Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
Data on lending and deposit rates of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) (excluding regional rural banks and small finance banks) received during the month of July 2025 are set out in Tables 1 to 7. Highlights: Lending Rates:
Deposit Rates:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2025-2026/818 |
Source: Samsung
London, U.K. – 31 July, 2025 – Leading social entertainment business LADbible Group makes its debut on television screens with the launch of the LADbible Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel.
Now available in the UK on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s FAST platform, LADbible FAST Channel will showcase the Group’s most loved original programming 24/7, including hit series such as Minutes With, Snack Wars, Agree to Disagree and Would You Rather.
As viewing habits shift, LADbible Group is expanding its reach to meet audiences exactly where they are. Insights from Samsung’s 2024 Anatomy of a Streamer research report show that Gen Z Samsung Smart TV viewers are embracing streaming TV, watching an average of 1 hour and 38 minutes of streamed content per day, compared to just over 49 minutes for Boomers.
The channel offers a bold mix of entertaining, unfiltered moments with household celebrities and untold stories from around the world, all delivered straight into viewers’ homes. Whether it’s Minutes With, spotlighting powerful, personal stories from mental health advocates to reformed gangsters, or Snack Wars featuring stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Ryan Gosling or Paul Mescal, each show is designed to entertain, spark conversation, and put viewers into the heart of culture.
To mark the launch, LADbible Group will also premiere its new format ‘Jury Room’, a debate show that takes on issues the public can not agree on, hosted by ‘Juries’ – from barristers, business owners, gangsters, to Gen Z influencers. The six-part series will see the first episode questioning, “Should we bring back military conscription in the event of war?”. It will be available on CTV and YouTube.
LADbible’s original programming has seen notable growth and success. Its audience has grown to over 280 million views on YouTube alone with a YOY increase of 20%, averaging a staggering 100 million minutes per month.
Becky Gardner, Head of Originals said, ‘LADbible on TV presents an exciting new opportunity to expand our reach and connect with even more viewers of our shows. This launch reflects our dedication to being where our audience is, delivering always-on entertainment that they love – anytime, anywhere, on any screen. We’re thrilled to bring LADbible directly into people’s homes”
Gus Grimaldi, Head of Samsung TV Plus EMEA, added: “LADbible is a global powerhouse of entertainment, and we’re thrilled to bring their first-ever TV channel to Samsung TV Plus users for free in the UK. With young viewers rapidly turning to CTV and watching from the comfort of their own homes, Samsung TV Plus is at the forefront of connecting audiences with high quality entertainment. LADbible is the ideal content partner to reach the ever-growing number of FAST TV viewers.”
Availability:
LADbible is now live on Samsung TV Plus, available pre-installed on 2016+ Samsung Smart TVs and on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Channel number: 4093
About LADbible Group
LADbible Group is a leading social entertainment business, reaching a global audience of 520 million followers. In the UK alone, it reaches two‑thirds of 18‑ to 34‑year‑olds and ranks as the fifth largest social and digital business. The Group operates a diverse portfolio of brands and platforms, including LADbible, SPORTbible, UNILAD and Betches, and operates over seven websites. Every month, it generates 13.9 billion views on social and 2,700 views per second. Its purpose is to give young adults a voice by building communities that laugh, think and act, with content that spans entertainment, celebrity interviews, news, live documentary and factual programming. LADbible Group has an international presence spanning all corners of the globe, with physical offices across APAC, US, the UK and Ireland. The Group has been widely recognised across the industry for its impactful social good campaigns, brand partnerships and original programming. This includes Media Brand of the Year at the Media Week Awards, Commercial Team of the Year at the Campaign Media Awards and Web Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards.
About Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is free streaming, TV with no subscription and no additional device or credit card needed. The service is pre-installed on all 2016+ Samsung Smart TVs, and on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets in select territories. Samsung TV Plus instantly delivers a vast and growing library across multiple genres including news, sports, entertainment, as well as a video on demand catalogue of your favourite movies and popular shows. The free, ad-supported streaming video service is available globally in 30 territories, all you need is an internet connection. For the latest on Samsung TV Plus, please visit www.samsungtvplus.com.
Source: US State of Connecticut
In the coastal waters of Long Island Sound, Connecticut’s shellfish industry is quietly thriving and evolving. A statewide effort led by Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension professionals is helping prospective farmers, agriscience teachers, and environmental professionals dive into the world of aquaculture with the Foundations of Shellfish Farming course.
Now entering its fourth year, the course has become a vital entry point for people launching or expanding their careers in the shellfish industry, and the results are rippling across the state.
“In this business, you need to get up early and go to work even when it’s not always fun. But we try to prepare people for that reality, and for the opportunities that come with it,” says Mike Gilman, an assistant extension educator and co-instructor of the course.
A former high school science teacher, Gilman co-owns an oyster business and has experienced firsthand the long, uncertain path from lease applications to harvesting a market-ready crop.
Tessa Getchis, senior extension educator and aquaculture specialist, co-teaches the course with Gilman.
“We’ve created a program that combines science, policy, and lived experience. Students walk away with a binder full of resources, a support network, and a deeper understanding of the industry,” Getchis says.
The course was launched through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant. Foundations of Shellfish Farming offers 12 weeks of intensive, in-person instruction each winter. Classes are held at UConn Avery Point, and the curriculum includes biology lessons, business planning, regulatory guidance, and mental and emotional preparedness for the unpredictable world of shellfish farming.
The course enrolls around 15 participants annually, with a cap of 20 to ensure knowledge sharing and individualized attention. Students range from new farmers to conservation professionals, and entrepreneurs.
The course’s hands-on emphasis extends beyond the classroom. Each year, students have an opportunity for real-world experience through the Sharing Hands-On Understanding and Cultivating Knowledge on Shellfish (SHUCKS) internship program, a partnership with Sixpenny Oyster Farm in Noank.
Last year’s interns were funded by the Small Business Development Fund, with preference given to Foundations students. One of the interns, Sam Tucker of Clinton, was already a seasoned shellfish worker. A music teacher by trade, Tucker recently planted his first crop of oysters after navigating a complex, years-long permitting process.
This season, two new interns are back on the water with funding from Connecticut Sea Grant. Sixpenny co-owners Will Ceddia and Jason Hamilton oversee the interviews and day-to-day management of interns. Gilman and Getchis facilitate the program, provide orientation, and collect feedback.
The Foundations course addresses a significant barrier in the shellfish industry: access.
“Shellfishing has traditionally been a hard industry to enter,” Gilman says. “One of our goals is to make the path clearer and more inclusive.”
The start-up requirements and expenses involved can also be a disincentive. In some cases, the Foundations course has helped students decide a large investment in shellfish farming isn’t the right choice for them.
“If this class helps a student realize that aquaculture isn’t for them, before they spend years in the permitting process and potentially thousands of dollars in equipment, that’s actually a win for the industry,” says Gilman.
But for many, the course is the launchpad they need to start or expand their businesses.
Four new farms have launched directly from the program with multiple others currently in the process of becoming established operations. Also, some former students now hire interns or share equipment.
Participants report increased confidence with permitting, inspections, and gear management. A six-month follow-up survey shows that more than 60% of graduates are actively engaged in industry work, environmental stewardship, or continued aquaculture training.
The course is a requirement for new licensees through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Aquaculture. Gilman and Getchis also consult regularly with the Bureau and other subject matter experts to adapt content to emerging issues, such as pests, predators, diseases, impaired water quality and climate (for example, the growing threat of rainfall-related closures).
The Foundations course goes beyond shellfish biology and gear types. It includes sessions on physical and mental health, business planning, and managing risks. “Farming shellfish is isolating and physically demanding,” says Gilman. “We don’t shy away from that. We talk about how to stay safe, how to deal with closures, and how to make it through when things get tough.”
Another recent innovation honors the legacy of former Guilford Shellfish Commissioner, Peter Charland, who passed away in 2024. In partnership with the Guilford Shellfish Commission, the team created aquaculture worker starter packs with boots, sun gear, and other essentials which were distributed during a ceremony this spring. A larger grant seeks to continue this initiative and help reduce startup costs for new entrants.
Extreme weather and regulatory hurdles challenge the industry, making sustainable shellfish aquaculture more important than ever. Connecticut remains one of the top six shellfish-producing states, with over 50 businesses supported by its oyster and clam operations.
The next steps for Gilman and Getchis include facilitating more pathways from coursework to water-based experience.
“You don’t need an advanced degree to grow oysters,” says Gilman. “We need plumbers, electricians, and mechanics, people with complementary skills who can fix a pump or a boat engine and aren’t afraid to get dirty.”
For now, the Foundations course is cultivating more than oysters; it’s growing a community.
“Our students stay in touch. They ask questions, they call us for help, and they show up at industry meetings,” Getchis says. “It’s been incredible to watch this bubble of new energy form around Connecticut aquaculture. That’s the kind of impact you hope for in Extension.”
The Connecticut Sea Grant College Program (CTSG) is part of the National Sea Grant College Program network, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). CTSG is based at UConn Avery Point in Groton. Several staff members have academic appointments in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, including UConn Extension. For more than 30 years, CTSG has worked to foster the wise use and conservation of coastal and marine resources of Long Island Sound and beyond through research, outreach and education. It is science serving the coast!
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Second patient in the first cohort is now advancing through protocol-defined evaluations as Company provides promising update on first patient pharmacokinetic results
SOUTH SAN FRANSCISCO, Calif., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., (Nasdaq: CERO) (“CERo” or the “Company”) an innovative cellular immunotherapy company seeking to advance the next generation of engineered T cell therapeutics that employ phagocytic mechanisms, announces it has dosed the second patient in the first cohort of its Phase 1 CER-1236 clinical trial focused on patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The patient was dosed at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute (CBCI) in Denver, Colorado, with Yazan Migdady, M.D., an associate member physician at CBCI acting as principal investigator for the study. With more than seven days passed following the second patient’s infusion, monitoring continues for key safety, tolerability, and efficacy endpoints.
Dr. Migdady noted, “The dosing of the second patient in this Phase 1 first-in-human trial is an important indicator, representing a key clinical development milestone for CER-1236, a novel autologous CAR-T therapeutic candidate targeting TIM 4L. We believe that CER-1236 may be an important advancement in cancer immunotherapy and this second patient reflects steady progress in our clinical evaluation. We are now conducting protocol-specified evaluations of safety, pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and efficacy endpoints, and expect to communicate progress over the course of the study.”
Previously CERo reported that the first patient treated in CertainT-1 had no dose-limiting toxicities during the 28-day DLT observation period. Further analysis of CER-1236 pharmacokinetics in this patient reveals that the therapy of infused cells expanded (e.g., the cell number multiplied) as expected upon infusion, reaching a peak at 14 days post infusion with a 20.8-fold expansion of infused cells. These are early insights into how CER-1236 functions in AML patients, and CERo will be monitoring pharmacokinetics in subsequent patients.
The first-in-human, multi-center, open label, Phase 1/1b study is designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of CER-1236 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia that is either relapsed/refractory, or in remission with measurable residual disease, or newly diagnosed patients with TP53 mutated MDS/AML or AML. The two-part study has begun with dose escalation to determine the highest tolerated dose and recommended dose for Phase 2, followed by an expansion phase to evaluate safety and efficacy. Primary outcome measures include incidence of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), incidence of dose limited toxicities and estimation of overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR), composite complete response (cCR), and measurable residual disease (MRD). Secondary outcome measures include pharmacokinetics (PK).
CERo CEO Chris Ehrlich said, “We are encouraged that in our very first patient treated we saw rapid and significant expansion in CER-1236 cells after infusion, a positive sign that we’re on the right track in our Phase I study, based on the extensive experience and history of the clinical development of CAR T cells. We continue to believe that CER-1236 is a novel approach to treating cancer, and we are grateful for the participation of our first and second patients, and to the many people who have worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, including our CERO team, our consultants and study sites. We look forward to discussing additional outcomes, which we anticipate will validate the scientific work performed to date with CER-1236.”
About CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
CERo is an innovative immunotherapy company advancing the development of next generation engineered T cell therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Its proprietary approach to T cell engineering, which enables it to integrate certain desirable characteristics of both innate and adaptive immunity into a single therapeutic construct, is designed to engage the body’s full immune repertoire to achieve optimized cancer therapy. This novel cellular immunotherapy platform is expected to redirect patient-derived T cells to eliminate tumors by building in engulfment pathways that employ phagocytic mechanisms to destroy cancer cells, creating what CERo refers to as Chimeric Engulfment Receptor T cells (“CER-T”). CERo believes the differentiated activity of CER-T cells will afford them greater therapeutic application than currently approved chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR-T”) cell therapy, as the use of CER-T may potentially span both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. CERo has commenced clinical trials for its lead product candidate CER-1236 for hematological malignancies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains statements that are forward-looking and as such are not historical facts. This includes, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations of CERo. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this communication, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. When CERo discusses its strategies or plans, it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to, CERo’s management.
Actual results could differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this communication. Certain risks that could cause actual results to differ are set forth in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the documents incorporated by reference therein. The risks described in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all such risk factors, nor can CERo assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business, or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements made by CERo or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. CERo undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Chris Ehrlich
Chief Executive Officer
chris@cero.bio
Investors:
CORE IR
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of artificial intelligence AdTech solutions, will host a conference call on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 4:15 PM Eastern Time to discuss its financial results and provide a business update for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.
Conference Call Details:
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Toll-free Dial-in Number: 1-800-717-1738
International Dial-in Number: 1-646-307-1865
Conference ID: 1148531
Webcast Link: HERE
A telephone replay will be available through Thursday, August 21, 2025. To access the replay, please dial 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international). At the system prompt, please enter the code 1148531 followed by the # sign. You will then be prompted for your name, company, and phone number. Playback will then automatically begin.
About Inuvo
Inuvo®, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.
Inuvo Company Contact:
Wally Ruiz
Chief Financial Officer
Tel (501) 205-8397
wallace.ruiz@inuvo.com
Source: ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will welcome H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, on 1 August 2025.
The visit will include a Policy Speech by H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and an Interface with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN. The visit will highlight, among others, the progress in Timor-Leste’s journey towards membership in ASEAN. During the Policy Speech, attendances would include members of the diplomatic corps in Jakarta, representatives of Entities associated with ASEAN, academia and think tanks, the business community, as well as staff members of the ASEAN Secretariat.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN to Welcome President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: APO – Report:
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) (www.CCBAGroup.com) marks nine years since the transformative merger that established it as the continent’s largest Coca-Cola bottling partner.
This milestone is grounded in a proud legacy that began 85 years ago, when the first Coca-Cola was bottled in Gqeberha, South Africa in 1940 by the SA Bottling Company (Pty) Ltd. That same year, Philipp Rowland Gutsche joined the company, beginning a family legacy that would shape the business for generations. From those early beginnings, CCBA has evolved into a key player in Africa’s beverage industry, with a deep commitment to local communities and long-term development.
Today, CCBA continues to invest in new production capacity, reinforcing its belief in Africa’s potential and its commitment to creating shared opportunities across the value chain.
In the past year alone, CCBA has launched new state-of-the-art bottling lines in South Africa, Namibia and Malawi, increasing total production capacity by over 108,000 bottles per hour, and equipped with advanced technology, including artificial intelligence. CCBA has also opened a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flaking plant in Namibia which doubled the capacity of the only mechanical recycler of plastic in the country through a partnership with Plastic Packaging. The completion of this cutting-edge recycling facility has enabled Namibia Polymer Recyclers (NPR), a subsidiary of Plastic Packaging, to recycle up to 500 tons of PET per month.
CCBA has also announced the company’s intention to grow its investment in Kenya by up to $175m in the five years between 2024 and 2029, should it achieve its anticipated growth targets in the country.
“These investments are a demonstration of our progress and continued belief in the future of Africa,” said Sunil Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of CCBA.
“They reaffirm the Coca-Cola system’s local approach – we produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally. Our value chain includes a significant number of businesses, many of them small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“These investments go beyond numbers, it’s about creating shared opportunities across the value chain,” Gupta said.
“Our vision is to refresh Africa and create shared value. As we celebrate our ninth birthday as a company, we aim to inspire excellence and set the standard as Africa’s leading and most admired company, fostering growth, innovation and impact across the continent,” Gupta said.
– on behalf of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.
ISSUED BY:
Keli Fernie
Head: Reputation and Communication
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
Tel: +27 82 419 8766
Email: kfernie@ccbagroup.com
Follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4l54fGW
About CCBA:
CCBA is the eighth largest Coca-Cola bottling partner in the world by revenue, and the largest on the continent. It accounts for over 40% of all Coca-Cola products sold in Africa by volume. With over 17,000 employees in Africa, CCBA services more than 800,000 customers with a host of international and local brands. CCBA operates in 14 countries, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, the islands of Comoros and Mayotte, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Malawi.
Learn more at https://www.CCBAGroup.com
.
Source: APO – Report:
The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the Government of Burkina Faso launched the third phase of the incubator program of the Support Project for Youth Employment and Skills Development in Rural Areas (PADEJ-MR in the French acronym) on July 15, 2025, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
Ms. Franceline Kaboré, representing the country’s Minister of Sports, Youth, and Employment, and Ms. Mouna Diawara, Head of Operations both attended.
The PADEJ-MR aims to promote the economic empowerment and resilience of young people in rural areas through entrepreneurship. The project, with a total cost of €13.62 million, mainly financed by a €12.25 million grant from the African Development Bank, has supported the establishment of an incubator mechanism providing practical training in financial education and safeguards, personalized coaching, and local technical support.
The initiative aims to help young people convert their ideas into viable businesses in promising sectors such as agriculture, agri-food, services, crafts, and new technologies. In the third phase of the incubator program, 65 young people from the four regions covered by the Project are receiving support to help them prepare business plans that are eligible for financing.
Ms. Franceline Kaboré commended the African Development Bank’s commitment to the PADEJ-MR. She noted that youth entrepreneurship is a national priority enshrined in the strategic vision of the government of Burkina Faso.
Ms. Mouna Diawara emphasized that “the Project to Support Youth Employment and Skills Development in Rural Areas is a concrete and integrated response to the problem of youth unemployment in rural areas. The African Development Bank is ready to continue supporting Burkina Faso in its economic transformation efforts, with a particular focus on opportunities for young people and women.”
Sévérine Lankouandé, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries of the incubator, expressed gratitude to the government and to the African Development Bank for the opportunities that the incubator program had already provided. A cohort of young entrepreneurs have already received training that will enable them to launch transformative enteprises.
– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact:
Department of Communication and External Relations
media@afdb.org
.
Source: Government of South Africa
Gauteng Social Development welcomes arrest of viral video suspects
The Gauteng Department of Social Development has welcomed the arrest of three suspects involved in video footage that has emerged depicting a toddler smoking a pipe with an unknown substance in a broken bottle top.
“The Gauteng Department of Social Development is condemning the behaviour of parents following a video that went viral on social media where a toddler is seen smoking a pipe with an unknown substance in a broken bottle top. The department categorically wishes to state that it is gravely outraged by the irresponsible behaviour of the toddler’s parents and further commits to investigating the incident in order to provide the necessary intervention that will help the child.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the department further condemned actions that harm children, such as violence and negligence and emphasised the importance of positive role models and responsible behaviour towards children.
“This incident is both unfortunate and barbaric, and the department welcomes the arrest of the three suspects involved from Newclare in Johannesburg, including the mother who is detained at a police station. The department calls on community members (particularly those who claim to be community activist and take to posting on social media) to instead take action against these kinds of incidents by reporting to the relevant institutions and/or law enforcement agencies.
“Rather than share such videos widely, the department appeals to the citizens to forward such videos to the police or to the department so that action can be taken against perpetrators, whilst ensuring children’s rights are protected and not violated through such social media postings.”
As the custodian of the Children’s Act, the department condemned the constant disregard of children’s safety and protection in the province.
Meanwhile, Gauteng police confirmed the arrests in the matter.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Gauteng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) responded to a call from Sophiatown police station about a child who was brought to the police station by Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the grandmother.
“The child was recorded on a video being given what appeared to be drugs and also being given those drugs to smoke. The Johannesburg FCS Unit commander Lieutenant Colonel Marema Mogale and his members responded immediately at about midnight. Three people, the mother and two men, were detained as they were brought to the police station by [the] JMPD,” said the SAPS on Wednesday.
The three-year-old boy was taken to hospital for medical attention and then taken to a place of safety.
The trio were expected to appear before the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, 31 July 2025, on child abuse charges. – SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Source: Government of South Africa
‘Evolution of energy landscape’ requires deepening government, industry collaboration
The success of South Africa’s energy transition depends, in part, on deepening and stronger collaboration between government and the renewable energy industry to fill out policy implementation gaps and drive investment.
This according to Chief Executive Officer of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), Niveshen Govender, who participated in a panel discussion on the sidelines of the third G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting held in the North West.
“From an industry perspective… there are a number of requirements that we have to work on with government to ensure that we implement. I think we are doing a good job… We have the energy one stop shop that is now a single point of access to all permitting. You have the Department of Energy and Electricity with a minister [Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa] who is very active in unblocking [challenges].
“We have seen government’s readiness of market and allowing for business to come in, invest [and] implement on cost, on time – as quickly as possible – to get those electrons into place,” Govender said.
He noted that the industry and government stand at the same point with a “lot of commonalities” between the two.
“[This is] in terms of ensuring that we have access to energy per country, we have affordable energy to actually use, we have security of supply so we don’t go back to load shedding and we have sustainability in the long-term for reducing our carbon emissions.
“The Minister [Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa] very succinctly articulated… the importance of the energy mix and the importance of renewable energy being central to the decarbonisation of that energy mix,” Govender said.
However, despite these commonalities, misalignments still remain.
“We have very good policies in South Africa, top tier policies. They give good direction and good guidance. It takes everything into consideration… for the people of South Africa to make sure that we’re leaving no one behind.
“Where we do struggle is implementation of these policies. I think the biggest one of those is investor readiness. If you are not engaging industries, your readiness is going to [be impacted] as to what does the investor need to make that policy a reality,” the industry expert said.
He described the current developmental pace of the industry as an “evolution of the energy landscape”.
“We’ve moved from, essentially, the monopoly that Eskom was into public procurement of renewable energy and IPPs [Independent Power Producers]. Now we’re moving into bilateral agreements between these IPPs and… users. We’re even moving one step further into a liberalised energy market where you have traders and aggregators playing a role.
“We see this evolution of the electricity space that’s changing how we do business. It’s changing how we look at the landscape and energy planning,” Govender said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Source: Government of South Africa
Government launches project for investors in energy sector
As part of ongoing efforts to unlock infrastructure investments and strengthen the energy sector, government is calling on investors to invest in the country’s transmission infrastructure through the Independent Transmission Projects (ITPs) Programme.
This initiative marks the first time private investment will be allowed in South Africa’s transmission infrastructure, paving the way for a faster rollout of new high-voltage power lines across the country.
“This will support the efforts already underway by the National Transmission Company of South Africa to implement the Transmission Development Plan, which calls for more than 14 000 km of new lines to be built over the next decade.
“The introduction of ITPs is a key objective of Operation Vulindlela Phase II and will play an important role in the broader reform of the energy system. This reform includes the introduction of a competitive electricity market, which will allow multiple generators and traders to compete to provide electricity to consumers at the lowest cost and with the greatest efficiency,” Deputy Minister of Finance Dr David Masondo said on Thursday.
Addressing the launch of the Request for Pre-Qualifications for Independent Transmission Projects (ITPs) in Johannesburg, the Deputy Minister said the reform of the energy system is advancing rapidly, and its commitment remains unwavering.
“We will not allow any vested interests to delay or obstruct this reform process, including Eskom itself. Indeed, today’s release of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) demonstrates that government, led by [Electricity] Minister Dr [Kgosientsho] Ramokgopa and his team, is working hard to implement the reforms that are needed to ensure long-term energy security and expand access to affordable electricity for all South Africans.
“National Treasury has supported this process through the design of a Credit Guarantee Vehicle, as an innovative mechanism to unlock private capital and complement public financing for infrastructure while minimising contingent liabilities,” he said.
South Africa is faced with a significant infrastructure financing need.
It is estimated that South Africa’s infrastructure gap is around R3.5 to R4 trillion by 2025, or around R400 billion per annum.
“This substantial need calls for scaling up of public financing for infrastructure as well as crowding in private capital through public-private partnerships (PPP). The objective of the Credit Guarantee Vehicle is to mobilise and leverage private capital to address South Africa’s infrastructure financing gap by mitigating offtake risk for private investors.
“This vehicle will also support the efficient deployment of development partner funding under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the achievement of the country’s decarbonisation commitments,” the Deputy Minister said.
While the Credit Guarantee Vehicle will focus on the initial phase on enabling investments in transmission infrastructure, it will be expanded into other areas such as logistics and water over time.
“The vehicle will be incorporated as a private company in South Africa, regulated by the Prudential Authority. It will operate as a standalone entity with an independent balance sheet and will target a minimum credit rating of AAA.
“A professional executive management team and board of directors with relevant experience and expertise will be appointed to operate and manage the fund,” he said.
The Credit Guarantee Vehicle will issue a combination of payment and termination guarantees to a Special Purpose Vehicle established for the project.
This will substantially derisk early investments in ITPs until the model has been proven and established.
“We are targeting an initial capital raise of US$500 million for the vehicle, spread across a range of development partners. National Treasury has committed to providing first loss capital of 20%, which will be an initial US$100 million increasing to US$500 million (R9 billion) if needed.
“In February 2025, the Minister of Finance [Enoch Godongwana] wrote to a range of development partners asking them to submit an expression of interest to invest in the vehicle. The responses received have been overwhelmingly positive, with 32 development partners engaged thus far,” the Deputy Minister said.
Formal engagements with participating partners are continuing and will lead to the delivery of conditional equity participation commitment letters in the third quarter of 2025.
This will enable the Credit Guarantee Vehicle to be operationalized by July 2026 to align with the first phase of ITP projects.
“South Africa’s ITP programme, backed by credit guarantees, represents a globally innovative model which has been designed with our own context and needs in mind.
“It will not only result in massive new investment in infrastructure but will enable thousands of megawatts of new renewable energy capacity to be connected in areas where grid capacity is limited. This will support economic growth, create jobs, and power our economy into the future,” Masondo said. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Source: Government of South Africa
Labour 20 Summit places fairness under the spotlight
Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya has called for the dismantling of the misconception that competitiveness and fairness cannot co-exist in the global labour market.
The Deputy Minister was delivering remarks at the Labour 20 (L20) South Africa 2025 Summit.
“Let us be clear: fair wages, decent work and strong social protection are not barriers to growth, but they are the foundations of resilient , future ready economies. The anticipated Employment Working Group declaration lays groundwork for these efforts.
“It recognises that full and productive employment, adequacy and sustainability of social protection systems, wage settings mechanisms, grounded in rights and fairness, are essential to build a just and inclusive societies. It calls on all of us to expand formalisation and reverse decoupling of wages from productivity,” Sibiya said on Tuesday.
The summit was held under the theme: ‘Fostering solidarity, equality and sustainability through a new social compact”.
The L20 represents workers’ interests at the G20 level, bringing together trade union representatives from G20 countries and international trade union federations. It is coordinated by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The G20 labour component has also been active since the global financial crisis in 2008.
Through its existence, L20 aims to ensure that the voices of workers are heard in discussions on issues of economic policies and labour rights. South Africa’s labour federations – Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa), National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions Saftu – attended the summit.
Sibiya commended the L20’s commitment to tackling major labour market challenges, including inequality, declining real wages, and the shrinking labour income share of gross domestic product (GDP).
“The issues strike at the very heart of our societies and also manifest in growing hardship for working families, the erosion of social cohesion as well as pervasive sense among workers that growth is no longer working for them.
“For the global south, the value of labour has been steadily diminishing. Productivity had risen but workers, particularly those at the lower end of the wage distribution, have not benefitted. The disconnect between the creation of wealth and its distribution is not only unjust, but also unsustainable.”
Priorities
Sibiya said South Africa’s employment track has been anchored in four key priorities:
• Promoting inclusive growth and youth employment to ensure that every young person has access to a decent job.
• Accelerating gender equality in the workforce by addressing systemic barriers to women’s full and equal participation.
• Reversing the decline in labour income share, so that workers regain the dignified and fair share of the value they help to generate.
• Harnessing digitalisation to create an inclusive future of work rather than deepening the digital divide.
“Genuine economic growth is closely tied to decent work. This calls for us to actively shape policies and institutions to achieve fair labour market results, necessitates establishing wage systems whether through legislation or collective bargaining that assure a living wage, alongside investment and social protection for life-long income, security and strengthen social dialogue to empower both workers and employers,” he said.
The importance of financial literacy among workers was also emphasised with the Deputy Minister saying there is a need to “capacitate workers of the world on how to take responsibility of their livelihood, making sure that they use their hard-earned salaries properly.”
He added that South Africa’s own experiences offered valuable lessons in addressing inequality and unemployment.
According to Sibiya, social partners continue to play a vital role in shaping labour market reforms – this amidst structural constraints.
“We strongly believe that when working together as government with social partners that is where solutions can be found. Our work is far from over. We must recommend social justice in our economic strategies,” he said.
The L20 component engagements were also held alongside the 4th G20 Employment Working Group meeting held at Fancourt in George earlier this week.
The aim of the L20 session was to have a dialogue between trade unions and certain G20 labour and employment Ministers to discuss joint approaches to tackling inequality, fostering wage increases, and increasing the labour income share, as a key priority of this year’s employment track. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A new Trade Remedies Advisory Service will provide improved support for businesses navigating trade remedies investigations.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (31 July) launched the Trade Remedies Advisory Service to provide support for UK businesses navigating trade remedies investigations.
The service will build on support previously provided by the TRA’s Pre-Application Office, simplifying how businesses can bring a case to the TRA to investigate a potential trade injury. It also aims to increase engagement with small and medium enterprises. The new service will provide a simplified application and questionnaire process that makes it quicker and less onerous for new businesses who want to bring a case to TRA. It is being launched as part of the TRA’s work to make its investigations more accessible to case participants, as part of the 2025 Trade Strategy.
TRA Chief Executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez said:
We’re committed to ensuring that UK businesses of all sizes have the support they need to navigate trade remedies investigations effectively. The expanded Trade Remedies Advisory Service represents a significant step forward, moving to a more proactive engagement with industry throughout the entire case lifecycle. This change responds to feedback from businesses who told us they need more comprehensive guidance and ongoing support. By updating processes and expanding the specialist team, we’re committed to making it easier for companies to access support if they face unfair trading practices.
The Trade Remedies Advisory Service increases support beyond traditional pre-application guidance. Assistance is now available from initial enquiries through to final determinations, with dedicated specialists for producers, importers and SMEs addressing sector-specific challenges.
Three strategic areas define the service’s enhanced capabilities:
Feedback from industry stakeholders made it clear that ongoing support throughout a case’s lifecycle is vital, and this has directly influenced the redesign of the service. The expanded Trade Remedies Advisory Service team now includes additional specialists who recognise the needs of different interested parties, particularly SMEs. Regular drop-in sessions and process guidance workshops will also help stakeholders submit high-quality responses while freeing case teams to focus on core investigative functions.
A spokesperson from a UK producer who has been involved in a TRA investigation said:
Today’s announcement is a much-needed step to ensure every business, especially our small and medium-sized enterprises, can grow and prosper. We understand, first-hand, how daunting a TRA investigation can appear , and the enhanced function will be instrumental in guiding businesses through the process to ensure their voice is heard. We also welcome their commitment to using data to identify industries at risk and potentially requiring trade measures. This will be essential if we are to safeguard British businesses from unfair international trading practices in the future.
This change represents a strategic shift from reactive assistance to proactive engagement with industries involved in trade remedies investigations, helping the TRA support businesses in adjusting to the current turbulent global trading picture.
Any UK producer that believes they are being harmed by unfair overseas trading practices can contact the TRA for guidance and support. The TRA’s Trade Remedies Advisory Service can be contacted on: contact@traderemedies.gov.uk.
Source: World Health Organisation
While Sub-Saharan Africa bears the highest HIV burden globally and is home to almost 65% of all people living with HIV, for decades, access to HIV treatment across the African region depended almost entirely on imports of lifesaving drugs and diagnostic tests manufactured thousands of miles away.
To boost supply chain resilience and regional self-reliance, WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes Department, in collaboration with the Regulation and Prequalification Department, has been actively advocating for locally manufactured quality-assured medicines and diagnostics. This work is carried out in close partnership with countries, manufacturers in Africa and partners such as the Global Fund and Unitaid.
In 2023, Universal Corporation Ltd (UCL), a Kenya-based pharmaceutical company led by Mr Palu Dhanani, became the first African manufacturer to receive WHO prequalification to produce tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD), a WHO-recommended first-line antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.
“Local production of quality-assured health products is an urgent priority. With every African manufacturer that meets WHO prequalification standards, we move closer to a more self-reliant, resilient, and equitable health system. Regulation and prequalification are not just technical processes; they are catalysts for health sovereignty and timely access to lifesaving medicines and diagnostics,” said Dr Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification.
As recently announced, the Global Fund now procures UCL’s TLD for Mozambique, marking the first time TLD is manufactured on African soil. This milestone reflects ongoing collaboration between WHO and the Global Fund to support essential HIV services, through the NextGen market shaping approach.
“The procurement of the African-manufactured first-line HIV treatment by the Global Fund for Mozambique is a great milestone towards strengthening supply chain systems in Africa. This will contribute to better health outcomes for people living with HIV who need uninterrupted medicine supplies,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes.
However, production alone isn’t enough. To ensure sustainable and resilient supply chains, critical enablers are needed, such as advanced market commitments, fair procurement policies and continued technical support.
WHO shares the vision of a world where every region has the capacity to secure its own health. Locally manufactured TLD is a major step towards that goal, but more action is needed. African manufacturers should be prioritized in global supply chains, and guaranteed equitable access to health technologies that meet quality, safety and efficacy/performance standards.
HIV testing is a critical health service and a vital gateway to both prevention and treatment. With current shifts in donor funding, many countries are facing financial strain, putting testing programmes at risk. Keeping people living with HIV on treatment is important and requires affordable and reliable access to HIV rapid tests.
WHO is urging governments to shift towards low-cost, quality-assured HIV rapid tests, especially the first test in their national testing algorithms, for significant cost savings.
Codix Bio, a Nigerian in-vitro diagnostics company, has received a sublicense to manufacture rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), with an initial focus on RDTs for HIV, using technology transferred from the global in-vitro diagnostics company SD Biosensor. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of WHO’s Health Technology Access Programme and the Medicines Patent Pool, this new local manufacture of HIV RDTs will improve access to affordable diagnostic tests and help mitigate disruptions of HIV testing services.
“Having locally produced HIV RDTs will help increase affordability, and more broadly address supply chain vulnerabilities and delays in access to diagnostics,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes.
In addition to switching to low-cost quality-assured HIV tests, WHO encourages countries to use HIV self-tests to mitigate gaps in human resources for health as well as stockouts for the first RDT in national algorithms.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
In a pioneering effort to combat wildlife trafficking of the threatened rhinoceros, a South African University today began implementing a project supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The project combines the safe insertion of radioactive isotopes into rhino horns and available nuclear security infrastructure to deter and detect illegal poaching.
With over 10,000 rhinos lost to poaching in the past decade, South Africa – home to the world’s largest population of rhinos – remains a target for criminals driven by the illegal trade of rhino horn. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the South African Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment reported 103 rhinos poached. In response, this project run by the University of the Witwatersrand is using radiation to support conservation and enforcement efforts.
After two years of initial tests, the Rhisotope Project was created in 2021 with the idea to tag rhino horns with radioactive material. This makes the horns detectable by radiation portal monitors (RPMs) already deployed at borders, ports and airports worldwide. These RPMs, commonly used to detect nuclear and other radioactive material, can now be harnessed against wildlife crime.
The IAEA’s support to the Rhisotope Project leverages its central role in strengthening the global nuclear security framework. With millions of vehicles and people crossing borders every day, the use of an estimated 10,000 RPMs worldwide has become a critical tool for detecting unauthorized transboundary movements of nuclear and other radioactive material.
“The Rhisotope Project shows how nuclear science and nuclear security infrastructure can be used in new ways to address global challenges,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “The IAEA is supporting countries to maximize the benefits of nuclear. By using already installed nuclear security infrastructure in novel ways, we can help protect one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species.”
At an event today in the Waterberg, Limpopo, about 250 kilometres north of Johannesburg, the University of Witwatersrand announced the results of the rigorous safety assessments conducted during the pilot phase of the project. In June last year, radioisotopes were inserted into 20 rhinos. Health monitoring and cytological examinations of 15 treated animals and a comparison of five animals not treated were conducted by Ghent University in Belgium. The test results proved that the method is non-invasive and does not pose a risk to the rhinos’ health.
“This has been an international collaboration of likeminded individuals who are trying to make a real difference to this poaching crisis,” said James Larkin, Director, Radiation and Health Physics Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand. “We started with the question – what if radiation could protect rather than harm, by turning rhino horns into traceable markers that stop poachers before they trade? After two years of digital modelling, safety testing and detection simulations, we’re ready to roll out a solution that could truly reduce rhino poaching.”
The success of project also opens the door for future applications to other endangered species.
“The methodology could be adapted to protect other endangered species like elephants or pangolins,” said Larkin.
The IAEA is providing both technical and financial support to the project under its Coordinated Research Project titled Facilitation of Safe and Secure Trade Using Nuclear Detection Technology – Detection of RN and Other Contraband. As part of the project, the Agency also supports countries in their efforts to optimize the detection of radiation by the use of its Minimum Detectable Quantity and Alarm Threshold Estimation Tool, thereby allowing detection of the tagged with radiation rhino horns.
“The Rhisotope Project brings the entire global nuclear security network into play,” said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security. “The nuclear security infrastructure that exists in many countries around the world to detect smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material can be used to pick up the trafficking of rhino horn, and any other contraband that might be carried alongside it. Committing to nuclear security pays off in multiple ways.”
B-roll and photos will be made available here.
Source: United States Bureau of Economic Analysis
Personal income increased $71.4 billion (0.3 percent at a monthly rate) in June, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI)—personal income less personal current taxes—increased $61.0 billion (0.3 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $69.9 billion (0.3 percent).
Personal outlays—the sum of PCE, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments—increased $69.5 billion in June. Personal saving was $1.01 trillion in June and the personal saving rate—personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 4.5 percent.
The increase in current-dollar personal income in June primarily reflected increases in government social benefits to persons and in compensation.
The $69.9 billion increase in current-dollar PCE reflected increases of $40.1 billion in spending on services and $29.9 billion in spending on goods.
From the preceding month, the PCE price index for June increased 0.3 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index also increased 0.3 percent.
From the same month one year ago, the PCE price index for June increased 2.6 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 2.8 percent from one year ago.
| Personal Income and Related Measures [Percent change from May to June] |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current-dollar personal income | 0.3 | |||
| Current-dollar disposable personal income | 0.3 | |||
| Real disposable personal income | 0.0 | |||
| Current-dollar personal consumption expenditures (PCE) | 0.3 | |||
| Real PCE | 0.1 | |||
| PCE price index | 0.3 | |||
| PCE price index, excluding food and energy | 0.3 | |||
Next release: August 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
Personal Income and Outlays, July 2025
The increase in personal income in June primarily reflected increases in government social benefits to persons and in compensation.
Revisions to Personal Income
Estimates have been updated for April and May. Revisions to compensation reflect updated BLS CES data. Within personal income receipts on assets, personal dividend income was revised up, reflecting an updated sample of dividends paid by publicly traded companies. Within government social benefits, Medicaid was revised up, reflecting Monthly Treasury Statement data.
Source: United States Courts
Personal and business bankruptcy filings rose 11.5 percent in the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2025, compared with the previous year.
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, annual bankruptcy filings totaled 542,529 in the year ending June 2025, compared with 486,613 cases in the previous year.
Business filings rose 4.5 percent, from 22,060 to 23,043 in the year ending June 30, 2025. Non-business bankruptcy filings rose 11.8 percent to 519,486, compared with 464,553 in the previous year.
Bankruptcy totals for the previous 12 months are reported four times annually.
For more than a decade, total filings fell steadily, from a high of nearly 1.6 million in September 2010 to a low of 380,634 in June 2022. Total filings have increased each quarter since then, but they remain far lower than historical highs.
| Year | Business | Non-Business | Total |
| 2025 | 23,043 | 519,486 | 542,529 |
| 2024 | 22,060 | 464,553 | 486,613 |
| 2023 | 15,724 | 403,000 | 418,724 |
| 2022 | 12,748 | 367,886 | 380,634 |
| 2021 | 18,511 | 443,798 | 462,309 |
| Year | Chapter | |||
| 7 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |
| 2025 | 333,321 | 8,408 | 282 | 200,290 |
| 2024 | 284,975 | 8,717 | 181 | 192,421 |
| 2023 | 239,125 | 5,986 | 147 | 173,362 |
| 2022 | 239,750 | 4,429 | 201 | 136,169 |
| 2021 | 335,886 | 6,871 | 438 | 118,864 |
Additional statistics released today include:
For more on bankruptcy and its chapters, view the following resources:
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
The Rhisotope Project team inserting radioactive isotopes into rhino horns. (Martin Klinenboeck/IAEA)
In a pioneering effort to combat wildlife trafficking of the threatened rhinoceros, a South African University today began implementing a project supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The project combines the safe insertion of radioactive isotopes into rhino horns and available nuclear security infrastructure to deter and detect illegal poaching.
With over 10,000 rhinos lost to poaching in the past decade, South Africa – home to the world’s largest population of rhinos – remains a target for criminals driven by the illegal trade of rhino horn. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the South African Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment reported 103 rhinos poached. In response, this project run by the University of the Witwatersrand is using radiation to support conservation and enforcement efforts.
After two years of initial tests, the Rhisotope Project was created in 2021 with the idea to tag rhino horns with radioactive material. This makes the horns detectable by radiation portal monitors (RPMs) already deployed at borders, ports and airports worldwide. These RPMs, commonly used to detect nuclear and other radioactive material, can now be harnessed against wildlife crime.
The IAEA’s support to the Rhisotope Project leverages its central role in strengthening the global nuclear security framework. With millions of vehicles and people crossing borders every day, the use of an estimated 10,000 RPMs worldwide has become a critical tool for detecting unauthorized transboundary movements of nuclear and other radioactive material.
“The Rhisotope Project shows how nuclear science and nuclear security infrastructure can be used in new ways to address global challenges,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “The IAEA is supporting countries to maximize the benefits of nuclear. By using already installed nuclear security infrastructure in novel ways, we can help protect one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species.”
At an event today in the Waterberg, Limpopo, about 250 kilometres north of Johannesburg, the University of Witwatersrand announced the results of the rigorous safety assessments conducted during the pilot phase of the project. In June last year, radioisotopes were inserted into 20 rhinos. Health monitoring and cytological examinations of 15 treated animals and a comparison of five animals not treated were conducted by Ghent University in Belgium. The test results proved that the method is non-invasive and does not pose a risk to the rhinos’ health.
“This has been an international collaboration of likeminded individuals who are trying to make a real difference to this poaching crisis,” said James Larkin, Director, Radiation and Health Physics Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand. “We started with the question – what if radiation could protect rather than harm, by turning rhino horns into traceable markers that stop poachers before they trade? After two years of digital modelling, safety testing and detection simulations, we’re ready to roll out a solution that could truly reduce rhino poaching.”
The success of project also opens the door for future applications to other endangered species.
“The methodology could be adapted to protect other endangered species like elephants or pangolins,” said Larkin.
The IAEA is providing both technical and financial support to the project under its Coordinated Research Project titled Facilitation of Safe and Secure Trade Using Nuclear Detection Technology – Detection of RN and Other Contraband. As part of the project, the Agency also supports countries in their efforts to optimize the detection of radiation by the use of its Minimum Detectable Quantity and Alarm Threshold Estimation Tool, thereby allowing detection of the tagged with radiation rhino horns.
“The Rhisotope Project brings the entire global nuclear security network into play,” said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security. “The nuclear security infrastructure that exists in many countries around the world to detect smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material can be used to pick up the trafficking of rhino horn, and any other contraband that might be carried alongside it. Committing to nuclear security pays off in multiple ways.”
B-roll and photos will be made available here.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
RESTON, Va., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ: SAIC) has been awarded a $202 million contract to provide an extensive range of training solutions for the U.S. Navy, including modernized virtual and synthetic training environments, as part of the Fleet Deployment Training Program. This initiative is crucial to supporting U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) and associated Fleet commands and activities, significantly enhancing the Navy’s readiness to operate and fight effectively across the globe.
The renewed prime contract includes a 10-month base period of performance, four one-year options and one six-month extension option – ensuring a sustained and robust partnership to fortify the Navy’s training programs.
“Our team is extremely proud to continue this decades-long, dedicated support for the U.S. Navy to advance their operational readiness,” said Barbara Supplee, SAIC executive vice president of Navy Business Group. “This program is integral to ensuring the Navy is thoroughly prepared to execute any mission assigned by Geographic Combatant and Forward Fleet Commanders. It directly enhances the Navy’s ability to deploy and employ all facets of the naval force on a global scale – making a critical difference in combat situations and supporting the Chief of Naval Operation’s priority of developing highly capable warfighting teams equipped for the complexities of modern combat environments.”
Under this contract, SAIC will provide the Navy with extensive training and readiness support capabilities across 19 different headquarters and training commands. This encompasses academic instruction, live exercises, synthetic training events and policy support to ensure comprehensive pre-deployment training and certification, as well as post-deployment sustainment for fleet units and staffs.
SAIC’s support extends to delivering advanced training scenarios through Fleet Synthetic Training and Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) environments. These training methods cover the Fleet Training Continuum from Basic Phase unit-level activities to Advanced Phase certifications, culminating in high-end Integrated Phase major exercises for deployment readiness. Additionally, SAIC will provide reach-back training support to strike groups and amphibious ready groups during deployments, adapting to the evolving operational environments and emerging threats.
This contract underscores SAIC’s long-standing commitment to enhancing the Navy’s global readiness and combat capabilities, playing a pivotal role in improving operational effectiveness and preparedness across the Navy. Our innovative training solutions have been instrumental in ensuring the Navy’s ability to swiftly adapt to evolving threats and operational environments. By equipping naval forces to face challenges and secure strategic interests worldwide, SAIC is playing a critical role in ensuring the Navy’s ability to maintain operational superiority across the globe.
About SAIC
SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500 mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.
We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release contain or are based on “forward-looking” information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “guidance,” and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, among others, estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings, earnings per share, charges, total contract value, backlog, outstanding shares and cash flows, as well as statements about future dividends, share repurchases and other capital deployment plans. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from the guidance and other forward-looking statements made in this release as a result of various factors. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause or contribute to these material differences include those discussed in the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Legal Proceedings” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC, which may be viewed or obtained through the Investor Relations section of our website at saic.com or on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SAIC expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement provided in this release to reflect subsequent events, actual results or changes in SAIC’s expectations. SAIC also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by investment analysts or others.
Media Contact:
Greg Hicks
619.961.0075 | Gregory.L.Hicks@saic.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
AUSTIN, Texas, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FTC Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTCI), a leading provider of solar tracker systems, software and engineering services, stands ready with an industry-leading Safe Harbor offering to enable utility-scale developers/IPPs to establish “begin construction” status in time to secure full ITC eligibility under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and new “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) rules. FTC Solar is supporting customer’s safe harbor content and planning with smart and flexible safe harbor options today and faster installation times tomorrow.
With the recent policy shifts under the OBBB, many developers face ambiguity in how best to qualify their projects for the 30% ITC and bonus domestic content adder. FTC Solar is uniquely positioned to provide two viable paths to safe harbor qualification:
The regulatory uncertainty surrounding tax credit eligibility and implementation makes flexibility and optionality critical for solar developers looking to understand all available avenues to maximize project returns. Perhaps more than ever, procuring tracker components may be part of the strategic decision set to preserve ITC eligibility. FTC Solar’s 1P “Pioneer” trackers utilize universal torque tubes with innovative Python Clip rail designs, which eliminate the need to puncture torque tubes and accommodate any variation in module form factor, giving developers and EPCs ultimate flexibility for module changes late in the design process.
Universal torque tubes enable a module agnostic approach, making FTC trackers one of the most resilient investments for developers racing against policy deadlines. Because FTC’s designs prioritize simplicity, developers can optimize capex by procuring additional structural components that seamlessly extend across any project configuration, site challenge, or environmental condition.
“FTC Solar’s products are not just safe harbor eligible – they are optimized for safe harbor,” said Yann Brandt, CEO of FTC Solar. “Today, we have our widest and most robust product offering to date, across both 1P and 2P technologies, optimized for wind speed, stow angle, module type, civil costs, and installation speed. Whether developers pursue a hard money investment or an early works construction start, FTC Solar is ready to support with proven tracker technology, engineering expertise, and domestic capacity. As the market and regulatory environment shifts, we stand ready, and well-positioned, to support customers with smart tracker options to help maximize project flexibility.”
Unlike other providers, FTC Solar brings an integrated strategy to market, offering:
FTC Solar is actively booking safe harbor orders and offering immediate support to meet your safe harbor goals.
For more information on safe harbor strategies and how FTC Solar can help, see a preview of our white paper here: Safe Harbor White Paper and contact our sales team at safeharbor@ftcsolar.com.
About FTC Solar Inc.
Founded in 2017 by a group of renewable energy industry veterans, FTC Solar is a global provider of solar tracker systems, technology, software, and engineering services. Solar trackers significantly increase energy production at solar power installations by dynamically optimizing solar panel orientation to the sun. FTC Solar’s innovative tracker designs provide compelling performance and reliability, with an industry-leading installation cost-per-watt advantage.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ATHENS, Greece, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TOP Ships Inc. (the “Company” or “TOP Ships”) (NYSE American:TOPS), an international owner and operator of modern, fuel-efficient “ECO” tanker vessels, announced today that the expected distribution date for the common shares of Rubico Inc. (“Rubico”) is August 1, 2025.
Rubico common shares are expected to commence trading on a standalone basis on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 4, 2025, the first trading day after the date of distribution, under the ticker “RUBI”.
As previously announced, TOP Ships intends through Rubico to effect a spin-off of two of its vessels, the M/T Eco Malibu and M/T Eco West Coast, each a modern, high specification, scrubber-fitted and fuel-efficient 157,000 dwt Suezmax tanker. As part of the spin-off transaction, TOP Ships intends to distribute 100% of the common shares of Rubico pro rata to its securityholders of record as of June 16, 2025. As previously announced, the NYSE American established an ex-distribution date for the distribution of Rubico common shares of June 16, 2025. Beginning on that date, TOP Ships common shares traded without an entitlement by the purchaser of such shares to Rubico common shares distributed in connection with the spin-off.
Rubico has filed a registration statement on Form 20-F pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the SEC, which includes a more detailed description of the terms of the spin-off. A copy of the registration statement on Form 20-F is available at www.sec.gov.
About TOP Ships Inc.
TOP Ships Inc. is an international owner and operator of ocean-going vessels focusing on modern, fuel-efficient eco tanker vessels transporting crude oil, petroleum products (clean and dirty) and bulk liquid chemicals. For more information about TOP Ships Inc., visit its website: www.topships.org.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding the proposed spin-off and the prospects and strategies of TOP Ships and Rubico following the spin-off, the valuation of the shares of Rubico and TOP Ships following the spin-off, and the listing of Rubico’s common shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “pending,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including, without limitation, our management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records, and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs, or projections. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward‐looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.
For further information please contact:
Alexandros Tsirikos
Chief Financial Officer
TOP Ships Inc.
Tel: +30 210 812 8107
Email: atsirikos@topships.org
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Dallas, TX, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vivakor, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIVK) (“Vivakor” or the “Company”), an integrated provider of energy transportation, storage, reuse, and remediation service, today announced the record date of August 20, 2025 for its previously disclosed plan to issue a special dividend to Vivakor shareholders.
Vivakor currently holds 206,595 (approximately 13.5% of the outstanding common) shares of Adapti, Inc. (OTCID: ADTI), a company that manages the marketing of products, data and companies through its AdaptAI software platform that leverages advanced AI technology to match products and brands with influencers to attempt to generate superior marketing results.
Based on Vivakor’s current shares outstanding of approximately 47,297,347 and excluding 20,963,229 shares held by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Financial Officer who waived their right to the dividend, each Vivakor shareholder will be entitled to receive approximately 0.0079 shares of Adapti, Inc. common stock per Vivakor share. Based on the current $3.50 share price of Adapti’s common stock, the special dividend is currently valued at approximately $0.75 million.
Adapti, Inc., formerly known as Scepter Holdings, Inc., filed its Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in September 2024 and has since become a mandatory SEC reporting company. Adapti, Inc. filed its Annual Report on 10K for the period ended March 31, 2025 on July 3, 2025.
The Ballengee Group, LLC, a Dallas-based baseball sports management agency which represents approximately 200 professional athletes, an entity previously controlled by Vivakor’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. James Ballengee, was acquired by Adapti, Inc. on July 14, 2025. Additional information regarding this transaction can be found in Adapti, Inc.’s filings with the SEC.
About Vivakor, Inc.
Vivakor, Inc. is an integrated provider of sustainable energy transportation, storage, reuse, and remediation services, operating one of the largest fleets of oilfield trucking services in the continental United States. Its corporate mission is to develop, acquire, accumulate, and operate assets, properties, and technologies in the energy sector. Vivakor’s integrated facilities assets provide crude oil and produced water gathering, storage, transportation, reuse, and remediation services under long-term contracts.
Once operational, Vivakor’s oilfield waste remediation facilities will facilitate the recovery, reuse, and disposal of petroleum byproducts and oilfield waste products.
For more information, please visit our website: http://vivakor.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified but not limited by the use of the words “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” or “continue” and variations or similar expressions. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, , the expected transaction and ownership structure, the valuation of the transaction, the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully and timely consummate planned acquisitions, the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect Vivakor or the expected benefits of the such transaction, our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market, the parties failure to realize the anticipated benefits of pending transactions, disruption and volatility in the global currency, capital, and credit markets, changes in federal, local and foreign governmental regulation, changes in tax laws and liabilities, tariffs, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, and general economic conditions.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed in Vivakor’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors may be incorporated herein by reference. Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially, and potentially adversely, from any projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which those forward-looking statements are based. There can be no assurance that the data contained herein is reflective of future performance to any degree. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance as projected financial information and other information are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to various significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. All information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof in the case of information about Vivakor and the Endeavor Entities or the date of such information in the case of information from persons other than Vivakor and the Endeavor Entities, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication. Forecasts and estimates regarding the Endeavor Entities industries and markets are based on sources we believe to be reliable; however, there can be no assurance these forecasts and estimates will prove accurate in whole or in part.
Investors Contact:
P:949-281-2606
info@vivakor.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
PHOENIX, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fold Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLD) (“Fold” or the “Company”), the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, today announced it has teamed up with Blackhawk Network, Inc. (BHN) to expand distribution of the Fold Bitcoin Gift Card™, significantly increasing mainstream consumer access to bitcoin across a growing portfolio of major U.S. digital retailers. The offering marks a key milestone in bringing bitcoin into everyday commerce and positions Fold to meaningfully increase user and transaction growth through one of the nation’s most extensive retail distribution networks.
The Fold Bitcoin Gift Card is now available through select online platforms, with additional online retailers set to launch in the coming weeks. The card is also available directly at foldapp.com/bitcoin-gift-card. In-store retail availability is planned for later this year as part of a broader multi-channel expansion strategy.
The launch is powered by BHN, a leading branded payments provider whose global footprint spans over 400,000+ consumer touchpoints, including top retailers, e-commerce platforms, loyalty programs and enterprise rewards. Fold is rapidly expanding within this ecosystem, positioning the Fold Bitcoin Gift Card to become one of the most broadly distributed bitcoin gift products in the U.S. market.
“Until now, bitcoin was difficult for the average person to access, let alone share,” said Will Reeves, Chairman and CEO of Fold. “By making bitcoin available as a gift card, we’re opening access to the millions of consumers who already buy, send, and use gift cards. This isn’t about novelty. It’s about meeting people where they are and integrating bitcoin into the financial tools and channels they already understand. We’re building infrastructure for everyday adoption. BHN gives us that path into mainstream retail, opening access to bitcoin across the $300 billion U.S. gift card market, something the ecosystem has struggled with for over a decade.”
The Fold Bitcoin Gift Card launched in May 2025, enabling consumers to gift bitcoin in a simple and familiar format without requiring technical knowledge or a crypto wallet. Recipients redeem their gift card through the Fold App, ensuring a smooth onboarding experience for both newcomers and experienced bitcoin users.
“At BHN, we understand that consumers today expect more flexibility in how they give and store value, and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are becoming part of that equation,” said Jennifer Philo, GVP, global commerce, BHN. “Fold exemplifies the kind of forward-looking partner BHN is proud to support—they are creating products that bring bitcoin into the center of how consumers engage with money and build long-term value. By bringing the Fold Bitcoin Gift Card into our expansive retail ecosystem, we’re delivering yet another practical, accessible way for shoppers nationwide to embrace cryptocurrency by helping them earn, save, and spend smarter.”
Momentum is building for crypto-based gifting. According to the Incentive Gift Card Coalition, 47% of executives expect crypto gift cards to grow as a category in 2025, reflecting a broader shift in consumer preferences toward digital assets.
About Fold
Fold (NASDAQ: FLD) is the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, making it easy for individuals and businesses to earn, save, and use bitcoin. With over 1,492 BTC in its treasury, Fold is at the forefront of integrating bitcoin into everyday financial experiences. Through innovative products like the Fold App, Fold Credit Card™, Fold Bitcoin Gift Card™, and Fold Debit Card™, the company is building the bridge between traditional finance and the bitcoin-powered future.
About Blackhawk Network (BHN)
Today, through BHN’s single global platform, businesses of all kinds can tap into the world’s largest network of branded payment solutions. BHN helps businesses grow revenue, increase loyalty, motivate and reward their teams, disburse funds and engage consumers. Branded payment solutions include the issuance and distribution of gift cards, eGifts, corporate payouts and rewards, along with the technology to deliver these products in seamless, integrated ways. BHN’s network spans the globe with more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints. Learn more at BHN.com.
For investor inquiries, please contact:
Orange Group
Samir Jain, CFA
FoldIR@orangegroupadvisors.com
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jessica Starman, MBA
media@foldapp.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ASPEN, Colo., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aspen Energy Forum – CleanCounts, a nonprofit with the industry leading environmental attribute certificate (EAC) tracking platform for voluntary and compliance claims of renewable energy projects across North America, today announced James Critchfield as the Head of Registry & Market Integrity. In his role, Critchfield will lead the development and governance of high-fidelity registries that safeguard transparency and trust across clean-energy and carbon markets. CleanCounts shared the news on Critchfield joining the team from Aspen Energy Forum, where the nonprofit is taking part in discussions on decarbonization and renewable energy strategies.
Critchfield joins CleanCounts after spending two decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he was an authority on energy-attribute certificates, registry architecture, and greenhouse-gas accounting, advising Fortune 500 companies, state regulators, and international bodies. Most recently, Critchfield scaled the EPA’s Green Power Partnership from its infancy to hundreds of organizations, pushing annual voluntary green-power procurement to more than 100 billion KWh annually and catalyzing nearly 19 GW of new renewable capacity nationwide.
“CleanCounts has advocated for standards in the renewable energy market and the environmental attribute tracking industry to drive better decision making by corporate buyers and provide transparency for regulators,” said James Critchfield, CleanCount’s Head of Registry & Market Integrity. “I look forward to stepping into this new role to bring my experience to support CleanCounts’ continued reputation as the true validator for environmental markets.”
CleanCounts, formerly known as M-RETS, tracks generated energy outputs across North America, enabling market participants to place a dollar value on the environmental benefits of renewable energy and renewable thermal outputs. Through rigorous validation of the environmental benefits, verifiable data, and unbiased third-party verification, CleanCounts is now North America’s leading platform to obtain, transfer, or retire renewable energy certificates (RECs), renewable thermal certificates (RTCs), and alternative energy certificates (AECs).
“James Critchfield’s work in the federal government to support tracking system infrastructure for clean energy in the United States has led to the development of next generation tracking capabilities that feature the granularity needed for market transparency,” said Benjamin Gerber, CEO of CleanCounts. “With James joining our executive team, we look forward to engaging stakeholders throughout North America for conversations about how a continuity-first, climate-aligned, and tech-forward clean energy registry can create benefits for, and strengthen trust in, both the voluntary and compliance markets.”
Prior to joining CleanCounts full time on August 21, Critchfield will join an upcoming webinar with senior leaders from Singularity Energy and EnergyTag titled, How Western States Can Achieve Grid Decarbonization, on August 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET. The energy industry leaders will discuss how granular energy data and verified certificates can enable the hourly electricity accounting needed to drive investment and deployment of decarbonization technologies for an around-the-clock clean grid. Those interested in attending can register here.
To learn more about CleanCounts, please visit www.cleancounts.org
About CleanCounts
CleanCounts, formerly known as Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M‑RETS) Inc., is North America’s most expansive clean energy registry and a trusted gateway to environmental markets. As a nonprofit organization, CleanCounts empowers participants across the energy ecosystem to track, trade, and validate clean energy production and consumption with confidence and transparency.
Media Contact:
FischTank PR
cleancounts@fischtankpr.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd918d85-5f5a-493e-9a32-31974fc5a615
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
CHICAGO, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Frequency Holdings Inc (OTC: FRQN) today announced it has officially completed its corporate name and symbol change from Yuenglings Ice Cream Corp (OTC: YCRM) following final approval by FINRA. This milestone marks the formal transition into a modern holding company structure with a portfolio that includes cybersecurity-first IT services through ReachOut and upcoming ventures in decentralized identity and artificial intelligence.
The new name and symbol hit the market this morning.
Frequency Holdings is building a multi-brand platform modeled after Berkshire Hathaway and Alphabet with each subsidiary operating independently while benefiting from shared strategic leadership. The flagship operating company ReachOut is actively acquiring and scaling cybersecurity-focused MSPs across the US while new brands like TRUSTLESS aim to bring privacy and authentication innovation into new digital verticals.
“This is more than a name change” said Rick Jordan CEO of Frequency Holdings. “This is about building something bigger than one brand. We are creating a structure that can hold multiple companies each with their own identity and velocity while sharing the same DNA of performance protection and technology that works. The market has asked what we’re building. This is it. A public platform with room for massive upside and real-world relevance.”
Kevin Harrington, original Shark from ABC’s Shark Tank and longtime board member of the company added, “I joined the board because Rick’s vision was bold, and both the industry and timing are right. ReachOut was just the beginning, and now Frequency is turning the vision into a machine with the team we have in place.”
David Meltzer, global entrepreneur, Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute and the newest addition to the board commented, “Your frequency is your neighborhood, and Frequency Holdings is about raising the signal in every sense. This is a company tuned into innovation, tuned into value, and tuned into service. I’m honored to be part of this next chapter and proud to support the expansion of its platform and purpose.”
The Company previously operated under the name Yuenglings Ice Cream Corp and traded under the symbol YCRM. The new name and symbol are effective immediately with full updates in place across OTC Markets and all investor communications. Frequency Holdings will continue to execute on its rollup strategy through ReachOut and plans to unveil additional ventures in the coming quarters.
ABOUT FREQUENCY HOLDINGS INC. (OTC: FRQN)
Frequency Holdings is a modern holding company focused on high-growth ventures in cybersecurity, AI, digital identity, and IT infrastructure. Through its lead operating brand, ReachOut, Frequency is building the first nationally recognized name in cybersecurity-first IT services for SMBs. Additional holdings, including TRUSTLESS, are structured to contribute long-term equity value via independent growth and strategic alignment.
ABOUT RICK JORDAN
Rick Jordan is a resilient entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert, and media personality known for leading companies through high-growth transformations. He founded ReachOut Technology and is the architect of Frequency Holdings Inc., a multi-brand technology holding company focused on scaling ventures in cybersecurity, digital identity, and AI. Rick has advised in the White House on national cyber policy, appeared on major networks including Bloomberg and NewsNation, and hosts the globally ranked podcast ALL IN with Rick Jordan, soon to be renamed FREQUENCY. His leadership bridges bold vision with operational precision, in addition to bringing clear signal and communication to the public markets.
ABOUT KEVIN HARRINGTON
Kevin Harrington is a globally recognized entrepreneur, original Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank, and a pioneer of the infomercial industry. Over his career, he has launched more than 20 companies to over $100 million in sales and helped generate over $15 billion in market value–including his early leadership in Celsius Holdings, Inc. As a board member of Frequency Holdings Inc., Kevin brings deep strategic insight, brand-building expertise, and decades of experience scaling disruptive ventures into household names.
ABOUT DAVID MELTZER
David Meltzer is Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute and former CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, the inspiration for Jerry Maguire. A globally recognized entrepreneur, investor, and business coach, he’s been named Variety’s Sports Humanitarian of the Year and is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. As Executive Producer of Apple TV’s 2 Minute Drill and Office Hours, and Entrepreneur’s top digital show Elevator Pitch, David brings media fluency and business expertise to global audiences. His mission—to empower more than 1 billion people to be happy–drives his work across coaching, content, and leadership.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events, performance, and financial expectations. These statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties–many of which are beyond the Company’s control–that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect results include the Company’s need for capital, changes in regulatory environments, market competition, demand for services, and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them except as required by law.
PR and Investor Relations Contacts
For press inquiries or to book media interviews, TV appearances, and speaking engagements for CEO Rick Jordan:
Email: pr@frequencyhold.com — pr@reachoutit.com
Phone: 312-288-8008
Rick Jordan on Social Media–
Instagram: @mrrickjordan
X: @mrrickjordan
Kevin Harrington on Social Media–
Instagram: @realkevinharrington
X: @harringtonkevin
David Meltzer on Social Media–
Instagram: @davidmeltzer
X: @davidmeltzer
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KraneShares is proud to announce the 1-year anniversary of its KraneShares Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (Ticker: AGIX), highlighting a year marked by strong performance and private market access.
Since its inception on July 18, 2024, AGIX has delivered an impressive 29.55% total return, outpacing the Nasdaq 100’s 18.63% over the same period.1
The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. For performance data current to the last month-end, please visit https://kraneshares.com/agix.
AGIX aims to provide investors with exposure to both public and private companies at the forefront of AI. AGIX broke new ground by becoming one of the first US-listed ETFs to make direct investments in private AI companies. Following its addition of Anthropic in early 2025, AGIX expanded its private AI exposure further by acquiring shares of xAI. AGIX, a series of the KraneShares Trust, appears on both respective cap tables as a direct holder of shares in these companies.
As of July 29, 2025, xAI represents 3.72% and Anthropic represents 2.96% of AGIX’s net assets.2
KraneShares launched AGIX in collaboration with Etna Capital Management, an established pioneer in AI venture investing. Etna’s expertise is underscored by its early-stage investments in groundbreaking AI innovators, including Anthropic, xAI, and Perplexity.
“Not only has AGIX delivered a standout year of performance, but its unique structure gives investors access to both public and private companies contributing to the future of artificial intelligence,” said Derek Yan, Senior Investment Strategist at KraneShares. “Direct holdings in Anthropic and Elon Musk’s xAI underscore our dedication to bringing groundbreaking opportunities to our investors.”
“The artificial intelligence industry is experiencing a rapid pace of innovation, with new breakthroughs and applications emerging at an unprecedented rate,” said Max Chen, Partner at Etna Capital Management. “It’s incredibly exciting to witness companies like xAI and Anthropic participate in this transformation, pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve and help establish a foundation for profound changes across sectors worldwide.”
Join us for an AGIX webinar on August 6th, 2025, where we will discuss access to private AI unicorns, examine the latest valuation trends, and provide an outlook for the AI sector. To register, click here.
For more information on the KraneShares Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (Ticker: AGIX), top 10 holdings, and its innovative structure, please visit https://kraneshares.com/agix.
About KraneShares
KraneShares is an investment manager focused on providing innovative, high-conviction, and first-to-market ETFs based on extensive investing knowledge. KraneShares identifies groundbreaking capital market opportunities and offers investors cost-effective and transparent tools for gaining exposure to diverse asset classes. Founded in 2013, KraneShares serves institutions and financial professionals globally.
Holdings are subject to change.
Citations:
Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Funds’ full and summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting: www.kraneshares.com/agix. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Risk Disclosures:
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its stated objectives. Indices are unmanaged and do not include the effect of fees. One cannot invest directly in an index.
This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative, educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change. Certain content represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results; material is as of the dates noted and is subject to change without notice.
AGIX may invest in derivatives, which are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify AGIX’s gains or losses. A derivative (i.e., futures/forward contracts, swaps, and options) is a contract that derives its value from the performance of an underlying asset. The primary risk of derivatives is that changes in the asset’s market value and the derivative may not be proportionate, and some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives are also subject to liquidity and counterparty risk. AGIX is subject to liquidity risk, meaning that certain investments may become difficult to purchase or sell at a reasonable time and price. If a transaction for these securities is large, it may not be possible to initiate, which may cause AGIX to suffer losses. Counterparty risk is the risk of loss in the event that the counterparty to an agreement fails to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative.
AI-exposed companies face profitability challenges due to high research costs, competition, IP reliance, and regulatory risk. Product failures or safety concerns could be detrimental. Identifying AI companies accurately is complex. Tech firms face risks of product failure, obsolescence, regulatory impact, and uncertain profitability due to technological advancements and government policies. Certain tech investments may lack current profitability and future success is uncertain. AGIX is subject to non-U.S. issuers risk, which may be less liquid than investments in U.S. issuers, may have less governmental regulation and oversight, are typically subject to different investor protection standards than U.S. issuers, and the economic instability of the non-U.S. countries. Fluctuations in currency of foreign countries may have an adverse effect to domestic currency values. AGIX may invest in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile. In addition, as AGIX increases in size, the impact of IPOs on AGIX’s performance will generally decrease.
Large capitalization companies may struggle to adapt fast, impacting their growth compared to smaller firms, especially in expansive times. This could result in lower stock returns than investing in smaller and mid-sized companies. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, investments in smaller companies typically exhibit higher volatility. AGIX is new and does not yet have a significant number of shares outstanding. If AGIX does not grow in size, it will be at greater risk than larger funds of wider bid-ask spreads for its shares, trading at a greater premium or discount to NAV, liquidation and/or a trading halt. Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility. AGIX’s assets are expected to be concentrated in a sector, industry, market, or group of concentrations to the extent that the Underlying Index has such concentrations. The securities or futures in that concentration could react similarly to market developments. Thus, AGIX is subject to loss due to adverse occurrences that affect that concentration.
A large number of shares of AGIX are held by a single shareholder or a small group of shareholders. Redemptions from these shareholders can harm Fund performance, especially in declining markets, leading to forced sales at disadvantageous prices, increased costs, and adverse tax effects for remaining shareholders. AGIX is non-diversified.
ETF shares are bought and sold on an exchange at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. However, shares may be redeemed at NAV directly by certain authorized broker-dealers (Authorized Participants) in very large creation/redemption units. The returns shown do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Beginning 12/23/2020, market price returns are based on the official closing price of an ETF share or, if the official closing price isn’t available, the midpoint between the national best bid and national best offer (“NBBO”) as of the time the ETF calculates the current NAV per share. Prior to that date, market price returns were based on the midpoint between the Bid and Ask price. NAVs are calculated using prices as of 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
The KraneShares ETFs and KFA Funds ETFs are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Company (SIDCO), 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, which is not affiliated with Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, the Investment Adviser for the Funds, or any sub-advisers for the Funds.
Contact:
KraneShares Investor Relations
info@kraneshares.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SINGAPORE, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Currenc Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) (“Currenc” or the “Company”), a fintech pioneer empowering financial institutions worldwide with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, today announced that it has retained Shareholder Intelligence Services, LLC (“ShareIntel”) to assist the Company in monitoring and investigating potential naked short selling of its shares. This is part of Currenc’s broader initiative to protect shareholder value as the Company executes its growth strategy and scales its operations globally.
ShareIntel’s patented DRIL-Down™ process aggregates, analyzes and monitors repository data from reporting entities, broker-dealers and shareholders, enhancing Currenc’s shareholder communication, regulatory compliance and trading surveillance capabilities with actionable intelligence. Together with ShareIntel, Currenc intends to actively investigate what it believes may be potential irregularities in the trading patterns of its shares, and intends to pursue every available avenue—including regulatory and legal recourse, if appropriate—to ensure that there is no illegal trading or market manipulation involving the Company’s shares.
“As we continue to expand our global business footprint with new partnerships and innovative AI-driven solutions, Currenc remains committed to protecting our investors and maximizing shareholder value,” said Alex Kong, Founder and Executive Chairman of Currenc. “Based on the trading patterns we have observed, we believe Currenc may have been the target of naked short selling and are taking action to understand these trading patterns, ensure transparent trading practices and maintain the integrity of our share price. Leveraging ShareIntel’s proprietary processes will allow us to closely track ownership, monitor any irregular trading behavior, and swiftly implement corrective measures.”
About Currenc Group Inc.
Currenc Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR) is a fintech pioneer dedicated to transforming global financial services through artificial intelligence (AI). The Company empowers financial institutions worldwide with comprehensive AI solutions, including SEAMLESS AI Call Centre and other AI-powered Agents designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency and boost customer satisfaction for banks, insurance, telecommunications companies, government agencies and other financial institutions. The Company’s digital remittance platform also enables e-wallets, remittance companies, and corporations to provide real-time, 24/7 global payment services, advancing financial access across underserved communities.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Investor & Media Contact
Currenc Group Investor Relations
Email: investors@currencgroup.com
SOURCE: Currenc Group Inc.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
LAS VEGAS, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Live Ventures Incorporated (NASDAQ: LIVE) (“Live Ventures” or the “Company”), a diversified holding company, will issue its financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30, 2025, before the market opens on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time).
The dial-in numbers are as follows:
Please dial in at least 15 minutes in advance, but no sooner than 30 minutes, to ensure you are connected. To listen to the discussion after the call, please visit the “Investor Relations” page of the Live Ventures website (https://ir.liveventures.com/) for a recording.
About Live Ventures Incorporated
Live Ventures is a diversified holding company with a strategic focus on value-oriented acquisitions of domestic middle-market companies. Live Ventures’ acquisition strategy is sector agnostic and focuses on well-run, closely held businesses with a demonstrated track record of earnings growth and cash flow generation. The Company seeks opportunities to partner with management teams of its acquired businesses to build increased stockholder value through a disciplined buy-build-hold long-term focused strategy. Live Ventures was founded in 1968. In late 2011, Jon Isaac, CEO and strategic investor, joined the Board of Directors of the Company and later refocused it into a diversified holding company. The Company’s current portfolio of diversified operating subsidiaries includes companies in the textile, flooring, tools, steel, and entertainment industries.
Contact:
Live Ventures Incorporated
Greg Powell, Director of Investor Relations
725.500.5597
gpowell@liveventures.com
www.liveventures.com
Source: Live Ventures Incorporated
Source: City of Leicester
FREE fruit, fix-it workshops and a bike buddy to guide commuters into the city will help mark Leicester’s Cycle to Work Day.
On Thursday 7 August, commuters from participating workplaces will have a bike buddy leading them from the city’s three Park and Ride sites to Town Hall Square.
And anyone cycling into work in the city centre can stop off at Town Hall Square between 8 and 10am, where a free fruit breakfast will be available.
Later on in the day, from 12-2pm at Town Hall Square, Dr Bike can fix any minor mechanical issues for free, and Leicestershire Police will be running free security bike-marking sessions.
Northside Bikes are also doing free bike maintenance from 10am-2pm on the plaza outside Mattioli Woods’ Welford Road Stadium, as part of Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival.
And the Betterpoints app, which offers rewards to people who choose active travel, will be running a prize draw for cyclists on Cycle to Work Day. Betterpoints can be redeemed for high street vouchers or donated to your favourite charity.
The aim is to show people how travelling by bike can be an easy, value-for-money and healthy way to commute to work.
Assistant city mayor for environment and transport, Cllr Geoff Whittle, said: “Leicester is great to get around by bike, with most places in the city no more than a 30-minute ride away from the city centre. Our Cycle to Work Day provides the perfect opportunity to try out Leicester’s extensive cycle network and experience first-hand the health and wellbeing benefits that a cycle commute can bring.”
Cycle to Work Day in Leicester and Leicestershire is being supported by local employers including Hastings Direct, Leicester College, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, and Leicester’s hospitals.
Find out more about cycling in Leicester at www.leicester.gov.uk/cycling
More about Leicester’s Cycle to Work Day is at https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/cycletoworkday/
Ends
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has signed an order to unveil the flag patterns of four branches of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), namely the aerospace force, cyberspace force, information support force and joint logistics support force.
On the occasion of China’s Army Day that falls on Aug. 1, Xi extended festive greetings to service personnel of the PLA and the People’s Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of reserve forces and militia.
The release of the branch flags marks the establishment of a military flag system of the people’s army in the new era, comprising the PLA flag, the flags of the army, navy, air force and rocket force, as well as the flags of the aerospace force, cyberspace force, information support force and joint logistics support force.
The branch flags will be put into official use starting Aug. 1.
The CMC has issued a decision to adjust the current trial regulations on the administration of military flags, revising provisions on the types and usage of military flags to standardize their management and safeguard their dignity through legal measures, according to the statement.
loading…