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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF outraged by armed looting of hospital in South Sudan

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • On 14 April, armed men stormed the MSF hospital and office in Ulang, Upper Nile state, South Sudan, looting the premises and threatening our staff.
    • This incident has forced us to suspend services at the hospital, leaving the area without a functioning health facility.
    • We continue to support health facilities in other areas of Upper Nile state, and call on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect health facilities, patients, civilians, and medical staff.

    Upper Nile state – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns the armed looting of our hospital and premises in Ulang, Upper Nile state, South Sudan. On the morning of 14 April, dozens of armed men stormed the MSF hospital and office in Ulang town, threatened staff, and looted vital medical supplies and equipment. As a result, all medical services at the hospital — the only functioning health facility in the area — have been suspended.

    “We are outraged by the attack on our hospital and the threats against our medical staff in Ulang,” says Zakariya Mwatia, MSF head of mission in South Sudan. “This facility has been a lifeline for the community at a time of escalating violence and an active cholera outbreak. Such attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers are completely unacceptable. We are gravely concerned about the devastating impact the closure of medical services will have on already vulnerable communities, who now face even greater barriers to accessing lifesaving care.”

    On the night of 13 April, as violence drew closer to Ulang town, patients began fleeing the hospital in fear — despite being under medical care. At the time, more than 100 patients were admitted and receiving critical treatment, including trauma care, maternity services, and paediatric care. While some patients remained as long as they could, they were ultimately forced to flee when armed men entered the facility and began looting room by room.

    Although no injuries to MSF staff have been reported, we remain extremely concerned for the safety of our teams and patients.

    “The safety of our staff and patients is our foremost priority. We are taking all necessary measures to evacuate our teams as we fear further escalation of violence,” says Mwatia. “This unacceptable act of violence shows a complete disregard for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, and it has directly affected our ability to provide care at a time when it is most urgently needed.”

    The attack on Ulang hospital is part of a broader pattern of insecurity affecting healthcare in the area. In January 2025, two clearly marked MSF boats carrying six staff were attacked by armed men while returning to Ulang after delivering medical supplies to Nasir County hospital. That incident forced MSF to suspend all outreach activities in the region.

    In Ulang, MSF has been operating a hospital alongside a network of decentralised healthcare services since 2018. In 2024 alone, MSF teams provided over 10,000 outpatient consultations, admitted 3,284 patients, and assisted with 650 maternal deliveries. Over the years, the 60-bed hospital has served as a critical facility for communities affected by violence, disease outbreaks and limited access to healthcare.

    The suspension of services at the hospital represents a major blow to healthcare provision in the area, which is now left without a single functioning health facility. This disruption also results in the suspension of critical support by MSF to several healthcare centres across the region, halting vital efforts to treat cholera patients and control the ongoing outbreak. Furthermore, more than 800 patients living with HIV, tuberculosis, and chronic diseases have lost access to their treatment, putting their lives at significant risk.

    MSF continues to support health services in other parts of Upper Nile, including Renk and Malakal counties. MSF urgently calls on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect health facilities, patients, civilians, and medical staff, in accordance with the international humanitarian law.

    “MSF remains committed to providing impartial, lifesaving care wherever it is needed, but the safety of patients and health workers must be guaranteed,” says Mwatia.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are twins allergic to the same things?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Breanne Hayes Haney, Allergy and Immunology Fellow-in-Training, School of Medicine, West Virginia University

    If one has a reaction to a new food, is the other more likely to as well? BjelicaS/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

    Are twins allergic to the same things? – Ella, age 7, Philadelphia

    Allergies, whether spring sneezes due to pollen or trouble breathing triggered by a certain food, are caused by a combination of someone’s genes and the environment they live in.

    The more things two people share, the higher their chances of being allergic to the same things. Twins are more likely to share allergies because of everything they have in common, but the story doesn’t end there.

    I’m an allergist and immunologist, and part of my job is treating patients who have environmental, food or drug allergies. Allergies are really complex, and a lot of factors play a role in who gets them and who doesn’t.

    What is an allergy?

    Your immune system makes defense proteins called antibodies. Their job is to keep watch and attack any invading germs or other dangerous substances that get inside your body before they can make you sick.

    An allergy happens when your body mistakes some usually harmless substance for a harmful intruder. These trigger molecules are called allergens.

    Y-shaped antibodies are meant to grab onto any harmful germs, but sometimes they make a mistake and grab something that isn’t actually a threat: an allergen.
    ttsz/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The antibodies stick like suction cups to the allergens, setting off an immune system reaction. That process leads to common allergy symptoms: sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, a cough. These symptoms can be annoying but minor.

    Allergies can also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis that requires immediate medical attention. For example, if someone ate a food they were allergic to, and then had throat swelling and a rash, that would be considered anaphylaxis.

    The traditional treatment for anaphylaxis is a shot of the hormone epinephrine into the leg muscle. Allergy sufferers can also carry an auto-injector to give themselves an emergency shot in case of a life-threatening case of anaphylaxis. An epinephrine nasal spray is now available, too, which also works very quickly.

    A person can be allergic to things outdoors, like grass or tree pollen and bee stings, or indoors, like pets and tiny bugs called dust mites that hang out in carpets and mattresses.

    A person can also be allergic to foods. Food allergies affect 4% to 5% of the population. The most common are to cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and sesame. Sometimes people grow out of allergies, and sometimes they are lifelong.

    Who gets allergies?

    Each antibody has a specific target, which is why some people may only be allergic to one thing.

    The antibodies responsible for allergies also take care of cleaning up any parasites that your body encounters. Thanks to modern medicine, people in the United States rarely deal with parasites. Those antibodies are still ready to fight, though, and sometimes they misfire at silly things, like pollen or food.

    Hygiene and the environment around you can also play a role in how likely it is you’ll develop allergies. Basically, the more different kinds of bacteria that you’re exposed to earlier in life, the less likely you are to develop allergies. Studies have even shown that kids who grow up on farms, kids who have pets before the age of 5, and kids who have a lot of siblings are less likely to develop allergies. Being breastfed as a baby can also protect against having allergies.

    Children who grow up in cities are more likely to develop allergies, probably due to air pollution, as are children who are around people who smoke.

    Kids are less likely to develop food allergies if they try foods early in life rather than waiting until they are older. Sometimes a certain job can contribute to an adult developing environmental allergies. For example, hairdressers, bakers and car mechanics can develop allergies due to chemicals they work with.

    Genetics can also play a huge role in why some people develop allergies. If a mom or dad has environmental or food allergies, their child is more likely to have allergies. Specifically for peanut allergies, if your parent or sibling is allergic to peanuts, you are seven times more likely to be allergic to peanuts!

    Do you have an allergy twin in your family?
    Ronnie Kaufman/DigitalVision via Getty Images Plus

    Identical in allergies?

    Back to the idea of twins: Yes, they can be allergic to the same things, but not always.

    Researchers in Australia found that 60% to 70% of twins in one study both had environmental allergies, and identical twins were more likely to share allergies than fraternal (nonidentical) twins. Identical twins share 100% of their genes, while fraternal twins only share about 50% of their genes, the same as any pair of siblings.

    A lot more research has been done on the genetics of food allergies. One peanut allergy study found that identical twins were more likely to both be allergic to peanuts than fraternal twins were.

    So, twins can be allergic to the same things, and it’s more likely that they will be, based on their shared genetics and growing up together. But twins aren’t automatically allergic to the exact same things.

    Imagine if two twins are separated at birth and raised in different homes: one on a farm with pets and one in the inner city. What if one’s parents smoke, and the others don’t? What if one lives with a lot of siblings and the other is an only child? They certainly could develop different allergies, or maybe not develop allergies at all.

    Scientists like me are continuing to research allergies, and we hope to have more answers in the future.

    Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

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

    – ref. Are twins allergic to the same things? – https://theconversation.com/are-twins-allergic-to-the-same-things-245914

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Getting AIs working toward human goals − study shows how to measure misalignment

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aidan Kierans, Ph.D. Student in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut

    Self-driving cars are only one example where it’s tricky but critical to align AI and human goals. AP Photo/Michael Liedtke

    Ideally, artificial intelligence agents aim to help humans, but what does that mean when humans want conflicting things? My colleagues and I have come up with a way to measure the alignment of the goals of a group of humans and AI agents.

    The alignment problem – making sure that AI systems act according to human values – has become more urgent as AI capabilities grow exponentially. But aligning AI to humanity seems impossible in the real world because everyone has their own priorities. For example, a pedestrian might want a self-driving car to slam on the brakes if an accident seems likely, but a passenger in the car might prefer to swerve.

    By looking at examples like this, we developed a score for misalignment based on three key factors: the humans and AI agents involved, their specific goals for different issues, and how important each issue is to them. Our model of misalignment is based on a simple insight: A group of humans and AI agents are most aligned when the group’s goals are most compatible.

    In simulations, we found that misalignment peaks when goals are evenly distributed among agents. This makes sense – if everyone wants something different, conflict is highest. When most agents share the same goal, misalignment drops.

    Why it matters

    Most AI safety research treats alignment as an all-or-nothing property. Our framework shows it’s more complex. The same AI can be aligned with humans in one context but misaligned in another.

    This matters because it helps AI developers be more precise about what they mean by aligned AI. Instead of vague goals, such as align with human values, researchers and developers can talk about specific contexts and roles for AI more clearly. For example, an AI recommender system – those “you might like” product suggestions – that entices someone to make an unnecessary purchase could be aligned with the retailer’s goal of increasing sales but misaligned with the customer’s goal of living within his means.

    Recommender systems use sophisticated AI technologies to influence consumers, making it all the more important that they aren’t out of alignment with human values.

    For policymakers, evaluation frameworks like ours offer a way to measure misalignment in systems that are in use and create standards for alignment. For AI developers and safety teams, it provides a framework to balance competing stakeholder interests.

    For everyone, having a clear understanding of the problem makes people better able to help solve it.

    What other research is happening

    To measure alignment, our research assumes we can compare what humans want with what AI wants. Human value data can be collected through surveys, and the field of social choice offers useful tools to interpret it for AI alignment. Unfortunately, learning the goals of AI agents is much harder.

    Today’s smartest AI systems are large language models, and their black box nature makes it hard to learn the goals of the AI agents such as ChatGPT that they power. Interpretability research might help by revealing the models’ inner “thoughts”, or researchers could design AI that thinks transparently to begin with. But for now, it’s impossible to know whether an AI system is truly aligned.

    What’s next

    For now, we recognize that sometimes goals and preferences don’t fully reflect what humans want. To address trickier scenarios, we are working on approaches for aligning AI to moral philosophy experts.

    Moving forward, we hope that developers will implement practical tools to measure and improve alignment across diverse human populations.

    The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

    Aidan Kierans has participated as an independent contractor in the OpenAI Red Teaming Network. His research described in this article was supported in part by the NSF Program on Fairness in AI in collaboration with Amazon. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or Amazon. Kierans has also received research funding from the Future of Life Institute.

    – ref. Getting AIs working toward human goals − study shows how to measure misalignment – https://theconversation.com/getting-ais-working-toward-human-goals-study-shows-how-to-measure-misalignment-251896

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Molecular nanocages remove 80-90% of PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ from water

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The porphyrin-based chemical nanocages remove more PFAS from groundwater than traditional filtering methods while keeping toxicity low

    Researchers funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation have created a molecular nanocage that captures the bulk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in water — and it works better than traditional filtering techniques that use activated carbon. Made of organic nanoporous material designed to capture only PFAS, this tiny chemical-based filtration system removed 80 to 90% of PFAS from sewage and groundwater during the study, respectively, while showing very low adverse environmental effects.

    The study was led by scientists at the University at Buffalo and published in American Chemical Society ES&T Engineering.

    PFAS are chemical compounds sometimes called “forever chemicals” and are commonly used in food packaging, nonstick coatings and other applications. PFAS do not degrade easily and are notoriously difficult to remove from water sources. Studies show exposure to PFAS may cause a range of negative health impacts, including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children and increased risk for some cancers. The safe and effective removal of PFAS from groundwater, sewage and other water sources is a national challenge.

    Molecular nanocages have been previously suggested as candidates for pollutant removal, including for PFAS. Their sturdy structures provide capabilities to capture, remove and chemically deactivate hazardous substances like PFAS and many others. They could also potentially filter out noxious gases from the air, the study authors say.

    Credit: Karla Sanchez Lievanos/Research and Education in Energy, Environment and Water Institute (RENEW), University at Buffalo

    An illustration of porphyrin-based molecular nanocages that are engineered for selectivity, water stability and fast sorption. These nanocages achieve on average 90% removal of 38 PFAS compounds from mixed water solutions. The material shows promise for more efficient, safer and sustainable water remediation.

    The researchers synthesized the nanocages from a group of organic chemicals called porphyrins. Previous studies have shown success with porphyrin nanocages in removing dyes, antibiotics, insecticides and chemicals that disrupt human hormone production from water.

    The researchers then tested their nanocages’ ability to absorb 38 different types of PFAS, including GenX, a type of PFAS commonly used in nonstick cookware and other materials. The results showed the nanocages removed 90% of PFAS from groundwater and 80% from unprocessed or “influent” sewage.

    The organic molecular nanocages also outperformed the PFAS-filtering abilities of activated carbon, particularly in unprocessed sewage. Activated carbon and other purification or filtration methods, such as ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis, tend to interact weakly with PFAS, the researchers note. They are also costly, high-maintenance and energy-intensive in comparison to nanocages.

    “Porphyrin-based nanocages offer a potentially practical solution to the challenges of PFAS removal,” says Samy El-Shall, a program director in the NSF Division of Chemistry. “The material can also be mass-produced at scale, and the cages are modifiable to remove PFAS only while leaving other water contents alone.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [ADVANCED MEDICAL SOLUTIONS GROUP PLC – 11 04 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 ADVANCED MEDICAL SOLUTIONS GROUP PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 11 APRIL 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 5p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 11,881,421 5.4484    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 11,881,421 5.4484    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    5p ORDINARY BUY 2,445 184.1375p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 14 APRIL 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Introduces Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro: Ruggedized Devices for Frontline Excellence

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics America today announced the new Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro, enterprise-ready devices designed to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced, high-intensity work environments. Continuing the legacy of Samsung’s ruggedized devices, these latest Pro models are versatile, optimized and secure — delivering enhanced durability,1 steady performance, and optimized workflows to empower frontline workers, from the office to the field and beyond.
    With 5G connectivity,2 an upgraded processor, and increased memory, the XCover7 Pro and Tab Active5 Pro offer enhanced mobility and reliability. The XCover7 Pro features a powerful new stereo speaker system with anti-feedback technology, which minimizes unwanted audio loops for clearer communication. Both devices offer enhanced battery capacity, with the XCover7 Pro equipped with a 4,350mAh battery for longer usage, while the Tab Active5 Pro comes with a 10,100mAh battery set designed to support demanding workflows. The Tab Active5 Pro also supports Dual Hot-Swap battery functionality, allowing workers to replace batteries3 without powering down their device and ensuring seamless operation even when battery levels are low.

    With the ruggedized smartphone market expected to reach 4.46 million units and the ruggedized tablet market projected to hit 1.89 million units by 2028,4 these devices can be increasingly essential in industries such as retail, government, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. Reliable, high-performing, and durable, they can be critical for ensuring seamless operations in any work environment.
    “At Samsung, we understand that frontline professionals need technology that adapts to their fast-paced and demanding work environments,” said Jerry Park, EVP and Head of Global Mobile B2B Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro combine ruggedized durability, enterprise-grade security, seamless connectivity, and intuitive AI-driven features to help businesses operate efficiently in harsh conditions while maximizing productivity and minimizing downtime.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: OEUK news Public asked to join energy conversations as OEUK hosts UK-wide debates 14 April 2025

    Source: Offshore Energy UK

    Headline: OEUK news

    Public asked to join energy conversations as OEUK hosts UK-wide debates

    14 April 2025

    Accessibility Statement

    • oeuk.org.uk
    • 14 April 2025

    Compliance status

    We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

    To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

    This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

    Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

    If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email [email protected]

    Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

    Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

    1. Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

      These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

    2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.

      Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Disability profiles supported in our website

    • Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
    • Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
    • Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
    • ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
    • Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
    • Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

    1. Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
    2. Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
    3. Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
    4. Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
    5. Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
    6. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
    7. Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

    Browser and assistive technology compatibility

    We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).

    Notes, comments, and feedback

    Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to [email protected]

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What We Talk About When We Talk About AI

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Depending on who is asked, artificial intelligence (AI) may be revered, feared, or just plain weird. To some, AI represents the dawn of a new golden age of technology and humanity. And others would argue that so-called AI is not really that “intelligent” at all. 

    In order to have these disagreements productively, argues UConn Humanities Institute Director Anna Mae Duane, we first have to clear something up: are we even talking about the same thing? 

    “There’s an issue of disciplinary language — when we’re talking about AI, even when we’re using the same words in the same language, we don’t mean the same thing at all,” says Duane. “What a philosopher means by ‘intelligence’ and what a computer programmer means by ‘intelligence,’ or ‘learning’ or ‘training’ or ‘language,’ are all very different things.” 

    Duane has had a career-long penchant for collaborating with other scholars, across disciplines and continents. Under her leadership, the UCHI’s latest venture is “Reading Between the Lines: An Interdisciplinary Glossary for Human-Centered AI,” a partnership with the International University at Rabat (UIR) in Morocco. 

    This partnership is supported by a $25,000 grant from the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI).  

    It will include a series of podcasts with interdisciplinary experts weighing in on these critical AI conversations, culminating in a cross-campus, in-person symposium in fall 2025.  

    ‘L’ is for Large Language Model

    What we refer to as “AI” is usually a large language model, which works just how it sounds – by absorbing vast amounts of linguistic data and learning to synthesize outputs based on this data. Examples of LLMs include ChatGPT and the built-in AI features on many apps. 

    But exactly what language are these models being trained on? Predominantly English, notes Duane.  

    This can result in issues when AI is used for non-English contexts. For example, Duane recalls a colleague at UIR who is developing an application to help seniors in need of arthritis care. 

    “What became clear was that just because the AI she was using was trained on English, there were all sorts of mistranslations and misunderstandings,” Duane says. 

    In addition to mistranslations on a literal level, AI can also introduce cultural errors. Culturally informed care is critical to increasing access to healthcare for everyone; an LLM that is trained on mainstream American ideologies will be less useful in every other cultural context. 

    This is just one unforeseen consequence of modeling LLMs on a diet of data dominated by one small corner of the world. Others are likely to emerge as AI is integrated into more industries and technologies.  

    But by establishing a strong scholarly basis for understanding these consequences, Duane thinks we can also help mitigate them. 

    “We’re not helpless in how this turns out, including how we speak about it now,” she says. “We don’t have to do this sort of passive, ‘Well, it’s off and running…’ thing.” 

    Collaborating with an international university, where the primary languages spoken are French and Arabic, is an important step in building this understanding. 

    “This project is a bold step toward reimagining AI in ways that respect and reflect linguistic and cultural diversity,” says Dr. Ihsane Hmamouchi, Vice-Dean at the International Faculty of Medicine at UIR. “What excites me most is our commitment to embedding patient stories and social realities into AI models. By doing so, we’re not only challenging the structural biases of conventional systems but also paving the way for more equitable, human-centered digital healthcare solutions. It’s about developing technology that listens as much as it computes.” 

    Taking the Conversation Global

    “One reason this became possible is because we’ve been putting together an interdisciplinary AI working group here, building that conversation,” says Duane. “We have computer scientists and philosophers and historians and journalists, and we meet once a month via the Institute.” 

    This working group was first supported by a UConn CLAS Multidisciplinary Research Grant. With the interdisciplinary groundwork already laid, the research team was able to then expand the conversation, growing what had previously been an “informal collaboration” with AI scholars at UIR. 

    It’s a testament to the creative and scholarly potential that is unlocked when academics can freely share and build on one another’s expertise. 

    “Here at UConn, we have this great synergy between people in several disciplines, and the capacity to really learn from each other’s work, in ways that produce better research and better conversations than staying in our silos,” Duane says. “We can’t [stay in our silos], on something like AI. It’s going to change everything about how we work and live.” 

    In addition to Duane and Hmamouchi, the project’s collaborators include Clarissa J. Ceglio, UCHI Associate Director of Collaborative Research and Associate Professor of Digital Humanities; Nasya Al-Saidy, UCHI Managing Director; Dan Weiner, Vice Provost of UConn Global Affairs; and Allison Cassaly, Global Initiatives Coordinator, UConn Global Affairs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Butler County Resident Charged with Making Threats to Assault and Murder President Donald J. Trump, Other United States Officials, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents

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

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Shawn Monper, 32, a resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with making threats to assault and murder President Donald J. Trump, other United States officials, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    “I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department, who thankfully identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats against President Trump’s life and the lives of other innocent Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law and seek the maximum appropriate punishment.”

    According to the federal criminal complaint, on April 8, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Threat Operations Section (NTOS) received an emergency disclosure regarding threats posted to YouTube by user “Mr Satan.” Federal agents determined that the threatening statements occurred between January 15, 2025, and April 5, 2025. The subsequent federal investigation affirmed that the internet activity associated with “Mr Satan” corresponded with Shawn Monper’s residence in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

    The investigation further established that Monper sought and obtained a firearms permit shortly following President Trump’s inauguration. In February 2025, Monper commented using his “Mr Satan” account: “I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office.” Further, in March 2025, Monper commented using his account: “Eventually im going to do a mass shooting.” One week later, Monper commented: “I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo.”

    The criminal complaint identified the following threatening statements regarding President Trump, other United States officials, and ICE agents:

    February 17, 2025: “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way. Remember, we are the majority, MAGA is a minority of the country, and by the time its time to make the move, they will be weakened, many will be crushed by these policies, and they will want revenge too. American Revolution 2.0”

    March 4, 2025: “im going to assassinate him myself.” This threat was made in a YouTube video titled “Live: Trump’s address to Congress.”

    March 18, 2025: “ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.”

    April 1, 2025: “If I see an armed ice agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them.”

    On April 9, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Butler Township Police Department, arrested Monper on the federal criminal complaint. On April 10, 2025, Monper was ordered detained pending preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for April 14, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Butler Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the criminal complaint against Monper.

    A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire to Announce First Quarter 2025 Results on May 6, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Today, Flywire Corporation (Flywire) (Nasdaq: FLYW), a global payments enablement and software company, announced that its first quarter financial results will be released after market close on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Flywire will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter financial results at 5:00pm ET the same day. Hosting the call will be Mike Massaro, CEO, Rob Orgel, President and COO, and Cosmin Pitigoi, CFO.

    The conference call will be webcast live from Flywire’s investor relations website at https://ir.flywire.com/. A replay will be available on the investor relations website following the call.

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

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

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

    Contacts
    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    ir@Flywire.com 

    Media
    Sarah King
    media@flywire.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Berry Corporation Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Appointment of General Counsel

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Berry Corporation (bry) (NASDAQ: BRY) (“Berry” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Jenarae Garland as Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Garland brings with her a wealth of industry experience, having served as a key strategic legal partner to executive leadership teams and boards of major energy corporations, including advising on capital markets and commercial and strategic transactions.

    Fernando Araujo, Berry’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are excited to welcome Jenarae to our executive leadership team during this pivotal time for our business. She is an accomplished lawyer and business leader, with experience that will have an immediate, positive impact as we work hard to accelerate growth, drive a high-performance culture and create long-term value for our Company and our stakeholders. Working closely with our board of directors and executive leadership team, Jenarae will be a critical partner in driving sustainable and profitable growth.”

    Prior to joining Berry, Ms. Garland served in roles of increasing responsibility in the legal department of Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), a Fortune 50 integrated downstream energy provider, most recently as Deputy General Counsel, Corporate and Assistant Corporate Secretary. Before joining Phillips 66, she served in various leadership roles within the legal department of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), most recently as Assistant General Counsel, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures. She began her career as a corporate associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP representing public and private companies primarily within the energy industry in capital markets offerings, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting and corporate governance matters. Ms. Garland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin and graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School.

    About Berry Corporation (BRY)

    Berry is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: BRY) western United States independent upstream energy company with a focus on onshore, low geologic risk, long-lived oil and gas reserves. We operate in two business segments: (i) exploration and production (“E&P”) and (ii) well servicing and abandonment services. Our E&P assets are located in California and Utah, are characterized by high oil content and are predominantly located in rural areas with low population. Our California assets are in the San Joaquin Basin (100% oil), and our Utah assets are in the Uinta Basin (65% oil). We provide our well servicing and abandonment services to third party operators in California and our California E&P operations through C&J Well Services (CJWS). More information can be found at the Company’s website at www.bry.com.

    COMPANY CONTACT:

    Christopher Denison – Investor Relations
    ir@bry.com
    (661) 616-3811

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements. Berry’s management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results, or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include our ability to meet financial guidance or distribution expectations; our ability to safely and efficiently operate Berry’s assets; the supply of, demand for, and price of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services; our capital program and development and production plans; potential acquisitions and other strategic opportunities; reserves; hedging activities; and the other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of Berry’s most-recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. Berry undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MoneyHero Group Launches Credit Hero Club in Hong Kong, Powered by TransUnion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) (“MoneyHero” or the “Company”), a leading personal finance aggregation and comparison platform, as well as a digital insurance brokerage provider in Greater Southeast Asia, today announced an expanded collaboration with TransUnion, a global information and insights company, to launch the innovative Credit Hero Club in Hong Kong in Q2 2025.

    This joint effort builds on the success of its pilot program in 2023, during which MoneyHero launched a free credit score-checking mobile app in collaboration with TransUnion. The expanded collaboration aims to empower consumers to understand, manage, and improve their credit health more effectively, serving as a significant growth strategy and revenue driver for MoneyHero’s core credit products in Hong Kong.

    Empowering Consumers with Financial Clarity

    Hong Kong’s consumer credit market surpassed HK$160 billion in outstanding balance between September 2024 and November 20241. However, access to real-time credit insights remains fragmented. Credit Hero Club aims to bridge this gap, positioning MoneyHero as the leading gateway for smarter, data-driven financial decisions. Through Credit Hero Club, consumers in Hong Kong will receive the following from the MoneyHero platform:

    • Obtain unlimited free access to their personal credit scores, updated monthly.
    • Get personalized, actionable tips to enhance their creditworthiness and financial profiles.
    • Benefit from tailored recommendations for credit cards, loans, mortgages, and other financial products.
    • In the future, consumers may be able to utilize tool, which would provide an estimated probability of acceptance for various financial products in the market for their reference.     

    Credit Hero Club enables consumers to make informed decisions and achieve better financial outcomes, thereby strengthening MoneyHero’s relationships with customers and financial institutions alike.

    Stronger Financial Outcomes for Consumers and Institutions

    “We’re excited to deepen our partnership with TransUnion following our successful pilot,” said Rohith Murthy, CEO of MoneyHero. “Credit Hero Club will significantly enhance transparency and simplicity in the consumer credit journey, driving higher user engagement and conversion rates. By empowering our customers to better manage their financial health, we are simultaneously unlocking value for financial institutions, which benefit from increased access to informed, creditworthy consumers.”

    “At TransUnion, we are dedicated to empowering consumers with credit literacy to pursue important life goals,” said Terri Yang, Head of Consumer Interactive Business for Asia Pacific at TransUnion. “We are excited to expand our successful collaboration with MoneyHero, which shares our vision of enabling more consumers to take control of their credit health through financial inclusion. Together, we aim to create more opportunities for consumers by facilitating proactive credit management, ultimately helping them to gain better access to financial services and achieve more in life.”

    Accelerating MoneyHero’s Growth Strategy

    The launch of Credit Hero Club marks a strategic milestone for MoneyHero, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of innovative digital financial services. By delivering superior customer experiences and comprehensive credit insights, MoneyHero anticipates accelerated user acquisition, increased customer lifetime value, and stronger revenue performance across its credit product portfolio in Hong Kong.

    For more information about Credit Hero Club, please visit: https://creditheroclub.moneyhero.com.hk/en

    About MoneyHero Group

    MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) is a market leader in the online personal finance and digital insurance aggregation and comparison sector in Greater Southeast Asia. The Company operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. Its brand portfolio includes B2C platforms MoneyHero, SingSaver, Money101, Moneymax and Seedly, as well as the B2B platform Creatory. The Company also retains an equity stake in Malaysian fintech company, Jirnexu Pte. Ltd., parent company of Jirnexu Sdn. Bhd., the operator of RinggitPlus, Malaysia’s largest operating B2C platform. MoneyHero had over 270 commercial partner relationships as at September 30, 2024, and had approximately 7.4 million Monthly Unique Users across its platform for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The Company’s backers include Peter Thiel—co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and the Founders Fund—and Hong Kong businessman, Richard Li, the founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group. To learn more about MoneyHero and how the innovative fintech company is driving APAC’s digital economy, please visit www.MoneyHeroGroup.com.
              
    For MoneyHero inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations:
    MoneyHero IR Team
    IR@MoneyHeroGroup.com

    Media Relations:
    MoneyHero PR Team
    Press@MoneyHeroGroup.com

    __________

    1 TransUnion, Industry Insights November End 2024, https://www.transunion.hk/iir/reports/nov-2024

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 180 Degree Capital Corp. Notes Preliminary Net Asset Value per Share of $4.42 as of March 31, 2025, and Portfolio Company Updates From Q1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTCLAIR, N.J., April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 180 Degree Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: TURN) (“180 Degree Capital”) provided the following update regarding its portfolio company holdings during the first quarter of 2025.

    “As we mentioned in our press release on March 24, 2025, that noted the filing of our preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus, Q1 2025 has been positive for a number of portfolio holdings,” said Kevin M. Rendino, Chief Executive Officer of 180 Degree Capital. “Our preliminary net asset value per share (“NAV”) as of March 31, 2025, of $4.42, is the result of strong performance from our public investments that outperformed the Russell Microcap Index by approximately 1900bps offset by expenses related to our proposed all-stock merger with Mount Logan Capital, Inc. (the “Business Combination”). On a relative basis, our gross total return of +4.5% compares favorably to the –14.4% total return for the Russell Microcap Index.1 The difference between our gross total return and our net total return, or change in NAV, of -4.7% was primarily the result of expenses related to our Business Combination and included almost $300,000 in additional professional fees resulting from the public efforts to derail our proposed Business Combination. Our day-to-day operating expenses declined by over 30% from Q1 2024.”

    Mr. Rendino continued, “We are certainly open and interested in the perspectives of our shareholders and are always available to speak with any and every shareholder. That said, we would prefer to allocate our capital to efforts to grow our NAV rather than adding unnecessary expense to this proposed Business Combination. While the direct merger-related expenses incurred in Q1 2025 were material, we continue to believe that this investment will result in significant future value creation for 180 Degree Capital shareholders through their material ownership of the merged company. We believe the capabilities of Mount Logan will greatly advance our ability to provide more comprehensive solutions to public companies, and we remain fully convinced that this is the right path for value creation for 180 Degree Capital’s shareholders.”

    Daniel Wolfe, President of 180 Degree Capital added, “Along with providing this preliminary NAV as of March 31, 2025, we thought it would also be useful to note the performance of our individual portfolio companies in the quarter. Q1 2025 provided a lot of positive momentum, overall, in our efforts on the investment front to build maximum net asset value for 180 Degree Capital shareholders as we head into our proposed Business Combination with Mount Logan Capital. As Kevin noted above, our gross total return during Q1 2025 that was approximately 1900 basis points above the benchmark represents extraordinary gross performance for us. Q2 2025 has started off with significant headwinds resulting from the potential impacts of tariffs and increases in the probability of a recession. While our largest investments have little to no direct exposure to the proposed or implemented tariffs, they are not immune to potential collateral impacts, including a recession and/or material declines in consumer spending. Even with these headwinds, as of the close of the public markets on April 11, 2025, our estimated gross and net total return in 2025 continues to be approximately 1800bps and 1000bps ahead of the Russell Microcap Index.1 As always, we are laser-focused on our resolve to navigate these uncertain times and set a floor for potential future value creation for our collective shareholders.”

    Exited Positions:

    • Intevac, Inc. (IVAC) – On February 13, 2025, IVAC announced it entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Seagate Technology Holdings plc. The acquisition closed on March 31, 2025. In addition to the acquisition price of $4.00 per share, IVAC issued aggregate distributions to shareholders of an additional $0.102 per share. The total proceeds of $4.102 per share was a 20.6% premium to the closing price of IVAC on December 31, 2024, and increased NAV by $0.07.
    • Brightcove, Inc. (BCOV) – On February 4, 2025, Bending Spoons completed its acquisition of BCOV for $4.45 per share, or a 2.3% premium to the closing price of BCOV on December 31, 2024, and increased NAV by 0.01.

    Ongoing Positions (Largest to Smallest by Value):

    • Potbelly Corporation (PBPB) – While PBPB reported Q4 2024 results that beat guidance and analyst estimates, Q1 2025 guidance included negative comps that were weaker than analyst estimates due to inclement weather in January and February in key market areas in the Midwest, DC and Texas. Weeks in Q1 2025 with no weather impact showed year-over-year growth in comps, and without inclement weather, PBPB believed comps for Q1 would have been positive. March comps were communicated to be back on track with positive comps. Even with the weather-related headwinds in Q1 2025, PBPB’s full-year 2025 guidance included comps to increase between 1.5-2.5% and EBITDA was in-line with estimates. PBPB expects to open at least 38 stores this year, with about 85% of that number being franchised shops. PBPB’s stock price increased from $9.42 on December 31, 2024, to $9.51 on March 31, 2025, or +1.0%, and increased NAV by $0.01.
    • Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (SNCR) – SNCR reported results for Q4 2024 that exceeded all analyst estimates. Guidance for 2025 included strong EBITDA and free cash flow generation enabled by increasing gross margins and continued subscriber growth amongst its largest customers. SNCR also reported progress towards the receipt of an expected $28 million plus interest tax refund from the IRS. SNCR’s stock price increased from $9.60 on December 31, 2024, to $10.89 on March 31, 2025, or +13.4%, and increased NAV by $0.12.2
    • Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT) – ACNT’s Q4 2024 results showed continued improvement in operating efficiency led to dramatic improvements in GM, EBITDA and profitability. The unlock of working capital and inventory led to an increase in cash on hand from $8m to $16m. ACNT also renegotiated a major chemical contract that, when combined with other operational improvements is currently expected to more than offset continued soft demand in the chemicals market—the recovery of which ACNT currently expects to H2 2025 or 2026. On March 12, 2025, ACNT announced the sale of its Bristol Metals subsidiary for $45 million as part of its continued effort to become a pure-play chemicals business. ACNT’s stock price increased from $11.18 on December 31, 2024, to $12.66 on March 31, 2025, or +13.2%, and increased NAV by $0.06.
    • comScore, Inc. (SCOR) – SCOR reported Q4 2024 results that included a return to top-line growth and meaningful EBITDA growth. Growth was strongest in its cross-platform and activation businesses at approximately 20%+, and such growth rate is currently expected to continue and potentially expand in 2025. In January 2025, SCOR announced a revised data licensing agreement with Charter that saves a minimum of $35 million over the remaining life of the data contract. Additionally, SCOR secured additional debt capital from Blue Torch to enable investment in growing businesses. SCOR’s stock price increased from $5.84 on December 31, 2024, to $6.87 on March 31, 2025, or +17.6%, and increased NAV by $0.04.
    • RF Industries, Ltd. (RFIL) – RFIL reported strong performance in its fiscal first quarter that ended on January 31, 2025, that exceeded analyst estimates and included strong year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter growth. RFIL’s management noted improving visibility across its customer base along with demand for its higher-gross-margin products. RFIL’s management noted that improvements in its operations to date and further optimization of its manufacturing over the ensuing quarters are expected to enable RFIL to reach its goal of EBITDA margins of at least 10%. RFIL’s stock price increased from $3.91 on December 31, 2024, to $4.69 on March 31, 2025, or +19.9%, and increased NAV by $0.04.
    • Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (AREN) – AREN currently expects to report its Q4 2024 and full year 2024 results on or before April 15, 2025. During Q1 2025, AREN announced the appointment of Paul Edmondson as Chief Executive Officer. AREN’s stock price increased from $1.34 on December 31, 2024, to $1.73 on March 31, 2025, or +29.1%, and increased NAV by $0.04.
    • Lantronix, Inc. (LTRX) – While LTRX’s FYQ2 25 (CYQ4 24) report beat estimates, FYQ3 (CYQ1 25) guidance trailed consensus estimates largely because estimates had revenue from Gridspertise continuing at similar levels to first two fiscal quarters of 2025 and instead no revenue is expected in FYQ3 and Q4 2025. This was the second quarter of beat on prior quarter, but guide down on subsequent quarter, which impacted credibility of management with investors. LTRX’s core out-of-band business is doing well with high margins. Overall margins are expected to improve as low-margin Gridspertise business rolls off. Even with the below consensus guide, LTRX expects to remain adj. EPS positive and cash flow positive. LTRX’s stock price decreased from $4.12 on December 31, 2024, to $2.49 on March 31, 2025, or -39.6%, and decreased NAV by $0.11.
    • Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. (CVGI) – While CVGI reported results in Q4 2024 and EBTIDA guidance for 2025 that exceeded analyst estimates, revenue guidance for 2025 was materially below analyst estimates due to continued expected softness in construction and agricultural equipment markets. While CVGI expects to be able pass-through tariff costs to its customers, it is possible that such uncertainty may delay or reduce customer demand. CVGI has been able to obtain covenant relief from its lenders and is proactively taking steps to refinance its outstanding term loan and ABL facilities well ahead of the term loan maturity in 2027 and to establish a new set of covenants that better align with the current state of its business. The substantial decline in CVGI’s stock price during 2024 and continuing into 2025 will likely lead to CVGI being removed from the Russell Indices. CVGI’s stock price decreased from $2.48 on December 31, 2024, to $1.15 on March 31, 2025, or -53.6%, and decreased NAV by $0.05.

    New Positions:

    • 180 Degree Capital began building new positions in three publicly traded companies during Q1 2025, that it looks forward to discussing in future communications with investors.

    Mr. Wolfe concluded, “We have used, and plan to continue to actively use, the ongoing volatility in the public markets to identify and take advantage of investment opportunities that we believe can lead to appreciation in 180 Degree Capital’s net asset value ahead of our proposed Business Combination. The timing of the sales of BCOV and IVAC could not have been better as they have provided us with substantial capital to take advantage of these opportunities as they present themselves. Meanwhile, this cash provides a cushion to the impact of the volatility on our current holdings and interest income. With regard to merger-related expenses, we currently believe that a substantial portion of these expenses were front-end loaded, and as such, future merger-related expenses will be materially lower than those incurred to date. We are actively managing these and our day-to-day expenses to minimize the impact to NAV as much as possible. We look forward to further discussions with shareholders including after we update our joint preliminary proxy statement/prospectus to include the U.S. GAAP financials for Mount Logan and to our continued progress toward the planned completion of our proposed Business Combination in the ensuing months.”

    About 180 Degree Capital Corp.

    180 Degree Capital Corp. is a publicly traded registered closed-end fund focused on investing in and providing value-added assistance through constructive activism to what we believe are substantially undervalued small, publicly traded companies that have potential for significant turnarounds. Our goal is that the result of our constructive activism leads to a reversal in direction for the share price of these investee companies, i.e., a 180-degree turn. Detailed information about 180 Degree Capital and its holdings can be found on its website at www.180degreecapital.com.

    Press Contact:
    Daniel B. Wolfe
    Robert E. Bigelow
    180 Degree Capital Corp.
    973-746-4500
    ir@180degreecapital.com

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the agreement and plan of merger among 180 Degree Capital Corp. (“180 Degree Capital”), Mount Logan Capital Inc. (“Mount Logan”), Yukon New Parent, Inc. (“New Mount Logan”), Polar Merger Sub, Inc., and Moose Merger Sub, LLC, dated January 16, 2025, as it may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented (the “Merger Agreement”) that details the proposed combination of the businesses of 180 Degree Capital and Mount Logan and any other transactions contemplated by and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement (the “Business Combination”), 180 Degree Capital intends to file with the SEC and mail to its shareholders a proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”), containing a form of WHITE proxy card. In addition, the surviving Delaware corporation, New Mount Logan plans to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) that will register the exchange of New Mount Logan shares in the Business Combination and include the Proxy Statement and a prospectus of New Mount Logan (the “Prospectus”). The Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus) will each contain important information about 180 Degree Capital, Mount Logan, New Mount Logan, the Business Combination and related matters. SHAREHOLDERS OF 180 DEGREE CAPITAL AND MOUNT LOGAN ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS CONTAINED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT 180 DEGREE CAPITAL, MOUNT LOGAN, NEW MOUNT LOGAN, THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain copies of these documents and other documents filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at https://www.sec.gov and the website maintained by the Canadian securities regulators at www.sedarplus.ca. Copies of the documents filed by 180 Degree Capital are also available free of charge by accessing 180 Degree Capital’s investor relations website at https://ir.180degreecapital.com.

    Certain Information Concerning the Participants

    180 Degree Capital, its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Business Combination. Information about 180 Degree Capital’s executive officers and directors is available in 180 Degree Capital’s Annual Report filed on Form N-CSR for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 13, 2025, and in its proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“2024 Annual Meeting”), which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2024. To the extent holdings by the directors and executive officers of 180 Degree Capital securities reported in the proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting have changed, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3, 4 or 5 filed with the SEC. These documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the 180 Degree Capital shareholders in connection with the Business Combination will be contained in the Proxy Statement when such document becomes available.

    Mount Logan, its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Mount Logan in favor of the approval of the Business Combination. Information about Mount Logan’s executive officers and directors is available in Mount Logan’s annual information form dated March 13, 2025, available on its website at https://mountlogancapital.ca/investor-relations and on SEDAR+ at https://sedarplus.ca. To the extent holdings by the directors and executive officers of Mount Logan securities reported in Mount Logan’s annual information form have changed, such changes have been or will be reflected on insider reports filed on SEDI at https://www.sedi.ca/sedi/. Additional information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the Mount Logan shareholders in connection with the Business Combination will be contained in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement when such document becomes available.

    Non-Solicitation

    This letter and the materials accompanying it are not intended to be, and shall not constitute, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of 180 Degree Capital and Mount Logan, may contain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “would,” “forecasts,” “seeks,” “future,” “proposes,” “target,” “goal,” “objective,” “outlook” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions). Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Mount Logan’s and 180 Degree Capital’s current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the benefits of the Business Combination involving Mount Logan and 180 Degree Capital, including future financial and operating results, Mount Logan’s and 180 Degree Capital’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the Business Combination, and other statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy, payment of dividends to shareholders of New Mount Logan, and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability to obtain the requisite Mount Logan and 180 Degree Capital shareholder approvals; the risk that Mount Logan or 180 Degree Capital may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the Business Combination (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect New Mount Logan or the expected benefits of the Business Combination); the risk that an event, change or other circumstance could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination; the risk that a condition to closing of the Business Combination may not be satisfied; the risk of delays in completing the Business Combination; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that synergies from the Business Combination may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that any announcement relating to the Business Combination could have adverse effects on the market price of Mount Logan’s common shares or 180 Degree Capital’s common shares; unexpected costs resulting from the Business Combination; the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals will be made; the risk of litigation related to the Business Combination; the risk that the credit ratings of New Mount Logan or its subsidiaries may be different from what the companies expect; the diversion of management time from ongoing business operations and opportunities as a result of the Business Combination; the risk of adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the Business Combination; competition, government regulation or other actions; the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals; risks associated with the evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; changes in economic, financial, political and regulatory conditions; natural and man-made disasters; civil unrest, pandemics, and conditions that may result from legislative, regulatory, trade and policy changes; and other risks inherent in Mount Logan’s and 180 Degree Capital’s businesses. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports, which 180 Degree Capital has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC and Mount Logan has filed or will file from time to time on SEDAR+.

    Neither Mount Logan nor 180 Degree Capital undertakes any obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Any discussion of past performance is not an indication of future results. Investing in financial markets involves a substantial degree of risk. Investors must be able to withstand a total loss of their investment. The information herein is believed to be reliable and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made, expressed or implied, with respect to the fairness, correctness, accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of the information and opinions. The references and link to the website www.180degreecapital.com and mountlogancapital.ca have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites are not incorporated by reference into this press release. Neither 180 Degree Capital nor Mount Logan is responsible for the contents of third-party websites.

    1. Past performance is not an indication or guarantee of future performance. Gross unrealized and realized total returns of 180 Degree Capital’s cash and securities of publicly traded companies are compounded on a quarterly basis, and intra-quarter cash flows from investments in or proceeds received from privately held investments are treated as inflows or outflows of cash available to invest or withdrawn, respectively, for the purposes of this calculation. 180 Degree Capital is an internally managed registered closed-end fund that has a portion of its assets in legacy privately held companies that are fair valued on a quarterly basis by the Valuation Committee of its Board of Directors, and 180 Degree Capital does not have an external manager that is paid fees based on assets and/or returns. Please see 180 Degree Capital’s filings with the SEC, including its 2024 Annual Report on Form N-CSR for information on its expenses and expense ratios.

    2. Inclusive of restricted stock units and options for the purchase of restricted stock issued to Kevin Rendino as compensation for service on the board of directors of SNCR. All economic benefit from these securities has been assigned to 180 Degree Capital.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CBAK Partners with Kandi to Localize Lithium Battery Facilities in the U.S. in Phases

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALIAN, China, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBAT) (“CBAK Energy,” or the “Company”) a leading lithium-ion battery manufacturer and electric energy solution provider in China, jointly with Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: KNDI) (“Kandi”), a global leader in new energy innovation, today announced a strategic partnership to establish two lithium battery production facilities in the United States. Both companies are currently evaluating potential locations for the facilities. The first facility, dedicated to battery pack assembly, is scheduled for near-term development. The second, focused on battery cell manufacturing, is envisioned as a longer-term initiative that Kandi and CBAK will pursue when market conditions are conducive. Each facility will be established as a separate joint venture, with distinct ownership structures designed to align with the unique objectives and scale of each project.

    This partnership underscores CBAK’s long-term commitment to its global expansion strategy. As part of this vision, CBAK is actively evaluating locations outside of China to establish new battery manufacturing capabilities. In the near term, the Company, most likely, plans to launch small-scale battery cell production in a Southeast Asian country, while jointly pursuing the development of a battery cell manufacturing facility in the U.S. with Kandi as a longer-term initiative.

    By building localized production capacity for both battery cells and battery packs, CBAK and Kandi aim to address the surging demand in North America’s growing off-road and recreational vehicle markets. This collaboration not only enhances supply chain resilience, but also aligns with the clean energy incentives outlined in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Collectively, these efforts position both companies to navigate evolving global trade conditions, embrace localization trends, and drive sustainable long-term growth.

    As part of the collaboration, two distinct joint ventures will be established. Kandi will lead the development of the battery pack assembly facilities and hold a 90% equity stake in that joint venture. In parallel, CBAK will take the lead on the battery cell manufacturing facilities, holding a 90% equity stake in the corresponding joint venture. Leveraging their respective expertise, the two companies will jointly develop advanced, high energy density battery systems tailored to meet the specific performance demands of off-road and powersports vehicles.

    To ensure a seamless production ramp-up at Kandi’s battery pack facility, CBAK will supply battery cells at market rates—initially from its planned overseas production capacity in the near term, and later from its anticipated U.S.-based facility. This approach supports the creation of an integrated, end-to-end supply chain from battery cells to complete systems.

    According to market reports1, the North American market for UTVs, golf carts, and other off-road vehicles was valued at $16.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $25.0 billion by 2030. The partnership is well-positioned to capture a meaningful share of the battery needs of this expanding market.

    Zhiguang Hu, CEO of CBAK Energy, commented, “This collaboration with Kandi reflects our shared vision to globalize advanced battery manufacturing while adapting to the evolving U.S. market. Our expertise in cell design and production will be key to establishing a reliable local supply for emerging off-road and recreational vehicle platforms.”

    Feng Chen, CEO of Kandi Technologies, commented, “This partnership with CBAK marks a strategic milestone in our North American expansion. By localizing battery cell and pack production, we’re enhancing supply chain agility and aligning with U.S. clean energy policy incentives. We are positioned to meet fast-rising demand in the off-road and recreational vehicle category, creating sustainable value for our shareholders.”

    Final terms are subject to definitive agreements, and project locations and timelines may change. For more information, please refer to the official filings.

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

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

    About Kandi Technologies Group, Inc.
    Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. (KNDI), headquartered in Jinhua New Energy Vehicle Town，Zhejiang Province, is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of various vehicular products. Kandi conducts its primary business operations through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhejiang Kandi Technologies Group Co., Ltd. (“Zhejiang Kandi Technologies”), formerly, Zhejiang Kandi Vehicles Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries including Kandi Electric Vehicles (Hainan) Co., Ltd. and SC Autosports, LLC (d/b/a Kandi America), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Kandi in the United States, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kandi America Investment, LLC. Zhejiang Kandi Technologies has established itself as one of China’s leading manufacturers of pure electric vehicle parts and off-road vehicles.

    For further inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@cbak.com.cn

    ________________________________

    1 Sources: Global Market Insights, NextMSC, and Market Research Future.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sharon Donnery: Resilience, risk and regulation – anchoring stability in a rules-based international order

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Introduction

    Two timeless pieces of wisdom were inscribed on the ancient walls of Apollo’s temple at Delphi: “Know yourself” and “Nothing in excess.”

    These words were meant as philosophical guidance, but they evoke what a banking supervisor might advise today: “know your risks and don’t engage in excessive risk-taking!”

    Risk-taking is intrinsic to banking – it’s what allows capital to be allocated and innovation to flourish. Yet, history has repeatedly shown us the dire consequences of losing sight of those Delphic maxims. Risk is a constant in finance, but the nature of that risk – and the task of managing it – has grown ever more complex in the 2,500 years since those words were carved in stone.

    Technological progress has accelerated not only the pace at which we operate, but also the speed at which risks spread through the financial system. Artificial intelligence has the potential to rapidly and profoundly transform not just finance, but the broader economy and society as a whole too. Cyber risk is now easily a top priority for modern risk managers. Crypto-assets, stablecoins and central bank digital currencies may all transform the payments and banking landscape, reshaping how value is exchanged, how financial services are delivered, and even how monetary policy is transmitted.

    Climate and nature-related risks are on the rise and a declining global commitment to mitigate and adapt to these climate risks could lead to more physical and transition risks in the future.

    Globalisation has made the world more interconnected, contributing to economic prosperity, but it has also made it easier for risks to spread throughout the system. Because globalisation thrives on predictability and trust, it inherently relies on internationally agreed rules to provide stability, fairness and a level playing field. Yet, in recent years, rising geopolitical fragmentation has been putting pressure on these very rules and the institutions that uphold them.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Swaminathan J: Shared vision, shared responsibility – strenghtening NBFCs

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    CA Shri Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India; Chairpersons of the Audit Committee of the Boards, MDs & CEOs of NBFCs, and Statutory Auditors of NBFCs, Executive Directors from RBI and my colleagues from the Reserve Bank of India, Ladies and Gentlemen. A very good morning to all of you.

    It is an honour to address this esteemed gathering representing the key pillars of the NBFC ecosystem -CEOs entrusted with driving business responsibly, Chairpersons of Audit Committees overseeing assurance, Statutory Auditors who ensure transparency and integrity, along with regulators and supervisors committed to maintaining financial stability and fostering a sound regulatory environment. The theme of our engagement today – “Shared Vision, Shared Responsibility – Strengthening the NBFCs” – could not be more timely or relevant.

    The evolution of the NBFC sector is indeed a story of entrepreneurial energy, innovation and social impact. However, as the sector grows in scale and systemic importance, so too must our efforts to reinforce its foundations. A resilient, customer-centric, and well-governed NBFC sector is a shared aspiration – and delivering on it our shared responsibility.

    NBFCs have emerged as powerful engines of credit. By complementing the traditional banking system, they have significantly expanded access to credit, particularly for segments that have historically been underserved or excluded. Through innovative credit delivery models that harness technology and local insights, NBFCs have been able to design customised financial products tailored to diverse borrower needs. Their agility and close connect with customers have enabled them to play a role that is not only complementary to the role traditionally played by banks but, in many instances, catalytic in building a financial ecosystem characterised by deeper intermediation and wider opportunity.

    The importance of NBFCs has only grown with time. In fact, over the past decade, their growth has consistently outpaced that of banks – a trend that has become even more pronounced in the last few years. This rapid growth is a testament to the sector’s relevance and resilience – but it also raises the stakes. As NBFCs become more systemically important, the standards of governance, risk management, and customer treatment must rise accordingly.

    Understanding the Risks- Need for Responsible Innovation

    The business model of NBFCs – while effective – comes with its own set of structural risks. Their funding is short-term as compared to the maturity of their lending or is directed towards higher-risk customer segments.

    This maturity and credit transformation is at the heart of the NBFC model – but it also demands a heightened focus on risk management. If not carefully managed, it can create vulnerabilities, especially during periods of market stress or liquidity shocks.

    Risk-taking must be intelligent and well planned, and never beyond the risk absorption capacity of the entity concerned. Liquidity and credit risks must be rigorously assessed and managed. Asset-liability mismatches, nature and tenor of the funding sources, and concentration risks all need board-level oversight which should be ably supported by robust internal controls.

    Growth with Fairness: Customer-Centricity is Non-Negotiable

    Most importantly, even as we pursue scale, speed, and profits, we must not lose sight of fairness to the customer – that is the cornerstone of a sustainable business model. The NBFC sector must live up to its promise of inclusion by treating customers with dignity, transparency, and care. This entails ensuring transparent and easy-to-understand pricing, free from hidden charges or usurious interest rates. In instances of default, recovery practices must be conducted in an empathetic and respectful manner.

    Unfortunately, some NBFCs think they can pursue a business model where it is par for the course to resort to weak underwriting in pursuit of quick growth, coupled with excessive and unsustainable interest rates – at times masked as upfront charges or processing fees – which is followed by aggressive recovery practices upon default. Let me state unequivocally: this is not an acceptable model. Financial inclusion cannot be used as a pretext for financial exploitation. I urge each one of you to commit your institutions to upholding fairness in all your dealings.

    This responsibility for fair conduct is shared commitment by the CEO, the Board, and assurance functions in any entity. A customer-centric culture must be driven from the top and embedded at all levels.

    How do we ensure that our shared vision is realised, and our collective responsibilities are fulfilled? One of the most effective ways is by strengthening both internal and external assurance mechanisms.

    Strengthening Oversight: the Role of Audit Committee

    Let me begin with the Audit Committee of the Board (ACB). Far from being a routine compliance requirement, the ACB is the lynchpin of institutional oversight and long-term financial health. It plays a critical role in reinforcing governance, guiding management on assurance, and ensuring the integrity of internal control systems. When functioning effectively, it becomes a proactive forum for identifying vulnerabilities and initiating timely corrective actions.

    The role of the Audit Committee Chairperson is particularly significant in setting the tone for effective governance. It is essential that committee meetings are held regularly, conducted with clear purpose, and thoroughly documented to ensure accountability and follow-through.

    The effectiveness of the Committee is in the substance of its deliberations. The ACB must actively monitor the adequacy and functioning of internal control systems – not merely to confirm their presence, but to ensure they are operating effectively in practice. Similarly, audit observations should not remain confined to meeting minutes; they must translate into timely and meaningful corrective actions. A strong ACB also tracks audit findings and ensures that corrective measures are implemented without delay.

    Equally important is the establishment of an effective whistleblower mechanism overseen by the Board or the ACB which empowers employees and grants them anonymity, to report unethical or non-compliant behaviour, without fear of reprisal.

    CEOs too have a crucial role in upholding the integrity of financial reporting. They must actively deter any attempts-whether deliberate or cleverly disguised-to misapply accounting standards or regulatory provisions. It is equally important to foster an environment where the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Internal Audit feel empowered to engage in open, honest, and transparent dialogue with the Audit Committee of the Board.

    The Crucial Role of Statutory Auditors

    Now let me come to the role of Statutory Auditors, who are an indispensable part of the assurance ecosystem. In fact, the role of auditors has never been more critical – not merely in checking compliance, but in upholding trust. And trust, once lost, is hard to rebuild.

    Auditors are expected to provide an independent, professional opinion on whether the financial statements present a true and fair view of the NBFC’s financial position and comply with regulatory and accounting standards. However, in today’s complex and dynamic environment, this is no longer enough.

    Recent incidents – both in India and abroad – have shown that traditional financial audits must evolve. Auditors must bring technical expertise, forensic insight, and an ethical lens to their work. Red flags must not be ignored. Complex structures, derivatives, off-balance sheet items, related party transactions, and provisioning policies must be closely examined.

    Facilitative Role of Regulators and Supervisors

    As regulators and supervisors, we shoulder a dual responsibility – to safeguard stability and discipline, while also fostering an environment that encourages innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth. Contrary to perception in certain quarters, our approach actively seeks to strike the right balance. At the Reserve Bank of India, we are acutely aware that regulation is not merely about control; it is about enabling responsible financial intermediation within a well-defined and transparent framework. Several initiatives in recent years reflect this facilitative and proportionate approach to regulation. In my previous role as a commercial banker, I had the fortuitous opportunity to be closely associated with one such initiative -the Regulations Review Authority 2.0 – which reinforced the RBI’s strong commitment to easing the regulatory burden and streamlining compliance without compromising regulatory objectives.

    The regulatory framework for NBFCs has evolved in the recent years with this understanding – gradually moving toward greater harmonisation with banks where warranted, while still preserving operational flexibility suited to the unique role NBFCs play in the financial system. The introduction of the scale-based regulatory framework explicitly recognises that the intensity of regulation and supervision must be proportionate to systemic importance. At the same time, the regulatory architecture encourages the development of responsible innovation and healthy competition in the sector.

    Similarly, the role of the supervisor has also become more interactive and forward-looking. It is not just about identifying compliance breaches after the fact, but about engaging with entities to strengthen internal systems, enhance governance, and build resilience against emerging risks. Through onsite inspections, offsite surveillance, thematic reviews, and structured engagements, the supervisory process aims to be a partner in the financial sector’s long-term soundness – not an impediment to its progress.

    Conclusion

    Our shared vision is clear: a dynamic, inclusive, and trusted NBFC sector that complements the banking system and serves the evolving needs of the Indian economy. And the way to achieve it is through shared responsibility – in governance, in customer protection, in financial prudence, and in ethical conduct.

    We in the regulatory community stand committed to supporting this journey. Our intent is not to stifle innovation but to ensure that growth is sustainable, risks are well-managed, and customer trust is never compromised. On behalf of the RBI, I can assure you that as regulators and supervisors we will remain committed to playing our part, not just as watchdogs, but as enablers of a robust, inclusive, and future-ready financial ecosystem.

    This conference gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we can contribute to this shared agenda. Whether making strategic decisions, chairing audit committees, or signing off on financials, drafting regulations or conducting supervision – we are shaping the sector’s future.

    Therefore, let us work together – with clarity of purpose and unity of action – to build a stronger, fairer, and more resilient NBFC ecosystem. Wealth creation should not just be for personal or institutional gain but to support the community, reflecting a sense of shared responsibility amongst all of us, in our pursuit to achieve an inclusive growth for all and realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

    With this I wish you all fruitful and enriching deliberations over the course of this conference and look forward to the ideas and insights that will emerge in pursuit of our shared vision. Thank you for this opportunity and wish you all good luck, Jai Hind!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Cielo Provides Update on Corporate Matters

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (TSXV: CMC; OTC PINK: CWSFF) (“Cielo” or the “Company”) today provides an update on certain business and corporate matters.

    Corporate Update Webinar

    Cielo is pleased to announce that the corporate update webinar (the “Webinar”) with CEO Ryan C. Jackson and CFO Jasdeep K. B. Dhaliwal, as previously announced on April 1, 2025, and re-scheduled on April 9, 2025, will now take place on April 17, 2025. The Webinar will provide Cielo’s shareholders and stakeholders with updates on the Company’s strategic initiatives and future outlook.

    Webinar Details

    Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
    Time: 2:00PM Mountain Standard Time
    Registration Link: Cielo Webinar (Posted on the Cielo Website under News and Media)

    Duration: 1 Hour

    A recording of the Webinar will be made available on Cielo’s website following the event.

    Corporate Strategy

    As previously announced on April 1, 2025, Cielo intends to relocate its first planned commercial waste-to-fuel facility for the processing of scrap railway ties from Carseland, Alberta to British Columbia, and transition fuel to be produced from renewable diesel to green hydrogen. This strategic pivot allows Cielo to explore funding opportunities through the British Columbia Low Carbon Fuel Standard (BCLCFS) credit program as well as revises the Company’s approach as the demand for renewable fuels changes to better meet market demand.

    Cielo continues to be engaged in advanced discussions with a technology provider on a project in British Columbia that will utilize scrap railway ties as feedstock to produce green hydrogen for use in the British Columbia market and is pleased to announce that it has also identified two proposed additional projects for development in the United States.

    Cielo is excited to continue executing its broader strategy of providing solutions that address processing waste into useful products, including in green hydrogen, renewable natural gas and other low-carbon initiatives. Cielo continues to explore other projects and funding partners to drive its commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability and achieve success in the short-term and sustainable profitable growth in the long-term. Further updates will be provided in the Webinar.

    Dispute Resolution

    As previously announced on April 1, 2025, as a result of recent disagreements between Cielo and Expander Energy Inc. (“Expander”) on various matters, the Company notified Expander of the Company’s intentions to initiate a dispute resolution process in accordance with a licence agreement (“License Agreement”) between the Company and Expander. Cielo had previously received notices of breach from Expander with regard to the License Agreement as well as an asset purchase agreement and a management services agreement (“Management Services Agreement”), each between the Company and Expander, which notices had, among other things, announced Expander’s intentions to terminate the License Agreement.

    On April 11, 2025, Cielo received termination notices (“Termination Notices”) from Expander terminating both the License Agreement and the Management Services Agreement, effective immediately. Concurrently, Cielo also received statements of claim (“Statements of Claim”) from Expander in connection with the License Agreement, the Management Services Agreement and a supply and services agreement between the Company and Expander. Cielo is in the process of reviewing the contents of the Termination Notices and the Statements of Claim and is working diligently with legal and other professional advisors with respect to same to ensure the interests of shareholders are protected.

    Cielo will continue to provide material updates as they become available. As previously announced on April 9, 2025, Cielo has retained Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP as legal advisor.

    ABOUT CIELO

    Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. is a publicly traded company focused on transforming waste materials into high-value renewable fuels. Cielo seeks to address global waste challenges while contributing to the circular economy and reducing carbon emissions. Cielo is fueling renewable change with a mission to be a leader in the wood by-product-to-fuels industry by using environmentally friendly, economically sustainable and market-ready technologies. Cielo is committed to helping society ‘change the fuel, not the vehicle’, which the Company believes will contribute to generating positive returns for shareholders. Cielo shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “CMC,” as well as on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol “CWSFF.”

    For further information please contact:

    Cielo Investor Relations

    Ryan C. Jackson, CEO
    Phone: (403) 348-2972
    Email: investors@cielows.com

    CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “achieve”, “could”, “believe”, “plan”, “intend”, “objective”, “continuous”, “ongoing”, “estimate”, “outlook”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should” or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

    Forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Cielo, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and are subject to certain factors and assumptions. Cielo is making forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, with respect to: the Webinar and the date thereof; the change of location of the first planned commercial facility and the focus on green hydrogen; the exploration and use of financial incentives in British Columbia; the Company’s strategic focus; the Company’s intention to continue to explore alternative partnerships and funding opportunities; the dispute resolution process with Expander, including the Company’s review of the Termination Notices and Statements of Claim, Cielo’s intentions with respect thereto and that the Company will provide further updates as they become available.

    Investors should continue to review and consider information disseminated through news releases and filed by Cielo on SEDAR+. Although Cielo has attempted to identify crucial factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

    Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Cielo’s actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Cielo assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Sudan: Two years into the conflict, the world’s largest humanitarian crisis now threatens regional stability

    Source: Oxfam –

    Upcoming rains and aid cuts could further hamper humanitarian efforts and push millions of people to famine  

    As Sudan’s conflict enters its third year, massive displacement and fighting are spilling over into neighbouring countries, worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.  The looming rainy season, combined with aid cuts by the US and other key donors, will severely hamper humanitarian efforts putting millions of lives at risk, a new Oxfam report warned today. 

    Sudan’s brutal conflict has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. More than 12.7 million people —nearly one-third of the population— have been forced to flee their homes, including 3.7 million to neighbouring countries. One in two Sudanese is hungry. Five areas in the country are already experiencing famine, and nearly eight million more people are at risk of starvation. 

    The upcoming rains could turn roads to mud, and trigger the collapse of vital bridges, cutting off entire areas and communities from essential aid and services. This period coincides with the annual lean season, when food insecurity already peaks.  

    The Oxfam report –The Unravelling of the World’s Largest Humanitarian Disaster: From the Sahel to the Red Sea – published jointly with humanitarian organisations responding to the Sudan crisis, highlights the staggering human cost of the Sudan conflict. It warns that the crisis is now spilling over neighbouring South Sudan and Chad, where humanitarian needs are already dire.  

    Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director, said: 

    “We are already witnessing clashes between armed groups from South Sudan and Sudan. This volatile situation is simmering like a volcano ready to erupt any minute. Unless the fighting stops and the humanitarian crisis is addressed, the situation could quickly turn into a full-blown regional catastrophe.”  

    Two of the host countries, South Sudan and Chad, are already among the world’s poorest countries. They grapple with ongoing conflict, food insecurity, and climate shocks, leaving them ill-equipped to manage the crisis.  

    “We are already witnessing clashes between armed groups from South Sudan and Sudan. This volatile situation is simmering like a volcano ready to erupt any minute. Unless the fighting stops and the humanitarian crisis is addressed, the situation could quickly turn into a full-blown regional catastrophe.”  

    Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director

    Oxfam International

    In South Sudan, the arrival of people fleeing Sudan’s conflict has put more pressure on already scarce resources, which is deepening local tensions and threatening the fragile peace South Sudan has struggled to maintain.  

    Nadia, a mother of five-year-old son Ismail who fled and is now sheltering in Renk, South Sudan, after soldiers killed her husband and two children says: “The war took everything. We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Here, we are safe from bullets, but there is no food, we are dying of hunger.” 

    The report also found that 17 million children in Sudan are out of school, while 65 percent of refugee children in Chad lack access to education — heightening risks of child labour, marriage, trafficking, and recruitment by armed groups. 

    For the first time in the history of modern humanitarian response, a single country –Sudan – reaches over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Yet, despite the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis, international support is falling severely short. Only 10 percent of this year’s UN appeal for Sudan has been met to date. 

    The recent suspension of approximately $64 million USAID funding for Chad and South Sudan in 2025 has also dealt a severe blow to lifesaving efforts. In 2024, the U.S. was the largest donor to both countries.  

    “Turning a blind eye to this crisis would not only be a profound political and moral failure, but a failure of our core humanity. Without immediate injection of funds, millions of people will simply die of starvation or disease,” added N’Zi-Hassane. 

    The report urges all warring parties to halt fighting and prioritize diplomacy, in order to forge an immediate and lasting ceasefire.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government will allocate funding for the construction of schools in the Arkhangelsk region

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The government continues to work to improve the availability of primary and secondary education in the regions of Russia. 1 billion rubles will be allocated in 2025 to continue the construction of four schools in various districts of the Arkhangelsk Region. An order to this effect has been signed.

    The funds from the Government’s reserve fund will support work at construction sites in the village of Gorka-Muravyevskaya in the Velsky District, the settlement of Konosha in the district of the same name, and in the cities of Nyandoma and Kargopol. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the construction readiness of schools should be at least 50%. Completion of construction is scheduled for 2026.

    The work is being carried out within the framework of the state program “Education Development”.

    The issue was considered and approved atGovernment meeting on April 10.

    The document will be published.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has approved the Energy Strategy until 2050

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order approving the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2050. This key document for the development of the state was updated on the instructions of the President.

    Document

    Order dated April 12, 2025 No. 908-r

    “The energy strategy links together the processes taking place in the economy as a whole, coordinates the introduction of new capacities in production, processing, generation with the needs of people, as well as enterprises,” Mikhail Mishustin noted atmeeting with deputy prime ministers on April 14 and instructed Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak to keep all issues related to the implementation of the strategy under personal control.

    The new document expands the planning horizon and takes into account current challenges, which will allow the oil, gas, coal, electric power, power engineering and related transport sectors to more accurately respond to changes occurring in the world.

    The goal of the strategy is a new state of energy, including affordable guaranteed provision of the population and economy of Russia with products and services of the fuel and energy complex, effective implementation of the country’s export potential, as well as ensuring energy security, technological sovereignty and competitiveness of the fuel and energy complex industries.

    The strategy includes measures aimed at accelerating the development of oil and gas processing, expanding the gasification program for regions, and providing the domestic market with a sufficient quantity of petroleum products at affordable prices for all categories of consumers.

    Some of the measures are aimed at accelerating the implementation of infrastructure projects and creating the conditions necessary for redirecting supplies of oil, gas and their refined products to new markets in friendly countries, increasing oil transshipment capacity in Arctic and Far Eastern ports, actively using the potential of the Northern Sea Route, and accelerating the connection of the Power of Siberia and Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok gas transportation systems with a single gas supply system to prioritize meeting the needs of the domestic market.

    The action plan for implementing the strategy will be prepared by the Ministry of Energy and submitted to the Government within six months.

    The draft of the new strategy was discussed during strategic sessions with the participation of industry associations and expert communities, scientific and research institutions.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Government has approved the Strategy of Actions in the Interests of Senior Citizens until 2030

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Document

    Order of April 7, 2025 No. 830-r

    Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order approving the Strategy of Actions in the Interests of Senior Citizens in Russia until 2030. It emphasizes the special importance of recognizing the merits and demand for the experience of older people, creating conditions for their self-realization and social activity, and also pays attention to issues of increasing the duration, standard and quality of life of such citizens, the availability of medical care and necessary services.

    The document is the result of joint work of the Government, public organizations and the expert community. The key mechanisms for its implementation are defined as the new national projects “Family” and “Long and Active Life”.

    The main objectives of the strategy include strengthening the value of family in society and respect for the older generation, increasing the financial security of older citizens, protecting their health and preventing diseases, introducing new methods of diagnosis and treatment, improving drug provision, extending active healthy longevity, creating conditions for realizing the personal potential of older citizens and expanding their participation in society, and developing infrastructure for a comfortable and safe life.

    The document contains a number of specific measures aimed at achieving the set objectives. Thus, in order to improve the quality of life and financial well-being of senior citizens, starting in 2026, indexation of insurance pensions will be carried out twice a year – from February 1 to the consumer price index for the previous year and additionally from April 1 taking into account the income of the Social Fund for the previous year.

    In addition, the strategy proposes to support entrepreneurial initiatives of senior citizens, develop forms of home-based, temporary, flexible and remote employment for them, create conditions to prevent discrimination against such citizens in the labor market and to continue their work after reaching retirement age, and develop mentoring, using their labor potential.

    Within the framework of the direction dedicated to protecting the health of elderly citizens, it is planned to improve the organization of medical care and increase its availability, including at home, implement an additional set of studies aimed at determining biological age and slowing down aging, develop drugs and biologically active supplements to prevent active aging of body cells.

    It is also proposed to improve preventive measures to prevent and detect diseases early, increase the coverage of medical examinations for older citizens, including by conducting them at home and ensuring continuity between medical care provided in outpatient and inpatient settings, and increase the availability of medical care for pensioners living in remote areas and rural areas, including through mobile medical teams to conduct medical examinations, medical examinations and medical observation.

    A number of the strategy’s activities are aimed at raising awareness among senior citizens about the most common cases of fraud, ways to protect against it, and personal safety measures. In addition, it is proposed to increase the level of financial, digital, and legal literacy of such citizens, the availability and convenience of receiving state and municipal services in electronic form through the development of the state services portal and other state information systems.

    Speaking about the new strategy onmeeting with deputy prime ministers on April 14, Mikhail Mishustin noted that improving the quality of life of older citizens is a critical task.

    “People should receive comprehensive assistance in all life situations,” the head of government emphasized.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev: The main thing is that people like the new airport in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev familiarized himself with the work of the new airport terminal building at the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Elizovo).

    Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport (Elizovo) is the main air gate of the Kamchatka Territory. The airport is certified according to the ICAO Category II meteorological minimum and guarantees the reception of airplanes and helicopters of any type. The length of the runway is 3.4 thousand meters and provides the ability to receive the largest aircraft.

    “The main thing is that people like the new terminal, that it is convenient, that it helps increase the tourist flow to the wonderful territory of Kamchatka. Some things need to be finished, but the terminal is working. It was a difficult, long and expensive construction, but the finish, in my opinion, was beautiful. We argued for a long time during the construction. The investor said that he wanted to build the most beautiful airport in Russia, but it was important that the construction be carried out with private funds, and not at the expense of the federal budget. In the end, the construction was completed. People are using the finished airport complex,” said Yuri Trutnev.

    The construction of the new airport complex began in December 2020. The first flights in the new building were received by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport (Elizovo) on March 31 of this year. The new terminal increased the capacity of the airport, which made it possible to expand the geography of flights and increase the airport’s passenger flow. Since the start of its operation, the new terminal has received 126 flights and served more than 27.3 thousand passengers.

    The construction of a new airport terminal is the most modern and large-scale transport project in the history of Kamchatka. The previous airport building did not meet modern requirements and the needs of local residents and guests of the peninsula. Queues, cramped conditions and a limited range of services created discomfort for passengers. That is why the construction of a new modern terminal has become a priority task included in the people’s program for the development of Kamchatka Krai, which has been implemented since 2020 on the initiative of the Governor of Kamchatka Krai Vladimir Solodov based on requests from residents of the region.

    “The new airport is certainly a symbol of the Kamchatka Territory. After all, it is of key importance for our region: all residents can fly on vacation only through it. This means that the services that the airport creates are incredibly important to every resident of Kamchatka, including opening up new opportunities to expand departure routes. The airport is still in the process of opening new zones – retail, catering, hotels, we are also waiting for the onset of warm weather and the improvement of the territory, the creation of additional parking. This work creates certain inconveniences, including for residents. In particular, the airport still has to, as they say, live in the building. Make it cozy, provide for all the nuances – like sockets, hooks, additional navigation signs, and so on. All this sounds like trifles, but it is these details that create a feeling of completeness and comfort. We will work on this together,” said Vladimir Solodov.

    Thanks to the status of a resident of the Kamchatka Priority Development Area, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation has provided external engineering infrastructure and built an access road to the construction site of the new airport complex.

    The area of passenger service areas in the new terminal is 33 thousand square meters, which is five times more than in the old terminal. The capacity has increased from 360 to 687 passengers per hour, and after the launch of the international sector, it will be 1,145 passengers per hour. The check-in area is equipped with 30 check-in counters: 15 counters for domestic airlines and 15 for international ones (the old terminal had only 12 counters).

    For the first time in Kamchatka, a scheme for moving passengers through closed galleries to the plane has been implemented, which is especially relevant for the harsh and changeable weather conditions of the region. In total, the terminal is equipped with five jet bridges with the possibility of increasing to eight.

    The baggage claim hall for domestic flights is located on the first floor of the terminal and is equipped with two baggage carousels. A separate lane is allocated for public transport on the station square, and a parking space is also equipped.

    “We have successfully implemented the first and most important stage of the project: the terminal began to serve passengers and provided them with a new level of service. Today, boarding and disembarking from aircraft is carried out via jet bridges, baggage is received in comfortable conditions, passenger check-in is carried out in a spacious hall, the number and area of cafes and shops have been increased. Unique innovations have been introduced, such as the ability to self-check in baggage,” said Evgeny Chudnovsky, General Director of the Management Company Airports of Regions.

    The airport complex will also include a 120-room hotel with an area of 11,000 square meters, located directly in the terminal building, with a service level corresponding to five stars, and its own spa area, as well as a modern multifunctional congress hall with an area of 650 square meters in the center of the terminal’s courtyard. The total area of the airport complex, which will include a hotel, congress space and trade areas, will exceed 50,000 square meters.

    “By the summer season, the improvement of the station square and the area around the terminal will be completed, during this year a five-star hotel and a multifunctional congress space for events will begin operating. All this will allow us to create a new cluster for the development of tourism potential and the hospitality industry in Kamchatka Krai,” said Evgeny Chudnovsky.

    Let us recall that in 2018, JSC Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Elizovo) came under the management of the Airports of Regions Management Company.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces SC Human Trafficking Task Force releases new national hotline posters to commemorate 10th anniversary of state lawRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, announced the release of two new legislatively mandated posters for use across the state. The first version of the poster was released 10 years ago when the General Assembly passed a law requiring hotline posters in certain business establishments.

    South Carolina law (Code 16-3-2100) requires the national human trafficking hotline poster, including the specific language included, to be hung in the following locations:

    • Establishments that have been declared a nuisance for prostitution pursuant to law;
    • An adult business, including a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or another similar establishment in which a person appears in a state of sexually explicit nudity or semi-nudity, as defined by law;
    • Businesses and establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by any person who is not licensed under appropriate laws;
    • Emergency rooms within any hospital;
    • Urgent care centers;
    • Any hotel, motel, room, or accommodation furnished to transients for which fees are charged in this state;
    • All agricultural labor contractors and agricultural labor transporters as defined by law;
    • All airports, train stations, bus stations, rest areas, and truck stops.

    The information must be posted in each public restroom for the business or establishment, and in a prominent location conspicuous to the public at the entrance of the establishment. The Department of Revenue, the State Law Enforcement Division, and the Department of Transportation, depending on regulatory control or authority, are authorized to issue a written warning and assess a fine of not more than fifty dollars. Each day that the poster is not hung in the establishment constitutes a separate and distinct violation, and the establishment may be fined appropriately.

    The new designs were developed in conjunction with the State Task Force Survivor Advisory Subcommittee. The posters can be downloaded on the State Task Force website at humantrafficking.scag.gov. The 11 Regional Human Trafficking Task Forces across the state will also be provided with 1,000 copies to help distribute posters.

    To report an incident or seek victim services, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Enlight Raises a Total of $1.5 Billion in Project Finance Following its Third U.S. Financial Close Within Four Months

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The financial close for Quail Ranch includes $243 million of construction loans; COD is expected towards the end of 2025

    Enlight’s three U.S. projects now under construction have a combined capacity of 1.4 FGW and are projected to generate total annual revenues of $135-140 million

    TEL AVIV, Israel, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. (“Enlight”, “the Company”, NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT.TA), a leading global renewable energy platform, announces the financial close for project Quail Ranch (“Quail Ranch” or “the Project”), located near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. The Company, through its U.S. subsidiary Clenera Holdings LLC, has secured $243 million in construction financing commitments for the Project.

    Combining 128 MW solar generation with 400 MWh of battery storage capacity, Quail Ranch is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2025. Offtake for both generation and storage volumes is secured by a 20-year busbar PPA with the Public Service Company of New Mexico (“PNM”).

    The Project is an expansion of Atrisco, which commenced commercial operation in 2024. The shared infrastructure between the two sites accelerated Quail Ranch’s development and will reduce construction and operating costs. Both projects are situated on a desert plateau at an elevation of 1,800 meters, offering optimal solar generation conditions.

    Quail Ranch’s financial close joins those of Roadrunner and Country Acres, two other projects now under construction in the U.S., which have achieved a total of $1.5 billion in financing over the past four months with the same consortium of lenders. The three projects have a combined capacity of 1.4 FGW and are expected to generate annual revenues of $135-140 million and EBITDA of $100-110 million when commencing operations in 2025-2026.

    The financial close was led by a consortium of four global banks, including BNP Paribas Securities Corp, Crédit Agricole, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Nord/LB). Upon the Project’s COD, the construction loan is expected to convert into a $120 million term loan. The Project is expected to be eligible for the Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus, and the Company anticipates finalizing a tax equity transaction during 2025.

    Gilad Yavetz, CEO of Enlight, said, “We are proud to have achieved the exceptional milestone of three significant financial closings within such a short timeframe, completing the funding for the second wave of Enlight’s U.S. projects. When operational, they will join Atrisco and Apex to generate combined annual revenues of approximately $200 million in the U.S. Quail Ranch completed its financial close after the administration announced its new tariff policy, demonstrating the project’s strength and the Company’s preparedness for this scenario.

    “Additionally, Enlight is focused on advancing the development of two additional megaprojects in the western U.S. with a combined capacity of 2.6 FGW, and which are located in areas with some of the highest solar irradiation in the country. The new projects are part of the Company’s third wave in the U.S., and construction is expected to begin in the coming months.”

    “I am very proud to partner with world-leading banks and complete a third major funding package this year,” said Adam Pishl, CEO and President of Clenera. “We continue to demonstrate our ability to bring high-quality projects banks remain excited about, despite market turbulence. Quail Ranch builds on our incredible success in New Mexico and will help meet the high demand for power to fuel American businesses and homes.”

    About Enlight Renewable Energy

    Founded in 2008, Enlight develops, finances, constructs, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects. Enlight operates across the three largest renewable segments today: solar, wind and energy storage. A global platform, Enlight operates in the United States, Israel and 10 European countries. Enlight has been traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 2010 (TASE: ENLT) and completed its U.S. IPO (Nasdaq: ENLT) in 2023. Learn more at www.enlightenergy.co.il.

    Investor Contact

    Yonah Weisz
    Director IR
    investors@enlightenergy.co.il

    Erica Mannion or Mike Funari
    Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
    +1 617 542 6180
    investors@enlightenergy.co.il

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectations relating to the Project, the PPA and the related interconnection agreement and lease option, and the completion timeline for the Project, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “forecasts,” “aims” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to site suitable land for, and otherwise source, renewable energy projects and to successfully develop and convert them into Operational Projects; availability of, and access to, interconnection facilities and transmission systems; our ability to obtain and maintain governmental and other regulatory approvals and permits, including environmental approvals and permits; construction delays, operational delays and supply chain disruptions leading to increased cost of materials required for the construction of our projects, as well as cost overruns and delays related to disputes with contractors; our suppliers’ ability and willingness to perform both existing and future obligations; competition from traditional and renewable energy companies in developing renewable energy projects; potential slowed demand for renewable energy projects and our ability to enter into new offtake contracts on acceptable terms and prices as current offtake contracts expire; offtakers’ ability to terminate contracts or seek other remedies resulting from failure of our projects to meet development, operational or performance benchmarks; various technical and operational challenges leading to unplanned outages, reduced output, interconnection or termination issues; the dependence of our production and revenue on suitable meteorological and environmental conditions, and our ability to accurately predict such conditions; our ability to enforce warranties provided by our counterparties in the event that our projects do not perform as expected; government curtailment, energy price caps and other government actions that restrict or reduce the profitability of renewable energy production; electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including the effects of climate change, could adversely affect wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission system constraints and the possibility that we may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards; our dependence on certain operational projects for a substantial portion of our cash flows; our ability to continue to grow our portfolio of projects through successful acquisitions; changes and advances in technology that impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our projects or upsets the expectations underlying investments in our technologies; our ability to effectively anticipate and manage cost inflation, interest rate risk, currency exchange fluctuations and other macroeconomic conditions that impact our business; our ability to retain and attract key personnel; our ability to manage legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk across our global corporate structure; our ability to protect our business from, and manage the impact of, cyber-attacks, disruptions and security incidents, as well as acts of terrorism or war; changes to existing renewable energy industry policies and regulations that present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to renewable energy projects; the reduction, elimination or expiration of government incentives for, or regulations mandating the use of, renewable energy; our ability to effectively manage our supply chain and comply with applicable regulations with respect to international trade relations, the impact of tariffs on the cost of construction and our ability to mitigate such impact, , sanctions, export controls and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws; our ability to effectively comply with Environmental Health and Safety and other laws and regulations and receive and maintain all necessary licenses, permits and authorizations; our performance of various obligations under the terms of our indebtedness (and the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that we guarantee) and our ability to continue to secure project financing on attractive terms for our projects; limitations on our management rights and operational flexibility due to our use of tax equity arrangements; potential claims and disagreements with partners, investors and other counterparties that could reduce our right to cash flows generated by our projects; our ability to comply with tax laws of various jurisdictions in which we currently operate as well as the tax laws in jurisdictions in which we intend to operate in the future; the unknown effect of the dual listing of our ordinary shares on the price of our ordinary shares; various risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel; the costs and requirements of being a public company, including the diversion of management’s attention with respect to such requirements; certain provisions in our Articles of Association and certain applicable regulations that may delay or prevent a change of control; and other risk factors set forth in the section titled “Risk factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and our other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.

    These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Even small lakes can tell big earthquake stories in the Yellowstone region

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow Sylvia Nicovich of the Geologic Hazards Science Center.

    This house fell into Hebgen Lake during the 1959 earthquake and floated along the shore until it came to rest here. The owner of the house, then-70-year-old Mrs. Grace Miller, escaped only after kicking out her front door and leaping a 5-foot-wide ground crack as her house dropped into the lake.
    Epicenters of 6,188 earthquakes in the Hebgen Lake region since 1990 determined by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. All epicenters have horizontal uncertainties of 1.0 km or less. Black contour lines show subsidence (in 2-foot intervals) resulting from the 1959 M7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake (epicenter shown by red star). Magenta line segments show faults that ruptured during the 1959 earthquake and green line segments are Late Quaternary faults from the USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database.

    In the summer of 1959, the west Yellowstone region experienced one of the largest Rocky Mountain earthquakes in instrumented history. The M7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake caused severe damage and killed 28 people, most notably due to a landslide into a campground in Madison Canyon downstream from Hebgen dam. Here, roughly 30 million cubic meters (imagine 30 million washing machines!) of material from the north-facing slope of Madison Canyon came crashing down in the night, burying the campground and damming the Madison River to form Earthquake Lake. 

    We have learned a lot from destructive historic earthquakes like that at Hebgen Lake. The evidence it left on the landscape, such as fault scarps (steep breaks in slope where vertical displacement occurred along the fault), are especially important for understanding prehistoric earthquakes. The study of such earthquakes, called paleoseismology, can help to better characterize earthquake-producing faults by providing information about the recurrence and magnitudes of past earthquakes. 

    Lakes are becoming increasingly popular in paleoseismic studies. Their regular sedimentation patterns can refine earthquake-timing estimates and can potentially capture earthquakes that may not have ruptured the ground surface but still produced substantial ground shaking. This subdiscipline is called lacustrine paleoseismology and has been typically practiced in deep, steep, glacially influenced lake systems, like those along the Teton Range to the south. Because the impacts of the Hebgen Lake earthquake have been documented, a thorough understanding of how this earthquake affected nearby lake basins could teach us to interpret hidden earthquake records in different types of lakes—especially in shallow lakes with gentle slopes, like Henrys Lake just west of West Yellowstone in Idaho.

    In the late winter of 2023, our team from the US Geological Survey Geologic Hazards Science Center set out to Henrys Lake with the hypothesis that this shallow lake basin contains evidence of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake. Because Henrys Lake is only about 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) from the earthquake epicenter and therefore experienced strong to very strong shaking, it is fair to assume that lake sediment may have been disturbed. To test this hypothesis, we extracted seven sediment cores, each about 2 meters (a little over 6 feet) long, along an east-west transect across Henrys Lake during winter 2023. A benefit of working on lakes in the winter is that standing on solid (icy) ground can offer a steadier working environment than trying to collect sediment cores from a boat. Just like ice fishing, we used an ice auger to make a hole through the frozen lake surface and plunged the coring device into the water and then into the lake floor, keeping it leashed on a rope to pull it back up once the sediment was collected.

    USGS scientists work to recover sediment cores from Henrys Lake, Idaho. (Left): geologists traverse frozen Henrys Lake with coring supplies. USGS photo by Sylvia Nicovich, March 30, 2023.  (Right) Geologists lower the corer into the lake through a hole augured through the ice. USGS photo by Chris DuRoss, March 31, 2023.

    The cores were examined at the USGS Pacific Coastal Marine Science Center core lab, which is specially equipped for imaging and sampling sediment cores. A common signature of earthquake disturbance within sediment cores results from sediment failure of the lake margin, transport downslope, and deposition in central areas of the lake basin. Cores from multiple locations in Henrys Lake contained a thin (~5 cm, or 2 in), distinct, gray sandy layer in their upper portion that appeared to be a record of a recent earthquake. 

    Transect of sediment cores from Henrys Lake, Idaho. (a) High‐resolution photoscans and computed tomography (CT) of each core correspond to the location tie line. White line on CT represents gamma ray attenuation bulk density (g/cc). Mapped facies are right of each correspondent core. Shades of gray represent background sedimentation and the event deposit by orange. Numbers 1–4 represent background sediment subfacies. HP: herbaceous peat, FL: fluviolacustrine facies, E: event deposit. Yellow rectangles represent sediment sample locations for radiocarbon dating (R1‐3). (b) Bathymetric map of Henrys Lake from data collected by the Idaho National Lab ca. 1990 with a contour interval (CI) of 0.6 m. Thick contour line shows the estimated shoreline prior to dam construction. Black triangles point to primary inlets; DC‐ Duck Creek and TC‐ Targhee Creek.  Figure from Nicovich et al., 2014 (https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL110889).
    President Kennedy signs the nuclear test ban treaty for the United States in 1963. Photo from National Archives, Still Pictures Division, Department of State Collection 59-0, box 23 (https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB94/tb02.htm).

    The challenge was then to test if this layer matched the timing of the 1959 earthquake. This was done by measuring the concentration of the chemical component Cesium-137 (137Cs) with depth. 137Cs was produced during atmospheric nuclear testing in the mid-20th century, so the concentration in sediment can be matched with the known frequency of nuclear testing through time to establish the age of the sediment layer. For example, above ground nuclear testing increased around 1954, and the concentration of 137Cs in sediments starts to grow from undetectable levels to detectable that year. Conversely, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in 1963, so sediment of this age has peak 137Cs concentration that drastically drops immediately thereafter (which is toward the top of the core in the most recently deposited sediment). These defined concentration levels should essentially bound the 1959 earthquake deposit in the sedimentary record!

    So, what about that outstanding layer of sand hypothesized to be associated with the 1959 earthquake? When pairing the 137Cs concentration data with the sedimentological data, we found that the sand deposit was indeed bracketed between 1954 and 1963, providing solid evidence that this layer probably formed during the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake. 

    With evidence that sediment at the bottom of Henrys Lake does, indeed, contain records of past earthquakes, the next goal was to look for other prehistoric earthquakes using the 1959 Hebgen Lake deposit as a reference. However, there were no such similar deposits with the same sediment character and presence in multiple cores. Using radiocarbon dating techniques, we were able to establish that the very lowest portions of the cores were approximately 5,000 years old. Does this mean that there have not been earthquakes similar in intensity to the Hebgen Lake earthquake in the last 5,000 years? Not exactly. The lowermost layer of the cores—the 5,000-year-old layer—is consistent with deposits from a marshy wetland, not a lake at all! Marshy wetlands are saturated areas with a lot of plants and grasses that typically produce organic-rich soils and not finely layered sediment like lakes do, making them much less likely to record an earthquake. Based on estimates of sedimentation rate, it appears that Henrys Lake likely only changed from a marshy wetland to a shallow lake less than about 1,000 years ago.

    Photo and cartoon of 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake deposit in sediment core from Henrys Lake, Idaho, with references to Cesium-137 activity (or concentration). Changes in Cesium-137 are related to atmospheric nuclear tests and provide a means of dating the deposit; those measurements are plotted on the right with depth (in cm) of the core.

    Although there is a lot more to explore about the specific evolution of Henrys Lake and other lakes in the west Yellowstone area, it is promising that a shallow lake with gentle sloping margins can record earthquake shaking. These findings provide increased confidence in our ability to investigate shaking-related deposits in other lakes with similar characteristics in the Rocky Mountain region or beyond.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Raleigh County, W.Va., Disaster Recovery Center opens April 15

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>News release
    Raleigh County, W.Va., Disaster Recovery Center opens April 15
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open in Raleigh County at 8 a.m. April 15, 2025. FEMA encourages residents, including homeowners and renters, of the disaster-impacted counties to register for assistance.
     
    The center is located at: 

    Raleigh County Disaster Recovery Center

    Beckley-Raleigh County Emergency Services 
    1224 Airport Road
    Beaver WV 25813
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Closed Sundays

    Homeowners and renters in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne, and Wyoming counties who sustained losses can apply for assistance in several ways:

    Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

    Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, please provide FEMA your number for that service.

    Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov.
    Downloading the FEMA App.
    Speaking with someone in person at a Disaster Recovery Center.

    In coordination with the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and officials in impacted counties, FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne and Wyoming counties. At a center, you can get help applying for federal assistance, update your application, and learn about other resources available. The DRCs located in the table below remain open. DRCs are open to all, including residents with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. 

    Logan County Disaster Recovery Center
    Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center

    Southern WV Community & Technical College
    100 College Drive
    Logan, WV 25601
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Closed Sundays 

     
    Lifeline Princeton Church of God
    250 Oakvale Road 
    Princeton, WV 24740
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    Closed Sundays 
    Closed April 26
     

    McDowell County (Welch) Disaster Recovery Center 
    McDowell County Disaster (Bradshaw) Recovery Center  

    Board of Education Office
    900 Mount View High School Road
    Welch, WV 24801
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Closed Saturdays and Sundays
     

    Bradshaw Town Hall
    10002 Marshall Hwy
    Bradshaw, WV 24817
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday to Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Closed Sundays

    Mingo County Disaster Recovery Center
    Raleigh County Disaster Recovery Center

    Williamson Campus
    1601 Armory Drive
    Williamson, WV 25661
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Closed Sundays
     

    Beckley-Raleigh County Emergency Services
    1224 Airport Road
    Beaver WV 25813
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Closed Sundays 

    Wayne County Disaster Recovery Center
    Wyoming County Disaster Recovery Center

    Tolsia High School
    1 Rebel Drive
    Fort Gay, WV 25514
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Closed on Saturdays and Sundays

    Wyoming Court House
    24 Main Ave
    Pineville, WV 24874
     
    Hours of operation:
    Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Closed on Sundays

     
    As a reminder, accepting FEMA funds will not affect eligibility for Social Security – including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or other federal benefit programs. 
    FEMA assistance does not need to be repaid, but residents should file insurance claims as soon as possible. By law, FEMA cannot cover expenses that have already been covered by other sources like insurance, crowdfunding, local or state programs, donations, or financial assistance from voluntary agencies.
    For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4861, and www.facebook.com/FEMA.
     
    ###
     FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.
    Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account. Also, follow on X FEMA_Cam. 
    For preparedness information, follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready.gov, on Instagram @Ready.gov or on the Ready Facebook page.  
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 04-12-25 LAW NEWS RELEASE – Gun Buyback Program

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    04-12-25 LAW NEWS RELEASE – Gun Buyback Program

    Posted on Apr 12, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

    KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOKŌ KĀNĀWAI

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    MIKE LAMBERT

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    OʻAHU COMMUNITY GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM NETS 367 FIREARMS

    Residents Received $37,900 in Grocery Gift Cards

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 12, 2025

    HONOLULU – O‘ahu residents today turned in an estimated 367 firearms of all types in exchange for $37,900 in Foodland gift cards distributed by the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement (DLE), as part of efforts by the administration of Governor Josh Green, M.D., to protect Hawai‘i residents from gun violence. The Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department and the Aloha Stadium Authority are  partnering in this initiative.

    “I want to thank everyone who turned in an unwanted firearm today, because in doing so, you have helped to make our community that much safer,” said Governor Green. “Keeping ourselves and each other safe and healthy is a personal choice that also benefits our neighbors. We thank DLE Director Mike Lambert for continuing this effort and for our partners’ help in this ongoing gun buyback program.”

    “We are working to make our community safer in many ways, including initiatives like this gun buyback program. These unwanted guns will never again be used. They will never again pose any type of threat to a loved one or have an opportunity to be used in a crime,” said Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert.

     

    Individuals who turned in the following firearms were thanked with Foodland gift cards given in exchange:

    • $200 Foodland gift card for automatic firearms of any type, semi-automatic rifles, ghost guns.
    • $100 Foodland gift card for handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, Glock switches

    There was no limit on the number of firearms turned in, but individuals were limited to receiving a maximum of three gift cards total. DLE personnel accepted both working and non-working firearms and also offered gun locks for anyone who didn’t wish to turn in a gun, but still wanted to make their firearms safe. Licensed gun dealers, as well as active and retired law enforcement officers, were not eligible to participate.

    DLE continues to plan for gun buyback events on the neighbor islands. “Neighbor island police officers attended today’s event and were also present during previous events,” said DLE Deputy Director Jared Redulla. “The neighbor island officers are observing to learn the various tasks associated with the gun buyback program so that events can be run on the neighbor islands in the future.” Plans for future gun buyback events will be announced as scheduled.

    DLE thanks the 2024 Legislature for appropriating funding in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the April 12 event.

    This is an amnesty program, in which no questions were asked about the person dropping off any firearms. No identification was required. On-site officials reserved the right to refuse acceptance of firearms or issuing of gift cards.

    # # #

    Media contact:

    Jared K. Redulla

    Deputy Director of Law Enforcement

    Department of Law Enforcement

    Cellphone Number: 808-864-9431

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces Pacific Coast Highway will reopen in time for summer as California’s all-in fire response continues ahead of schedule

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 12, 2025

    What you need to know: The Pacific Coast Highway, which was closed following the Palisades Fire, will reopen to public travel by the end of May – months ahead of schedule.

    LOS ANGELES – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced an all-hands-on-deck effort to support businesses and tourism by expediting fire cleanup efforts so that State Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), will reopen to public travel by the end of May – well ahead of experts’ original predictions.

    The Pacific Coast Highway is a major artery that serves hundreds of thousands of Angelenos and visitors from around the world daily and is crucial to connecting Los Angeles with Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and points north. Currently, PCH is only open to residents who live in the Palisades Fire burn area, essential businesses, and repair crews. Following the reopening, one lane in each direction would be available for public travel.

    “We understand how essential this route is for daily life and local businesses. Reopening PCH is a top priority, and we are going all-in to get this done.” 

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    With the busy summer months along the coast fast approaching, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Caltrans will effectuate the reopening by working closely with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to prioritize the cleanup of parcels along PCH by surging additional crews into the area so that these parcels can be cleared of debris quickly.

    Crews will work around the clock – literally 24/7 – to demolish the damaged and collapsed homes, remove toxic ash and soot, repair the roadways, and install new utility equipment.

    There are currently more than 100 USACE crews (consisting of excavators, metal crushing equipment, and dump trucks) working on Palisades Fire parcels. All equipment and dump trucks utilize PCH as a path of travel for the haul routes. Currently, USACE is removing nearly 1,284 truckloads of debris per day.

    Once their work is complete, PCH will be able to safely reopen to the public with one lane in each direction.

    Once the highway is reopened, security checkpoints currently in place on the north and south ends of closure will be removed, but a robust law enforcement presence from state and local agencies will remain in place.

    To stay up to date on the latest and track progress in wildfire recovery visit: https://www.ca.gov/LAfires/

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

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    News What you need to know: There are just four days left for homeowners and businesses to apply for debris removal assistance. LOS ANGELES – As nearly 500 crews of expert heavy equipment operators work around the clock to rapidly clear ash, soot, and fire debris from…

    Apr 11, 2025

    News What you need to know: Supported by $10 million from the state, LA Rises, Maersk and APM Terminals, fire-impacted small businesses, nonprofits, and workers will receive $19.1 million from LA-area grant programs.  LOS ANGELES – Earlier this week, the Los Angeles…

    Apr 10, 2025

    News What you need to know: The U.S. Economic Development Administration formally accepted all 13 Jobs First regional plans as Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies, allowing communities across California to accelerate local economic investment. SACRAMENTO…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – DOH Reports Sixth Travel-Related Dengue Virus Case of 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – DOH Reports Sixth Travel-Related Dengue Virus Case of 2025

    Posted on Apr 11, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

    KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIA‘ĀINA

    KENNETH S. FINK, M.D., MGA, MPH
    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

    DOH REPORTS SIXTH TRAVEL-RELATED DENGUE VIRUS CASE OF 2025

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 11, 2025                                                                                                    25-035

    HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a new travel-related case of dengue virus on Oʻahu, bringing the total number of dengue cases to six in the state in 2025 (one on Maui, five on Oʻahu). The affected individual in this current case was exposed to the virus while traveling in a region where dengue is common. This case is unrelated to the dengue case previously reported on April 10, 2025.

    DOH teams have been deployed to conduct inspections and implement mosquito control measures in the affected area. The public is encouraged to follow best practices to help prevent local transmission, as outlined below.

    Dengue virus is transmitted from an infected person to a mosquito, and then to another person. While Hawai‘i is home to the mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not endemic (established) in the state, and cases are currently limited to travelers. Several regions worldwide are experiencing higher-than-usual dengue activity.

    Dengue outbreaks occur in many parts of the world, including Central and South America, Asia (including the Republic of the Philippines), the Middle East, Africa, and several Pacific Islands, such as U.S. territories like American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are also affected.

    In 2024, there were 16 travel-related cases of dengue reported in the state of Hawaiʻi. Cases reported travel to the following countries prior to symptoms onset: Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines and India. All destinations listed are areas where dengue is known to be endemic.

    Anyone who plans to travel to or has recently visited an area with dengue risk is vulnerable to infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises travelers to take standard precautions when visiting such areas. This includes using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, rooms with window screens, or under insecticide-treated bed nets. Some countries are reporting increased dengue cases, so travelers should review up-to-date country-specific travel information for guidance on dengue risk and prevention measures at least four to six weeks before traveling.

    Travelers returning from dengue-endemic areas should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks. If dengue symptoms develop within two weeks of return, travelers should seek medical evaluation.

    Symptoms of dengue can range from mild to severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days, and while severe illness can occur, most people recover within a week. Individuals who have recently traveled and are experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    In areas with suspected or confirmed dengue cases, DOH personnel from the Vector Control Branch (VCB) are conducting inspections and mosquito-reduction activities. Reducing mosquito populations lowers the risk of dengue transmission to others. In areas without reported dengue cases, eliminating mosquito breeding sites around the home is a helpful preventive measure.

    Mosquitoes need only small amounts of standing water to breed. Common breeding sites include buckets, water-catching plants (such as bromeliads), small containers, planters, rain barrels and even cups left outside. Pouring out containers of standing water can significantly reduce the potential for mosquito breeding.

    For more information, visit the Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) and Vector Control Branch (VCB) websites.

    # # #

    Media Contact:

    Kristen Wong

    Information Specialist

    Hawaiʻi State Department of Health

    Mobile: 808-953-9616

    Email: [email protected]

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lombardo Announces Appointment of 7th Judicial District Judge

    Source: US State of Nevada

    Carson City, NV April 11, 2025

    Today, Governor Joe Lombardo announced the appointment of Dylan V. Frehner as a Judge for the Seventh Judicial District Court, Department 2.

    “I am honored to announce the appointment of Dylan V. Frehner to the Seventh Judicial District Court, Department 2,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “Frehner is well-rounded in many areas of the law and brings 20 years of experience as a rural attorney. His dedication to Nevada law and his commitment to serving the public make him a valuable addition to this judicial position.”

    Frehner has served as the Lincoln County District Attorney since 2018, where he has managed criminal cases and provided legal counsel to county officials. Over the last 20 years, he has practiced in various areas of law, including family law, estate planning, and representation of the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD). He earned recognition from the Nevada Department of Wildlife for securing the first felony conviction for a wildlife crime in the state.

    “I am grateful and honored by Governor Lombardo’s appointment,” said Dylan Frehner. “It is extremely humbling to follow in the footsteps of great judges like Judge Fairman and Judge Papez. I will work tirelessly to maintain the standard of fairness that has been established in the Seventh Judicial District.”

    Frehner earned his Juris Doctor with Distinction from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While attending the University of Nevada, Reno, he met his wife and started a family. Additionally, he served as a legislative intern for the minority leader during the 2001 Nevada Legislative Session. During law school, he impressively won his first mock trial competition, which awarded him scholarship money to help finance his education.

    Outside of his legal career, Frehner considers his most significant role to be that of a husband and father to five children.

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –