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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Launches Recruitment Drive to Build Full-Scale KRONOS MMR Reactors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NANO Nuclear Aims to Expand Engineering and Project Development Team to Support U.S. and Canadian KRONOS MMR Energy System Reactor Construction and Licensing Efforts

    New York, N.Y., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or the “Company”) is launching a recruitment initiative focused on the Midwest region to support its ambitious plans to construct, demonstrate and gain regulatory approval for full-scale KRONOS MMR Energy Systems in both the United States and Canada.

    NANO Nuclear’s plans to extend its technical and project execution team are critical in the Company’s transition from design to ultimate commercial deployment of the proprietary, stationary KRONOS microreactor. In tandem with upcoming geological characterization work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) site, this workforce build-out will consolidate the expertise and provide the personnel necessary to complete the construction permit application and begin construction of the first KRONOS prototype on the UIUC campus shortly thereafter.

    Rendering of the KRONOS MMRTMEnergy System

    “As we prepare to break ground on the KRONOS reactor prototype at UIUC, it’s time to scale our team to match our vision,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “This is a call to the best and brightest in nuclear and energy innovation in the Midwest region—we’re building a reactor, and we need you on the team.”

    Now Hiring Across All Core Disciplines

    NANO Nuclear is actively recruiting top talent across a variety of critical disciplines for the KRONOS MMR project. Open positions include:

    • Nuclear Engineers – Fuel & materials, reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, safety, and licensing
    • Mechanical Engineers – design, structural, CAD, balance of plant
    • Electrical Engineers – Instrumentation & control (I&C), power electronics, transmission
    • Civil Engineers & Geotechnical Experts – Site layout, structural foundations, drilling operations
    • Project Managers & Construction Specialists – Full-cycle oversight from permitting through commissioning
    • QA/QC Professionals – Nuclear-grade standards, documentation, and supplier oversight
    • Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Experts – NRC and CNSC compliance and filings
    • Skilled Technicians – Fabrication, assembly, testing, and field support

    Applicants with previous experience in nuclear R&D, DOE national labs, SMR or MMR programs, or international reactor development are especially encouraged to apply.

    “Our collaboration with UIUC will be a critical operations hub for our KRONOS reactor development effort,” said Jay Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear. “It will house the growing team that’s building not only our U.S. research reactor, but also laying the foundation for our demonstration reactor deployment in Canada, which will open the path for eventual commercial rollout in both the U.S. and Canada.”

    Canadian Reactor Construction Also in Focus

    In parallel with the UIUC research reactor, Nano Nuclear is actively preparing to construct a KRONOS demonstration reactor in Canada, where it will enter the licensing process under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversight. The effort will establish a second fully licensed KRONOS unit, positioning NANO Nuclear to efficiently move its microreactor technology through construction, demonstration, regulatory licensing and eventual commercialization across North America.

    “Canada represents an incredible opportunity for clean, reliable microreactor deployment,” added Florent Heidet, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear. “By expanding our team and bringing additional talents onboard, we ensure we have the capacity to deliver simultaneous full-scale projects in two countries, each with independent regulatory pathways and future market potential.”

    Join the Team Shaping the Future of Nuclear Energy

    NANO Nuclear is a company that doesn’t just imagine the future—it’s engineering it, constructing it and moving towards regulatory licensing for it. With multiple microreactor project in progress, fuel qualification methodology already accepted by the NRC, and strategic partnerships underway, NANO Nuclear is one of the most active and ambitious advanced nuclear developers in the world.

    “This recruitment drive is about finding those who want to be part of history,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “If you want to help build the next generation of nuclear reactors from the ground up—this is your chance.”

    How to Apply

    Interested candidates can view open positions, including details regarding salary ranges and benefit offerings, and apply directly at:

    https://nanonuclearenergy.com/careers

    For inquiries, please contact:
    Email: careers@nanonuclearenergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

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

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

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

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

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

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Rocket Software Celebrates 35 Years of Innovation in IT Modernization

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WALTHAM, Mass., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rocket Software, a global technology leader in modernization software, is celebrating 35 years of innovation, growth, and excellence. Trusted by 43 of the Fortune 50, Rocket Software has grown from a start-up focused on enabling IBM solutions into a global enterprise driving the modernization efforts of over 12,500 customers and 750 partners. Founded in 1990 by Andy Youniss and Johan Magnusson Gedda, the company now proudly employs more than 3,200 employees worldwide. Over the decades, the company has modernized billions of lines of code, transformed countless databases, and helped organizations unlock the true potential of their IT infrastructure.

    “Rocket Software has been a catalyst for modernization—and we’re just getting started,” said Milan Shetti, president and CEO of Rocket Software. “We remain committed to bold innovation, empowering our global customers to solve complex IT challenges while modernizing without disruption. Our momentum is unstoppable, and we’re shaping the future of digital transformation. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Rocketeers for their dedication over the past 35 years. Their hard work and passion are the foundation of our success, and together, we’ll continue to push the boundaries of innovation.”

    A Legacy of Innovation and Growth
    Over the last few years, the company has expanded its global partner program to include leading global system integrators, value-added resellers, and cloud service providers. While the company continues to grow its partner ecosystem, its relationship with IBM has deepened over 35 years. As a longtime IBM partner, the company has worked closely to enhance enterprise modernization solutions, helping businesses optimize their mission-critical IBM systems, ensuring seamless operations and future-ready innovation.

    “AI is fundamentally changing the mainframe experience, empowering developers, operations staff and business users,” said Skyla Loomis, General Manager, IBM Z Software. “IBM Z is built on a foundation of performance, resiliency and trust at the core to help clients create value from their mission-critical applications and data. Congratulations to Rocket Software on this anniversary. We look forward to innovating new AI use cases together that help our mutual clients take full advantage the newly released IBM z17.”

    Rocket Software has spent more than three decades modernizing IT infrastructure, applications, and data for some of the world’s most essential businesses. Building on this legacy, the company continues to drive innovation by helping organizations integrate with hybrid cloud environments, strengthen security, and unlock the power of metadata for AI and analytics-driven decision-making.

    Since its founding, the company has acquired many organizations, including Aldon, ASG Technologies, D3, Key Resources, Shadow, and Zephyr, strengthening its solutions and teams to better serve mission-critical industries such as banking, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. In 2024, the company completed the $2.275 billion acquisition of OpenText’s Application Modernization and Connectivity (AMC) business.

    A Culture of Excellence and Community Commitment
    The company’s success is driven by a strong culture, grounded in its core values of Empathy, Humanity, Trust, and Love. In line with its commitment to developing future software developers, the company established the NextGen Academy, a six-month program offering its employees the opportunity to take on full-time engineering roles. This program provides employees with valuable hands-on experience and mentorship from industry experts.

    To celebrate 35 years of growth, the company is hosting a Community Day on April 16. This initiative, which began over two decades ago, provides employees with dedicated time off to volunteer and create a positive impact in their communities. In recent years, its employees have donated thousands of hours to philanthropic projects around the world.

    Looking ahead, the company remains focused on its mission to help organizations modernize without disruption—today, tomorrow, and for many years to come.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    About Rocket Software
    Rocket Software is a global technology leader in modernization and a partner of choice that empowers the world’s leading businesses on their modernization journeys, spanning core systems to the cloud. Trusted by over 12,500 customers and 750 partners, and with more than 3,200 global employees, Rocket Software enables customers to maximize their data, applications, and infrastructure to deliver critical services that power our modern world. Rocket Software is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in the Boston area with centers of excellence strategically located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Rocket Software is a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity. Follow Rocket Software on LinkedIn and X or visit www.RocketSoftware.com.

    IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

    Media Contact
    Lacey Darrow
    ldarrow@rocketsoftware.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: iRhythm Technologies Releases 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report That Demonstrates Ongoing Commitment to Culture of Quality and Sustainability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRTC), a leading digital health care company focused on creating trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease, today announced that it has published its 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s efforts to build a sustainable and inclusive future.

    “iRhythm’s core mission is to create a better world for patients by delivering better health and better insights through our trusted solutions and innovative technologies,” said Sumi Shrishrimal, iRhythm’s Chief Risk Officer and leader of Sustainability and Impact. “We accomplish this by being a responsible, ethical, and inclusive company dedicated to the highest standards of quality and excellence across our business as we execute upon our long-term strategic growth plan. I am so proud of the work our teams do every day, and our 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report reflects how we make cardiac monitoring more accessible, how we enable providers to better detect and prevent disease, and how we impact our communities as a global company.”

    The 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report details sustainability accomplishments across four key pillars:

    • Quality and Sustainable Technology Innovation highlights include enhancing our quality systems, improving our customers’ experience through Electronic Health Record (EHR) integration and innovative product launches, securing a strategic licensing agreement to advance connected patient care, and forming an Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) Governance Steering Committee to address AI risks and opportunities in alignment with the company’s strategic goals
    • Access and Health Equity highlights include expanding globally by launching commercially in four European countries (Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland) and receiving regulatory approval from the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency for the Zio® 14-day, long-term continuous ECG monitoring system
    • Workforce and Inclusion highlights include refreshing our core values to define the workplace culture we would like to shape going forward, revising our code of conduct to provide employees with resources and guidance needed to operate with unquestionable integrity, and introducing new recognition opportunities to celebrate employees who elevate the company’s values through their work
    • Environmental Impact highlights include completing inventory of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, achieving 89.5% landfill waste diversion across our operations, obtaining ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems Certification, completing a life cycle analysis (LCA) of our products, and being named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Greenest Companies for 2025

    For more information about iRhythm’s corporate sustainability efforts, please visit our Corporate Sustainability page here.

    About iRhythm Technologies
    iRhythm is a leading digital health care company that creates trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease. Combining wearable biosensors and cloud-based data analytics with powerful proprietary algorithms, iRhythm distills data from millions of heartbeats into clinically actionable information. Through a relentless focus on patient care, iRhythm’s vision is to deliver better data, better insights, and better health for all. To learn more, please visit https://www.irhythmtech.com/.

    Investor Contact
    Stephanie Zhadkevich
    investors@irhythmtech.com

    Media Contact
    Kassandra Perry
    irhythm@highwirepr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE lodges immigration detainer against Mexican national arrested on allegations of kidnapping, rape of minor

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    RALEIGH, N.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer against Victor Villalba-Bustamante, a 41-year-old Mexican illegal alien, following his arrest by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Sanford Police Department April 9. Villalba-Bustamante’s arrest stems from an incident in which he was found in a hotel room with a 14-year-old female victim who was reported missing.

    He has been criminally charged with two counts of statutory rape, abduction of a child, felony conspiracy to commit abduction, second-degree kidnapping, and solicitation of a minor by computer. The victim had been reported missing after failing to return home from school.

    Villalba-Bustamante has no prior criminal history however, due to the nature and severity of the criminal charges, ICE Homeland Security Investigations immediately lodged a detainer to ensure he remains in custody.

    “The safety and protection of children is one of our top priorities,” said ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Charlotte Cardell T. Morant, who also oversees North and South Carolina. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are working diligently to determine the full scope of this case, including any indicators of human trafficking or exploitation. We remain committed to holding accountable those who prey on vulnerable populations.”

    ICE HSI Raleigh along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and other state and local partners are looking into other potential crimes.

    The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Springdale — Off-duty RCMP officer comes upon single-vehicle crash, teenaged driver arrested for impaired operation and refusing breath test

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A teenaged novice driver was arrested by Springdale RCMP for impaired operation after crashing a vehicle on Route 410, near the Trans-Canada Highway.

    At approximately 5:30 p.m., while off-duty, a police officer with Baie Verte RCMP came upon the scene of a crash and called 911. A vehicle was resting on its roof in a ditch and was heavily damaged. The driver, who held a beginner’s permit, was located at the scene and showed signs of alcohol impairment. On-duty RCMP officers from Springdale and Baie Verte detachments arrived at the scene. The driver was transported to Springdale hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

    At the hospital, the driver was arrested for impaired operation and refused to provide blood samples. She was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to face charges of impaired operation and refusing to comply with a blood demand. The driver received a licence suspension and the vehicle was seized and impounded.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Questor Announces December 31, 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questor Technology Inc. (“Questor” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: QST) announced today its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.  

    Questor’s audited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 are available on the Company’s website at www.questortech.com/quarterly-reports and at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Unless otherwise noted, all financial figures are presented in Canadian dollars, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and are unaudited for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

    FOURTH QUARTER AND 2024 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS

      Three months ended December 31,   Twelve months ended December 31,  
    For the 2024   2023   2024   2023  
    (Stated in CDN $)        
    Revenue 1,775,892   1,445,128   4,520,580   7,190,871  
    Gross profit 595,405   738,031   1,233,410   2,730,907  
    Adjusted EBITA(1) 5,246   152,543   (1,450,452)   488,787  
    Loss for the period (1,041,393)   (891,982)   (3,233,997)   (4,806,412)  
    Loss per share – basic and diluted (0.04)   (0.03)   (0.12)   (0.17)  
             
    As at         December 31, 2024     December 31, 2023  
    (Stated in CDN $)        
    Working capital(2)     7,570,934   11,844,178  
    Total assets     24,090,332   27,125,820  
    Total equity     21,110,076   24,357,652  

    (1)Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section at the end of this MD&A.
    (2)Working capital is defined as total current assets less total current liabilities.

    Revenue for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was $1.8 million and $4.5 million compared to $1.4 million and $7.2 million for the same periods in 2023. The reduction was mainly attributed to a strategic shift in Questor’s business focus towards the international market. Questor’s USA sales team was hired in the second half of 2024 with a focus on rebuilding rental and sales revenue lost primarily due to merger and acquisition activity combined with regulatory changes in the space over the past few years. The revenue focus is primarily in the Permian basin, Colorado, North Dakota, New Mexico and Wyoming. The company is exploring potential rental opportunities in Mexico, with rental activities set to begin in Q1 2025. While short-term results were impacted by the change in our client base combined with regulatory changes, our refreshed focus on global markets with opportunities to eliminate methane and VOC emissions will position the Company for stronger, more diversified and ultimately more sustainable growth in the long term. As at the date of this press release, the Company has secured $4.5 million of committed equipment sales revenue, expected to be fulfilled in the first half of 2025.

    Gross profit as a percentage of revenue for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was 34 percent and 27 percent compared to 51 percent and 38 percent for the same periods in 2023. The reduction for the twelve and three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to the prior periods is mainly due to a lower revenue, where the Company continues to incur fixed costs and due to the revenue and sales mix. Additionally, 2024 cost of sales expense benefited from the absence of a $0.2 million valuation allowance for slow-moving inventory, which was recognized in 2023.

    Adjusted EBITDA for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was nil and negative $1.5 million, compared to positive $0.2 million and $0.5 million for the same periods in 2023. The reduction in Adjusted EBITDA is mainly due to lower revenue, where the Company continues to incur operational and administrative fixed costs.

    The Company continues to have a strong financial position at December 31, 2024 including cash and cash equivalents of $5.3 million, $1.7 million of highly liquid short-term investments, and working capital of $7.6 million.

    2024 HIGHLIGHTS AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

    In the fourth quarter of 2024, Questor received the final payment of $1,393,246 for the milestone one of the Waste Heat to Power project from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (“SDTC”).

    The construction of the 1500kW waste heat to power prototype neared completion in Q4, with final testing underway in Q1 2025. Commissioning is scheduled to begin in Q2 2025. Meanwhile, Questor has advanced negotiations and preparations for the prototype’s field demonstration, with the field deployment expected in the second half of 2025.

    On February 9, 2024, Questor commenced Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) allowing Questor to purchase a maximum of 1,400,000 common shares over the 12-month period for cancellation. NCIB is effective until the earliest of (i) February 7, 2025, (ii) the Company purchasing the maximum of 1,400,000 Shares, and (iii) the Company terminating the NCIB. In connection with the current NCIB, Questor entered into an automatic share purchase plan (“ASPP”) with its designated broker to enable the purchase of shares during blackout periods during which the Company would not ordinarily be permitted to purchase shares. Purchases under the ASPP during those periods are determined by the designated broker in its sole discretion based on the purchasing parameters set by Questor in accordance with the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange, applicable securities laws and the terms of the ASPP. Outside of the periods noted above, purchases under the current NCIB are completed at Questor’s discretion. As of December 31, 2024 under the current NCIB and the instructions in place with the broker, Questor purchased for cancellation of 671,500 shares for the weighted average of $0.48. Subsequent to the year-end, the Company’s NCIB expired and was formally concluded on February 7, 2025. As a result of the NCIB, which was active from February 9, 2024 to February 7, 2025, the Company repurchased and cancelled a total of 731,500 shares at a weighted average price of $0.47 per share.

    In the first quarter of 2025, Questor announced a $0.9 million purchase order to supply clean combustion solutions for managing railcar vapours at Caltrax Inc.’s Calgary facility. During the same period, the company also secured a $2.4 million contract in Iraq, marking the second unit supplied in the MENA region for a leading global exploration and production company focused on reducing flaring and methane emissions.

    PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

    The global regulatory landscape for emissions is rapidly evolving, with increasing pressure from regulators, courts, investors, and the public to reduce flaring and venting in industrial operations. As a result, Questor is seeing significant global interest in our technology solutions to help address these critical challenges.

    Flaring and venting not only waste valuable resources but also contribute significantly to air pollution. This practice releases methane, hydrocarbons, fine particulates (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde into the atmosphere. These harmful pollutants have been directly linked to higher cancer rates, respiratory diseases, and other chronic health conditions. Methane, in particular, is a climate “super pollutant” with 86 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over 20 years. It is responsible for 30% of observed global warming to date, making it a key target for climate change mitigation.

    At Questor, we offer proven solutions to combat these challenges. Our ISO 14034-certified thermal oxidizer achieves a 99.99% combustion efficiency, ensuring that our clients can demonstrate compliance with emissions standards and eliminate the release of harmful pollutants. This clean combustion technology significantly reduces health risks in surrounding communities, including respiratory illnesses and cancers. Additionally, our organic Rankine cycle (ORC) repurposes heat from methane combustion, creating a revenue stream that offsets the costs of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

    Many major oil and gas producers have pledged to reduce flaring, venting, and methane emissions while working toward net-zero goals. Questor’s innovative combination of clean combustion and waste heat-to-power technology enables our clients to meet these all these commitments at a net-zero cost.

    Questor’s multi-year strategy to intentionally diversify revenue streams globally has focussed on those jurisdictions that have created favorable conditions that have considered the environmental and social impacts of energy production and want to grow their future production in a sustainable manner. As an example, the Iraq contract awarded early 2025 in partnership with OilSERV was for TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub, as a part of the multi-energy Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) operated by TotalEnergies. The GGIP is designed to enhance the development of Iraq’s natural resources to improve the country’s electricity supply. This 4-in-1 project comprises the recovery of gas that is currently flared at three oil fields in southern Iraq to supply electric power plants, the redevelopment of the Ratawi oil field, the construction of a 1 GWac (1.25GWp) solar farm and of a seawater treatment plant. The Questor Q5000 Unit will initially treat 2.1 MMSCFD of associated gas during the pilot phase. Subsequently, the unit will treat an additional 1.2 to 2 MMSCFD of low-pressure gas, maximizing the Q5000’s potential and reducing site GHG emissions in the frame of AGUP Phase 1 development. This is the second unit that TotalEnergies has purchased in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. TotalEnergies exemplifies the ideal partner for Questor’s solutions, utilizing our thermal oxidizer to reduce methane and VOC emissions, and the future potential of utilizing waste-heat in the GGIP and converting it to power with our 1.5MW Organic Rankin Cycle (ORC) generator.

    To accelerate global adoption, we have partnered with key industry leaders. In Iraq, we collaborate with OilSERV, a top-tier integrated oilfield services provider in the Middle East. In Nigeria, we are represented by Ar-Rahman Technical Services Nig. Limited. In Latin America, our partnership with Hoerbiger, an established multinational company with over 120 locations in 50 countries, further expands our reach. In Mexico, we work with JHJ and GSM Carso, leading service providers supplying units to Pemex. Over the past three years, we have built strong relationships with these partners, educating them on our technology and supporting them in client engagements. With a 25-year track record of eliminating flaring and venting, we are confident that Questor can set the standard for best practices in these regions.

    As global incentives for methane and VOC reduction continue to grow, Questor is uniquely positioned to help clients improve environmental performance while strengthening their community relations. We anticipate that both new and existing clients will view Questor as the ideal partner to accelerate the attainment of their environmental pledges—reducing emissions while simultaneously cutting costs and generating revenue.

    Finally, we acknowledge the evolving political and economic landscape and its potential impact on our operations. We have assessed the risks associated with tariffs and remain confident in our ability to adapt. With strategically positioned inventory in Canada and the United States and established supply chains across North America, Questor is well-prepared to navigate uncertainties. Our global partnerships further diversify our revenue streams, ensuring continued resilience and growth.  

    As we move forward, Questor remains committed to driving innovation, sustainability, and global leadership in emissions reduction.

    FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “seek”, “propose”, “estimate”, “expect”, and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events based on certain material factors and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, changes in market, competition, governmental or regulatory developments, general economic conditions and other factors set out in the Company’s public disclosure documents. Many factors could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release, including without limitation those listed above. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in this news release, should not be unduly relied upon. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    ABOUT QUESTOR TECHNOLOGY INC.

    Questor Technology Inc., incorporated in Canada under the Business Companies Act (Alberta) is an environmental emissions reduction technology company founded in 1994, with global operations. The Company is focused on clean air technologies that safely and cost effectively improve air quality, support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The Company designs, manufactures and services high efficiency clean combustion systems that destroy harmful pollutants, including Methane, Hydrogen Sulfide gas, Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons, Hazardous Air Pollutants and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene) gases within waste gas streams at >99.99 percent efficiency per its ISO 14034 Certification. This enables its clients to meet emission regulations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address community concerns and improve safety at industrial sites.

    The Company also has proprietary heat to power generation technology and is currently targeting new markets including landfill biogas, syngas, waste engine exhaust, geothermal and solar, cement plant waste heat in addition to a wide variety of oil and gas projects. The combination of Questor’s clean combustion and power generation technologies can help clients achieve net zero emission targets for minimal cost. The Company is also doing research and development on data solutions to deliver an integrated system that amalgamates all the emission detection data available to demonstrate a clear picture of the site’s emission profile.

    The Company’s common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “QST”. The address of the Company’s corporate and registered office is 1920, 707 – 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 1H5.

    QUESTOR TRADES ON THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE UNDER THE SYMBOL ‘QST’

    Investor Relations Contact

    Aly Sumar – Chief Financial Officer

    investor@questortech.com

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    This document is not intended for dissemination or distribution in the United States.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Richtech Robotics Announces an Agreement to Purchase an Approximately 20,000 Square Foot Property to Expand Its Headquarters 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New Las Vegas-based facility plans to increase manufacturing and assembly capacity by 400% and accommodate further integration of domestic supply chain

    Las Vegas, NV, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Richtech Robotics Inc. (Nasdaq: RR) (“Richtech Robotics” or “the Company”), a Nevada-based provider of AI-driven service robots, announced the entry of a purchase and sale agreement for the purchase of a piece of land located at 2975 Lincoln Road, Las Vegas, Nevada (“Lincoln Property”), covering approximately 20,000 square feet, to expand its headquarters. The acquisition of the Lincoln Property is scheduled to close on or before May 15, 2025, and is expected to quadruple the Company’s assembly and manufacturing footprint for its robotics solutions, supporting increased demand and future growth.

    “Richtech Robotics is experiencing rapid growth in demand for our AI-powered service robots,” said Matt Casella, President of Richtech Robotics. “At the same time, we remain committed to strengthening our domestic supply chain. Staying in Las Vegas is a strategic decision for a variety of reasons, and this new facility gives us the expanded capacity and flexibility needed to scale with the increasing interest in our robotics solutions.”

    The Company anticipates the new facility will ultimately result in long-term cost savings compared to their previous rental arrangement. In addition to the expanded assemble and manufacturing capacity, the new headquarters is also expected to include a dedicated studio for content creation.

    As part of its continued expansion, Richtech Robotics has also signed a lease for a new office in Newark, California, located near the heart of Silicon Valley. Engineers who have undergone training at the Las Vegas headquarters will now begin working out of the Newark location, helping to further develop and deploy the Company’s AI and robotics platforms.

    Richtech Robotics maintains its commitment to U.S. assembly and manufacturing, with flagship ADAM and Scorpion robot systems being engineered, developed, and assembled in the Company’s Las Vegas headquarters. These systems feature American-engineered control technologies and are powered by NVIDIA-based operating platforms. The Company also regularly seeks to expand the reach of its supply chain to increase the use of U.S. sourced materials.

    About Richtech Robotics

    Richtech Robotics is a provider of collaborative robotic solutions specializing in the service industry, including the hospitality and healthcare sectors. Our mission is to transform the service industry through collaborative robotic solutions that enhance the customer experience and empower businesses to achieve more. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge automation, we aspire to create a landscape of enhanced interactions, efficiency, and innovation, propelling organizations toward unparalleled levels of excellence and satisfaction. Learn more at www.RichtechRobotics.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the performance of Richtech Robotics’ products, the targeted closing date of the Lincoln Property, and the increase of manufacturing and assembly capacity as a result of the acquisition of the Lincoln Property.

    These forward-looking statements are based on Richtech Robotics’ current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, risks and uncertainties related to the targeted closing date of the Lincoln Property, the increase of manufacturing and assembly capacity as a result of the acquisition of the Lincoln Property, and the ability of AI-powered robotic solutions to improve efficiency. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Richtech Robotics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025, the IPO registration statement and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for Richtech Robotics to predict those events or how they may affect Richtech Robotics. If a change to the events and circumstances reflected in Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements occurs, Richtech Robotics’ business, financial condition and operating results may vary materially from those expressed in Richtech Robotics’ forward-looking statements.

    Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Richtech Robotics assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Contact:

    Investors:
    CORE IR
    Matt Blazei
    ir@richtechrobotics.com

    Media: 
    Timothy Tanksley
    Director of Marketing
    Richtech Robotics, Inc
    press@richtechrobotics.com
    702-534-0050

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aviva’s Charged for Change Program to Power Up another 10 Canadian Communities with EV Charging Stations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aviva Canada is thrilled to announce that an additional 10 communities across Canada will soon be equipped with Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations thanks to its Charged for Change program, presented in partnership with Earth Day Canada. This year also marks the first time the program will fund EV infrastructure projects on First Nations territory.

    The recipients are:

    • We’koqma’q First Nation, NS
    • qathet Regional District, BC
    • Municipality of Neguac, NB
    • Village of Arcadia, NB
    • Municipality of Thames Centre, ON
    • Town of Essex, ON
    • Town of Fort Erie, ON
    • Town of Otterburn Park, QC
    • Town of Gravelbourg, SK
    • Town of Radisson, SK

    Charged for Change is an initiative aimed at addressing barriers to EV adoption in communities that lack adequate access to public charging infrastructure. Since 2021, this $3 million partnership has enabled municipalities and Indigenous communities to apply for funding to install Level 2 EV charging stations. In its first two years, the program successfully provided funding for public charging stations to 15 municipalities across Canada.

    “We’re grateful for the enthusiastic response from municipalities to our Charged for Change initiative, and pleased that Aviva has made a positive difference in multiple communities across the country,” stated Pascal Dessureault, Aviva Canada’s Chief Public Affairs, Marketing and Communications Officer. “While this marks the final year of the program, we know there’s still so much more to be done to support the climate transition and we’re eager to explore those opportunities.”

    Valérie Mallamo, Executive Director of Earth Day Canada, added, “For three years, Charged for Change and our partnership with Aviva Canada has supported small, rural communities across Canada in making their EV public infrastructure projects a reality. We’re very excited for this final cohort of communities to benefit from the program and to see them support EV adoption for their residents.”

    Testimonials from year three Charged for Change recipients:

    “The addition of new EV charging stations reflects Fort Erie’s ongoing commitment to building a greener future. This grant allows us to expand our efforts to combat climate change. It’s encouraging to see our community take tangible steps towards continued sustainability, such as welcoming our first EV and enhancing local charging infrastructure.”
    — Wayne Redekop, Mayor, Town of Fort Erie

    “We’koqma’q First Nation applied for Charged for Change funding because we are committed to building a greener, more sustainable future for our community. With the climate challenges we face, including rising water levels and increased flooding, we know the importance of taking action now. This funding allows us to invest in cleaner transportation and infrastructure, helping us reduce emissions and move towards energy independence. Receiving this support is a huge step forward for our community, and we are excited about the positive impact it will have for generations to come.”
    – Jordan Keeling, Director of Public Works, We’koqma’q First Nation

    “The qathet Regional District is proud to have been selected for the Charged for Change program, which will help bring much-needed public EV charging infrastructure to our rural, remote, and island communities, including Texada Island. By expanding access to EV charging in underserved areas, we are supporting sustainable transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fostering tourism, and strengthening local and regional economies. This funding is a crucial step in advancing our climate action goals and ensuring a more connected and resilient future for our communities.”
    – Mikhael Drosdovech, Manager of Assets and Capital Projects, qathet Regional District

    About Aviva Canada

    Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in the country, providing home, automobile, lifestyle, and business insurance to 2.5 million customers coast to coast. A subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, we have the financial strength, scale and are a trusted insurance provider globally for more than 325 years.

    For more information, visit aviva.ca or Aviva Canada’s blog, LinkedIn and Instagram pages.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cerence to Announce Fiscal Second Quarter Results on May 7, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BURLINGTON, Mass., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC) (“Cerence AI”), a global leader pioneering conversational AI-powered user experiences, will announce its second quarter financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4:05pm Eastern Time / 1:05pm Pacific Time.

    The company will host a live conference call and webcast, with supplementary slides, to discuss the results on the same day at 5:00pm Eastern Time / 2:00pm Pacific Time. Interested investors and analysts are invited to join the audio conference call by registering here.

    Webcast access will be available in the Investor section of the company’s website, www.cerence.ai.

    To learn more about Cerence AI, visit www.cerence.ai, and follow the company on LinkedIn.

    About Cerence Inc.
    Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC) is a global industry leader in creating intuitive, seamless, AI-powered experiences across automotive and transportation. Leveraging decades of innovation and expertise in voice, generative AI, and large language models, Cerence powers integrated experiences that create safer, more connected, and more enjoyable journeys for drivers and passengers alike. With more than 500 million cars shipped with Cerence technology, the company partners with leading automakers, transportation OEMs, and technology companies to advance the next generation of user experiences. Cerence is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with operations globally and a worldwide team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation. For more information, visit www.cerence.ai.

    Contact Information

    Investor Relations | Email: investorrelations@cerence.com

    Kate Hickman | Tel: 339-215-4583 | Email: kate.hickman@cerence.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Western Union Media Network Taps Magnite to Expand Advertising Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the largest independent sell-side advertising company, today announced an agreement with Western Union to support growth of the financial services company’s new Media Network business. In doing so, Magnite will provide Western Union with technology to buy media as an advertiser and monetize its owned media.

    To further increase direct access to streaming inventory, Western Union Media Network is the first commerce media company to leverage Magnite’s ClearLine solution. ClearLine puts clients in control of the ad buying process by allowing them to purchase premium streaming inventory directly from publishers, maximizing Western Union’s working media budget. Magnite reaches 92 million CTV households in the US, accounting for 9 out of 10 ad-supported CTV households in the country.

    Magnite enables advertisers to tap into Western Union Media Network’s owned media properties and first-party insights. With Magnite’s technology, Western Union Media Network is monetizing its owned media properties spanning web, mobile, and in-app environments, including westernunion.com and its iOS and Android applications, which reach over 15 million US customers.

    Using Magnite’s Curator Marketplaces for self-serve audience extension, Western Union Media Network is providing its customers access to a multicultural audience leveraging anonymized transaction data against Magnite inventory. As a result, advertisers and agencies can access Western Union’s unique data and Magnite’s premium inventory, benefiting from precise targeting and streamlined programmatic workflows.

    Additionally, Western Union and Magnite have signed a supply-path optimization (SPO) agreement to streamline Western Union’s access to curated, premium omnichannel inventory.

    “Magnite’s expansive technology and service offerings make them a versatile partner that can help address our desire to grow our business,” said Chris Hammer, Senior Vice President, Western Union. “We are excited to see this collaboration continue to grow as we scale our Media Network business.”

    “We’re proud to support Western Union Media Network’s entry into advertising by helping them activate efficiently on all fronts,” said Stephanie Reustle, Head of Commerce Media at Magnite. “It’s great to see the advanced technology we’ve built for publishers and advertisers providing value to clients in new fields. We’ve seen the firsthand benefits of bringing sellers and buyers closer together and helping commerce media brands integrate into the landscape will bring additional advantages for all.”

    About Magnite
    We’re Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the world’s largest independent sell-side advertising company. Publishers use our technology to monetize their content across all screens and formats including CTV, online video, display, and audio. The world’s leading agencies and brands trust our platform to access brand-safe, high-quality ad inventory and execute billions of advertising transactions each month. Anchored in bustling New York City, sunny Los Angeles, mile high Denver, historic London, colorful Singapore, and down under in Sydney, Magnite has offices across North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.

    About Western Union
    The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones, and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments, and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and over 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

    Media Contact:

    Kar Yi Lim
    klim@magnite.com

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Nick Kormeluk
    nkormeluk@magnite.com
    949-500-0003

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Progressive Reports March 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) today reported the following results for the month and quarter ended March 31, 2025:

      March Quarter
    (millions, except per share amounts and ratios; unaudited)   2025       2024   Change   2025       2024   Change
    Net premiums written $ 9,041     $ 7,746   17   % $ 22,206     $ 18,962   17   %
    Net premiums earned $ 6,787     $ 5,634   20   % $ 19,409     $ 16,149   20   %
    Net income $ 522     $ 893   (42 ) % $ 2,567     $ 2,331   10   %
    Per share available to common shareholders $ 0.89     $ 1.52   (42 ) % $ 4.37     $ 3.94   11   %
    Total pretax net realized gains (losses) on securities $ (211 )   $ 59   (458 ) % $ (212 )   $ 156   (236 ) %
    Combined ratio   90.9       84.3   6.6   pts.   86.0       86.1   (0.1 ) pts.
    Average diluted equivalent common shares   587.7       587.4   0   %   587.7       587.3   0   %
      March 31,
    (thousands; unaudited) 2025   2024   % Change
    Policies in Force          
    Personal Lines          
    Agency – auto 10,146   8,593   18
    Direct – auto 14,771   11,855   25
    Special lines 6,637   6,076   9
    Property 3,576   3,209   11
    Total Personal Lines 35,130   29,733   18
    Commercial Lines 1,162   1,101   6
    Companywide 36,292   30,834   18
               

    See Progressive’s complete monthly earnings release for additional information.

    About Progressive

    Progressive Insurance® makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however it’s most convenient for them — online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent.

    Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is the second largest personal auto insurer in the country, a leading seller of commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers. 

    Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot®, and HomeQuote Explorer®.

    The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR.

    Company Contact:
    Douglas S. Constantine
    (440) 395-3707
    investor_relations@progressive.com

    The Progressive Corporation
    300 North Commons Blvd.
    Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143
    http://www.progressive.com

    Download PDF: Progressive March 2025 Complete Earnings Release

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN steps up efforts to boost regional infrastructure projects

    Source: ASEAN

    PUTRAJAYA, 11 April 2025 – ASEAN is stepping up efforts to improve and expand its regional infrastructure project pipeline. A Regional Workshop on Updating and Advancing the Initial Pipeline of ASEAN Infrastructure Projects was held on 9–10 April 2025 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, bringing together over 60 stakeholders from across ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste.

    The Workshop was organised by the Lead Implementing Body for Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI) and supported by the Australian Government through the Australia for ASEAN Futures (Aus4ASEAN Futures) Initiative.

    Participants included officials, project owners, and experts from infrastructure, transport, energy, digital, finance, and smart cities sectors. They shared updates on potential projects for the updated Pipeline of ASEAN Infrastructure Projects. Further, they exchanged ideas on how to make these projects more relevant, resilient, bankable, and ready for future investment. The Workshop also provided insights into trends and developments in infrastructure financing, as well as challenges and opportunities in the transport, energy, and digital infrastructure sectors across the region.

    During the opening remarks, LIB-SI Chair H.E. Dato’ Nor Azmie Bin Diron, Secretary General, Ministry of Economy, Malaysia, reiterated the importance of sustainable infrastructure in enhancing ASEAN Connectivity. “Sustainable infrastructure is at the heart of ASEAN’s vision for greater integration and connectivity. As we face the challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation, it is clear that building resilient, environmentally-friendly infrastructure is key to supporting long-term growth and improving the lives of our people. By working together on sustainable solutions, we not only enhance regional connectivity but also create stronger economic ties and more inclusive opportunities for all ASEAN nations.” 

    The Initial Pipeline of ASEAN Infrastructure Projects was developed in 2019 to support ASEAN Member States in identifying, assessing, and prioritising infrastructure projects that can drive ASEAN Connectivity, enhancing the movements of people, goods, services, and innovation across the region. LIB-SI has continued to intensify efforts through collaboration with partners to advance and update the Initial Pipeline, considering emerging trends, challenges, and priorities. As projects evolve over time, new projects could be added and/or existing projects completed or withdrawn from the Pipeline as appropriate.

    The Workshop marked a strong step forward in ASEAN’s ongoing commitment to building infrastructure that is sustainable, inclusive, and ready for the future and all, he added.

    ***

    Images Credit: ASEAN Secretariat
    The post ASEAN steps up efforts to boost regional infrastructure projects appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI cancels the licence of Colour Merchants Co-operative Bank Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), vide order April 15, 2025, has cancelled the licence of “Colour Merchants Co-operative Bank Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat”. Consequently, the bank ceases to carry on banking business with effect from the close of business on April 16, 2025. Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Gujarat has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank.

    The Reserve Bank cancelled the licence of the bank as:

    1. The bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. As such, it does not comply with the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22(3)(d) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

    2. The bank has failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 22(3)(a), 22(3)(b), 22(3)(c), 22(3)(d) and 22(3)(e) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949;

    3. The continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interest of the depositors;

    4. The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full; and

    5. Public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.

    2. Consequent to the cancellation of its licence “Colour Merchants Co-operative Bank Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat” is prohibited from conducting the business of ‘banking’ which includes, among other things, acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits as defined in Section 5(b) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with immediate effect.

    3. On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of ₹5,00,000/- (Rupees five lakh only) from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) subject to the provisions of DICGC Act, 1961. As per the data submitted by the bank, about 98.51% of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC. As on March 31, 2024, DICGC has already paid ₹13.94 crore of the total insured deposits under the provisions of Section 18A of the DICGC Act, 1961 based on the willingness received from the concerned depositors of the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/119

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Art from the Walking with Wolves exhibition

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Opening in the Making Space gallery, this dynamic showcase runs from 21 April to 14 July, 2025, with a special evening launch on 25 April (6pm to 9pm) as part of the Wolves Lates programme.

    Co-created by a diverse group of 16 young people, Walking with Wolves is a reflection on their experiences of growing up in Wolverhampton, intertwined with the city’s rich industrial heritage, high street, and architectural landscape. Through art, they envision a hopeful future where young voices shape the city, empty buildings are revived, and community thrives at the heart of Wolverhampton.

    Visitors to the exhibition will experience a thought provoking collection of prints, protest boards, videos, and paintings, each piece offering unique insights into the group’s journey. In collaboration with the gallery’s collections team, they have also carefully selected historical objects from Wolverhampton’s past to complement their artwork, deepening the narrative of the city’s evolving identity.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “Walking with Wolves is a powerful reflection of Wolverhampton’s past and a bold vision for its future. These young creators have captured the city’s essence through art, challenging us all to rethink what Wolverhampton can be.

    “This exhibition is their voice, their movement, and their hope for a thriving, inclusive city.”

    Hanouf Al-Alawi, National Outreach Manager at the British Museum, said: “We have been so impressed by the creativity and vision of the young people in Wolverhampton. Their Walking with Wolves exhibition is an incredible achievement and it has been fantastic to see the group’s ideas come to life throughout this project. I hope they will continue to build on this experience going forward and I am excited to see what they will all achieve next.”

    This project has been developed as part of the national Where we are… programme delivered by the British Museum and supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The programme works with third sector and cultural partners across the UK to develop meaningful arts and culture projects, aiming to remove some of the barriers to engagement within the cultural sector that young people face.

    Throughout the project, these young creators have worked closely with local artists and the Wolverhampton Art Gallery team, gaining invaluable experience in co-producing an exhibition. Their work is not just a showcase of artistic talent, it is a celebration of their collective voice, marking the culmination of their Where we are… journey.

    It’s bold. It’s thoughtful. It’s Wolves. Join the movement and Walk with Wolves!

    Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open Monday to Saturday (10.30am to 4.30pm) and Sunday (11am to 4pm). For more information, please visit Wolverhampton Arts & Culture.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Expanded substance use services takes to the road in Coventry

    Source: City of Coventry

    A national charity will be expanding its services in Coventry – including a new outreach mobile welfare van – to support people with support for substance misuse.

    Coventry City Council has commissioned services from Change Grow Live (CGL) providing crucial drug and alcohol services in the city. The Coventry-based service will continue to lead on a series of programmes in the city.

    The programmes include an expansion of its services – all aimed at improving accessibility, efficiency and outcomes for individuals and families affected by substance use. Among the expanded services is a new mobile unit that will deliver health outreach support in the community. The mobile welfare van carries the message ‘rooted in the community’ and will be used to increase access to services.

    CGLs contract was renewed 1 April 2025, bringing together support for substance use, mental health and broader health inequalities. The new contract will also include extended opening hours, and comprehensive triage assessments, to reduce waiting times, improve continuity of care and enhance access to support.

    New parts of the service include:

    Alcohol detox programme

    The service will deliver an enhanced community alcohol detox programme, providing a higher level of supervision and care for individuals in a community setting. To improve accessibility, a mobile welfare van is being introduced, to enable the delivery of essential health and harm reduction services to hard-to-reach areas of Coventry.

    Recovery Hub

    A brand-new Recovery Hub will be opened. This will be a free and open space that holds fitness equipment, accessible technology and much more. The hub will continue the joint working and collaboration with partner agencies; Intuitive Thinking Skills and Work4All. The focus will be on ensuring a coordinated, individual and holistic approach.

    Family support

    The service has also taken the opportunity to expand its family support offering and will be working with ADFAM, a leading organisation specialising in family-focused support. This will build on the current group support available, by providing one-to-one assistance to better support long-term recovery and their families.

    Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, for Coventry City Council, said:

    “This highlights our commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of Coventry residents. By partnering with CGL, we aim to provide comprehensive, evidence-based interventions that promote recovery and resilience, contributing to a healthier and safer Coventry for all.

    “The service offers a vital safety net for vulnerable people in the city as well as their family and friends – and sadly, this can affect people at any age in their life.”

    Kevin Ruddock, Service Manager at Change Grow Live, Coventry, said:

    “We are delighted to announce that we have successfully retained the contract to continue delivering support to our community, following eight years of dedicated service.

    “Our priority remains to provide the highest quality service, ensuring that those who need our support can access it in a way that best meets their needs.”

    Allison Duggal, Director Public Health and Wellbeing, added:

    “We are pleased that following a recent competitive tender process, Coventry City Council has awarded the new Adult Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Treatment Service contract to Change Grow Live (CGL).

    “CGL has demonstrated a strong track record in effectively supporting individuals, families, and communities dealing with substance misuse issues.”

    As a leading UK charity, Change Grow Live has garnered a strong national reputation for delivering high-quality services across a diverse range of public health needs.

    With over 50 years of experience, the organisation supports thousands of individuals annually, promoting recovery, resilience, and hope.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pope Francis and Laudato Si’: an ecological turning point for the Catholic Church

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Bernard Laurent, Professeur, EM Lyon Business School

    In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis called for a radical break with consumerist lifestyles. Ricardo Perna/Shutterstock

    On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis signed his encyclical Laudato Si’ – “Praise be to you” in medieval Italian. This letter to Roman Catholic bishops was no half measure: it took many Catholics by surprise with its uncompromising conclusions and call for an in-depth transformation of our lifestyles. In France, it managed to bring together both conservative currents – such as the Courant pour un écologie humaine (Movement for a Human Ecology), created in 2013 – and more open-minded Catholic intellectuals such as Gaël Giraud, a Jesuit and author of Produire plus, polluer moins: l’impossible découplage? (Produce more, Pollute Less: the Impossible Decoupling?).

    The Pope was taking a cue from his predecessors. Benedict XVI, John Paul II and Paul VI had also expressed concern about the dramatic effects of an abusive exploitation of nature on humanity:

    “Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation.”

    What does Pope Francis’s encyclical teach us? And how does it reflect the Catholic Church’s vision, and his own?


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    The “green” pope

    In the text, Pope Francis describes a situation in which the environment is deteriorating rapidly:

    “There is […] pollution that affects everyone, caused by transport, industrial fumes, substances which contribute to the acidification of soil and water, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and agrotoxins in general.” (§-20)

    The “green” pope published Laudato Si’ on June 18, 2015, a few months prior to the Paris climate conference. The aim was to raise public awareness around the challenges of global warming by creating a relational approach that included God, human beings and the Earth. It was the first time an encyclical had been devoted wholly to ecology.

    In it, the Pope voiced his concern about the effects of global warming:

    “Warming has effects on the carbon cycle. It creates a vicious circle which aggravates the situation even more, affecting the availability of essential resources like drinking water, energy and agricultural production in warmer regions, and leading to the extinction of part of the planet’s biodiversity.” (§-24)

    Criticizing a “technocratic paradigm”

    Since Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, the various social encyclicals have consistently rejected the liberal idea of a society solely regulated by the smooth functioning of the market. The French sociologist of religion Émile Poulat summed up the Church’s position perfectly in 1977 in his book Église contre bourgeoisie. Introduction au devenir du catholicisme actuel, in which he writes that the Church “never agreed to abandon the running of the world to the blind laws of economics”.

    In 2015, Pope Francis rejected technical solutions that would not truly be useful, as well as the belief in the redeeming virtues of a self-regulating market. He accused “the technocratic paradigm” of dominating humankind by subordinating the economic and political spheres to its logic (§-101). His comments are reminiscent of the unjustly forgotten French Protestant philosopher Jacques Ellul and his idea of a limitless “self-propulsion” of technology, which has become the alpha and omega of our societies.

    For Jacques Ellul, technology is anything but neutral since it represents genuine power driven by its own movement.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    The pope’s charge against the supposed virtues of the market was spectacular. Among others, he criticized the following:

    • overconsumption in developed countries:

    “Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending.” (§-203);

    • the glorification of profit and a self-regulating market:

    “Some circles maintain that current economics and technology will solve all environmental problems.” (§-109);

    • the hypertrophy of speculative finance:

    “Politics must not be subject to the economy, nor should the economy be subject to the dictates of an efficiency-driven paradigm of technocracy.” (§-189);

    • the unequal distribution of wealth in the world:

    “In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: […] the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.” (§-48);

    • the unequal levels of development between countries, leading Francis to speak of an “ecological debt” owed by rich countries to the least developed ones. (§-51)

    Social justice and shrinking growth

    In Francis’s words, the goals of saving the planet and social justice go hand in hand. His approach is in keeping with the work of the [economist Louis-Joseph Lebret, a Dominican, who in 1941 founded the association Économie et humanisme. Father Lebret wanted to put the economy back at the service of humankind, and work with the least economically advanced countries by championing an approach based on the virtues of local communities and regional planning.

    Pope Francis, for his part, is calling for a radical break with the consumerist lifestyles of rich countries, while focusing on the development of the poorest nations. (§-93). In Laudato Si’, he also wrote that developed countries’ responses seemed insufficient because of the economic interests at stake (§-54).

    This brings us back to the principle of the universal destination of goods – the organizing principle of property defended by the Catholic Church’s social doctrine, which demands that goods be distributed in such a way as to enable every human being to live in dignity.

    In addition to encouraging the necessary technical adjustments and sober individual practices, Pope Francis is urging citizens in developed countries not to be content with half measures deemed largely insufficient. Instead, he is calling for people to make lifestyle changes in line with the logic of slowing growth. The aim is to enable developing countries to emerge from poverty, while sparing the environment.

    “Given the insatiable and irresponsible growth produced over many decades, we need also to think of containing growth by setting some reasonable limits and even retracing our steps before it is too late. […] That is why the time has come to accept decreased growth in some parts of the world, in order to provide resources for other places to experience healthy growth.” (§ -193)

    Nearly 10 years on, Laudato Si’ resonates fully with our concerns. In the United States, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who both identify as Catholic, would be well advised to read it anew.

    Bernard Laurent is a member of the CFTC and of the IRES Scientific Council

    – ref. Pope Francis and Laudato Si’: an ecological turning point for the Catholic Church – https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-and-laudato-si-an-ecological-turning-point-for-the-catholic-church-253977

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker – noteworthy retrospective of an artist as ambitious as he was audacious

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Hylton, Lecturer in Contemporary Art, SOAS, University of London

    Donald Rodney’s art (1961-98) has been familiar to me for many years. But only rarely has it been possible to experience, at close quarters, anything approximating the sheer range and depth of his practice. In his first retrospective exhibition in over a decade and a half, Rodney’s remarkable work is given the platform it deserves.

    Spanning painting, drawing, oil pastels, photography, sculptural assemblages, installation and computer-generated art, Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker at London’s Whitechapel Gallery reveals an artist who was ambitious and prolific, audacious and innovative. An anathema to today’s market-driven art world.

    Invention was central to Rodney’s inimitable practice, but it was also integral to his life and upbringing. Growing up in what was often a racially and socially fractured Britain became central to his artistic concerns.

    Born in West Bromwich in 1961, Rodney was the youngest child of Harold and Iris, Jamaican immigrants, who settled in Britain in the late 1950s. They, like many postwar Caribbean arrivals, had to invent a new way of living and of surviving.

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    Rodney was brought up in Smethwick, a district on the outskirts of Birmingham. During the 1964 general election it became notorious for an anti-immigrant campaign led and won by Conservative MP Peter Griffiths. He helped set the stage for later, more extreme acts of racism – including new immigration laws meant to limit Black immigration, Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech, and the rise of the far-right National Front.

    However, by the 1970s and early 1980s, as Black children were becoming adults, new forms of British political and cultural identity were being fomented. This included an outpouring of artistic expression in Britain.

    With the likes of fellow art student Keith Piper, Rodney became part of the first generation of British-born Black students to attend art school in the UK, heralding a new chapter in British art.

    The painting How the West Was Won (1982) is named after John Ford’s epic western from 1962. It’s the earliest example of Rodney’s fledgling ability to sample and incorporate a wide variety of sources in his work – from Hollywood film and childhood memories of “cowboys and Indians”, to reimagining the cover of post-punk band Gang of Four’s influential debut album Entertainment (1979).

    Rodney’s composition used child-like mark-markings, vivid colours and crude portraiture, typifying a certain irreverence towards “proper” painting.

    While at Slade School of Fine Art between 1985-87, Rodney began making works using discarded X-rays.

    Visually alluring, these anonymous X-rays became his canvas. The House That Jack Built (1987), included in this exhibition, involved meticulous scalpel incisions of words and elaborate prose. X-ray was used as a metaphor for looking beneath the surface of images and society to better understand the workings of inequality and racism.

    The sculptural work Doublethink (1992), remade for this retrospective, comprises over 100 cheap sporting trophies, each emblazoned with shocking racial insults. These are intended to explore the paradoxes and pathologies of race-based discrimination.

    Rodney took his title from George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which the language of Newspeak produces “doublethink”, a process in which two opposing ideas are truths, such as “ignorance is strength”. This, once again, demonstrates his capacity for invention.

    Self-portrait as social critique

    Nothing typified that capacity for invention more than Rodney’s approach to self-portraiture, which was often a conduit for wider social and political commentary.

    Rodney suffered from the hereditary blood disorder sickle cell anaemia. The relationship between his illness and art has routinely misunderstood to the detriment of his artistic ingenuity. Being X-rayed, having regular blood transfusions and invasive surgery were Rodney’s personal experiences. Transfigured into art, such medical predicaments became conduits for reinterpreting history and contemporary society.

    Visceral Canker (1990) is a circulatory blood pumping system overlaid on fabricated heraldic shields of Elizabeth I and slave trader Sir John Hawkins. It explored the intertwined relationships between Rodney’s Black British identity, slavery and British history.

    The photographic light-box Self Portrait: Black Men, Public Enemy (1990) and the analogue slide projection Cataract (1991) sought to question the perpetual representation of Black men in British society as criminal and deviant. Psalms (1997) is a poignant and affecting self-portrait in which an unoccupied and computer-powered wheelchair moves eerily in response to the gallery visitor.

    Rodney’s art-making process was resourceful. For example, the production of his important large oil pastel drawings on X-rays, including Britannia Hospital 2 (1988), were made in sections. This enabled Rodney to work at scale at a desk at home or in hospital.

    The photographic work In the House of My Father (1997), depicting a minuscule house made of the artist’s skin, was shot in King’s College hospital, London. Rodney was also a master at enlisting the active support from family, friends and associates to realise the production of entire exhibitions, including 9 Night in Eldorado (1997).

    The Whitechapel Gallery show is the final leg of a three-gallery tour which began in 2024. It was first presented at Spike Island, Bristol, the city in which Rodney first exhibited in 1982, followed by Nottingham Contemporary where he studied fine art as an undergraduate at Trent Polytechnic between 1981-85.

    London was where Rodney lived for most of his 16-year career. This retrospective brings together nearly all of the artist’s surviving works. However, about two-thirds of Rodney’s artistic output work has either been lost or destroyed. This does not diminish the retrospective but imbues archival material held by his estate and public collections with particular significance.

    The prominent role assigned to sketchbooks, working drawings and the screening of Three Songs on Pain, Light and Time (1995), directed by the Black Audio Film Collective, play an important supplementary role in narrating Rodney’s singular practice.

    Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker is at the Whitechapel Gallery until May 4.

    Richard Hylton 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. Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker – noteworthy retrospective of an artist as ambitious as he was audacious – https://theconversation.com/donald-rodney-visceral-canker-noteworthy-retrospective-of-an-artist-as-ambitious-as-he-was-audacious-254535

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: One to One: John & Yoko – documentary shows how Lennon and Ono shaped protest music, pop culture and each other

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephanie Hernandez, PhD Candidate, Literature and Music, University of Liverpool

    The new documentary One to One: John & Yoko offers an illuminating look into John Lennon’s post-Beatles activism with his partner Yoko Ono. It captures an early 1970s climate that was charged with political unrest and media saturation.

    Rather than perpetuate the simplified myth of Lennon as a lone revolutionary figure, the film spotlights Ono’s equally influential role in their shared artistic and social endeavours. The film also highlights how Lennon and Ono aimed to galvanise a generation that had grown apathetic and disillusioned after the perceived failure of the 1960s “flower power” to deliver genuine social change.

    The film adopts a pop-art, “channel surfing” aesthetic that situates the viewer in a recreated version of Lennon and Ono’s Greenwich Village apartment. This form plays on Lennon’s own television addiction. The story unfolds amid rapid cuts between Richard Nixon reelection speeches, anti-war demonstrations and playful consumer ads for laundry soap or ground beef – as if the viewer is surfing television channels.

    These scenes coalesce into a surreal tapestry of commercialism and counterculture. The interplay echoes the way Lennon and Ono saw pop culture and radical activism as inescapably intertwined discourses. It underscores how even seemingly mundane aspects of consumer life impinged on their activism and vice versa.

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    Lennon’s politics had emerged during his time as a Beatle, as evidenced in the song Revolution (1968). But it was Ono’s avant-garde sensibility that nudged him into more radical territory – both musically and socially.

    I’ve researched Ono’s comedic artistry in her performance art. So I found the way One to One portrays Ono seamlessly blending her artistic principles with raw emotional outcries onstage especially compelling.

    Her presence surfaces most powerfully in her onstage performance of Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow). There, her raw, piercing screams function as a form of cathartic protest rather than mere provocation. Despite widespread media ridicule (such as the infamous Chuck Berry footage that resurfaces on the internet every now and then), One to One clarifies that Ono’s screams constitute a highly personal mode of expression and resistance.

    The trailer for One to One: John & Yoko.

    Later in the film, Lennon’s own raw performance of his song Mother (1970) reveals how much Ono’s techniques informed his own. The documentary explores the emotional origins behind Ono’s shrieks, situating them within the context of primal scream therapy. This provides an interesting background to Lennon’s own wailing on Mother, a song about the lingering feeling of abandonment he had experienced since childhood.

    The film highlights a mutual borrowing. Lennon was not only the rock artist providing Ono exposure on the world’s stage but also a beneficiary of her experimental practices. Throughout the film, the couple are shown workshopping protest songs, connecting with countercultural figureheads such as poet Allen Ginsberg and activist Jerry Rubin, and aiding in counter-cultural protest of the American prison system.

    This sense of reciprocity between the couple is at the core of One to One.

    Complementary forces

    The One to One Benefit Concerts in August of 1972 at Madison Square Garden are at the epicentre of this film. Far from a publicity stunt, the shows sought tangible outcomes. They ultimately raised over US$1.5 million (£1,149,000) for Willowbrook State School, a facility for children with disabilities. Coincidentally, Lennon and Ono learned about the school through watching TV.

    The film includes an emotional scene of the children from Willowbrook playing in a park while Lennon performs Imagine. It shows how the song was never intended to canonise Lennon as a saint, but was rather to encourage social change.

    Although their plans to bail out people in prison on a Free The People tour fell through, Lennon and Ono’s capacity for integrating live music with direct engagement resonates in the concert footage.

    The film devotes considerable screen time to the concerts and crowd reactions. This portrays the physical energy of Lennon’s brand of rock ‘n’ roll and Ono’s more avant-garde flair as complementary forces. What emerges is a dynamic synergy, both onstage and off, that positions them as co-leaders of their own brand of pop activism.

    Towards the end of the film is footage of Ono delivering a speech about the ridicule she has faced in society and performing the song Age 39 (Looking Over from My Hotel Window) at the First International Feminist Conference at Harvard University in 1973.

    This segment includes home video footage of Ono walking among the witch sites of Salem, Massachusetts, symbolising her shifting role in society. She explains that she was “upgraded” from a “bitch” to a “witch”. One to One’s portrayal of Ono as a collaborator of Lennon’s rather than a reduction of her to a romantic partner points to how the narrative tide is changing, and Ono is finally getting her due recognition.

    One to One captures a moment when their combined artistry, activism, and mutual exchange of vocal techniques converged – creating an indelible record of how two personalities shaped protest music, pop culture and each other.

    Stephanie Hernandez 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. One to One: John & Yoko – documentary shows how Lennon and Ono shaped protest music, pop culture and each other – https://theconversation.com/one-to-one-john-and-yoko-documentary-shows-how-lennon-and-ono-shaped-protest-music-pop-culture-and-each-other-254640

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The role of carbon dioxide in airborne disease transmission: a hidden key to safer indoor spaces

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Allen Haddrell, Senior Research Associate, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol

    Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    We’ve long known that environmental factors – from humidity and temperature to trace chemical vapours – can influence how pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, behave once released into the air. These tiny droplets of respiratory fluid, or aerosols, carry viruses and bacteria and can float for minutes or even hours. But while we’ve been busy focusing on physical distancing and surface cleaning, a quieter factor may have been playing a much bigger role in airborne disease transmission all along: carbon dioxide (CO₂).

    During the pandemic, we studied what happens to a virus when it travels through the air in tiny droplets from our breath – known as aerosols. In earlier research, we found that the droplet’s pH (how alkaline it is) can affect how quickly the virus loses its ability to infect people. Our more recent research, though, suggests that CO₂ levels in indoor air may significantly affect how long viruses survive once airborne – and the implications are profound.

    Airborne virus survival

    When someone coughs, sneezes, talks or sings, they release microscopic droplets into the air. These droplets start out in a warm, moist and CO₂-rich environment inside the lungs, where CO₂ levels reach a staggering 38,000 parts per million (ppm). Once expelled, they encounter the cooler, drier and typically much lower-CO₂ environment of indoor or outdoor air. This rapid change triggers a chain reaction inside the droplet.

    One key component inside these droplets is bicarbonate, which acts as a buffer and is formed when CO₂ dissolves in liquid. As CO₂ diffuses out of the droplet into the air, bicarbonate leaves with it. This causes the droplet’s pH to rise – becoming increasingly alkaline, sometimes reaching pH 10.

    Why does this matter? Viruses like COVID-19 don’t like alkaline environments. As the pH rises, their ability to infect decreases. In other words, the higher the pH, the quicker the virus becomes inactive. However, when the ambient CO₂ concentration is high, this pH shift is delayed or minimised, meaning the virus remains in a more hospitable environment – and stays infectious longer.

    Droplets suspended in Celebs technology, used to study airborne microbe behavior. Photo credit: Allen Haddrell

    What role does CO₂ play?

    While CO₂ doesn’t transmit viruses itself, it acts as a proxy for indoor crowding and poor ventilation. The more people in a space, the more CO₂ builds up from exhaled breath. When there isn’t enough ventilation, these levels stay high as do the chances that airborne viruses can linger longer and infect others.

    Outdoor CO₂ levels are around 421ppm, but in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, indoor levels can easily exceed 800ppm. That’s the tipping point identified in the study, where the air starts allowing droplets to maintain a lower pH, increasing the survival time of viruses. In the 1940s, global CO₂ levels were much lower – around 310ppm – meaning indoor air offered less of a survival advantage to airborne pathogens.

    Looking ahead, climate projections estimate CO₂ levels could reach 685ppm by 2050, making this issue not only one of pandemic response but also of climate and public health policy. If we don’t address this now, we may be heading into a future where viruses survive longer in the air due to everyday indoor conditions.

    How exhaled aerosol pH increases to alkaline levels after exhalation. Bicarbonate evaporates as CO₂, leaving behind an inhospitable environment for viruses—unless there’s more CO₂ in the air. Illustration: Allen Haddrell

    Can we fix it?

    The good news? These findings suggest solutions we can implement right now.

    First, improve indoor ventilation. Increasing airflow and introducing outdoor air into enclosed spaces dilutes both CO₂ levels and any virus-containing aerosols. This simple change can significantly reduce the risk of airborne transmission – not just for COVID-19, but for future respiratory viruses as well.

    And, in the not-too-distant future, we might have indoor carbon capture technology. These devices, which are still being developed, could help remove excess CO₂ from the air, especially in hospitals, classrooms and public transport where the risk of spreading illness is higher.

    Also, monitoring indoor CO₂ levels using affordable sensors can empower individuals, schools and businesses to assess the indoor air quality and adjust the ventilation accordingly. If CO₂ levels rise above safe thresholds (often considered about 800ppm), it’s time to open windows, use air purifiers or ask some people to leave the room.

    This research reshapes the way we think about air quality. It’s no longer just about stuffiness or comfort – it’s about infection risk. As we face rising global CO₂ levels and continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, it’s clear that managing indoor air environments is essential to public health.

    By taking CO₂ seriously – not just as a climate metric but as a health indicator – we have a unique opportunity to reduce disease transmission in our everyday environments. Because when it comes to viruses in the air, the air itself might be our greatest ally – or our biggest threat.

    Allen Haddrell receives funding from the BBSRC and EPSRC.

    Henry Oswin previously received funding from the BBSRC and EPSRC, and currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. The role of carbon dioxide in airborne disease transmission: a hidden key to safer indoor spaces – https://theconversation.com/the-role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-airborne-disease-transmission-a-hidden-key-to-safer-indoor-spaces-229142

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How mobility assistance dogs can improve quality of life in children with cerebral palsy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Heather Kennedy Curtin, Specialist Physiotherapist in Gait Analysis, Trinity College Dublin

    Young girl hugging labrador dog

    Children with cerebral palsy often have difficulty walking, which can affect their relationships with peers and overall quality of life. People with visual impairment can experience similar difficulties with balance, spatial awareness and negotiating obstacles. People with visual impairments have reported that their greatest barrier to improved mobility was the discriminatory attitudes of others. Guide dogs and assistance dogs have tended to improve the quality of life for people with visual impairments, bringing admiration from others and improving confidence and independence.

    Dogs have been trained as mobility aids for ex-war veterans, while others have been trained to help wheelchair users manage daily tasks, such as picking up a dropped sock.

    But for some, a new form of support is offering life-changing assistance: mobility assistance dogs.

    Mobility assistance dogs are trained to provide stability and balance, helping a child navigate crowds and different terrains safely. Dogs for Disabled, a charity in Ireland is training and supplying specially trained assistance dogs as a walking aid for children with cerebral palsy and other physical impairments. Pet-loving families apply to receive a dog from the charity. The dogs are personality matched with a child and trained to help with their walking. This is an innovative practice, not previously targeted at children, so little research has been done in the area.

    Family friend

    My research tests the effects of mobility assistance dogs on the walking pattern, physical activity and the overall effect on the chidren’s quality of life – and that of their families.

    Many of these children (aged 6-12) report that walking with a dog is more socially favourable than holding their parent’s hand or using a metal frame. The dog brings positive attention to the child and gives them a topic of conversation. Parents believe that their children are more motivated to get out and about with the dog, as they enjoy being seen with their new furry friend.

    Parents reported that the dog allows their children to navigate through woodlands and on stony paths with more ease than with a standardised walking device. The dog can react dynamically, sensing the child’s needs and this significantly aids in circumventing obstacles, especially in crowds. Siblings and parents tend to accompany the child on dog walks, improving family fitness and increasing family time together.

    Louie Geary, Dogs for the Disabled’s Cork County Champion, explains how his Mobility Assistance Dog Maisie has changed his life.

    Formal measurement of a walking pattern is performed using 3D gait analysis, a technique using infrared sensors to track the movement pattern of the child. Some of the children with milder cerebral palsy can benefit in their walking pattern by practising walking with the dog, encouraging them to be more upright, to take longer steps and engaging anti-gravity muscles – muscles essential for maintaining an upright posture – more than leaning through a frame. For some children with more walking difficulty, relying on a walker may be more energy conserving, and walking with the dog, although fun, may not be the most practical way for them to get around.

    Wearable sensors were used to track the physical activity levels of the children while with their specially trained dog. Most reported that, with a dog, they walked further and were more likely to go for a walk. And children tended to spend more time at a higher level of physical activity, so a dog encouraged them to get their heart beating a little more, improving their cardiovascular fitness.

    Growing confidence

    For one particular child, a six-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, his overall walking speed and gait quality improved, he was more active after six months with his dog and his quality of life improved. His mum felt her son benefited from positive social reactions from people saying “hello” to the dog, which he loved. He never complained about feeling tired anymore while out walking and he walked further as it became more fun. He now holds onto the dog’s handle instead of the parent’s hand when out in public and this has boosted his confidence as he feels more “normal”.

    The bond between children with cerebral palsy and mobility assistance dogs is a powerful one. These dogs offer not just practical help in navigating the world, but also the emotional support that can lead to increased confidence, independence and social engagement.

    For families facing the challenges of lifelong disability such as cerebral palsy, these dogs are not just animals; they may be life-changing partners that provide invaluable support, both physical and emotional. As awareness of the benefits of mobility assistance dogs continues to grow, hopefully more children with cerebral palsy will have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of a canine companion.

    Heather Kennedy Curtin 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. How mobility assistance dogs can improve quality of life in children with cerebral palsy – https://theconversation.com/how-mobility-assistance-dogs-can-improve-quality-of-life-in-children-with-cerebral-palsy-252971

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Please take a seat and be nice

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Katrina is a member of the Transport Canberra occupational violence working group.

    Katrina will proudly tell you she has the best job in the world.

    For the past five years, she has worked as a bus driver for Transport Canberra. Some days she’s out on the road driving, and other times she’s a supervisor at the bus depot. But no matter what her day brings, she absolutely loves what she does.

    “I get my own office, I get to hang out by myself all day, but my office also changes every day depending on the weather and where I am in town. The seasons are so beautiful,” she says.

    Both Katrina and her husband applied for bus driver roles with Transport Canberra many years ago, but with their youngest son still in nappies at the time, Katrina opted for a 9-5 role instead. Once the kids were a bit older, Katrina applied again, and says the shift work now suits her family perfectly.

    “I’m on a rotating roster. Most weeks I get up before the birds do and come into work. If I’m driving for the day, I hop on a bus and go for a little drive around town for at least eight hours, if not 10, and interact with the public all day. Otherwise, I do duties around the depot. I may have to go and do a bus swap if a bus breaks down or take buses that are out in the shed and move them into the workshop. It’s a bit of everything, it’s pretty good,” says Katrina.

    “And then I go home and parent. There’s football training, taking kids to and from work, cooking dinner – all the fun things!”

    Just like with any job, there are of course some downsides. On any given day, bus drivers interact with Canberrans from all different walks of life, all dealing with different highs and lows – and sometimes our front-line workers are an unwitting target for frustration. Whether it’s traffic hold-ups causing the bus to be late – or people just having a bad day – in some cases, that frustration can result in passengers becoming aggressive or even violent with drivers.

    As a member of the Transport Canberra occupational violence working group, Katrina hears firsthand about the experiences of others as well as contributing towards solutions to help the workforce.

    “A lot of the occupational violence, from what I’ve heard around the workplace, has got to do with fare evasion and people not paying for their fares. But the same people don’t call an Uber and not pay for it, or they don’t go down to the supermarket and get the groceries and not pay for it, but then expect to hop on the bus for free.”

    Drivers are responsible for getting their passengers where they need to go, safely. That means they need to have a dual focus – not only do they need to be alert to the traffic conditions, but they also need to monitor what’s happening inside their bus. So if passengers get aggressive, it can be a scary predicament. But Transport Canberra has plenty of measures in place, so drivers have the support they need.

    ‘Drivers sit behind protection screens, plus we’ve got CCTV on all the buses. If you feel you are in danger, you can request immediate assistance and support via a range of methods. This request will be responded to by our Field Transport Officers and when required, ACT Policing.

    “I want to go home to my kids without being assaulted. So, if you’re going to get on the bus, just take a seat and be nice.”

    Despite it all, Katrina is adamant there’s no other job she’d rather do.

    “Especially in customer service roles, there’s always going to be people who give you a hard time. If you are in a customer-facing role, you’ve just got to learn some techniques on how to deal with it. But we’ve got things in place. There’s always someone not far away who can help,” she says.

    “Everybody around the depot says it’s the best job in the world. Once you actually hop in the driver’s seat, and you get to drive around in a big vehicle, and the majority of your clients are beautiful people. They say hello, they say thank you when they hop off. It just makes my day and I get to drive around Canberra, it’s so pretty.”

    * For personal privacy, surnames of interviewees have been removed.

    Find out more about how you can help make ACT Government workplaces safe for everyone.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 April 2025 Departmental update WHO launches new guide to help boost quality in health services

    Source: World Health Organisation

    To monitor quality improvement initiatives, it is important to select quality of care (QoC) indicators that are closely aligned with the improvement aims. These indicators should reflect the targeted care outcomes, key processes, essential inputs to be improved, and any potential unintended consequences. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, a range of helpful resources is provided to guide the process. 

    To effectively monitor and improve quality of care, it’s important to assess and strengthen the health information system (HIS) to ensure it can capture relevant indicators. Some needed QoC indicators may not exist in the local HIS, and evaluating its readiness can highlight gaps and integration opportunities. However, adding new indicators should be carefully planned, aligned with programme priorities, and based on available resources and national HIS review cycles. Ideally, only indicators essential for long-term monitoring should be integrated, as including those for short-term initiatives may overburden the system. 

    Regular measurement of selected quality indicators is essential for tracking progress and guiding improvements. In addition to monitoring whether QoC indicator results are improving as they make changes, quality improvement teams can use qualitative information to assess whether the specific changes they are testing are feasible, acceptable, and sustainable in the local setting. Both quantitative and qualitative information is important for improvement and learning. 

    High-quality data is crucial for accurate insights and building trust amongst quality improvement actors. There is a cycle of data use and quality, which can either strengthen or erode both elements: when the quality of data is poor it is less trusted and less used, leading to lower demand for data and less resources invested into strengthening data systems. Interventions to assess and improve the quality of data can be applied to data already available HIS or to data that is collected during a time-limited quality improvement initiative. 

    When managers and health workers lack experience with selecting, measuring or interpreting QoC indicators, practical support is essential to build their skills. This can include education, training, mentoring and professional development tailored to their roles. Scaling up these competencies also requires supportive policies, strong leadership, technical resources, sustainable funding, skilled staff and coordination between the health and education sectors. 

    With the right tools, clear indicators and empowered health workers, measuring quality of care becomes more than a task; it becomes a driver for better health for every mother, newborn, child and adolescent. 

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-04-16T05:04:00.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/topics/medicines-medical-devices-and-medical-care/emergency-care/trauma-care-in-khartoum.jpg?sfvrsn=929993b6_10″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-04-16T05:04:00.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/16-04-2025-who-launches-new-guide-to-help-boost-quality-in-health-services”,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi urges joint efforts to build high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with shared future

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony held by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. Xi met with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in new “Golden 50 Years” for bilateral ties.

    Xi made the remarks when meeting with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during a state visit to the country. Prior to their meeting, Sultan Ibrahim held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi.

    During the meeting, Xi pointed out that China and Malaysia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners who visit each other as often as family. Bilateral relations have gone through a magnificent half-century and are embracing an even brighter future, he added.

    Xi said he is ready to work with Sultan Ibrahim, the Malaysian supreme head of state, to lead the long-term and stable development of China-Malaysia ties, and write a new chapter in good-neighborliness, friendship, solidarity and cooperation.

    China and Malaysia should continue to deepen political mutual trust and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, Xi said.

    The two sides should deepen the synergy of development strategies, draw on each other’s strengths for mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly pursue modernization, he said.

    He called on the two sides to ensure good implementation of major projects such as the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” program and the East Coast Rail Link, and to actively foster cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and green economy.

    China welcomes more high-quality Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia, he said.

    China stands ready to promote the Confucian-Islamic civilizational dialogue with Malaysia and to carry out further cooperation with Malaysia in culture, tourism and education to enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said the Chinese president.

    China supports Malaysia in its role as the ASEAN chair and stands ready to work with Malaysia to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, Xi said.

    He also urged joint efforts to promote the Global South’s pursuit of solidarity-driven collective advancement and common development, so as to contribute more certainty and positive energy to the region and the world.

    For his part, Sultan Ibrahim said that President Xi’s state visit to Malaysia is a major event in bilateral relations, which fully demonstrates the high level of Malaysia-China relations, adding that his successful visit to China last September is still fresh in his memory.

    Sultan Ibrahim said he believes that Xi’s visit will comprehensively upgrade bilateral relations and promote vigorous development of cooperation in various fields, adding that China’s impressive development achievements are attributable to the foresight of President Xi and the hard work of the Chinese people.

    Malaysia attaches great importance to its relations with China and will join hands to forge ahead for win-win cooperation and promote the building of the high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future no matter how the international landscape evolves, he said.

    Malaysia attaches importance to regional economic integration, firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with China, jointly stabilize industrial and supply chains, enhance connectivity and boost people-to-people and educational exchanges, said Sultan Ibrahim.

    The Malaysian side speaks highly of China’s central conference on work related to neighboring countries held recently and values China’s important role in addressing global and regional challenges, he said.

    As the rotating chair of ASEAN and country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia is committed to promoting greater development of ASEAN-China ties and jointly building a peaceful and prosperous future, he added.

    After the meeting, Xi attended the welcome banquet held by Sultan Ibrahim.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The MOST Theatre is playing “Gudok!” Evgeny Slavutin on the premiere dedicated to young Soviet literature

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On April 17, the premiere of the play will take place on the main stage of the MOST Theatre “Beep!”, dedicated to the legendary editorial board of the newspaper of the same name. Its employees at the dawn of their careers were Valentin Kataev, Eduard Bagritsky, Yuri Olesha and other famous writers. “Kultura Moskvy” talked to Evgeny Slavutin, director, teacher, founder and artistic director of the theater, about choosing a plot for a production, the importance of creative energy and the ability to stay young at any age.

    — Evgeny Iosifovich, why did you decide to stage a play about young Soviet literature now? What makes this topic relevant?

    — Our theatre is young — this is its indisputable advantage and feature, which we try to take into account when choosing material for productions. In this case, we took a certain historical moment into work: young Odessans of the 1920s, passionately interested in poetry, passionately dream of making it and move to Moscow for this purpose.

    The age of our actors coincides with the age of their characters, and this is a good prerequisite for creating a live performance. We allowed the performers in the characters to look further, to go through their life’s journey to the end. This means that the performance will have an important psychological component that will be interesting to both the actors and the audience. Our task is to create a performance that penetrates the soul of the viewer, which will be relevant in its uniqueness. Relevance is not a task, but the result of the work.

    And then, it’s just very interesting material! A completely unique case: all our heroes find themselves in the same editorial office, moreover, in the same premises of the newspaper “Gudok”. Here, an amazing atmosphere of humor and creative energy arises, with the help of which they transform routine, utilitarian work, filling it with the brilliance of wit, turning it into a unique school of literary mastery. They raced to amaze each other, thereby setting a certain trend of cheerful, mischievous, and most importantly, real literature. And at this takeoff, they begin to write their big books. They create them in a festive atmosphere, despite the recent Civil War, hunger and domestic instability. They compose works that will make a splash.

    — You defined the genre of the play as a documentary phantasmagoria. What elements characterize it?

    — The script is based on the memories of real people. But literary memories, which sometimes become documents, are one thing, and a performance in which directors and actors convey the living energy of events, passing them through themselves, is quite another. In our case, through the energy of youth.

    Another important condition is the use of certain artistic techniques that involve the audience in the proposed events. Including a system of monologues built in the form of a direct appeal to the public. In short, this is a document, but played out and fertilized by the actor’s and director’s element.

    — The legendary newspaper “Gudok” was distinguished, among other things, by its amazing sense of humor. Were its satirical nature transferred to the production? What techniques did you use?

    — Satire is a reaction to topical moments in life. And despite the fact that our heroes wrote their newspaper articles brilliantly, the topic is a thing of the past. But a sense of humor is priceless, and we hope we managed to preserve it.

    — The performance was also prepared with the help of the plastic director Vladimir Belyaikin and the director-choreographer Elena Ershova. Does this mean that the audience should expect many dance numbers?

    — The theater requires an actor to demonstrate the ability to work with different capabilities. Not only intonation and voice, psychological expressiveness and authenticity are important, but also control of the body, which must be mobile and rhythmic. I have known Vladimir Belyaikin, winner of the Golden Mask award, for about 30 years. His works are amazing. Elena Ershova started in our theater as an actress, and now she is a candidate of pedagogical sciences, a dance specialist. But I would say that she is a co-director in the performance. Elena prepares dance and plastic numbers that express a certain essence of specific moments of the action. That is, the audience will see not isolated inclusions, but plastic solutions deeply connected with the course of the performance, in which not specially trained dancers take part, but actors.

    — Among the heroes of the play are Valentin Kataev, Eduard Bagritsky, Yuri Olesha, Mikhail Bulgakov, Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov — figures of incredible scale for Russian literature, bright, original. Was it difficult to choose suitable performers for these roles?

    – No, it’s not difficult. We have a very large troupe – about 80 people – talented, charged with art, obsessed people who have gone through our school. Acting talent, in my opinion, consists of obsession with the material and the complex of tasks with which the artist goes on stage.

    A wonderful coincidence occurred here: first we chose the actors, then we looked at photographs of the heroes of our play and were surprised by the striking resemblance.

    — In collaboration with Alexander Vilkin, you once wrote the play “How It Was” based on the works of Ilf and Petrov. Did that experience help you to become even more deeply involved with the characters of the new production?

    – Of course, it helped. Alexander Vilkin is a very talented person. At one time, the play “How It Was” was brilliantly performed at the Moscow Theater of Miniatures, so it was impossible not to use some of the techniques. But still, these are different plays, even in formal moments. In that one there were two hosts – Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov, in “Gudok!” most of the narration is from the point of view of Valentin Kataev, and the story of Ilf and Petrov is just one of the lines.

    — The ability to see and describe life like the characters in a play seems simple, but in reality, not everyone has it. What, in your opinion, will help develop it for those who would also like to become a great writer one day?

    — I have been teaching acting all my adult life: first at the Lomonosov Moscow State University Theatre, and for the last 25 years at the MOST Theatre. And I can say for sure that an actor is born and raised in collective work. You can’t train a person in acting techniques — the same goes for literary creativity. There must be some groups in which interesting cross-pollination occurs. If Ilya Ilf, Yevgeny Petrov, Yuri Olesha, Eduard Bagritsky and Mikhail Bulgakov sit and work in the same room, then most likely something incredible is happening there. They influenced each other willy-nilly, it is no coincidence that all these characters burst into the country’s leading theatre at almost the same time.

    — What is the essence of creativity and the main source of inspiration for you?

    — Passion, youth (at any age) and non-pragmatism. Yes, Alexander Pushkin’s phrase is well-known: “Inspiration is not for sale, but a manuscript can be sold.” But a manuscript must first be born in a state of inspiration. A person must write because he cannot help but write.

    And the source of inspiration for me is our actors. After all, these are people who are not crushed by their profession. People with talent, who unite in our acting school and then stay in the theater. We recruit study groups twice a year and literally after 12 classes we graduate artists who are free, easy and in love with their work. And the question of professionalism does not arise – all viewers note the special, bright energy and intelligent eyes of our actors. I attribute this to the fact that they are not only artists, but also physicists, biologists, journalists, that is, people living in a diverse, multi-tasking world, studying this world in its entirety. And working with such people, sometimes very difficult in the process of achieving those artistic goals that we are working on, endlessly inspires me.

    The next performance will be on May 20 and 21. Tickets can be purchased at Mos.ru.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152653073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Purpose Investments Debuts World’s First Spot Solana ETF That Will Be Staked – Continuing Its Leadership in Global Crypto Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose”), the firm behind the world’s first spot Bitcoin ETF and spot Ether ETF, is expanding its digital asset suite with the launch of the Purpose Solana ETF (ticker: SOLL). SOLL is the first ETF worldwide to provide direct physical exposure to Solana, a high-performance blockchain platform. The Purpose Solana ETF is uniquely coupled with native staking yield powered by Purpose’s proprietary in-house staking infrastructure – a feature designed to deliver the highest staking rewards currently available to investors.

    Trading today on the TSX, the Purpose Solana ETF reinforces Purpose’s position as a global leader in digital asset ETF innovation and Canada’s largest digital asset ETF manager. Backed by deep expertise and a proven track record, Purpose continues to make digital assets safer and easier for investors to access.

    Canada’s Crypto Leader Setting the Standard for Global Innovation

    “Solana is pushing the boundaries of blockchain innovation from speed and scalability to real-world decentralized applications,” said Vlad Tasevski, Chief Innovation Officer. “With the Purpose Solana ETF, we’re giving investors efficient, regulated access to this rapidly growing digital ecosystem, with the added benefit of native staking. As the only fund manager operating key aspects of the fund in-house through our technology infrastructure, we’re able to deliver a secure and seamless investment experience, along with more efficient returns and higher yields. This launch builds on the broadest suite of crypto ETFs in the country – and our mission to lead digital asset investing both here in Canada and globally with thoughtful, purpose-built solutions that meet investors where they are and help them move forward with confidence.”

    Purpose Solana ETF Key Benefits

    • Direct Exposure to Solana: Gain direct exposure to SOL, the native asset of a high-performance platform known for its speed, scalability, and growing developer ecosystem.
    • Native Staking Yield: Capture Solana’s staking yield through a regulated ETF structure – without the complexity of setting up wallets or managing on-chain assets.
    • Crypto-Native Advantage: Purpose’s in-house validator infrastructure and deep involvement in the Solana ecosystem will help to reduce cost and improve investor staking yield – offering one of the most efficient Solana staking programs on the market.
    • Secure, Portfolio-Ready Structure: Held in cold storage with institutional-grade custodians, the ETF trades on the TSX and can be held in registered accounts like RRSPs and TFSAs – no wallets, keys, or crypto exchanges required.
    • Uniquely Available With Three Currency Exposures: The ETF is available in CAD hedged units (ticker: SOLL), CAD non-hedged units (ticker: SOLL.B), and USD non-hedged units (ticker: SOLL.U).

    “The Purpose Solana ETF provides direct access to Solana’s high-throughput network, with staking integrated through our proprietary validator infrastructure,” said Paul Pincente, VP of Digital Assets. “By internalizing key operational components – including staking and reward management – we reduce counterparty risk, improve net yield capture, and create a more efficient, institutional-grade investment structure. This level of control helps us support a more consistent and streamlined investment experience as the digital asset space continues to evolve.”

    Leading Crypto-Native Capability and Unmatched In-House Staking Expertise

    At the core of its platform is true crypto-native capability, supported by Purpose Unlimited’s in-house staking infrastructure. Having deep control over the technology will enable greater operational efficiency and the ability to deliver higher yields to investors. This integrated approach is designed to enhance performance and security and positions Purpose as a leader in bringing institutional-grade crypto ETF solutions.

    The Broadest Suite of Crypto ETFs in Canada

    Purpose offers the most comprehensive suite of digital asset ETFs in Canada, designed to meet the needs of every investor profile, from active traders to long-term allocators and income-focused investors.

    Purpose Digital Assets lineup includes:

    • Purpose Bitcoin ETF (BTCC) and Purpose Ether ETF (ETHH): The world’s first spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, offering regulated access, high liquidity, and a strong track record – backed by advanced features for active traders and tactical allocators.
    • Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF (BTCY) and Purpose Ether Yield ETF (ETHY): Yield-generating ETFs that use covered call strategies to help investors earn income from their Bitcoin and Ether holdings.
    • Purpose Ether Staking Corp. ETF (ETHC.B): A staking-focused Ether ETF, giving investors access to Ethereum’s proof-of-stake rewards in a regulated structure.
    • Purpose Solana ETF (SOLL): The world’s first spot Solana ETF, unlocking direct exposure to a high-speed, low-fee blockchain known for its lightning-fast transactions, developer momentum, and real-world potential.

    With the launch of the Purpose Solana ETF, Purpose Investments continues to expand its industry-leading digital asset lineup, providing investors with secure and simple access to blockchain innovation. This new ETF complements Purpose’s existing crypto suite, which includes the world’s first spot Bitcoin ETF and first Ether ETF, offering investors a comprehensive range of digital asset solutions. As blockchain technology transforms financial markets, Purpose remains committed to bridging traditional finance with the future of decentralized and emerging financial technology, helping investors navigate the evolving digital economy with confidence.

    To explore the full suite of crypto ETFs, visit the Purpose Digital Assets Suite.

    About Purpose Investments

    Purpose Investments Inc. is an asset management company with over $22 billion in assets under management, focused on client-centric innovation across ETFs and investment funds. Purpose Investments is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent financial technology company led by entrepreneur Som Seif.

    For further information, please email us at info@purposeinvest.com.

    Media inquiries:
    Keera Hart
    keera.hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    The content of this document is for informational purposes only and is not being provided in the context of an offering of any securities described herein, nor is it a recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any security. Information contained in this document is not, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as, an offering memorandum, prospectus, advertisement or public offering of securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority has reviewed this information, and any representation to the contrary is an offence. The information contained in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable; however, we cannot guarantee that it is complete or current at all times. The information provided is subject to change without notice.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Crypto assets can be extremely volatile, and there can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Fund distribution levels and frequencies are not guaranteed and may vary at Purpose Investments’ sole discretion.

    Certain statements in this document may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements (“FLS”) are statements that are predictive in nature, depend on or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” or other similar expressions. Statements that look forward in time or include anything other than historical information are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the FLS. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and are, by their nature, based on numerous assumptions. Although the FLS contained in this document are based upon what Purpose Investments believes to be reasonable assumptions, Purpose Investments cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these FLS. The reader is cautioned to consider the FLS carefully and not to place undue reliance on the FLS. Unless required by applicable law, it is not undertaken, and specifically disclaimed, that there is any intention or obligation to update or revise FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: South Bow Safely Restarts Keystone Pipeline

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Bow Corp. (TSX & NYSE: SOBO) (South Bow or the Company) has safely restarted the Keystone Pipeline (Keystone) after receiving regulatory approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), following South Bow’s response to an oil release at Milepost 171 (MP-171) of Keystone on April 8, 2025, near Fort Ransom, North Dakota.

    South Bow is actively progressing its response and recovery efforts, having repaired and replaced the impacted pipe, and recovered substantially most of the estimated release volume of 3,500 barrels of oil, working now to remediate the impacted soil. South Bow’s primary focus remains the safety of onsite personnel and mitigating risks to the environment and the community surrounding Fort Ransom. South Bow will continue its clean-up activities until the site has been fully remediated, with continuous air quality monitoring steadily showing no indication of adverse health or public concerns. South Bow will continue working closely with regulators, local officials, landowners, and the community.

    Corrective Action Order

    On April 11, 2025, PHMSA issued a Corrective Action Order (CAO), requiring South Bow to undertake certain corrective actions in response to the MP-171 incident. As part of the CAO, South Bow developed a restart plan that was subsequently approved by PHMSA, authorizing Keystone’s return to service under certain operating pressure restrictions. South Bow is committed to the safe operation of Keystone and has notified the Canada Energy Regulator that the Company is also implementing certain operating pressure restrictions on the Canadian sections of the pipeline. The pipeline was operating within its design and regulatory approval requirements at the time of the incident. In addition to working closely with regulators, South Bow will work closely with customers during Keystone’s return to service.

    South Bow will continue providing timely updates as information becomes available on its website at www.southbow.com/incident-response.

    Forward-looking information and statements

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements), including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of applicable securities legislation, that are based on South Bow’s current expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as, “anticipate”, “will”, “expect”, “estimate”, “potential”, “future”, “outlook”, “strategy”, “maintain”, “ongoing”, “intend”, and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including with respect to response, recovery and clean-up efforts; notification and forthcoming updates regarding the oil release; and regulatory, landowner, community, and customer engagement.

    The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that South Bow has made in respect thereof as at the date of this news release regarding, among other things: oil and gas industry development activity levels and the geographic region of such activity; that favourable market conditions exist and that South Bow has and will have available capital to fund its capital expenditures and other planned spending; prevailing commodity prices, interest rates, inflation levels, carbon prices, tax rates, and exchange rates; the ability of South Bow to maintain current credit ratings; the availability of capital to fund future capital requirements; future operating costs; asset integrity costs; that all required regulatory and environmental approvals can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; and prevailing regulatory, tax, and environmental laws and regulations.

    Although South Bow believes the assumptions and other factors reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these assumptions and factors will prove to be correct and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: the regulatory environment and related decisions and requirements; the impact of competitive entities and pricing; reliance on third parties to successfully operate and maintain certain assets; the strength and operations of the energy industry; weakness or volatility in commodity prices; non-performance or default by counterparties; actions taken by governmental or regulatory authorities; the ability of South Bow to acquire or develop and maintain necessary infrastructure; fluctuations in operating results; adverse general economic and market conditions; the ability to access various sources of debt and equity capital on acceptable terms; and adverse changes in credit. The foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the results implied by forward-looking statements, refer to South Bow’s annual information form dated March 5, 2025, available under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and, from time to time, in South Bow’s public disclosure documents, available at www.sedarplus.ca, www.sec.gov, and on South Bow’s website at www.southbow.com.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date hereof. South Bow does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information contained herein, except as required by applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Contact information

    Investor Relations
    Martha Wilmot
    investor.relations@southbow.com    		 Media Relations & Community Enquiries
    Solomiya Lyaskovska
    communications@southbow.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pope Francis and Laudato Si’: looking back at an ecological turning point for the Catholic Church

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Bernard Laurent, Professeur, EM Lyon Business School

    In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis called for a radical break with consumerist lifestyles. Ricardo Perna/Shutterstock

    On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis signed his encyclical Laudato Si’ – “Praise be to you” in medieval Italian. This letter to Roman Catholic bishops was no half measure: it took many Catholics by surprise with its uncompromising conclusions and call for an in-depth transformation of our lifestyles. In France, it managed to bring together both conservative currents – such as the Courant pour un écologie humaine (Movement for a Human Ecology), created in 2013 – and more open-minded Catholic intellectuals such as Gaël Giraud, a Jesuit and author of Produire plus, polluer moins: l’impossible découplage? (Produce more, Pollute Less: the Impossible Decoupling?).

    The Pope was taking a cue from his predecessors. Benedict XVI, John Paul II and Paul VI had also expressed concern about the dramatic effects of an abusive exploitation of nature on humanity:

    “Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation.”

    What does Pope Francis’s encyclical teach us? And how does it reflect the Catholic Church’s vision, and his own?


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    The “green” pope

    In the text, Pope Francis describes a situation in which the environment is deteriorating rapidly:

    “There is […] pollution that affects everyone, caused by transport, industrial fumes, substances which contribute to the acidification of soil and water, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and agrotoxins in general.” (§-20)

    The “green” pope published Laudato Si’ on June 18, 2015, a few months prior to the Paris climate conference. The aim was to raise public awareness around the challenges of global warming by creating a relational approach that included God, human beings and the Earth. It was the first time an encyclical had been devoted wholly to ecology.

    In it, the Pope voiced his concern about the effects of global warming:

    “Warming has effects on the carbon cycle. It creates a vicious circle which aggravates the situation even more, affecting the availability of essential resources like drinking water, energy and agricultural production in warmer regions, and leading to the extinction of part of the planet’s biodiversity.” (§-24)

    Criticizing a “technocratic paradigm”

    Since Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, the various social encyclicals have consistently rejected the liberal idea of a society solely regulated by the smooth functioning of the market. The French sociologist of religion Émile Poulat summed up the Church’s position perfectly in 1977 in his book Église contre bourgeoisie. Introduction au devenir du catholicisme actuel, in which he writes that the Church “never agreed to abandon the running of the world to the blind laws of economics”.

    In 2015, Pope Francis rejected technical solutions that would not truly be useful, as well as the belief in the redeeming virtues of a self-regulating market. He accused “the technocratic paradigm” of dominating humankind by subordinating the economic and political spheres to its logic (§-101). His comments are reminiscent of the unjustly forgotten French Protestant philosopher Jacques Ellul and his idea of a limitless “self-propulsion” of technology, which has become the alpha and omega of our societies.

    For Jacques Ellul, technology is anything but neutral since it represents genuine power driven by its own movement.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    The pope’s charge against the supposed virtues of the market was spectacular. Among others, he criticized the following:

    • overconsumption in developed countries:

    “Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending.” (§-203);

    • the glorification of profit and a self-regulating market:

    “Some circles maintain that current economics and technology will solve all environmental problems.” (§-109);

    • the hypertrophy of speculative finance:

    “Politics must not be subject to the economy, nor should the economy be subject to the dictates of an efficiency-driven paradigm of technocracy.” (§-189);

    • the unequal distribution of wealth in the world:

    “In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: […] the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.” (§-48);

    • the unequal levels of development between countries, leading Francis to speak of an “ecological debt” owed by rich countries to the least developed ones. (§-51)

    Social justice and shrinking growth

    In Francis’s words, the goals of saving the planet and social justice go hand in hand. His approach is in keeping with the work of the [economist Louis-Joseph Lebret, a Dominican, who in 1941 founded the association Économie et humanisme. Father Lebret wanted to put the economy back at the service of humankind, and work with the least economically advanced countries by championing an approach based on the virtues of local communities and regional planning.

    Pope Francis, for his part, is calling for a radical break with the consumerist lifestyles of rich countries, while focusing on the development of the poorest nations. (§-93). In Laudato Si’, he also wrote that developed countries’ responses seemed insufficient because of the economic interests at stake (§-54).

    This brings us back to the principle of the universal destination of goods – the organizing principle of property defended by the Catholic Church’s social doctrine, which demands that goods be distributed in such a way as to enable every human being to live in dignity.

    In addition to encouraging the necessary technical adjustments and sober individual practices, Pope Francis is urging citizens in developed countries not to be content with half measures deemed largely insufficient. Instead, he is calling for people to make lifestyle changes in line with the logic of slowing growth. The aim is to enable developing countries to emerge from poverty, while sparing the environment.

    “Given the insatiable and irresponsible growth produced over many decades, we need also to think of containing growth by setting some reasonable limits and even retracing our steps before it is too late. […] That is why the time has come to accept decreased growth in some parts of the world, in order to provide resources for other places to experience healthy growth.” (§ -193)

    Nearly 10 years on, Laudato Si’ resonates fully with our concerns. In the United States, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who both identify as Catholic, would be well advised to read it anew.

    Bernard Laurent is a member of the CFTC and of the IRES Scientific Council

    – ref. Pope Francis and Laudato Si’: looking back at an ecological turning point for the Catholic Church – https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-and-laudato-si-looking-back-at-an-ecological-turning-point-for-the-catholic-church-253977

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Draganfly Establishes Public Safety Advisory Board, Appoints Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Expert Paul Goldenberg as Chair

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Industry Veteran Joins Draganfly to Drive Innovation at the Intersection of Public Safety and Technology

    Tampa, FL, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, is proud to announce the formation of its Public Safety Advisory Board. This new initiative reinforces Draganfly’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical technologies that support enforcement and public safety agencies worldwide. Renowned global public safety expert and Homeland Security advisor Paul Goldenberg will serve as the inaugural Chair of the Board.

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

    Goldenberg’s career also includes directing the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) transitional policing mission, working on the ground in regions such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Ukraine, and France. His efforts focused on strengthening police responses to extremism and fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and vulnerable communities.

    “Draganfly’s commitment to utilizing technology to enhance public safety and law enforcement aligns with my lifelong mission to improve security and foster trust between agencies and the communities they serve,” said Goldenberg. “Given the challenges law enforcement agencies face, including recruitment and retention issues, drones have become an invaluable tool that helps officers protect both themselves and the communities they serve.”

    Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, emphasized the significance of Goldenberg’s appointment:
    “Paul’s vast experience in homeland security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement makes him the ideal choice to lead our Public Safety Advisory Board. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing Draganfly’s mission to deliver innovative, AI-powered drone technologies that improve situational awareness and operational efficiency for law enforcement agencies across the globe.”

    Goldenberg’s past roles have included serving as the first Chief of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for Hate Crime and Domestic Terrorism Investigations, managing major organized crime cases, spending six years deep undercover as part of the South Florida Task Force, and leading one of the United States’ largest social service and juvenile justice systems. His work has directly influenced modern policing strategies and shaped national and international policy.

    The creation of Draganfly’s Public Safety Advisory Board marks a pivotal step in the Company’s continued efforts to strengthen public safety and law enforcement capabilities, offering innovative solutions that support officers in the field.

    About Draganfly

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8A) is a pioneer in drone solutions, AI-driven software, and robotics. With over 25 years of innovation, Draganfly has been at the forefront of drone technology, providing solutions for public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying. The Company is committed to delivering efficient, reliable, and industry-leading technology that helps organizations save time, money, and lives.

    For more information, visit www.draganfly.com.

    For investor details, visit:
    CSE
    NASDAQ
    FRANKFURT

    Media Contact
    media@draganfly.com

    Company Contact
    info@draganfly.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎“may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎“estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts of future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and ‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business, economic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not ‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to the Public Safety Advisory Board advancing Draganfly’s mission to deliver innovative, AI-powered drone technologies that improve situational awareness and operational efficiency for law enforcement agencies across the globe. Forward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various ‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict, that ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those ‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions ‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the potential ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health crises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business, operations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful integration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general ‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the ‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the inherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for unexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations; regulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key ‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties disclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors“ ‎‎‎‎in the Company’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in Canada on ‎the SEDAR ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no obligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information represents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. ‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – Bishop of Eldoret: “We are completely destroying our country through corruption”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We are left wondering where will the poor go and who will stand for them. What we are doing is wrong and we are completely destroying our country through corruption”, Msgr. Dominic Kimengich, Bishop of Eldoret said after leading a Palm Sunday service on Sunday, April 13. “Corruption has reached saddening levels where Kenyans have to buy jobs and those in positions are using public offices to amass for themselves. If we continue going that way, we are just destroying our country”, the Bishop remarked.Msgr. Kimengich added that the taxes paid by Kenyans should be used to provide essential public services and generate jobs in the public sector.The Bishop of Eldoret regretted that insecurity is still a major problem in Kerio Valley with the re-emergence of banditry.”The government should not allow a few people to take us back with killing of innocent people in Kerio Valley,” he said. In the past two months, at least ten people—including two police officers – have been killed in attacks by bandits in that region. Insecurity has devastating economic and social consequences: pastures, livestock, and crops, particularly mangoes, the local main export, are affected. Furthermore, the poor condition of the roads discourages middlemen and transporters, who prefer to avoid the area. As a result, many farmers are unable to market their produce and are forced to let the fruit rot on the trees.Added to this is criminal activity, schools in the area were closed in December. To address the situation, President William Ruto announced in January the creation of a military training camp in the region, with the aim of strengthening security. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 16/4/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – The London conference ends without a final declaration; the RSF proclaim the formation of an alternative government

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 16 April 2025 war  

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – The London conference organized exactly two years after the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war on 15 April 2023, to try to put an end to the conflict, ended without a final declaration.The conference was convened by the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France and Germany, and was attended by foreign ministers and high-level representatives of Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda and the United States of America, together with high-level representatives of the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations (UN). However, the absence of the two opposing forces—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo—has severely limited the prospects for progress. The organizers of the conference said that this year’s participants pledged more than $1 billion to Sudan and its neighbors. This figure includes $590 million from the EU and its member states and $158 million from the United Kingdom.The final declaration that was supposed to address the formation of a contact group to mediate between the parties, fell through due to differences between Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, according to The Guardian. The first two support General al-Burhan, while the third are suspected of siding with Dagalo. The latter, coinciding with the London conference, proclaimed once again yesterday, April 15, the formation of an alternative government to the one led by General al-Burhan, calling it a “Government of Peace and Unity, the true face of Sudan.” Dagalo described the administration as “an alliance between the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, civil society, humanitarian organizations, and youth movements.” He also emphasized that the RSF government aims to unify Sudan by committing to providing education, healthcare, and essential services throughout the war-torn country, and not only in the territories they control. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 16/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –