Category: Transport

MIL-OSI Security: Former Employee of Telecommunications Company Admits to Wire Fraud Conspiracy

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

NEWARK, N.J. – A former telecommunications company employee admitted to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in a scheme to fraudulently unlock the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards of thousands of mobile phones, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Richard Forrest Sherman, 46, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court, to an information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy.

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

Sherman worked at a multinational telecommunications company. While there, he managed an account for a customer that received an exemption to unlock the SIM cards of mobile devices. Sherman exploited this exemption by creating a series of customer accounts within the carrier’s system to make the accounts look like an affiliate company of the customer that actually received the exemption. Sherman and others then submitted bulk unlocking requests through these fake affiliate accounts that Sherman set up before leaving the telecommunications company.

Sherman, through his entities, received payment from others in exchange for causing the fake affiliate accounts to successfully send International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers in bulk to the carrier. The carrier, believing that the fake affiliate company was entitled to the unlocking exception, unlocked these IMEIs in bulk. Unlocking these IMEIs permitted others involved in the scheme to resell the phones for profit – the phones would have otherwise remained locked or required payment of a fee to be unlocked. Sherman set up the fake affiliate accounts in or around 2013; he and his conspirators exploited the fraud scheme until it was discovered in August 2020.

The wire fraud conspiracy count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest.

U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the U.S. Secret Service’s Seattle Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Glen Peterson, with the investigation leading to the charge.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.

###

Defense Counsel: Henry Klingeman, Esq. and Robert Westinghouse, Esq.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Harlingen couple guilty in multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The operators of a durable medical equipment (DME) company have pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jeremiah Yzaguirre, 46, and his wife, Maria Luisa Yzaguirre, 45, both of Harlingen, operated a business called Southwest Medical Homepatient. The business was enrolled in the Medicare program as a provider of DME and services. It claimed to provide parts and repairs for power wheelchairs among other services.

As part of their pleas, the couple admitted they received millions of dollars for parts and repairs that were never performed or provided. They both acknowledged billing Medicare approximately $736,072 for parts and repairs for one specific beneficiary, falsely claiming to have replaced expensive parts hundreds of times.

They also admitted to using the proceeds from the fraud to purchase cryptocurrency, a vehicle, electronics, miscellaneous collectibles and purses.

Medicare was billed approximately $14 million for power wheelchairs, parts and repairs for just 37 Medicare beneficiaries between 2019 and 2023 as a result of their scheme.

“Medicare fraud is ultimately fraud against the taxpayer,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will aggressively prosecute those who steal from their fellow citizens by defrauding public services.”

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing Aug. 4. At that time, the Yzaguirres face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Both were permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (OIG), Texas Health and Human Services – OIG, Texas Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Swartz and Ana Cano are prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: 2025 first-quarter results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Paris (France), April 29, 2025

A SOLID START TO THE YEAR, WITH SUCCESSFUL REFINANCING
AND VESSEL CAPACITY AGREEMENT TERMINATED

		Q1¹
*Revenue*²		*$301M (+10%)*
*Adjusted EBITDA*²		*$143M (+35%)*
*Net Cash Flow*		*$(20)M (vs $30M)* Including a $42M interest payment in March 2025 (historically paid in Q2)

Sophie Zurquiyah, Chief Executive Officer of Viridien:

“The first quarter of 2025 was marked by two significant milestones for the Group: the termination of the vessel capacity agreement, completing our transition toward an asset-light model, and the successful refinancing of our bonds. The end of the vessel capacity agreement opens a new chapter of enhanced flexibility in our cost base and stronger cash generation, while our bond refinancing reflects the financial market’s confidence in the execution of our strategy and our long-term potential.

In parallel, our financial results for the first quarter of 2025 confirm the robust performance of our business, with commercial wins, solid profitability, and cash generation fully aligned with our long-term ambitions.

Assuming moderate fluctuations in the oil market, we expect to achieve our target of approximately $100M in Net Cash Flow generation for the year and to continue our deleveraging journey.”

Q1 2025 Highlights²

Group
- IFRS Revenue, EBITDA and Net Income of respectively $258 million, $99 million, $(28) million
- Group revenue increased thanks to sustained momentum in Geoscience and successful Earth Data sales. Sensing & Monitoring comparison base returned to a more normalized level

Group Adjusted EBITDA of $143 million, up 35%, benefited from (i) revenue growth at Geoscience, (ii) revenue growth and the end of vessel commitment penalty fees at Earth Data, and (iii) cost reductions at Sensing & Monitoring
Cash flow of $22 million before the $42 million bond interest payment in Q1 (historically paid in Q2). Net Cash Flow of $(20) million after interest payment and negative working capital impact
Final milestones of our financial roadmap achieved: successful refinancing of our April 2027 $447 million and €578 million notes, replaced with $450 million 10% and €475 million 8.5% senior secured notes due October 2030
Net debt at $974 million and liquidity at $257 million

Digital, Data and Energy Transition (DDE)
- Revenue at $214 million, up 16% with growth both at Geoscience (+25%) and Earth Data (+7%)
- Adjusted EBITDA at $137 million, up 32%
  - Geoscience:
    - Revenue at $110 million (+25%)
    - Solid performance driven by continued adoption of our most advanced Elastic FWI technologies worldwide
    - North America outperforming and sustained interest of MENA clients for high-quality imaging
    - Low Carbon: minerals study in Saudi Arabia and new win for carbon sequestration in the North Sea
    - HPC & Digital: new HPC customers in Materials Science and Image Rendering operating on our platform
  - Earth Data:
    - Revenue at $104 million (+7%)
    - Cash EBITDA at $39 million (+12%)
    - Early results show game-changing imaging at Laconia and environmental permit received for a program in Brazil. Active on multiple reprocessing projects worldwide
    - Low Carbon: CCUS screening package projects funded by industrial emitters in Europe
Sensing and Monitoring (SMO)
- Revenue at $87 million, nearly stable (-2%), with a return to a more normalized comparison base
- Adjusted EBITDA at $14 million (+37%), driven by cost reduction impact on profitability
  - Sustained activities in Land with strong momentum on nodal systems
  - New Businesses: new infrastructure monitoring contracts signed in North America; pursuing several geotechnical monitoring opportunities in rail and mining sectors worldwide; awarded a new project for our Marlin Ports & Logistics solution in Asia
Full-Year 2025 financial outlook
- In 2025, assuming a stable E&P Capex environment, performance is expected to be driven by:
  - Geoscience: growth supported by industry-leading technology and strong backlog

Earth Data: stronger Cash EBITDA KPI following the end of vessel commitment penalty fees
- Sensing & Monitoring: further savings expected from the restructuring plan
- New Businesses: growth and first- year positive contribution to Group profitability

Financial objective:
- Net Cash Flow of approximately $100 million, assuming moderate oil market fluctuations

Following the successful refinancing completed in Q1, Viridien will continue focusing on cash flow generation and deleveraging

Q1 2025 Conference call
- The press release and presentation will be available on our website www.viridiengroup.com at 5:45 p.m. (CET)
- An English-language analysts’ conference call is scheduled today at 6:00 p.m. (CET)
- Participants should register for the call here to receive a dial-in number and access code, or participate via the live webcast here
- A replay of the conference call will be available the following day for a period of 12 months in audio format on the Company’s website

The Board of Directors met on April 29, 2025, and closed the consolidated financial statements as of
March 31, 2025. Please note that the figures and information published in this press release have not been audited nor have they been subject to any limited review by Viridien’s statutory auditors.

About Viridien:

Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resources, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,400 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

Investors contact:

VP Investor Relations and Corporate Finance
Alexandre Leroy
alexandre.leroy@viridiengroup.com
+33 6 85 18 44 31

Q1 2025 – Financial Results

Key Segment P&L figures ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
Key Segment P&L figures ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Exchange rate euro/dollar	1.09	1.04	(5%)
Segment revenue	273	301	*10%*
DDE	185	214	16%
Geoscience	88	110	25%
Earth Data	97	104	7%
SMO	89	87	(2%)
Land	45	51	14%
Marine	34	25	(26%)
Beyond the core	11	11	4%
Segment EBITDAs	105	142	*36%*
Adjusted ⁽²⁾Segment EBITDAS	106	143	*35%*
DDE	104	137	32%
SMO	10	14	37%
Corporate and other	(8)	(8)	-1%
Segment operating income	28	65	*136%*
Adjusted ⁽²⁾Segment operating income	29	66	*130%*
DDE	35	66	87%
SMO	2	8	303%
Corporate and other	(9)	(9)	-1%
1) Unaudited figures 2) Adjusted for non-recurring charges and gains

Other KPI ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
Other KPI ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Geoscience Backlog	227	329	*45%*
Total Capex	58	61	5%
EDA Library net book value ⁽²⁾	471	489	4%
Liquidity	440	257	*-42%*
o.w. undrawn RCF	90	110 ⁽³⁾	22%
Gross debt ⁽²⁾	1 316	1 120	*-15%*
o.w. accrued interests	43	2	-96%
o.w. lease liabilities	108	124	15%
Net debt ⁽²⁾	966	974	1%
1) Unaudited figures 2) Post IFRS15 and 16 3) $125M RCF fully undrawn, o/w. $15M ancillary guarantee facility

Consolidated IFRS Income Statements ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Exchange rate euro/dollar	1.09	1.04	(5%)
Revenue	249	258	4%
EBITDA	80	99	*24%*
Operating Income	20	56	*185%*
Equity from Investment	(0)	(0)	2%
Net cost of financial debt	(24)	(26)	6%
Other financial income (loss)	0	(46)	–
Income taxes	2	(13)	–
Net Income / Loss from continuing operations	(3)	(29)	–
Net Income / Loss from discontinued operations	0	1	–
Net Income / (Loss)	(3)	(28)	–
Shareholder’s net income / (loss)	(3)	(28)	–
Basic Earnings per share in $	(0.42)	(3.88)	–
Basic Earnings per share in €	(0.38)	(3.74)	–

1) Unaudited figures

Cash Flow items ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	2024	2025	*Var.* %
Cash Flow items ⁽¹⁾ (in millions of $)	Q1	Q1	*Var.* %
Segment EBITDA	105	142	*36%*
Income Tax Paid	(3)	(4)	(26%)
Change in Working Capital & Provisions	(0)	(47)	–
Other Cash Items	(1)	(1)	13%
Cash provided by Operating Activity	102	91	*(9%)*
Total Capex	(58)	(61)	(5%)
Acquisitions and Proceeds of Assets	0	(1)	–
Cash from Investing Activity	(58)	(62)	*(7%)*
Paid Cost of Debt	2	(39)	–
Lease Repayment	(12)	(10)	17%
Cash from Financing Activity	(10)	(49)	–
Discontinued Operations Acquisitions	(3)	(0)	89%
Net Cash Flow	30	(20)	–
Financing cash flow	(3)	(129)	–
Forex and other	(4)	(6)	–
Net increase/(decrease) in cash	23	(155)	–

1) Unaudited figures

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – March 31, 2025

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of operations

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$, except per share data)	Notes	2025	2024
Operating revenues		257.5	248.6
Other income from ordinary activities		0.1	0.1
Total income from ordinary activities		257.6	248.7
Cost of operations		(171.0)	(192.8)
Gross profit		86.6	55.9
Research and development expenses – net		(4.0)	(4.9)
Marketing and selling expenses		(7.7)	(8.8)
General and administrative expenses		(18.1)	(21.3)
Other revenues (expenses) – net	5	(0.3)	(1.1)
Operating income (loss)		56.4	19.8
Cost of financial debt – gross		(27.4)	(27.4)
Income provided by cash and cash equivalents		1.6	3.1
Cost of financial debt, net		(25.8)	(24.3)
Other financial income (loss)	6	(46.2)	(0.0)
Income (loss) before incomes taxes and share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method		(15.5)	(4.5)
Income taxes		(12.9)	2.1
Net income (loss) before share of income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method		(28.4)	(2.4)
Net income (loss) from companies accounted for under the equity method		(0.2)	(0.2)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		(28.6)	(2.6)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		0.7	0.0
Consolidated net income (loss)		(28.0)	(2.6)
Attributable to:
Owners of Viridien S.A.	$	(27.8)	(3.0)
Non-controlling interests	$	(0.2)	0.4
Net income (loss) per share
Basic (a)	$	(3.88)	(0.42)
Diluted (a)	$	(3.88)	(0.42)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations per share
Basic (a)	$	(3.97)	(0.42)
Diluted (a)	$	(3.97)	(0.42)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations per share ^(a)
Basic (a)	$	0.09	(0.00)
Diluted (a)	$	0.09	(0.00)

(a) As a result of the July 31, 2024 reverse share split, the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2023 has been adjusted retrospectively. The number of ordinary shares outstanding has been adjusted to reflect the proportionate change in the number of shares

See the notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss)

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$)	Notes	2025 ^(a)	2024 ^(a)
Net income (loss) from statements of operations		(28.0)	(2.6)
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges		(0.3)	0.3
Variation in translation adjustments		9.9	(5.8)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (1)		9.6	(5.5)
Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan		(0.5)	0.0
Net other comprehensive income (loss) not to be reclassified in profit (loss) in subsequent period (2)		(0.5)	0.0
Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the period, net of taxes (1) + (2)		9.1	(5.5)
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period		(18.9)	(8.1)
Attributable to:
Owners of Viridien S.A.		(18.8)	(8.4)
Non-controlling interests		(0.1)	0.3

(a) Including other comprehensive income related to discontinued operations which is not material

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of financial position

(In millions of US$)	Notes	March 31, 2025	December 31, 2024
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		146.6	301,7
Trade accounts and notes receivable, net		343.7	339,9
Inventories and work-in-progress, net		162.4	163,3
Income tax assets		13.5	22,9
Other current assets, net		78.1	74,0
Assets held for sale, net		26.4	24,5
Total current assets		770.7	926,2
Deferred tax assets		39.5	43,6
Other non-current assets, net		8.6	8,9
Investments and other financial assets, net		24.2	25,7
Investments in companies under the equity method		5.9	1,1
Property, plant and equipment, net		212.1	220,6
Intangible assets, net		569.3	535,4
Goodwill, net		1,086.4	1,082,8
Total non-current assets		1,946.0	1,918,1
TOTAL ASSETS		2,716.7	2,844,3
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Financial debt – current portion	3	43.8	56,9
Trade accounts and notes payables		101.3	120,9
Accrued payroll costs		92.4	84,5
Income taxes payable		17.8	20,4
Advance billings to customers		18.1	19,2
Provisions — current portion		18.8	19,7
Other current financial liabilities		0.0	0,5
Other current liabilities		207.7	182,5
Liabilities associated with non-current assets held for sale		2.2	2,4
Total current liabilities		502.1	507,0
Deferred tax liabilities		18.4	18,4
Provisions — non-current portion		30.9	28,8
Financial debt – non-current portion	3	1,076.4	1,165,6
Other non-current financial liabilities		0.0	0,0
Other non-current liabilities		1.8	1,7
Total non-current liabilities		1,127.5	1,214,5
Common stock: 11,214,681 shares authorized and 7,161,465 shares with a €1.00 nominal value outstanding at March 31, 2025		8.7	8,7
Additional paid-in capital		118.7	118,7
Retained earnings		1,009.0	1,036,5
Other Reserves		37.5	55,2
Treasury shares		(20.1)	(20,1)
Cumulative income and expense recognized directly in equity		(1.4)	(1,1)
Cumulative translation adjustment		(103.3)	(113,3)
Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.		1,049.2	1,084,7
Non-controlling interests		38.0	38,1
Total equity		1,087.2	1,122,8
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		2,716.7	2,844,3

See the notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statement of cash flows

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$)	Notes	2025	2024
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)		(28.0)	(2.6)
Less: Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		(0.7)	(0.0)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		(28.6)	(2.6)
Depreciation, amortization and impairment		21.2	24.2
Impairment and amortization of Earth Data Surveys		24.3	39.0
Depreciation and amortization of Earth Data surveys, capitalized		(4.2)	(3.8)
Variance on provisions		(0.7)	0.3
Share-based compensation expenses		1.1	0.9
Net (gain) loss on disposal of fixed and financial assets		0.1	–
Share of (income) loss in companies recognized under equity method		0.2	0.2
Other non-cash items		30.9	1.2
Net cash-flow including net cost of financial debt and income tax		44.3	59.4
Less: Cost of financial debt		25.8	24.3
Less: Income tax expense (gain)		12.9	(2.1)
Net cash-flow excluding net cost of financial debt and income tax		83.0	81.6
Income tax paid		(4.1)	(3.2)
Net cash-flow before changes in working capital		78.9	78.4
Changes in working capital		11.6	22.3
– change in trade accounts and notes receivable		24.9	33.6
– change in inventories and work-in-progress		6.3	0.2
– change in other current assets		(0.2)	(2.1)
– change in trade accounts and notes payable		(19.8)	15.4
– change in other current liabilities		0.0	(24.8)
Net cash-flow from operating activities		90.5	100.7

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Total capital expenditures (tangible and intangible assets) net of variation of fixed assets suppliers		(61.2)	(58.2)
Proceeds from disposals of tangible and intangible assets		0.0	0.5
Dividends received from investments in companies under the equity method		–	0.2
Total net proceeds from financial assets		–	–
Variation in other non-current financial assets		2.3	(3.3)
Net cash-flow from investing activities		(58.9)	(60.8)

		Three months ended March 31,
(In millions of US$)	Notes	2025	2024
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayment of long-term debt		(1,074.2)	(0.2)
Total issuance of long-term debt		964.2	–
Call premium		(21.9)	–
Refinancing transaction costs paid		(11.7)	–
Lease repayments		(9.8)	(11.8)
Financial expenses paid		(38.8)	2.0
Dividends paid and share capital reimbursements:
— to owners of Viridien		–	–
— to non-controlling interests of integrated companies		–	–
Net cash-flow from financing activities		(192.2)	(10.0)

Effects of exchange rates on cash		6.0	(4.1)
Net cash flows incurred by discontinued operations		(0.3)	(2.9)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(155.0)	22.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		301.7	327.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		146.6	349.9

See the notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Consolidated statements of changes in equity

Amounts in millions of US$, except share data	Number of Shares issued	Share capital	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Other reserves	Treasury shares	Income and expense recognized directly in equity	Cumulative translation adjustment	Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.	Non-controlling interests	Total equity
Balance at January 1, 2024	7,136,763	8.7	118.7	980.4	27.3	(20.1)	(1.4)	(90.8)	1,022.8	41.5	1,064.3
Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)				0.0					0.0		0.0
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)							0.3		0.3		0.3
Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)								(5.7)	(5.7)	(0.1)	(5.8)
Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)	–	–	–	0.0	–	–	0.3	(5.7)	(5.4)	(0.1)	(5.5)
Net income (4)				(3.0)					(3.0)	0.4	(2.6)
Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)	–	–	–	(3.0)	–	–	0.3	(5.7)	(8.4)	0.3	(8.1)
Exercise of warrants
Dividends									–		–
Cost of share-based payment				0.8					0.8		0.8
Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company					9.7				9.7		9.8
Balance at March 31, 2024	7,136,763⁽^a)	8.7	118.7	978.2	37.0	(20.1)	(1.1)	(96.5)	1,024.9	41.8	1,066.7

Amounts in millions of US$, except share data	Number of Shares issued	Share capital	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Other reserves	Treasury shares	Income and expense recognized directly in equity	Cumulative translation adjustment	Equity attributable to owners of Viridien S.A.	Non-controlling interests	Total equity
Balance at January 1, 2025	7,161,465⁽^b)	8.7	118.7	1,036.5	55.2	(20.1)	(1.1)	(113.3)	1,084.7	38.1	1,122.8
Net gain (loss) on actuarial changes on pension plan (1)				(0.5)					(0.5)		(0.5)
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges (2)							(0.3)		(0.3)		(0.3)
Net gain (loss) on translation adjustments (3)								9.9	9.9	0.0	9.9
Other comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)				(0.5)	–	–	(0.3)	9.9	9.0	0.0	9.1
Net income (loss) (4)				(27.8)					(27.8)	(0.2)	(28.0)
Comprehensive income (1)+(2)+(3)+(4)				(28.4)			(0.3)	9.9	(18.8)	(0.1)	(18.9)
Dividends									–	–	–
Cost of share-based payment				0.7					0.7		0.7
Variation in translation adjustments generated by the parent company					(17.7)				(17.7)		(17.7)
Changes in consolidation scope and other				0.2					0.2		0.2
Balance at March 31, 2025	7,161,465	8.7	118.7	1,009.0	37.5	(20.1)	(1.4)	(103.3)	1,049.2	38.0	1,087.2

(a) Pro forma following Reverse Share Split
(b) Reverse Share Split: Pursuant to a delegation from the Combined General Meeting of shareholders of May 15, 2024, and a sub-delegation from the Board of Directors held on the same day, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has decided to implement a reverse share split on the basis of 1 new share of €1.00 nominal value for 100 old shares of €0.01 nominal value

¹All variations refer to the same period last year
²Unless otherwise stated, all figures and comments are referring to “Segment” (i.e. pre-IFRS 15), as defined in the 2024 Universal Registration Document’s glossary, under section 8.7

Attachment

Viridien – Q1 2025 results

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: 2025 Q1 Revenue Report

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

2025 Q1 revenue of €232.4 million, down -12.3%
- Continued implementation of selectivity strategy with priority given to margins, primarily in telecoms in France and Spain
- High comparison basis: +3.8% in Q1 2024 compared to -5.8% for the full year 2024
Growth drivers remain well-oriented
- Energy up +19.1% (+30.1% in France), representing 18% of the Group’s Q1 revenue
- Strong momentum in Germany, where the Group has a solid presence, with growth of +20.7% in Q1
Ongoing measures to improve performance in the Other Countries segment
- Growth resumes in Italy: +14.6%, with gradually improving economic conditions
- Restructuring of Connectivity activities in Spain, with strategic refocusing on Energy and Technology

In millions of euros (unaudited)	Q1 2025	Q1 2024	% change
Revenue	232.4	265.0	-12.3%
Benelux	88.7	100.7	-12.0%
France	76.3	97.9	-22.0%
Germany	21.9	18.2	+20.7%
Other Countries	45.5	48.3	-5.8%

Gianbeppi Fortis, Chief Executive Officer of Solutions30, stated: “In a mixed market environment, we remain firmly committed to our strategy, maintaining a clear focus on margins and cash generation over revenue growth. In France in particular, faced with a fiber deployment market that has reached maturity, we are maintaining a highly selective approach and continuing to refocus on energy services, which now account for 30% of our revenue. In the Benelux, where the market is undergoing reorganization, our telecom business has stabilized compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, and we anticipate a return to growth during the second half of the year. In Germany, we continue to deliver profitable growth in a structured manner, and the investment plan recently announced by the local government reinforces our confidence in the market’s long-term potential. Lastly, in Other Countries, we are progressing with the performance improvement measures announced at our Capital Markets Day, particularly in Spain, where we are undertaking a deep transformation of our operations. We remain confident in the relevance of our multi-technical and multi-local model, the strength of our growth drivers, and our ability to achieve our 2026 targets.”

Consolidated Revenue

Solutions30’s Q1 2025 consolidated revenue amounted to €232.4 million, down -12.3% year-on-year against a particularly high comparison basis, as Q1 2024 marked the strongest quarterly growth of 2024, at +3.8%. The comparison basis will be significantly more favorable over the balance of the year, as the last three quarters of 2024 recorded declines of -4.3% in Q2, -10.1% in Q3, and -11.4% in Q4.

Revenue change in Q1 includes an organic contraction of -12.8%, the impact of recent acquisitions for +0.2%, and a favorable currency effect of +0.3%.

Revenue from Connectivity activities amounted to €164.2 million, down -20.0%, in a context of increased selectivity in the Group’s most mature markets, notably France and Spain. Revenue from Energy activities amounted to €41.3 million, up +19.1%, driven by very favorable market trends, particularly in photovoltaic systems in France. Revenue from Technology activities amounted to €26.9 million, up +7.3%, with increased volumes of IT support services.

Benelux

The Benelux posted Q1 revenue of €88.7 million, representing 38% of total revenue, down -12.0%. This includes an organic contraction of -12.5%, and the impact from the acquisition of Xperal for +0.5%. Connectivity posted revenue of €67.9 million, down -14% compared to Q1 2024, which did not yet reflect the delays caused, from Q2 onwards, by negotiations between Belgian telecom service providers aimed at streamlining their investments. However, revenue stabilized compared with Q4 2024 (€67.3 million). In the home connect segment, the adaptation of operational processes following Proximus acquiring 100% of Fiberklaar is nearing completion, positioning the business to return to normal at some point in the second half of the year.

Revenue from Energy activities decreased by -16% to €14.1 million. The first phase of smart meter deployment in Flanders is nearing completion, with tenders for the second phase expected to be launched later this year. At the same time, the gradual ramp-up of the contract with Fluvius for the modernization of the low-voltage electricity grid has begun.

Technology activities posted revenue of €6.7 million in Q1 2025, up significantly by +26%.

France

In France, Q1 revenue amounted to €76.3 million, or 33% of the total, down -22% on a purely organic basis. Revenue from Connectivity fell sharply by -43% to €36.8 million, reflecting the impact of selectivity measures implemented from Q2 2024 onwards. In the context of a structural slowdown in the fiber deployment market, the Group has significantly reduced its exposure to certain contracts that no longer met its profitability standards. While this led to a sharp revenue decline from Q2 onwards, it resulted in an improvement in margins over the full year 2024.

Energy activities continue to make strong progress, with growth of +30% in Q1 and revenue of €22.8 million, now representing 30% of the total. The good momentum in photovoltaics continues, despite the usually unfavorable seasonal effect in winter. Growth is also being supported by services to electricity and gas distribution networks, where Solutions30 is successfully diversifying its activities.

In Technology, the momentum in IT support services continues, driven by contract extensions. Revenue amounted to €16.7 million, up +7%.

Germany

In Germany, Q1 revenue amounted to €21.9 million, or 9% of the total, up +20.7% on a purely organic basis. Connectivity, which accounts for 95% of the total, posted growth of +22%, driven by fiber deployment activities, which continue to ramp up, while coaxial network services remain solid.

Although still at an early stage, representing around 5% of revenue, Energy activities offer strong growth potential. Germany is Europe’s leading market for photovoltaics, currently accounting for the bulk of Solutions30’s revenue from Energy activities, while the energy storage and rail signaling infrastructure markets offer particularly attractive growth prospects.

For both Connectivity and Energy, the investment plan recently announced by the local government reinforces the long-term growth potential of the German market, which is set to play an increasingly important role in Solutions30’s business portfolio.

Other Countries

In other countries, the Group posted Q1 revenue of €45.5 million, or 20% of the total, down -5.8%. This includes a -7.2% organic contraction, reflecting the selectivity strategy implemented in Spain and the United Kingdom in 2024. The currency effect was positive at +1.4%, driven by the appreciation of the Polish zloty and the British pound against the euro during the period.

In Poland, growth remained solid at +11.4%, taking Q1 revenue to €16.2 million. The Polish telecoms market continues to benefit from favorable trends, and Solutions30 is delivering profitable growth there.

Italy returned to growth, posting a +14.6% increase in Q1, with revenue of €14.9 million. The situation with the Group’s main Italian telecoms customer has now been resolved.

In Spain, revenue amounted to €7.3 million, down -37.2%. The Group has accelerated the restructuring of its Connectivity business, faced with a mature fiber market, while continuing to refocus on its Energy and Technology businesses, that are supported by favorable underlying trends.

Finally, in the United Kingdom, revenue totaled €7.1 million, down -22.3% against a high comparison basis (+10% in Q1 2024), as selectivity measures aimed at improving margins in the mobile telecommunications business were not implemented until Q2 2024.

Appendix

Breakdown of Q1 revenue by segment:

In millions of euros (unaudited)	Q1 2025	Q1 2024	% change
Benelux	88.7	100.7	-12.0%
Connectivity	67.9	78.7	-13.8%
Energy	14.1	16.7	-15.8%
Technology	6.7	5.3	+25,7%

France	76.3	97.9	-22.0%
Connectivity	36.8	64.7	-43.2%
Energy	22.8	17.5	+30,1%
Technology	16.7	15.6	+7,1%

Germany	21.9	18.2	+20.7%

Other Countries	45.5	48.3	-5.8%
Poland	16.2	14.6	+11,4%
Italy	14.9	13.0	+14,6%
Spain	7.3	11.6	-37.2%
United Kingdom	7.1	9.2	-22.3%
Group revenue	232.4	265.0	-12.3%

Upcoming Events

TPICAP Conference Paris May 15, 2025
Annual General Meeting June 17, 2025
2025 Half-Year Earnings Report September 17, 2025 (after market close)
2025 Q3 Revenue Report November 5, 2025 (after market close)

About Solutions30 SE

Solutions30 provides consumers and businesses with access to the key technological advancements that are shaping our everyday lives, especially those driving the digital transformation and energy transition. With its network of more than 16,000 technicians, Solutions30 has completed over 65 million call-outs since its inception and led over 500 renewable energy projects with a combined maximum output surpassing 1800 MWp. Every day, Solutions30 is doing its part to build a more connected and sustainable world. Solutions30 has become an industry leader in Europe with operations in 10 countries: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indices: CAC Mid & Small | CAC Small | CAC Technology | Euro Stoxx Total Market Technology | Euronext Tech Croissance.
Visit our website to learn more: www.solutions30.com.

Contact

Individual Shareholders:
Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63 – actionnaires@solutions30.com

Analysts/Investors:
investor.relations@solutions30.com

Press – Image 7:
Charlotte Le Barbier – Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 – clebarbier@image7.fr

Attachment

PR_EN_ Q12025-29_04_25

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Blast Trump Administration’s Attacks on Head Start, Demand RFK JR. Immediately Release Funding and Reverse Firings

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
April 29, 2025
42 lawmakers write to RFK Jr. demanding answers on Trump admin’s actions undermining Head Start as Trump reportedly plans to eliminate the program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in sending a letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling out the Trump administration’s direct attacks on Head Start, reminding him of his legal obligation to administer the program and demanding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) immediately release Head Start funding and reverse the mass firing of Head Start staff and gutting of the offices that help ensure high-quality services are available for thousands of children and families across the country.
“We write to express our strong opposition to the actions you have taken to directly attack and undermine the federal Head Start program. Since day one, this Administration has taken unacceptable actions to withhold and delay funding, fire Head Start staff, and gut high-quality services for children. Already this year, this Administration has withheld almost $1 billion in federal grant funding from Head Start programs, a 37 percent decrease compared to the amount of funding awarded during the same period last year,” write the lawmakers. “It is abundantly clear that these actions are part of a broader effort to ultimately eliminate the program altogether, as the Administration reportedly plans to do in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.”
The lawmakers detail how the program plays an instrumental role in supporting kids and families across the country, writing: “Head Start provides early childhood education and comprehensive health and social services to nearly 800,000 young children every year in communities across this country, and employs about 250,000 dedicated staff. Head Start is a critical source of child care for working families, particularly in rural and Tribal communities, where Head Start programs are often the only option for high-quality child care services. Head Start programs ensure children receive appropriate health and dental care, nutrition support, and referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support.”
“You even acknowledged the value of Head Start following a recent visit to a Virginia Head Start center,” the lawmakers write, contrasting that statement of support with the Trump Administration’s actions. “However, as a result of your actions to withhold and delay funding and undermine the administration of this vital program, Head Start centers are in serious jeopardy and have already had their day to day operations impacted. Programs are increasingly worried that they will not be able to make payroll, pay rent, and remain open to serve the hundreds of thousands of children and families who depend on their services in communities across the nation.”
“Since the very start of this Administration, Head Start programs have been under attack,” the lawmakers write, detailing office closures and funds that were frozen for Head Start grants across the country. “At one point, the National Head Start Association reported 37 programs serving nearly 15,000 children across the country could not access their federal funding. Head Start programs operate with thin margins and on short-term budgets from HHS, and without any communication from the Administration about the status of funding, programs were forced to temporarily close or to lay off staff.”
The lawmakers underscore how the gutting of Head Start offices and the firing of staff who keep the federal program running puts the entire program in jeopardy: “On April 1st, you abruptly closed five of the ten regional offices that help local grantees administer Head Start programs in 22 states. This left hundreds of programs without dedicated points of contact to address mission critical issues like approving grant renewals and modifications, investigating child health and safety incidents, and providing training and technical assistance to ensure high-quality services for children. While some grantees were assigned a new program specialist, we understand many have not been receiving responses to their inquiries. This is on top of the estimated 97 Office of Head Start central office staff that were terminated due to their probationary status and the recent reduction in force. You promised ‘radical transparency’ as Secretary, yet it is unclear how these actions will improve Head Start programs, and you and your staff refuse to respond to basic inquiries and requests for information.”
Importantly, the lawmakers note that without funding that has so far not gone out the door, many more programs could be forced to close.
“Head Start grantees are still waiting on payments and grant renewals from the Office of Head Start, including programs whose grants end on April 30th, 2025. These notices should have gone out by now, yet we are concerned to hear programs report they have received little to no correspondence regarding their grant renewals,” the lawmakers continue to detail how local Head Start programs are receiving no notice for the path forward for grant funding. “Additionally, because we started fiscal year 2025 under a short-term continuing resolution, as is usual, some grantees have only received partial funding for the first few months of the year. But with a full year funding bill in place, these grantees should have received full funding by now, yet some are reporting that they have not received the full amount of their grants and will run out of funds this month or next. On Wednesday, April 16th, the delays in Head Start funding led to the closure of Head Start centers serving more than 400 children in Sunnyside, Washington.”
“The Administration has a legal and moral obligation to disburse Head Start funds to programs and to uphold the program’s promise to provide high-quality early education services to low income children and families across this country,” the lawmakers write. “There is no justifiable reason for the delay in funding we have seen over the last two months, and you have refused to offer any kind of explanation.”
The lawmakers conclude by warning that eliminating the program would be devastating, demanding answers on the administration’s actions and demanding the reversal of them: “[W]e urge you to immediately reinstate fired staff across all Offices of Head Start, and cease all actions to delay the awarding and disbursement of funding to Head Start programs across this country.”
This letter follows up Duckworth and Durbin’s letter to Secretary Kennedy demanding answers about the closure of five regional Head Start offices across the country, including the Region 5 office in Chicago. Despite a deadline to respond by April 22, HHS has yet to reply to the Senators’ questions.
In addition to Durbin, Duckworth, Murray, Sanders, and Baldwin, the letter was signed by 37 colleagues, including U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Angus King (I-ME), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA).
Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
April 24, 2025
Dear Secretary Kennedy:
We write to express our strong opposition to the actions you have taken to directly attack and undermine the federal Head Start program. Since day one, this Administration has taken unacceptable actions to withhold and delay funding, fire Head Start staff, and gut high-quality services for children. Already this year, this Administration has withheld almost $1 billion in federal grant funding from Head Start programs, a 37 percent decrease compared to the amount of funding awarded during the same period last year. It is abundantly clear that these actions are part of a broader effort to ultimately eliminate the program altogether, as the Administration reportedly plans to do in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.
Head Start provides early childhood education and comprehensive health and social services to nearly 800,000 young children every year in communities across this country, and employs about 250,000 dedicated staff. Head Start is a critical source of child care for working families, particularly in rural and Tribal communities, where Head Start programs are often the only option for high-quality child care services. Head Start programs ensure children receive appropriate health and dental care, nutrition support, and referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support.
You even acknowledged the value of Head Start following a recent visit to a Virginia Head Start center, where you said, “I had a very inspiring tour. I saw a devoted staff and a lot of happy children. They are getting the kind of education and socialization they need, and they are also getting a couple of meals a day.”
However, as a result of your actions to withhold and delay funding and undermine the administration of this vital program, Head Start centers are in serious jeopardy and have already had their day to day operations impacted. Programs are increasingly worried that they will not be able to make payroll, pay rent, and remain open to serve the hundreds of thousands of children and families who depend on their services in communities across the nation.
Since the very start of this Administration, Head Start programs have been under attack. On January 27th, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo (M-25-13) that suddenly froze the disbursement of grant funding for federal programs and services government-wide, including Head Start. Despite the Administration’s clarification that Head Start programs would not be the target of the funding freeze, many Head Start programs across the country were unable to draw down their grant funds through the Payment Management System (PMS) for weeks. At one point, the National Head Start Association reported 37 programs serving nearly 15,000 children across the country could not access their federal funding. Head Start programs operate with thin margins and on short-term budgets from HHS, and without any communication from the Administration about the status of funding, programs were forced to temporarily close or to lay off staff. In Wisconsin, the National Centers for Learning Excellence, which serves more than 200 children and their families, shut down for a week and laid off staff due to the funding freeze.
On April 1st, you abruptly closed five of the ten regional offices that help local grantees administer Head Start programs in 22 states. This left hundreds of programs without dedicated points of contact to address mission critical issues like approving grant renewals and modifications, investigating child health and safety incidents, and providing training and technical assistance to ensure high-quality services for children. While some grantees were assigned a new program specialist, we understand many have not been receiving responses to their inquiries. This is on top of the estimated 97 Office of Head Start central office staff that were terminated due to their probationary status and the recent reduction in force. You promised “radical transparency” as Secretary, yet it is unclear how these actions will improve Head Start programs, and you and your staff refuse to respond to basic inquiries and requests for information.
On March 14th, 2025, the Office of Head Start (OHS) notified all Head Start programs that “the use of federal funding for any training and technical assistance or other program expenditures that promote or take part in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives” will not be approved and that any questions should be directed to regional offices. Programs have not received any guidance for what would be considered “DEI” but this policy is potentially in direct conflict with statutory and regulatory program requirements, such as providing culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional services for English learners. Many programs cannot direct questions to regional staff, as half of regional offices were abruptly closed, and as unprecedented actions are being taken to delay and withhold funding, Head Start programs have been intentionally left with little to no guidance.
Head Start programs are now arbitrarily required to provide justifications for each draw down of funds that is necessary to operate their programs, despite already receiving a federal grant award for these purposes. As of April 14th, Head Start programs have reportedly received correspondence from an email address “defendthespend@hhs.gov” requiring programs to submit a “specific description of why the funds are necessary and why they are aligned to the award” before programs can have funding disbursed. It has been reported that political appointees must sign off on every draw down of funds. This creates an illusion of improving oversight but only serves to add unnecessary red tape by requiring the manual sign off on hundreds of thousands of individual actions annually across the Department based on two to three sentence justifications. Already some grantees have reported delays in receiving funds, and have reported that furloughs or closures are imminent if funds are not released. For an administration that purports to value local autonomy and efficiency in federally funded programs, your actions have achieved the exact opposite.
Finally, Head Start grantees are still waiting on payments and grant renewals from the Office of Head Start, including programs whose grants end on April 30th, 2025. These notices should have gone out by now, yet we are concerned to hear programs report they have received little to no correspondence regarding their grant renewals. Additionally, because we started fiscal year 2025 under a short-term continuing resolution, as is usual, some grantees have only received partial funding for the first few months of the year. But with a full year funding bill in place, these grantees should have received full funding by now, yet some are reporting that they have not received the full amount of their grants and will run out of funds this month or next. On Wednesday, April 16th, the delays in Head Start funding led to the closure of Head Start centers serving more than 400 children in Sunnyside, Washington.
The Administration has a legal and moral obligation to disburse Head Start funds to programs and to uphold the program’s promise to provide high-quality early education services to low income children and families across this country. The fiscal year 2025 appropriations act provided $12.3 billion for Head Start, the same as the fiscal year 2024 level. The Head Start Act includes an explicit formula for how appropriated funds should be allocated. There is no justifiable reason for the delay in funding we have seen over the last two months, and you have refused to offer any kind of explanation. However, this week leaked fiscal year 2026 budget documents indicated the Office of Management and Budget was directing the Department, consistent with the Administration’s proposal to eliminate Head Start in fiscal year 2026, to “ensure to the extent allowable FY2025 funds are available to close out the program.” If this explains any of the delay in awarding fiscal year 2025 funding, we want to be clear, no funds were provided in fiscal year 2025 to “close out the program,” and it would be wholly unacceptable and likely illegal if the Department tries to carry out this directive.
Finally, the leaked budget documents provided a justification, albeit brief, for eliminating Head Start in fiscal year 2026 that makes this Administration’s priorities clear and puts the Department’s actions over the last several months in context. The Administration argues that eliminating Head Start, “is consistent with the Administration’s goals of returning education to the States and increasing parental choice.” It is shocking to see an argument that eliminating a program that provides comprehensive early childhood care and education to 800,000 children and their families would increase parental choice. It is particularly concerning to see that argument in the context of the significant delay in awarding fiscal year 2025 appropriated funds and what that indicates about the intent behind the Department’s actions. We believe it is obvious that eliminating Head Start would be detrimental to hundreds of thousands of children and families. Similarly, we believe it is obvious that delaying funding like we have seen over the last two months, forcing Head Start programs to close, and leaving families to scramble to find quality, affordable alternatives puts the education and well-being of some of the most vulnerable young children in America at risk. In our view, that is unacceptable.
Therefore, we urge you to immediately reinstate fired staff across all Offices of Head Start, and cease all actions to delay the awarding and disbursement of funding to Head Start programs across this country.
Please provide us with a written response to the questions below no later than 10 days from receipt:
1. Will you reinstate the staff who administer Head Start programs and reopen the closed regional offices responsible for overseeing Head Start programs in 22 states?
a) When is HHS going to share information on the reorganization plan for the consolidation of the regional offices?
b) Please provide the contact information for each program specialist designated to the 22 states who lost their regional office.
c) Who is responsible for ensuring there are no delays or lapses in funding, nor any disruptions to Head Start program operations now that these states do not have a regional office?
2. How many employees at the Offices of Head Start have been terminated, including the five regional offices and the central office?
a) Which officials at HHS were involved in the staffing reduction decisions for OHS and what planning, if any, was undertaken prior to these reductions? Please describe the events that unfolded and name each office that was involved in the decision. Further, please name the official(s) who approved the staffing reductions.
3. Can you confirm that the Administration will distribute all Head Start funds appropriated by Congress to Head Start programs in FY 25, as required by the Head Start Act?
4. Please provide a list of all grantees with 5-year Head Start grant renewals that start between now and the end of the fiscal year: May 1st, June 1st, July 1st, August 1st, and September 1st.
a) Will any funding be delayed for grantees that are due to receive their annual funding on May 1st or beyond?
5. Why are funding awards delayed for grantees that received partial awards during the first continuing resolution for FY25?
a) When can HHS guarantee that all funds will be awarded for partially funded Head Start programs?
6. What is the “Tier 2” department for review that is delaying drawn down for Head Start programs in the Payment Management System?
a) When should programs expect to receive their funds?
b) Please provide all communication that went to Head Start grantees on the new review process.
7. What guidance and clarifications have been provided to Head Start grantees on DEI expenditures?
a) How is HHS evaluating Head Start programs’ expenditures and grant awards for DEI?
b) What justifications are being used to prohibit DEI?
Sincerely,
-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Bank General Counsel Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for $7.4 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES BLOSE, 56, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from a decade-long embezzlement scheme at banks where he served as General Counsel and held other high-ranking positions.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2013 to January 2022, Blose was an attorney and held high-ranking positions, including General Counsel, at Hudson Valley Bank and Sterling National Bank. From approximately January 2022, when Webster Bank acquired Sterling National Bank, until February 2023, Blose served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Webster Bank.

From approximately 2013 until Webster Bank discovered his scheme and his employment was terminated in February 2023, Blose defrauded his employers (“The Bank”) in various ways. In certain commercial loan transactions where The Bank was the lender, Blose fraudulently retained for himself portions of closing costs, including legal fees. In certain real estate transactions in which The Bank was the seller, Blose retained portions of the sale proceeds for himself. For some of the real estate transactions, Blose created false documents in order to hide his theft from The Bank. Blose also stole from The Bank in other ways.

As part of the scheme, Blose used his attorney trust accounts to make personal expenditures, and to transfer funds to accounts in the names of business entities he created and controlled, and then used those funds for his personal benefit. Through this scheme, Blose stole approximately $7.4 million from his employers, and used the stolen funds to purchase a vacation property on Kiawah Island in South Carolina, for construction of his Connecticut home, and for luxury vehicles, jewelry, private jets charters, multiple country club memberships, and other expenses.

Judge Chatigny will determine restitution after additional court proceedings.

On December 20, 2024, Blose pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions.

Blose, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 23

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General. Financial crimes investigators from Webster Bank assisted the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Norwalk Man Sentenced to 22 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER ADAMS, 58, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 22 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine in southwestern Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Rodney Canada, also known as “Supreme,” as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Stamford and elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Canada and others coordinated the street level distribution of narcotics, and that Canada sold bulk quantities of cocaine to Adams for further distribution.

On March 8, 2024, Adams was arrested on related state charges after a court-authorized search of a Norwalk hotel room where he was living revealed approximately 80 grams of cocaine. After Adams was released on bond in his state case, he resumed his narcotics trafficking activity.

Canada and several other members of the conspiracy were arrested federally on May 14, 2024. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches at locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Darien and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of raw fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms, a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles.

Adams was arrested federally on May 18, 2024. On December 10, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He has been detained since his arrest.

Canada has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Resident Sentenced for Illegal Reentry Following Seven Previous Removals from U.S.

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States seven times between 2013 and 2017 pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Dario Fortunato-Torres, 38, on April 28, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, on October 8, 2024, Fortunato-Torres was arrested by the Moon Township Police Department and charged with several traffic violations, which, according to the public docket, have since been withdrawn. Following this encounter, immigration officials determined that Fortunato-Torres was illegally present in the United States and arrested him on November 19, 2024. Fortunato-Torres had been removed from the United States on seven prior occasions between 2013 and 2017. Fortunato-Torres has been in custody since his November arrest and will be returned to immigration custody.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fortunato-Torres.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Man Sentenced for Fifth Illegal Entry into U.S.

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to 60 days of imprisonment on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Juan Antonio Lopez-Mauricio, 34, on April 28, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, on January 30, 2025, immigration officials encountered Lopez-Mauricio and determined that he was illegally present in the United States. Lopez-Mauricio was previously removed from the United States four times between 2012 and 2015 following convictions in federal courts in the Southern District of Texas and the District of Arizona for illegally entering the United States. Lopez-Mauricio has been in custody since his January arrest and will remain detained pending his deportation from the United States.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lopez-Mauricio.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Children link accents with intelligence from the age of five, says study

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ella Jeffries, Lecturer in linguistics, University of Essex

Fh Photo/Shutterstock

From the moment we are born (and even before that, in utero), we tune into the languages around us. This includes the accents they are spoken in.

Studies have found that infants show a preference for a familiar accent from as young as five months old. Fast forward to adulthood and it is difficult to find anyone who doesn’t have something to say about accents.

Opinions, criticisms and stereotypes about speakers based on their accent are rife in the UK, and can lead to serious cases of accent discrimination (“accentism”).

But what happens between infancy and adulthood to get to this point? How are we socialised into such biases – and does this happen at an earlier age than we might have thought?

Previous research into accent stereotypes in the US – that northern accents tend to mean “smart” and southern mean “nice” – found that children do not show these adult language stereotypes until the age of nine or ten.

These attitudes were directly expressed in the research study by children responding to the questions “who do you think is nicer?” and “who do you think is smarter?” after hearing audio clips of the different accents. But as these attitudes had been explicitly stated in the questions, there’s a risk the children may have been saying what they thought adults wanted to hear – based on what they thought to be socially acceptable, rather than their honest views.

Less is known about unconscious bias – the attitudes listeners might not be aware they have, but which affect their actions towards speakers with different accents. My recent research with colleagues aimed to explore how children’s more unconscious, embedded and implicit attitudes might manifest.

We focused on the language attitudes of five-year-olds in Essex. We carried out a computer-based experiment in which 27 children were first familiarised with two characters through a short narrated video describing their characteristics.

One was labelled “clever” and could read, write and speak very well. The other was labelled “not clever” and couldn’t read, write or speak well. The narrator of the video had an American-English accent, which did not feature in the experimental part of the study.

The children then took part in a series of matching tasks. For each task, they heard an audio clip featuring a UK accent. Straight after, a picture of either the “clever” or “not clever” character appeared in the centre of the screen. The children were asked to match this picture with one of two smaller pictures (one of the “clever” and one of the “not clever” character) on the left- and right-hand sides of the screen.

The experiment measured their reaction time in matching the characters. A quicker response time indicated the association between accent and character was more compatible, and that they hadn’t been surprised by a mismatch between the accent they heard and the central character on the screen.

The experiment also measured their brain using an electroencephalogram (EEG). This computed the brain’s reaction to the compatibility between the accent and the “clever” or “not clever” character presented centrally on screen.

Standard English

Our results found that across the measures, the five-year-olds showed a strong association between a standard southern English accent – also known as received pronunciation or the Queen’s English – and intelligence. This accords with what we know about how children will grow up to associate standard English as the “correct” form in the UK. Our research suggests that by age five, this association is already fairly well entrenched.

A perhaps more surprising finding from our study was that for one of the brain measures, the children were also found to associate the Essex accent – their home accent – with intelligence. This contrasts with previous research which found negative attitudes towards the Essex accent among young adults in south-east England.

A familiarity effect may have led the children to view their home accent as intelligent.
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

This finding is interesting because it tells us there is perhaps an ongoing familiarity effect from five months old – children may be more positive towards the accent they find more familiar.

The final accent that featured in our study was the Yorkshire accent. Our results found that, for one of the brain measures, the children associated the Yorkshire accent with unintelligence.

This corresponds with the prevalent accent prejudice against northern accents in the UK. Worryingly, this finding again suggests that bias has may have already become embedded in children who are only just starting school.

The culminating finding of our work relates to the children’s exposure to accent diversity. Children who had been exposed to a broader range of accents at home, with one or more parents from outside Essex, were more positive towards different accents overall. They were less likely to associate any of them with unintelligence.

Children are not born judging speakers to be uneducated based on the way they speak. It is something they are socialised into believing. Our research suggests that exposure to accent variation may be key in tackling accent discrimination from a young age.

Ella Jeffries receives funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust

– ref. Children link accents with intelligence from the age of five, says study – https://theconversation.com/children-link-accents-with-intelligence-from-the-age-of-five-says-study-255175

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What interviews with ordinary Germans living under the Nazis can teach us about our current politics

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Melissa Butcher, Professor Emeritus, Social and Cultural Geography, Royal Holloway University of London

“Nazi” and “fascist” are words being used a lot these days; thrown about as descriptions of contemporary populist leaders or to mark out disagreement with someone. Comparisons with 1930s Germany don’t always suit the complexity of the moment we live in, but there are resonances. The choices people are having to make in the face of authoritarianism is among them.

Darkness Over Germany, originally published in 1943, is a collection of conversations with people having to make difficult choices as the Nazi party gradually takes control of their country. The author, Amy Buller, lived and studied in Germany between 1912 and 1914, maintaining personal and professional networks there throughout her life.

Concerned by what she saw happening in the 1930s, she established an Anglo-German discussion group. She took academics from the UK to Germany to try to understand the country’s slide into dictatorship.

Democracy in decline? The risk and rise of authoritarianism

Democracy is under pressure around the world in 2025. But is this part of a larger historical cycle or does it signal a deeper, more fundamental shift? Join us for a free event in central London on May 8 to discuss these important questions. Come for a panel discussion and stay for food, drinks and conversation.

Get tickets here

The conversations, with teachers, priests, military officers, tradesmen, civil servants, students and lawyers, point to some of the underlying economic and emotional drivers of authoritarianism. People speak of grievances related to humiliation and poverty. This is coupled with a desire for a leader who will make the pain of these things disappear.

Hitler promised to make Germany great again, for which some expressed gratitude, including a skilled tradesman who had spent four years in the trenches of the first world war: “I would ask you not to sneer at an honest attempt to meet a terrible situation and I might add that I am profoundly grateful to the Führer for this idea, which has saved my own sons from the destruction of unemployment.”

As Buller remarked in a lecture in 1942: “When men are drowning they will not be very particular about the type of rope that picks them up”.

Amy Buller’s Darkness over Germany.
Wikipedia

Faced with fascism, ordinary Germans had to make difficult choices, described as “agony” by a teacher in Darkness Over Germany. At times, there is no good choice available. There were those who decided it was impossible to stay and chose exile. Some became less visible, keeping their heads down and letting it blow over, fatalistically choosing to do nothing because they felt there was nothing to be done.

There was a choice to stay but openly defy the authorities, possibly resulting in detention or worse. But also a choice to stay, pay lip service to the regime, and try to undermine it where possible, to prevent regime-aligned people taking up another place. There was also the option to join the regime.

All these decisions reflect how an individual may imagine the future, with despair for some but for others, a mercurial hope – that a new order will take away the humiliations of the past and bring economic prosperity. Or that the current moment is just an aberration and that this too will pass.

As a young German officer noted: “I would put up with almost anything if in my lifetime this feeling of defeat could be removed from the German army. I know much is bad in what the Nazis do, but it will not last. It is the sort of thing that happens in revolutions.”

These descriptions of personal responses to the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany echo what I heard in my research talking to voters across the US leading up to Donald Trump’s re-election. There is economic and social rupture as a result of globalisation, financial crises, the legacies of racism, secularism and an exponentially expanding digital life.

Emotional drivers emerge, expressed as grievance, shame and humiliation. There is a sense of “losing our country” to an enemy, while precarity and crises are accessed daily in doom-laden echo chambers.

People try to imagine a future out of this state of perma-crises, one in which they will feel better. There are compromises and trade-offs that have to be made, at times with the added stress of having to make choices on behalf of others, such as children. These are painful struggles that require, at times, holding disparate ideas simultaneously.

In Darkness Over Germany, Buller showed it was possible for some to “hate the Nazis and love England” while still fighting for Germany, if doing so restored pride and economic security. Likewise in the US today, it is possible to find Trump abhorrent but still vote for him, as some of my interviewees did.

The slide into authoritarianism isn’t “madness” or “evil”. It rests on millions of individual choices made every day by ordinary people: it is the banal, as philosopher Hannah Arendt pointed out in her work on violence and totalitarianism. It is also exhausting and sometimes dangerous for those living under the strain of compromise, as Buller’s empathetic conversations show.

Darkness Over Germany is a reminder why such conversations are necessary. Not to condone or to cooperate with authoritarianism, as some recent ill-advised attempts for rapprochement between politicians, media personalities and Maga have shown in the US, but to understand the difficult choices that have to be made at times in order to provide people with alternatives.

This article is part of a series on democracy and the risk of totalitarianism. Join us to find out more about this topic at a free event in London on May 8. Meet the author and Conversation editors, with food and drink included. Get tickets here.

Melissa Butcher has received funding from UKRI and the ERC. She is a member of the Green Party.

– ref. What interviews with ordinary Germans living under the Nazis can teach us about our current politics – https://theconversation.com/what-interviews-with-ordinary-germans-living-under-the-nazis-can-teach-us-about-our-current-politics-255401

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: From diet to drugs: what really works for long-term weight loss

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg, Professorship for Clinical Metabolism and Obesity Research, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen

voronaman/Shutterstock

More than 2.5 billion adults worldwide are currently overweight or obese, according to estimates from the World Health Organization. This staggering number highlights a growing global health crisis. Obesity isn’t just about weight – it’s a powerful risk factor for a range of serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, heart attacks, and strokes. As awareness grows, more people are asking a critical question: how can I lose weight and stay healthy in the long run?

Obesity is a complex condition with many contributing factors. It’s not simply a result of eating too much or exercising too little. For many people, emotional and psychological stress plays a major role. Work-related pressure, financial concerns, family issues, or social anxiety can all lead to emotional eating. Others may develop obesity as a result of depression, which often disrupts both eating patterns and motivation for physical activity.

In addition, modern lifestyles can make it easier than ever to gain weight. Many of us spend long hours sitting – at desks, in cars, or on the couch – and highly processed, calorie-dense foods are readily available and heavily marketed. This combination of behavioural, psychological, social and environmental factors creates a situation where weight gain becomes increasingly difficult to avoid and even harder to reverse.

Read more:
Beyond blame: The role of malfunctioning fat tissue in the disease of obesity

Because obesity has many causes, it also requires a multifaceted solution. The most effective treatments follow a multimodal approach, where healthcare professionals – psychologists, nutritionists, and physicians – work together to support people on their weight loss journey. This team-based approach not only addresses diet and exercise but also tackles underlying emotional and mental health challenges.

This strategy is especially effective for people with prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are elevated but not yet in the diabetic range. Research has shown that lifestyle changes guided by a multidisciplinary team can significantly reduce the risk of developing full-blown diabetes

While losing 5–7% of body weight is a good target for reducing health risks, recent research from our team in Tübingen, Germany, shows that combining weight loss with blood sugar control is even more effective. Data from a different study indicates that focusing on both aspects goes along with fewer complications from diabetes, such as kidney damage and issues affecting small blood vessels.

Visceral fat

Why is this combination so powerful? It turns out that people who manage to both lose weight and lower their blood sugar levels tend to reduce visceral fat – the type of fat stored around internal organs in the abdomen.

Read more:
Belly fat linked to higher risk of premature death, regardless of your weight

Visceral fat is particularly dangerous because it triggers inflammation in the body, which in turn can reduce the effectiveness of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar.

Fortunately, certain lifestyle changes specifically help reduce visceral fat. For instance, regular physical activity – especially aerobic exercise – and diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in nuts, seeds, fish and plant oils) have been shown to be especially effective. Among various eating plans, the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises whole grains, healthy fats, vegetables and lean proteins, is particularly effective.

Combining regular exercise with a Mediterranean-style diet is not only good for weight loss but also for long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health. However, maintaining these habits over time remains a challenge for many.

Research shows that a significant portion of those who lose weight will regain it within a few years. As weight returns, so too do associated health risks like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This cycle of weight loss and regain can be frustrating and emotionally taxing, leading many to seek other options for more sustainable results.

Medication and surgery

In recent years, GLP-1 receptor agonists – a class of medications originally developed to treat diabetes – have shown promise in promoting weight loss. These drugs mimic the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which is released by the gut after eating. It helps regulate appetite by promoting feelings of fullness and also encourages the release of insulin, lowering blood sugar.

However, GLP-1-based medications are increasingly used for cosmetic weight loss, raising ethical and safety concerns. While these drugs can be effective, their long-term impact on people without obesity is still poorly understood. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting and more serious issues, so their use should always be guided by a medical professional.

One major limitation of GLP-1 medications is that the benefits typically wear off after stopping the medication, resulting in rapid weight regain. So, long-term or even permanent use may be required to maintain health benefits.

For people with severe obesity, particularly those with serious health complications like type 2 diabetes or heart disease, bariatric surgery can be life-changing. Surgical procedures such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy reduce the size of the stomach and, in some cases, alter gut hormone signalling. The result is significant, sustained weight loss and a reduced risk of obesity-related diseases, including a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease and premature death. Bariatric surgery isn’t for everyone, but when appropriate, it remains one of the most effective interventions available.

Researchers are now developing new medications that combine the effects of multiple gut hormones to enhance weight loss. Some of these drugs may achieve results comparable to bariatric surgery, but most are still being tested in clinical trials.

Winning combination

For people beginning their weight loss journey, a combination of physical activity and a healthy diet – such as the Mediterranean diet – is still the best place to start. These changes, if sustained, can lead to long-term improvements in weight, blood sugar and overall health.

For those with elevated blood sugar, targeting visceral fat through combined lifestyle changes and blood sugar management is especially important. And for people who struggle with obesity and related health conditions, medical therapies and surgical options offer powerful tools to support lasting change.

Ultimately, the key to lasting weight loss and improved health lies in understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about finding the right combination of support, strategy and science that works for each person.

Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg works for the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübignen, Germany . He receives funding from the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), the German Diabetes Society, the Helmholtz Association and the CMFI Cluster of Excellence in Tübingen. He is receiving funds from collaborating in clinical studies with Astra Zeneca, Lilly and Boehringer which all go to the University Clinic Tübingen.

– ref. From diet to drugs: what really works for long-term weight loss – https://theconversation.com/from-diet-to-drugs-what-really-works-for-long-term-weight-loss-254551

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: IBS and SIBO have overlapping symptoms – here’s what you need to know about these different digestive conditions

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Karen Wright, Lecturer in Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University

Low-temperature electron micrograph of a cluster of E. coli bacteria, magnified 10,000 times. Each individual bacterium is oblong shaped. Photo byfkfkrErbe, digital colorization by Christopher Pooley, both of USDA, ARS, EMU., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Digestive disorders can affect us all from time to time. Symptoms such as bloating and pain, often accompanied with some change in bowel habits, can be a feature of dietary changes, infection and stress. However, when these symptoms last a long time and no clear cause is found, they can be hard to diagnose and treat.

Debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, nausea, bloating, gas and flatulence and diarrhoea, can be embarrassing and a struggle to manage. And access to clinical assessment and treatment may not be swift. Googling will probably land you at irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and self-treating may not address the root cause of the symptoms and could even exacerbate the underlying condition.

This is especially risky with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) because the symptoms are often similar to IBS. SIBO has recently gained more attention through social media and celebrities talking about their experiences with the condition, so what is it and how is it different to IBS?

The clue is in the name. With SIBO, an excessive number of bacteria colonise the small intestine. In contrast, IBS is a condition with many causes. The body becomes more sensitive to pain in the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include immune system activation, abnormal gut movement, changes in gut microbes and disruptions in the gut-brain axis.

The gut-brain axis is the communication system between your digestive system and your brain. These two are constantly sending signals to each other through nerves, hormones and even gut bacteria – like a two-way radio line that helps manage things like digestion, mood and stress.

Both IBS and SIBO may be associated with psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, stress and reduced quality of life.

Most of your gut bacteria should live in the large intestine (the colon). The small intestine, especially the upper part (the duodenum and jejunum), has much fewer bacteria.

With SIBO, bacteria that are supposed to stay in the large intestine migrate up into the small intestine – particularly after surgery or if the movement of food through the intestines is slow – or bacteria in the small intestine start growing excessively.

Coliform bacteria, usually found in the colon where they help ferment carbohydrates, can enter into the small intestine and expand their numbers. The fermentation produces gas, which gets trapped and causes bloating and pain. This can lead to belching and flatulence, along with nausea and diarrhoea.

Most of the time, stomach acid minimises bacterial entry to the small intestine, but many people suffer from acid reflux or stomach ulcers and use proton pump inhibitors (PPI). These are medicines, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole, that reduce stomach acid production.

Prolonged use of PPIs can disrupt the digestive system’s natural defences, impair gut motility and alter the microbiome – all of which increase the risk of developing SIBO.

Slow movement of food can be the result of disrupted nerve signalling to the muscles – sometimes seen in diabetics. Also, some medicines or narcotic drugs can slow gut motility, too. Both provide opportunities for bacteria to expand in the wrong place.

Equally, slow movement of food from the small to large intestine, from ageing or surgery, can allow bacteria to enter the wrong place – where they’re still able to expand and ferment food causing gas, bloating and discomfort.

Symptom overlap

Can IBS cause SIBO or vice versa? Symptom overlap can lead to misdiagnosis and diagnostic approaches differ. The gold standard for SIBO diagnosis is a rather invasive collection of a small sample from the small intestine. This sample is then cultured to identify the culprit bacteria.

There are two simpler breath tests, which are controversial in their reliability. IBS diagnosis requires the exclusion of other diseases – such as the inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis – as well an analysis of the symptoms such as frequency of bowel movements and pain recurrence, combined with blood and stool tests.

Meta-analyses of pooled data indicates 25%-36% of IBS patients have SIBO. SIBO may contribute to IBS symptoms or be a consequence of IBS-related motility issues.

However, underlying both of these conditions is a dysregulated gut microbiome. This is when the normal balance of microorganisms in your digestive tract – mainly bacteria, but also viruses, fungi and other microbes – gets disrupted in a way that can lead to health problems, including psychological issues.

The gut and brain are connected through a two-way communication system known as the gut-brain axis, which is influenced by the microbes in the gut. When this microbial balance is disrupted, it can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Although antibiotics are used for treating SIBO, use is not desirable because it can lead to antibiotic resistance, disruption of the gut microbiome and the condition could recur once the antibiotics are stopped.

Long-term antibiotic use can also lead to side effects like gastrointestinal issues, yeast infections and damage to the intestinal lining. What’s more, antibiotics don’t address the underlying causes of SIBO, such as motility issues or structural problems in the small intestine.

Drugs that increase gut motility are useful to prevent SIBO recurrence and are used in IBS where there are motility symptoms. Elemental diets, which reduce available carbohydrates for bacterial fermentation, have been shown to be effective for both IBS and SIBO.

Modifying the gut microbiome through diet, probiotics, and other approaches may provide new ways to treat and manage these conditions. Therapeutic strategies that restore the balance of gut bacteria could also help restore a healthy gut-brain connection, potentially improving mental health.

Karen Wright is affiliated with Cannabinoid Research and Development Group UK.

– ref. IBS and SIBO have overlapping symptoms – here’s what you need to know about these different digestive conditions – https://theconversation.com/ibs-and-sibo-have-overlapping-symptoms-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-these-different-digestive-conditions-254521

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Urges White House and DOT to Overrule Amtrak’s Planned 3-Year Closure of East River Tunnel

Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

Washington, D.C. – 4/29/2025… Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) blasted Amtrak’s drastic and unnecessary cuts to service in New York, demanding the railroad immediately reverse course before causing massive, long-term disruptions to travelers across New York. Beginning today, Amtrak is canceling 25% of daily Empire Service trains between Penn Station and Albany and slashing 10% of peak Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service into Penn.

While citing the need for full tunnel closures to complete a $1.6 billion federally funded project to address damage from Hurricane Sandy and deterioration on the over 100 year old tunnels, Amtrak has refused to adopt proven methods used around the world to maintain service during repairs, instead choosing to sideline thousands of New Yorkers for years.

“This plan is a total disaster for New York travelers, and it’s completely avoidable,” wrote Congressman Lawler. “Amtrak has alternatives that would keep service running during nights and weekends, but instead, they’re choosing to negatively impact service during peak travel times, hurting working families, students, businesses, and tourists.”

“I urge the Trump Administration and Secretary Duffy to overrule Amtrak and force them to keep the East River tunnel open during the day,” Lawler concluded in his letter. “We cannot allow Amtrak to sideline tens of thousands of travelers for years to come when there is a clear alternative.”

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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The full letter can be found HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Salinas’ Bipartisan Bill to Promote Scientific Research Standards Passes Committee

Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR) announced that her bipartisan bill with Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) passed out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Introduced earlier this week, the Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act would develop technical standards and best practices for nucleic acid screening.

“From treating and diagnosing diseases to developing new vaccines, nucleic acids are used for a variety of important purposes,” said Rep. Salinas. “My legislation would help standardize screening processes and protocols for universities, companies, and researchers who work with nucleic acids. I’m proud to see this bill pass out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee with strong bipartisan support, and I’ll continue advocating for commonsense solutions that will ensure America remains a global leader in scientific research and innovation.”

Biotechnology companies routinely produce custom-ordered nucleic acids for university, industry, nonprofit, and government researchers. Although industry has worked to develop international standards related to screening molecules of concern, U.S.-led efforts are still required to further increase adoption of sufficiently rigorous protocols.

The Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to carry out programs to support the development of technical standards and best practices related to nucleic acid screening. It would codify nucleic acid screening activities outlined in former President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

The bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani, VA Secretary Collins Reiterate Support for Veterans during Tucson Visit
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

“Our goal is to make sure veterans in Arizona and across the country get the best possible care we can provide”
TUCSON, AZ – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani and Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins reiterated their shared commitment to care for the men and women who’ve served our country in uniform.

During a tour of Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson, both the Congressman and the Secretary strongly pushed back on false claims that mission-critical positions within the VA will be cut, causing possible disruptions in the delivery of care and benefits.

“Don’t believe the lies,” Ciscomani said. “No one is talking about cutting positions for anyone that provides direct care or benefits to veterans. No one is talking about eliminating services. Our goal is to make sure veterans in Arizona and across the country get the best possible care we can provide.”

The Secretary spent the morning with Ciscomani in Tucson, meeting with the Congressman’s Veterans Advisory Council, touring the Tucson VA and discussing services to veterans with hospital leadership.

“One of the things that I spend 50 percent of my time on is basically fighting back against inuendo and rumor about what’s going on at the VA by those who think they know what’s going on at the VA,” Secretary Collins said.

Ciscomani, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, represents a district with nearly 80,000 veterans, one of the largest veteran populations of any Congressional district in the country. His Veterans Advisory Council includes community leaders like Sierra Vista Mayor Clea McCaa and Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy.

“It is my duty, and honor, to advocate on behalf of veterans to ensure their needs are prioritized by the federal government,” said Ciscomani. “I am incredibly grateful to Secretary Collins for his leadership, our shared commitment to veterans, and for taking the time to talk with those who served, tour VA facilities in Tucson, and counter false narratives about cuts to mission-critical employees, healthcare, and benefits. Secretary Collins is a fantastic partner. I look forward to continuing working together to modernize and improve the VA to deliver on our promise to our veterans.”

“Under President Trump’s leadership, VA is challenging the status quo to find new and better ways of serving America’s heroes,” said Secretary Collins. “As part of that effort, we’re visiting VA facilities in Tucson and across the nation to see what’s working and what needs improvement. We will reform the department to make it work better for America’s Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors, and we thank Rep. Ciscomani for his support.”

Veteran Advisory Council 

Ciscomani hosted a meeting of his Veteran Advisory Council with Secretary Collins where they reiterated that there are no plans to reduce access to healthcare or cut benefits at the VA. 

Tucson VA Medical Center Leadership

Ciscomani and Secretary Collins met with leadership at the Tucson VA Medical Center to discuss recruitment and retention initiatives and countered false claims that the VA was planning cuts to mission-critical positions within the agency.

Tour of the Tucson VA Medical Center

Ciscomani, Secretary Collins tour facilities in the Tucson VA Medical Center.

Background:
- Last week, Ciscomani honored 31 veterans from across Arizona 6th Congressional District in his second annual Veterans Service Leadership Award Ceremony.
- Through casework, Ciscomani’s team has returned $3.65 million to veteran-constituents, including $1.25 million since January 2025. 
- So far in the 119th, Ciscomani has introduced three pieces of veterans-focused legislation, with one of these bills passing the House of Representatives unanimously.
  
  The Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivor Act (H.R. 1228)  would move the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) back within the Office of the VA Secretary to ensure that families of fallen veterans are able to receive the benefits and support they deserve. 
  
  This bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously on April 9, 2025.  
  
  The Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act (H.R. 668) would improve healthcare coordination and management for veterans over the age of 65 who qualify for benefits from both the VA and Medicare. 
  
  The Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act (H.R. 1458) would expand veterans’ access to educational opportunities for high-demand skilled trade and vocational programs, whether they are in-person or partially online. 
###
MIL OSI USA News –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Announces Departure of Amanda Olear After Nearly 2 Decades of Service

Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced former Director of the Market Participants Division and former Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, Amanda L. Olear, will depart the agency on May 2. Ms. Olear has served at the CFTC for over 17 years in multiple leadership roles across various divisions.
“It has been a true pleasure to have known and worked with Amanda for 15 years. She has served the CFTC, our mission, and our markets with excellence for many years,” Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham said. “Throughout her distinguished tenure, Amanda has exemplified leadership, expertise, and pragmatism in every role she’s held. I would especially like to personally thank Amanda for serving on my executive management team. I’m grateful for her over 17 years of dedicated service to the CFTC and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
“I would like to thank Acting Chairman Pham and former Chairman Behnam for the privilege of being part of their leadership teams,” Ms. Olear said, “It was an honor that I could not have imagined when I joined the CFTC as a junior staff attorney and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my career. I would also like to express my appreciation for the staff in the Market Participants Division and the Division of Market Oversight for their trust and support over the past 5 years. Their professionalism and expertise continue to impress and inspire me. My hope is that I proved myself worthy of their confidence.”
Ms. Olear joined the CFTC in 2007 and has served in various leadership capacities, including most recently as Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, where she led a team of attorneys, analysts, and other professional staff who oversee derivatives platforms and swap data repositories. Prior to this role, Ms. Olear served as the Director of the Market Participants Division since 2021.
Ms. Olear began her tenure at the CFTC as an attorney-advisor in the then – Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight – with a focus on CPOs and CTAs. In 2013, she took on the role of Associate Director of the Managed Funds Section in the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight and served as the Deputy Director of Registration and Compliance from 2017 to 2021.
Ms. Olear joined the CFTC from Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A. in Annapolis, Maryland, where she focused on business entity formation and complex commercial litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Olear served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia on the Maryland Court of Appeals (now the Maryland Supreme Court). Coming from a long line of family farmers, she holds a JD, with honors, from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a BA, summa cum laude, from McDaniel College.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn, New York, Woman Sentenced to Four Years for Aiding and Abetting Armed Robbery of Hyde County Family Dollar Store

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Brooklyn, NY woman was sentenced Wednesday to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting in the armed robbery of a Family Dollar in Swan Quarter. On November 13, 2024, Victoria Michelle Cyren Clarke, 32, pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Hyde County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) received a call about an armed robbery at the Family Dollar, located at 13065 US Highway 264 in Swan Quarter. Two individuals entered the store brandishing firearms while demanding money. After retrieving over $2000 in cash from the store, the two individuals left and got into a car being driven by Clarke. A deputy with HCSO attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle after it was observed leaving the area at a high rate of speed. A high-speed chase ensued for approximately 18 miles with speeds in excess of 100 mph before the vehicle was finally stopped. In addition to the two armed robbers and Clarke, two children were unrestrained in the vehicle. Subsequent investigation revealed that Clarke bought both firearms used in the robbery and rented the get-away car.

“The Hyde County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and businesses,” said Sheriff Guire Cahoon. “The armed robbery at the Family Dollar in Swan Quarter was a serious crime that put innocent lives at risk, and we are grateful for the quick response of our deputies which resulted in the apprehension of the individuals involved, and we are grateful for the assistance of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work on the case. Violent crime has no place in our community, and we will continue working tirelessly to protect the people of Hyde County.”

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Hyde County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-12-FL-RJ-3.

###

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Northern District of Ohio U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Multiple Defendants with Immigration Violations

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced that federal grand juries in the Northern District of Ohio have returned indictments for the following individuals on charges of immigration-related law violations. These are separate cases and are not related.

Hector Linares, 47, a citizen of El Salvador, has been indicted on three counts. He has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, and for being an alien in possession of a firearm, for possessing a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol and ammunition. In 2010, he was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine. Linares was also charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being Nov. 24, 2023. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Marshals Service.

Edil A. Martinez-Padilla, 38, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States twice with the last being April 24, 2013. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Carlos Daniel Romero-Esborar, 39, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged with illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the last being April 27, 2012. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the USAO’s criminal division are prosecuting the cases above.

Additionally, Juan Tiul Xi, 26, a citizen of Guatemala unlawfully residing in Cleveland, has been indicted for allegedly submitting a sponsorship application with false statements to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Tiul Xi encouraged and induced a 14-year-old female unaccompanied minor from Guatemala to illegally enter the United States. It is alleged that he used his sister’s identity for the girl to provide as an alias which he included on paperwork in an effort to obtain custody of her. This indictment is the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The ICE HSI and FBI Cleveland Division are jointly investigating with assistance from HSI’s attaché team in Guatemala. Senior Trial Attorney Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), Joint Task Force Alpha detailee/Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Acting U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik and Criminal Division Chief Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Analyst/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: American Rebel (NASDAQ: AREB) to Host Strategic Board Meeting and Exclusive Dinner for Investors at Mar-A-Lago Following Unprecedented Successful Sponsorship at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

American Rebel Light Beer was featured at the NHRA event, where thousands of attendees and a national television audience were exposed to America’s Fastest Growing Beer.

Nashville, TN, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), will be holding an exclusive dinner at Mar-A-Lago tonight for its board of directors and a major investor group. This will be the second round of meetings this month at Mar-a-Lago, aka the “Winter White House,” where America’s Patriotic Beer brand has established a strong footprint among supporters of President Trump and those who love our great nation.

Quote from CEO Andy Ross:

“Hosting our esteemed Board of Directors, investment bankers, and key strategic investors at Mar-A-Lago in Florida is an honor and a pivotal opportunity for American Rebel Holdings, Inc. As we convene at the Winter White House, we are eager to discuss the strategic growth of American Rebel Light Beer. This event, following several preliminary planning meetings, presents a unique chance to accelerate and enhance our existing strategic plan to expand our distribution footprint and target customer base, particularly among NHRA fans. Our distribution expansion in 2025 continues to surpass expectations, setting the stage for sustained revenue growth and market share gains over the coming months and years.”

This weekend’s American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (charlottemotorspeedway.com) was broadcast nationally through FOX Broadcasting’s FS1. The event provided viewers with the experience of drag racing and additional exposure for American Rebel Light Beer. The NHRA’s partnership with FOX Sports ensures expanded coverage, bringing drag racing, and this weekend American Rebel Light Beer, to homes across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.

American Rebel Light Beer – America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer was proud to be featured at this iconic event. Fans attending the race enjoyed cold American Rebel Light Beer while experiencing the unique four-lane racing format and pit access included with every ticket. For those watching from home, the FS1 broadcast showcased the adrenaline-pumping action, making it a weekend to remember.

Continued Quote from CEO Andy Ross:

“We are honored to have Tony Stewart Racing’s (tsrnitro.com) Matt Hagan, driver of the American Rebel Light Funny Car, give his insights to the group in Florida to continue to capture the momentum of American Rebel Light Beer within the NHRA (nhra.com). TSR Racing with Tony, Matt, and Leah combined with American Rebel Light Beer is a winning combination with the fans that we believe is creating long-term customers. We are thoroughly evaluating additional sponsorship and growth opportunities for American Rebel Light Beer, ensuring its continued success as America’s Patriotic Beer.”

About American Rebel Light Beer

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

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

About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

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

American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
info@americanrebel.com
ir@americanrebel.com

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

Media Contact:
Matt Sheldon
Matt@PrecisionPR.co

Forward-Looking Statements

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

Attachment
- American Rebel Holdings Inc
The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What Trump’s first 100 days mean for America’s women

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amy Tatum, Lecturer in Communication and Media, Bournemouth University

At a rally in November 2024, Donald Trump told the women of America that whether they “like it or not, I’m going to protect them”. And in his first 100 days as president, Trump has taken his role in a direction that leans into the most traditional form of patriarchy – a protector who knows what is best for women despite their demands to the contrary.

In his leadership of the Republican party and his administration – and, crucially, in the executive orders he has issued – Trump has often tried to suggest women are at the forefront of his agenda. But rather than protecting women’s interests, these orders are setting back their rights at an alarming rate.

On his first day back in the White House, the government website offering reproductive health information was taken offline. Since then, the Department of Health and Human Services has removed all mention of abortion protection policies and the Department of Justice has dropped the Biden administration’s lawsuit against Idaho, over its near-total abortion ban.

How is Donald Trump’s presidency shaping up after 100 days? Here’s what the experts think. If you like what you see, sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter.

The Trump administration has also asked to join the oral arguments currently being heard by the US Supreme Court that seek to prevent Medicaid funding for medical services offered by Planned Parenthood in the state of South Carolina.

Such changes underline Trump’s stance on reproductive rights and suggest potential support for further legislation or legal battles aimed at limiting women’s access to such services.

A Gallup poll found that in 2024, 63% of women in the US considered themselves pro-choice. So the Trump administration’s stance not only shows it is not listening to women; it signals that the government wants to restrict women’s agency for making their own reproductive decisions. This reinforces the patriarchal role taken by Trump and his administration.

Limiting women’s democratic rights

On March 25, Trump issued an executive order on voting registration. This was followed, a week later, by the House of Representatives vote on what is known as the “Save Act” (the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act). This legislation is aimed at limiting voter fraud – but has largely been seen as a way to restrict people’s ability to register to vote.

The act, if passed by the Senate, will change the documentation that is required from a driving licence to either a birth certificate or passport. This is likely to have a detrimental effect on many women’s access to registration.

In the US, 84% of women who marry men change their surname to that of their husband, meaning their name does not match that on their birth certificate. And it is estimated that 146 million US citizens do not hold valid passports – so many women wishing to vote may not have identification that would give them eligibility under this act.

The draft law does not, at present, set out how married women would be able to circumvent this. The legislation has been criticised by commentators for its lack of protection for women voters, and has been seen as a way to disenfranchise and remove the rights of many women – effectively removing them from public affairs by denying their democratic rights.

Attacking transgender rights

Trump’s mission to “protect women” has extended to a concerted attack on gender non-conforming people. In his first day in the Oval Office, Trump signed executive order 14168 entitled: “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

The wording of the title of this executive order focuses on the defence of women through a biological lens. But what it really does is weaken legal protections for trans, intersex and non-binary people by removing recognition of such identities in federal government policy and institutions. It also has the potential to limit these groups’ access to healthcare, leisure spaces, identity documents and education.

A week later, the president followed this up with an executive order restricting gender care for under-19s, meaning that insurance run by the federal government could not be used to cover treatments or gender transitions.

The first 100 days of Trump’s second term have suggested an aggressive stance towards eroding the rights of women and gender non-conforming people that has been couched in the idea of “protecting women”. In fact, limiting access to reproductive healthcare, restricting the rights of trans, intersex and non-binary people, and potentially disenfranchising large numbers of women demonstrates a lack of protection and a diminishing of their voices.

Trump is portraying himself as the ultimate patriarch – one who knows best, and who upholds the power and privilege of men like himself.

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

– ref. What Trump’s first 100 days mean for America’s women – https://theconversation.com/what-trumps-first-100-days-mean-for-americas-women-255269

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Stuart, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Deviant Identities, Brunel University of London

Warning: this article contains minor spoilers for Sinners.

Sinners is a vampire film set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, a time of harsh segregation and racial injustice. The vampire is Irishman Remmick (Jack O’Connell), who is drawn to the blues music played at the Juke Joint, a club set up by identical gangster twins, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan).

We first encounter Remmick as he is being chased by a band of indigenous Choctaw vampire hunters, who corner him in the shack of a couple who happen to be part of the Ku Klux Klan. The Choctaw’s claim that Remmick is not who he appears to be falls on deaf ears and the couple soon become Remmick’s first victims.

Remmick is soon drawn to the Juke Joint, where the music of blues guitarist Sammy “Preacher Boy” Moore (Miles Caton) is said to reach both ancestors and future generations. Keen to feast on the club’s patrons, Remmick tries to draw them outside by singing an Irish ballad from the mid-19th century, The Rocky Road to Dublin.

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The Rocky Road to Dublin tells the story of an Irish man leaving his hometown of Tuam to travel to Liverpool. Tuam was the location of a Catholic mother and baby home, where the bodies of over 700 babies were found in 2015.

Remmick uses the song to invite the Black Juke Joint patrons to join him and the others he has turned into vampires, offering them the chance to escape Jim Crow Mississippi.

If Remmick was truly offering freedom, however, he would have tried to tempt them with a song of liberation, such as Oro Se Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile, which was the rebel song sung by the republican army as they overthrew the oppression of the English during the Easter Rising in 1916.

Instead, the music he chooses, although catchy, is a story of exchanging one form of suffering (life in Tuam during the height of English oppression) for another – life on the English mainland where the ballad tells of victimisation and violence.

The trailer for Sinners.

The Choctaw’s hunting of Remmick is particularly interesting. The real Choctaw sent money to the starving Irish during the English-induced famine of the 1840s, when they were themselves experiencing genocide.

Given that the Choctaw are historical allies of the Irish, by identifying that Remmick is not who he seems, they highlight that he does not represent the Irish spirit of resistance. Instead, he represents the spirit of oppression and his choice of music underscores this.

Choice of setting

Sinners is set in the early 1930s, a decade after the liberation of Ireland and five years after the founding of the Tuam mother and baby home. Perhaps Remmick needed new feeding grounds since Ireland was finally throwing off the oppression of the English. Where better than the deep south of the Jim Crow era to find oppression and those desperate to escape it?

Remmick claims to be attracted to the music of the oppressed but when hoodoo healer Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) is killed by Stack before she can be turned into a vampire, we see his true intent. Remmick is angered by her death because although it appears it is the music he is drawn to, in reality it is Annie’s strength he desires.

Annie, who is steeped in Black culture and can see the vampire’s real intentions, symbolises the way many Black women can resist a social system that is both capitalist and racist. This system doesn’t allow them to ignore the dangers it brings.

It is the strength and energy of Africa embodied in Annie’s traditional beliefs that Remmick truly seeks to possess, and he is distraught when she dies without being turned into a vampire.

Unlike Preacher Boy’s family, Annie has resisted the colonisation of her spirituality by the Christian church. Preacher Boy’s father encourages him to stop playing the blues because of its ability to call the devil. Through her ancestral practices however, Annie is able to recognise and resist the temptations of escape that Remmick offers.

Sinners is an interesting work by filmmaker Ryan Coogler that leaves a trail of crumbs for future instalments. The Choctaw vampire hunters are only on screen for two minutes, but they represent an interesting aside that needs to be explored in terms of the oppressed reaching out to each other against colonialism.

Annie, immersed in her African spirituality, resists oppression by calling on the strength of ancestors. It’s a powerful reminder that when we know where we come from it is hard to sell us a story of redemption that is ultimately another form of oppression.

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

– ref. Sinners: how real stories of Irish and Choctaw oppression inform the film – https://theconversation.com/sinners-how-real-stories-of-irish-and-choctaw-oppression-inform-the-film-255291

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: From headaches to addiction: the risks of overusing nasal decongestant sprays

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

voronaman/Shutterstock

Nasal decongestant sprays are a popular remedy for relieving nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies and sinus infections. These sprays provide quick relief allowing for easier breathing. However, while they can be effective in the short term, overusing nasal decongestant sprays can lead to serious health issues.

In April 2025, ITV news reported on people who became dependent on nasal sprays. Many others went on to share similar experiences on social media platforms like TikTok.

Nasal congestion happens when the lining inside the nose and sinuses becomes irritated, often due to allergens, viruses, or pollutants. In response, immune cells release inflammatory chemicals that cause swelling and increased mucus production. This swelling can block airflow, making it difficult to breathe and often disrupting sleep.

Most decongestant sprays contain medications like oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, or phenylephrine. These drugs target adrenergic (adrenaline-sensitive) receptors in the blood vessels of the nasal lining, causing the vessels to constrict. As a result, the nasal lining becomes less swollen, opening up the airways and providing almost instant relief.

This fast-acting benefit is precisely why so many people reach for these sprays. But the convenience can come at a cost.

Rebound risks

Withdrawal from nasal decongestant sprays can be a deeply uncomfortable experience for some. Common symptoms include headaches, nasal stuffiness, dryness and even anxiety.

One of the most concerning side effects of overusing nasal sprays is a condition known as rebound congestion, or rhinitis medicamentosa (RM). This occurs when the nose becomes reliant on the spray to stay open. Over time, the effectiveness of the medication wears off – a phenomenon known as tachyphylaxis. As a result, users may apply the spray more frequently or in higher doses to get the same relief, creating a vicious cycle.

Some symptoms of rebound congestion, such as constant stuffiness and red, irritated nasal passages, can resemble those seen in cocaine misuse. A US study estimated that up to 9% of patients visiting ear, nose and throat clinics present with RM. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to estimate how many people are affected in the UK, especially since nasal sprays are sold over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets, often for as little as £3. With long wait times for doctor appointments, many people choose to self-medicate.

Prolonged use of nasal decongestants can lead to chronic sinusitis: persistent inflammation and infection of the sinuses. The repeated narrowing of blood vessels can also reduce blood flow to nasal tissues, leading to thinning of the lining, chronic dryness, nosebleeds and, in some cases, nasal septal perforation: a hole in the nasal septum.

Additionally, overuse can damage the turbinates – tiny bone structures inside the nose that help filter, warm and humidify the air you breathe. This can cause them to become swollen or inflamed (turbinate hypertrophy), worsening congestion. Overuse can also impair the function of cilia, tiny hair-like structures responsible for clearing mucus and allergens from the nose.

Beyond physical symptoms, many users experience psychological dependence. The fear of not being able to breathe without the spray can cause significant anxiety, making it harder to stop using it even when symptoms worsen.

If you find yourself relying on nasal sprays, it’s important to begin tapering off gradually to minimise withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, doctors may recommend steroid nasal sprays like beclomethasone to reduce inflammation during the withdrawal process. For severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. The good news? Many people recover within a week of stopping the spray with the right treatment plan.

Safer alternatives

So, what can you use instead? Saline nasal sprays or rinses can help flush out irritants and moisturise the nasal passages without causing rebound congestion. Oral antihistamines and oral decongestants may be more appropriate for allergy-related congestion but can have their own side effects. Antibiotics may be prescribed for sinus infections with severe congestion.

If you’re using a nasal decongestant spray, it’s important not to exceed three to five days of use – seven days at most, according to experts. Always read the label and follow dosage instructions carefully.

Nasal decongestant sprays can offer rapid relief, but overusing them can lead to serious consequences, including rebound congestion, tissue damage and psychological dependence. Use them sparingly, and if nasal congestion persists beyond a week, consult a healthcare professional.

With safer alternatives and medical guidance, you can breathe easier – without the long-term risks.

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

– ref. From headaches to addiction: the risks of overusing nasal decongestant sprays – https://theconversation.com/from-headaches-to-addiction-the-risks-of-overusing-nasal-decongestant-sprays-254830

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor speech at Innovate Finance Global Summit 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

Speech

Chancellor speech at Innovate Finance Global Summit 2025

The Chancellor delivered the keynote speech at the Innovate Finance Global Summit 2025 on 29 April.

Thank you Janine, and good afternoon everyone.

It’s a pleasure to be here today to mark the 11th year of UK FinTech Week …

… brought together once again by Innovate Finance…

…who continue to champion tirelessly our FinTech sector.

As Chancellor, I’ve always said it’s my job to back the builders…

… back the wealth creators…

…and the job creators.

So my job is to back all of you in this room.

After all, it’s thanks to your work that the UK is a world leader in FinTech.

When I was working at the Bank of England 20 years ago…

…FinTech was in its infancy…

…an offshoot of financial services…

…and there was certainly no such thing as FinTech week.

But times have changed, the industry has changed.

Last year, the UK’s FinTech sector attracted $3.6 billion of investment – more than any other country bar the US.

Almost half of Europe’s FinTech unicorns are based here in Britain…

…and roughly a third of all UK unicorns are FinTechs – a higher share than anywhere else.

Companies like Allica Bank and Zilch, who were both recently named among the fastest growing companies in Europe by the Financial Times …

…Or Zopa, for whom 2024 marked another year of extraordinary economic growth.

Last week when I was in Washington for the IMF Spring Meetings…

… I spoke to industry, legislators, and policymakers…

…as well as US firms already operating here in the UK.

I set out our strengths as an open trading nation with trade links around the world…

…and as a nation that can provide political and financial stability and certainty to businesses…

…in an uncertain world.

The UK has a long history of breaking new ground in Financial Services.

We were the first country to develop uniform Open Banking standards…

…and we were one of the first countries to establish a system for near-instant digital payments with the Faster payments system in 2008.

In my Mansion House speech last year, I published the National Payments Vision…

… setting out the government’s ambition for seamless account-to-account payments…

…and demonstrating our commitment to a regulatory environment that cares about managing the burden we put on businesses.

Something that we will build in with the consolidation of the Payment Systems Regulator into the FCA.

The UK is Europe’s leading hub for investment…

…raising more equity capital than the next three European exchanges combined last year.

I am committed to building on these strong foundations…

…with an ambitious programme of reforms.

Last September I chose to extend the UK’s generous venture capital schemes…

… the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Venture Capital Trust scheme…

…which – alongside the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme – offer generous tax reliefs…

…in return for investing in British business.

And we will soon publish the final Pension Investment Review, ahead of the introduction of the Pension Schemes Bill…

…where we will legislate to unlock up to £80 billion of investment into companies like yours…

start-up, scale-up, and fast growing businesses.

…delivering a major consolidation of the Defined Contribution market and the Local Government Pension Scheme…

…so that pension funds have sufficient scale to invest in growing industries like FinTech.

I am determined to make sure that the UK remains one of the best places in the world for FinTechs to start-up, scale-up and to list…

…benefitting from our stable and liquid markets.

Last July, the FCA implemented a fundamental rewrite of the UK’s Listing Rules, the biggest reforms in a generation.

These new rules now put the UK in line – or in many cases ahead – of other global markets in giving companies the flexibility to pursue their growth ambitions…

…backing their aspiration…

…and allowing them to raise large amounts of capital more easily.

And for those companies who want to remain private for longer, we are developing the new Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System – or PISCES…

…which we will legislate for next month.

This is a brand new type of stock exchange for trading private company shares…

…supporting private companies to scale and grow…

…and providing a steppingstone to IPO.

Finally, we’ve reformed the rules to allow greater investment research to be produced on UK listed companies…

…and reducing the burdens imposed on public companies through the UK’s Corporate Governance Code.

I want the UK to be a place where you can take risks…

…innovate and experiment…

…and find new ways to deliver for your customers.

When I met with senior leaders from across the FinTech sector last month…

…you told me about the importance of getting the balance of regulation right…

…especially on digital assets.

I agree.

While the UK will always be committed to high international standards…

…I am determined that our regulatory framework supports economic growth.

That’s why I’m delighted that we are today publishing draft legislation for the UK’s comprehensive regulatory regime for cryptoassets…

…engaging with all of you to ensure that the final legislation – planned for later this year – delivers for government and most importantly for the industry…

…and makes the UK a great place for digital asset companies to invest and innovate.

For the UK to be a world-leader in digital assets…

…international cooperation is vital.

Which is why I discussed continued U.S. and UK engagement with Secretary Bessent last week…

…including further dialogue at the upcoming UK-U.S. Financial Regulatory Working Group in June…

…to support the use and responsible growth of digital assets…

…maintaining the deep historic relationship between the world’s two largest financial centres through this period of significant technological change.

Regulation must support business, not hold it back.

Our regulators were among the first to embrace and develop sandboxes…

…including the Digital Securities Sandbox, where I’m delighted that we already have a broad range of firms all looking at different proposals for tokenising our financial markets.

Last November, I announced that this government will issue a Digital Gilt Instrument…

…an entirely new debt instrument…

…using distributed ledger technology…

this will enable us to experience first-hand the benefits of digital technologies in debt issuance.

And I know that there is appetite to go further.

Last week, Secretary Bessent and I also discussed how our officials could explore opportunities to support industry to innovate cross-border…

…in line with proposals put forward by US Securities and Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce about a transatlantic sandbox for digital securities…

…potentially allowing greater digital collaboration between capital markets in New York and London.

I’ve talked about what we’ve already done, and some ideas for the future.

Financial services is one of the key growth-driving sectors in the UK’s modern industrial strategy…

….with FinTech as a priority growth opportunity…

…and I look forward to publishing the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy at my upcoming Mansion House address…

…which I can today confirm will take place on the 15th July.

At Mansion House last year I set out my vision on economic growth…

…and the new approach required to build sustainable growth…

…on a platform of stability.

At Mansion House this year I’ll talk about how we can go further and faster in realising that growth.

By publishing the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy…

…I will set out our strategy for the rest of this parliament and beyond…

…building on our strengths in areas including capital markets, insurance and asset management…

… supporting firms to innovate by ensuring they can access and develop the talent they need…

…and promoting the UK as a great place to do business globally.

Backing the builders in FinTech means improving outcomes for businesses and consumers…

…revolutionising how we invest and trade…

And driving growth and prosperity, here in the UK.

It’s incredible how far Fintech has come in the past decade…

And I’m enormously optimistic about the future.

From the huge growth of the sector that has already taken place…

…to the passion, drive and commitment I see from all of you to make FinTech a huge UK success story…

…it is clear that our job in government is to back you, back the builders, back the change makers all the way.

And I am ready to do just that.

Thank you very much.

Updates to this page

Published 29 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Statement on National Fentanyl Awareness Day

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The United States of America recognizes April 29, 2025, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Families in Virginia’s Ninth District are far too familiar with the devastating impacts of illicit fentanyl on our communities. I will continue to push for federal policies that help the country tackle the fentanyl epidemic, such as my HALT Fentanyl Act. I would like to thank all local law enforcement officials and first responders who work to protect Virginia communities from the scourge of illicit fentanyl.”

BACKGROUND

Rep. Griffith is a chief sponsor of H.R. 27, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act. The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify lethal fentanyl-related substances, also known as analogues, as Schedule I substances, closing a dangerous loophole traffickers are exploiting.

The bill also enables a streamlined registration process for medical research into fentanyl-related substances.

H.R. 27 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on February 6, 2025.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Landsat at Work: A Path to Better Wireless Communication
Source: US Geological Survey
Breadcrumb

News
Landsat at Work: A Path to Better Wireless Communication

National Land Cover Database (NLCD), based on Landsat, helps plan clear signals
Of course, you would take into account the elevation of the land to make sure a hill in between wouldn’t interrupt the radio frequency signal.

Then imagine going to the expense of setting up two towers and feeling stumped when your signal between them is weak anyway. As it turns out, that hill in between is actually lined with trees 150 feet tall—a height within the signal path.

Failing to account for obstacles like trees and buildings and other materials on the land—collectively called “clutter”—could be an expensive error to correct. It could even be hazardous if first responders are relying on the signals during a remote wildfire or a natural disaster that disrupts other forms of communication.

That’s just one of many reasons why the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), the longstanding and definitive U.S. land cover resource based on Landsat satellite data, is so valuable. Incorporating NLCD into the design and analysis of a wireless communication system provides clutter information for land cover types like fields, forests, cities and grasslands across the United States.

Jason Burkholder is president and CEO of SoftWright, which provides software worldwide to help customers decide where to place permanent or mobile transmitters to ensure clear communication. NLCD helps the Terrain Analysis Package (TAP) software and related mapping tool predict where land cover has the potential to weaken the signal, which is called clutter loss.

Softwright’s customers range from engineering and consulting firms to first responders, including local governments, the USDA Forest Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Department. One of the first questions Burkholder hears from potential new customers is, “What kind of clutter data do you have available?”

He offers several land cover options but says NLCD is the most popular for the United States. “We’ve got a good answer for that, and it’s definitely because the NLCD is available,” Burkholder said. “That’s where we go to get clutter losses. It’s certainly something that most users are interested in.”

The map portion of this Softwright TAP Analysis screenshot indicates the National Land Cover Database land cover classifications along a radio frequency signal path along and north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, with the various colors representing land cover types (legend on the left). On the graphic below the map, the Y-axis (on the left) is showing the elevation of the signal path in meters. The X-axis (along the bottom) is showing distance in kilometers. The red line slanting across the top is the line of sight. The slanted blue line is the Fresnel Zone, which is a 3-dimensional elliptical area between a wireless transmitter and receiver. Obstructions within the Fresnel Zone would typically cause signal loss.

Landsat’s annual value was calculated to be $25.6 billion in 2023, with many of its uses not obvious—including communication software.

For Burkholder, that means he can provide high-quality data and real-world solutions for customers planning the ideal routes for their needs.

“If the whole world was bare ground, your radios would be amazing,” Burkholder said. “But it’s not.”

That’s the whole reason for Landsat and NLCD: showing us what is on the ground and how it affects us in countless ways.

Note: Landsat data and NLCD data are both available from the U.S. Geological Survey at no cost to users.

Disclaimer: This web page contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other organizations. USGS is not responsible for the content of any off-site pages. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the United States Government.

MIL OSI USA News –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Dialogue, negotiations, disarmament: the Church’s path to peace according to Pope Francis

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Vatican Media

Vatican City (Fides Agency) – Three chairs, which soon became two, placed in front of the baptistery in St. Peter’s Basilica. Facing each other, Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky – for a quarter of an hour and on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral- engaged in intense dialogue on the possibilities for ending the bloody conflict in Ukraine. It was an image that in its own way recalled the criteria that have inspired the Holy See’s contribution to attempts to resolve wars, conflicts, and international crises during the pontificate of Pope Francis. Fragments of what the Argentine pontiff himself had called the “world war in pieces.”The paths of dialogue, negotiation, and disarmament are those that the last bishop of Rome, with the help of Vatican diplomacy, repeatedly encouraged, describing them as the only viable ways to find solutions for everyone in ongoing conflicts.Starting with “tormented Syria,” which has always been close to the Argentine Pope’s heart. The Pontiff gave voice to refugees and displaced persons fleeing the violence of a war that, as the Pope himself said, has risked turning into “brutal persecution” for those who profess other religions. Appeals for Syria, which have become a constant feature of the Easter Urbi et Orbi blessings, have been made during several Angelus and Regina Coeli prayers, as well as at the end of Wednesday’s general audiences. Only a few years later, the same would happen with war-torn Ukraine.“How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must still be endured before a political solution to the crisis can be found?” the Pope asked repeatedly, always calling for ‘courage’ and ‘determination’ to embark on the path of negotiations. He did so by proclaiming September 7, 2013, a day of prayer and penance for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, because, as he said during the Angelus prayer in which he announced this initiative, “Humanity needs to see gestures of peace and hear words of hope and peace!”The gestures were followed by further words, including letters to heads of state, and finally by his physical presence: in spring 2016, he told Syrian refugees housed in the Moria camp in Lesbos: “I want to tell you that you are not alone.” When he returned to Rome, he took three Syrian families with him.And that’s not all. During his apostolic journey to the Holy Land in May 2014, the Pope paused to pray in front of the separation wall built by Israel near Bethlehem, the city where Jesus was born. A few weeks later, the Pope brought together the then Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican to pray together for peace in the Middle East. On this occasion, an olive tree was planted in the Vatican Gardens in the presence of Patriarch Bartholomew I and a delegation of Christians, Jews, and Muslims from the Holy Land as a symbol of peace.“Yes to keeping agreements and no to provocation; this requires courage,” said the Bishop of Rome in June 2024 before saying the closing prayer: “Many times and over many years, we have tried to resolve our conflicts with our own strength and even with our weapons; so many moments of hostility and darkness; so much blood shed; so many lives broken; so many hopes buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, help us! Grant us peace, teach us peace, lead us to peace! Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!” … And may these words—division, hatred, war—be banished from the hearts of every human being! Lord, disarm our tongues and our hands, renew our hearts and minds, so that the word we use to address one another may always be “brother,” and our lives may be expressed in “Shalom, Peace, Salam!” Amen.Last year, on the tenth anniversary of this historic meeting, Pope Francis wanted to gather the entire diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See around this olive tree, which has since grown, to commemorate the embrace between the two presidents. The ambassadors of Israel and Palestine to the Holy See sat next to the Pope.“Instead of pretending that war can solve problems and lead to peace, we must therefore be critical and vigilant toward an ideology that unfortunately prevails today, according to which ‘conflict, violence, and divisions are part of the normal functioning of society.’ It is always about power struggles between different social groups, about particular economic interests and about international political considerations that aim at an apparent peace and run away from the real problems. Instead, in a time marked by tragic conflicts, we need a new commitment to building a peaceful world. To all believers and people of good will, I say: Let us not cease to dream of peace and to build peaceful relationships!” These were the words spoken by the Pope in the early summer of 2024.A similar initiative was launched in spring 2019, when the Pope invited the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of South Sudan to a two-day spiritual retreat in the Vatican. Contrary to protocol, Pope Francis knelt before them and kissed the shoes of the South Sudanese leaders:“I implore that the fire of war may be extinguished once and for all.” Peace, according to the Bishop of Rome,“is the first gift that the Lord has given us, and it is the first duty that the leaders of nations must fulfill: peace is the fundamental condition for the respect of the rights of every human being and for the integral development of all peoples.” “Dear brothers and sisters, let us not forget that God has entrusted us, the political and religious leaders, with the task of guiding his people: he has entrusted much to us, and for this very reason he will demand all the more from us! He will ask us to give an account of our service and our office, of our commitment to peace and to the good we have done for the members of our communities, especially the poorest and most marginalised. In other words, he will ask us to give an account of our lives, but also of the lives of others.”“Peace is possible,” it is ‘a great gift from God,’ but it also requires a commitment from people “in dialogue, in negotiation, and in forgiveness.” After his words to the Sudanese leadership, Pope Francis said something similar in an interview regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine: “Stronger is the one who thinks of the people, who has the courage to raise the white flag,” and “when you see that things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate,” which does not mean surrender, “negotiating is never surrender.” In Gaza, too, he added on that occasion, there is a conflict that “is involves two, not one. The irresponsible ones are these two who are waging war. Today, with the help of the international powers, we can negotiate. The word negotiate is courageous. We need not be ashamed to negotiate before the situation gets worse.”Parallel to the path of dialogue runs the path of disarmament, from the demand for a ban on nuclear weapons to the condemnation of the arms race, the words of Pope Francis are in perfect continuity with those of his predecessors, from Benedict XV to Benedict XVI. The latter also advocated an end to the arms trade: “I would also say that the importation of arms must finally cease, because without the importation of arms, war could not continue. Instead of importing weapons, which is a grave sin, we should import ideas of peace and creativity; seek solutions that accept everyone in their otherness. We must therefore make visible in the world respect for religions, respect for human beings as creatures of God, and charity as fundamental to all religions.”Pope Francis took up this concept again in 2019 when he received participants at a meeting of relief organizations of the Eastern Churches and said: “Those who have nothing to eat, who have no medical care, who have no school, the orphans, the wounded and the widows raise their voices to heaven. Even if people’s hearts are insensitive, this is certainly not true of God’s heart, which is wounded by the hatred and violence that can erupt among his creatures, and which is always touched and concerned with the tenderness and strength of a protective and guiding father. But sometimes I also think of the wrath of God that will be unleashed on those responsible in countries that talk about peace and sell weapons to wage these wars. This hypocrisy is a sin.”Back in 2014, the Argentine pope had already said in his apostolic letter Evangelii gaudium: “There are economic systems that need to wage war to survive.” He repeated several times that the most profitable investments today are made in arms factories. On several occasions, especially in his Urbi et Orbi messages at Christmas and Easter, he called for weapons to be silenced and proposed the establishment of a world fund against hunger, to be financed with the money earmarked for arms. During the pandemic, while praying the Rosary in St. Peter’s Basilica, he proposed the creation of another fund, this time for research and studies: “Holy Mary, stir consciences so that the enormous sums spent on increasing and perfecting weapons may instead be used to promote adequate studies to prevent similar disasters in the future.”According to the latest figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) for 2023, global military spending will reach a record high of $2.44 trillion, representing an increase of 6.8% over the previous year.The US spent the most on weapons: $880 billion, followed by China ($309 billion) and Russia ($126 billion). If the military budget is divided by the number of inhabitants, the US spent an average of $2,694 per inhabitant. By comparison, Israel spent $29 billion in 2023, but achieved the highest per capita expenditure in the world: $2,997 per inhabitant.Pope Francis’ words on this subject are illuminating: “Certain decisions are not neutral: spending a large part of the budget on weapons means taking it away from something else, once again taking it away from those who lack the necessities. And that is a scandal. How much is spent on weapons is terrible. We must raise awareness that continuing to spend on weapons defiles the soul, the heart, humanity. What good is it if we all solemnly commit ourselves at the international level to campaigns against poverty, against hunger, against the destruction of the planet, if we then fall back into the old vice of war, into the old strategy of the power of arms, which sets everything and everyone back? War always leads to regression, always. We are going backwards.” (FB) (Fides Agency 29/4/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: 100 DAYS OF INVESTMENT: $5+ Trillion in New Investment Fuels America’s Future

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
President Donald J. Trump has secured over $5 trillion in new U.S.-based investments in his first 100 days, which will create more than 451,000 new jobs as he sets the stage for a new era of American prosperity. From advanced manufacturing to cutting-edge artificial intelligence infrastructure, these historic investments — spurred by President Trump’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing American industry — will reinforce the U.S. as the global leader in innovation and economic growth.
The announcements keep coming. In recent days:
IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new, high-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs.
Merck & Co. announced a $1 billion investment to build a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs — part of the company’s commitment to invest more than $9 billion over the next four years.
“Since the advent of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Merck has allocated more than $12 billion to enhance our domestic manufacturing and research capabilities, with additional planned investments of more than $9 billion over the next four years.”

Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
The company credited President Trump’s landmark 2017 tax cuts for enabling its rapid expansion: “Pro-growth policies like the @POTUS @WhiteHouse 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped make investments like this possible. Since enactment, Amgen has invested ~$5B in capital expenditures. This amounts to an additional downstream output to the U.S. economy of approximately $12B.”

The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
Here is the non-exhaustive list of investments secured in President Trump’s second term:
Project Stargate, led by Japan-based Softbank and U.S.-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a $500 billion private investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.
NVIDIA, a global chipmaking giant, announced it will invest $500 billion in U.S.-based AI infrastructure over the next four years amid its pledge to manufacture AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. for the first time.
IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.
Johnson & Johnson announced a $55 billion investment over the next four years in manufacturing, research and development, and technology.
Roche, a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced a $50 billion investment in U.S.-based manufacturing and research and development, which is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs.
Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
United Arab Emirates-based ADQ and U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners announced a $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and energy infrastructure.
Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, announced a $23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing facilities across the U.S., which will create 4,000 new jobs.
Hyundaiannounced a $21 billion U.S.-based investment — including $5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs.
Hyundai also secured an equity investment and agreement from Posco Holdings, South Korea’s top steel maker.

United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.
France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.
Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
Merck & Co. announced it will invest a total of $9 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility — including in a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs.
Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.
Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network, including re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois, manufacturing plant.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in biotechnology, announced a $3 billion agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at its North Carolina manufacturing facility.
NorthMark Strategies, a multi-strategy investment firm, announced a $2.8 billion investment to build a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs for a total of 1,500 new jobs.
Chobani, a Greek yogurt giant, announced a $1.2 billion investment to build its third U.S. dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs — adding to the company’s earlier announcement that it will invest $500 million to expand its Idaho manufacturing plant.
GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.
Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
Schneider Electric announced it will invest $700 million over the next four years in U.S. energy infrastructure.
GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
Abbott Laboratories announced a $500 million investment in its Illinois and Texas facilities.
AIP Management, a European infrastructure investor, announced a $500 million investment to solar developer Silicon Ranch.
London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.
Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.
Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
Clasen Quality Chocolate announced a $230 million investment to build a new production facility in Virginia, which will create 250 new jobs.
Fiserv, Inc., a financial technology provider, announced a $175 million investment to open a new strategic fintech hub in Kansas, which is expected to create 2,000 new, high-paying jobs.
Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.
TS Conductor announced a $134 million investment to build an advanced conductor manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which will create nearly 500 new jobs.
Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
Charms, LLC, a subsidiary of candymaker Tootsie Roll Industries, announced a $97.7 million investment to expand its production plant and distribution center in Tennessee.
Toyota Motor Corporation announced an $88 million investment to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory, securing employment for the 2,000 workers at the factory.
AeroVironment, a defense contractor, announced a $42.3 million investment to build a new manufacturing facility in Utah.
Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.
Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
Cyclic Materials, a Canadian advanced recycling company for rare earth elements, announced a $20 million investment in its first U.S.-based commercial facility, located in Mesa, Arizona.
Guardian Bikes announced a $19 million investment to build the first U.S.-based large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in Indiana.
Amsterdam-based AMG Critical Minerals announced a $15 million investment to build a chrome manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.
NOVONIX Limited, an Australia-based battery technology company, announced a $4.6 million investment to build a synthetic graphite manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
LGM Pharma announced a $6 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas.
ViDARR Inc., a defense optical equipment manufacturer, announced a $2.69 million investment to open a new facility in Virginia.
That doesn’t even include the U.S. investments pledged by foreign countries:
United Arab Emirates announced a $1.4 trillion investment in the U.S. over the next decade.
Saudi Arabia announced it intends to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
Japan announced a $1 trillion investment in the U.S.
Taiwan announced a pledge to boost its U.S.-based investment.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exceptional hardship scheme opens: how to apply
Source: City of Portsmouth

A new exceptional hardship scheme has opened offering one-off payments for Portsmouth residents who need help to pay for food, bills and other essentials.

The Portsmouth City Council-run scheme offers individual payments to families and individuals in extreme hardship. The amount awarded is based on individual circumstances.

It’s open to Portsmouth households based on income levels who meet other criteria, and who have not received an exceptional hardship payment within the last six months. Full details and how to apply: www.portsmouth.gov.uk/household-support-fund

People can apply for payments towards groceries and energy costs, as well as essential household purchases like a fridge, freezer and white goods, beds, furniture, vehicle repairs and children’s clothing.

The first application window is open until 12 noon on Thursday 12 June 2025. The scheme will then reopen for a second window in July.

Residents are encouraged to check online if they’re eligible, and if they need help to apply to call the council’s cost of living helpline: 023 9284 1047.

It’s the first of a number of local support schemes to open, funded by the latest Household Support Fund (HSF) from the UK Government. Portsmouth has been given a total of £3,327,922 to use until 31 March 2026.

At an extraordinary cabinet meeting, councillors were updated on the other HSF schemes coming in stages which will further support those in hardship, including:
- Living cost payments for targeted groups including pensioners, carers, care leavers, people with disabilities
- Supermarket food vouchers for children who get free school meals (FSM), and a voucher scheme for low-income families who don’t quality for FSM
- Extending the successful HAF Fun Pompey holiday activities to low-income families who don’t qualify for FSM
- Grants for local foodbanks, community meals, larders/pantries so they can continue supporting people
- Funding to continue the cost of living hub website and helpline, offering free advice and help to apply for benefits and payments for those who need it
Details of all these application-based schemes will be added to the HSF webpage and promoted before they open.

Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:

“People have just seen a huge hike in many of their bills at a time when prices aren’t getting cheaper. There’s evidence that many local people are in more financial hardship than ever, so it’s essential that we allocate this funding to those who most need it.

“I strongly encourage people to check if they qualify for payment schemes when they open, as well as other benefits, and to contact our cost of living hub for any help.”

Nearly three-quarters of Portsmouth residents (72%) are finding it quite or very difficult to manage financially, from those who completed a cost of living survey in September 2024. Just over half of respondents have a household income of less than £10,000, and a further 38% earn between £10,000 and £20,000.

With thousands of Portsmouth residents still not receiving benefit payments like Pension Credit despite being eligible, the council continues to support people to apply through the helpline.
- Visit the cost of living hub website or call the free helpline 023 9284 1047, open weekdays 9am-5pm (closes 4.30pm Fridays)
- Find out how to lower your energy bills at Switched on Portsmouth and check if you qualify for a free home energy visit
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NEA Member Named 2025 National Teacher of the Year

Source: US National Education Union

By: Celeste Fernandez

Published: April 29, 2025

WASHINGTON — NEA member Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, is the 2025 National Teacher of the Year.

“On behalf of the National Education Association’s nearly three million members, we are proud to congratulate Ashlie for cultivating a curiosity for knowledge, nurturing growth, and guiding her students in exploring the world,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Her unwavering commitment helps build a stronger, brighter future for every student.”

Crosson teaches Advanced Placement Language and Composition, English 10, and Survival Stories, an elective that explores global humanitarian crises through a youth-centered lens. She also advises the journalism program and oversees the production of the school newspaper and district magazine.

A first-generation college graduate, Crosson credits her success to the teachers and counselors who supported her along the way. Inspired by their encouragement, she pursued a career in education to offer future generations the same guidance she once received. Crosson earned her bachelor’s degree in English education with a minor in journalism from Susquehanna University. In 2020, she returned to her hometown to give back to the community that shaped her.

“Ashlie embodies our core belief that public schools and educators spark imagination, cultivate curiosity and critical thinking, and open doors for every student—no matter their race, background, ZIP code, or ability,” said Pringle. “For Ashlie, teaching is more than a profession—it’s a true calling.”

Pringle’s praise is echoed by fellow education leaders who recognize Ashlie’s lasting impact on her students and community.

“The Pennsylvania State Education Association congratulates Ashlie,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin. “Ashlie works hard every day to nurture in her students a love for learning. Her tireless dedication to her students is helping prepare the next generation of creators, leaders, and innovators. And that benefits all of us because strong public schools make strong communities.”

The Council of Chief State School Officers announced the four finalists for the 2025 National Teacher of the Year in January. CCSSO’s National Teacher of the Year program identifies exceptional teachers, recognizes their effective work in the classroom, engages them in a year of professional learning, amplifies their voices, and empowers them to participate in policy discussions at the state and national levels.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.

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