Latest news with #Kurt
American Military News
3 days ago
- American Military News
Video: Fmr. Delta Force operator shares dangerous hostage rescue story
Larry Vickers, a U.S. Army veteran and a former Delta Force operator, shared an account on Thursday of the Delta Force's Operation Acid Gambit hostage rescue of Kurt Muse from a prison in Panama in December of 1989. During a Thursday interview with podcaster Shawn Ryan, Vickers explained that Muse's rescue as part of Operation Acid Gambit was a dangerous hostage rescue attempt due to a prison guard threatening to kill the hostage if the United States attempted to rescue him from Panama's La Comandancia prison. According to The Army's website, Muse was imprisoned in Panama for leading opposition against Manuel Noriega, the former dictator of Panama. 'There was a guard that had told Kurt if there was a rescue attempt, he was going to kill him,' Vickers said. 'Because Kurt, I think, asked him, 'Hey, if there's a rescue attempt for me, what are you going to do?' And he goes, 'I'll kill you.'' 'This guy was in the room right across from Kurt,' Vickers added. 'So the priority was to get down to Kurt as soon as possible to beat this guy. You know, before this guy gets a situational awareness, figures out what's going on, goes over to Kurt's cell, and kills him.' READ MORE: Video/Pic: Last living American hostage released by Hamas During Thursday's podcast interview, Vickers shared details about how he was almost killed by his team's own 'C6 charge,' how the Delta Force Team entered the building after snipers disabled the prison's power, and how the team encountered one of the prison guards before reaching Muse's location. 'He was in a room across, and the G team went in and killed him. Yep, he's armed with a pistol,' Vickers told Ryan. 'I think the guy, I think he was in a shower, if memory serves me correct. G team found him in the shower. I think the guy went for his pistol, already had a pistol in his hand. They killed him.' 'Yep, they got Muse out. They brought in a little, you know, kit, aviator kit bag, and had body armor and a helmet, you know, a body armor and a Kevlar helmet. Peeled him out. I remember seeing him go up the stairs,' Vickers added. 'Couple things. We get up. We tell him, 'Hey, you know, PC secure to get the extraction birds out.' The reason the book's called 'Six Minutes To Freedom' was because from when we touched down to when we called, you know, PC secure, called for EXO was six minutes.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tradie goes viral for incredibly bold weekend project: 'Most Australian boat ever'
A tradie and his mates have gone viral online for making a boat out of a picnic table, large olive oil drums and an esky to go cruising in on the weekend. Kurt, 34, who opted to only tell Yahoo News his first name, said the idea started as a joke until one of his friends bought heaps of olive oil barrels on Facebook Marketplace, informing the group they really ought to make their dream a reality. "We thought, alright, we're going to have to do it then... it only took us about five hours in the end," the mechanic told Yahoo. "It's basically a picnic table fastened to the olive barrels — they're used as floats... we made sure to make the backend quite strong to hold all the weight and clamped on the small engine." Footage of the "picnic boat" in action shows Kurt and five mates heading down the Swan River in Perth before cruising along the coast once they hit the ocean. "We had lifejackets strapped underneath to the 'boat'... and it did have an esky built in it. Carlton Drys were pretty popular so it was an all-round decision to enjoy a few." "There were plenty of memorable moments, as you can imagine it's not every day you see a bunch of lads floating down the river on a picnic table. Plenty of people on the water got a good laugh," he said. 💥 Tradesman lucky to be alive after horrific pocket explosion 🍻 Tradie sinks cult Aussie beer on Mount Everest 😲 Tradie's shocking injury at rowdy work party The group of mates enjoyed the "picnic boat" on several occasions but Kurt admitted it's now "pretty destroyed" and the vessel has been retired for years. The footage was captured over six years ago, with Kurt only deciding to share it online now he's started to build other whacky inventions, explaining the 'boat' sparked his imagination. He recently made a "gas powered hot water dog wash on wheels" as well as other practical guides to help Aussies update their home and yard. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Q1 2025 Koil Energy Solutions Inc Earnings Call
Erik Wiik; Chief Executive Officer, Director; Koil Energy Solutions Inc Kurt Keller; Chief Financial Officer; Koil Energy Solutions Inc Sebastian Krog; Analyst; Treasure Hunting Operator Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to Koil Energy's first-quarter 2025 conference call. (Operator instructions) . After the speaker's remarks, you will be invited to participate in a question-and-answer a reminder, this call is being recorded today, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. A detailed disclaimer related to Koil Energy's forward-looking statements is included in the press release issued Monday morning and filed with the SEC. It is also available on the company's website, or upon request.A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures used in the press release and on today's call is included in the press release and on the website. Listeners are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Koil Energy also undertakes no obligation to revise any of its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date this time, I'd like to turn the call over to CEO, Erik Wiik. Erik Wiik Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today. I would like to start by introducing Kurt Keller, our new Chief Financial Officer. Kurt started in Koil Energy on April 22 and is joining me here today. He has two decades of financial leadership experience from middle market companies where he has successfully scaled operations, growing revenues from $20 million to $100 excited to welcome Kurt to the Koil Energy team. His extensive experience will prove to be incredibly valuable. Before I hand over to Kurt, I'll provide an overview of our first quarter performance and update you on our ongoing strategic initiatives. Following my overview, Kurt will deliver a detailed analysis of our financial I'll provide an update to our growth road map and how we're making progress in the market. Finally, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We had a disappointing start to this year. This quarter, Koil Energy generated revenues of $5.3 million. The gross margin was 31%. The lower gross margin was driven by growth-related expenses and underutilization of EBITDA was 6% or $339,000. Compared to the first quarter of last year, revenue decreased 9% and adjusted EBITDA margin fell from 13% to 6% of revenue. Despite a significant increase in revenue from service contracts, our overall revenue decreased by 11% sequentially due to the lower percent of completion on our fixed price project caused by lower order intake in the prior quarter and during January and increased sales effort did deliver increased service volume, but did not secure enough projects needed to effectively utilize the increased capacity. We increased our direct label force by eight employees last year. However, the reduced number of projects this quarter left our crews with limited opportunities to work expansion cost with order intake is vital to our growth strategy. However, we fell short in mitigating this risk during the quarter. We always knew our growth journey would have its ups and downs. And while this quarter presented that challenge, it reinforces our commitment to carefully building sustainable long-term momentum and delivering consistent value to our clients continue to give me excellent feedback on the work we perform. For instance, during Q1, we completed the installation of a fiber optic telecommunication cable in the Caribbean. This is an example of where our oil and gas expertise comes in handy when other industries need more powerful tools and unique example is the completion and testing of two umbilical systems. A milestone achievement with the highest visibility within the clients' organization. The client representative has commented that out of all the contractors performing work on that project, Koil Energy is the best team to work the first quarter, we were awarded a significant contract to supply multi-cup connector plates for a project in the Gulf of America. This award encompasses equipment designed to control the high pressure systems of a subsea field operated by a US independent oil MQC plates will play a critical role in the subsea infrastructure by distributing hydraulic control fluid in order to regulate oil and gas production and chemical injections to support flow assurance requirements. This award is particularly exciting for several it represents a repeat order from a valued client showcasing their continued trust in our capabilities. Secondly, it features our advanced 20,000 PSI technology, highlighting our commitment to innovation. Lastly, as the MQC is a cornerstone product within the subsea control segment, and this achievement paves the way for further growth. The project has started successfully and is being carried out at Koil Energy's facility in Houston, Texas. Final delivery is scheduled for the last quarter of this with that overview, I will now turn the call over to our Chief Financial Officer, Kurt Keller. Kurt Keller Thank you, Erik. Before joining Koil Energy, I served as a financial executive at several private equity-backed companies, including Perrite, Sun Grid and Mantis Innovation Group. Earlier in my career, I served as CFO at Directional Drilling Services and Navasota Energy Services. I also spent time as manager and Transaction Advisory Services at Deloitte.I'm excited to have joined Koil Energy. This is a company with a strong foundation and a compelling opportunity for growth. My initial experiences with the organization have been highly encouraging, and I am pleased to embark on this promising journey with such a great team. My focus here will be to further enhance controls, solidify our financial strategy and drive performance in a disciplined and transparent way. I believe the financial discipline is crucial to our ability to meet our commitments to customers, shareholders and to me now walk through our First Quarter's results in more detail. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, Koil Energy generated revenues of $5.3 million, a 9% decrease compared to revenues of $5.8 million for the same period last year. While service contract revenue nearly doubled year-over-year, this growth was offset by a 40% decline in product-oriented fixed-price contracts, which drove the overall profit for the quarter totaled $1.7 million or 31% of revenues, representing a 19% decrease in gross margin compared to $2.0 million or 35% of revenues in the first quarter of 2024. The decline reflects the shift in revenue mix and volume, particularly in fixed price product work. Selling, General and Administrative expenses equaled $1.7 million, up $267,000 from the prior year. The increase was largely due to the addition of key personnel and onetime investments to restructure and strengthen our administrative to net income. We reported a loss of $30,000 for the first quarter, which translates to breakeven earnings per diluted share. This compares to net income of $576,000 or $0.05 per diluted share recorded in the first quarter of 2024. This reduction in earnings reflected lower contribution margins from fixed price contracts, which were insufficient to absorb our fixed cost to our balance sheet. As of March 31, 2025, we reported $5.1 million in working capital including $2.2 million in cash and $4.9 million in net receivables. This compares to $5.7 million in working capital at year-end 2024 with $3.4 million in cash and $3.1 million in net receivables. The shift is primarily due to the timing of billing and collections tied to fixed price contract I hand the call back over to Erik, I want to briefly acknowledge that Koil, this was not the quarter we had hoped for, the fundamentals that attracted me to Koil Energy, customer satisfaction, industry know-how and a strong technical team are firmly the coming quarters, we will focus on sharpening our financial execution. This means driving higher utilization across our workforce managing working capital with discipline and ensuring that our growth investments are appropriately scaled and you for your time. Erik Wiik Thank you Kurt. Before we address any questions, I'll provide an update on our strategic road map and how Koil is positioned for future growth. Our growth strategy continues to drive our sales effort and we have seen a significant increase in order intake during March and funnel of prospects, both services and projects have continued to be populated with high-quality prospects. The bidding activities have also continued to increase since the beginning of the year. The outlook for the remainder of 2025 is therefore excellent. We're still focused on increasing our share of spending with existing domestic key accounts and have secured a record number of new service two-third of our service contracts include the installation of the equipment we built last year. Another key strategy is to continue supporting our clients abroad, which is also yielding positive results. Our international presence have also led to several high-volume bidding opportunities in countries where we have recently delivered are progressing with our establishment in Brazil and continue to identify and qualify to bid on prospects in that region. Our goal is to close our first significant deal in that region by fourth quarter. Our alliance in Norway is coming at an opportune time as we see that region moving towards tieback and brownfield projects, which is a sweet spot for Koil summary, the global demand for subsea equipment and services is on the rise. This is due to a combination of one continued discoveries of large reservoirs and subsea basins. Two, subsea tieback opportunities to increase production of existing fields, and three, addressing the aging subsea infrastructure. Koil Energy is uniquely positioned to assist our customers in addressing all three Energy continues to be a great investment opportunity. We offer mission-critical deepwater solutions with a high barrier to market entry. Before I conclude, I would like to welcome Mr. Matt Anderson as a new member of the Board of Directors of Koil Energy. Mr. Anderson is the CEO of the Norway-based Energy Services Company ABLASA with 5,000 employees and an annual revenue of USD1.5 has more than three decades of experience from the international oil and gas and energy services industry. Most recent roles include divisional precedent in OneSubsea and Executive Vice President in Aker Solutions. We are delighted to have Mr. Anderson on our concludes our prepared remarks today. So I will turn the call back to the operator to take investor questions. Operator? Operator (Operator instructions)Sebastian Krog, Treasure Hunting. Sebastian Krog Hi guys, thanks for the update. Just a quick question with the investments you now made into SG&A and with the current assets you have in Houston. Do you have any idea of what kind of revenue you could achieve with that at a higher utilization rate? Erik Wiik Absolutely. So the revenue we got this quarter is 9% lower than what we had a year earlier and about 10% lower than the average throughout the year, last year. So we are just slightly below what we need to have in order to keep our cost base as it is. So most of the -- since we were breakeven any revenue above this should -- most of it should travel down to the bottom line. So we are at an inflection point with respect to just making sure we have have continuous work every month in order to maximize the utilization. Operator (Operator instructions)And that concludes our question and answer session. I'd like to turn the conference back over to the company for any closing remarks. Erik Wiik Yes. Thank you, operator. And if there are any more questions, please contact us today. I know the 10-Q filing is is probably a fresh document that is going to be there in a few minutes, and you would like to review it before you ask questions. I understand that and I apologize for the delay you can contact us at ir@ or on the phone number 281-862-2201. And we'll be available all afternoon and then the other time you want to schedule a call to ask your questions. We appreciate your interest in Koil Energy and look forward to the next earnings call. This concludes our call. Thank you. Operator Thank you, sir. Once again, this concludes today's conference call. We thank you all for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect your lines and have a wonderful day. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Maverick
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Trump has kicked away our crutches — now we must walk tall on our own two feet
'All we can do is make her comfortable. She doesn't have long to live.' Those words struck like thunder, rattling my chest. My wife's grandmother — our beloved 'Ma' — was critically ill. My wife stood frozen, tears tracing lines down her cheeks, eyes locked in disbelief. In the ICU at Rondebosch Medical Centre, Ma lay still on a snow-white bed, her once-sparkling face pale and gaunt. The steady hiss of oxygen and the metronome of monitors filled the sterile room. Our mission felt grim and clear: comfort her and brace for goodbye. Could we get her to Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal — her home, her chosen final resting place? Would she make it to see her grandson Kurt get married in a couple of days in Cape Town? Against the odds, Ma clung to life. Family trickled in, one by one, to whisper their farewells and press fragile hands in prayer. Even under death's shadow, hope refused to die. Then, a miracle. Weeks later — when we had feared a coffin — Ma was wheeled out of the ICU, a faint smile gracing her lips. A month later, she was back in Mooi River. Doctors called it 'a miracle'. The woman who once lay bound to beeping machines now walked free, eyes glinting with defiant vitality. That moment — Ma's recovery — felt like liberation. But it also reminded me that survival isn't the same as freedom. She says now: 'If the doctor had told me I wouldn't make it, I'd have given up.' While Ma may have left the hospital, our nation, izwe lethu, South Africa, is still under observation. From ICU to the world stage In 1993, South Africa was declared clinically unviable. The prognosis: civil war. The evidence: political bloodshed, state-sponsored violence and an economy gasping for air. Chris Hani's assassination nearly sent the nation into cardiac arrest. Rwanda's genocide the following year showed just how close we came to that cliff. And yet, against every prediction, we didn't flatline. South Africa staggered out of the ICU, carried by leaders forged in fire: Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and others; and a fragile national conscience that chose reconciliation over revenge. But here's the truth: we never really left the hospital. The triple curse of poverty, unemployment and inequality kept us on life support. Add to that our chronic condition — corruption — and a dependency complex fed by donor aid and state patronage. The miracle was real. But recovery demands more than survival — it demands strength, honesty and a new way of walking. The danger of crutches Just as Ma needed a wheelchair, we needed foreign aid, BEE and affirmative action. These supports mattered. They still do. But crutches become a problem when we mistake them for legs. Then Donald Trump came swinging. He didn't just remove the crutches — he kicked them out with the grace of a bouncer clearing a toddler's ward. Potentially revoking Agoa. Undermining Pepfar. Gutting goodwill. The fight against HIV/Aids in South Africa faced a severe threat when the Trump administration implemented a temporary freeze on foreign aid — including Pepfar funding — placing an estimated 15,000 healthcare jobs at risk and disrupting vital HIV services. Clinics in dozens of high-burden districts were forced to scale back, jeopardising continuity of care for millions. A partial reprieve came when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a waiver permitting the resumption of select 'life-saving and humanitarian' Pepfar-supported activities. At one point, Pepfar contributed approximately 17% to South Africa's R44.4-billion HIV counselling and testing campaign, according to Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. But the future of this support remains uncertain. The waiver may be temporary — and with Trump's erratic foreign policy, no one can confidently predict what comes next. Yet perhaps this isn't the beginning of a breakdown — perhaps it's the beginning of standing up. My now three-year-old son once stood up when he was younger because he thought I was supporting him. He's been running ever since. Standing on our own two feet This isn't a call for isolationism. It's a call for maturity. Dignity. Reciprocity. Uganda faced its Aids crisis head-on — without the crutch of donor dollars. It reduced HIV from 15% to 5% by 2007, focusing on behaviour change, not just pills. South Africa started with ABC — Abstain, Be faithful, Condomise — but somewhere along the way, we swapped wisdom for dependence. We lost the plot and chased cure over character. As Professor Francois Bekker put it, 'the crisis is an opportunity — to rethink healthcare, reimagine delivery and rebuild resilience'. From begging bowl to trading partner Agoa was never just a gift — it was a gateway. It opened markets, lowered trade barriers and gave South African manufacturers access to the world's biggest consumer economy. In many sectors, it boosted exports, encouraged foreign investment and created jobs. On paper, a triumph. But we must resist the temptation to overstate its impact. A November 2023 report from the Brookings Institution estimated that the loss of Agoa would cause South Africa's total exports to the US to decline by just 2.7%, with a GDP impact of only 0.06%. While Agoa unlocked opportunity, it also flung the barn doors wide open to SA receiving dumped chicken from the US, devastating our poultry industry. For every 10,000 tonnes of imported poultry, approximately 1,000 jobs were lost. The South African Poultry Association has long warned that the industry was bleeding not just from cheap imports, but from a policy that treated trade volume as a win, regardless of local consequences. Beyond their economic and humanitarian veneer, Agoa and Pepfar have also functioned as instruments of soft power — tools used by the US to shape African policy and assert geopolitical influence. In return for aid and access, our sovereignty has often been quietly eroded. We were trading — but at what cost? Agoa enabled multinationals to dodge tariffs while investing in South Africa with minimal local ownership. What we got wasn't empowerment, it was participation without power. Jobs were created, yes — but without influence. Labour without leverage. We had access to global markets, but little agency in shaping the rules. Today, the US demands 50% American ownership of TikTok in the name of sovereignty. Why shouldn't South Africa demand the same dignity in its own economy? The end of Agoa doesn't have to be a death knell. It can be a doorway, a chance to rebuild smarter — trading like equals, not beggars. It could force us to invest in our own value chains, grow intra-African trade and craft policies that serve South Africans first. We need less gatekeeping. More gate-building. Depending on Washington — or Beijing, or Brussels — is like accepting Trump's prescription of drinking bleach to kill the Covid-19 virus. We've survived. Now we must thrive. From handouts to handshakes, from dependency to dignity, from crutches to courage.
Hamilton Spectator
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Widmer Brothers Brewing Celebrates 40th Anniversary
PORTLAND, Ore., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Widmer Brothers Brewing , the creator of the Original American Hefeweizen and a Tilray Brands, Inc., (NASDAQ: TLRY and TSX: TLRY) craft beer brand, commemorates its 40th anniversary with the launch of the '40 Years of Cheers' campaign celebrating Widmer's iconic beers through the years. This multi-stage celebration marks the brewery's 40th anniversary and will feature the re-release of four iconic Widmer Brothers beers. The '40 Years of Cheers' campaign will kick off with the re-release of Altbier, the first beer brewed and sold by Widmer Brothers in 1984. Altbier is a traditional German-style ale known for its amber hue, assertive bitterness, and clean, roasted finish. This beer represents the beginning of the Widmer Brother's brewing journey, brewed with a variety of reclaimed equipment in what is now Portland's Pearl District. 'A lot can change in 40 years, but great beer still brings people together. 40 Years of Cheers not only pays homage to four decades of craft beer innovation but also sets the foundation for the future of the brand. With 40 years of experience and a Widmer Hefe in hand, we are excited to bring both new and classic Widmer beers to Portlanders and write the next chapter of Widmer Brothers,' says Brian Hughes, Brand Director, at Tilray Beverages West Coast Brands. Altbier will be the first of four beers to be re-released throughout 2025, with each beer representing a different decade of Widmer Brothers' history. Details on the next re-release, a fan-favorite summer seasonal from the 2000s, will be announced in the coming weeks. 'Beers Through the Years' will be available in limited, small-batch quantities at a handful of local Portland bars and restaurants: When the last keg blows, that will be it! For more information about Widmer Brothers, the '40 Years of Cheers' campaign, and upcoming beer releases, visit and follow @widmerbrothers on social media. About Widmer Brothers In 1984, Kurt and Rob Widmer quit their jobs to follow their passion for making great beer to share with friends and family. From the very first pitcher, the Widmer Brothers aimed to create beer that's easy to enjoy and perfect for any occasion. While much has changed over the years, the core belief that great beer brings people together remains the same. Widmer Brothers is proud to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024-25 and looks forward to many more decades of brewing excellence. About Tilray Brands Tilray Brands, Inc. ('Tilray') (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), is a global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company at the forefront of beverage, cannabis and wellness industries with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America that is leading as a transformative force at the nexus of cannabis, beverage, wellness, and entertainment, elevating lives through moments of connection. Tilray's mission is to be a leading premium lifestyle company with a house of brands and innovative products that inspire joy, wellness and create memorable experiences. Tilray's unprecedented platform supports over 40 brands in over 20 countries, including comprehensive cannabis offerings, hemp-based foods, and craft beverages. For more information on Tilray Brands, visit and follow @Tilray. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this communication that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (together, 'forward-looking statements') under Canadian and U.S. securities laws and within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be subject to the 'safe harbor' created by those sections and other applicable laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as 'forecast,' 'future,' 'should,' 'could,' 'enable,' 'potential,' 'contemplate,' 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'plan,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'project,' 'will,' 'would' and the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Certain material factors, estimates, goals, projections, or assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this communication. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses, or current expectations. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievement to be materially different from any forward-looking statements, and other risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company deems immaterial could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained herein. For a more detailed discussion of these risks and other factors, see the most recently filed annual information form of Tilray and the Annual Report on Form 10-K (and other periodic reports filed with the SEC) of Tilray made with the SEC and available on EDGAR. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made as of the date of this communication and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events, or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. For more information Media Contact: news@ Investor Contact: investors@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
