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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI is giving a boost to efforts to monitor health via radar

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chandler Bauder, Electronics Engineer, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

    AI-powered radar could enable contactless health monitoring in the home. Chandler Bauder

    If you wanted to check someone’s pulse from across the room, for example to remotely monitor an elderly relative, how could you do it? You might think it’s impossible, because common health-monitoring devices such as fingertip pulse oximeters and smartwatches have to be in contact with the body.

    However, researchers are developing technologies that can monitor a person’s vital signs at a distance. One of those technologies is radar.

    We are electrical engineers who study radar systems. We have combined advances in radar technology and artificial intelligence to reliably monitor breathing and heart rate without contacting the body.

    Noncontact health monitoring has the potential to be more comfortable and easier to use than traditional methods, particularly for people looking to monitor their vital signs at home.

    How radar works

    Radar is commonly known for measuring the speed of cars, making weather forecasts and detecting obstacles at sea and in the air. It works by sending out electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light, waiting for them to bounce off objects in their path, and sensing them when they return to the device.

    Radar can tell how far away things are, how fast they’re moving, and even their shape by analyzing the properties of the reflected waves.

    Radar can also be used to monitor vital signs such as breathing and heart rate. Each breath or heartbeat causes your chest to move ever so slightly – movement that’s hard for people to see or feel. However, today’s radars are sensitive enough to detect these tiny movements, even from across a room.

    Advantages of radar

    There are other technologies that can be used to measure health remotely. Camera-based techniques can use infrared light to monitor changes in the surface of the skin in the same manner as pulse oximeters, revealing information about your heart’s activity. Computer vision systems can also monitor breathing and other activities, such as sleep, and they can detect when someone falls.

    However, cameras often fail in cases where the body is obstructed by blankets or clothes, or when lighting is inadequate. There are also concerns that different skin tones reflect infrared light differently, causing inaccurate readings for people with darker skin. Additionally, depending on high-resolution cameras for long-term health monitoring brings up serious concerns about patient privacy.

    Radar sees the world in terms of how strongly objects in its view reflect the transmitted signals. The resolution of images it can generate are much lower than images cameras produce.
    Chandler Bauder

    Radar, on the other hand, solves many of these problems. The wavelengths of the transmitted waves are much longer than those of visible or infrared light, allowing the waves to pass through blankets, clothing and even walls. The measurements aren’t affected by lighting or skin tone, making them more reliable in different conditions.

    Radar imagery is also extremely low resolution – think old Game Boy graphics versus a modern 4K TV – so it doesn’t capture enough detail to be used to identify someone, but it can still monitor important activities. While it does project energy, the amount does not pose a health hazard. The health-monitoring radars operate at frequencies and power levels similar to the phone in your pocket.

    Radar + AI

    Radar is powerful, but it has a big challenge: It picks up everything that moves. Since it can detect tiny chest movements from the heart beating, it also picks up larger movements from the head, limbs or other people nearby. This makes it difficult for traditional processing techniques to extract vital signs clearly.

    To address this problem we created a kind of “brain” to make the radar smarter. This brain, which we named mm-MuRe, is a neural network – a type of artificial intelligence – that learns directly from raw radar signals and estimates chest movements. This approach is called end-to-end learning. It means that, unlike other radar plus AI techniques, the network figures out on its own how to ignore the noise and focus only on the important signals.

    In our study, we used AI to transform raw, unprocessed radar signals into vital signs waveforms of one or two people.
    Chandler Bauder

    We found that this AI enhancement not only gives more accurate results, it also works faster than traditional methods. It handles multiple people at once, for example an elderly couple, and adapts to new situations, even those it didn’t see during training – such as when people are sitting at different heights, riding in a car or standing close together.

    Implications for health care

    Reliable remote health monitoring using radar and AI could be a major boon for health care. With no need to touch the patient’s skin, risks of rashes, contamination and discomfort could be greatly reduced. It’s especially helpful in long-term care, where reducing wires and devices can make life significantly easier for patients and caregivers.

    Imagine a nursing home where radar quietly watches over residents, alerting caregivers immediately if someone has breathing trouble, falls or needs help. It can be implemented as a home system that checks your breathing while you sleep – no wearables required. Doctors could even use radar to remotely monitor patients recovering from surgery or illness.

    This technology is moving quickly toward real-world use. In the future, checking your health could be as simple as walking into a room, with invisible waves and smart AI working silently to take your vital signs.

    Chandler Bauder receives funding from the NSF.

    Aly Fathy receives funding from NSF and work for university of Tennessee

    – ref. AI is giving a boost to efforts to monitor health via radar – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-giving-a-boost-to-efforts-to-monitor-health-via-radar-253325

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rick Baldoz, Associate Professor of American Studies, Brown University

    New York Tribune of Jan. 3, 1920, announcing massive roundups of ‘aliens’ deemed to be ‘Reds.’ Library of Congress

    The recent deportation orders targeting foreign students in the U.S. have prompted a heated debate about the legality of these actions. The Trump administration made no secret that many individuals were facing removal because of their pro-Palestinian advocacy.

    In recent months, the State Department has revoked hundreds of visas of foreign students with little explanation. On April 25, 2025, the administration restored the legal status of many of those students, but warned that the reprieve was only temporary.

    Because of their tenuous legal status in the U.S., immigrant activists are vulnerable to a government seeking to stifle dissent.

    Critics of the Trump administration have challenged the legality of these removal orders, arguing that they violate constitutionally protected rights, including freedom of speech and due process.

    The administration asserts that the executive branch has nearly absolute authority to remove immigrants. The White House has cited legislation passed during the peak of the nation’s Cold War hysteria, like the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952, which expanded the government’s deportation powers.

    I’m a historian of immigration, U.S. empire and Asian American studies. The current removal orders targeting student activists echo America’s long and lamentable past of jailing and expelling immigrants because of their race or what they say or believe – or all three.

    The arrest of Turkish graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk by Department of Homeland Security agents in Somerville, Mass., on March 25, 2025.

    Where it began

    The United States’ current deportation process traces its roots to the late 19th century as the nation moved to exercise federal control of immigration.

    The impetus for this shift was anti-Chinese racism, which reached a fever pitch during this period, culminating in the passage of laws that restricted Chinese immigration.

    The influx of Chinese immigrants to the West Coast during the mid-to-late 19th century, initially fueled by the California Gold Rush, spurred the rise of an influential nativist movement that accused Chinese immigrants of stealing jobs. It also claimed that they posed a cultural threat to American society due to their racial otherness.

    The Geary Act of 1892 required Chinese living in the U.S to register with the federal government or face deportation.

    The Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of these statutes in 1893 in the case of Fong Yue Ting v. United States. Three plaintiffs claimed that anti-Chinese legislation was discriminatory, violated constitutional protections prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure, and contravened due process and equal protection guarantees.

    The Supreme Court affirmed the Geary Act’s deportation procedures, formulating a novel legal precept known as the plenary power doctrine that remains a key tenet of U.S. immigration law today.

    Court confirms the law

    The doctrine included two key assertions.

    First, the federal government’s authority to exclude and deport aliens was an inherent and unqualified feature of American sovereignty. Second, immigration enforcement was the exclusive domain of the congressional and executive branches that were charged with protecting the nation from foreign threats.

    The court also ruled that the deportation of immigrants in the country lawfully was a civil, rather than criminal matter, which meant that constitutional protections like due process did not apply.

    The government ramped up deportations in the aftermath of World War I, fueled by wartime xenophobia. American officials singled out foreign-born radicals for deportation, accusing them of fomenting disloyalty.

    The front page of the Ogden Standard, from Ogden City, Utah, on Nov. 8, 1919, announcing the arrest and planned deportation of ‘alien Reds.’
    Library of Congress

    Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, who ordered mass arrests of alleged communists, pledged to “tear out the radical seeds that have entangled Americans in their poisonous theories” and remove “alien criminals in this country who are directly responsible for spreading the unclean doctrines of Bolshevism.”

    This period marked a new era of removals carried out primarily on ideological grounds. Jews and other immigrants from southern and eastern Europe were disproportionately targeted, highlighting the cultural affinities between anti-radicalism and racial and ethnic chauvinism.

    ‘Foreign’ agitators

    The campaign to root out so-called subversives living in the United States reached its apex during the 1940s and 1950s, supercharged by figures like anti-communist crusader Sen. Joseph McCarthy and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

    The specter of foreign agitators contaminating American political culture loomed large in these debates. Attorney General Tom Clark testified before Congress in 1950 that 91.4% of the Communist Party USA’s leadership were “either foreign stock or married to persons of foreign stock.”

    Congress passed a series of laws during this period requiring that subversive organizations register with the government. They also expanded the executive branch’s power to deport individuals whose views were deemed “prejudicial to national security,” blurring the lines between punishing people for unlawful acts – such as espionage and bombings – and what the government considered unlawful beliefs, such as Communist Party membership.

    While deporting foreign-born radicals had popular support, the banishment of immigrants for their political beliefs raised important constitutional questions.

    Harry Bridges, a West Coast labor leader, and his daughter, Jacqueline, 14, as they listen to proceedings during Bridges’ deportation hearing in San Francisco in July 1939.
    Underwood Archives/Getty Images

    Prosecution or persecution?

    In a landmark case in 1945, Wixon v. Bridges, the Supreme Court did assert a check on the power of the executive branch to deport someone without a fair hearing.

    The case involved Harry Bridges, Australian-born president of the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen’s Union. Bridges was a left-wing union leader who orchestrated a number of successful strikes on the West Coast. Under his leadership, the union also took progressive positions on civil rights and U.S. militarism.

    The decision in the case hinged on whether the government could prove that Bridges had been a member of the Communist Party, which would have made him deportable under the Smith Act, which proscribed membership in the Communist Party.

    Since no proof of Bridges’ membership existed, the government relied on dodgy witnesses and assertions that Bridges was aligned with the party because he shared some of its political positions. Accusations of “alignment” with controversial political organizations are similar to the charges made against foreign students currently at risk of deportation by the Trump administration.

    The Supreme Court vacated Bridges’ deportation order, declaring that the government’s claim of “affiliation” with the Communist Party was too vaguely defined and amounted to guilt by association.

    As the excesses and abuses of the McCarthy era came to light, they invited greater scrutiny about the dangers of unchecked executive power. Some of the more draconian statutes enacted during the Cold War, like the Smith Act, have been overhauled. The federal courts have toggled back and forth between narrow and liberal interpretations of the Constitution’s applicability to immigrants facing deportation – shifts that reflect competing visions of American nationhood and the boundaries of liberal democracy.

    From union leaders to foreign students

    There are some striking parallels between the throttling of civil liberties during the Cold War and President Donald Trump’s crusade against foreign students exercising venerated democratic freedoms.

    Foreign students appear to have replaced the immigrant union leaders of the 1950s as the targets of government repression. Presumptions of guilt based on hyperbolic claims of affiliation with the Communist Party have been replaced by allegations of alignment with Hamas.

    As in the past, these invocations of national security offer the pretext for the government’s efforts to stifle dissent and to mandate political conformity.

    Rick Baldoz 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. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations – https://theconversation.com/from-the-chinese-exclusion-act-to-pro-palestinian-activists-the-evolution-of-politically-motivated-deportations-254683

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Forensics tool ‘reanimates’ the ‘brains’ of AIs that fail in order to understand what went wrong

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David Oygenblik, Ph.D. Student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Tesla crashes are only the most glaring of AI failures. South Jordan Police Department via APPEAR

    From drones delivering medical supplies to digital assistants performing everyday tasks, AI-powered systems are becoming increasingly embedded in everyday life. The creators of these innovations promise transformative benefits. For some people, mainstream applications such as ChatGPT and Claude can seem like magic. But these systems are not magical, nor are they foolproof – they can and do regularly fail to work as intended.

    AI systems can malfunction due to technical design flaws or biased training data. They can also suffer from vulnerabilities in their code, which can be exploited by malicious hackers. Isolating the cause of an AI failure is imperative for fixing the system.

    But AI systems are typically opaque, even to their creators. The challenge is how to investigate AI systems after they fail or fall victim to attack. There are techniques for inspecting AI systems, but they require access to the AI system’s internal data. This access is not guaranteed, especially to forensic investigators called in to determine the cause of a proprietary AI system failure, making investigation impossible.

    We are computer scientists who study digital forensics. Our team at the Georgia Institute of Technology has built a system, AI Psychiatry, or AIP, that can recreate the scenario in which an AI failed in order to determine what went wrong. The system addresses the challenges of AI forensics by recovering and “reanimating” a suspect AI model so it can be systematically tested.

    Uncertainty of AI

    Imagine a self-driving car veers off the road for no easily discernible reason and then crashes. Logs and sensor data might suggest that a faulty camera caused the AI to misinterpret a road sign as a command to swerve. After a mission-critical failure such as an autonomous vehicle crash, investigators need to determine exactly what caused the error.

    Was the crash triggered by a malicious attack on the AI? In this hypothetical case, the camera’s faultiness could be the result of a security vulnerability or bug in its software that was exploited by a hacker. If investigators find such a vulnerability, they have to determine whether that caused the crash. But making that determination is no small feat.

    Although there are forensic methods for recovering some evidence from failures of drones, autonomous vehicles and other so-called cyber-physical systems, none can capture the clues required to fully investigate the AI in that system. Advanced AIs can even update their decision-making – and consequently the clues – continuously, making it impossible to investigate the most up-to-date models with existing methods.

    Researchers are working on making AI systems more transparent, but unless and until those efforts transform the field, there will be a need for forensics tools to at least understand AI failures.

    Pathology for AI

    AI Psychiatry applies a series of forensic algorithms to isolate the data behind the AI system’s decision-making. These pieces are then reassembled into a functional model that performs identically to the original model. Investigators can “reanimate” the AI in a controlled environment and test it with malicious inputs to see whether it exhibits harmful or hidden behaviors.

    AI Psychiatry takes in as input a memory image, a snapshot of the bits and bytes loaded when the AI was operational. The memory image at the time of the crash in the autonomous vehicle scenario holds crucial clues about the internal state and decision-making processes of the AI controlling the vehicle. With AI Psychiatry, investigators can now lift the exact AI model from memory, dissect its bits and bytes, and load the model into a secure environment for testing.

    Our team tested AI Psychiatry on 30 AI models, 24 of which were intentionally “backdoored” to produce incorrect outcomes under specific triggers. The system was successfully able to recover, rehost and test every model, including models commonly used in real-world scenarios such as street sign recognition in autonomous vehicles.

    Thus far, our tests suggest that AI Psychiatry can effectively solve the digital mystery behind a failure such as an autonomous car crash that previously would have left more questions than answers. And if it does not find a vulnerability in the car’s AI system, AI Psychiatry allows investigators to rule out the AI and look for other causes such as a faulty camera.

    Not just for autonomous vehicles

    AI Psychiatry’s main algorithm is generic: It focuses on the universal components that all AI models must have to make decisions. This makes our approach readily extendable to any AI models that use popular AI development frameworks. Anyone working to investigate a possible AI failure can use our system to assess a model without prior knowledge of its exact architecture.

    Whether the AI is a bot that makes product recommendations or a system that guides autonomous drone fleets, AI Psychiatry can recover and rehost the AI for analysis. AI Psychiatry is entirely open source for any investigator to use.

    AI Psychiatry can also serve as a valuable tool for conducting audits on AI systems before problems arise. With government agencies from law enforcement to child protective services integrating AI systems into their workflows, AI audits are becoming an increasingly common oversight requirement at the state level. With a tool like AI Psychiatry in hand, auditors can apply a consistent forensic methodology across diverse AI platforms and deployments.

    In the long run, this will pay meaningful dividends both for the creators of AI systems and everyone affected by the tasks they perform.

    Brendan Saltaformaggio’s research group receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors and collaborators.

    David Oygenblik 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. Forensics tool ‘reanimates’ the ‘brains’ of AIs that fail in order to understand what went wrong – https://theconversation.com/forensics-tool-reanimates-the-brains-of-ais-that-fail-in-order-to-understand-what-went-wrong-247769

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Country of migrants: the role of migration in regional development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Major socio-political events, such as collectivization, caused mass internal migration in the USSR. Tens of thousands of people moved to new places to establish their daily lives and find work. These processes significantly changed the social, national and religious composition of the population of the regions, influenced economic development and the formation of healthcare and education infrastructure. Common features and characteristics of migration in the Perm region and Tuva were discussed at the round table of the “Mirror Laboratories” of the Yasinsky scientific conference.

    Internal migration in the USSR

    At the anniversary XXV Yasinsky (April) Conference The HSE hosted a round table discussion entitled “The History of Migration in the USSR: Regional Aspect.” It was organized as part of the Mirror Laboratories project, which brings together scientists from the HSE Perm campus and Tuva State University. The round table was moderated by Professor Faculty of Social, Economic and Computer Sciences, National Research University Higher School of Economics in Perm Sergey Kornienko.

    Vera Damdynchap, Head of the Department of General History, Archaeology and Documentation of the Faculty of History of Tuva State University, and Arzhana Nurzat, Senior Lecturer of the Department, presented a report entitled “Migration, Urbanization and Collectivization: Key Aspects of Social Transformation in Tuva (1944–1959).” Vera Damdynchap noted that Tuva’s accession to the USSR in 1944 accelerated the transformation of the economic structure.

    She said that by 1944 collectivization was not completed, and a significant part of the population was engaged in personal nomadic farming. Collectivization became an important element in the formation of the social structure of the population: by its end in 1955, the share of collective farmers reached 61.5% of the rural population of Tuva.

    At the same time, coal mining began in the autonomous region and enterprises in other industries began operating. This also changed the settlement structure of the population: the share of the urban population in 1944-58 increased from 6% to 33%. A particularly significant influx was recorded in the capital of the region, Kyzyl, as well as in the new cities and workers’ settlements of Chadan, Turan and Shagonar. It is significant that the total urban population increased by 1.4 times over 15 years, while its part from migrants increased by 7.6 times due to the relocation of rural residents and the arrival in Tuva of engineering and technical personnel and workers of new enterprises.

    The rapid growth of the urban population exacerbated the housing problem, which they tried to solve through temporary housing and rapid construction. It is curious that about 30% of collective farmers were involved in construction, having built 1,660 houses and cultural and household facilities.

    At the same time, the development of virgin and fallow lands began, which increased the role of farming in agriculture and the economy as a whole.

    In the post-war years, the number of Russians and Ukrainians who came to Tuva increased approximately 4 times, and their share in the population increased to 41%.

    Vera Damdynchap noted that in the autonomous region, collectivization was less dramatic than in neighboring Russian regions or, for example, in Buryatia.

    The role of forced migrants

    Associate Professor Departments of Humanities Anna Kimerling, a professor at the Faculty of Social, Economic and Computer Sciences at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Perm, presented a report entitled “Social Technologies of Integrating Forced Migrants into the Territorial Community of the Molotov Region in the 1940s and 1950s,” prepared jointly with Sergei Kornienko.

    She said that the study is based on archival documents and interviews, including those recorded by the German society “Renaissance”. The number of residents of the Molotov (Perm) region between the censuses of 1939 and 1959 increased by 37.5%, and the regional center – by two times. For comparison: during this period, the population of the USSR increased by 9.5%.

    Among the forced migrants were about 40,000 Soviet Germans – special settlers and labor army soldiers. Until the Decree “On the lifting of restrictions on the legal status of Germans and their family members in special settlements” was adopted on December 13, 1955, they could not leave their places of residence and work.

    Economic adaptation played an important role. By the early 1950s, 11% of forced migrants had built their own homes, half had vegetable gardens, and a third had small cattle. Social and cultural factors also played a significant role. The chances of adaptation were increased by the marriage of a forced migrant to a local resident or a deportee, as well as the birth of children in the new family. This and joint work at an enterprise increased the chances of receiving housing and rations, which were used not only by workers, but also by older family members.

    Former forced migrants recalled that the attitude towards “Russian Germans” was wary. The local population was not always ready to help them, but in places of special settlements, where most of the residents were repressed, rapprochement was faster.

    The speaker named another adaptation factor as education, cultural and human capital, or a skill valued at the place of work. A labor army soldier who knew how to operate a tractor received a good ration at the logging sites. Another exile drove the head of the settlement and, thanks to personal communication, received the position of manager of a bread store, which dramatically improved the living conditions of his family.

    Over time, forced migrants played a significant role in the development of the region. For example, one of the exiled Germans later became the chief architect of the Solikamsk region, Yevgeny Wagner became the rector of the regional medical institute, and Anatoly Bartolomey became the rector of the polytechnic.

    Professor of the Department of Documentation and Information Support of the Department of History of the Ural Federal University Oleg Gorbachev asked whether individual examples of successful careers of exiled settlers can be considered a reflection of the liberalization of the regime in relation to them. According to Anna Kimerling, cases of transfer to a responsible position are few and they occurred mainly in the post-Stalin period, which reflected a certain evolution of the authorities’ attitude towards the repressed.

    Ethnic and religious aspects

    Head of the Department of Russian History at Tuva University Zoya Dorzhu and Associate Professor of the Department Alena Storozhenko presented a report on “Migration Processes in Tuva in the 1920s-50s. Ethno-confessional Aspect”. State sovereignty and autonomy formed a special state-political context of relations with neighboring regions, which also influenced migration.

    The speakers highlighted several periods of the authorities’ attitude to migration. With the establishment of the independent Tuvan People’s Republic in 1921, the authorities sought to limit the influx of Russians into its territory. Thus, checkpoints were established on the border, which, however, did not stop migration. As the country drew closer to the USSR in the 1930s, migration controls on the border were relaxed. Migration was also accelerated by the TPR authorities’ request to Moscow to send specialists. Often, the resettlements of the 1920s and 1930s were caused by the desire of some residents of nearby regions of the USSR to avoid repression and, at the same time, the desire to find a place for productive agriculture. After joining the USSR in 1944, the restrictions were lifted.

    Tuvans remained in the majority, but their share in the total population of the republic and the region fluctuated significantly. In 1921 and 1931 it was about 80%, in 1945 – 85%, and by 1959 due to mass migration it had dropped to 57%.

    Migration had a significant impact on the ethnic and religious composition of the population. Buddhists, shamanists, Orthodox Christians and pagans were represented in the republic. Moreover, the Old Believers, who appeared in Tuva back in the 19th century, integrated into its territory, and at the time of the creation of the TNR they constituted a third of the Russian-speaking residents of the republic.

    Sergey Kornienko wondered whether it was possible to find common themes in studying the migration processes of Tuva and the Perm (Molotov) region. According to Alena Storozhenko, the Uralians made up a significant portion of the Old Believers who moved to Tuva, but it is still difficult to accurately determine their share in the number of migrants.

    Organized labor migration

    Associate Professor of the Department of Humanities of the Faculty of Social, Economic and Computer Sciences of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Perm Alexander Glushkov and Master’s student of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow Kristina Kozlova presented a report “Attracting Labor Migrant Workers to the USSR in the Late 1940s – 1950s: A Comparative Analysis of Agitation (Based on the Example of Enterprises in the Molotov Region of the RSFSR).” Alexander Glushkov recalled that in 1947, organized labor migrations resumed in the USSR. In the Molotov Region, workers were attracted to work in the coal industry, in logging enterprises and collective farms.

    Kristina Kozlova said that regional and republican authorities were engaged in agitation. In 1952, the regional executive committee issued a resolution defining the rules for selecting recruiters for resettlement and preparing agitation and reference materials.

    Among them, visual (posters) and written materials and oral propaganda can be singled out. Films were another form of propaganda. An important role was also played by materials in newspapers and magazines, including special issues of large-circulation newspapers, as well as brochures about the region, which included information about the region, as well as letters and stories from settlers.

    The recruiters’ lectures were devoted to the state and prospects of the region’s economy, as well as the international position of the USSR. Aleksandr Glushkov reported that the agitation did not cease even after the resettlement: the new residents of the region were explained the labor tasks facing them, and the authors of articles and posters also sought to reduce the number of resettlers returning home.

    The speakers compared the newspapers of two large enterprises of the region — the KamGESstroy and Molotovles trusts — before and after Stalin’s death, the forms of agitation and key narratives. The analysis showed that in the late Stalin period, non-material motives stood out: prestige, the call of the party and the desire to be useful to the Motherland. After Stalin’s death, material motivation increased: workers were offered to earn money, quickly improve their living conditions, including by acquiring a new profession. Agitation aimed at securing the settlers was focused on money and privileges.

    Kristina Kozlova summed up: a comparative analysis of the agitation of the late 1940s and mid-1950s allows us to identify common motives and a gradual transition to the prevalence of material incentives over ideological ones, although the latter did not disappear. This reflected the gradual transformation of Soviet society during the thaw.

    AI to the rescue

    Sergey Kornienko presented the report “Studying the History of Migration in the Digital Environment: Regional Aspect” (based on the materials of the joint project of HSE Perm and Tuva State University “Migration in the Socio-Economic, Demographic, Cultural and Human Dimensions”. HSE Mirror Laboratories Program, 2024-26).

    He identified three areas of digital scientific humanities research: creation and organization of digital versions of historical and historiographic sources; development and adaptation of methods, technologies and tools for digital research; representation of data and research results.

    During the project, its participants create digital versions of historical sources on the history of migration, including in the form of tables and data sets, information systems and databases.

    The professor said that rather complex types of sources have to be converted into digital format, in particular, lists of settlers, echelon lists, as well as household books describing the dwellings, livestock and inventory of settlers. Despite the development of technology, it is often necessary to resort to manual or semi-automatic digitization. Students are involved in this work, acquiring useful skills in digitizing documents. Digitized sources are convenient for conversion into tabular and matrix forms.

    Digital processing of document complexes allows us to eliminate gaps in some points of individual materials (for example, the absence of the year of birth or previous place of residence of a migrant), and to create metadata.

    To study propaganda materials for settlers of the 1940s and 50s, full-text resources were created, prepared for processing by computer methods and tools. In particular, this form of processing was used for the corpus of memoirs of settlers who moved to the Kaliningrad and Molotov regions.

    In addition, scientists conduct corpus studies using linguistic methods.

    Sergey Kornienko emphasized that digital methods allow increasing the reliability of research, introducing elements of novelty, introducing new sources more fully and processing old ones more effectively. This helps to better understand the impact of migration processes on the social structure and other components of migrants’ lives.

    The project participants will continue to use Data Science methods and apply neural network modeling – variants of artificial intelligence, the professor concluded.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. imports of major transportation fuels decreased in 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 29, 2025

    U.S. imports of petroleum products decreased by 210,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2024 to average 1.8 million b/d. Imports of all major transportation fuels, such as motor gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as other products, such as unfinished oils, decreased.

    Motor gasoline makes up the largest share of U.S. petroleum product imports because it is the most widely consumed petroleum fuel in the United States. In 2024, the United States imported 651,000 b/d of motor gasoline, about 36% of all petroleum product imports and 75,000 b/d less than in 2023. U.S. gasoline consumption in 2024 was largely unchanged from 2023; inventories fell in 2024 after they had increased in 2023, reflecting the decrease in imports.

    Although the United States imports more gasoline than any other petroleum product, the United States exported 226,000 b/d more gasoline than it imported in 2024. The United States has been a net exporter of gasoline every year since 2016.

    U.S. petroleum product exports primarily originate from the Gulf Coast due to the region’s concentrated refining capacity and proximity to major ports. U.S. Gulf Coast refinery production exceeds regional market demand, resulting in exports by waterborne tankers. Although Gulf Coast refineries have a wide distribution network, infrastructure constraints limit their ability to supply fuels to all parts of the country. Consequently, certain regions rely on imported petroleum products instead of transporting them from the Gulf Coast.

    U.S. gasoline imports came from a variety of countries, but the largest five suppliers were Canada, the Netherlands, India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. All these countries except Korea are among the top five sources for U.S. gasoline imports over the last 10 years (2014–23). Imports from Canada are the primary source of gasoline for several northeastern states and make up a small share in other markets throughout the country.

    Canada is also the largest source of distillate imports into the United States. The United States imported 144,000 b/d of distillate fuel oil in 2024, 95% of which came from Canada. U.S. imports of distillate primarily come into the East Coast (112,000 b/d, or 78%). In addition to use as a transportation fuel, distillate imports are also the primary source of home heating oil for the U.S. Northeast.

    Jet fuel imports in 2024 totaled 109,000 b/d, down from 127,000 b/d in 2023. Jet fuel imports flowed primarily to the West Coast. South Korea supplied 77,000 b/d, or 71%, of U.S. jet fuel imports last year. The next-largest suppliers were Canada, China, India, and Kuwait.

    Imports of petroleum products other than gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel primarily consisted of residual fuel oil for use as a marine bunker fuel and unfinished oils used as feedstock for U.S. refineries to produce other finished products.

    Principal contributor: Kevin Hack

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. oil companies spent less on interest over the last decade despite higher rates

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 30, 2025

    Data source: Evaluate Energy
    Note: Production expenses include costs of goods sold, operating expenses, and production taxes from company income statements. Interest expenses are in 2024 dollars and deflated using the Consumer Price Index.

    Higher oil prices, increased drilling efficiency, and structurally lower debt needs have contributed to lower interest expenses for some publicly traded U.S. oil companies over the past decade, despite the level of interest rates across the economy being relatively high.

    Based on the published financial reports of 26 U.S. publicly traded oil companies, interest expenses per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE)—a measure that accounts for crude oil, hydrocarbon gas liquids, and natural gas production—in 2024 were about $1.50/BOE, or around 6% of production expenses. In real dollar terms and as a share of production expenses, interest expenses are lower than they were before the pandemic, even though general interest rates are now higher.

    Although interest expenses typically represent a small portion of production expenses—those associated with labor, materials, and the costs of extracting and storing oil and other commodities—their variability can fluctuate with macroeconomic conditions. For example, a rapid decline in crude oil prices might lower some production expenses but not interest expenses, which are often fixed throughout the life of a loan. During these times, interest expenses can represent 15% or more of regular production expenses.

    Data source: Bloomberg L.P.

    The decline in interest expenses may be counterintuitive as interest rates in the United States have generally increased since 2020 and 2021. Short-term interest rates—designated by the federal funds effective rate, which determines the interest rate on overnight bank loans—have reached as high as 5.3% since 2022 and stayed above 4% since then, compared with nearly 0% five years ago.

    The Federal Reserve determines the federal funds rate, and the rate serves as a key monetary policy tool to reach the goals of price stability and maximum employment. The federal funds rate affects other interest rates that are determined from market participants’ supply and demand for loans, including bank loans, government bonds, and corporate bonds. For example, Moody’s Aaa and Baa corporate bond rates represent different bond yields based on creditworthiness.

    Oil company interest expense has declined despite higher interest rates because of:

    • Relatively high oil prices. Crude oil prices increased in the years after the pandemic. Higher oil prices bring in more revenue, which means oil companies need to borrow less to fund their capital expenditures and can also pay down debt obligations. In addition, higher oil prices increase the value of a company’s proved reserves and reduce the risk of loan default, which may lead to better borrowing terms, such as lower interest rates.
    • Increased efficiency and cost reduction. Lowering production expenses and improving efficiency increases company profits, which could result in better borrowing terms and lower borrowing costs.
    • Tempered investment growth and strategy. In recent years, companies have implemented strategies that favor modest capital expenditure growth by targeting fewer but more profitable projects. With this approach, the company may generate more profits even if the company’s production growth was small or unchanged. This strategy reduces companies’ needs for outside capital, including borrowing.

    Principal contributor: Jeff Barron

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Applied Systems Honored with Three Stevie® Awards in 2025 American Business Awards®

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, IL., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems® today announced that the company was recognized in multiple categories of the 23rd Annual American Business Awards®. Applied was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award for Company of the Year in the Large-Sized Insurance category. Epic Quotes Commercial Lines won a Silver Stevie® Award in the Insurance Solution category, and Applied Pay won a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Payments Solution category.

    The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. More than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories.

    “Congratulations to Applied Systems for impressive strides in digital transformation and operational excellence within the insurance sector. The acquisition of Planck and advancements in Applied Epic and Applied Pay show commendable vision and execution,” one American Business Award® judge noted. More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.

    “It is an honor to be recognized as an indispensable partner to the insurance industry by the 2025 American Business Awards,” said Taylor Rhodes, chief executive officer, Applied Systems. “These awards underscore our commitment to leading the industry in the next generation of insurance, providing the innovative technology agents, brokers, carriers and MGAs need to drive more value in their business.”

    # # #

    The Applied products and logos are trademarks of Applied Systems, Inc., registered in the U.S.

    About Applied Systems
    Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CBAK Energy Captures 14.6% Share of 32140 Cylindrical Cell Market in Q1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALIAN, China, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBAT) (“CBAK Energy” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries and electric energy solutions in China, today announced its Q1 2025 market performance for 32140 cylindrical cells, based on the latest findings from the Start Point Institute of Research (“SPIR”, “SPIR Report”). According to the SPIR Report, CBAK Energy’s 32140 cylindrical cell shipments captured a notable 14.6% share of the global market, positioning the Company fourth overall—behind only a select group of major multinational competitors—highlighting its growing influence and competitiveness in the global battery sector.

    Back in February, based on findings from the previous SPIR Report covering 2024, the Company announced it had captured a remarkable 19% share of the global market for 32140 cylindrical cells. Building on that success, CBAK Energy has once again demonstrated strong performance in Q1. With ongoing discussions with major existing and prospective customers, the Company remains confident in its ability to sustain this momentum and further expand its presence in the large cylindrical cell market in the periods ahead.

     “We are pleased to see our 32140 cylindrical cells continue to gain market acceptance,” said Zhiguang Hu, Chief Executive Officer of CBAK Energy. “Our outstanding performance in Q1 2025 underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable energy storage solutions that meet the growing demands of our customers. We remain focused on innovation and expanding our market presence.”

    About CBAK Energy
    CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBAT) is a leading high-tech enterprise in China engaged in the development, manufacturing, and sales of new energy high power lithium batteries and raw materials for use in manufacturing high power lithium batteries. The applications of the Company’s products and solutions include electric vehicles, light electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and other high-power applications. In January 2006, CBAK Energy became the first lithium battery manufacturer in China listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. CBAK Energy has multiple operating subsidiaries in Dalian, Nanjing and Shaoxing, as well as a large-scale R&D and production base in Dalian.

    For more information, please visit ir.cbak.com.cn.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, strategy and plans, and our expectations for future operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Our actual results may differ materially or perhaps significantly from those discussed herein, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

    The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

    For further inquiries, please contact:
    In China:
    CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@cbak.com.cn 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Micropolis Signs Agreement to Deliver Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Infrastructure for SEE Holding’s Sustainable City 2.0

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micropolis Holding Co. (“Micropolis” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: MCRP), a UAE-based pioneering force in robotics, AI, and autonomous mobility, has signed a landmark non-legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SEE Holding Ltd to support the launch and long-term development of The Sustainable City 2.0 (TSC 2.0), SEE Holding’s next-generation of its acclaimed model that is AI-driven, net zero, and human-centric.

    This strategic agreement will enable the deployment of Micropolis’s advanced robotics platforms, AI-powered surveillance systems, smart mobility applications, and edge computing nodes across SEE Holding’s new and existing sustainable city developments worldwide.

    This collaboration represents the next phase of a longstanding relationship. Faris Saeed, Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding, was among Micropolis’ first investors at the Company’s inception in 2014. Over the past decade, SEE Holding has supported Micropolis not only through strategic capital, but also by providing a living lab environment within The Sustainable City — offering real-world testing grounds for Micropolis’ robotics, computer vision, and autonomous systems.

    “The Sustainable City provided us with a real environment to test and refine our technologies, which played a key role in shaping our robotics platforms into what they are today,” said Fareed Aljawhari, CEO of Micropolis Holding Co. “With The Sustainable City 2.0, we are proud to take this partnership to a global scale and deliver cutting-edge automation designed for the cities of tomorrow.”

    The MoU outlines a strategic partnership centered on integrating AI and robotics into the core infrastructure of The Sustainable City 2.0. This includes the development of integrated command systems to oversee city operations, the deployment of autonomous fleets and smart mobility applications, and the creation of digital platforms that connect residents to intelligent services, leveraging IoT infrastructure, edge computing, and computer vision technologies.

    A joint R&D program will also be initiated to advance Micropolis’ sustainable urban technologies, with the goal of driving operational efficiency, resident experience, and environmental performance across SEE Holding’s global sustainable city projects.

    “With The Sustainable City 2.0, we are revolutionizing sustainable urban living through the strategic integration of AI-driven solutions and net-zero principles. Our partnership with Micropolis accelerates this vision, customizing and rapidly deploying intelligent robotics solutions that significantly enhance safety, efficiency, and quality of life, ultimately shaping smarter, more resilient, and human-centric communities for the future,” said Faris Saeed, Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding.

    About Micropolis Holding Co.
    Micropolis is a UAE-based company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), AI systems, and smart infrastructure for urban, security, and industrial applications. The Company’s vertically integrated capabilities cover everything from mechatronics and embedded systems to AI software and high-level autonomy.

    For more information please visit www.micropolis.ai.

    About SEE Holding
    SEE Holding, is a UAE-based sustainably focused global holding group that designs, invests in, and builds sustainable infrastructures and cities through its three operational verticals: SEE Solutions, SEE Developers, and SEE Engineering.

    Driven by its purpose of spearheading a net zero emissions future and achieving the 2050 UN targets, SEE Holding develops inclusive and sustainable communities that prioritize education, sports, healthcare, and overall well-being as part of its commitment to social, environmental and economic impact. SEE Holding currently has projects in the UAE across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, as well as in Oman.

    For more information, please visit us on: https://seeholding.com

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements represent Micropolis’ current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    Investor Contact:
    KCSA Strategic Communications
    Valter Pinto, Managing Director
    PH: (212) 896-1254
    Valter@KCSA.com

    Media Contact:
    Jessica Starman
    media@elev8newmedia.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ibex to Showcase AI-powered CX Solutions for Utilities at the IUCX Annual Conference 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer engagement technology solutions, today announced it will be participating in the IUCX (Innovate UtilityCX) Annual Conference 2025 in Phoenix from May 6-8. The ibex utilities team will be on site to showcase how new AI-powered CX solutions can help utilities connect, engage, and deepen their customer relationships while reducing operating costs.

    “AI-enabled CX solutions are a game-changer when it comes to improving customer experience and driving efficiencies,” said Bruce Dawson, Chief Sales and Client Services Officer at ibex. “ibex is a global leader in delivering cutting-edge, AI-powered contact center solutions. We offer a one-stop shop for utilities seeking to boost customer satisfaction and reduce the cost to serve. By combining the latest technology with our deep experience and insights into the unique needs of modern utilities, we can help you elevate your customer service operations wherever you are on your digital transformation journey.”

    The ibex utilities team will be at booth #931 demonstrating the groundbreaking ibex Wave iX solution suite – which leverages cutting-edge Generative AI technology to deliver next-generation automated and agent-assisted customer experience, including Wave iX AI Virtual Agent and Wave iX Translate.

    ibex Wave iX AI Virtual Agent is a sophisticated AI solution designed for seamless and scalable automated customer and brand interactions. It provides AI-driven voice and text conversations that are customized to align with a brand’s persona and specific business needs. It offers human-like, infinitely scalable, and hyper-personalized customer experiences while integrating seamlessly with existing agent support systems to facilitate swift escalation and efficient resolution of more complex customer issues.

    ibex Wave iX Translate enables agents and customers to speak or type in their native language, which is then translated in real-time for understanding by both parties. This AI-powered solution enables two-way conversation in over 150 languages, improving communications and allowing CX organizations to better serve customers effectively, efficiently and cultivate stronger connections.

    ibex takes a solutions-driven approach to align with specific business needs and deliver real solutions for transformative outcomes. For more information on ibex Wave iX, please visit ibex.co.

    The IUCX Conference is the premier annual educational and customer service conference serving electric, gas and water/wastewater utility professionals across North America and the world. Two days filled with meter-to-cash process content, topical and trending industry programs/offerings and utility role models at every stage in their CX journeys.

    About ibex

    ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 31 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

    ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 31,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact

    Dan Burris
    ibex
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d11730b8-5e57-4149-9d25-9d1dd1585963

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: One Billion Served: Mashgin Racks Up Record AI-powered Checkout Transactions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mashgin, the AI-powered checkout company, today announced that its checkout kiosks have processed over one billion transactions since the inception of the company. This achievement highlights a significant business and technology milestone in the adoption of Mashgin’s AI-powered technology across multiple sectors and locations: over 3,000 convenience stores, 150 sports venues, 50 airports, 50 college campuses, 30 cafes at ski resorts, and 100 hospitals now use Mashgin.

    Over the past three years, the company has seen explosive growth in both location count and transaction volume, increasing monthly transactions by 1,233% – from 3M transactions in March 2022 to 40M in March 2025. In the calendar year 2024, Mashgin processed over 440M transactions.

    Traditional self-checkout systems require bar code scanning, a slower, more tedious and error-riddled experience. Mashgin uses a more advanced approach: powerful computer vision and AI technology that enables consumers to ring up multiple items instantly – allowing them to simply place items on the tray, pay, and be on their way. It deploys advanced edge hardware and deep learning to achieve the level of speed and accuracy necessary to process transactions in retail environments that often contain many variables.

    The result is that transactions on Mashgin only take a few seconds, dramatically reducing lines and giving time back to customers and staff. When those lines shrink, more customers buy more often, increasing sales as much as 125% for businesses.

    “I’m honored to work on a system with this kind of impact on the world,” said Abhinai Srivastava, CEO and co-founder of Mashgin. “Time is precious, and whether it’s getting back to the ballgame, ski lift, or just home to your family a little faster – giving it back means a lot.”

    Mashgin calculates it has saved customers over 2,000 years of standing in line when compared to traditional checkout throughput in stadiums, resorts, cafes, and convenience stores around the world.

    “Reaching one billion transactions isn’t just a number; it reflects the immense trust our clients placed in us and the clear demand for a faster and smoother checkout experience,” said Mukul Dhankhar, CTO and co-founder of Mashgin. “What was once a luxury is quickly becoming a fundamental expectation, and we’re proud to play a role in helping multiple industries deliver the experience their customers want.”

    To grow so quickly, the company invested in more than just the core vision technology. Over the years, Mashgin worked to make it incredibly easy to deploy and scale the system. Each kiosk can learn new items in less than 30 seconds, then teach every other kiosk in the fleet what an object looks like. This speed in learning and sharing is pivotal to scaling across many locations with major partners like Circle K or managing many similar locations in one building like Soldier Field.

    Mashgin also invested heavily in integrating to the many software solutions that complete the dining and retail ecosystem, with over 50 integrations across payments, loyalty, campus cards, fuel pumps, and more.

    About Mashgin

    Mashgin is the world’s fastest checkout system, powered by AI and computer vision. By eliminating barcode scanning, Mashgin allows customers to simply place items on the tray, pay, and be on their way in under 10 seconds. With checkout speeds up to four times faster than traditional systems, Mashgin not only enhances customer satisfaction but also boosts revenue for retailers by reducing wait times and streamlining operations. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Mashgin is a privately held company backed by NEA, Matrix Partners, Susa Ventures, and Y Combinator. Follow Mashgin on LinkedIn or learn more about Mashgin at www.mashgin.com.

    Press Contact:
    Quinn Trask
    104 West on behalf of Mashgin
    Quinn.Trask@104west.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Grayscale Launches Grayscale® Bitcoin Adopters ETF (Ticker: BCOR)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STAMFORD, Conn., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Grayscale, the world’s largest crypto-native asset manager, today announced the launch of Grayscale® Bitcoin Adopters ETF (Ticker: BCOR) (the “Fund”).

    Grayscale® Bitcoin Adopters ETF is Grayscale’s newest exchange-traded product offering investors exposure to companies that have adopted Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. The Fund specifically invests in companies that comprise the Indxx Bitcoin Adopters Index, a proprietary index designed to measure the performance of companies that have adopted Bitcoin as an asset for corporate treasury management (collectively, “Bitcoin Adopters”).

    As publicly traded companies begin to explore Bitcoin as a reserve asset, something widely viewed as a novel yet increasingly compelling approach, BCOR captures this shift by allocating to companies across the world adopting Bitcoin. Although Bitcoin challenges traditional asset norms with its volatility, it is also viewed by a growing group of companies as a potential hedge against inflation and a tool for treasury diversification. For investors seeking exposure to these forward-looking companies or an alternative to direct Bitcoin exposure, BCOR delivers diversified global equity exposure to companies across 7 sectors and 15 industries all united by a single theme – Bitcoin adoption.

    “We couldn’t be more excited to launch Grayscale® Bitcoin Adopters ETF, which offers investors a new way to tap into the rising trend of corporate Bitcoin treasury adoption without needing to hold Bitcoin directly,” said David LaValle, Global Head of ETFs at Grayscale. “As more companies integrate Bitcoin into their balance sheets, BCOR provides a forward-looking strategy to capture this momentum through traditional equity markets. It’s an exciting opportunity for those who believe in Bitcoin’s long-term potential.”

    For more information about BCOR, please visit: https://etfs.grayscale.com/bcor

    Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Grayscale Bitcoin Adopters ETF (the “Fund”), please call (866)-775-0313 or visit our website at etfs.grayscale.com/bcor. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

    The Fund will not invest in digital assets directly or through the use of derivatives. The Fund also will not invest in initial coin offerings. The Fund may, however, have indirect exposure to digital assets by virtue of its investments in companies that use one or more digital assets as part of their business activities or that hold digital assets as proprietary investments. Because the Fund will not invest directly in any digital assets, it will not track price movements of any digital assets.

    The Indxx Bitcoin Adopters Index is designed by Indxx (the “Index Provider”) to consist of U.S. and non-U.S. equity securities of companies that have been classified by the Index Provider as having adopted Bitcoin as an asset for corporate treasury management.

    Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal. The Fund is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC and Grayscale Advisors, LLC is the adviser.

    About Grayscale 
    Grayscale enables investors to access the digital economy through a family of future-forward investment products. Founded in 2013, Grayscale has a decade-long track record and deep expertise as an asset management firm focused on crypto investing. Grayscale Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser with the SEC since January 2022. Investors, advisors, and allocators turn to Grayscale for single asset, diversified, and thematic exposure. For more information, please follow @Grayscale or visit grayscale.com.

    Media Contact 
    press@grayscale.com

    Client Contact 
    866-775-0313 
    info@grayscale.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Arax Recognizes InvestmentNews Excellence Awardees Across Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arax Investment Partners (“Arax”), backed by RedBird Capital Partners (“RedBird”), is pleased to recognize several of its valued partner firms, teams, and advisors who have been selected as Excellence Awardees for the 2025 InvestmentNews Awards.

    The InvestmentNews Awards program recognizes the leading professionals and firms in the wealth management industry across 18 different categories. Arax honorees include:

    • RIA Firm of the Year – Ashton Thomas Private Wealth
    • RIA Team of the Year (Under 10 Advisors) – Advanced Planning Group, U.S. Capital Wealth (Led by Todd Lavergne and Nick Erwin)
    • Advisor of the Year (Regional – Southwest) – Kim-Ha Nguyen, U.S. Capital Wealth
    • Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service – Lance Knight, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth
    • DEI Trailblazer of the Year – Cary Carbonaro, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth

    Arax Investment Partners brings together leading independent advisory firms, offering centralized resources, strategic support, and integrated business solutions to drive collective growth. With approximately $26 billion in assets under management across its partner firms, Arax serves wealth management clients coast-to-coast.

    “Being recognized at both the individual and firmwide levels is a testament to our ability to attract the top talent in the industry,” said Haig Ariyan, Chief Executive Officer of Arax. “Today, we celebrate our Awardees and applaud their dedication to delivering customized, high-impact wealth management solutions to private clients and institutions. We’re excited to continue supporting the success of our advisors with an unwavering commitment to exceptional client service.”

    Nominations from across the wealth management industry were gathered and supplemented by in-depth research from the InvestmentNews Awards team, then reviewed to select the Excellence Awardees, who have been invited to submit detailed materials as finalists. Final winners for each category will be announced at the InvestmentNews Awards dinner in New York City on Tuesday, June 24.

    About Arax Investment Partners
    Arax Investment Partners is a rapidly growing boutique wealth management platform making strategic control investments in leading RIAs and elite advisor teams. Founded and led by CEO Haig Ariyan — a seasoned industry executive with a distinguished track record of building and scaling wealth management businesses — Arax empowers its partners to be entrepreneurial and focus on delivering exceptional client service. Firms benefit from a management team with deep M&A expertise, capital sourcing capabilities, and the backing of RedBird Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.araxpartners.com.

    About Ashton Thomas Private Wealth
    Ashton Thomas is a diversified financial services firm committed to a culture of excellence, integrity, and respect in every aspect of its business. Through its various entities listed below, Ashton Thomas serves foundations, businesses, and affluent individuals and families by providing a range of services which include fee-based financial planning and investment portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, securities brokerage, life and health insurance, and income tax preparation. The firm also strives to remain at the forefront of technological innovation and thought leadership within the financial services industry.

    Ashton Thomas Private Wealth, LLC, (“ATPW”), founded in 2010, and Ashton Thomas Advisors, LLC (“ATA”), founded in 2024, are SEC-registered investment advisers which provide fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, pension consulting, and fund manager selection services. Ashton Thomas Securities, LLC, (“ATS”) is a dually registered entity. ATS registered with FINRA as a broker-dealer in 1984 and provides securities brokerage services. ATS became an SEC-registered investment adviser in 2008 and provides fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, pension consulting, and fund manager selection services. Ashton Thomas Insurance Agency, LLC, (“ATIA”) provides life and health insurance brokerage services. ATIA also provides income tax services through its DBA, Ashton Thomas Tax Advisory. Representatives of the entities listed may only conduct business for which they are licensed, if required, and with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered and/or licensed.

    About U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC
    Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with a strategic Texas presence across Austin, Dallas, and Georgetown, as well as offices in New York City, Massachusetts, and Florida, U.S. Capital Wealth LLC (“USCW”) is a premier independent, full-platform Registered Investment Advisor dedicated to delivering institutional-quality financial solutions with the personalized service of a boutique firm.

    Founded in 2010, USCW was created to empower clients with access to a comprehensive wealth management experience. As a full-platform RIA, USCW offers the best of both worlds — integrating brokerage and advisory capabilities to deliver flexible solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Clients benefit from the capabilities of a large financial institution, while maintaining the personalized, high-touch approach of a boutique advisory firm.

    USCW’s team of seasoned financial professionals brings decades of institutional experience to help clients navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

    USCW serves distinguished clientele, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, business owners, specialized industry professionals, institutions, and municipalities. Comprehensive offerings span investment management, risk mitigation, lending solutions, and fully integrated family office services — all tailored to each client’s unique goals. To learn more, please visit: https://uscwealth.com.

    About RedBird Capital Partners
    RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm that builds high-growth companies with strategic capital solutions to founders and entrepreneurs. The firm currently manages $12 billion in assets on behalf of a global group of blue chip institutional and family office investors. Founded in 2014 by Gerry Cardinale, RedBird integrates sophisticated private equity investing with a hands-on business building mandate that focuses on three core industry verticals — Financial Services, Sports and Media & Entertainment. Over his 30-year investment career, Cardinale has partnered with founders and entrepreneurs to build some of the most iconic growth companies in their respective industries. For more information, please go to www.redbirdcap.com.

    Media Contact:
    Dan Gagnier
    Gagnier Communications 
    RedBird@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire and Avanse Financial Services Announce Strategic Partnership to Digitize Student Loan Disbursements from India

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Integrated solution enables Flywire to unlock new payment flows from India to academic destinations worldwide

    Flywire further expands footprint in India, capitalizes on the billions of dollars of payment volume from education loans

    BOSTON and MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flywire Corporation (Nasdaq: FLYW) (Flywire), a global payments and enablement and software company, today announced its strategic partnership with Avanse Financial Services, India’s second-largest education-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC). The collaboration simplifies the process of disbursing education loan payments for Indian students pursuing education opportunities abroad. The collaboration helps Flywire capitalize on tuition loan disbursements initiated by Avanse in Indian Rupees (INR) and builds on Flywire’s existing banking and loan integrations in India. The solution is available immediately and supports payment flows from India to academic destinations worldwide.

    Through this integration, Flywire streamlines the entire payments experience for students who opt to get educational loans from Avanse. After loan approval, students process payments via Flywire entirely in Indian rupees, with the ability to monitor transactions until funds reach their university. Flywire ensures transparency over all loan disbursements, facilitates efficient refunds, and automates the complex Tax Collected at Source (TCS) calculations—ultimately saving both students and providers valuable time and resources while ensuring adherence to relevant tax guidelines.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with Avanse to enhance the process of student loan disbursements from India,” commented Mina Fakhouri, SVP, APAC & Global Agents at Flywire. “The combination of Avanse’s presence in India and Flywire’s innovative payment technology addresses a crucial market gap for both students and lending institutions. India remains an important market for Flywire, and we’re excited to work together to deliver value to our partners, payers, educational institutions and beyond.”

    Additional benefits of the integration between Flywire and Avanse are expected to include:

    • Competitive foreign exchange conversion rates for students
    • Providing transparent payment tracking for students, schools and financial institutions
    • Enhancing compliance with international banking regulations
    • Managing TCS calculations for payments
    • Simplifying the documentation requirements for both students and institutions

    Rajesh Kachave, Chief Business Officer – Student Lending International Business of Avanse Financial Services, commented: “We believe in providing a holistic education financing experience. This collaboration with Flywire will create compelling and sustaining value for our customers, enabling them to focus entirely on their academics while leaving the financial complexities to us.”

    About Flywire

    Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers.

    Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges.

    Flywire supports more than 4,500 clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across more than 240 countries and territories around the world. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com. Follow Flywire on X , LinkedIn and Facebook.

    About Avanse Financial Services
    Avanse Financial Services Limited is an education-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC) on a mission to provide seamless and affordable education financing for every deserving Indian student. The company offers loans across three key segments:

    Student Loan – International – Customized education financing solutions for Indian students pursuing undergraduate & postgraduate courses overseas
    Education Loans Domestic – Customized financing solutions for Indian students seeking higher education at domestic institutions. It also includes loans for professionals engaging in executive learning programs, as well as financing for both curriculum fees for students enrolled in accredited schools and non-curriculum fees associated with skilling programs, executive education, and test preparation courses, all in India.
    Educational Institution Loans – Collateral-backed financing solutions to private educational institutions, generally K-12 schools, located in peripheral areas of tier I cities and in tier II and beyond cities in India. For more information, please click here.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Flywire’s expectations regarding the benefits of its education clients and business, Flywire’s business strategy and plans, market growth and trends. Flywire intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Flywire’s forward-looking statements include, among others, the factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Flywire undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contacts

    Flywire

    Media:
    Sarah King
    Media@Flywire.com

    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    IR@Flywire.com

    Avanse Financial Services
    Koeli Dutta | Lead – Corporate Communication & Content
    Mobile: +91 8879330544
    Email ID: koeli.dutta@avanse.com   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government must distance itself from Blair’s latest ‘dodgy dossier’ say Greens

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    Commenting on Tony Blair’s call for a major rethink of net zero policies which comes as the Climate Change Committee warns the UK is critically unprepared for the escalating threats of the climate crisis, co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, said:

    “Tony Blair has decided to mimic Nigel Farage on net zero and sounds like he is speaking on behalf of petro-states like Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan for whom he has lobbied for more years than he was prime minister.

    “It is vital that the government distance itself from this latest dodgy dossier from Blair and turn its attention instead to what the Climate Change Committee is saying today. Their report could not be clearer: we are woefully unprepared for the impacts of climate breakdown as a country. Tomorrow is likely to be the hottest local election day on record – a potent reminder that we need a comprehensive plan to prepare for increasingly extreme weather events.

    “Tony Blair and Nigel Farage apparently need reminding that a huge 89% of the world’s people want stronger action to fight the climate crisis, not a reset or watering down of ambition. And the CBI points to the fact that the UK’s net zero sector expanded 10 per cent last year, three times faster than the rest of the economy.

    “The future is green; Labour must not allow yesterday’s man to drag us back into the dark ages. The government must press ahead with the drive towards clean energy and the green economy and all the advantages that will bring in creating good quality jobs, cutting energy bills and creating a healthier society.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Businesses commended for exceptional workplace support of disabled people in award ceremony

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Businesses commended for exceptional workplace support of disabled people in award ceremony

    Large and small businesses who have carried out exceptional work in hiring, retaining and supporting disabled people in the workplace have been recognised in the annual Disability Confident Awards in London.

    • Businesses supporting disabled people in the workplace have been commended in an award ceremony.
    • The Disability Confident scheme is a Government initiative designed to encourage employers to recruit, retain, and develop disabled people.
    • Minister Sir Stephen Timms, praised the efforts to support disabled people in work.

    Large and small businesses who have carried out exceptional work in hiring, retaining and supporting disabled people in the workplace have been recognised in the annual Disability Confident Awards in London.

    Judged by DWP’s Disability Confident team, winners were chosen from a wide selection of strong nominations ranging from tech companies developing accessible equipment to a heritage trust breaking down barriers for disabled people.

    The two winners, chosen for their work in the travel industry and fitness sector, were:

    • Small organisation winner (less than 250 employees) – Seable, a bespoke travel agent who provide experiences for people who are visually impaired. The company hires blind and partially sighted people who share their lived experiences, so holidays reflect the needs of their customers.

    • Big organisation winner (More than 250 employees) – The Gym Group, who run schemes such as the Inclusive Traineeship which helps disabled people in the workplace with dedicated support staff and programmes to help them break into the fitness industry.

    The Disability Confident scheme is a Government initiative designed to encourage employers to recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. It has more than 19,000 members, with more than 12 million employees working in their businesses.

    To become a Disability Confident employer, organisations must provide accessible and inclusive recruitment practices and a public commitment to supporting employees with a disability. These also signal to disabled jobseekers which companies may be suitable for their needs.

    Minister for Social Security and Disabled People Sir Stephen Timms, said:

    It has been great to see so many organisations leading by example to support disabled employees in the workplace. I congratulate everyone who has been nominated.

    The standard of the nominations for each category have been outstanding and it was difficult to select the finalists and winners who have all showed inspiring best practice to help other employers to start their Disability Confident journey.

    A Seable spokesperson said:

    We’re incredibly proud to win the Disability Confident Award.

    We are dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible travel experiences for the visually impaired community and reinforces our mission to break down barriers within the travel industry and champion true inclusivity in everything we do.

    The Disability Confident scheme helps businesses make a first step towards making their workplaces more suitable for disabled employees. These start with companies making commitments to support disabled people in the workplace which can include making sure recruitment processes are accessible, offering work experience, and providing reasonable adjustments for existing employees.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Turbo Energy Partners with Chilean Utility Saesa to Expand Smart Battery Storage Systems in Latin America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VALENCIA, Spain, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turbo Energy S.A. (Nasdaq: TURB) (“Turbo Energy” or the “Company”), a global provider of leading-edge, AI-optimized solar energy storage technologies and solutions, has teamed with Saesa, one of Chile’s largest electric utilities, to expand the deployment of smart battery systems across the Andean country.

    This partnership marks a significant step forward in Turbo Energy’s expansion into Latin America, resulting in the completion of the companies’ first joint project— the installation of a smart battery energy storage system (BESS) at the headquarters of Bayas del Sur, a leading berry producer in southern Chile.

    The project integrates lithium batteries with 200 kW of power and 880 kWh of storage capacity. Designed to complement Bayas del Sur’s existing photovoltaic installation, the system enables the plant to optimize energy consumption, reduce fuel dependence and maintain operations during peak demand periods or grid outages.

    “The commissioning of this project for Bayas del Sur reflects a growing trend among companies across all sectors: the search for effective solutions that ensure stable and sustainable energy flow while mitigating market price volatility,” said Mariano Soria, Chief Executive Officer of Turbo Energy. “Working alongside a utility giant like Saesa gives Turbo Energy a strong foundation to deploy smart BESS solutions for Chile’s most forward-thinking companies — a key driver behind the region’s desired economic decarbonization objectives.”

    Saesa executives emphasized the importance of the project in advancing renewable energy and supporting industrial decarbonization in Chile. “Our collaboration with Turbo Energy represents a pivotal advancement in sustainable infrastructure for southern Chile,” said Camila Trujillo, Energy Manager at Saesa Innova. “By integrating intelligent solar storage solutions, we’re not only improving grid reliability for industrial clients like Bayas del Sur, but also reinforcing our commitment to cleaner, smarter energy systems that benefit both businesses and communities across our nation.”

    The project with Saesa closely follows Turbo Energy’s entry into the Chilean market. In March 2025, the Company launched Latin America’s first, fully integrated, end-to-end solar energy storage system at the Alto Labranza shopping center, marking the debut of its new business unit, Turbo Energy Solutions. The division focuses on photovoltaic generation, energy storage and smart energy management for the commercial and industrial sectors across Latin America.

    About Turbo Energy, S.A.

    Founded in 2013, Turbo Energy is a globally recognized pioneer of proprietary solar energy storage technologies and solutions managed through Artificial Intelligence. Turbo Energy’s elegant all-in-one and scalable, modular energy storage systems empower residential, commercial and industrial users expanding across Europe, North America and South America to materially reduce dependence on traditional energy sources, helping to lower electricity costs, provide peak shaving and uninterruptible power supply and realize a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. A testament to the Company’s commitment to innovation and industry disruption, Turbo Energy’s introduction of its flagship SUNBOX represents one of the world’s first high performance, competitively priced, all-in-one home solar energy storage systems, which also incorporates patented EV charging capability and powerful AI processes to optimize solar energy management. Turbo Energy is a proud subsidiary of publicly traded Umbrella Global Energy, S.A., a vertically integrated, global collective of solar energy-focused companies. For more information, please visit www.turbo-e.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business of the Company, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, including the risks described in our registration statements and annual report under the heading “Risk Factors” as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Turbo Energy, S.A. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For more information, please contact:
    At Turbo Energy, S.A.                                                                          
    Dodi Handy, Director of Communications                            
    Phone: 407-960-4636                                                                          
    Email: dodihandy@turbo-e.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Red River Bancshares, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALEXANDRIA, La., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red River Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RRBI), the holding company for Red River Bank (the “Bank”), announced today its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

    Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $10.4 million, or $1.52 per diluted common share (“EPS”), an increase of $1.0 million, or 11.2%, compared to $9.3 million, or $1.37 EPS, for the fourth quarter of 2024, and an increase of $2.2 million, or 26.4%, compared to $8.2 million, or $1.16 EPS, for the first quarter of 2024. For the first quarter of 2025, the quarterly return on assets was 1.32%, and the quarterly return on equity was 12.85%.

    First Quarter 2025 Performance and Operational Highlights

    The Company had solid financial results for the first quarter of 2025. The net interest margin, net interest income, and net income increased. The balance sheet reflects good loan growth, while deposits and assets had slight increases. We increased the quarterly cash dividend paid to shareholders by 33.3% to $0.12 per share for the first quarter of 2025. Also, in the first quarter, we completed significant upgrades to our digital banking systems.

    • Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $10.4 million, which was $1.0 million, or 11.2%, higher than the prior quarter. Net income for the first quarter increased due to having higher net interest income, along with approximately $620,000 of periodic items that reduced operating expenses. These operating expense reductions benefited EPS by approximately $0.07.
    • Net interest income and net interest margin FTE increased for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2025 was $24.6 million, which was $923,000, or 3.9%, higher than the prior quarter. Net interest margin FTE increased 13 basis points (“bp(s)”) to 3.22% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.09% for the prior quarter. These improvements resulted from higher securities yields and lower deposit rates.
    • As of March 31, 2025, assets were $3.19 billion, which was $36.8 million, or 1.2%, higher than December 31, 2024. The increase was mainly due to a $20.6 million increase in deposits.
    • Deposits totaled $2.83 billion as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $20.6 million, or 0.7%, compared to $2.81 billion as of December 31, 2024. This increase was mainly due to higher balances in consumer and commercial customer deposit accounts, partially offset by the seasonal outflow of funds from public entity customers.
    • As of March 31, 2025, loans held for investment (“HFI”) were $2.11 billion, which was $39.7 million, or 1.9%, higher than $2.08 billion as of December 31, 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, we had steady new loan closing activity, combined with funding of loan construction commitments.
    • As of March 31, 2025, total securities were $699.5 million, which was $14.7 million, or 2.1%, higher than December 31, 2024. Securities increased mainly due to the purchase of new securities, combined with a smaller net unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale (“AFS”).
    • As of March 31, 2025, liquid assets, which are cash and cash equivalents, were $252.2 million, and the liquid assets to assets ratio was 7.91%. We do not have any borrowings, brokered deposits, or internet-sourced deposits.
    • The provision for credit losses was $450,000 for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $300,000 for the prior quarter. The $150,000 increase was due to loan growth and uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade.
    • As of March 31, 2025, nonperforming assets (“NPA(s)”) were $5.2 million, or 0.16% of assets, and the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) was $21.8 million, or 1.03% of loans HFI.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, the quarterly cash dividend increased by 33.3% to $0.12 per common share, up from $0.09 per common share for each quarter in 2024.
    • The 2025 stock repurchase program authorizes us to purchase up to $5.0 million of our outstanding shares of common stock from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2025, the 2025 stock repurchase program had $5.0 million of available capacity.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, Red River Bank’s online, mobile banking, and bill payment systems were upgraded in order to improve our digital services for all customers.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, S&P Global Market Intelligence ranked the Bank 14th of the top 50 best deposit franchises in 2024 for banks with assets between $3.0 and $10.0 billion.
    • On March 14, 2025, our board of directors and executive management had the privilege of ringing the closing bell at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York to commemorate being a public company for 6 years.

    Blake Chatelain, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are pleased with the financial results for the first quarter of 2025. We produced solid net interest margin improvement, higher net income, and positive, relationship-based core loan growth. As a result of consistent earnings, strong capital levels, and confidence in our consistent and conservative banking culture, the board of directors approved a 33.3% increase to the quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2025 to $0.12 per share.

    “We continue to be very focused on net interest margin improvement and managing our cost of deposits, while also focusing on redeploying assets into higher yielding assets. In the first quarter of 2025, our net interest margin FTE increased by 13 bps, net interest income increased by 3.9%, and net income increased by 11.2%.

    “We remain pleased with the level of our customer banking activity across Louisiana. We are focused on adding experienced relationship bankers and growing our presence in our newer markets. Recently there has been expanded emphasis and renewed efforts on economic development in Louisiana. This has resulted in various new and significant corporate expansion announcements for new projects throughout the state. Overall, as of March 31, 2025, our customers seem optimistic about economic activity and growth.

    “Despite this optimism, as result of the April 2, 2025 announcements and changes to the United States tariff policy, we are assessing the possible impact to our customers and the Company. These changes have injected new uncertainty into the economic environment and could result in a slowdown in activity, higher inflation, and a loss of consumer confidence. We are monitoring this situation with our customers as these events unfold. We are hopeful that these policies will be settled quickly and with minimal, negative impact.

    “Since the Company was founded in 1998, we have focused on having a consistent, conservative, and prudent banking philosophy and strategy. We remain focused on these principles, while also striving daily to build customer relationships, expand market share, and create value for our shareholders.”

    Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin FTE

    Net interest income and net interest margin FTE increased in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter. These measures were both primarily impacted by improved yields on securities and lower deposit rates. The Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) decreased the federal funds rate by 50 bps in September of 2024, and by an additional 50 bps during the fourth quarter of 2024, and then kept the federal funds rate consistent in the first quarter of 2025.

    Net interest income for the first quarter of 2025 was $24.6 million, which was $923,000, or 3.9%, higher than the fourth quarter of 2024, due to a $178,000 increase in interest and dividend income, combined with a $745,000 decrease in interest expense. The increase in interest and dividend income was mainly due to higher interest income on securities. Securities income increased $233,000, primarily due to reinvesting lower yielding securities cash flows into higher yielding securities. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower rates on time deposits.

    The net interest margin FTE increased 13 bps to 3.22% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.09% for the prior quarter. This increase was due to improved yields on securities and loans, combined with lower deposit costs. The yield on securities increased 11 bps, primarily due to reinvesting lower yielding securities cash flows into higher yielding securities. The yield on loans increased 7 bps due to higher rates on new and renewed loans compared to the existing portfolio yield. The average rate on new and renewed loans was 7.02% for the first quarter of 2025 and 7.25% for the prior quarter. The cost of deposits decreased 10 bps to 1.61% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 1.71% for the previous quarter, mainly due to lowering selected time deposit rates. As a result of this change, there was a 37 bp decrease on time deposits during the first quarter.

    The FOMC kept the federal funds rate consistent in the first quarter of 2025, with the target federal funds range remaining at 4.25%-4.50%. The market’s expectation is that the FOMC may lower the target range of the federal funds rate several times in 2025. During the remainder of 2025, we anticipate receiving approximately $80.0 million in securities cash flows with an average yield of 3.28%, and we project approximately $162.2 million of fixed rate loans will mature with an average yield of 6.15%. We expect to redeploy these balances into slightly higher yielding assets. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2025, we expect $253.6 million of time deposits to mature with an average rate of 4.06%, which we anticipate repricing into slightly lower cost deposits. As of March 31, 2025, floating rate loans were 17.6% of loans HFI, and floating rate transaction deposits were 8.7% of interest-bearing transaction deposits. Depending on balance sheet activity, the movement in interest rates, and the economic outlook, we expect the net interest income and net interest margin FTE to remain fairly consistent for the remainder of 2025.

    Provision for Credit Losses

    The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2025 was $450,000 for loans, which was $150,000 higher than the provision for credit losses of $300,000 for the prior quarter. The increase in the first quarter of 2025 was related to loan growth in the quarter, combined with uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade. The provision in the fourth quarter of 2024, which included $200,000 for loans and $100,000 for unfunded loans commitments, was due to potential economic challenges resulting from the recent inflationary environment, changing monetary policy, and loan growth. We will continue to evaluate future provision needs in relation to current economic situations, loan growth, trends in asset quality, forecasted information, and other conditions influencing loss expectations.

    Noninterest Income

    Noninterest income totaled $5.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $277,000, or 5.5%, compared to $5.0 million for the previous quarter. The increase was mainly due to higher brokerage income and a gain on equity securities, partially offset by lower mortgage loan income and Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) income.

    Brokerage income was $1.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $401,000, or 43.4%, compared to $924,000 for the previous quarter. The higher income in the first quarter of 2025 was due to increased investing activity by clients. Assets under management were $1.14 billion as of March 31, 2025.

    Equity securities are an investment in a Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) mutual fund consisting primarily of bonds. The gain or loss on equity securities is a fair value adjustment primarily driven by changes in the interest rate environment. Due to the fluctuations in market rates between quarters, equity securities had a gain of $44,000 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a loss of $91,000 for the previous quarter.

    Mortgage loan income totaled $530,000 for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $122,000, or 18.7%, compared to $652,000 for the previous quarter due to decreased purchase activity.

    SBIC income was $280,000 for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $66,000, or 19.1%, compared to $346,000 for the previous quarter. This decrease was primarily due to lower normal income received from these partnerships. We expect SBIC income to be lower in future quarters due to fund value fluctuations.

    Operating Expenses

    Operating expenses totaled $16.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $252,000, or 1.5%, compared to $16.8 million for the previous quarter. The decrease was mainly due to lower data processing expense and loan and deposit expense, partially offset by higher personnel expense.

    Data processing expense totaled $288,000 for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $393,000, or 57.7%, compared to $681,000 for the previous quarter. The decrease was attributable to receipt of a $447,000 periodic refund from our data processing center in the first quarter of 2025. This decrease was partially offset by new expenses and $14,000 of nonrecurring implementation fees related to online, mobile banking, and bill payment systems implemented in the first quarter of 2025.

    Loan and deposit expenses totaled $62,000 for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $272,000, or 81.4%, compared to $334,000 for the previous quarter. This decrease was primarily attributable to receipt of a $173,000 negotiated, variable rebate from a vendor in the first quarter of 2025.

    Personnel expenses totaled $10.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $254,000, or 2.6%, compared to the previous quarter. This increase was primarily due to an increase in head count, restarting of payroll tax expense, and increased revenue-based commission compensation. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, we had 375 and 369 total employees, respectively.

    Asset Overview

    As of March 31, 2025, assets were $3.19 billion, compared to assets of $3.15 billion as of December 31, 2024, an increase of $36.8 million, or 1.2%. In the first quarter, assets were mainly impacted by a $20.6 million, or 0.7%, increase in deposits. In the first quarter of 2024, liquid assets decreased $16.8 million, or 6.3%, to $252.2 million and averaged $275.9 million for the first quarter. As of March 31, 2025, we had sufficient liquid assets available and $1.66 billion accessible from other liquidity sources. The liquid assets to assets ratio was 7.91% as of March 31, 2025. Total securities increased $14.7 million, or 2.1%, to $699.5 million in the first quarter and were 22.0% of assets as of March 31, 2025. During the first quarter, loans HFI increased $39.7 million, or 1.9%, to $2.11 billion. The loans HFI to deposits ratio was 74.84% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 73.97% as of December 31, 2024.

    Securities

    Total securities as of March 31, 2025, were $699.5 million, an increase of $14.7 million, or 2.1%, from December 31, 2024. Securities increased mainly due to the purchase of new securities, combined with a smaller net unrealized loss on securities AFS.

    The estimated fair value of securities AFS totaled $566.9 million, net of $58.7 million of unrealized loss, as of March 31, 2025, compared to $550.1 million, net of $63.2 million of unrealized loss, as of December 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, the amortized cost of securities held-to-maturity (“HTM”) totaled $129.7 million compared to $131.8 million as of December 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, securities HTM had an unrealized loss of $21.8 million compared to $22.8 million as of December 31, 2024.

    As of March 31, 2025, equity securities, which is an investment in a CRA mutual fund consisting primarily of bonds, totaled $3.0 million compared to $2.9 million as of December 31, 2024.

    Loans

    Loans HFI as of March 31, 2025, were $2.11 billion, an increase of $39.7 million, or 1.9%, from $2.08 billion as of December 31, 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, we had steady new loan closing activity, combined with funding of loan construction commitments.

    Loans HFI by Category
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   Change from
    December 31, 2024 to
    March 31, 2025
    (dollars in thousands) Amount   Percent   Amount   Percent   $ Change   % Change
    Real estate:                      
    Commercial real estate $ 892,205   42.2 %   $ 884,641   42.6 %   $ 7,564     0.9 %
    One-to-four family residential   617,679   29.2 %     614,551   29.6 %     3,128     0.5 %
    Construction and development   175,575   8.3 %     155,229   7.5 %     20,346     13.1 %
    Commercial and industrial   339,115   16.0 %     327,086   15.8 %     12,029     3.7 %
    Tax-exempt   61,722   2.9 %     64,930   3.1 %     (3,208 )   (4.9 %)
    Consumer   28,446   1.4 %     28,576   1.4 %     (130 )   (0.5 %)
    Total loans HFI $ 2,114,742   100.0 %   $ 2,075,013   100.0 %   $ 39,729     1.9 %

    Commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans are collateralized by owner occupied and non-owner occupied properties mainly in Louisiana. Non-owner occupied office loans were $54.2 million, or 2.6% of loans HFI, as of March 31, 2025, and are primarily centered in low-rise suburban areas. The average CRE loan size was $970,000 as of March 31, 2025.

    Health care loans are our largest industry concentration and are made up of a diversified portfolio of health care providers. As of March 31, 2025, total health care loans were 8.0% of loans HFI. Within the health care sector, loans to nursing and residential care facilities were 4.2% of loans HFI, and loans to physician and dental practices were 3.4% of loans HFI. The average health care loan size was $370,000 as of March 31, 2025.

    Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses

    NPAs totaled $5.2 million as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $1.9 million, or 58.6%, from December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to a past due loan, partially offset by payoffs and charge-offs of nonaccrual loans. As of early April 2025, the past due loan was brought current by the customer, and NPAs were further reduced by receiving principal payments on two legacy nonaccrual loans. The ratio of NPAs to assets was 0.16% and 0.10% as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

    As of March 31, 2025, the ACL was $21.8 million. The ratio of ACL to loans HFI was 1.03% as of March 31, 2025 and 1.05% as of December 31, 2024. The net charge-offs to average loans ratio was 0.02% for the first quarter of 2025 and 0.01% for the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Deposits

    As of March 31, 2025, deposits were $2.83 billion, an increase of $20.6 million, or 0.7%, compared to December 31, 2024. Average deposits for the first quarter of 2025 were $2.82 billion, an increase of $36.2 million, or 1.3%, from the prior quarter. The following tables provide details on our deposit portfolio:

    Deposits by Account Type
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   Change from
    December 31, 2024 to
    March 31, 2025
    (dollars in thousands) Balance   % of Total   Balance   % of Total   $ Change   % Change
    Noninterest-bearing demand deposits $ 906,540   32.1 %   $ 866,496   30.9 %   $ 40,044     4.6 %
    Interest-bearing deposits:                      
    Interest-bearing demand deposits   147,343   5.2 %     154,720   5.5 %     (7,377 )   (4.8 %)
    NOW accounts   432,054   15.3 %     467,118   16.7 %     (35,064 )   (7.5 %)
    Money market accounts   569,613   20.2 %     556,769   19.8 %     12,844     2.3 %
    Savings accounts   175,239   6.2 %     169,894   6.1 %     5,345     3.1 %
    Time deposits less than or equal to $250,000   403,354   14.2 %     403,096   14.3 %     258     0.1 %
    Time deposits greater than $250,000   191,533   6.8 %     187,013   6.7 %     4,520     2.4 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits   1,919,136   67.9 %     1,938,610   69.1 %     (19,474 )   (1.0 %)
    Total deposits $ 2,825,676   100.0 %   $ 2,805,106   100.0 %   $ 20,570     0.7 %
    Deposits by Customer Type
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   Change from
    December 31, 2024 to
    March 31, 2025
    (dollars in thousands) Balance   % of Total   Balance   % of Total   $ Change   % Change
    Consumer $ 1,388,944   49.1 %   $ 1,362,740   48.6 %   $ 26,204     1.9 %
    Commercial   1,200,367   42.5 %     1,178,488   42.0 %     21,879     1.9 %
    Public   236,365   8.4 %     263,878   9.4 %     (27,513 )   (10.4 %)
    Total deposits $ 2,825,676   100.0 %   $ 2,805,106   100.0 %   $ 20,570     0.7 %

    The increase in deposits in the first quarter of 2025 was mainly due to higher balances in consumer and commercial customer deposit accounts, partially offset by the seasonal outflow of funds from public entity customers.

    The Bank has a granular, diverse deposit portfolio with customers in a variety of industries throughout Louisiana. As of March 31, 2025, the average deposit account size was approximately $28,000.

    As of March 31, 2025, our estimated uninsured deposits, which are the portion of deposit accounts that exceed the FDIC insurance limit (currently $250,000), were approximately $875.2 million, or 31.0% of total deposits. This amount was estimated based on the same methodologies and assumptions used for regulatory reporting purposes. Also, as of March 31, 2025, our estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized public entity deposits, were approximately $689.6 million, or 24.4% of total deposits. Our cash and cash equivalents of $252.2 million, combined with our available borrowing capacity of $1.66 billion, equaled 218.4% of our estimated uninsured deposits and 277.1% of our estimated uninsured deposits, excluding collateralized public entity deposits.

    Stockholders’ Equity

    Total stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2025, was $333.3 million compared to $319.7 million as of December 31, 2024. The $13.6 million, or 4.2%, increase in stockholders’ equity during the first quarter of 2025 was attributable to $10.4 million of net income, a $3.9 million, net of tax, market adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss related to securities, and $149,000 of stock compensation, partially offset by $813,000 in cash dividends related to a $0.12 per share cash dividend that we paid on March 20, 2025.

    Non-GAAP Disclosure

    Our accounting and reporting policies conform to United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the prevailing practices in the banking industry. Certain financial measures used by management to evaluate our operating performance are discussed as supplemental non-GAAP performance measures. In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules, we classify a financial measure as being a non-GAAP financial measure if that financial measure excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding or including amounts, that are included or excluded, as the case may be, in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time in the U.S.

    Management and the board of directors review tangible book value per share, tangible common equity to tangible assets, and realized book value per share as part of managing operating performance. However, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable or other financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the manner we calculate the non-GAAP financial measures that are discussed may differ from that of other companies’ reporting measures with similar names. It is important to understand how such other banking organizations calculate and name their financial measures similar to the non-GAAP financial measures discussed by us when comparing such non-GAAP financial measures.

    A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included within the following financial statement tables.

    About Red River Bancshares, Inc.

    Red River Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company for Red River Bank, a Louisiana state-chartered bank established in 1999 that provides a fully integrated suite of banking products and services tailored to the needs of our commercial and retail customers. Red River Bank operates from a network of 28 banking centers throughout Louisiana and one combined loan and deposit production office in New Orleans, Louisiana. Banking centers are located in the following Louisiana markets: Central, which includes the Alexandria metropolitan statistical area (“MSA”); Northwest, which includes the Shreveport-Bossier City MSA; Capital, which includes the Baton Rouge MSA; Southwest, which includes the Lake Charles MSA; the Northshore, which includes Covington; Acadiana, which includes the Lafayette MSA; and New Orleans.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this news release regarding our expectations and beliefs about our future financial performance and financial condition, as well as trends in our business, interest rates, and markets, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current information and on assumptions that we make about future events and circumstances that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond our control. As a result of those risks and uncertainties, our actual financial results in the future could differ, possibly materially, from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and could cause us to make changes to our future plans. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties to which our business and future financial performance are subject is contained in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in other documents that we file with the SEC from time to time. In addition, our actual financial results in the future may differ from those currently expected due to additional risks and uncertainties of which we are not currently aware or which we do not currently view as, but in the future may become, material to our business or operating results. Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or to make predictions based solely on historical financial performance. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements, express or implied, included in this news release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

    Contact:
    Isabel V. Carriere, CPA, CGMA
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Assistant Corporate Secretary
    318-561-4023
    icarriere@redriverbank.net

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)
     
        As of and for the
    Three Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Net Income   $ 10,352     $ 9,306     $ 8,188  
                 
    Per Common Share Data:            
    Earnings per share, basic   $ 1.53     $ 1.37     $ 1.16  
    Earnings per share, diluted   $ 1.52     $ 1.37     $ 1.16  
    Book value per share   $ 49.18     $ 47.18     $ 43.43  
    Tangible book value per share (1)   $ 48.95     $ 46.95     $ 43.20  
    Realized book value per share (1)   $ 57.49     $ 56.07     $ 52.52  
    Cash dividends per share   $ 0.12     $ 0.09     $ 0.09  
    Shares outstanding     6,777,657       6,777,238       6,892,448  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, basic     6,777,332       6,797,469       7,050,048  
    Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted     6,796,707       6,816,299       7,066,709  
                 
    Summary Performance Ratios:            
    Return on average assets     1.32 %     1.18 %     1.07 %
    Return on average equity     12.85 %     11.46 %     10.77 %
    Net interest margin     3.17 %     3.04 %     2.80 %
    Net interest margin FTE     3.22 %     3.09 %     2.83 %
    Efficiency ratio     55.51 %     58.71 %     60.37 %
    Loans HFI to deposits ratio     74.84 %     73.97 %     74.22 %
    Noninterest-bearing deposits to deposits ratio     32.08 %     30.89 %     32.61 %
    Noninterest income to average assets     0.67 %     0.63 %     0.64 %
    Operating expense to average assets     2.12 %     2.14 %     2.07 %
                 
    Summary Credit Quality Ratios:            
    NPAs to assets     0.16 %     0.10 %     0.08 %
    Nonperforming loans to loans HFI     0.24 %     0.16 %     0.12 %
    ACL to loans HFI     1.03 %     1.05 %     1.06 %
    Net charge-offs to average loans     0.02 %     0.01 %     0.00 %
                 
    Capital Ratios:            
    Stockholders’ equity to assets     10.46 %     10.15 %     9.74 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets(1)     10.42 %     10.11 %     9.69 %
    Total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets     18.25 %     18.13 %     17.84 %
    Tier I risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets     17.25 %     17.12 %     16.82 %
    Common equity Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets     17.25 %     17.12 %     16.82 %
    Tier I risk-based capital to average assets     12.01 %     11.86 %     11.44 %

    (1) Non-GAAP financial measure. Calculations of this measure and reconciliations to GAAP are included in the schedules accompanying this release.

    RED RIVER BANCSHARES, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
     
    (in thousands) March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    ASSETS                  
    Cash and due from banks $ 36,438     $ 30,558     $ 39,664     $ 35,035     $ 19,401  
    Interest-bearing deposits in other banks   215,717       238,417       192,983       178,038       210,404  
    Securities available-for-sale, at fair value   566,874       550,148       560,555       526,890       545,967  
    Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost   129,686       131,796       134,145       136,824       139,328  
    Equity securities, at fair value   2,981       2,937       3,028       2,921       2,934  
    Nonmarketable equity securities   2,349       2,328       2,305       2,283       2,261  
    Loans held for sale   2,178       2,547       1,805       3,878       1,653  
    Loans held for investment   2,114,742       2,075,013       2,056,048       2,047,890       2,038,072  
    Allowance for credit losses   (21,835 )     (21,731 )     (21,757 )     (21,627 )     (21,564 )
    Premises and equipment, net   59,034       59,441       57,661       57,910       57,539  
    Accrued interest receivable   10,553       10,048       9,465       9,570       9,995  
    Bank-owned life insurance   30,593       30,380       30,164       29,947       29,731  
    Intangible assets   1,546       1,546       1,546       1,546       1,546  
    Right-of-use assets   2,611       2,733       2,853       2,973       3,091  
    Other assets   32,965       33,433       31,285       34,450       32,940  
    Total Assets $ 3,186,432     $ 3,149,594     $ 3,101,750     $ 3,048,528     $ 3,073,298  
    LIABILITIES                  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 906,540     $ 866,496     $ 882,394     $ 892,942     $ 895,439  
    Interest-bearing deposits   1,919,136       1,938,610       1,864,731       1,823,704       1,850,452  
    Total Deposits   2,825,676       2,805,106       2,747,125       2,716,646       2,745,891  
    Accrued interest payable   6,463       7,583       11,751       8,747       8,959  
    Lease liabilities   2,739       2,864       2,982       3,100       3,215  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities   18,238       14,302       15,574       13,045       15,919  
    Total Liabilities   2,853,116       2,829,855       2,777,432       2,741,538       2,773,984  
    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES   —       —       —       —       —  
    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                  
    Preferred stock, no par value   —       —       —       —       —  
    Common stock, no par value   38,710       38,655       41,402       44,413       45,177  
    Additional paid-in capital   2,871       2,777       2,682       2,590       2,485  
    Retained earnings   348,093       338,554       329,858       321,719       314,352  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (56,358 )     (60,247 )     (49,624 )     (61,732 )     (62,700 )
    Total Stockholders’ Equity   333,316       319,739       324,318       306,990       299,314  
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 3,186,432     $ 3,149,594     $ 3,101,750     $ 3,048,528     $ 3,073,298  
    RED RIVER BANCSHARES, INC.  
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)  
                   
        For the Three Months Ended  
    (in thousands)   March 31,
    2025
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   March 31,
    2024
    		  
                           
    INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME              
    Interest and fees on loans   $ 28,270   $ 28,285     $ 25,893    
    Interest on securities     4,856     4,623       4,064    
    Interest on deposits in other banks     2,661     2,699       3,039    
    Dividends on stock     21     23       22    
    Total Interest and Dividend Income     35,808     35,630       33,018    
    INTEREST EXPENSE              
    Interest on deposits     11,198     11,943       11,655    
    Interest on other borrowed funds     —     —       —    
    Total Interest Expense     11,198     11,943       11,655    
    Net Interest Income     24,610     23,687       21,363    
    Provision for credit losses     450     300       300    
    Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses     24,160     23,387       21,063    
    NONINTEREST INCOME              
    Service charges on deposit accounts     1,383     1,452       1,368    
    Debit card income, net     992     960       1,022    
    Mortgage loan income     530     652       456    
    Brokerage income     1,325     924       987    
    Loan and deposit income     459     463       492    
    Bank-owned life insurance income     213     216       202    
    Gain (Loss) on equity securities     44     (91 )     (31 )  
    SBIC income     280     346       352    
    Other income (loss)     46     73       80    
    Total Noninterest Income     5,272     4,995       4,928    
    OPERATING EXPENSES              
    Personnel expenses     10,023     9,769       9,550    
    Occupancy and equipment expenses     1,794     1,716       1,616    
    Technology expenses     835     884       709    
    Advertising     333     313       337    
    Other business development expenses     558     486       475    
    Data processing expense     288     681       347    
    Other taxes     612     547       737    
    Loan and deposit expenses     62     334       (42 )  
    Legal and professional expenses     632     658       618    
    Regulatory assessment expenses     391     428       404    
    Other operating expenses     1,060     1,024       1,122    
    Total Operating Expenses     16,588     16,840       15,873    
    Income Before Income Tax Expense     12,844     11,542       10,118    
    Income tax expense     2,492     2,236       1,930    
    Net Income   $ 10,352   $ 9,306     $ 8,188    
    RED RIVER BANCSHARES, INC.
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN (UNAUDITED)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
    (dollars in thousands) Average Balance Outstanding   Interest
    Income/
    Expense    		   Average
    Yield/
    Rate    		   Average Balance Outstanding   Interest
    Income/
    Expense    		   Average
    Yield/
    Rate
    Assets                      
    Interest-earning assets:                      
    Loans(1,2) $ 2,089,712     $ 28,270   5.41 %   $ 2,072,858     $ 28,285   5.34 %
    Securities – taxable   559,752       3,871   2.77 %     555,622       3,636   2.62 %
    Securities – tax-exempt   189,729       985   2.08 %     190,470       987   2.07 %
    Interest-bearing deposits in other banks   243,751       2,661   4.37 %     225,660       2,699   4.74 %
    Nonmarketable equity securities   2,330       21   3.56 %     2,307       23   3.99 %
    Total interest-earning assets   3,085,274     $ 35,808   4.64 %     3,046,917     $ 35,630   4.60 %
    Allowance for credit losses   (21,789 )             (21,824 )        
    Noninterest-earning assets   107,295               109,992          
    Total assets $ 3,170,780             $ 3,135,085          
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                      
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
    Interest-bearing transaction deposits $ 1,341,885     $ 5,641   1.70 %   $ 1,263,775     $ 5,658   1.78 %
    Time deposits   592,368       5,557   3.80 %     599,910       6,285   4.17 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits   1,934,253       11,198   2.35 %     1,863,685       11,943   2.55 %
    Other borrowings   —       —   — %     —       —   — %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,934,253     $ 11,198   2.35 %     1,863,685     $ 11,943   2.55 %
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                      
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   884,484               918,804          
    Accrued interest and other liabilities   25,336               29,567          
    Total noninterest-bearing liabilities   909,820               948,371          
    Stockholders’ equity   326,707               323,029          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 3,170,780             $ 3,135,085          
    Net interest income     $ 24,610           $ 23,687    
    Net interest spread         2.29 %           2.05 %
    Net interest margin         3.17 %           3.04 %
    Net interest margin FTE(3)         3.22 %           3.09 %
    Cost of deposits         1.61 %           1.71 %
    Cost of funds         1.47 %           1.56 %

    (1) Includes average outstanding balances of loans held for sale of $2.6 million and $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
    (2) Nonaccrual loans are included as loans carrying a zero yield.
    (3) Net interest margin FTE includes an FTE adjustment using a 21.0% federal income tax rate on tax-exempt securities and tax-exempt loans.

    RED RIVER BANCSHARES, INC.
    NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN (UNAUDITED)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025   March 31, 2024
    (dollars in thousands) Average Balance Outstanding   Interest
    Income/
    Expense    		   Average
    Yield/
    Rate    		   Average Balance Outstanding   Interest
    Income/
    Expense    		   Average
    Yield/
    Rate
    Assets                      
    Interest-earning assets:                      
    Loans(1,2) $ 2,089,712     $ 28,270   5.41 %   $ 2,015,063     $ 25,893   5.09 %
    Securities – taxable   559,752       3,871   2.77 %     569,600       3,048   2.14 %
    Securities – tax-exempt   189,729       985   2.08 %     197,817       1,016   2.05 %
    Interest-bearing deposits in other banks   243,751       2,661   4.37 %     224,301       3,039   5.42 %
    Nonmarketable equity securities   2,330       21   3.56 %     2,240       22   3.95 %
    Total interest-earning assets   3,085,274     $ 35,808   4.64 %     3,009,021     $ 33,018   4.35 %
    Allowance for credit losses   (21,789 )             (21,402 )        
    Noninterest-earning assets   107,295               100,486          
    Total assets $ 3,170,780             $ 3,088,105          
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                      
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
    Interest-bearing transaction deposits $ 1,341,885     $ 5,641   1.70 %   $ 1,261,361     $ 5,680   1.81 %
    Time deposits   592,368       5,557   3.80 %     582,847       5,975   4.12 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits   1,934,253       11,198   2.35 %     1,844,208       11,655   2.54 %
    Other borrowings   —       —   — %     —       —   — %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,934,253     $ 11,198   2.35 %     1,844,208     $ 11,655   2.54 %
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                      
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   884,484               913,114          
    Accrued interest and other liabilities   25,336               25,055          
    Total noninterest-bearing liabilities   909,820               938,169          
    Stockholders’ equity   326,707               305,728          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 3,170,780             $ 3,088,105          
    Net interest income     $ 24,610           $ 21,363    
    Net interest spread         2.29 %           1.81 %
    Net interest margin         3.17 %           2.80 %
    Net interest margin FTE(3)         3.22 %           2.83 %
    Cost of deposits         1.61 %           1.70 %
    Cost of funds         1.47 %           1.56 %

    (1) Includes average outstanding balances of loans held for sale of $2.6 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
    (2) Nonaccrual loans are included as loans carrying a zero yield.
    (3) Net interest margin FTE includes an FTE adjustment using a 21.0% federal income tax rate on tax-exempt securities and tax-exempt loans.

    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)
     
    (dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Tangible common equity          
    Total stockholders’ equity $ 333,316     $ 319,739     $ 299,314  
    Adjustments:          
    Intangible assets   (1,546 )     (1,546 )     (1,546 )
    Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP) $ 331,770     $ 318,193     $ 297,768  
    Realized common equity          
    Total stockholders’ equity $ 333,316     $ 319,739     $ 299,314  
    Adjustments:          
    Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss   56,358       60,247       62,700  
    Total realized common equity (non-GAAP) $ 389,674     $ 379,986     $ 362,014  
    Common shares outstanding   6,777,657       6,777,238       6,892,448  
    Book value per share $ 49.18     $ 47.18     $ 43.43  
    Tangible book value per share (non-GAAP) $ 48.95     $ 46.95     $ 43.20  
    Realized book value per share (non-GAAP) $ 57.49     $ 56.07     $ 52.52  
               
    Tangible assets          
    Total assets $ 3,186,432     $ 3,149,594     $ 3,073,298  
    Adjustments:          
    Intangible assets   (1,546 )     (1,546 )     (1,546 )
    Total tangible assets (non-GAAP) $ 3,184,886     $ 3,148,048     $ 3,071,752  
    Total stockholders’ equity to assets   10.46 %     10.15 %     9.74 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)   10.42 %     10.11 %     9.69 %

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OSS Receives Record $6.5 Million Contract from a Leading Defense and Technology Solutions Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OSS to deliver 80 best-in-class high performance servers and field-programmable gate array systems designed for a mobile intelligence platform

    Record $6.5 million contract reflects the Company’s multi-year growth strategy that is focused on establishing production platform positions

    ESCONDIDO, Calif., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS or the Company) (Nasdaq: OSS), a leader in rugged Enterprise Class compute for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and sensor processing at the edge, today announced a $6.5 million contract from a leading defense and technology solutions company. OSS expects shipments to commence in 2025 and contribute to revenue throughout the year.

    Under the terms of the contract, OSS will deliver 80 high performance servers and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) systems engineered for mobile, tactical military environments. The platform will be built around the Company’s 3U SDS rugged servers and 4UP PCIe expansion systems. OSS’ equipment is a key element in a U.S. Department of Defense program that is collecting sensor information, providing users with AI generated real-time analysis, and storing the collected data, all in a tactical environment.

    The contract is the third program win over the past eight months with this customer, embedding the Company’s Enterprise Class compute and storage products deeper into next-generation U.S. Department of Defense initiatives.

    “OSS is pleased to have been selected by a leading defense and technology solutions company to support a new mobile intelligence platform. This record contract reflects the first large-scale success of our growth strategy, confirms we believe we are on track to achieve our guidance and is indicative of the growing demand for our Enterprise Class compute and storage products that are specifically designed to operate on the edge and in tactical military environments. Additional development and platform opportunities are underway with this customer, which we believe will support our sales growth in 2025 and beyond,” stated OSS President and CEO, Mike Knowles.

    About One Stop Systems
    One Stop Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSS) is a leader in AI enabled solutions for the demanding ‘edge’. OSS designs and manufactures Enterprise Class compute and storage products that enable rugged AI, sensor fusion and autonomous capabilities without compromise. These hardware and software platforms bring the latest data center performance to harsh and challenging applications, whether they are on land, sea or in the air.

    OSS products include ruggedized servers, compute accelerators, flash storage arrays, and storage acceleration software. These specialized compact products are used across multiple industries and applications, including autonomous trucking and farming, as well as aircraft, drones, ships and vehicles within the defense industry.

    OSS solutions address the entire AI workflow, from high-speed data acquisition to deep learning, training and large-scale inference, and have delivered many industry firsts for industrial OEM and government customers.

    As the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion-dollar edge computing market, AI enabled solutions require-and OSS delivers-the highest level of performance in the most challenging environments without compromise.

    OSS products are available directly or through global distributors. For more information, go to www.onestopsystems.com. You can also follow OSS on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    OSS cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by OSS or its partners that any of its plans or expectations will be achieved, including but not limited to the potential and/or the results of this contract, program or future programs with defense contractors and the U.S. Department of Defense, any potential or actual revenue derived from the agreements, the future adoption of technologies or applications, and the expansion of the Company’s offerings and/or relationship with different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    Media Contacts:
    Robert Kalebaugh
    One Stop Systems, Inc.
    Tel (858) 518-6154
    Email contact

    Investor Relations:
    Andrew Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    Tel (216) 464-6400
    Email contact

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ecora Resources PLC to Present at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference May 8th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ecora Resources (OTCQX: ECRAF), based in London, focused on critical minerals royalties and streams, today announced that Geoff Callow, Head of Investor Relations, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on May 8th.

    DATE: May 8th
    TIME: 10:00 AM ET
    LINK: https://bit.ly/4iG9fko

    Available for 1×1 meetings: May 6-9th, 12-13th, 2025

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    About Ecora Resources
    Ecora is a leading critical minerals focused royalty company.

    Our vision is to be globally recognised as the royalty company of choice synonymous with commodities that support trends of electrification by continuing to grow and diversify our royalty portfolio in line with our strategy. We will achieve this through building a diversified portfolio of scale over high quality assets that drives low volatility earnings growth and shareholder returns.

    The mining sector has an essential role to play in the energy transition, with commodities such as copper, nickel and cobalt – key materials for manufacturing batteries and electric vehicles. Copper also plays a critical role in our electricity grids. All these commodities are mined and there are not enough mines in operation today to supply the volume required to achieve the energy transition.

    Our strategy is to acquire royalties and streams over low-cost operations and projects with strong management teams, in well-established mining jurisdictions. Our portfolio has been reweighted to provide material exposure to this commodity basket and we have successfully transitioned from a coal orientated royalty business in 2014 to one that by 2026 will be materially coal free and comprised of over 90% exposure to commodities that support a sustainable future. The fundamental demand outlook for these commodities over the next decade is very strong, which should significantly increase the value of our royalty portfolio.

    Ecora’s shares are listed on the London and Toronto Stock Exchanges (ECOR) and trade on the OTCQX Best Market (OTCQX: ECRAF).

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®

    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:
    Ecora Resources PLC
    Geoff Callow
    Head of IR
    Callow@ecora-resources.com

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Sugar Baby Websites and Apps: Top Sugar Daddy Sites For Sugar Dating in 2025 By Sugar Daddy Meet

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Vaughan,Ontario, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Understanding Sugar Dating in 2025

    We have seen so many aspects of life evolve with respect to technology, innovations, and all it aligns with the modern world today. And this has also applied in the world of finding love, companionship, or dating. Traditional dating scenes have also evolved with more people turning towards finding connections That align with their respective lifestyles, personal goals, and expectations. We are trying to talk about sugar dating, it has gained popularity over the last one decade and has become the alternative to finding a very unique relationship dynamic that focuses on emotional support, mutual understanding, financial assistance along with companionship. 

    ⇒ Join the Best Sugar Daddy Website for Free!

    The most fundamental approach of sugar dating is a consensual agreement between two individuals or adults; typically, a sugar baby is one who is considered to be younger and is seeking gifts, membership, or financial stability, whereas a sugar daddy is one who might offer these resources to the sugar baby in exchange of emotional connection, and companionship.

    What Is a Sugar Baby Website?

    It is a very non-traditional dynamic in the world of dating. Sugar dating is simply when one person dons the role of a sugar baby who is often the younger one with someone who is referred to as a sugar daddy or a sugar mommy who is often the elder one, and they are in a relationship in exchange for financial support, experiences, gifts.

    Flirt Smarter. Join SugarDaddyMeet Now – It’s Free to Start!

    How sugar dating platforms work?

    Unlike the normal dating applications, a sugar baby dating website or apps are built using unique tools to harness honest conversations. Several unique features such as identity checks, income verification, and arrangement based filtration help the users connect with their compatible matches with common relationship values. And in this world where cheating and deceit is so common, finding a sugar baby site that is not just about aesthetics or use of friendliness but also about safety and success rates is very crucial. Especially if you are someone who is just entering the world of sugar, baby dating, then finding a supportive digital experience can make a lot of difference.

    Who are sugar babies and sugar daddies?

    Sugar baby: The very meaning of sugar baby translates to a mutual benefit. A sugar baby is someone who tends to value mentorship, support, and financial security for exchange of intimacy, companionship, or emotional support. All of these dynamics are discussed, beforehand and agreed upon, which makes the whole experience empowering and not exploitative. Sugar babies tend to be younger men and women, including students or people in their earlier careers who really seek financial support from their dating arrangements.

    Sugar daddy: A sugar daddy is considered to be the person who is older, financially sound individual, who loves providing financial support, lifestyle, benefits, or gifts to their younger companion, known by the name of sugar, baby.the arrangement between a sugar daddy and a sugar baby is built purely on mutual understanding where both of the parties come to agreement of certain terms of the relationship, it could be mentorship, companionship, financial support, or emotional support.

    Don’t Chase. Attract. Join SugarDaddyMeet & Let Him Find You.

    Things to Look for in a Good Sugar Baby Website

    If you are someone who has just entered the world of sugar dating, then finding a good sugar baby website can be both empowering and exciting. These platforms have enabled opportunities for connections that are mutually beneficial, where transparency as well as consent play a vital role. However, we need to keep in mind that not every interaction can be ideal and some can be dangerous. Therefore, identifying the red flags especially on the platform where you are trying to find a sugar baby or a daddy is very crucial. Sure are a couple of things you might want to look out for while finding a good sugar baby website for yourself:

    • Safety and privacy features: it is crucial to find sugar baby websites that are of high-quality, which offer features such as control over the privacy of profile, offer encryption of messages, and come with inbuilt fraud prevention systems.
    • Verification process: user verification is the ultimate necessity when it comes to sugar baby or sugar daddy. To prevent fake profiles from registering on the website and to prevent falling prey to any scam which could potentially create safety concerns, the best sugar baby websites, verify their users through government ID checks, phone, confirmation, or photo verification.
    • Member quality (real vs fake profiles): a good sugar baby website will provide transparent intentions to its users. Such platforms support open dialogues wherein the individual from both the sites can voice out their expectations, goals, and arrangements. This helps distinguish between real profiles versus fake profiles.
    • Costs and premium features: every sugar baby website comes with its own set of unique features, and some of its primary features might come at a cost. Therefore, it is essential for you to hunt for a sugar baby website that fits your budget and alliance with every feature that you are looking out for.
    • Ease of use (mobile apps, design): an intuitive and clean design of a sugar baby website will help its users Stay more focused on meaningful communication to find their perfect sugar daddy or sugar baby to enjoy sugar dating.

    Be Bold. Be Desired. Be Spoiled. Join SugarDaddyMeet Today.

    How to Find a Sugar Daddy (The Fun + Flirty Way )

    Looking for a sugar daddy who’s generous, charming, and knows how to spoil you? You’re not alone, babe—and yes, he’s out there. Finding him isn’t about chasing—it’s about attracting. And with a little confidence and sparkle, you can have him wrapped around your finger (Rolex optional ).

    First things first: choose the right playground. Apps like SugarDaddyMeet.com are full of upscale, successful men who are ready to invest in a connection that’s as exciting as it is mutually rewarding. No more guessing games—just real men with real intentions.

    Dress your profile to impress. Flirty but classy pics, a fun and confident bio, and a hint of what makes you irresistible. Show your charm, wit, and ambition. Remember: sugar daddies love confidence and a little sass.

    When you chat, keep it light, playful, and polished. Flirt with finesse. Ask about his passions, tease him a little, and show you’re not just pretty—you’ve got presence.

    And don’t forget, sugar—it’s your world. Set your boundaries, know your worth, and only say yes to someone who makes you feel like the main character.

    Because you’re not just looking for a sugar daddy—you’re looking for your upgrade.

    Best Sugar Baby Website and App

    SugarDaddyMeet.com

    When it comes to dating and building meaningful connections, trust is important — but sometimes, it’s the little extras that make all the difference. SugarDaddyMeet.com creates a space where people can form mutually rewarding relationships without worrying about social stigma, especially when age is a factor.

    For women interested in meeting successful, generous partners, the site opens the door to connecting with confident, well-established men. Meanwhile, men in search of elegance and charm can discover genuine connections with attractive, engaging women.
    If you’re looking to explore relationships based on mutual benefit, respect, and understanding — without judgment — this platform offers a welcoming environment for just that. This platform has been around for nearly two decades and continues to perform reliably. With a user base that has grown to over 2 million people, it’s clear that many still trust and actively use the service. 
    That kind of ongoing popularity speaks volumes about its quality and consistency.

    Key Features

    Primary features of sugar daddy include:

    • Emphasising customer support: Sugardaddymeet.com gives excellent customer support to all of its members. The support team is available always to assist its users with any questions or concerns they might have using the platform. The team is efficient and well trained in handling all types of user queries. The sugardaddymeet.com platform also provides priority customer support for premium members, ensuring that their queries get priority, attention and are solved swiftly.
    • Secret photos and videos: The Sugardaddymeet.com website provides all of its members with several unique functionalities and features that immensely enhance the users online dating experience. Once such feature has to be the incredible ability to view hidden videos and photos of a particular particular user’s match. it grants them exclusive media and details, understanding the particular match’s likes, dislikes, interest, and personalities.
    • Higher search in rankings: The Sugardaddymeet.com platform offers its users, options of purchasing credit bundles, which can be unlocked to enjoy an array of premium benefits and features, including the ability to increase one’s ranking on the website. With the help of these credit bundles the users can improvise their visibility when a potential match Looks for similar interest. This feature helps users to stand out and create a strong impression on the platform.
    • Conversation starters: The Sugardaddymeet.com platform has a very distinctive system of credit which allows its users to begin conversations by using credits in multiples of tens and unlocking them in a permanent manner. This allows users to revisit conversations with their potential matching individuals without having to pay for an entire month’s subscription as in the case of other platforms. This approach has been celebrated as a very unique feature.
    • The swipe and match method: this matching game on the sugardaddymeet.com platform is very engaging and follows. A straightforward approach where the users are presented with potential profiles or pictures of sugar, daddies or sugar babies and asked if they are interested. Members can swipe right if they find the profile interesting and if they do not want to go forward with it, all they have to do is swipe left. When two users swipe right on each other’s profile, that is considered a match.

    Ready to Be Pampered? Create Your Free Profile Now.

    Pros of using Sugardaddymeet.com platform

    • Active user base: the platform has several users who live in nearby areas, this increases the likelihood of finding a suitable match which is practical.
    • User friendly interface: The platform is very easy for users to navigate and comes in an attractive design and rich functionality.
    • Successful dates in a short span of time: The platform is efficient in helping its users go on real time dates within a small time frame.
    • Comprehensive filter and search options: the platform comes with an advanced search functionality that allows its users to do filtering of potential matches in a precise manner. This makes it easier to find ideal partners quickly.
    • Privacy protection: site gives utmost importance on its users privacy by providing options to hide profiles completely or in a selective manner.
    • 24/7 live support: the customer support is available round the clock to its users to solve any issue that they might face.
    • Robust verification for credibility: several verification methods are conducted on its users, such as email, photo, and phone validations to ensure an authentic and safe dating environment.

    Cons of using sugardaddymeet.com platform

    • Unfamiliar features: the sugardaddymeet.com platform offers so many features that some users might get overwhelmed and will have difficulty in understanding how to explore it or might take time.
    • Cost of sugar babies: unlike other sugar daddy websites that charge only for sugar daddy and not for sugar babies, the sugardaddymeet.com platform charges both parties which might be a drawback.

    Who it’s best for: well, the answer to this can be limitless, but the sugardaddymeet.com platform is best for those who are on a lookout for a transparent dating relationship with common understanding. It is for the younger ones who seek financial support along with a relationship. It is also for those older ones who are longing to feel young again, but do not want to jump into relationships.

    Join the Elite Circle of Sugar Babies – Your Dream Sugar Daddy Awaits!

    Sugar Daddy Meet Customer Reviews 

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Alina M. Toronto, Canada
    I never imagined a dating site could lead to something this magical. I met Daniel here—a thoughtful, successful gentleman who sees me for who I am, not just how I look. From candlelit dinners in Yorkville to weekend getaways in the Rockies, our connection keeps deepening. SugarDaddyMeet made it feel effortless to find someone who values both luxury and genuine affection.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Luca R. Milan, Italy
    As a busy entrepreneur, I didn’t have time to play games. SugarDaddyMeet introduced me to Sofia, a kind and ambitious woman with elegance and heart. We share more than just lavish tastes—we share values. Whether we’re sipping Barolo on the lake or talking till sunrise, she brings out the best in me. It’s not just dating, it’s an experience of romance on a whole new level.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Chloe W. Sydney, Australia
    When I joined, I hoped for someone mature and sincere—and that’s exactly what I found. Mark is everything I didn’t know I needed: generous with both his time and heart. From sunrise walks on Bondi Beach to private dinners overlooking the harbor, every moment feels like a chapter in a love story. SugarDaddyMeet gave me the fairytale I thought only existed in movies.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Noah J. New York City, USA
    I was searching for more than just beauty—I wanted substance wrapped in elegance. SugarDaddyMeet helped me find Ana, a smart, stylish woman with a soft heart. Our weekends in the Hamptons, shared laughter, and romantic strolls in Central Park made me believe in real, grown-up love again. This site doesn’t just match profiles—it connects soulmates.

    Don’t Wait for Him to Find You – Take Control and Join SugarDaddyMeet!

    Free vs Paid Sugar Baby Sites: Which Is Better?

    • A lot of doubts and questions pop-up for this and we are here to tell you that most of the sugar daddy websites allow users to join for free, but for the best experience a premium membership is required. It means that you will be able to set your profile and browse on the platform for free, but you might need to pay in order to send messages, unlock certain premium features, and also see as to who has viewed your profile. 
    • For the safest and most practical experience, we recommend opting for premium membership because this will ensure that you have access to premium features which helps you understand your match better and communicate without any hindrance.

    How to Stay Safe While Using Sugar Baby Apps

    • Safety must be regarded as the most important part of using a sugar daddy website. So if you’re someone who are new to the same or have been a part of such dating websites for a while, it is very important for you to understand how to protect yourself online. And it is vital for both sugar, daddies and sugar babies to spot the red flax and follow smart and effective safety habits right from the beginning.
    • Always remember to opt for public venues for your first meeting such as cafes or restaurants. It is best to avoid private residences or secluded locations for safety purposes. If possible, inform a trusted family member of Friend about your meeting whereabouts.
    •  Discuss expectations clearly as honest discussions about what is expected mutually with your such as the frequency of meetings, financial support, and boundaries. This will ensure that both of you are on the same page.

    ⇒ Join a Top-Rated Sugar Daddy Website Today

    Sugar Dating vs. Traditional Dating: What’s the Real Difference?

    When it comes to relationships, one size doesn’t fit all. Sugar dating and traditional dating offer very different experiences—and understanding those differences can help you choose the path that truly suits your lifestyle and values.

    Traditional dating often revolves around trial and error. It can mean endless swiping, unclear intentions, and investing time in people who may not share your goals. It’s romantic, yes—but sometimes frustratingly vague. You might go on several dates before figuring out if someone wants commitment, fun, or simply attention.

    Sugar dating, on the other hand, is refreshingly direct. Both sugar babies and sugar daddies (or mommies) are upfront about what they’re looking for—whether that’s companionship, mentorship, emotional connection, or financial support. There’s no pretending. Expectations are clear, and relationships are built on mutual benefit and respect.

    In sugar dating, luxury and lifestyle aren’t side perks—they’re part of the equation. It’s dating with clarity, class, and a little extra sparkle. While traditional dating often hopes to grow into something meaningful, sugar dating begins with intention and purpose.

    So if you’re tired of mixed signals and ready for a relationship that reflects your worth, sugar dating may just be the upgrade you’ve been looking for.

    ✨ Your Perfect Sugar Daddy is Waiting – Create Your Free Profile Now!

    Tips for Creating a Successful Sugar Baby Profile

    • Choosing the right photos: Posting a mix of photos and videos helps others get a clearer sense of who you are. This kind of visual insight often draws more attention to your profile and can boost the likelihood of someone reaching out to connection
    • Writing an attractive bio: providing comprehensive information. While you are registering on the platform, helps the system accurately match you with a suitable candidate. You can include everything in the bio right from why you are seeking out for a match, what are your expectations, and what you can contribute as a partner to an individual. All these will help in highlighting your profile to a potential match.
    • Messaging tips: before starting a conversation, take some time to review the profile to understand common hobbies and interests. This will help you start a more engaging conversation.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Is it legal to be a sugar baby?
    It is completely fine to be a sugar baby as long as the relationship is consensual and nothing illegal is undertaken in the arrangement.

    How much allowance do sugar babies usually get?
    This varies depending on location and relationship but according to the platform, most of the sugar babies receive anywhere between $2500-$5000 per month. Certain allowances are non-monetary such as vacations, tuition assistance, shopping spree, and so on.

    Are there sugar baby sites without upfront payment?
    Yes, there are several websites that offer free or free – trial memberships, which do not require any payment.

    What’s the best sugar baby app for beginners?
    We would highly recommend sugardaddymeet.com platform as it is safe, trusted, and comes with good user reviews.

    Is Sugar Dating Right for You as a Sugar Baby?

    Are you a woman who knows what she wants—and isn’t afraid to ask for it? If you dream of rooftop dinners, designer gifts, and deep conversations with someone who appreciates your beauty and brains, sugar dating might just be your perfect match.

    Being a sugar baby isn’t about gold digging—it’s about goal setting. Whether you’re building your career, funding your education, or simply love the finer things in life, sugar dating connects you with successful, sophisticated partners who get it. Think mentorship over meaningless swiping, and luxury over late-night “wyd” texts.

    Sugar dating is for the bold, the confident, and the classy. It’s for women who value their time and expect the same in return. It’s about mutual respect, clear expectations, and—let’s be honest—a little bit of sparkle.

    Of course, this lifestyle comes with responsibilities: setting boundaries, knowing your worth, and owning your power. But if you’re ready to step into a world where affection and ambition go hand in hand, sugar dating might be more than right for you—it might be your glow-up moment.

    Final Thoughts: Finding the Best Sugar Dating Site for You

    Sugar Daddy Meet stands out as a go-to platform for those exploring sugar dating, thanks to its simple, easy-to-use layout that makes finding local connections straightforward. While there’s room for improvement — like the addition of live customer chat — the site still offers a solid experience. Navigation is smooth, the links and features are clearly laid out, and the support team is responsive when needed.

    Getting started is quick, and the search tools are surprisingly effective, making it a good fit whether you’re new to this scene or have some experience. Many users describe it as a safe and dependable space where age-gap relationships are welcomed without judgment. For those seeking genuine arrangements without the hassle, Sugar Daddy Meet can be a refreshing change of pace. Some users have also claimed that they found real connection through these platforms who value their sense of living life without any thread attached. And that these connections have lasted for a long duration of time as the platform encourages one to express their expectations in the most honest way.

    Project name: SugarDaddyMeet.com
    10 – 8707 Dufferin St,
    Suite 160 Vaughan,
    Ontario L4J 0A6
    Canada
    Company website: https://www.sugardaddymeet.com/
    email: support@SugarDaddyMeet.com
    Content Accuracy Disclaimer
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung TV Plus Scores Big as It Becomes a Top Destination for Sports Fans

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung TV Plus has expanded its industry-leading sports offering and now gives fans live access to select local and national games from top sports leagues and governing bodies, delivering extensive sports coverage. During the 2024-25 season, fans in Southern California were the first to experience Victory+ Anaheim, an exclusive FAST channel featuring live, local Anaheim Ducks games, and fans will soon be able to tune into the upcoming 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. As Samsung TV Plus expands its regional lineup to bring subscription-free hometown action front and center, Dallas Stars fans will be able to enjoy live games for the 2025-26 season on a new Victory+ Dallas channel that will premiere on the service later this year.
    On a national level, Samsung TV Plus has also added NASCAR, featuring original programming and continuous race coverage, as well as The Roku Sports Channel, which will broadcast live MLB games, Formula E races, X games, among others.
    With the launch of these new channels, and more exciting additions on the horizon this year, Samsung TV Plus further cements its position as the leading destination for sports fans to watch live games, extensive archives, and legendary replays with coverage across major sports leagues such as NFL, NHL, and MLB, as well as UFC, PGA TOUR, Formula 1, and FIFA.
    “We’re tearing down the paywalls that have kept fans from the sports they love,” said Salek Brodsky, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Samsung TV Plus. “By teaming up with top leagues and bringing live games and iconic moments to our platform, we’re giving every fan a front-row seat.”
    New sports channels include:
    Victory+ Anaheim: Local viewers can stream live Anaheim Ducks games, along with additional sports entertainment including highlights, recaps, and epic match-ups that bring fans closer to the action.
    Victory+ Dallas: Local viewers can stream live Dallas Stars games, along with additional sports entertainment including highlights, recaps, and epic match-ups that bring fans closer to the action.
    Roku Sports Channel: Catch everything from live MLB games to Formula E races to X Games, among others. Plus, stream daily sports talk from Rich Eisen and Good Morning Football: Overtime.
    NASCAR: Watch the latest news from around the sport, original programming, and race replays.
    PBR RidePass: Live and on-demand action from the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast Tour, PBR Team Series, Ultimate Bull Fighting, rodeo and other western sports events, plus original series and news.
    These five new channels join the over 50 that are already streaming on Samsung TV Plus today. Highlights below:
    Sports Leagues:
    NFL Channel: 24/7, always-on access to NFL content featuring Game Center on live game days, with real-time scoring updates, stats, highlights and more, as well as NFL Game Replays, Original Shows, Emmy-Award winning series and more.
    MLB: Brings the best of baseball coverage, allowing viewers to enjoy the MLB FAST channel with daily programming and features covering the latest baseball highlights, MLB and MiLB game replays, original shows, documentaries, and more!
    FIFA+: Brings fans into the heart of football with the iconic World Cup Archive, Live football from around the globe and documentaries bring the stories behind the beautiful game. Go behind the scenes with spotlights on global stars, fans and influencers and relive iconic football moments with full match replays from past FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.
    Formula 1 Channel: The ultimate destination for fans to catch up on all the action from F1, F2, F3 and F1 Academy races throughout the season, including analysis, replays and documentaries.
    PGA TOUR: Delivers total coverage on all things PGA TOUR, with behind-the-scenes programming, documentaries, tournament recaps, highlights, competitions, and more.
    UFC: Delivers nonstop combat sports action—from historic title clashes to highlight-reel knockouts—featuring iconic athletes, rivalries, and moments from the world’s premier MMA organization.
    Live Sports:
    ION: Returning in May, the State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight showcases marquee games from across the league throughout the regular season. ION also features National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action, and this fall, debuts the biennial SI Women’s Games all-star competition and the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off women’s college basketball tournament.
    Tennis Channel 2: Tennis Channel’s second network, airing select live tournament coverage from both the women’s and men’s professional tours. The network also features original series and unique storylines & interviews from shows like Second Serve.
    Women’s Sports Network: The new home for women’s sports featuring exclusive live volleyball matches, breaking news, and inspiring stories across all sports. The best leagues. The best athletes. The best of Women’s Sports all in one place. Featuring our studio show GAME ON, live game action, signature originals, countdowns, highlights and more.
    PickleballTV: A 24-hour streaming network covering 1,000+ hours of live tournament matches features the game’s top professionals & biggest stars.  PBTV also includes first-class instruction, lifestyle shows and pickleball news.
    Sports Talk & Highlights:
    CBS Sports HQ: A 24/7 sports network delivering everything that matters most to sports fans. With nonstop breaking news, highlights, instant reactions, picks and more, CBS Sports HQ is your ultimate sports destination.
    FOX Sports: Stream the best moments from FS1weekday studio shows, gripping documentaries and captivating podcasts, featuring well-known FOX Sports talent and media personalities.
    NBC Sports NOW: Offers daily sports talk, live events and highlights. Watch Dan Patrick, Mike Florio, Dan Le Batard, Matthew Berry and Chris Simms cover the biggest stories on and off the field. And this month, NBC Sports NOW went big with 113 hours of original NFL Draft content.
    DraftKings Network: “The Action Spot”. Built for passionate fans and bettors, DraftKings Network is the one spot to get all-in on NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL & more sports content and celebrate the thrill of action.
    FanDuel TV Extra: Your new home for live sports and professional poker action. Watch live horse racing, international basketball, soccer, darts, and much more. Make every moment more with FanDuel!
    For a full list of the Sports lineup, visit samsungtvplus.com.
    How to Watch
    Samsung TV Plus offers the best of TV – and is available exclusively across the Samsung TV, Galaxy, Smart Monitor, and Family Hub lineups. This includes the Samsung Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, OLED, and The Frame, which are designed with advanced AI that can upscale your favorite shows and movies on Samsung TV Plus into stunning 4K and 8K quality.
    About Samsung TV Plus
    Samsung TV Plus is a premium global entertainment service and is the most used streaming app on Samsung Smart TVs. As a leader in FAST, Samsung TV Plus offers hundreds of channels and thousands of shows and movies on-demand in the U.S. Globally, the streaming service carries over 3,500 ad-supported linear channels in 30 countries and is accessible on over 630M active devices. Samsung TV Plus is the exclusive home of Conan O’Brien TV, Letterman TV, and hundreds of additional exclusive channels available worldwide. Samsung TV Plus is available on Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices, Samsung Smart Monitor, and Family Hub. To learn more, visit samsungtvplus.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In the $250B influencer industry, being a hater can be the only way to rein in bad behavior

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jessica Maddox, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Creative Media, University of Alabama

    Influencer Alix Earle, a self-described ‘hot mess,’ has legions of online haters. Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Revolve

    Since 2020, content creator Remi Bader had accumulated millions of TikTok followers by offering her opinions on the fits of popular clothing brands as a plus-size woman.

    In 2023, however, Bader appeared noticeably thinner. When some fans asked her whether she’d undergone a procedure, she blocked them. Later that year, she announced that she would no longer be posting about her body.

    Enter snark subreddits. On Reddit, these forums exist for the sole purpose of calling out internet celebrities, whether they’re devoted to dinging the late-night antics of self-described “hot mess” Alix Earle or venting over Savannah and Cole LaBrant, a family vlogging couple who misleadingly implied that their daughter had cancer.

    While the internet is synonymous with fan culture, snark subreddits aren’t for enthusiasts. Instead, snarkers are anti-fans who hone the art of hating.

    Remi Bader attends New York Fashion Week on Feb. 10, 2025.
    Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tory Burch

    After Bader’s refusal to talk about her weight loss, the Remi Bader snark subreddit blew up. Posters weren’t upset that Bader had lost weight or had stopped posting about her body size. Instead, they believed Bader the influencer, who’d built her brand on plus-size inclusion in fashion, wasn’t being straight with her fans and needed to be taken to account.

    It worked. During a March 2025 appearance on Khloe Kardashian’s podcast, Bader finally revealed that she had, in fact, had weight-loss surgery.

    Some critics see snarkers as a big problem and understandably denounce their tendency to harass, body shame and try to cancel influencers.

    But completely dismissing snark glosses over the fact that it can serve a purpose. In our work as social media researchers, we’ve written about how snark can actually be thought of as a way to call out bad actors in the largely unregulated world of influencing and content creation.

    Grassroots policing

    Before there were influencers, there were bloggers. While bloggers covered topics that ranged from entertainment to politics to travel, parenting and fashion bloggers probably have the closest connection to today’s influencers.

    After Google introduced AdSense in 2003, bloggers were easily able to run advertising on their websites. Then brands saw an opportunity. Parenting and fashion bloggers had large, loyal followings. Many readers felt an intimate connection to their favorite bloggers, who seemed more like friends than out-of-touch celebrity spokespersons.

    Brands realized they could send bloggers their products in exchange for a write-up or a feature. Furthermore, advertisers understood that parenting and fashion bloggers didn’t have to adhere to the same industry regulations or code of ethics as most news media outlets, such as disclosing payments or conflicts of interest.

    This changed the dynamic between bloggers and their fans, who wondered whether bloggers could be trusted if they were sometimes being paid to promote certain products.

    In response, websites emerged in 2009 to critique bloggers. “Get Off My Internets,” for example, fashioned itself as a “quality control watchdog” to provide constructive criticism and call out deceptive practices. As Instagram and YouTube became more popular, the subreddit “r/Blogsnark” launched in 2015 to critique early influencers, in addition to bloggers.

    Few guardrails in place

    Today the influencer industry has a valuation of over US$250 billion in the U.S. alone, and it’s on track to be worth over $500 billion by 2027.

    Yet there are few regulations in place for influencers. A few laws have emerged to protect child influencers, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has established legal guidelines for sponsored content.

    That said, the influencing industry remains rife with exploitation.

    It goes both ways: Corporations can exploit influencers. For example, a 2021 study found that Black influencers receive below-market offers compared with white influencers.

    Savannah and Cole LaBrant came under fire for implying that their daughter had cancer, in what their critics called a ploy for attention.
    Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for Lionsgate

    Likewise, influencers can deceive or exploit their followers. They might use unrealistic body filters to appear thinner than they are. They could hide who’s paying them. They may promote health misinformation such as the controversial ParaGuard cleanse, a fake treatment pushed by wellness influencers that claimed to rid its users of parasites.

    Or, in the case of Remi Bader, they might gain a huge following by promoting body positivity, only to conceal a weight-loss procedure from their fans.

    For disappointed fans or followers who feel burned, snark can seem like the only regulatory guardrail in an industry that has gone largely unchecked. Think of snark as a Better Business Bureau for the untamable world of influencing – a form of accountability that brings attention to the scammers and hustlers.

    Keeping it real

    Todays’s snark exists at the intersection of gossip and cancel culture.

    Though cancel culture certainly has its faults, we approach cancel culture in our writing as a worthy tool that allows audiences to hold the powerful accountable. For example, communities of color have joined forces to call out racists, as they did in 2024 when they exposed lifestyle influencer Brooke Schofield’s anti-Black tweets.

    Influencers build trust with their audiences based on being “real” and relatable. But there’s nothing preventing them from breaking that trust, and snarkers can swoop in to point out bad behavior or hypocrisy.

    Within the competitive world of family vlogging, snarkers see themselves as doing more than stirring the pot. They’re truth-tellers who bring injustices to light, such as abuse and child labor exploitation. Some of this exposure is paying off, with more and more states introducing and passing family vlogger laws that require children to one day receive a portion of their parents’ earnings or restrict how often children can appear in their parents’ videos.

    Yes, snark can veer into cyberbullying. But that shouldn’t discount its value as a tool for transparency. Influencers are ultimately brands. They sell audiences ideas, lifestyles and products.

    When people feel as if they’ve been misled, we think they have every right to call it out.

    Jess Rauchberg receives funding from Microsoft Research.

    Jessica Maddox 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. In the $250B influencer industry, being a hater can be the only way to rein in bad behavior – https://theconversation.com/in-the-250b-influencer-industry-being-a-hater-can-be-the-only-way-to-rein-in-bad-behavior-253010

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gross Domestic Product, 1st Quarter 2025 (Advance Estimate)

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025 (January, February, and March), according to the advance estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2024, real GDP increased 2.4 percent.

    The decrease in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected an increase in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, and a decrease in government spending. These movements were partly offset by increases in investment, consumer spending, and exports. For more information, refer to the “Technical Notes” below.

    Compared to the fourth quarter, the downturn in real GDP in the first quarter reflected an upturn in imports, a deceleration in consumer spending, and a downturn in government spending that were partly offset by upturns in investment and exports.

    Real final sales to private domestic purchasers, the sum of consumer spending and gross private fixed investment, increased 3.0 percent in the first quarter, compared with an increase of 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter.

    The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 3.4 percent in the first quarter, compared with an increase of 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 3.6 percent, compared with an increase of 2.4 percent. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 3.5 percent, compared with an increase of 2.6 percent.

    Real GDP and Related Measures
    (Percent change from Q3 to Q4)
      Advance Estimate
    Real GDP -0.3
    Current-dollar GDP 3.5
    Real final sales to private domestic purchasers 3.0
    Gross domestic purchases price index 3.4
    PCE price index 3.6
    PCE price index excluding food and energy 3.5
    For definitions, statistical conventions, updates to GDP, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Next release:
    May 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    Gross Domestic Product (Second Estimate),
    Corporate Profits (Preliminary Estimate),
    1st Quarter 2025

    Technical Notes

    Sources of change for real GDP

    Real GDP decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent (less than 0.1 percent at a quarterly rate1) in the first quarter, primarily reflecting an increase in imports and a decrease in government spending that were partly offset by increases in investment, consumer spending, and exports.

    • Exports and imports primarily reflected Census-BEA U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services data as well as the Census Advance Economic Indicators Report for March.
      • Within imports, the increase primarily reflected an increase in imported goods, led by consumer goods, except food and automotive (mainly medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical preparations, including vitamins); and by capital goods, except automotive (mainly computers, peripherals, and parts).
      • Within imports of industrial supplies and materials in the National Economic Accounts (NEAs), BEA identified and removed an increase in imports of silver bars as a form of investment in the first quarter. Similar to nonmonetary gold, silver can be used for two purposes: for industrial use (as an input into the production of goods and services) and for investment (as a store of wealth and a hedge against inflation). BEA’s NEAs do not treat transactions in valuables, such as nonmonetary gold and silver, as investments and therefore purchases of metals as a form of investment are not included in consumer spending, gross private domestic investment, or government spending. For more information, refer to “How are exports and imports of nonmonetary gold treated in BEA’s National Economic Accounts?”.
    • The decrease in government spending reflected a decrease in federal government spending (led by defense consumption expenditures) that was partly offset by an increase in state and local government spending (led by compensation of employees).
    • The largest contributor to the increase in investment was private inventory investment, led by an increase in wholesale trade (notably, drugs and sundries). The estimates of private inventory investment were based primarily on Census Bureau inventory book value data and a BEA adjustment in March to account for a notable increase in imports. For more information on the source data and BEA assumptions for inventories, refer to the key source data and assumptions table (available at 10 a.m.).
    • The increase in consumer spending reflected increases in both services and goods. Within services, increases were widespread, led by spending on health care as well as housing and utilities. Within goods, an increase in nondurable goods was partly offset by a decrease in durable goods.

    More information on the source data and BEA assumptions that underlie the first-quarter estimate is shown in the key source data and assumptions table (available at 10 a.m.).

    Impact of California Wildfires on first-quarter 2025 estimates

    In January 2025, a series of wildfires burned across Southern California, primarily impacting Los Angeles County. These disasters disrupted consumer and business activities and prompted emergency services and remediation activities. The responses to this disaster are included, but not separately identified, in the source data that BEA uses to prepare the estimates of GDP; consequently, it is not possible to estimate the overall impact of the California wildfires on first-quarter GDP. The destruction of fixed assets, such as residential and nonresidential structures, does not directly affect GDP or personal income. BEA estimates disaster losses in NIPA table 5.1, “Saving and Investment.” BEA’s preliminary estimates show that the California wildfires resulted in losses of $34.0 billion in privately owned fixed assets ($136.0 billion at an annual rate) and $11.0 billion in state and local government-owned fixed assets ($44.0 billion at an annual rate).

    For additional information, refer to “How are the measures of production and income in the national accounts affected by a disaster?“ and “How are the fixed assets accounts (FAAs) and consumption of fixed capital (CFC) impacted by disasters?“.

    1 Percent changes in quarterly seasonally adjusted series are displayed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. For more information, refer to the FAQ Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates?. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. energy flow and energy consumption by source and sector charts for 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    A publication of recent and historical U.S. energy statistics. This publication includes total energy production, consumption, stocks, and trade; energy prices; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and carbon dioxide emissions; and data unit conversions values.

    Each month, most MER tables and figures present data for a new month. These data are usually preliminary (and sometimes estimated or forecasted) and likely to be revised the following month. The first dissemination of most annual data is also preliminary. It is often based on monthly estimates and is likely to be revised later that year after final data are published from sources, according to source data revision policies and publication schedules. In addition, EIA may revise historical data when a major revision in a source publication is needed, when new data sources become available, or when estimation methodologies are improved. A record of current and historical changes to MER data is available on the What’s New in the Monthly Energy Review—Content Changes webpage.

    Data categories

    Expand all Collapse all

    Energy overview

    • 1.9Light-duty vehicle average miles travel by technology type
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • 1.10Electric and fuel cell electric light-duty vehicles overview
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • 1.13aNon-combustion use of fossil fuels in physical units
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Energy consumption by sector

    • 2.7U.S. government energy consumption by agency, fiscal years
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • 2.8U.S. government energy consumption by source, fiscal years
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Petroleum

    • 3.7Petroleum consumption by sector:
    • 3.8Heat content of petroleum consumption by sector:
    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Natural gas

    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Crude oil and natural gas resource development

    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Coal

    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Electricity

    • 7.2Electricity net generation:
    • 7.3Consumption of combustible fuels for electricity generation:
    • 7.4Consumption of combustible fuels for electricity generation and useful thermal output:
    • 7.7Electric net summer capacity:
    • 7.8Capacity factors and usage factors at electric generators:
    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Other notes:
    • Notes on estimated monthly data (1989–2000)
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Estimating power sector fuel use
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Allocating municipal solid waste to biogenic and nonbiogenic energy
    • Available formats: PDF

    Nuclear energy

    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Energy prices

    • 9.2F.O.B. costs of crude oil imports from selected countries
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • 9.3Landed costs of crude oil imports from selected countries
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • 9.4Retail motor gasoline and on-highway diesel fuel prices
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Renewable energy

    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Allocating municipal solid waste to biogenic and non-biogenic energy
    • Available formats: PDF

    Environment

    • Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption:
    • Section notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    Appendices (heat rates, conversion factors, and more)

    • Appendix A
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Approximate heat content of:
    • A1Petroleum and biofuels
    • Available formats: PDF
    • A6Approximate heat rates for electricity, and heat content of electricity
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • Appendix A documentation
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Appendix B
    • Available formats: PDF
    • B1Metric conversion factors
    • Available formats: PDF
    • B2Metric prefixes
    • Available formats: PDF
    • B3Other physical conversion factors
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Appendix C
    • Available formats: PDF
    • C1Population, U.S. gross domestic product, and U.S. gross output
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • Appendix D
    • Available formats: PDF
    • D1Estimated primary energy consumption in the United States, selected years, 1635–1945
    • Available formats: PDF XLS
    • Appendix D section notes
    • Available formats: PDF
    • Appendix E
    • Available formats: PDF
    • E1Primary Energy Overview, Fossil Fuel Equivalency Approach
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • E2Primary Energy Production by Source, Fossil Fuel Equivalency Approach
    • Available formats: PDF XLS CSV|Interactive
    • E3Primary Energy Consumption by Source, Fossil Fuel Equivalency Approach
    • Available formats: PDF XLS Glossary
      • Glossary
      • Available formats: PDF

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/ITALY – Pope Francis’ “recommendations” to his cousin Ana Rosa Sivori, a missionary nun

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 30 April 2025

    FMA

    by Antonella PrennaRome (Fides Agency) – “I insist that this donation be made available to those most in need,” said Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, cousin of Pope Francis, quoting the Pope himself, who in a conversation with Sister Ana Rosa recommended that a sum of money donated to him and entrusted to the community of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), to which Sister Ana Rosa belongs, be used for the construction of homes for needy families in Bam Pong.The 83-year-old cousin of Pope Francis, who originally comes from Buenos Aires, has been a missionary in Thailand for 60 years. She began her journey in Turin, where she was sent from Argentina to study, then moved on to India, where she spent three years, and finally to Thailand.“I arrived in Rome on the night of April 23 and didn’t manage to pay my last respects to Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica until April 25. I stayed from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening. I prayed and talked with him in front of his coffin, and I am sure he was listening to me. I was very impressed by the enormous influx of people from all over the world,” reports the nun.“This morning, April 30, I was able to say goodbye to him at his grave in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore,” Sister Ana Rosa continued. ”It made a deep impression on me to stand in front of the white marble, and I was very happy that he is exactly where he always wanted to be. We are a very close family, and although we hadn’t spoken to each other for a long time, we always knew everything about each other. My father was very close to ‘Jorge’, as he continued to call him, and he always knew everything he was doing. We were baptized in the same basilica in Buenos Aires where the Don Bosco sisters work. He celebrated the funerals of my parents, our grandfather, and my sister’s wedding. We knew that he always called his sick sister on Sunday afternoons and that we talked about family matters. I celebrated my 80th birthday with him here in Rome after I had been in Argentina and before I returned to Thailand.“We often spoke with him about missionary work. He wanted to learn about the relationship between priests and Buddhists, who make up the majority of the population in Thailand. We always shared the idea of looking into each other’s faces and seeing what the other person needs. I hope that the cardinals who will meet in the conclave will follow Francis’ line for a Church of the people,” emphasizes the missionary.The FMA are represented in Thailand by eight communities and are active in the field of education. Specifically, they are located in the northwest of the country in the city of Chom Tong, in the northeast in the cities of Phon Sung and Udon Thani, further south in the city of Bam Pong, in San Phran, and finally with two communities in Bangkok.Sister Ana Rosa is currently working in the community in Bam Pong. Due to her age and health, she no longer teaches, but helps where needed and assists with the “chronicles” that the house collects every year from January to December.“There are 80 FMA sisters throughout Thailand,” explains the nun, ”and 17 of us are in Bam Pong. Our community is the first house that the FMA sisters opened in this country in 1933. Our pioneers supported and trained the local sisters and took in the first sisters who had been expelled from China. There are very few Christians in Bam Pong, but we have a very good relationship with the Buddhists, who also attend our schools. Education is of fundamental importance to us, and in order to give as many people as possible a chance, we have the lowest school fees of any school in the country. Our schools are overcrowded; in Bam Pong alone, we have 3,200 students, of whom at most a hundred are Christians. We teach the young girls the charisma of our founder, Mother Mazzarello. The schools in our communities range from nursery to middle school. They are mainly girls’ schools, with the exception of the kindergarten, which is mixed, and another school located outside the city. In this school, we have accepted the request of parents who have several children to accompany them all, so boys and girls can attend school together until the third grade.”“The Catholic community has a strong presence in Bam Pong,” concludes Sister Ana Rosa. ”There is a Capuchin monastery, a hospital run by the Camillian Missionaries, a Salesian Don Bosco school, the parish of St. Joseph, which is very large and run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, and a cemetery right next to our parish.” (Fides Agency 30/4/2025)
    FMA

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: LeddarTech to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Host Investor and Business Update Call on May 14, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    QUEBEC CITY, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech® Holdings Inc. (“LeddarTech”) (Nasdaq: LDTC), an automotive software company that provides patented disruptive AI-powered low-level sensor fusion and perception software technology, LeddarVision™, for ADAS, AD and parking applications, announced today that it plans to release its second quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. It will host an Investor and Business Update conference call and webcast on the same day at 8:00 a.m. ET. Frantz Saintellemy, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chris Stewart, Chief Financial Officer, will be participating in the call.

    The conference call can be accessed in the U.S. by dialing (646) 307-1963 and via (800) 715-9871 for international callers. The conference ID is 1293674. Interested parties may also  register for the live webcast, which will be archived on  LeddarTech’s Investor Relations website  following the event.

    About LeddarTech

    A global software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive and off-road vehicle ADAS solutions.

    LeddarTech is responsible for several remote-sensing innovations, with over 170 patent applications (87 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor fusion and perception software solution.

    Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Facebook and YouTube.

    Contact:
    Chris Stewart, Chief Financial Officer, LeddarTech Holdings Inc.

    Tel.: + 1-514-427-0858, chris.stewart@leddartech.com

    Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, VAYADrive, VayaVision and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

    LeddarTech Holdings Inc. is a public company listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LDTC.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: StarTree Unveils AI-Native Real-Time Analytics and Launches Bring Your Own Kubernetes (BYOK) to Power the Next Generation of Enterprise Intelligence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StarTree, the cloud-based real-time analytics company, today announced two new powerful AI-native innovations to its real-time data platform for enterprise workloads: Model Context Protocol (MCP) support and vector embedding model hosting. These capabilities enable StarTree to power agent-facing applications, real-time Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and conversational querying at the speed, freshness, and scale enterprise AI systems demand.

    “The next wave of AI innovation will be driven by real-time context—understanding what’s happening now,” said Kishore Gopalakrishna, Co-founder and CEO of StarTree. “StarTree’s heritage as a real-time analytics foundation perfectly complements where AI is going by delivering fresh insights at scale. What is changing is the shift from apps as the consumer to autonomous agents.”

    AI is only as powerful as the information architecture behind it. Just as the cloud forced a fundamental redesign of enterprise data systems—AI is now triggering a similarly profound shift. As agentic systems emerge, traditional data architectures—designed for internal users who accept slow queries and stale data—can no longer keep up. Agentic AI demands sub-second query speeds, real-time context awareness, and the ability to support swarms of autonomous agents working in parallel. This marks a fundamental shift in the role of data platforms—from static storage to dynamic engines that can aid agents in completing tasks.

    StarTree has long delivered on this promise, powering millions of low-latency queries per second on the freshest data available. But new capabilities were needed to extend this foundation and fully unlock the next generation of AI-native applications. New features launching include:

    • Model Context Protocol (MCP) support: MCP is a standardized way for AI applications to connect with and interact with external data sources and tools. It allows Large Language Models (LLMs) to access real-time insights in StarTree in order to take actions beyond their built-in knowledge. Availability: June 2025
    • Vector Auto Embedding: Simplifies and accelerates the vector embedding generation and ingestion for real-time RAG use cases based on Amazon Bedrock. Availability: Fall 2025

    The StarTree platform now supports:

    • Agent-Facing Applications – By supporting the emerging Model Context Protocol (MCP), StarTree allows AI agents to dynamically analyze live, structured enterprise data. With StarTree’s high-concurrency architecture, enterprises can support millions of autonomous agents making micro-decisions in real time—whether optimizing delivery routes, adjusting pricing, or preventing service disruptions.
    • Conversational Querying – MCP simplifies and standardizes the integration between LLMs and databases, making natural language to SQL (NL2SQL) far easier and less brittle to deploy. Enterprises can now empower users to ask questions via voice or text and receive instant answers—like a ride-hailing driver asking, “How much money have I made today?” followed by, “What about this month?” and “Where and when am I making the most money?”—with each question building on the last. This kind of seamless, conversational flow requires not just language understanding, but a data platform that can deliver real-time responses with context.
    • Real-Time RAG – StarTree’s new vector auto embedding enables pluggable vector embedding models to streamline the continuous flow of data from source to embedding creation to ingestion. This simplifies the deployment of Retrieval-Augmented Generation pipelines, making it easier to build and scale AI-driven use cases like financial market monitoring and system observability—without complex, stitched-together workflows.

    StarTree Expands Deployment Flexibility with Bring Your Own Kubernetes (BYOK)

    StarTree also announced the general availability of Bring Your Own Kubernetes (BYOK), a new deployment option that gives organizations full control over StarTree’s high-performance analytics infrastructure within their own Kubernetes environments, whether in the cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid architectures.

    With BYOK, enterprises can maintain full governance and control over their infrastructure while still taking advantage of StarTree’s real-time performance and ease of use. This model is ideal for regulated industries such as financial services and healthcare, where strict data residency, compliance, and security policies often prohibit the use of traditional SaaS models. It also delivers a cost-effective solution for organizations with stable, predictable workloads, offering savings on compute and egress fees.

    “Real-time insights are no longer optional, but too often, enterprises are blocked by infrastructure constraints,” said Gopalakrishna. “With BYOK, we remove those barriers. Companies can now deploy StarTree wherever they need it, without compromising on performance, security, or cost control.”

    BYOK joins StarTree’s existing deployment options, which include fully managed SaaS and Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC), giving customers the flexibility to choose the model that best fits their operational and regulatory requirements. Availability: now in private preview

    Real-Time Analytics Summit 2025: Coming May 14

    StarTree will showcase many of these new innovations during the Real-Time Analytics Summit 2025, a virtual event taking place on May 14. The event will feature speakers from Uber, Netflix, AWS, and more, exploring the future of AI-driven analytics, data infrastructure, and emerging use cases across industries. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how real-time analytics is driving digital transformation across industries, from finance and e-commerce to gaming, cybersecurity, and beyond.

    Supporting Resources

    • To learn more about StarTree’s real-time AI capabilities, read this blog.
    • To learn more about StarTree’s Bring Your Own Kubernetes offering, read this blog.
    • Register for the Real-Time Analytics Summit here.

    About StarTree

    At StarTree, we understand the urgency of the on-demand economy and help businesses like Citi, Stripe, DoorDash, Nubank, Zomato, and Dialpad deliver real-time analytics into their user-facing applications. StarTree Cloud, powered by Apache Pinot™, is a fully-managed real-time analytics Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS). StarTree’s platform is built to power insights for millions of users at massive speed and scale, and a fraction of the cost of alternatives. Whether user-facing apps, or backend APIs and microservices, real-time analytics are now a required component powering internal and customer-facing dashboards. With StarTree, customers unlock the full potential of their data while exceeding millions of user expectations. StarTree is closely partnered with analytics leaders such as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Confluent, Databricks and others to help customers achieve their real-time analytics goals.

    Additional information may be found at www.startree.ai | Twitter: @startreedata | YouTube: youtube.com/@StarTree | Blog: startree.ai/blog | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/startreedata/

    Media Contact:

    Beth Winkowski
    PR for StarTree
    978-649-7189
    beth@winkowskipr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Global-e to Announce Financial Results for the First Quarter 2025 on May 14, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PETAH-TIKVA, Israel, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global-e Online Ltd. (Nasdaq: GLBE), the platform powering global direct-to-consumer e-commerce, today announced it will report financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, before market open on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

    Global-e management will host a conference call to review its financial results and outlook.

    Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
    Time: 8:00 AM ET
    United States/Canada Toll Free: +1-800-717-1738
    International Toll: +1-646-307-1865
       

    Please join the call 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time, to avoid a delay in connecting. A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of Global-e’s website at https://investors.global-e.com/news-events/events-presentations

    A replay of the webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of Global-e’s website at https://investors.global-e.com/news-events/events-presentations approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and remain available for approximately 30 calendar days.

    About Global-e Online Ltd.

    Global-e (Nasdaq: GLBE) is the world’s leading platform enabling and accelerating global, Direct-To-Consumer e-commerce. The chosen partner of over 1,400 brands and retailers across the United States, EMEA and APAC, Global-e makes selling internationally as simple as selling domestically. The company enables merchants to increase the conversion of international traffic into sales by offering online shoppers in over 200 destinations worldwide a seamless, localized shopping experience. Global-e’s end-to-end e-commerce solutions combine best-in-class localization capabilities, big-data best-practice business intelligence models, streamlined international logistics and vast global e-commerce experience, enabling international shoppers to buy seamlessly online and retailers to sell to, and from, anywhere in the world. For more information, please visit: www.global-e.com.

    Investor Contacts:
    Alan Katz
    Investor Relations
    Global-e
    IR@global-e.com

    Erica Mannion or Mike Funari
    Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
    IR@global-e.com
    +1 617-542-6180

    Press Contact:
    Sarah Schloss
    Headline Media
    sarah.schloss@headline.media
    +1 914-506-5104

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Warning issued against unauthorised building work in Bassetlaw

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Warning issued against unauthorised building work in Bassetlaw

    The Environment Agency has issued a warning against unauthorised building near rivers and flood defences in Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire.

    • Unauthorised works prompts warning to residents, landowners and developers
    • Environmental permits may be needed before works can begin
    • Offenders could face an unlimited fine or two years imprisonment

    The Environment Agency is reminding residents, landowners and developers in Bassetlaw about the law for carrying out work near main rivers and flood defences.

    Among the Environment Agency’s statutory duties are powers to manage flood risk from the sea and main rivers.

    These types of works, known as flood risk activities, may need an environmental permit before they can begin.

    The warning comes after the Environment Agency has become aware of unauthorised works in the Bassetlaw district in north Nottinghamshire.

    The environment permitting process ensures that proposed works are not going to increase flood risk or cause other environmental harm.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    We are encouraging anyone planning work near a river or flood defence to seek advice early.

    People may need an environmental permit before they can begin the work.

    It is a criminal offence to undertake unauthorised flood risk activities and offenders could face an unlimited fine and up to 2 years imprisonment.

    If people have concerns about works being carried out near a river or flood defence they should call our hotline on 0800 807060.

    More information

    Our officers have visited several sites in the Bassetlaw area where works have been conducted without the right permission.

    Check if your activity is regulated.

    You may need to apply for permission to do any of the following regulated flood risk activities:

    • erecting any temporary or permanent structure in, over or under a main river, such as a culvert, outfall, weir, dam, pipe crossing, erosion protection, scaffolding or bridge
    • altering, repairing or maintaining any temporary or permanent structure in, over or under a main river, where the work could affect the flow of water in the river or affect any drainage work
    • building or altering any permanent or temporary structure designed to contain or divert flood waters from a main river
    • dredging, raising or removing any material from a main river, including when you are intending to improve flow in the river or use the materials removed
    • diverting or impounding the flow of water or changing the level of water in a main river
    • quarrying or excavation within 16 metres of any main river, flood defence (including a remote defence) or culvert
    • any activity within 8 metres of the bank of a main river, or 16 metres if it is a tidal main river
    • any activity within 8 metres of any flood defence structure or culvert on a main river, or 16 metres on a tidal river
    • any activity within 16 metres of a sea defence structure
    • activities carried out on the floodplain of a main river, more than 8 metres from the river bank, culvert or flood defence structure (or 16 metres if it is a tidal main river), if you do not have planning permission (you do not need permission to build agricultural hay stacks, straw stacks or manure clamps in these places)

    To find out more or to apply for a permit, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-activities-environmental-permits

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –