and Institutional Banking 36,705     2,528   1,007   –   40,240     6.3   2.5
    Commercial Banking 62,483     5,474   2,167   –   70,124     7.8   3.1
    Other1 (414 )   –   –   –   (414 )        
    Total gross lending 394,079     44,000   7,018   6,016   451,113     9.8   1.6
                               
    Customer related ECL allowance (drawn and undrawn)
    UK mortgages 52     245   322   179   798          
    Credit cards 199     308   130   –   637          
    UK unsecured loans and overdrafts 167     240   114   –   521          
    UK Motor Finance2 170     118   75   –   363          
    Other 14     14   38   –   66          
    Retail 602     925   679   179   2,385          
    Business and Commercial Banking 133     183   172   –   488          
    Corporate and Institutional Banking 108     149   323   –   580          
    Commercial Banking 241     332   495   –   1,068          
    Other3 50     50   –   –   100          
    Total 893     1,307   1,174   179   3,553          
                               
    Customer related ECL allowance (drawn and undrawn) as a percentage of loans and advances to customers
      Stage 1
    %    		     Stage 2
    %    		   Stage 3
    %    		   POCI
    %    		   Total
    %    		          
    UK mortgages –     0.8   7.8   3.0   0.3          
    Credit cards 1.4     13.2   49.8   –   3.9          
    UK unsecured loans and overdrafts 1.7     18.1   66.7   –   4.7          
    UK Motor Finance 1.2     4.7   57.3   –   2.2          
    Other 0.1     3.0   25.2   –   0.3          
    Retail 0.2     2.4   14.0   3.0   0.6          
    Business and Commercial Banking 0.5     6.2   14.8   –   1.6          
    Corporate and Institutional Banking 0.3     5.9   32.1   –   1.4          
    Commercial Banking 0.4     6.1   22.8   –   1.5          
    Other         –   –            
    Total 0.2     3.0   16.7   3.0   0.8          
                                   

    1 Contains central fair value hedge accounting adjustments.
    2 UK Motor Finance includes £178 million relating to provisions against residual values of vehicles subject to finance leases.
    3 Other includes a £100 million central adjustment that has not been allocated to specific portfolios.

    ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued)

    3.  UK economic assumptions

    Base case and MES economic assumptions

    The Group’s base case scenario is for a slow expansion in gross domestic product (GDP) and a modest rise in the unemployment rate alongside small gains in residential and commercial property prices. Inflationary pressures remain persistent, but gradual cuts in UK Bank Rate are expected to continue during 2025. Risks around this base case economic view lie in both directions and are largely captured by the generation of alternative economic scenarios.

    The Group has taken into account the latest available information at the reporting date in defining its base case scenario and generating alternative economic scenarios. The scenarios include forecasts for key variables as of the first quarter of 2025. Actuals for this period, or restatements of past data, may have since emerged prior to publication and have not been included. The Group’s approach to generating alternative economic scenarios is set out in detail in note 19 to the financial statements of the Group’s 2024 annual report and accounts.

    The Group had included assumptions for expected tariffs and potential responses in its quarter-end base case conditioning assumptions prior to announcements at the start of April. Initial non-UK tariffs announced in the first few days of April and the immediate market response were larger than expected. Accordingly, the Group has adopted a £100 million central adjustment to reflect the potential ECL impact, informed by high level sensitivity to key UK economic metrics based on tariff scenarios. Subsequent developments through April were judged to relate to conditions after the balance sheet date and will be reflected in the second quarter reporting period.

    UK economic assumptions – base case scenario by quarter

    Key quarterly assumptions made by the Group in the base case scenario are shown below. GDP growth is presented quarter-on-quarter. House price growth, commercial real estate price growth and CPI inflation are presented year-on-year, i.e. from the equivalent quarter in the previous year. Unemployment rate and UK Bank Rate are presented as at the end of each quarter.

    At 31 March 2025 First
    quarter
    2025
    %    		 Second
    quarter
    2025
    %    		 Third
    quarter
    2025
    %    		 Fourth
    quarter
    2025
    %    		 First
    quarter
    2026
    %    		 Second
    quarter
    2026
    %    		 Third
    quarter
    2026
    %    		 Fourth
    quarter
    2026
    %
                     
    Gross domestic product growth 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
    Unemployment rate 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8
    House price growth 3.8 3.8 2.4 1.7 1.3 1.7 1.9 1.8
    Commercial real estate price growth 2.6 2.8 2.7 1.3 0.9 0.7 0.8 1.1
    UK Bank Rate 4.50 4.25 4.00 4.00 3.75 3.75 3.50 3.50
    CPI inflation 2.8 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.7
                     

    ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued)

    3.  UK economic assumptions (continued)

    UK economic assumptions – scenarios by year

    Key annual assumptions made by the Group are shown below. GDP growth and CPI inflation are presented as an annual change, house price growth and commercial real estate price growth are presented as the growth in the respective indices within the period. Unemployment rate and UK Bank Rate are averages for the period.

    At 31 March 2025 2025
    %    		   2026
    %    		   2027
    %    		   2028
    %    		   2029
    %    		   2025-2029
    average
    %    		  
                 
    Upside            
    Gross domestic product growth 1.3   2.2   1.6   1.5   1.4   1.6  
    Unemployment rate 4.1   3.2   3.1   3.1   3.2   3.3  
    House price growth 2.9   5.9   6.8   5.4   4.3   5.1  
    Commercial real estate price growth 6.1   5.7   2.6   1.0   0.4   3.2  
    UK Bank Rate 4.43   4.72   4.86   5.06   5.20   4.85  
    CPI inflation 3.3   2.8   2.8   3.1   3.0   3.0  
                 
    Base case            
    Gross domestic product growth 0.8   1.4   1.6   1.6   1.5   1.3  
    Unemployment rate 4.7   4.8   4.6   4.5   4.5   4.6  
    House price growth 1.7   1.8   1.9   2.5   2.9   2.1  
    Commercial real estate price growth 1.3   1.1   1.2   0.6   0.3   0.9  
    UK Bank Rate 4.19   3.63   3.50   3.50   3.50   3.66  
    CPI inflation 3.4   2.8   2.5   2.5   2.4   2.7  
                 
    Downside            
    Gross domestic product growth (0.2 ) (0.9 ) 0.9   1.5   1.5   0.6  
    Unemployment rate 5.6   7.4   7.6   7.3   7.0   7.0  
    House price growth 0.5   (3.4 ) (6.7 ) (4.2 ) (1.1 ) (3.0 )
    Commercial real estate price growth (4.7 ) (5.7 ) (1.7 ) (2.2 ) (2.3 ) (3.4 )
    UK Bank Rate 3.83   1.67   0.96   0.65   0.42   1.51  
    CPI inflation 3.4   2.8   2.0   1.5   1.0   2.1  
                 
    Severe downside            
    Gross domestic product growth (1.1 ) (2.3 ) 0.7   1.4   1.5   0.0  
    Unemployment rate 6.8   10.0   10.2   9.7   9.3   9.2  
    House price growth (0.6 ) (8.4 ) (13.8 ) (9.6 ) (5.0 ) (7.6 )
    Commercial real estate price growth (12.5 ) (13.3 ) (7.1 ) (5.7 ) (4.9 ) (8.8 )
    UK Bank Rate – modelled 3.38   0.39   0.09   0.03   0.01   0.78  
    UK Bank Rate – adjusted1 4.25   2.94   2.80   2.76   2.75   3.10  
    CPI inflation – modelled 3.4   2.5   1.3   0.4   (0.2 ) 1.5  
    CPI inflation – adjusted1 3.8   3.8   3.2   2.7   2.4   3.2  
                 
    Probability-weighted            
    Gross domestic product growth 0.5   0.6   1.3   1.5   1.5   1.1  
    Unemployment rate 5.0   5.6   5.6   5.4   5.4   5.4  
    House price growth 1.4   0.5   (0.8 ) 0.1   1.3   0.5  
    Commercial real estate price growth (0.4 ) (1.0 ) (0.1 ) (0.7 ) (1.0 ) (0.6 )
    UK Bank Rate – modelled 4.07   3.04   2.81   2.76   2.74   3.08  
    UK Bank Rate – adjusted1 4.16   3.30   3.08   3.04   3.01   3.32  
    CPI inflation – modelled 3.4   2.7   2.3   2.1   1.9   2.5  
    CPI inflation – adjusted1 3.4   2.9   2.5   2.4   2.2   2.7  
                             
    1 The adjustment to UK Bank Rate and CPI inflation in the severe downside is considered to better reflect the risks to the Group’s base case view in an economic environment where the risks of supply and demand shocks are seen as more balanced.
                             

    CONTACTS

    For further information please contact:

    INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS
    Douglas Radcliffe
    Group Investor Relations Director
    020 7356 1571
    douglas.radcliffe@lloydsbanking.com

    Rohith Chandra-Rajan
    Director of Investor Relations
    07786 988936
    rohith.chandra-rajan@lloydsbanking.com

    Nora Thoden
    Director of Investor Relations – ESG
    020 7356 2334
    nora.thoden@lloydsbanking.com

    Tom Grantham
    Investor Relations Senior Manager
    07851 440 091
    thomas.grantham@lloydsbanking.com

    Sarah Robson
    Investor Relations Senior Manager
    07494 513 983
    sarah.robson2@lloydsbanking.com

    CORPORATE AFFAIRS
    Matt Smith
    Head of Media Relations
    07788 352 487
    matt.smith@lloydsbanking.com

    Emma Fairhurst
    Media Relations Senior Manager
    07814 395 855
    emma.fairhurst@lloydsbanking.com

    Copies of this Interim Management Statement may be obtained from:
    Investor Relations, Lloyds Banking Group plc, 33 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HZ
    The statement can also be found on the Group’s website – www.lloydsbankinggroup.com

    Registered office: Lloyds Bank plc, 25 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HN
    Registered in England No. 2065

    This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cyabra to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences in May

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cyabra Strategy Ltd. (“Cyabra”), a leading AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, today announced its participation at the following investor conferences in May:

    20th Annual Needham Technology, Media, & Consumer Virtual Conference

    Participants: Dan Brahmy, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Yael Sandler, Chief Financial Officer.

    Format: Company management will be available for virtual one-on-one meetings throughout the day. To schedule a meeting, please contact your Needham representative directly.

    When: Monday, May 12.

    The Ladenburg Thalmann Technology Innovation EXPO25

    Participant: Dan Brahmy, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

    Format: Company presentation and one-on-one meetings.

    When: Wednesday, May 21, in New York, NY, with the company presenting at 11:30am ET.

    About Cyabra

    Cyabra is a real-time AI-powered platform that uncovers and analyzes online disinformation and misinformation by uncovering fake profiles, harmful narratives, and GenAI content across social media and digital news channels. Cyabra’s AI solutions protect corporations and governments against brand reputation risks, election manipulation, foreign interference, and other online threats. Cyabra’s platform leverages proprietary algorithms and NLP solutions, gathering and analyzing publicly available data to provide clear, actionable insights and real-time alerts that inform critical decision-making. Cyabra uncovers the good, bad, and fake online.

    Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (NASDAQ: TBMC) (“Trailblazer”), a blank-check special-purpose acquisition company.

    For more information, visit www.cyabra.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Miri Segal
    MS-IR
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    Media Contact:
    Jill Burkes
    Jill@cyabra.com
    Signal Contact: Jillabra.24

    About Trailblazer

    Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (Nasdaq: TBMC) is a blank check company formed and entered into a merger, shared exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, visit: www.trailblazermergercorp.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to certain products that will be the subject of a proposed transaction between Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (“Trailblazer”) and Cyabra Strategy Ltd. (“Cyabra”). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding Cyabra’s business strategy, products, research and development costs, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated product offerings, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following risks relating to the proposed transaction: the ability to complete the Business Combination or, if Trailblazer does not consummate such Business Combination, any other initial business combination; expectations regarding Cyabra’s strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and Cyabra’s ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Trailblazer or Cyabra following announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination due to, among other things, the failure to obtain Trailblazer stockholder approval; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts Cyabra’s current operations and future plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of Trailblazer’s common stock being greater than expected; limited liquidity and trading of Trailblazer’s securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the size of the addressable markets for Cyabra’s products and services; the possibility that Trailblazer and/or Cyabra may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the ability to obtain and/or maintain the listing of Combined Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; operational risk; and the risks that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur.

    Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

    An affiliate of Trailblazer has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC which includes a preliminary proxy statement of Trailblazer and a preliminary prospectus of the affiliate. Once the Registration Statement has been declared effective, a definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to Trailblazer’s shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the merger. Trailblazer and its affiliates may also file other relevant documents regarding the merger with the SEC. Trailblazer’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus, in connection with Trailblazer’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the merger, because these documents will contain important information about the parties to the merger. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of any preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the merger and other documents filed with the SEC by Parent and its affiliates, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Trailblazer’s Chief Development Officer at 510 Madison Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10022.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Cyabra, Trailblazer, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Trailblazer stockholders regarding the transaction. Information about Trailblazer’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Trailblazer’s securities is set forth in Trailblazer’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of such filing. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed Transactions when it becomes available.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No sale of securities shall occur in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable laws.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Announces Opening Keynote Presentation and Platinum Sponsorship at the Upcoming Reuters Events: SMR & Advanced Reactor 2025 Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, N.Y., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that it is the Platinum Sponsor of the upcoming Reuters Events: SMR & Advanced Reactor 2025, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee on 12-13, May 2025.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Chief Executive Officer James Walker will lead the opening keynote presentation titled, “The Growth of U.S. Advanced Reactors — Wall Street’s Success Story” at 9:00am on May 12th. In the presentation, he will explore how U.S. policy shifts, global energy demand, and the availability of clean energy focused investment capital are hastening the commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors, including small nuclear reactors (known as SMRs) like those being developed by NANO Nuclear, and how NANO Nuclear capitalized on these trends to become the best performing initial public offering in the U.S. of 2024.

    “Reuters Events offer a valuable opportunity to engage with stakeholders and leading innovators in the SMR and advanced reactor field,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “I’m excited for NANO Nuclear to be the leading sponsor and to personally participate in this year’s conference to discuss NANO Nuclear’s journey and mission, and gain insights from the broader community shaping the future of nuclear technology.”

    Reuters Events: SMR & Advanced Reactor 2025 is the only senior-level meeting point for the SMR community, where 600+ leaders from utilities, financiers, reactor developers, technology providers and regulators unite to create meaningful connections, share trusted insights, and obtain lessons-learned to inform your multi-billion-dollar strategy at pace.

    “This conference unites some of the most forward-thinking innovators in the advanced reactor space,” said Professor Massimiliano Fratoni, Senior Director and Head of Reactor Design of NANO Nuclear. “It’s an excellent forum to learn about the direction of the nuclear industry and exchange ideas with those driving progress. I’m looking forward to the informative sessions on offer.”

    “NANO Nuclear is executing on schedule, and we expect the next 12 months to include several important regulatory and operational milestones that will help secure our leadership in the U.S. microreactor race,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear. “The achievement of these milestones would be key as we advance toward construction, demonstration, regulatory licensing and eventual commercialization and deployment for our cutting-edge reactors. I look forward to discussing our progress with investors and industry peers at the upcoming Reuters SMR & Advanced Reactor Conference.”

    A replay of Mr. Walker’s presentation if produced by Reuters Events: SMR & Advanced Reactor 2025 will be available on NANO Nuclear’s website for at least 30 days following the presentation at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/news-events/events.

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™ Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release, the conference presentation referred to herein, and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release and such presentation contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release and the related presentation, forward-looking statements may include those related to NANO Nuclear’s development, demonstration and regulatory licensing plans and goals, as well as the anticipated future benefits to NANO Nuclear of being a publicly traded company. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Changes to the Valuation Office Agency

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Changes to the Valuation Office Agency

    An update for our customers

    The government has announced that the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will be brought into our parent department HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by April 2026.

    If you are currently a customer with us, you do not need to take any action. There is no impact on your case or the services we offer. Please continue to contact us and submit cases in the usual way.

    There are also no changes for commercial clients working with our District Valuer Services team.

    We are working with HMRC to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for our customers and clients.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –