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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

    Source: Government of India

    India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

    World Heritage Day 2025

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi

    “Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.”

    ~ Prime Minster Narendra Modi

    • World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April to honor and protect cultural and natural heritage.
    • This year theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”
    • The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement created by UNESCO in 1972.
    • World Heritage Convention was adopted by countries around the world to protect important cultural and natural sites.
    • As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed).
    • India has 43 World Heritage Sites, with Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves among the first listed in 1983.

    Introduction

    Our heritage is not just built of stones, scripts or ruins. It lives in every whisper of a temple wall, every carving on ancient forts and every folk song passed down through generations. It tells stories of who we were, what we stood for and how we endured. World Heritage Day is a heartfelt reminder that these timeless treasures are not only to be admired, but protected. This year’s theme: “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions” reminds us that preserving our past is key to protecting our future.

    The Story Behind World Heritage Day

    World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April. It is also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The day is meant to honor and protect human heritage. It also appreciates the people and groups who work to preserve it. The day was started in 1982 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). Later, in 1983, UNESCO officially adopted it. Every year, ICOMOS gives a special theme for the day. Based on this theme, people and groups hold events and activities around the world to celebrate and protect heritage.

    Understanding the World Heritage Convention

    UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, works to protect and preserve important cultural and natural heritage around the world. To help with this, UNESCO’s member countries adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. This agreement explains what countries need to do to find and take care of special sites that can be added to the World Heritage List. India became part of this Convention in November 1977. Today, the World Heritage List includes 1,223 sites that are considered valuable to all of humanity. These include 952 cultural sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 sites that have both cultural and natural importance. As of October 2024, 196 countries have joined the World Heritage Convention.

    World Heritage Sites: Protecting Future

    World Heritage Sites are special places on Earth that have great value for all of humanity. These can be cultural, natural, or a mix of both. They are protected under an international agreement led by UNESCO. UNESCO gives the World Heritage title to places that are culturally, historically or scientifically important.

    Over the years, India has steadily expanded its presence on the World Heritage List. In July 2024, a proud addition was made with the inscription of “Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam as a cultural property. With this, India now has 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 62 more on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The country’s journey began in 1983 with the listing of Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. These sites are preserved not only as symbols of history but also as learning spaces for generations to come.

    Government’s Initiatives to Promote India’s Rich Cultural Heritage

    India has taken several meaningful steps to protect, restore, and promote its vast cultural and natural heritage. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s timeless traditions and historical treasures.

    • Retrieval of Antiquities: Archaeological Survey of India is committed to the protection of cultural property. Government has retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries from the year 1976 to 2024, of which 642 antiquities have been retrieved since 2014.

     

    • Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme: The “Adopt A Heritage” programme was launched in 2017 and revamped as “Adopt A Heritage 2.0” in 2023. It allows private and public groups to help develop facilities at protected monuments using their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. So far, 21 MoUs have been signed between the Archaeological Survey of India and various partner organisations across different states under this programme.
    • 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee: Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, successfully hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi from 21st to 31st July 2024. The meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, and attended by nearly 2900 international and national delegates from more than 140 countries. Delegates gathered to discuss and collaborate on preserving cultural, natural and mixed heritage marking a significant step in India’s global role in heritage protection.

     

    • Building Monuments of National Importance: India has 3,697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites declared of national importance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for their conservation and maintenance. It also ensures basic amenities at these sites, such as pathways, signages, benches, facilities for differently-abled visitors, sound and light shows, and souvenir shops.

     

    • Revival and Redevelopment of Heritage Sites: India has revived key heritage sites through conservation and development projects. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Mahakaal Lok in Ujjain, and Ma Kamakhya Corridor in Guwahati enhance pilgrim experiences and boost tourism. The Chardham Road Project improves connectivity to sacred sites. Additionally, projects in Somnath and the Kartarpur Corridor promote cultural heritage and easier access for devotees.

     

    • Must See Portal: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has created a portal to showcase “Must-See Monuments and Archaeological Sites of India.” It highlights nearly a hundred prominent sites, including World Heritage properties and UNESCO Tentative List sites. The portal provides essential information such as history, access details, facilities and panoramic views. It aims to promote these sites for global visitors. Visit: asimustsee.nic.in

     

    • Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), set up in 2007, works to digitize and document India’s heritage and antiquities. So far, over 12.3 lakh antiquities and 11,406 heritage sites have been recorded. For 2024–25, ₹20 lakh was allocated to the mission. The Indian Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS) initiative further aims to use digital technology to preserve and present India’s cultural legacy through immersive tools and research support.

     

    • Status of Classical Languages: On October 3, 2024, the Government granted classical language status to Assamese, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, and Bengali, raising the total to 11 classical Indian languages. This move reflects India’s strong commitment to preserving its diverse and ancient linguistic heritage.

     

    • India’s first Archaeological Experiential Museum: Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar on 16th January 2025. Built at a cost of ₹298 crore, the museum covers 12,500 square meters. It showcases Vadnagar’s 2,500-year-old history with over 5,000 artifacts, including ceramics, coins, tools and skeletal remains. It features nine galleries and a 4,000-square-meter excavation site offering an immersive experience of ongoing archaeological discoveries.

     

    • Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum: On 29th July 2024, a state-of-the-art museum spanning 100,000 square feet was inaugurated at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Delhi. The museum showcases the site’s rich history, architecture, and conservation journey, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience.

     

    • India’s Literary Milestone on the MOWCAP Register: In a historic achievement, three of India’s literary treasures: Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahrdayāloka-Locana, were inscribed into the 2024 Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) Regional Register. This recognition, announced on 8th May 2024 in Mongolia, underscores the global significance of India’s rich literary and cultural heritage.

    Conclusion

    World Heritage Day reminds us that protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. From ancient monuments to timeless literature, India continues to preserve its cultural and natural legacy through strong national efforts and global collaboration. These efforts ensure that our rich heritage inspires, educates, and unites generations to come.

    References

    Click here to see PDF.

    *****

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria

    (Release ID: 2122423) Visitor Counter : 74

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE: HAWAI‘I MARCH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 2.9 PERCENT

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE: HAWAI‘I MARCH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 2.9 PERCENT

    Posted on Apr 17, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

    KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMOHALA PĀʻOIHANA, ʻIMI WAIWAI A HOʻOMĀKAʻIKAʻI

     

    RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DIVISION

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    1. EUGENE TIAN

    CHIEF STATE ECONOMIST

    HAWAI‘I MARCH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 2.9 PERCENT 

    Jobs Increased by 11,800 Year-Over-Year

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 17, 2025

    HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 2.9 percent, compared to 3.0 in February. In March, 666,600 persons were employed and 19,900 were unemployed, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 686,500 statewide. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in March, up from 4.1 percent in February.

    The unemployment rate figures for the state of Hawai‘i and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted in accordance with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not-seasonally adjusted rate for the state was 2.4 percent in March, compared to 2.8 percent in February.

    Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey)

    In a separate measure of employment, total nonagricultural jobs increased by 2,500 month-over-month, from February 2025 to March 2025. Job gains were experienced in Leisure & Hospitality (+1,300); Other Services (+300); and Construction (+100). Job losses occurred in Manufacturing (-100); Information (-100); Professional & Business Services (-100); Private Education & Health Services (-100); Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-200); and Financial Activities (-200). Within Leisure & Hospitality, job expansion occurred in Food Services & Drinking Places. Government employment went up by 1,600 jobs, primarily due to above average seasonal hiring of workers at both the Department of Education and the University of Hawai‘i system. Year-over-year, nonfarm jobs have gone up by 11,800, or 1.8 percent.

     

    Technical Notes:

    Labor Force Components

    The concepts and definitions used by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program are the same as those used in the Current Population Survey for the national labor force data:

    • Civilian labor force. Included are all persons in the civilian noninstitutional population ages 16 and older classified as either employed or unemployed. (See the definitions below.)
    • Employed persons. These are all persons who, during the reference week (the week including the twelfth day of the month), (a) did any work as paid employees, worked in their own business or profession or on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in an enterprise operated by a member of their family, or (b) were not working but who had jobs from which they were temporarily absent because of vacation, illness, bad weather, childcare problems, maternity or paternity leave, labor-management dispute, job training, or other family or personal reasons, whether or not they were paid for the time off or were seeking other jobs. Each employed person is counted only once, even if he or she holds more than one job.
    • Unemployed persons. Included are all persons who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work, except for temporary illness and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the four-week period ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as unemployed.
    • Unemployment rate. The unemployed percent of the civilian labor force [i.e., 100 times (unemployed/civilian labor force)].

    Seasonal Adjustment

    The seasonal fluctuations in the number of employed and unemployed persons reflect hiring and layoff patterns that accompany regular events such as the winter holiday season and the summer vacation season. These variations make it difficult to tell whether month-to-month changes in employment and unemployment are due to normal seasonal patterns or to changing economic conditions. Therefore, the BLS uses a statistical technique called seasonal adjustment to address these issues. This technique uses the history of the labor force data and the job count data to identify the seasonal movements and to calculate the size and direction of these movements. A seasonal adjustment factor is then developed and applied to the estimates to eliminate the effects of regular seasonal fluctuations on the data. Seasonally adjusted statistical series enable more meaningful data comparisons between months or with an annual average.

    Current Population (Household) Survey (CPS)

    A survey conducted for employment status in the week that includes the twelfth day of each month generates the unemployment rate statistics, which is a separate survey from the Establishment Survey that yields the industry job counts. The CPS survey contacts approximately 1,000 households in Hawai‘i to determine an individual’s current employment status. Employed persons consist of 1) all persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week, 2) all persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family owned enterprise operated by someone in their household and 3) all persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs, whether they were paid or not. Persons considered unemployed are those that do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks and are available for work. Temporarily laid-off workers are counted as unemployed, whether or not they have engaged in a specific job-seeking activity. Persons not in the labor force are those who are not classified as employed or unemployed during the survey reference week.

    Benchmark Changes to Local Area Unemployment Statistics Data

    Statewide and sub-state data for 2019 to 2024 have revised inputs and data for 1990 to 2024 have been re-estimated to reflect revised population controls and model re-estimation.

    Change to Monthly Employment Estimates

    This release incorporates revised job count figures for the seasonally adjusted series. The revised data reflects historical corrections applied to unadjusted super sector or sector-level series dating back from 2018 through 2024. For years, analysts with the state of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Research and Statistics Office have developed monthly employment estimates for Hawai‘i and its metropolitan areas. These estimates were based on a monthly survey of Hawai‘i businesses and analysts’ knowledge about our local economies. Beginning with the production of preliminary estimates for March 2011, responsibility for the production of state and metropolitan area (MSA) estimates were transitioned from individual state agencies to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

    For Hawai‘i, this means the transition of statewide, Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku MSA estimates for both the seasonally adjusted and not-seasonally adjusted areas are produced by BLS. State agencies will continue to provide the BLS with information on local events that may affect the estimates, such as strikes or large layoffs/hiring at businesses not covered by the survey and to disseminate and analyze the Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates for local data users. BLS feels this change is designed to improve the cost efficiency of the CES program and to reduce the potential bias in state and area estimates. A portion of the cost savings generated by this change is slated to be directed toward raising survey response rates in future years, which will decrease the level of statistical error in the CES estimates. Until then, state analysts feel this change could result in increased month-to-month variability for the industry employment numbers, particularly for Hawai‘i’s counties and islands. BLS can be reached at 202-691-6555 for any questions about these estimates.

    The not-seasonally adjusted job estimates for Hawai‘i County, Kaua‘i County, Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i are produced by the state of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

    Labor Force Estimates for Small Areas

    Labor Force estimates for the islands within Maui County (Maui, Moloka‘i and Lānai) are produced by the state of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

    Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force and Unemployment Estimates for Honolulu and Maui County

    BLS publishes smoothed seasonally adjusted civilian labor force and unemployment estimates for all metropolitan areas, which includes the City and County of Honolulu and Maui County.

    BLS releases this data each month in the Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release. The schedule is available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/metro.toc.htm.

    Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization

     

    Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization for States, 2024 annual averages (percent)  
    Area Measure  
    U-1 U-2 U-3 U-4 U-5 U-6
                 
    United States 1.5 1.9 4.0 4.3 4.9 7.5
                 
    Hawai‘i 0.8 1.1 3.1 3.2 4.0 6.4

     

    The six alternative labor underutilization state measures based on the Current Population Survey (CPS) and compiled on a four-quarter moving-average basis defined as:

    U-1, persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force;

    U-2, job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force;

    U-3, total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (this is the definition used for the official unemployment rate);

    U-4, total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers;

    U-5, total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other marginally attached workers*, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers; and

    U-6, total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part-time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.

    *Individuals who want and are available for work, and who have looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months (or since the end of their last job if they had one within the past 12 months) but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the four weeks preceding the survey, for such reasons as childcare or transportation problems, for example. Discouraged workers are a subset of the marginally attached.

    Please note that the state unemployment rates (U-3) that are shown are derived directly from the CPS. As a result, these U-3 measures may differ from the official state unemployment rates for the latest four-quarter period. The latter are estimates developed from statistical models that incorporate CPS estimates, as well as input data from other sources, such as state unemployment claims data.

    ###

    Media Contacts:

     

    Dr. Eugene Tian

    Chief State Economist

    Research and Economic Analysis Division

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Phone: 808-586-2470

    Email: [email protected]

    Laci Goshi

    Communications Officer

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Cell: 808-518-5480

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Lamola concludes working visit to Russia

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has concluded a two-day working visit to Russia. 

    During his visit to Moscow, Lamola co-chaired the 18th session of the Joint Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) alongside Alexander Kozlov, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation. 

    ITEC is a structured bilateral mechanism that aims to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation between South Africa and the Russian Federation.

    The 18th ITEC session facilitated a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation across key sectors. 

    These include trade, investment, agriculture, education, digital technologies, mass communication and transport. 

    On the margins of the ITEC proceedings, the Minister held a constructive dialogue with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

    “The discussions underscored the enduring diplomatic ties between South Africa and the Russian Federation,” the statement read.  

    According to the department, Lamola also extended sincere appreciation to Russia for its unwavering support for South Africa’s Group of 20 (G20) Presidency and its advocacy for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure that there is equitable representation of the Global South, including African nations, within multilateral institutions.  

    “In reaffirming South Africa’s principled commitment to global peace and stability, Minister Lamola emphasised the urgent imperative of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through inclusive dialogue and diplomacy. He articulated profound concern over the devastating humanitarian consequences of the conflict, including the tragic loss of civilian lives, destruction of critical infrastructure, and broader regional instability.” 

    The department said South Africa reiterates its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate a negotiated settlement. 

    “South Africa stands ready to support all credible, inclusive multilateral efforts to address the root causes of conflicts, achieving a just, sustainable, and comprehensive peace.

    “South Africa remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering international cooperation and peaceful resolution to conflicts.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Sánchez, Chu Lead Democrats in Raising Concerns about Corruption Risks from Trump Chaotic Tariff Scheme

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 17, 2025

    Over 45 lawmakers sound alarms about possible illicit payments, influence-peddling, insider trading

    Text of Letter (PDF) 

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, along with Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, and Judy Chu (D-Calif.), led a group of 44 Congressional Democrats in writing to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer with concerns over  the potential for corruption in the implementation of the administration’s tariff policy. 

    The Trump administration’s tariffs rollout is rife with opportunities to unduly influence President Trump and other administration officials. The chaotic nature of the tariffs, including announcing them and pausing them shortly after they went into effect, provides ample opportunity for private sector corporations or sovereign nationals to corruptly seek exemptions. 

    “Corporations and sovereign nations facing existentially high stakes, and knowing tariffs are controlled by a small circle in the White House, can petition officials not to apply tariffs to them after the 90-day pause, to grant them exemptions, to decrease tariffs, or to impose tariffs on competitors — and can quietly offer something in return,” wrote the lawmakers. 

    President Trump’s record on tariffs in his first term illustrates his willingness to give preference to donors and allies while punishing enemies. Politically loyal companies that donated to Republican candidates, as well as companies with financial or political ties to President Trump, were more likely to be granted tariff exemptions after President Trump imposed them in his first administration. After auditing the Trump Administration’s tariff exclusion practices in 2018 and 2019, the Commerce Department’s Office of Inspector General found evidence of “off-record communications” and an “appearance of improper influence in decisionmaking for tariff exclusion requests.”

    “We fear the Administration is once again turning its tariffs policy into an underground market of exemptions in exchange for financial and political favors,” said the lawmakers. 

    President Trump has said he will consider exemptions and make decisions “instinctively,” while bragging about global leaders calling him in search of exemptions. 

    Trump’s ad-hoc process has started to bear fruit for special interests. Last week, the White House exempted smartphones and certain other high-end electronics from tariffs targeting China. Within hours, Big Tech stock prices soared — particularly the value of Apple, which makes the vast majority of its iPhones in China. Apple CEO Tim Cook donated to President Trump’s inauguration and cultivated a strong relationship with him in recent months, as he did during Trump’s first term to win tariff exemptions.  

    The on-and-off nature of President Trump’s tariffs also opens the door to rampant insider trading. Administration officials — and their families and friends — with early knowledge of changes in tariff policy can buy positions they expect will rise and sell those that will fall. On April 9, 2025, minutes before the administration announced a pause on most tariffs, the trading market began to skyrocket — suggesting that insiders acted on non-public information about the coming pause. President Trump then posted on social media “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!,” still before any official announcement, causing stocks to further spike.

    Members of Congress, including Senator Warren, have asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and ethics officials to investigate whether any securities laws were violated with this announcement.

    At the same time, the top ethics watchdog who can hold the administration accountable appears poorly positioned to tackle tariff-related corruption. In late March 2025, USTR Ambassador Greer was named Acting Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and now serves in both roles simultaneously. Therefore, a top tariff policy official is responsible for ensuring that tariff policy decisions are made free of financial conflicts.

    “This dual appointment raises blatant conflicts that risk undermining OGE’s ability to independently monitor trade officials’ conduct and recommend investigations into misconduct when necessary,” concluded the lawmakers. 

    The lawmakers asked the officials to provide clarity on the Trump administration’s exemption policy, if any official exemption request processes exist, where exemptions will be reported, whether an appeals process exists, the administration’s plans to ensure tariff exemptions are not corrupted, and more, by April 29, 2025.

    Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) joined in signing the letter. 

    The following Representatives joined in signing the letter: Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Greg Casar (D-T.X.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Cleo Fields (D-La.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Summer Lee, (D-Pa.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Castor & Wittman Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Strengthen U.S. Role in Mapping Global Critical Mineral Resources

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Rob Wittman (VA-1) introduced the Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Finding ORE) Act to strengthen U.S. mineral security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

    Critical minerals are essential to producing technologies for the defense, semiconductor, automotive, and energy sectors—industries that will determine America’s economic future and global influence. Although we have an abundance of domestic mineral resources, demand already outstrips this supply – we must work with allies and partners to achieve mineral security.  Additionally, the U.S. is heavily dependent on China for the production and processing of many key critical minerals.  This bill would leverage the strengths of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in geological mapping of critical mineral reserves while giving U.S. firms a leg up in responsibly developing global mineral resources around the world with strong environmental and labor standards.

    This bill builds upon the bipartisan legislation of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Critical Minerals Working Group, which Reps. Castor and Wittman co-chaired in the 118th Congress.

    “America’s dependence on adversarial nations for critical minerals poses a significant threat to our national security and our clean energy future,” said Representative Castor. “The Finding ORE Act leverages our expertise in geologic mapping to promote the sustainable development of critical mineral supply chains through international partnerships. This legislation will make our nation safer and stronger while supporting our strategic alliances. I’m grateful to my bipartisan colleagues for working together to enhance U.S. leadership in the clean energy transition.”

    “Critical minerals and rare earth elements are the building blocks of our modern economy and our national security,” said Representative Wittman. “This bill ensures that the United States can work hand-in-hand with like-minded nations to identify and responsibly develop these essential resources, while strengthening supply chain resilience and promoting American leadership in mineral exploration. Through this bill, we are reinforcing our alliances, building technical capacity, and supporting global standards in responsible mineral development. I’m proud to introduce the Finding ORE Act as a forward-looking solution to this pressing global challenge.” 

    “From the technology that powers the cell phones in our pockets to the systems that keep us safe, Americans depend on critical minerals for our economic strength and national security,” said Senator Coons. “The Finding ORE Act makes sure that our nation will have access to the essential materials we need to keep innovating, growing our economy, and deterring our enemies. I’m grateful for the bipartisan and industry support this bill has received and look forward to pushing for its enactment.”

    “Many countries are unmapped or reliant on outdated geological surveys. Our bill would create opportunities for collaboration between the United States and these countries to update geological mapping with the goal of locating critical mineral deposits. These partnerships would be mutually beneficial and provide the United States access to more critical minerals, reducing our dependence on China,” said Senator Todd Young.

    “We can’t solve climate change or strengthen national security without harnessing the power of critical minerals,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Better and more accurate maps will help us and our allies safely and ethically explore untapped critical mineral deposits.”

    “Access to a reliable supply chain of critical minerals is essential to meet our nation’s defense, manufacturing, and energy needs,” said Senator Cornyn. “By shoring up alliances with trusted allies and promoting geological mapping of critical mineral reserves, this legislation would ensure America has the resources needed to keep up with global demand and bolster both our mineral security and national security in the years ahead.”

    “The United States has too often watched from the sidelines as our adversaries explored, invested in, and secured the world’s most promising mineral deposits,” said Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy. “This bill changes that. It positions the United States—our geological experts and industry—to help identify and potentially develop the next generation of great deposits. It ensures we show up in resource-rich nations, rather than leaving them to deepen their ties with China.” 

    “The American Critical Minerals Association welcomes the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Finding ORE Act by Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Representatives Wittman and Castor,” said Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of ACMA.  “Expanding our knowledge base of global minerals resources and growing partnerships with our allies will ensure the United States is a leading force in resourcing critical minerals in a responsible way.” 

    “Colorado School of Mines commends Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Reps. Wittman and Castor for their bipartisan efforts to leverage U.S. expertise in mineral mapping to support safe, secure, and responsible mineral supply chains,” said Dr. John Bradford, Vice President for Global Initiatives at Colorado School of Mines. “When called upon to contribute, institutions with strong partnerships with USGS, like Colorado School of Mines, seek to support America’s government and industry partners to advance the technology, knowledge, and workforce required to responsibly identify, assess, and produce mineral resources in the U.S. and around the world.”

    “BPC Action applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Finding ORE Act. The bill will strengthen U.S. supply chain security by enhancing coordination with allies on critical mineral development, helping secure new critical minerals sources free from adversary control,” said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

    “Terra AI celebrates this forward-thinking, bi-partisan critical minerals exploration legislation introduced by Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Reps. Wittman and Castor,” said John Mern, CEO of Terra AI. “The Finding ORE Act would empower America’s agencies and private firms to explore and claim the next major deposits of critical minerals which will supply our industries for decades to come; supporting manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and artificial intelligence. We support this act’s unique approach to winning the critical minerals race by leveraging America and Her Allies’ relative advantages — strong diplomatic relations, world-leading technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. This act is the essential early stage first step to establishing US global mineral dominance and winning this generational opportunity.  As a mineral exploration AI company, we see huge value in collaboration between the private sector and our nation’s diplomatic, geologic and financial agencies abroad. It is a winning playbook, and we look forward to seeing more legislation in this area.” 

    The Finding ORE Act would authorize the Director of USGS to enter into memoranda of understanding (MOU) with foreign partner countries related to the mapping of critical minerals. The bill identifies four objectives for these MOUs:

    • Committing USGS to assist the partner country with a range of critical mineral mapping activities;
    • Committing the partner country to offer a right of first refusal to private companies based in the United States or an allied country in the further development of mapped critical minerals;
    • Facilitating investment in the development of critical minerals in the partner country, including by leveraging financing from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank;
    • Ensuring that mapping data created through a partnership with USGS is not disclosed to governmental or private entities in non-allied countries. 

    The bill requires USGS to collaborate with both the State Department and the private sector in identifying which countries to prioritize for the negotiation of an MOU, and would involve the State Department in the negotiation and implementation process.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here.

    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Commodities Trader Pleads Guilty to Multi-Mullion Dollar Wire and Commodities Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Newark, N.J. – A Chicago man admitted to engaging in a wire and commodities fraud scheme that caused losses of more than $4 million, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Philip Galles, 59, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to both counts of an Indictment charging him with wire and commodities fraud.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Galles, a former commodities trader, defrauded his victims by falsely claiming that he would invest their money in commodity futures through his purported investment company, Tyche Asset Management, based in Chicago, Illinois. As part of the scheme, Galles and those working for him falsely told prospective investors that Tyche had a history of success using proprietary trading strategies, with extraordinary annual rates of return exceeding 100%.

    But in reality, Galles made virtually no legitimate investments in commodity futures or otherwise. Galles instead ran Tyche like a Ponzi scheme and used investor money to pay back other investors and on to pay his own personal expenses—including high-end clothing, rent on a luxury apartment, and luxury automobiles.

    During the investigation, Galles met with an undercover agent in New Jersey purporting to be an investment manager looking to make a large investment. Galles repeatedly lied during those meetings about Tyche and his personal history. Galles falsely claimed that Tyche had annual returns of 336%, raised over $2 billion within 60 days of starting the fund, and had prominent investors, including a Kuwaiti sovereign fund and a well-known owner of a professional sports team. Galles also falsely claimed that he graduated from a prominent university in the Midwest.

    In total, through his scheme, Galles defrauded more than a dozen victims out of more than $4 million.

    The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and the commodities fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.  Both charges also carry a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the transfer, whichever is greater.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahony in Newark, and the inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, with the investigation. She also thanked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the National Futures Association for their role in the investigation.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit and Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Michael Koribanics, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magaziner Leads Roundtable on Impact of Trump Tariffs on Rhode Islanders

    Source: US Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    CRANSTON, RI — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives of the construction, hospitality, health care and manufacturing sectors in Rhode Island to address the negative impact of President Trump’s recent tariffs on workers, consumers and small businesses.

    “Presient Trump’s tariffs are the largest tax increase on the Middle Class in decades,” said Magaziner. “Tariff rates now are the highest that we have had since before the Great Depression.”

    View full video remarks from all speakers during today’s press conference here.

    View or download photos from today’s full roundtable discussion here.

    Speakers included:

    • Justin Kelley, Director of Organizing and Strategic Planning for the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council, who spoke about the risk of construction projects being cancelled or scaled back due to tariffs imposed on building materials.
    • Ryan Moot, Manager of Business Development and Government Affairs, Rhode Island Hospitality Association, who spoke on the impact tariffs would have on local restaurants due to rising food costs and decreased tourism.
    • Lauryn T. Estrella, Executive Director, Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES), who spoke about how the tariffs will make durable medical equipment more expensive and harder for patients to access.
    • Darryl Lindie, Owner of AA Sign & Awning in Warwick, who spoke about the impact to project-based small businesses.

    BACKGROUND

    The roundtable comes less than two weeks after President Trump’s unprecedented and chaotic tariff rollout on over 90 countries. A 10 percent tariff tax remains on goods from most countries, with significantly higher tariffs on many goods from China, Mexico and Canada.. Trump’s erratic tariff policy has resulted in continued sharp changes in the stock market, fueling economic uncertainty for consumer prices and businesses. 

    The group discussed how tariffs affect the cost of construction and housing materials, increase prices on medical devices that raise healthcare costs, impact Rhode Island’s vital tourism and travel industry, and make it difficult for Rhode Island small businesses to manage the cost of their inputs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Seminar on US tariffs held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government today held a seminar at the Central Government Offices to exchange views with around 100 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Hong Kong SAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on the subject of the unjustified imposition of tariffs by the US.

     

    The seminar aimed to address the risks posed by what the Government sees as bullying and barbaric actions by the US and to unite all sectors in analysing and seizing opportunities in the new international trade order.

     

    Chief Executive John Lee stated at the seminar that the recent imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” by the US on multiple countries and regions seriously violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and recklessly undermines the international trade order.

     

    He said that the move by the US to impose a 145% tariff on Hong Kong, which has zero tariffs, is fallacious and violates logic. The Government has issued several stern statements expressing its strong disapproval and urging the US to cease disrupting free trade.

     

    Participants in the seminar agreed that the US tariffs represent a bullying disruption to the global trade order, severely impacting the global supply chains that many countries have worked hard to establish over the past few decades. They resolved that Hong Kong will not yield and will take the attitude of turning a crisis into an opportunity. Hong Kong, they determined, must maintain confidence, stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mainland, grasp the emerging new order, explore new trade frontiers, safeguard economic security, and promote economic upgrading and transformation.

     

    Hong Kong SAR deputies to the NPC and Hong Kong SAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC will leverage influence in their respective roles, consolidate strength, and play a driving role in restructuring the trade order. They will also provide advice to the Government to jointly navigate the long battle ahead.

     

    The Government said it is fully committed to leading society in a spirit of unity and co-operation, strengthening regional trade collaboration, deepening international exchanges and co-operation, exploring emerging markets, and driving the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

     

    Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui, Acting Secretary for Transport & Logistics Liu Chun-san and Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan also attended the seminar.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Gate.io’s 12-Year Milestone: Ecosystem Reconstruction and Future Blueprint Behind GT’s Value Surge

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PANAMA CITY, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the fast-evolving world of digital assets, 12 years marks a period of deep engagement that spans nearly the entire lifecycle of the industry. From early exploration to becoming a witness to the industry’s development, every step Gate.io has taken has been closely tied to market cycles, technological evolution, and shifting user demands. This has not been a linear journey but a long-term game of trust, technology, and forward-looking judgment.

    Looking back, Gate.io has evolved from a product-oriented platform focused solely on cryptocurrency trading into a global ecosystem covering asset trading, asset management, public chains, industry research, and Web3 infrastructure. This transformation represents not a mere quantitative accumulation but a qualitative leap. Every product upgrade and strategic pivot has been a deep reflection and practical exploration of ecosystem efficiency and user core value.

    Now, in its 12th year, Gate.io has chosen GT as the key anchor connecting the past and the future. GT is not just the value carrier of the ecosystem’s operations but also shoulders multiple missions including brand revitalization, mechanism restructuring, and community engagement. At this pivotal point, GT is taking on a central role in reshaping ecosystem value with clearer positioning and more open architecture, activating the next phase of growth.

    Anniversary Celebration and Brand Evolution: Crossing from Trading to Ecosystem

    Gate.io’s 12th anniversary celebration is not only a tribute to its past achievements but also a key milestone for its brand strategy upgrade. From a cryptocurrency trading platform to a global ecosystem giant, Gate.io‘s transformation is reflected in every detail. The upgrade of the brand name and the revamp of the visual identity signify not just superficial changes but a redefinition of the brand’s core. The new brand image conveys a message of greater professionalism and credibility, aligning with the global and futuristic positioning of Web3 and providing strong trust support for GT’s value.

    GT, as the core token of the Gate.io ecosystem, has long surpassed the role of a mere trading medium. It runs through the entire ecosystem, connecting user rights, ecosystem applications, and market growth, becoming a true super token. On the occasion of the 12th anniversary, GT’s value logic is undergoing profound changes. The platform’s sustained growth, the breakthrough in user numbers, and continuous ecosystem expansion have all laid a solid foundation for GT’s value appreciation. And this is just the beginning.

    Platform Growth and Resonating Demand for GT

    In the first quarter of 2025, Gate.io’s user base surpassed 22 million. This surge in users not only signifies increased platform activity but also drives growth in both spot and derivatives trading volumes. These increases, through the buyback and burn mechanism, further feed back into GT’s value.

    The deflationary model is a crucial pillar supporting GT’s value growth. To date, over 170 million GT have been cumulatively burned, with a destruction value of approximately $408 million. The continuous reduction in circulating supply is enhancing GT’s scarcity. This scarcity, combined with the ongoing growth in user numbers and trading volume, provides a solid foundation for further value appreciation. GT’s value is reflected not only in trading but also in its unique properties as an ecosystem token. As the platform continues to expand, the demand for GT will only keep increasing.

    GT Holder Rights Upgrade and Value Closed-Loop

    GT’s holding mechanism is continuously being optimized, progressively building a “holding equals earning” closed-loop system of value. Based on holding GT, users can enjoy multiple benefits, including trading fee discounts, Launchpool participation rights, and HODLer rewards. Paired with the VIP tier system, GT holders can unlock more personalized services and higher-tier earning structures.

    CMC data shows that the number of GT holders has continued to rise since the beginning of the first quarter, and GT’s market cap ranking has climbed to 40th globally. These trends indicate that user trust in GT is strengthening, and holding behavior is shifting from short-term speculation to long-term allocation. Changes in the holding structure help stabilize the price and lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the platform’s ecosystem.

    The enhancement of the rights mechanism is not just about incentivizing active users; it also showcases GT’s capability to unlock ecosystem value. By deeply binding token holding with ecosystem revenue, Gate.io is gradually releasing GT’s intrinsic value potential, promoting its application and recognition across wider scenarios.

    Breaking Out of the Ecosystem: Global Resource Integration Empowering GT

    Gate.io’s brand evolution is not merely a visual refresh but marks strategic repositioning. Through the unified presentation of the new name and visual system, the platform conveys a stronger sense of professionalism and trust, aligning with Web3’s globalized, technological, and future-forward aesthetic standards. This change not only enhances brand recognition but also injects a stable cognitive foundation into GT’s market value.

    Focusing on “ecosystem expansion” as the core direction, Gate.io is actively expanding partnerships with world-class IPs. Deep collaborations with FC Internazionale Milano and Oracle Red Bull Racing in F1 not only increase brand visibility in the international market but also introduce GT into broader consumer scenarios. Through such cross-sector partnerships, the platform successfully bridges the crypto world with mainstream sports culture, establishing a connection between token value and user emotions.

    At the same time, the application boundaries of GT are being redefined. It is evolving from a trading medium into a cross-scenario connector, sparking new possibilities across industries like sports, entertainment, and consumer goods. This cross-industry integration allows GT to move beyond internal digital asset circulation and gradually assume the critical role of linking the real world with the Web3 ecosystem. In the future, with continued global resource integration, GT’s ecosystem value is poised to leap to a higher level.

    GT’s Growth Potential: Core Logic and Market Expectations

    Historical data shows that GT often outperforms BTC during bull markets, demonstrating strong resilience and valuation recovery capabilities. As a platform token, its price fluctuations are highly correlated with industry cycles, giving it significant room for revaluation when the market recovers. The overall industry rebound provides external momentum, while Gate.io’s ongoing ecosystem expansion builds internal support, creating a dual foundation for GT’s growth.

    Currently, Gate.io’s ecosystem is forming a positive feedback loop. Growth in user numbers helps drive platform revenue, increased revenue enhances GT’s buyback and burn efforts, deflationary effects further boost market prices, and rising prices, in turn, attract new users. This “flywheel effect” strengthens the value closed-loop between the platform and the token, creating a long-term upward drive system for GT.

    The token burn mechanism is a core element of GT’s deflationary model. As scarcity gradually accumulates, GT’s pricing power in the market is steadily enhanced. The expansion of Gate.io’s ecosystem not only brings more application scenarios but also provides stronger intrinsic value support for GT. From supply-demand dynamics to deflationary logic and evolving user behavior, multiple factors are now shaping the core growth logic behind GT’s potential.

    12th Anniversary: A Short-Term Catalyst for GT Value Release

    To celebrate its 12th anniversary, Gate.io has launched multiple user incentive programs, including airdrops, the WCTC S7 trading competition, and high-yield staking opportunities, aimed at boosting GT’s market activity in the short term. These initiatives are expected to drive greater user participation, increase GT’s usage frequency, and enhance its market visibility. Furthermore, through these activities, new users may gradually be converted into long-term holders, further strengthening the ecosystem’s stickiness.

    The anniversary incentives are designed to work synergistically. Airdrops increase GT’s market exposure and attract new users to the platform. Trading competitions, through ranking and rewards, drive higher trading activity. Staking incentives encourage users to hold GT longer, extending the participation cycle. These measures not only unlock short-term value but also lay a solid foundation for long-term ecological growth.

    Importantly, the focus of this anniversary celebration is not merely short-term market stimulation. Instead, it aims to drive full-cycle user conversion from awareness to engagement, through a key milestone event. As users become more integrated into the ecosystem through participation, GT’s value support base will be further solidified. Compared to short-lived price fluctuations, long-term value accumulation carries greater strategic significance, and this anniversary serves as a critical trigger point for that transformation.

    GT: A Value Carrier in the Web3 Era

    After 12 years of development, Gate.io has expanded its ecosystem and integrated global resources, pushing the boundaries of its platform token. GT has evolved beyond a simple trading tool, emerging as a “passport of rights” within the Web3 ecosystem. This transformation is not a mere extension of its functionality but a deep evolution driven by strategic upgrades, compliance initiatives, and technological innovation. GT is now entering a new phase of value revaluation.

    GT’s core value is no longer limited to scarcity or platform-driven price support. As an ecological token, GT plays a pivotal role in resource allocation, rights distribution, and user engagement. Gate.io’s continuous efforts in product diversification, cross-industry collaboration, and global expansion are steadily broadening GT’s practical applications and strengthening its intrinsic value.

    The 12th anniversary marks the completion of one development cycle and the starting point for the next growth phase. GT’s future extends beyond the platform itself; it is being embedded into the broader trajectory of the Web3 era. Against the backdrop of accelerating ecosystem integration, GT is poised to become a critical hub connecting on-chain and off-chain applications, establishing itself as a core asset in the emerging digital economy.

    Media Contact:
    Elaine Wang at elaine.w@gate.io

    Disclaimer
    The content herein does not constitute any offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making any investment decisions. Please be noted that Gate.io may restrict or prohibit the use of all or a portion of the Services from Restricted Locations. For more information, please read the User Agreement via https://www.gate.io/user-agreement.

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Gate.io. 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. 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. 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.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.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.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bbb5396c-2597-4484-9ba6-f60bf8496c21

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Libya Energy & Economic Summit Returns to Tripoli for 2026 Edition

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

    TRIPOLI, Libya, April 17, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Now in its fourth year, the Libya Energy & Economic Summit has established itself as the premier international platform for driving investment, technical innovation and private sector engagement in Libya’s energy sector. Building on three years of unprecedented growth, the 2026 edition will take place in Tripoli on January 24-26 – marking the first time the event will span three full days in response to growing international interest.  

    As Libya aims to increase oil production to two million barrels per day within the next two to three years, LEES 2026 will provide crucial insights into the country’s ambitious energy agenda, with a central focus on the role of private sector actors, both Libyan and international, in driving this growth. Natural gas development and associated infrastructure are also key priorities for Libya’s energy sector, as the country seeks to boost gas output to meet domestic energy needs and ensure reliable fuel supplies for critical downstream industries.  

    Importantly, LEES 2026 will be the first major industry gathering to take place after the close of Libya’s licensing round at the end of 2025, making it the definitive forum for understanding the new exploration landscape and identifying high-value opportunities. Libya recently launched its 2025 licensing round — the first in 17 years — offering 22 onshore and offshore exploration blocks. With 167 active contractual blocks and an exploration success rate of 33%, the country is well-positioned to attract new investors and encourage existing operators to expand their acreage, thereby further advancing drilling and discovery efforts. 

    As Libya continues to scale up its oil and gas production, the 2026 summit will feature an expanded technical agenda, building on the success of the in-depth technical sessions introduced in 2025. The upcoming edition will offer even more programming focused on engineering, exploration, digitalization and field development, in response to strong demand for technical expertise from upstream and midstream professionals.  

    International participation is also set to grow in 2026, with LEES continuing to partner closely with leading industry associations from top investor countries including the U.S., the U.K. and Italy, among other strategic partners. The upcoming edition is expected to feature an expanded number of international pavilions, reflecting heightened global interest in Libya’s energy sector. Recent changes to U.K. travel guidance and other foreign policy shifts are paving the way for broader international involvement — signaling that Libya is opening up and re-engaging with the private sector on a larger scale. 

    Building on previous endorsements from the Ministry of Oil and Gas and the National Oil Corporation (NOC), the summit unites global energy leaders, policymakers and investors to forge strategic partnerships and drive the ongoing revitalization of Libya’s energy sector. LEES 2026 is poised to continue this momentum, serving as a vital catalyst for private sector investment and global partnerships. The upcoming edition will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders — including NOC subsidiaries, international oil companies, financial institutions, energy organizations and leading technology providers — with a shared focus on driving investment and highlighting high-impact opportunities to realize Libya’s energy ambitions. 

    The Libya Energy & Economic Summit unites regional and global industry stakeholders to unlock Libya’s energy potential. Now entering its fourth year, the summit returns to Tripoli on January 24–26, 2026 to serve as a gateway to investment, collaboration and innovation in Africa’s leading oil and gas market. Visit www.LibyaSummit.com for more information. To sponsor or attend as a delegate, contact sales@energycapitalpower.com 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tactics for creating disruption are testing the limits of presidential power – a legal expert explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen Clear, Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Procurement, Bangor University

    In less than 100 days, Donald Trump’s second term has proved the most disruptive and transformative start to a US presidency ever. Using executive orders and mass firings, he has moved quickly on his far-reaching agenda to consolidate his power.

    Trump has actually signed fewer bills into law at this point than any new president for seven decades. But he has signed 124 executive orders (which don’t need congressional approval). Joe Biden signed 162 of these over his whole term.

    Executive orders are a way of pushing through a presidential directive, usually based on existing statutory powers, without it going to a vote. So far, these have covered issues from energy policy to TikTok’s ownership.

    Using this tactic, Trump has stretched his authority far more in just a few months than any recent president.

    While the president may issue executive orders, he cannot create laws without the support of Congress. This has led, in part, to the launch of lawsuits regarding the statutory basis of some of these orders. Some are now going through the federal courts on constitutional and lawfulness grounds.

    But the Supreme Court can also review and overturn executive orders that lack legal authority. These orders cannot contradict or supersede existing laws passed by Congress, or violate the US constitution.

    A system of checks and balances that prevents US presidents from becoming too powerful is facilitated by the “separation of powers”, which is written into the US Constitution. The legislative (members of Congress), executive (president) and judiciary (the courts) are all separate bodies – in part to prevent an over-concentration of power in any one body or person.

    Bills passed by presidents in first 85 days

    The US Congress has a key supervisory role through its two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which work together to pass laws. But there are many reasons why this president may not be that concerned by these constitutional safeguards.

    The Democratic opposition is in an exceptionally weak position to take on Trump. It is in the minority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, and is routinely outvoted by the Republicans.

    And Trump is often dismissive of congressional oversight. House committees have previously launched multiple investigations into his conduct, business dealings, and whether he has financially benefited while serving as president. Congress also issued subpoenas for documents and testimonies in 2022, but Trump often resisted or delayed them.

    Congress controls federal spending and can, in theory, deny funds for presidential initiatives. But it is currently full of Republicans who, so far, have not been willing to challenge the president.



    Read more:
    Nayib Bukele: El Salvador’s strongman leader doing Donald Trump’s legwork abroad

    Testing the legal limits

    Trump’s approach seems to be one of testing the limits of the law. This was seen with the travel ban imposed on mostly Muslim countries in his first term, which the Supreme Court initially struck down as unconstitutional. The court later upheld a significantly revised version.

    In terms of impeachment, Trump has already been there on two occasions. He was first impeached in 2019 after he allegedly pressured Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate Joe Biden in the run-up to the 2020 election.

    This claim of illegality on the part of Trump stemmed from it being illegal to ask foreign entities for help in winning a US election. The House of Representatives impeached him for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but the Senate ultimately acquitted him.

    Trump was impeached again in 2021, after he was accused of inciting the January 6 Capitol riots. For the first time in US history, a president was impeached after leaving office – but he was again acquitted by the Senate.

    Trump has suggested these impeachment attempts are evidence of him being persecuted for his efforts to “drain the swamp” (how he describes Washington’s political establishment). Overall, the president seems to favour testing the limits of executive policy-making, then making changes later if challenged.

    Judges also have an important role to play in checking the work of the president. They can declare presidential actions unconstitutional. For example, in US v Nixon (1974), the Supreme Court ruled the president does not have executive-privilege immunity from court actions.

    Some may think that as the president appoints top judges, this undermines their independence. However, once judges are appointed, they are bound to execute their duties fairly while upholding the rule of law. Importantly, they do not answer to the president for their decisions.

    The US constitution also puts some limits on the office of the president. As part of their oath of office, presidents vow to uphold and defend the constitution and faithfully execute their responsibilities. In that sense, a US president must execute diligence in ensuring the law is faithfully followed. They cannot simply ignore laws they do not like.

    Donald Trump’s Oath of Office.

    And despite claims that Trump is prepared to seek a third term, the 22nd Amendment limits an individual to a maximum of two – although Trump has hinted at a plan to find a way around this.

    As was seen with his previous administration, the voters can turn against sitting presidents and vote them out of power. Businesses and market pressures can also play a significant role, as was seen in the recent pauses in the president’s international tariff decision-making.

    What needs to change?

    A significant amount of change has been achieved via Trump’s executive orders in just 85 days. Meanwhile, judicial oversight and checks will take time to filter through the courts and, if necessary, be tested in the Supreme Court.



    Read more:
    Federal judge finds ‘probable cause’ to hold Trump administration in contempt – a legal scholar explains what this means

    Nonetheless, the judiciary is starting to flex its muscles more. For example, a federal judge has said he would find administration officials in contempt unless they engaged with a legal process to secure the return of Maryland resident Kilmar Ábrego García, after he was illegally sent to an El Salvador prison. This is already being hailed as a test case for the rule of law.

    It’s also noteworthy that recent polls of US citizens indicate 82% want the president to obey federal court orders.

    One area where more explicit clarity in US law might be needed is over the scope of executive orders – to curtail some of the testing of their limits we are currently seeing. While Congress already has the power to legislate to reverse and override an executive order, as well as to refuse to provide the funding necessary to carry out policy measures contained within an order, it (so far) seems unprepared to execute this power.

    In the next few months, the US public and politicians will be able to see the impact of these executive orders – and there will be a wealth of judicial rulings to add to the debate. Whether that will change how Trump operates is as yet unclear.

    Stephen Clear 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. Trump’s tactics for creating disruption are testing the limits of presidential power – a legal expert explains – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tactics-for-creating-disruption-are-testing-the-limits-of-presidential-power-a-legal-expert-explains-254120

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study on population attributable fraction of incident dementia associated with hearing loss

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery looks at dementia associated with hearing loss.

    Prof Jason Warren, Professor of Neurology and Consultant Neurologist, UCL, said:

    “Dementia in older people. Importantly, the study advances previous work in this area by attempting to include a more diverse older population and to distinguish between objectively measured and self-reported hearing problems. It is particularly interesting that people who complained of hearing problems did not have an increased dementia risk. This underlines the need for hearing tests when assessing dementia risk, but also suggests that lack of awareness of hearing difficulties might itself be an early warning signal for dementia. While more work is needed to establish to what extent hearing aids might delay dementia, studies of this kind support the view that we should protect hearing to protect brain function.”

    Dr Isolde Radford at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

    “There’s strong evidence linking hearing loss in mid to later life with an increased risk of dementia. We don’t yet know if hearing loss directly causes dementia or whether it causes other conditions that, in turn increase our risk. But this study adds to the link between hearing loss and dementia, and offers further evidence of the value of investigating hearing loss interventions as a potential measure to protect brain health.

    “This research looked at nearly 3,000 adults aged 45 and over in the U.S. to explore links between hearing loss and dementia. However, because participants were all from the same area and identified as either Black or White, the findings might not reflect wider trends across the U.S. or globally. The study also relied on some people reporting their own hearing loss, which can be inaccurate, possibly due to stigma, so future research should use proper hearing tests to get a clearer picture.

    “What we do know is that hearing loss, like dementia, isn’t an inevitable part of ageing. That’s why we’re calling on the government to include a hearing check in the NHS Health Check for over-40s. This simple step could help millions identify hearing loss earlier and take appropriate action, such as wearing hearing aids, that may help reduce their risk of dementia.

    “With around one million people living with dementia and 12 million affected by hearing loss in the UK, we urgently need more research to better understand the link, and identify who would benefit most from simple interventions like hearing aids. This insight is vital to help health services deliver the right support to the right people.”

    Dr Coco Newton, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, said:

    “This study confirms that hearing loss is having a uniquely negative impact on people’s future risk of dementia, even well into older age. The authors controlled for any potential confounding effects from other dementia risk factors such as lower education, smoking, poorer heart health, diabetes, or genetic risk. However, how well hearing aid use can compensate for this increased risk remains an open question – around half of this study population with hearing loss used a hearing aid, and they only had a modest benefit. It could be that we need to follow up them up for longer than 8 years to truly measure the effect of hearing aid use.”

    Prof Masud Husain, Professor of Neurology, University of Oxford, said:

    “These results add to growing evidence that hearing loss is associated with increased risk of dementia. Exactly how is the subject of an interesting debate.

    “The most striking feature of the findings is that while hearing loss established using objective hearing tests (audiometry) shows a relationship to dementia, self-reported hearing loss does not. This seems to because people do not reliably know – or acknowledge – that they have hearing impairment.”

    Dr Thomas Littlejohns, Senior Epidemiologist, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, said:

    “There has been a lot of interest recently on whether hearing problems are linked to a higher risk of developing dementia. If so, this would be a highly promising way of reducing dementia risk as hearing problems are common at older ages, and often treatable.

    “This paper uses a population of 3,000 US-based adults with an average age of 75 to estimate how many cases of dementia in this particular sample might be due to hearing problems. The authors do this using a statistical method known as a Population Attributable Fraction (PAF). A PAF is an equation which combines information on 1) the percentage of people with hearing problems and 2) the strength of association between hearing problems and dementia to estimate how many dementia cases are due to hearing problems. Or to put it another way, if hearing problems ceased to exist then the PAF is the percentage of dementia cases that would also be eradicated. In this paper, the authors find that this could be as many as 1 in 3 dementia cases, a substantial number.

    “However, it is crucial to note that this assumes a causal relationship, and because this paper uses observational data it does not provide any evidence on whether hearing impairment causes dementia. For example, we can’t tell from these results whether hearing problems are related to dementia through other factors common to ageing or whether hearing problems are a consequence, rather than a cause, of dementia. The latter is a particular problem in observational data, as dementia develops over many years and it is possible that hearing problems emerge in the early stages of dementia (similar to memory problems) before a clinical diagnosis is made. Nevertheless, this paper is well-designed and provides useful information on how many dementia cases hearing problems might cause, but only if we know the relationship is causal, which we cannot tell from this study.”

    ‘Population Attributable Fraction of Incident Dementia Associated With Hearing Loss’ by Emily Ishak et al. was published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at 16:00 UK time on Thursday 17th April. 

    DOI:10.1001/jamaoto.2025.0192

    Declared interests

    Dr Coco Newton: No direct industry funding or links, but my funders include Alzheimer’s Society, ARUK, and Alzheimer Scotland if relevant. I once worked on a study part funded by Merck SP but the grant wasn’t in my name.

    Dr Thomas Littlejohns: None to declare

    Prof Masud Husain: I have no conflicts of interest.

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: EMGS – Vessel activity and multi-client sales update for the first quarter 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (the “Company” or “EMGS”) releases information on vessel activity and multi-client sales during the quarter approximately 4-5 working days after the close of each quarter. The Company defines vessel utilisation as the percentage of the vessel charter period spent on proprietary or multi-client data acquisition. Downtime (technical or maritime), mobilisation, steaming, and some standby activities are not included in the utilisation rate.  

    At the end of the first quarter 2025 the Company had one vessel on charter, the Atlantic Guardian. The Atlantic Guardian completed a proprietary survey in India in the quarter and started mobilisation for a second proprietary survey in India.

    The utilization for the first quarter was 35% compared with 27% for the first quarter 2024. 

    EMGS had one vessel in operation and recorded 3.0 vessel months in the quarter. In the first quarter 2024, the Company recorded 3.0 vessel months.

    Multi-client revenues in the first quarter
    The Company expects to record approximately USD 150 thousand in multi-client late sales in the first quarter of 2025.

    EMGS will publish its first quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday 14 May 2025 prior to 07:30 local time (Norway). A recorded presentation will also be made available over the Internet. To access the presentation, please go to the Company’s homepage (www.emgs.com) and follow the link.

    Contact
    Anders Eimstad, Chief Financial Officer, +47 948 25 836

    This information is published in accordance with the Norwegian Securities Trading Act § 5-12.

    About EMGS
    EMGS, the marine EM market leader, uses its proprietary electromagnetic (EM) technology to support oil and gas companies in their search for offshore hydrocarbons. EMGS supports each stage in the workflow, from survey design and data acquisition to processing and interpretation. The Company’s services enable the integration of EM data with seismic and other geophysical and geological information to give explorationists a clearer and more complete understanding of the subsurface. This improves exploration efficiency and reduces risks and the finding costs per barrel. CSEM technology can also be used to detect the presence of marine mineral deposits (primarily Seabed Massive Sulphides) and EMGS believes that the technology can also be used to estimate the mineral content of such deposits. The Company is undertaking early-stage initiatives to position itself in this future market.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader pays tribute to Councillor Val Walker

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    I was extremely sad to hear of Val’s sudden and unexpected death and my thoughts are with her family and friends.

    It was a privilege to get to know Val, both as a friend and colleague. What struck me from the very beginning was her intelligence, her wit but, most of all, her warmth and kindness. Even in the heat of political debate she would always remain calm, constructive and respectful of other people’s views.

    Prior to becoming a councillor, her roles in education and library services over many years gave her a long-lasting passion for reading, something that she loved to share with others – helping them to discover the wonderful world of books and libraries.

    Alongside this, she campaigned tirelessly for the Labour Party, as she did for the rights of workers, women and single parents. She spent thousands of hours knocking on doors and speaking to local residents – and I know that being elected as councillor for Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart in 2022 filled her with huge pride, something that stayed with her throughout.

    She brought the same determination to her role as Chair of the Council’s Joint Consultative Committee and I know she was held in the highest regard by the Trade Unions, who recognised a lifetime of activism and support.

    Val’s other great passion for theatre, and the arts more generally, made her the perfect choice for Culture and Communities Convener, a role that she approached with vigour and enthusiasm. She was never happier than when she’d managed to find a way of reaching consensus with all parties and I know that she was trusted and admired by colleagues from across the chamber.

    She was also a great champion of the festivals, and of the benefits they bring to our city’s reputation, but – in typically balanced fashion – an equally fierce defender of our parks and greenspaces and the huge enjoyment they bring to our residents.

    Val is a great loss to the council, to her colleagues and to the city. We will miss her immensely.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Equinor (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR) suspends offshore construction activities for the Empire Wind project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    In accordance with a halt work order issued by the US government, Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) will safely halt the offshore construction in waters of the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project.

    On 16 April, Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering Empire to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review.

    Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order.

    The federal lease for Empire Wind was signed with the US Administration in 2017. Empire Wind 1 has validly secured all necessary federal and state permits and is currently under construction. The project is being developed under contract with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide an important new source of electricity for the State of New York. The construction phase has put more than 1,500 people to work in the US. Empire wind 1 has the potential to power 500,000 New York homes.

    Empire is complying with the order affecting project activities for Empire Wind. Upon receipt of the order, immediate steps were taken by Empire and its contractors to initiate suspension of relevant marine activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment.

    Empire Wind has per 31 March 2025 a gross book value of around USD 2.5 billion, including South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.

    Equinor’s ownership to Empire is held through the Equinor Wind US LLC.

    Total amount drawn under the project finance term loan facility per 31 March 2025 was around USD 1.5 billion. Empire is in the process of ascertaining the impact on the project and project financing. Equinor US Holdings Inc has provided guarantees for the equity commitment in the project financing. In a full stop scenario, the USD 1.5 billion will be repaid from the equity commitment to the project finance lenders and Empire Offshore Wind LLC will be exposed to termination fees towards its suppliers.

    The halt work order will be disclosed as a subsequent event in the first quarter 2025 report.

    Equinor is a broad energy company with more than 35 years of history in the US. Equinor has invested more than 60 billion USD in the US to date, including in oil, gas and renewables.

    Contact persons:

    Investor relations:
    Bård Glad Pedersen, Senior vice president Investor Relations,
    +47 918 01 791

    Media relations:
    Sissel Rinde, Vice president Media Relations,
    +47 412 60 584

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack Hits 500,000 Users Milestone With 100x Leverage, No KYC, and Massive Bonus Campaign

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crypto trading platform BexBack, which officially launched in May 2024, has rapidly surpassed 500,000 registered users globally, cementing its place as one of the fastest-growing derivatives exchanges in the industry. With up to 100x leverage, no KYC requirements, and an aggressive bonus-driven growth strategy, BexBack is transforming the way crypto enthusiasts engage with trading — putting speed, privacy, and profitability at the forefront.

    “BexBack was built for traders who value freedom, performance, and simplicity,” said David, Operations Director at BexBack. “Our platform removes friction without compromising power — no verification, no delays, just fast, secure trading and real rewards.”

    What Sets BexBack Apart?

    • 100x Leverage: Execute high-risk, high-reward strategies with maximum exposure.
    • No KYC: Trade anonymously from anywhere, with total privacy.
    • $50 Welcome Bonus: Instantly available after registration and first completed trade.
    • 100% Deposit Bonus: Double your trading capital (bonus funds are non-withdrawable but usable in trading).
    • $100 Flash Bonus Campaign: For a limited time only, users who deposit more than 0.01 BTC or 1000 USDT within 48 hours of joining the campaign will receive an extra $100 trading bonus. While the bonus itself is non-withdrawable, profits generated from using it are fully withdrawable.
    • Zero Spread, Zero Slippage: Enjoy institutional-grade execution with real price integrity.
    • Demo Mode: Practice with 10 BTC & 1 million USDT in virtual assets — ideal for beginners and strategists.

    In addition, BexBack’s affiliate program offers up to 50% commission on referred users’ trading fees — with no limit and permanent referral binding.

    Since launching, BexBack has earned a loyal global following across North America, Europe, and Asia, praised for its user-first approach, multilingual 24/7 support, and lightning-fast platform design.

    Sign Up Now on BexBack — Break the 100x Leverage and KYC Barriers, Get Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Welcome Bonus Instantly

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. 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.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/71abc268-4df7-4ec4-be94-c647dae843de

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ceef4dc-3e06-4519-bf0a-e6bd4c00b743

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Outlook for world trade in 2025

    Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

    Under current conditions, the volume of world merchandise trade is likely to fall by 0.2% in 2025. The decline is expected to be particularly steep in North America, where exports are forecasted to drop by 12.6%.
    However, severe downside risks exist, including the application of “reciprocal” tariffs and broader spillover of policy uncertainty, which could lead to an even sharper decline of 1.5% in global goods trade and hurt export-oriented least-developed countries.
    The report contains for the first time a forecast for services trade to complement its projections for merchandise trade. The volume of services trade is forecasted to grow by 4.0% in 2025, around 1 percentage point less than expected.

    Download this video from the WTO website:
    https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHT2l27sIq0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: SUNation Energy Issues Letter to Shareholders in Conjunction With Filing of Form 10-K

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RONKONKOMA, N.Y., April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SUNation Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNE) (“SUNation” or the “Company”), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power to households, businesses, municipalities, and for servicing existing systems, today issued a Letter to Shareholders from CEO Scott Maskin in connection with the filing of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (“FY 2024”) on April 15, 2025. A copy of the Company’s Form 10-K is available at www.sec.gov.

    Dear Fellow Shareholder:

    I am writing to you with a renewed sense of optimism for SUNation’s future, tremendous pride in the dedication and hard work of our team, and appreciation for the continuing faith of our residential and commercial customers in our ability to provide an outstanding end-to-end solar experience. Over the last several quarters, we have made it a priority to address a variety of legacy financial, operational, and governance issues that impeded our growth potential, which included recruiting a new leadership team and a refreshed Board of Directors with relevant industry, capital markets, and public company experience.

    This journey has not been easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. Many of these decisions were among the most difficult of my career, with a significant impact to our people and our investors; they were, however, necessary. While we still have work to do, we believe that we have positioned the Company to resume growth and thrive in the years ahead.

    Our results for 2024 reflect both the encouraging and unpredictable aspects of our industry, as well as the specific issues that affected our operations. The last two years have been some of the most challenging in our space, and some companies – many larger than us – have not survived. While being a smaller company can make us more vulnerable to the effects of macro conditions, it also provides us with a significant advantage – specifically, the ability to act quickly and with resolve.

    As we look ahead to 2025, we see a significant opportunity to pursue a myriad of commercial and residential opportunities in our core markets and surrounding regions, consider strategic acquisition opportunities, and fortify our operations to support a pivot to sustainable growth and profitability. For full year 2024 results, and other recent developments, please review our annual report on Form 10-K, which we filed on April 15, 2025, and can be found at www.sec.gov, free of charge.

    2024 Performance Overview and Recent Events

    Full Year 2024

    • Total sales of $56.9 million declined as expected from last year’s sales of $79.6 million driven by a decrease in residential and commercial solar projects, as well as lower service revenue. However, sales increased on a consecutive basis for each quarter of 2024 with Q4 2024 sales of $15.4 million up 9.3% from Q1 2024 sales of $13.2 million.  
    • Over 50% of our installed jobs in 2023 and 2024 came from referrals or repeat customers, a rate that ranks among the best in our industry. This also helped drive down year-over-year customer acquisition costs by approximately 8%.
    • Gross margin for 2024 improved to 35.9% from 34.8%, reflecting tighter controls over direct costs.
    • Total operating expenses declined by nearly 7% to $32.7 million from $35.2 million.
    • The decline in total operating expenses in 2024 was offset by a $3.1 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge associated with Hawaii Energy Connection (“HEC”) and a $750,000 intangible asset impairment loss related to technology related intangible assets within the HEC segment; there were no such charges realized in 2023.
    • A series of cost optimization and efficiency measures implemented in 2024 are expected to produce annual selling, general and administrative expense cost savings in 2025 of over $2.0 million.
    • Operating loss from continuing operations was $12.3 million compared to $7.5 million in 2023

    Recent Developments

    • We secured $20 million in aggregate gross proceeds via a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors (“the Offering”).
    • This fresh capital allowed us to eliminate $12.6 million of secured debt and other long-term contractual obligations. This included the repayment in full of $9.4 million of senior and junior secured debt that removed an average annual cash drain of approximately $3.4 million through 2027, and the payment in full of a $2.5 million earn out consideration.
    • This reduction in debt has produced material benefits, including lowering our annual interest expense for 2025 by an estimated $1.4 million, while enhancing cash flows that provide the flexibility necessary to invest appropriately in our long-term expansion and/or other strategic options.

    Q1 2025 Outlook

    We expect that our financial position for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 will reflect the positive effects of this deleveraging and the cost containment initiatives that began in 2024, including:

    • cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1.4 million, up from cash and cash equivalents of $0.8 million at December 31, 2024; cash at March 31, 2025 did not include $5 million in gross proceeds raised as part of the Offering that closed in early April 2025.
    • total debt of approximately $9.3 million, a $9.8 million reduction from $19.1 million at December 31, 2024; this reduction does not include the impact of the above-mentioned $2.5 million earn out payment.    

    The Path Forward

    Our strategy is designed to provide customers with sustainable energy security by leveraging our people, technology, and processes to deliver solutions that improve the performance, increase the reliability, and reduce the cost of energy.

    Our industry is highly fragmented, consisting primarily of small, regional companies that control the majority of installations. We believe that this creates a great opportunity for a company like SUNation. With our corporate transformation substantially complete, an injection of fresh capital, and our outlook for the solar industry positive, we believe that the best pathway for long-term growth is a combination of organic expansion initiatives, while pursuing net profitable accretive strategic acquisition opportunities.

    With respect to organic growth, we will continue to focus on lowering customer acquisition costs by capitalizing on our premier referral rates, achieve economies of scale that support a lower cost of goods sold, and explore opportunities that widen the scope of solar services to become a one-stop shop for solar and storage-related needs. By leveraging our two-decade reputation for high quality and dependable solar installation, we are investing heavily in the operations of our roofing division, a natural extension of our solar offerings, as well as strengthening our outreach to non-SUNation clients in need of service for their existing PV and battery systems. We also believe that we can increase our service revenue by addressing service gaps created by solar providers that are no longer in business.

    Our approach to any potential acquisitions will be deliberate and thoughtful, with a focus on well-run residential and commercial solar companies in a select group of states that contain markets with the factors that are necessary for fruitful expansion. We believe that regional companies with robust corporate support are best suited to navigate their respective state and regulatory operating environments. Our acquisition criteria includes exposure to battery storage and value-added energy services, opportunities that can deliver meaningful cost and revenue synergies, and compatible business cultures, with a focus on the customer. Our goal is to achieve scale while maintaining the regional identity and connection to the community that these companies have developed over the years.

    We believe that SUNation’s value proposition of energy independence, our sterling reputation, customer-centric approach, and diversified service portfolio will help us navigate the macroeconomic environment, including tariffs, government subsidies, and interest rates.

    In Closing

    I founded SUNation in 2003 and built it into one of the largest and most respected solar installers on Long Island. This was accomplished through hard work, a respect for the customer, and surrounding myself with the best possible team. In 2022 we acquired HEC and E-GEAR, both Hawaii-based sustainable energy solution providers, as a reflection of our commitment to capitalize on the growing demand for solutions that provide home energy security.  

    After more than two decades, we are just beginning.

    I am optimistic about the future of the solar and storage industry and SUNation. Our industry creates good paying jobs and generates substantial revenue at the regional level, positioning us as a significant contributor to the national energy mix alongside oil, coal, gas, and wind. Importantly, our distributed energy solutions fortify local energy infrastructures, making us a vital part of energy security. Our industry is resilient and has always aligned with economic expansion – a stronger economy equals strong energy demand.

    I remain committed to capitalizing on the significant opportunities inherent in our industry and delivering long-term value to our shareholders.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Scott Maskin
    Chief Executive Officer

    Corporate Update Call / Submit Question in Advance

    Management will host a Corporate Update call on Wednesday, April 23 at 10:00 am ET. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing:

    • Domestic: (800) 715-9871
    • International: (646) 307-1963
    • Passcode: 5681681

    The conference call will also be accessible via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site at https://ir.sunation.com/news-events or via this link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/2sjxvf6u.

    Questions may be submitted in advance to ir@sunation.com with the subject line “Corporate Update Questions.” The deadline for submitting questions is April 22 at 5:00 PM ET.

    About SUNation Energy, Inc.

    SUNation Energy, Inc. is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services. SUNation Energy, Inc.’s largest markets include New York, Florida, and Hawaii, and the company operates in three (3) states.

    Forward Looking Statements 

    Our prospects here at SUNation Energy Inc. are subject to uncertainties and risks. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provided by the foregoing Sections. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. The Company cannot predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “should”, or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information respecting factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC which can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. Achieves B Corp™ Certification, Demonstrating Leadership in Purpose-Driven Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. (SR Inc) proudly announces that it is now a Certified B CorporationTM (B Corp™), joining a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact, performance, accountability, and transparency. This prestigious certification, granted by B Lab™, affirms SR Inc’s commitment to using business as a force for goodTM.

    B Corp™ certification is awarded to businesses that meet rigorous criteria in areas such as environmental impact, employee well-being, community engagement, and positive contributions to customers’ lives. SR Inc particularly excelled in governance standards, reflecting its strong dedication to stakeholders, recently affirmed by its Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) status. With this certification, SR Inc showcases its commitment to driving economic change and its unwavering focus on meeting rising social and environmental standards.

    “Building on the support we received from our shareholders that enabled SR Inc to become a Public Benefit Corporation earlier this year, becoming a certified B Corp™ further demonstrates SR Inc’s deep commitment to leading with purpose. Doing both in 2025 brings home how we are growing our roots deeply into the purpose we share with our world-leading clients,” said Jim Boyle, CEO and founder of SR Inc. “At SR Inc, we’re energized by our mission to accelerate the growth and implementation of best practices in more sustainable business to help align business with life. By exceeding stringent B Lab™ standards, we demonstrate to all our stakeholders that we’re not just advocates for change – we are change.”

    SR Inc’s Sustainable Business & Enterprise Roundtable (SBER) played a key role in its B Corp™ achievement as it was recognized as an Environmental Education Impact Business Model (IBM). SR Inc’s strategic advisory and support services arm, SBER helps executives set goals, drive progress, and report results in more sustainable leadership. SBER’s IBM status underscores SR Inc’s high operational performance standards, its capacity to drive business-critical corporate sustainability education, and its ability to drive positive Member-Client outcomes.

    SR Inc recently achieved its goal of helping clients cause one gigawatt (GW) of new renewable energy by 2025 – made possible through its Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB), an invitation-only, confidential renewable energy buyers’ community that opens utility-scale aggregated procurements to enterprises that cannot access them alone. SR Inc’s clients have made the NZCB the leading platform servicing businesses in North America and Europe. Now, backed by the globally recognized B Corp™ certification, SR Inc is further poised to achieve its goal of helping clients cause 10 GW of new clean energy at home and abroad through 2030.

    The B Impact Assessment™ is designed to evaluate a company’s impact on all stakeholders – workers, customers, communities, and the environment – not just shareholders. Companies must score at least 80 points to attain certification, and those scores are made publicly available to ensure transparency. To maintain certification, companies must complete the assessment and verification process every three years, proving continued alignment with B Lab™ standards, which are continually refined with input from industry experts.

    For more information about SR Inc and its commitment to positive social and environmental change, visit www.sustainround.com.

    About SR Inc

    SR Inc is a for-profit Public Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp™ missioned to accelerate the growth and adoption of best practices in more sustainable business to help align business with life. SR Inc’s Sustainable Business & Enterprise Roundtable (SBER) provides strategic advisory and support in enterprise decarbonization. SR Inc’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB) is a confidential buyers’ community committed to creating corporate buyer-favorable renewable energy transactions, which SR Inc clients have made the leading platform for aggregated procurements of utility-scale clean energy. In doing so, SR Inc clients are helping the NZCB democratize the financial, environmental, and human health benefits of utility-scale clean energy.

    About the B Corp™ Movement

    The B Corp™ movement is a global ok movement of People Using Business as a Force for Good®. Together, they are shifting the economic system from profiting only the few to benefitting all, from concentrating wealth and power to ensuring equity, from extraction to regeneration, and from prioritizing individualism to embracing independence.

    Media Contact
    FischTank PR
    srinc@fischtankpr.com

    Other Inquiries
    Sarah Lehan
    sarahlehan@sustainround.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: International students infuse tens of millions of dollars into local economies across the US. What happens if they stay home?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Barnet Sherman, Professor, Multinational Finance and Trade, Boston University

    The Trump administration has recently revoked the visas of more than 1,300 foreign college students – detaining some – and launched immigration enforcement actions on college campuses across the country. This has raised concerns among the more than 1.1 million international students studying at U.S. universities.

    Headlines are filled with perspectives from immigration and civil rights experts, but one aspect of the story often goes overlooked: the tremendous economic impact international students have on local communities.

    Although the actual impact on enrollment won’t be known until the next academic year, interest from foreign students in pursuing graduate-level education in the U.S. fell sharply in the early days of the Trump administration, one analysis showed.

    If these global scholars stay home, that’s bad economic news for cities and towns across the United States.

    A $44 billion economic impact

    Higher education is America’s 10th-largest export, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Yes, even though students are coming into the U.S. for their education, economists consider it an export.)

    Last year, U.S. colleges and universities attracted international students from 217 nations and territories, including one student from the island nation of Niue in the South Pacific. Their economic contributions added up to more than the value of U.S. telecommunications, computer and information services exports combined.

    While the national impact is impressive, the effects at the local level are even more important. After all, nearly every city across the U.S. has at least one institution of higher learning.

    The average international student brings a wallet stuffed with about $29,000 to spend on everything from tuition to pizza. As these students rent apartments, buy books and order DoorDash delivery to fuel all-nighters, they’re pumping money into the local community.

    This money translates into American jobs. On average, a new job is created for every four international students enrolled in a U.S. college or university. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 378,175 jobs were created. And that’s just counting jobs that are directly supported by international students, such as local business hiring to staff retail shops and restaurants. If you count those jobs indirectly supported by international students, such as employees at a distribution center, the number is even higher.

    A boon to local economies

    In any of the 50 largest American cities, you’ll find at least one college or university with international students on campus. For these communities, global learners bring a most welcome financial aid package.

    Consider Boston. Greater Boston hosts more than 50 colleges and universities, including Boston University, where I teach multinational finance and trade. The city’s economic gains from the more than 63,000 international students attending these schools are huge: about $3 billion.

    Prestigious private schools are a draw, but hands down the biggest pull for international students are state universities and colleges. Of the nation’s top schools enrolling these students last year, 29 were state colleges and universities, attracting over 251,300 students.

    In the top three of those public institutions alone − Arizona State University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of California, Berkeley − international students contributed nearly $1.7 billion, supporting over 16,800 jobs. Expand that to the top 10 − the University of California system takes four of those spots − and the numbers pop up to $4.68 billion and 47,136 jobs.

    Bringing the world to Mankato

    Yet international students aren’t just boosting the economies of major university towns. Consider Mankato, a small city of 45,000 about 80 miles from Minneapolis that hosts a Minnesota State University campus. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 1,716 international students called Mankato their home away from home.

    Those students brought an infusion of $45.9 million into that community, supporting around 190 jobs. There are dozens of similar campuses in cities and towns like Mankato across the country. It adds up quickly.

    In addition to private and public universities, community colleges attract thousands of global scholars. Although their international enrollment declined during Covid-19, community colleges are resurgent, attracting some 59,315 international students in 2024, with China, Vietnam and Nepal leading the countries-of-origin list.

    Generating about $2 billion and supporting 8,472 jobs, they have a major economic impact − particularly in Texas, California and Florida, where the majority of these students come to learn.

    Texas leads the nation with the three community colleges with the largest international enrollment: Houston Community College, Lone Star College and Dallas College. Of the $256.7 million and 1,096 jobs international students brought into those institutions, Lone Star led the pack with $102.3 million and 438 jobs, nearly one job created for every two international students − double the national average.

    Due to changing demographics, American colleges enroll 2.3 million fewer domestic students than they did a decade ago − a decline of 10.7%. Colleges and universities are increasingly looking to international students to fill the gap. What’s more, universities tend to see international students as subsidizing domestic students, particularly since international students are generally ineligible for need-blind admissions.

    Moreover, the vast majority of international students are funded by family or foreign sponsors. Few require student aid packages. In fact, less than 20% of all international students receive grant funding from a federal source, and most of that goes to postgraduates doing advanced research. If you look at undergraduate exchange students alone, just 0.1% receive any sort of public funding.

    One thing’s for sure: Whether they’re attending small-town community colleges or the Ivies in big cities, international students bring a “high degree” of economic impact with them.

    This is an updated version of a story originally published Aug. 13, 2024.

    Barnet Sherman 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. International students infuse tens of millions of dollars into local economies across the US. What happens if they stay home? – https://theconversation.com/international-students-infuse-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-into-local-economies-across-the-us-what-happens-if-they-stay-home-254539

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Woodbridge Closes Sale of MKM Importers, Inc. to Righting Group, LLC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Woodbridge, a global mergers and acquisitions firm, is pleased to announce the acquisition of its client, MKM Importers, Inc, by Righting Group, LLC.

    MKM Importers located in Newington, Connecticut is a well-recognized and preferred supplier of pre-owned printing presses and binding equipment. MKM primarily supplies the packaging industry and select large commercial printers in North America but has one of the largest databases of world-wide buyers accumulated over 36 years.

    “After more than three decades of building MKM into the industry’s trusted source for premium equipment, the time is right to bring in leadership that can take MKM to new heights,” said founder Mark Marino.

    Righting Group, LLC plays a critical role in middle market transactions – providing current owners with tailored succession solutions.

    Woodbridge’s ground-breaking approach to marketing a company globally has transformed the way the sell-side M&A industry does business. Woodbridge is a Mariner Company.

    For more information, contact Don Krier, dkrier@woodbridgegrp.com, or call 203-389-8400 x201.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Guatemala goes digital with smart port solution (VUMAR)

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: Guatemala goes digital with smart port solution (VUMAR)

    VUMAR simplifies and automates how vessels are cleared for arrival and departure at key ports, including Santo Tomas de Castilla and Puerto Quetzal. By bringing together shipping agents, terminal operators, and five government agencies on one digital platform, the system has made port processes much faster and more efficient. 

    Key impacts of VUMAR to date: 

    • Processing times cut by over 80%, from around 8 hours to under 1 hour 
    • Estimated annual savings of over US$4 million for both public and private sectors 
    • Improved coordination and transparency between government agencies and the private sector 
    • Supports Guatemala’s ambitions to be a leading logistics hub in the Americas 

    Vumar also aligns Guatemala with international standards, improving the country’s global trade efficiency and competitiveness. By cutting red tape and reducing delays, Guatemala is making it easier for businesses to operate and compete internationally. 

    The VUMAR project is another example of how digital tools can drive real impact in trade facilitation, boosting competitiveness and economic growth. 

    Guatemala is one of six success stories from the past year from the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, of which ICC is a host organisation. With 18 more trade facilitation projects underway in 25 countries, the Alliance’s broader impact in making global trade safer, faster and more cost-effective is detailed in the 2024 Annual Report.  

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why deregulating online platforms is actually bad for free speech

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael Gregory, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Clemson University

    Free speech requires freedom from fear and intimidation. AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam

    One of the first executive orders that President Trump signed after his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, was titled Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship. The order accused the previous administration of having “trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms.”

    What Trump was referring to as censorship was the government’s attempt to work with social media and broadcasting platforms to regulate misinformation, disinformation and misleading information by removing content, limiting its dissemination or labeling it, sometimes with fact-checking included. Similar accusations had been brought before the Supreme Court in 2024, where the justices sided with the federal government, preserving its ability to interact and coordinate with social media platforms.

    However, the decision came during a trend toward deregulation of online platforms as Elon Musk removed guardrails after acquiring X, and Meta and YouTube removed policies meant to combat hate and misinformation. With Trump’s commitment to free speech protections through deregulation, online platforms are likely to remove more guardrails.

    As a scholar of legal and political philosophy, I know that deregulation and free speech are often linked. Recently there has been a significant increase in broad court rulings on the First Amendment that support deregulation in all sorts of market sectors, from contributions to political campaigns to graphic labels on cigarettes.

    This is not surprising considering that free speech has long been associated with the metaphor of free trade in ideas, closely tied to the value of a deregulated market economy. The presumption has been that the way to protect freedom of speech is through a deregulated marketplace, and speech on social media platforms is no exception. However, research on online speech shows the opposite to be the case: Regulating online speech protects free speech.

    What is content moderation?

    Free speech and its exceptions

    Free speech in the U.S. has always been accompanied by a series of exceptions, laid out clearly by the courts, that constrain speech based on a competing concern for the prevention of harm. For example, speech that threatens, incites or directly causes harm is not protected speech.

    Yet, when it comes to content-based regulation dealing with ideas or ideological expression, the courts have been clear that the government should not place burdens on speech that is objectionable. The government cannot censor speech that is false but does not lead to a specific, identifiable harm.

    Despite these legal constraints, researchers have suggested that upholding the value of free speech requires some content-based regulation. To understand this seemingly paradoxical conclusion, it’s important to understand why free speech is valuable in the first place. Free speech enables you to be an autonomous member of society by allowing you to express yourself and hear other people express themselves.

    People consider it wrong when a government bans discussion of a viewpoint or piece of content because that violates their right as speakers and listeners to engage with the viewpoint or content. In other words, having free speech is essential because citizens need to be able to choose freely what they say and listen to.

    In addition, democracy is served by having a citizenry that is able to engage freely and meaningfully in the content of their choosing. Democratic dissent, after all, was the original inspiration for free speech protections and serves as the backbone of their protections today.

    Regulating for free speech

    The need for citizens in a democratic state to be autonomous speakers and thinkers underscores the importance of content-based regulation in upholding free speech. Research has shown that hate speech online in particular and the proliferation of extremism online in general have a chilling effect on online speech through intimidation and fear. So, restrictions on hate speech can support free speech rather than undermining it.

    Hate speech is a form of speech that can diminish free speech.
    Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

    In addition, the spread of online misinformation and the challenges of detecting it can similarly undermine the people’s ability to exchange ideas and evaluate viewpoints as autonomous speakers or listeners. In fact, research shows that users are bad at distinguishing between true and false claims online. This fundamental weakness undermines your ability to operate as an autonomous speaker or listener.

    Finally, increased polarization online, caused by the dissemination of falsehoods, undermines the democratic point of free speech protections. People cannot meaningfully engage in the marketplace of ideas on a platform where falsehoods are amplified. Importantly, this insight aligns with users’ preference that platforms remove disinformation rather than protect it.

    All of this is evidence that deregulating social media platforms is a net loss for free speech. In economic markets, maintaining a consumer’s freedom of choice requires regulations against coercion and deceit. In the marketplace of ideas, the principle is the same: The free trade of ideas requires regulation.

    Michael Gregory 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. Why deregulating online platforms is actually bad for free speech – https://theconversation.com/why-deregulating-online-platforms-is-actually-bad-for-free-speech-253015

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel (NASDAQ:AREB) Congratulates Tony Stewart on History-Making Victory in NHRA Top Fuel Event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First Driver to Win NASCAR Cup Race, IndyCar Race, USAC Triple Crown Championship and NHRA Pro Event

    American Rebel Light Beer Sponsorship of Tony Stewart Racing Drivers Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan Celebrate Stewart Win and Head to Charlotte for American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway

    Nashville, TN, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), would like to congratulate Tony Stewart on his history-making victory in the NHRA Top Fuel Dragster (nhra.com) this past weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Tony is the first driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race, an IndyCar race, a USAC Triple Crown Championship and an NHRA Pro Event. The American Rebel Light Beer sponsorship of Tony Stewart Racing (tsrnitro.com) drivers Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan proudly celebrate the Stewart win as this history-making victory draws tremendous attention to the American Rebel Light sponsorship. The Stewart victory is also very emotional for the American Rebel team as we know how much this victory means to Tony and Leah personally.

    “I haven’t been around the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series very long, but I realized it takes a lot to win one of these Top Fuel races,” said Tony Stewart. “In my career, I’ve never had to wait over a year to win a race. We always figured it out pretty quickly and we won. We needed this win. It’s been so stressful for everyone since Leah (Pruett – Stewart’s wife) nearly won the World Top Fuel Championship in 2023 when it came down to the final round of the whole season.”

    Tony Stewart replaced Leah Pruett as the driver of the Tony Stewart Racing NHRA Top Fuel Dragster at the beginning of the 2024 season. Tony and Leah were married in 2021 and Leah asked Tony to drive her car in the Top Fuel series as the couple set out to start a family. Tony drove in the Top Alcohol series, a tier below Top Fuel, in 2023.

    “When your wife wants to try to start a family and wants you to driver her car, what are you going to say?” continued Stewart. “We had a lot of changes for the team because my body weight is different. Car tubing is different, and it just takes time. It was frustrating as we just couldn’t get on a path to make consistent gains last year. Two years ago, I won my first NHRA national event in the Top Alcohol Dragster here at Las Vegas with McPhillips Racing, and now I win my first Top Fuel national event at the Strip. It’s pretty damn cool. I’ve been a motorsports fan my whole life, and I think we made racing history with the Top Fuel win. I’m not sure if there has ever been a driver to win a NASCAR Cup race, an IndyCar race, the USAC Triple Crown championship and an NHRA Pro event (Top Fuel). To do it with our team and our family was very emotional. When Leah brought Dom (their newborn son) up on stage in victory lane, my heart stopped. I got so emotional there. That is a feeling I have never had in my life before. The Four Wide setup is the equalizer for me. I’m used to racing with many cars around me. It’s tough for the guys who are not used to four cars racing at once. We can’t get to Charlotte fast enough with the next four-wide setup. I love the format.”

    The next event on the NHRA Misson Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    “I couldn’t be happier for Tony and Leah as I know how much the victory in Las Vegas means to them both,” said American Rebel CEO Andy Ross. “Our relationship started out as a sponsorship, turned into a friendship and now it’s family. Tony, Matt and Leah have been a big part of our incredible success opening up distributors for American Rebel Light Beer across the country. Various consultants told me opening up distributors was next to impossible, but American Rebel has proven them wrong because we have a real 12-year organic story of how we got here, and Tony, Matt and Leah’s support have poured patriotic fuel all over the fire we had already started. I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done.”

    American Rebel is an associate sponsor on the Tony Stewart driven Top Fuel Dragster and the Matt Hagan driven Funny Car for all 20 races of the NHRA Mission Foods 2025 season as well as the primary sponsor of the Matt Hagan Funny Car for five races, including the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the primary sponsor of the Tony Stewart Top Fuel Dragster for one race during the 2025 season. Being a sponsor provides opportunities for vast exposure during the race broadcasts on Fox Sports, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Fox Sports 2 (FS2). Ratings for NHRA telecasts are very strong and visibility continues to expand through additional streaming options through NHRA.tv.

    In addition to the strong television viewership of NHRA racing, NHRA has unveiled exciting opportunities for digital media and content creators for the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Aiming to change the way influencers, content creators and digital media members experience drag racing, NHRA is working to expand its reach across social media platforms with its Cornwell Tools Burnout Box Content Creator Zone. This expansion and emphasis in the digital media space will significantly benefit American Rebel.

    American Rebel has also benefitted from the relationship with Tony Stewart Racing through the social media reach of Tony Stewart, Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett. Tony Stewart has nearly 750,000 followers on X (@TonyStewart) and over 250,000 followers on Instagram (@tsrsmoke). Matt Hagan has nearly 150,000 followers on Instagram (@matthagan_fc) and Leah Pruett has nearly 400,000 followers on Instagram (@leah.pruett).

    “Tony, Matt and Leah are such an important part of our story,” said Andy Ross. “Tony is a legendary NASCAR driver who may be the most versatile race car driver in history, having also driven in NASCAR, IndyCar, USAC, NHRA and just about anything with wheels. And Matt has 52 NHRA national event wins and is one of only four legendary Funny Car drivers to win four championships (John Force, Don Prudhomme and Kenny Bernstein are the others) and Leah has kicked in doors as a Top Fuel driver and she continues to provide unparalleled support for American Rebel at the track and on social media. Our distributors love our connection with Tony Stewart Racing as American Rebel Light Beer connects with our customers through this sponsorship.”

    It’s been said that Andy Ross wrote the most on-brand drag racing song ever with his “Nitro Lightning” that he wrote for Matt Hagan. The song gets played at the track nearly every race weekend and even has been referenced on the Fox broadcasts. Andy has performed concerts at the Texas Motorplex and the Bradenton Motorsports Park after race events and is scheduled to perform this year at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Concord, NC.

    “What’s more American Rebel than rock ‘n’ roll and drag racing? I love victory lane and bringing the party,” said Andy Ross. “Drag racing fans are the perfect demo for American Rebel Beer and we’re looking forward to continuing this relationship a long time.”

    Primary sponsorship dates for American Rebel Beer on the Matt Hagan Funny Car are April 25 – 27 at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Concord, NC; June 20 – 22 at the Virginia NHRA Nationals at North Dinwiddle, VA; August 14 – 17 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, MN; September 26 – 28 at the NHRA Midwest Nationals near St. Louis, MO; and October 30 – November 2 at the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas, NV. American Rebel Beer will also be a primary sponsor for the Tony Stewart Top Fuel Dragster on September 26 – 28 at the NHRA Midwest Nationals near St. Louis, MO.

    About American Rebel Light Beer

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About Tony Stewart Racing

    Headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro fields two entries in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. After more than four decades of racing around in circles, Tony Stewart embarked on a straight and narrow path, albeit more than 300 mph. The championship-winning racecar driver who has successfully transitioned to being a championship-winner team owner, formed the TSR nitro team in 2021, with 2022 marking the team’s first season in competition. Matt Hagan pilots the Funny Car and Tony Stewart took over driving duties in 2024 for wife Leah Pruett in the Top Fuel dragster as they started a family. Hagan is a four-time Funny Car champion (2011, 2014, 2020 and 2023) from Christiansburg, Virginia. Stewart hails from Columbus, Indiana and earned his first Top Fuel victory at the 2025 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas. He also won the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year title. Stewart finished second in the 2023 Top Alcohol Dragster championship standings.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebelbeer.com or americanrebel.com. For investor information, visit americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of a launch party, actual launch timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contact:
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
     info@americanrebel.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Runway Growth Finance Corp. Provides First Quarter 2025 Portfolio Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MENLO PARK, Calif., April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY) (“Runway Growth” or the “Company”), a leading provider of flexible capital solutions to late- and growth-stage companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, today provided an operational and portfolio update for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    “In the first quarter of 2025, Runway Growth originated high quality financing solutions to several of our existing portfolio companies within the resilient sectors of technology, healthcare and consumer services,” said David Spreng, Founder and CEO of Runway Growth. “As we navigate the current market environment, we are focused on underwriting discipline in our continued effort to preserve credit quality. With the close of the acquisition of Runway Growth’s investment adviser by affiliates of BC Partners Advisors L.P. in the first quarter of 2025, we are leveraging our shared expertise and resources to act thoughtfully on attractive opportunities that we believe will drive growth and deliver value for our shareholders.”

    Originations
    In the first quarter of 2025, Runway Growth funded three investments in existing portfolio companies. These include:

    • Completion of a new $55 million investment to existing portfolio company, Route 92 Medical Inc. (“Route 92”), funding $35 million at close, which refinanced Route 92’s existing senior term loan;
    • Completion of a $13 million follow-on investment to existing portfolio company, Elevate Services, Inc.; and
    • Completion of a new $2.7 million investment to existing portfolio company, Marley Spoon SE.

    Liquidity Events
    During the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, Runway Growth experienced the following liquidity events in its investment portfolio:

    • Full principal repayment of the Company’s senior secured term loan to Gynesonics, Inc. of $25.6 million, combined with liquidation of the Company’s holdings in Gynesonics, Inc. preferred stock, for total proceeds of $37.4 million;
    • Partial principal repayment of the Company’s senior secured term loan to FiscalNote Holdings, Inc. of $11.3 million;
    • Liquidation of the Company’s holdings of Quantum Corporation’s common stock for total proceeds of $0.7 million; and
    • Other scheduled loan principal amortization payments of $3.7 million.

    Portfolio Construction and Management
    Runway Growth is a credit-first organization, carefully structured to focus on what it believes to be the highest quality, late-stage companies in the venture debt market. The Company seeks to uphold industry-leading investment standards as well as disciplined underwriting and monitoring of its portfolio. Runway Growth is positioned as a preferred lender in the venture debt space, supporting and working closely with companies to help them reach their full growth potential. Since inception, the Company has focused on the fastest growing sectors of the economy, including healthcare, technology and select consumer services and products industries.

    As of March 31, 2025, the Runway Growth portfolio included 46 debt investments to 31 portfolio companies and 84 equity investments in 47 portfolio companies, including 26 portfolio companies where Runway Growth holds both a debt and equity investment. Investments were comprised of late and growth-stage businesses in the technology, healthcare and select consumer services and products industries. Runway Growth’s normal business operations include frequent communication with portfolio companies.

    About Runway Growth Finance Corp.
    Runway Growth is a growing specialty finance company focused on providing flexible capital solutions to late- and growth-stage companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Runway Growth is a closed-end investment fund that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Runway Growth is externally managed by Runway Growth Capital LLC, an established registered investment adviser that was formed in 2015 and led by industry veteran David Spreng. For more information, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Runway Growth’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Runway Growth undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

    Important Disclosures
    Strategies described involve special risks that should be evaluated carefully before a decision is made to invest. Not all of the risks and other significant aspects of these strategies are discussed herein. Please see a more detailed discussion of these risk factors and other related risks in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K in the section entitled “Risk Factors”, which may be obtained on the Company’s website, www.runwaygrowth.com, or the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

    IR Contacts:
    Taylor Donahue, Prosek Partners, rway@prosek.com
    Thomas B. Raterman, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, tr@runwaygrowth.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to work with EU to safeguard rules-based multilateral trading system: Commerce ministry

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, waits for departing at the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China is ready to work with the European Union (EU) to strengthen dialogue and communication, expand mutual opening-up, deepen practical cooperation, and jointly safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, a Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Thursday.

    Spokesperson He Yongqian noted that the year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and both sides are advocates of economic globalization and trade liberalization, and firm defenders and supporters of the WTO.

    He added that China is willing to work with the EU to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the world economy through the independence and stability of China-EU economic and trade relations.

    The spokesperson made the remarks when responding to a question at a regular press conference.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s commerce ministry maintains trade communication with U.S. counterpart

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A file photo taken on Nov. 23, 2016 shows the national flags of the United States and China during the 27th Session of the China-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Washington D.C., capital of the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s Ministry of Commerce has maintained working-level communication with its U.S. counterpart, the ministry said on Thursday.

    China’s position has been clear and consistent, which is being open to consultations with the U.S. side on economic and trade issues, said spokesperson He Yongqian at a regular press conference.

    He said the unilateral tariff hikes were initiated entirely by the U.S. side, and it is up to the one who tied the bell to untie it.

    China urges the U.S. side to immediately stop exerting maximum pressure on China, cease its acts of coercion and blackmail, and resolve differences through equal dialogue based on mutual respect, He said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Economic Community attends the Trade Finance Registry (TFR) Dialogue

    Source: ASEAN

    Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Economic Community, H.E. Satvinder Singh, attended the Trade Finance Registry (TFR) Dialogue on 16 April 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    Convened by the Growth Gateway Programme Team, which consists of members from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Dialogue fostered discussions and sharing of experiences among banks and financial technology providers on how to advance the development of a Trade Finance Registry. DSG Satvinder underscored the importance of TFR to support trade finance and highlighted ASEAN Secretariat’s readiness to facilitate engagement with dialogue partners to push the initiative forward for the ASEAN region.

    Images Credit: Growth Gateway Programme Team (UK FCDO and Boston Consulting Group).
    The post Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Economic Community attends the Trade Finance Registry (TFR) Dialogue appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ Launches the Target 12™ Real Estate Option Income ETF (RNTY)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ announced the launch today of the following Target 12™ ETF:

    YieldMax™ Target 12™ Real Estate Option Income ETF (NYSE Arca: RNTY)

    RNTY Overview

    RNTY is an actively managed ETF that seeks a target annual income level of 12% and capital appreciation via direct investments in a select portfolio of Real Estate Companies (“Real Estate Companies”) operating in the real estate industry and other real estate related investments, including Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”), and/or Real Estate ETFs. RNTY aims to generate a target annual income level of 12% primarily by selling options contracts on some or all of its Real Estate Companies.

    RNTY Equity Portfolio

    RNTY seeks capital appreciation via direct investments in its portfolio of Real Estate Companies. To enable RNTY to effectively implement its options strategies (see below), RNTY’s Adviser evaluates the liquidity of a potential company’s common stock and the liquidity of its options contracts. The Advisor will also evaluate such company’s price level and implied volatility (i.e., a measure of how much the market believes the stock price will move in the future) and will monitor these factors when determining whether to select new companies or remove existing companies from the portfolio. Any dividend paid by its Real Estate companies will contribute to RNTY’s income generation.

    RNTY Options Portfolio

    RNTY seeks to generate a target annual income level of 12% primarily by writing (selling) options contracts on some or all of its Real Estate Companies. Depending on the Advisor’s outlook, it will select one or more options strategies that it believes will best provide RNTY with current income while generally also attempting to participate in a portion of the share price increases experienced by its Real Estate Companies. By strategically entering and exiting options positions, the Advisor seeks to enhance RNTY’s income potential and performance.

    RNTY Distribution Schedule

    RNTY is the newest member of the YieldMax™ ETF family and like all YieldMax™ ETFs, RNTY aims to deliver current income to investors. RNTY’s first distribution is expected to be announced on June 3, 2025, and along with the Target 12™ ETFs, will thereafter aim to announce its distributions on the first Tuesday of every month.

    Why Invest in RNTY?

    • RNTY seeks to generate a target annual income level of 12%, which is not dependent on the value of its portfolio of Real Estate Companies.
    • RNTY seeks to participate in some of the potential share price gains experienced by its Real Estate Companies.

    Please see the table below for distribution and yield information for all outstanding YieldMax™ ETFs.

    ETF Ticker1 ETF Name Distribution Frequency Distribution per Share Distribution Rate2,4 30-Day
    SEC Yield3    		 ROC5
    CHPY YieldMax™ Semiconductor Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly $0.3627 – – 84.42%
    GPTY YieldMax™ AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly $0.2545 35.61% 0.00% 63.04%
    LFGY YieldMax™ Crypto Industry & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly $0.4307 65.56% 0.00% 35.49%
    QDTY YieldMax™ Nasdaq 100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF Weekly $0.3320 45.17% 0.00% 100.00%
    RDTY YieldMax™ R2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF Weekly $0.3745 46.99% 0.00% 100.00%
    SDTY YieldMax™ S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF Weekly $0.3085 39.77% 0.00% 100.00%
    ULTY YieldMax™ Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF Weekly $0.0852 78.42% 2.21% 99.18%
    YMAG YieldMax™ Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs Weekly $0.0943 35.03% 69.89% 65.96%
    YMAX YieldMax™ Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs Weekly $0.1334 55.21% 96.57% 54.97%
    BIGY YieldMax™ Target 12™ Big 50 Option Income ETF Monthly $0.4582 12.78% 0.71% 0.00%
    SOXY YieldMax™ Target 12™ Semiconductor Option Income ETF Monthly $0.4266 12.95% 0.26% 0.00%
    ABNY YieldMax™ ABNB Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3665 42.28% 3.62% 0.00%
    AIYY YieldMax™ AI Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.2301 69.42% 4.89% 93.15%
    AMDY YieldMax™ AMD Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.2765 54.51% 2.97% 93.13%
    AMZY YieldMax™ AMZN Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.4877 43.74% 4.40% 89.31%
    APLY YieldMax™ AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3023 29.68% 3.44% 44.35%
    BABO YieldMax™ BABA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.7578 61.39% 1.92% 0.00%
    CONY YieldMax™ COIN Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.4381 79.15% 4.42% 94.62%
    CRSH YieldMax™ Short TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.5616 97.15% 1.79% 0.00%
    CVNY YieldMax™ CVNA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $2.9684 108.50% 2.44% 99.08%
    DIPS YieldMax™ Short NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.5851 61.83% 2.36% 96.87%
    DISO YieldMax™ DIS Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3254 35.28% 4.03% 0.00%
    FBY YieldMax™ META Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.5506 50.96% 4.38% 0.00%
    FEAT YieldMax™ Dorsey Wright Featured 5 Income ETF Every 4 weeks $1.6435 62.08% 108.54% 0.00%
    FIAT YieldMax™ Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.9240 140.28% 1.73% 98.90%
    FIVY YieldMax™ Dorsey Wright Hybrid 5 Income ETF Every 4 weeks $1.0283 38.27% 69.37% 0.00%
    GDXY YieldMax™ Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.6394 48.17% 2.77% 0.00%
    GOOY YieldMax™ GOOGL Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3729 40.79% 4.67% 90.74%
    JPMO YieldMax™ JPM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3717 31.55% 4.01% 42.17%
    MARO YieldMax™ MARA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $1.4783 89.19% 4.90% 95.22%
    MRNY YieldMax™ MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.1827 93.80% 4.65% 94.71%
    MSFO YieldMax™ MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3337 28.35% 3.75% 0.00%
    MSTY YieldMax™ MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $1.3356 83.27% 0.50% 0.48%
    NFLY YieldMax™ NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.6020 46.74% 3.58% 59.10%
    NVDY YieldMax™ NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.7874 70.46% 4.01% 100.00%
    OARK YieldMax™ Innovation Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.2923 52.35% 3.51% 93.61%
    PLTY YieldMax™ PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $5.3257 118.21% 2.78% 97.91%
    PYPY YieldMax™ PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3521 38.50% 4.19% 0.00%
    SMCY YieldMax™ SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $1.5012 108.91% 3.01% 67.02%
    SNOY YieldMax™ SNOW Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.6864 60.19% 3.01% 94.51%
    TSLY YieldMax™ TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.6598 106.59% 3.87% 96.85%
    TSMY YieldMax™ TSM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.5635 53.48% 3.61% 16.38%
    WNTR* YieldMax™ Short MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks – – – –
    XOMO YieldMax™ XOM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.3500 34.72% 3.18% 90.74%
    XYZY YieldMax™ XYZ Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.4412 56.34% 6.32% 89.82%
    YBIT YieldMax™ Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.4110 52.74% 1.52% 30.49%
    YQQQ YieldMax™ Short N100 Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks $0.4437 33.17% 3.08% 0.00%


    Performance data quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling     (833) 378-0717.

    Note: DIPS, FIAT, CRSH, YQQQ and WNTR are hereinafter referred to as the “Short ETFs.”

    Distributions are not guaranteed. The Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield are not indicative of future distributions, if any, on the ETFs. In particular, future distributions on any ETF may differ significantly from its Distribution Rate or 30-Day SEC Yield. You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from period to period and may be zero. Accordingly, the Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant.

    Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

    *The inception date for WNTR is March 26, 2025.

    1All YieldMax™ ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX, YMAG and FEAT have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. FIVY has a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.59% for a gross expense ratio of 0.88%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax™ ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio after the fee waiver of 1.30%. The Advisor has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.10% through at least February 28, 2026.
    2The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on April 16, 2025. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.
    3The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended March 31, 2025, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period.
    4Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.
    5ROC refers to Return of Capital. The ROC percentage is the portion of the distribution that represents an investor’s original investment.

    Each Fund has a limited operating history and while each Fund’s objective is to provide current income, there is no guarantee the Fund will make a distribution. Distributions are likely to vary greatly in amount.

    Standardized Performance

    For YMAX, click here. For YMAG, click here. For TSLY, click here. For OARK, click here. For APLY, click here. For NVDY, click here. For AMZY, click here. For FBY, click here. For GOOY, click here. For NFLY, click here. For CONY, click here. For MSFO, click here. For DISO, click here. For XOMO, click here. For JPMO, click here. For AMDY, click here. For PYPY, click here. For XYZY, click here. For MRNY, click here. For AIYY, click here. For MSTY, click here. For ULTY, click here. For YBIT, click here. For CRSH, click here. For GDXY, click here. For SNOY, click here. For ABNY, click here. For FIAT, click here. For DIPS, click here. For BABO, click here. For YQQQ, click here. For TSMY, click here. For SMCY, click here. For PLTY, click here. For BIGY, click here. For SOXY, click here. For MARO, click here. For FEAT, click here. For FIVY, click here. For LFGY, click here. For GPTY, click here. For CVNY, click here. For SDTY, click here. For QDTY, click here. For RDTY, click here. For WNTR, click here. For CHPY, click here.

    Important Information

    This material must be preceded or accompanied by the prospectus. For all prospectuses, click here.

    Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax™ ETFs.

    THE FUND, TRUST, AND ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERENCE ASSET.

    Risk Disclosures

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Referenced Index Risk. The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Index (or the Index ETFs). This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of companies that comprised the Index or an ETF that tracks the Index, even though it does not.

    Indirect Investment Risk. The Index is not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates and is not involved with this offering in any way. Investors in the Fund will not have the right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the companies that comprise the Index but will be subject to declines in the performance of the Index.

    Russell 2000 Index Risks. The Index, which consists of small-cap U.S. companies, is particularly susceptible to economic changes, as these firms often have less financial resilience than larger companies. Market volatility can disproportionately affect these smaller businesses, leading to significant price swings. Additionally, these companies are often more exposed to specific industry risks and have less diverse revenue streams. They can also be more vulnerable to changes in domestic regulatory or policy environments.

    Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer periods.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other Index (or ETFs that track the Index’s performance)holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary Index (or ETFs that track the Index’s performance) securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next. Additionally, monthly distributions, if any, may consist of returns of capital, which would decrease the Fund’s NAV and trading price over time.

    High Index (or Index ETF) Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high Index (or Index ETF) turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security (ARKK, TSLA, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL, NFLX, COIN, MSFT, DIS, XOM, JPM, AMD, PYPL, SQ, MRNA, AI, MSTR, Bitcoin ETP, GDX®, SNOW, ABNB, BABA, TSM, SMCI, PLTR, MARA, CVNA), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GPTY)

    Artificial Intelligence Risk. Issuers engaged in artificial intelligence typically have high research and capital expenditures and, as a result, their profitability can vary widely, if they are profitable at all. The space in which they are engaged is highly competitive and issuers’ products and services may become obsolete very quickly. These companies are heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by loss or impairment of those rights. The issuers are also subject to legal, regulatory and political changes that may have a large impact on their profitability. A failure in an issuer’s product or even questions about the safety of the product could be devastating to the issuer, especially if it is the marquee product of the issuer. It can be difficult to accurately capture what qualifies as an artificial intelligence company.

    Technology Sector Risk. The Fund will invest substantially in companies in the information technology sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability.

    Risk Disclosure (applicable only to MARO)

    Digital Assets Risk: The Fund does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

    Currency Risk: Indirect exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

    Depositary Receipts Risk: The securities underlying BABO and TSMY are American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Investment in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

    Foreign Market and Trading Risk: The trading markets for many foreign securities are not as active as U.S. markets and may have less governmental regulation and oversight.

    Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. issuers, such as risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability, as well as varying regulatory requirements applicable to investments in non-U.S. issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

    Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. The Fund is exposed indirectly to the securities of foreign issuers selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.

    Risk of Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Companies. The Fund is exposed indirectly to gold and silver mining companies selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies.

    The Fund invests in options contracts based on the value of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX®), which subjects the Fund to some of the same risks as if it owned GDX®, as well as the risks associated with Canadian, Australian and Emerging Market Issuers, and Small-and Medium-Capitalization companies.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

    YBIT does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than YBIT.

    Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in Bitcoin, through holdings in one or more Underlying ETPs, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing Bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends.

    Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is only a single eligible Underlying ETP, and it is an investment company subject to the 1940 Act.

    Bitcoin ETP Risk: The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Bitcoin ETP. This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Bitcoin ETP, even though it does not. Bitcoin ETPs are subject, but not limited, to significant risk and heightened volatility. An investor in a Bitcoin ETP may lose their entire investment. Bitcoin ETPs are not suitable for all investors. In addition, not all Bitcoin ETPs are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Those Bitcoin ETPs that are not registered under such statute are therefore not subject to the same regulations as exchange traded products that are so registered.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Price Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the value of the underlying reference asset. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the underlying reference asset, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the underlying reference asset increases. If the value of the underlying reference asset increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses.

    Put Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s put writing (selling) strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in decreases in the value of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold put options and over longer periods.

    Purchased OTM Call Options Risk. The Fund’s strategy is subject to potential losses if the underlying reference asset increases in value, which may not be offset by the purchase of out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. The Fund purchases OTM calls to seek to manage (cap) the Fund’s potential losses from the Fund’s short exposure to the underlying reference asset if it appreciates significantly in value. However, the OTM call options will cap the Fund’s losses only to the extent that the value of the underlying reference asset increases to a level that is at or above the strike level of the purchased OTM call options. Any increase in the value of the underlying reference asset to a level that is below the strike level of the purchased OTM call options will result in a corresponding loss for the Fund. For example, if the OTM call options have a strike level that is approximately 100% above the then-current value of the underlying reference asset at the time of the call option purchase, and the value of the underlying reference asset increases by at least 100% during the term of the purchased OTM call options, the Fund will lose all its value. Since the Fund bears the costs of purchasing the OTM calls, such costs will decrease the Fund’s value and/or any income otherwise generated by the Fund’s investment strategy.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in decreases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Put Period.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA, MSTR), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to CHPY)

    Semiconductor Industry Risk. Semiconductor companies may face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, and such competition may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Semiconductor companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. Semiconductor companies’ supply chain and operations are dependent on the availability of materials that meet exacting standards and the use of third parties to provide components and services.

    The products of semiconductor companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Capital equipment expenditures could be substantial, and equipment generally suffers from rapid obsolescence. Companies in the semiconductor industry are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights would adversely affect the profitability of these companies.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

    Index Overview. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a benchmark index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, based on market capitalization.

    Index Level Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the Index level. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the Index, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the Index level, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Index level increases. If the Index level increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks: innovation and technological advancement; strong market presence of Index constituent companies; adaptability to global market trends; and resilience and recovery potential.

    Index Level Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will benefit from decreases in the Index level experienced over the Put Period. This means that if the Index level experiences a decrease in value below the strike level of the sold put options during a Put Period, the Fund will likely not experience that increase to the same extent and any Fund gains may significantly differ from the level of the Index losses over the Put Period. Additionally, because the Fund is limited in the degree to which it will participate in decreases in value experienced by the Index level over each Put Period, but has significant negative exposure to any increases in value experienced by the Index level over the Put Period, the NAV of the Fund may decrease over any given period. The Fund’s NAV is dependent on the value of each options portfolio, which is based principally upon the inverse of the performance of the Index level. The Fund’s ability to benefit from the Index level decreases will depend on prevailing market conditions, especially market volatility, at the time the Fund enters into the sold put option contracts and will vary from Put Period to Put Period. The value of the options contracts is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of component companies that comprise the Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the Index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. As the Index level changes and time moves towards the expiration of each Put Period, the value of the options contracts, and therefore the Fund’s NAV, will change. However, it is not expected for the Fund’s NAV to directly inversely correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns of the Index level. The amount of time remaining until the options contract’s expiration date affects the impact that the value of the options contracts has on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect until the expiration date of the Fund’s options contracts. Therefore, while changes in the Index level will result in changes to the Fund’s NAV, the Fund generally anticipates that the rate of change in the Fund’s NAV will be different than the inverse of the changes experienced by the Index level.

    YieldMax™ ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, or YieldMax™ ETFs.

    © 2025 YieldMax™ ETFs

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Coal Ministry Rationalizes Registration Fee for the Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS) Portal

    Source: Government of India

    Coal Ministry Rationalizes Registration Fee for the Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS) Portal

    The New Flat Fee Model is in Alignment with other Import Monitoring Systems

    New Fee Structure Effective from 15th April, 2025

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 3:15PM by PIB Delhi

    In a strategic move to strengthen transparency and efficiency in the coal import monitoring, the Ministry of Coal has implemented the Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS). By enabling real-time monitoring and informed decision-making in coal imports substitution, this initiative represents a significant milestone in the Government vision of ensuring Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    CIMS is a digital platform developed to streamline the reporting of coal imports, ensuring timely and accurate data for effective policy formulation and sectoral analysis. Coal importers are now required to register the details of their consignments in the CIMS portal on or prior to the arrival of shipments in the Port in India.

    To further promote ease of doing business and ensure uniformity across import monitoring platforms, the Ministry of Coal has rationalized the registration fee of the CIMS Portal.

    The registration fee has been revised to a flat rate of Rs. 500 (Rupees Five Hundred only) per consignment, effective from 15th April, 2025. This replaces the earlier fee structure, which ranged from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,00,000 per consignment, and rationalization in registration fee aligns CIMS with similar Import Monitoring Systems such as the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS), Non-Ferrous Import Monitoring System (NFIMS), and Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS)—all of which operate under a flat fee model.

    Importers are required to obtain an Automatic Registration Number from the CIMS portal, which is to be quoted in the Bill of Entry at the time of customs clearance. The Ministry of Coal remains committed to facilitating trade, enhancing transparency, and streamlining regulatory processes to support India’s growing industrial and energy needs.

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    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2122395) Visitor Counter : 27

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –