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Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Leads Legislation to Lower Broadband Costs for Rural Iowa Communities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    HULL, IOWA – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act to help construct broadband in rural Iowa.

    This legislation would require that the largest financial beneficiaries of the networks, also known as “edge providers” – such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, and Netflix – contribute their fair share toward the networks that are built and maintained by the Universal Service Fund (USF) and by consumers who own landlines throughout the country. 

    Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) is the co-lead of this legislation.

    “Access to high-speed internet is critical to our economic growth in rural communities. Families, farmers, and businesses across rural Iowa go to great lengths to collect and deploy the necessary funds to build reliable, affordable broadband. However, Big Tech companies use these networks once completed but rarely contribute their fair share towards the cost. It is completely unfair,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I introduced legislation to ensure that Big Tech companies contribute to the full cost of building high-speed broadband in rural Iowa. Connecting our schools, farms, businesses, homes, and hospitals to the internet is an important priority for me, and this bill will help achieve this mission more affordably and effectively.”

    “Strong broadband networks are vital to connect Americans to the internet and to each other,” said Rep. Leger Fernandez. This bipartisan bill will help sustain our rural broadband networks and make sure that the big corporations that profit from those networks also contribute to them. Let’s close the digital divide.”

    “A strong and sustainable Universal Service Fund is mission-critical to connecting rural America,” said Brandon Heiner, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at US Telecom – The Broadband Association. “Representative Feenstra’s proposal is a step toward modernizing the USF to meet the demands of today’s communications landscape. Congress should act with urgency to secure and strengthen this essential national commitment.”

    “WTA supports the Lowering Costs for Broadband Consumers Act and applauds Representatives Feenstra and Leger Fernadez for introducing this bipartisan legislation,” said Derrick Owens, WTA’s Senior Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs. “The Universal Service Fund is an important tool for ensuring rural residents and businesses have access to affordable broadband. This legislation provides the FCC the authority it needs to engage in needed modernization of USF to ensure that all businesses that profit from the broadband network support the construction, maintenance, and upgrades of the network. We look forward to working with Congress to make sure this modernization takes place.”

    “NTCA applauds the introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act and thanks Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) for their leadership. This legislation would promote more predictable and stable funding to preserve and advance the statutory mission of universal service,” said Shirley Bloomfield, Chief Executive Officer of NTCA. “As traditional telecommunications revenues decline, the assessment on the remaining consumers of such services increases, resulting in a disproportionate burden on those consumers even though they are not the most significant users of services or beneficiaries of underlying networks. Common-sense reforms like those directed by this legislation will shore up the foundation of universal service funding, spread contribution obligations more equitably among all of those that use and benefit from broadband networks, and ultimately help the low-income and rural consumers and schools, libraries, and rural health care facilities that depend on critical universal service programs.”

    “Rural Americans deserve access to affordable, high-quality broadband, and that requires a USF contribution system that is both fair and sustainable. For too long, the burden of supporting our nation’s broadband infrastructure has fallen disproportionately on consumers and small and rural providers, including RWA members. This legislation appropriately requires that the largest beneficiaries of our digital economy—edge providers and big tech companies—pay their fair share,” said Carri Bennet, General Counsel for the Rural Wireless Association.

    “On behalf of the National Tribal Telecommunications Association, I need to thank Congressman Feenstra and Congresswoman Leger Fernandez for their introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025. It is gratifying to know that they are trying to reduce the financial burden that Native American families have every day. Rural broadband in the remote parts of our country is very expensive. We do expect those that financially benefit from the networks pay something towards the construction and operation of our networks to help reduce that burden. Therefore, NTTA endorses this federal bill,” said Godfrey Enjady, President of the National Tribal Telecommunications Association.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan invest $3.4 million to support USask’s IntegrOmes project

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 17, 2025 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison announced $3.4 million over 4 years to support the development of 2 new facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) which includes the Omics Resource Centre at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Beef Reprotech facilities at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

    The investment will be delivered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) as part of the governments’ commitment to support partnerships with strategic agricultural research organizations.

    The new initiative, called IntegrOmes (Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship), will advance beef genetics by matching genomic markers with desirable traits and evaluate reproductive efficiencies. This integrated approach will enable producers to make more precise and data-driven breeding decisions that improve livestock productivity in Saskatchewan.

    The IntegrOmes project will address issues of beef cattle production and reproductive efficiency, animal health and the environment through the adoption of genomic tools. Saskatchewan producers will benefit from having access to these tools to stay competitive in the domestic and international market.

    USask, the WCVM and the LFCE are world-class research, teaching and knowledge-transfer facilities that connect innovation across the livestock production chain. USask’s work in feedlot and cow-calf management, veterinary science and forage systems plays a vital role in driving improvements in productivity and sustainability in the sector.

    This investment builds on the long-standing support for agricultural research by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan. Through shared priorities under Sustainable CAP, over the past 5 years nearly $170 million has been committed in Saskatchewan toward research to improve productivity, expand markets and ensure our agri-food products remain globally competitive.

    With today’s announcement, USask’s LFCE and WCVM continue to strengthen Saskatchewan’s reputation as a global leader in high-quality, safe and sustainable food production.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration of the Government of Spain has announced an investment of €19.6M in Quantix to Establish a Cybersecurity and Microelectronics Center in the Region of Murcia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration of the Government of Spain has announced an investment of €19.6M in Quantix to Establish a Cybersecurity and Microelectronics Center in the Region of Murcia

    The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration announced its participation in Quantix Edge Security through the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), alongside Murcia-based companies OdinS and TProtege, Swiss-based company WISeKey, and France-based company SEALSQ

    Geneva, Switzerland, June 17, 2025 – WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, today announces that the Government of Spain has announced its investment of €19.6M in Quantix to Establish a Cybersecurity and Microelectronics Center in the Region of Murcia.   WISeKey expects to issue a press-release detailing the project shortly.

    A free translation of the Spanish language announcement by the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration is set forth below.

    “The Council of Ministers announced today, the launch of Quantix, an ambitious public-private joint venture with a total investment of €40M. The venture includes OdinS, a spin-off from the University of Murcia, Murcia-based TProtege, and Switzerland-based WISeKey and France-based SEALSQ, both listed on NASDAQ. Quantix will develop a Semiconductor Design and Personalization Center in the Region of Murcia with advanced capabilities in cybersecurity, post-quantum technology, AI, and RISC-V systems.

    The investment, driven by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, exceeds €19.6 million and will be managed through SETT (Spanish Society for Technological Transformation), a recently established public entity created by the Government of Spain to invest in and support strategic and emerging projects that advance Spain’s technological transformation.

    This project, which began gaining public traction in February 2024, has now culminated with the approval of the Spanish Government’s financial backing. Quantix represents a strategic international public-private alliance aligned with the European Union’s digital transformation and technological sovereignty plans, addressing the critical challenge of cybersecurity in an ultra-connected world.

    Quantix projects the creation of 40 jobs in the first two years, 70 in the third year, and 152 by the fifth year, with a goal of reaching 250 employees by the eighth year. The initiative aims to foster high-quality employment, research, and technology in the Region of Murcia, with a plan to attract both regional and international talent.

    The establishment of Quantix Edge Security will centralize part of the value chain in a single location in the Region of Murcia, reducing reliance on non-European suppliers for microchip design and manufacturing.

    Due to cybersecurity regulations being standardized by national agencies, Quantix’s target market focuses on post-quantum-resistant products, which, by 2030, will be essential for governmental applications such as passports and defense, as well as sensitive private-sector applications.

    This project has been supported from its inception by María González Veracruz in her various roles, both at the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and currently at the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. She has repeatedly emphasized the importance of aligning this project with the financial instruments of the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation in Microelectronics and Semiconductors (PERTE Chip), promoted by the Government of Spain.

    José Trigueros, founder and CEO of OdinS and TProtege, celebrates the launch of Quantix, an ambitious project that aims to position the Region of Murcia as a benchmark for innovation, microelectronics, and technological sovereignty, establishing the region as a new international hub for the development of secure microchips. This will lead the transition toward a resilient digital ecosystem that minimizes external dependencies in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

    Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey and SEALSQ, stated: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Government of Spain and the Region of Murcia for this ambitious and strategic initiative, which not only strengthens national cybersecurity capabilities but also positions the region as a European leader in the development of key technologies such as post-quantum semiconductors.”

    Both leaders agree that the challenge ahead is immense, but so is the positive impact they aim to achieve. “We will create jobs, attract talent, develop cutting-edge technology, and place Murcia and Spain on the European map for semiconductors and cybersecurity,” they affirmed.

    Collaborations with research centers, technology hubs, and regional universities, particularly the University of Murcia (UMU), which has extensive experience in cybersecurity and has participated in numerous security projects over the past two decades, strengthen the scientific capacity of the proposed ecosystem.

    SEALSQ and WISeKey bring robust international expertise in cybersecurity and post-quantum semiconductor projects, developing advanced solutions for strategic sectors such as defense, healthcare, IoT, and aerospace. SEALSQ designs quantum-resistant microcontrollers and ASICs, integrating NIST-standard post-quantum algorithms such as Kyber, Dilithium, and Falcon, and collaborates with excellence centers like Mines Saint-Étienne in France. It is one of the few companies worldwide producing semiconductors specifically designed to withstand quantum threats, with its technologies embedded in over 1.75 billion devices globally. WISeKey complements this capability with its global digital identity and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) infrastructure, including post-quantum trust roots, secure electronic voting systems, IoT devices, and certified blockchain platforms. Together, both companies have created a comprehensive and sovereign digital security ecosystem capable of protecting critical infrastructure against emerging quantum threats, offering end-to-end solutions from chip to cloud, including authentication, encryption, identity, and data protection.

    It is worth noting that OdinS, alongside WISeKey International Holding and SEALSQ, is involved in various international initiatives, such as European (ETSI EN 303 645) and U.S. (NIST IR 8425) regulations, which mandate digital identity for connected devices, as well as IoT lifecycle security management systems and certification processes for system security.

    The latest projects by OdinS in RISC-V, SEALSQ in post-quantum chips, and WISeKey in secure elements and trust roots will enhance technological and commercial synergies, combining two decades of expertise in IoT and cybersecurity.

    About Odin Solutions

    Odin Solutions (OdinS), founded in June 2014, is accredited as an innovative ICT company (EIBT) by MINECO and ANCES. OdinS specializes in IPv6 Internet of Things, Big Data, and Security. Its team has extensive experience and strong research, innovation, and technological development capabilities in integrated IoT systems and Big Data platforms for water/energy efficiency, security, and remote infrastructure management. OdinS holds several patents in monitoring and telecontrol systems. The company offers open, flexible, and interoperable products capable of connecting infrastructures and mobile platforms for Smart Cities, infrastructure, defense, and Smart Agriculture. Since its inception, OdinS has focused on IoT system security certification solutions and, more recently, on developing RISC-V-based systems, a cutting-edge European technology for open systems aligned with the new requirements set by European initiatives such as NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

    OdinS’s multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial team works daily to address the challenges of an increasingly connected and technological society. OdinS is a member of the International IoT Forum and AIOTI (Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation) and actively participates in standardization working groups on Smart Cities, Architectures, and Standards. Specifically, OdinS collaborates with ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) in the ISG CIM (Cross-Sector Context Information Management) industry standardization group to design interoperable interfaces between IoT devices and Big Data platforms. OdinS views collaborative R&D projects as the best investment for achieving more competitive products and solutions. For more information, visit www.odins.es.

    About TProtege

    TProtege has a significant regional presence in the security and control systems market, with a strong focus on applying the latest technologies to deliver tailored solutions and superior customer service. It aspires to be a benchmark for integrated ICT solutions in the audiovisual sector, particularly in security and control. TProtege is a leader in technology-based systems, offering audiovisual engineering, surveillance, environmental monitoring, access control, and logistics security services. For more information, visit www.tprotege.es.”

    About SEALSQ:
    SEALSQ is a leading innovator in Post-Quantum Technology hardware and software solutions. Our technology seamlessly integrates Semiconductors, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and Provisioning Services, with a strategic emphasis on developing state-of-the-art Quantum Resistant Cryptography and Semiconductors designed to address the urgent security challenges posed by quantum computing. As quantum computers advance, traditional cryptographic methods like RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are increasingly vulnerable.

    SEALSQ is pioneering the development of Post-Quantum Semiconductors that provide robust, future-proof protection for sensitive data across a wide range of applications, including Multi-Factor Authentication tokens, Smart Energy, Medical and Healthcare Systems, Defense, IT Network Infrastructure, Automotive, and Industrial Automation and Control Systems. By embedding Post-Quantum Cryptography into our semiconductor solutions, SEALSQ ensures that organizations stay protected against quantum threats. Our products are engineered to safeguard critical systems, enhancing resilience and security across diverse industries.

    For more information on our Post-Quantum Semiconductors and security solutions, please visit www.sealsq.com.

    About WISeKey

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

    Disclaimer
    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd
    Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com     		 WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611
    lcati@theequitygroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: Implementing the General Terms of the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    IMPLEMENTING A HISTORIC TRADE DEAL: Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order implementing American commitments under the General Terms of the United States-United Kingdom Economic Prosperity Deal.
    This historic trade deal provides American companies unprecedented access to British markets while bolstering U.S. national security.
    The deal will include billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially for beef, ethanol, and certain other American agricultural exports.
    The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminate against American products, hurt the U.S. manufacturing base, and threaten our national security.
    The U.S. and UK will negotiate preferential treatment outcomes for UK pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients contingent on the findings of a Section 232 investigation.
    The U.S. and UK have also committed to adopting a structured, negotiated approach to addressing U.S. national security concerns regarding sectors that may be subject to future Section 232 investigations and UK compliance with certain supply chain security standards.
    This Executive Order addresses automobiles, aerospace, and steel and aluminum.
    For automobiles, the Order provides that the first 100,000 vehicles imported into the U.S. by UK car manufacturers each year will be subject to a total tariff rate of 10% (7.5% plus 2.5% most-favored-nation rate) and any additional imported vehicles each year will be subject to the automobile Section 232 tariff rate of 25%.
    Additionally, automotive parts that are products of the UK and are for use in UK vehicles will be subject to a total tariff rate of 10%.

    For aerospace, the Order provides that certain UK products will no longer be subject to tariffs, thus strengthening aerospace and aircraft manufacturing supply chains.
    For steel and aluminum articles and their derivatives, the Order provides that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative, will establish tariff-rate quotas for UK products consistent with the General Terms of the Economic Prosperity Deal and pursuant to certain principles outlined in the Order. Products outside those quotas or that do not meet certain requirements will remain subject to existing Section 232 tariffs.
    Today’s action strengthens our bilateral relationship with the UK and sets the tone for other trading partners to promote reciprocal trade with the United States.
    ADVANCING RECIPROCAL TRADE: This U.S.-UK trade deal will usher in a golden age of new opportunity for U.S. exporters and level the playing field for American producers.
    On April 2, 2025, Liberation Day, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all countries to address unfair trade practices that have contributed to America’s trade deficit in order to better protect American workers, manufacturers, and our national security. 
    In 2024, the U.S. total goods trade with the UK was an estimated $148 billion.
    The UK average applied agricultural tariff was 9.2%, while the U.S. average applied agricultural tariff (prior to April 2) was 5%.

    On April 18, President Trump had a call with Prime Minister Starmer to discuss our bilateral trade relationship.
    On May 8, President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this historic Economic Prosperity Deal.
    USHERING IN A NEW ERA OF PROSPERITY: Since Day One, President Trump has challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that disadvantage our workers and businesses and contribute to our historic trade deficit.
    President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters and lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers to protect our economic and national security.
    The Economic Prosperity Deal with the United Kingdom is a critical step toward promoting reciprocal trade with a key ally and partner.
    President Trump: “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers.”
    “The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products.”
    “This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries.”

    Prime Minister Starmer: “This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. It’s going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Coal power plants were paid to close. Is it time to do the same for slaughterhouses?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephanie Walton, Researcher on Food Systems and Sustainable Finance, University of Oxford

    Ocphoto/Shutterstock

    The food industry will go to great lengths (and spend a fortune) to lobby policymakers, confuse the public and politicise scientific findings. You can see the results in the UK’s delay of a ban on junk food advertisers targeting children, or the orchestrated backlash to a report that recommended cutting red meat consumption and embracing more plant-based diets.

    It’s a well-worn playbook. When scientific evidence indicates the need to phase down environmentally harmful or unhealthy products, the responsible industry pushes back.

    Motivating this resistance, my colleagues and I believe, is something rarely discussed in the context of food systems: stranded assets. These are investments that lose value or stop generating revenue earlier than their owners and investors anticipated, due to changes in market conditions, technology or – of particular interest here – policy and regulation.

    This concept has been central to debates in the energy transition. For example, studies have shown that keeping global warming below 2 °C will require leaving fossil fuels in the ground and shutting down power plants before they’ve generated a return on investment, wiping off about US$1 trillion (£736 billion) in value for companies, financial institutions and investors.

    The same dynamic applies to the task of feeding everyone well and without substantial environmental harm. What we produce must change, as well as how we produce it.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Producing animal-sourced protein, especially beef and dairy, has environmental impacts that dwarf those of plant-based protein. Some new technologies may reduce these impacts, particularly feed additives to reduce methane emissions from cattle. But the negative impacts go far beyond cow burps to include deforestation, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and pollution.

    Beef in particular, even when produced using intensive systems like feedlots in the US, requires substantially more land to make 100 grams of protein than any other source (excluding lamb, which is produced in much lower quantities).

    As the global population increases and constraints on land use intensify, as much nourishing food as possible will need to be produced on as little land as possible. This will entail slashing the amount of land used for animal-sourced foods.

    However, companies consistently invest in the assets that produce, process, transport and store the foods we consume. These range from slaughterhouses to the grain silos and transport equipment for single-crop supply chains, to manufacturing plants and the research and development of ultra-processed foods.

    Crops are cultivated over vast acres of land to feed livestock.
    Ekrem Sahin/Shutterstock

    In order to curtail certain foods, as part of a global shift towards sustainable and healthy diets, these assets cannot generate the revenue they do now. This means writing off some of the capital that has been sunk into them, and any anticipated revenue.

    Our research identified £217 billion that has been invested in meatpacking plants, for example. A portion of this will be lost in service of a shift to more plant-based sustenance.

    Whether or not policymakers and researchers are aware of the stranded assets problem, food companies certainly are.

    Polluter pays or pay the polluter?

    We outline three things that need to happen.

    First, while it is laudable that companies set targets to cut emissions or deforestation, how they invest their money is not always consistent with these goals. Companies need to disclose to investors and the public which of their assets are incompatible with a sustainable future, and how they plan to phase them out.

    Second, lenders (typically banks) and investors (asset managers and their clients) must work with the companies they fund to manage these transitions rather than simply revoke financing or divest. Shutting down a meatpacking plant and building up a plant-based protein business is costly, and firms will need support.

    Divestment can play an important role symbolically, signalling an ethical and moral stance against certain activities. But unless it is done by all investors at once, assets like shares go to other buyers with little or no interest in sustainability.

    Third, and perhaps the thorniest problem, who pays for stranded assets? The money has already been spent. The investments have been made, the meatpacking plants and infrastructure already built, the anticipated revenue and maximised profit margins already embedded in the value of these companies.

    There is the cost of shutting down assets early as well as the opportunity cost of not making money that was expected from capital that has already been sunk. Who bears those costs?

    Many assume the answer is straightforward: the polluter should pay. This is certainly possible to achieve. Take the recent ruling in Germany, which determined that private companies can be held liable for their share in causing climate damages.

    But implementing this principle requires unusually strong political leadership and sustained public support. Both of these things are difficult to secure, particularly in food systems where industry lobbying is intense, livelihoods are at stake, public attention is fragmented and diets are highly personal and easily politicised.

    Capital sunk into infrastructure makes change costly.
    Catstyecam/Shutterstock

    Even when policies designed to improve public health or sustainability are passed, they can be easily rolled back. Which brings us to an uncomfortable alternative: paying the polluter.

    This approach already exists in other sectors. Since 2020, Germany has paid coal plants to retire early. The same has been done in the Netherlands, parts of the US and several other countries. In the Netherlands, the government paid farmers to reduce dairy herds in certain areas in order to hit pollution targets.

    Paying off food companies to phase out harmful assets sounds like a bailout and feels unfair, since a clean and thriving environment is a human right. Such an approach could only work if it allowed stronger regulation that ensured such pollution wouldn’t occur in the future. This is how abolitionists contributed to ending slavery in the UK.

    If we’re stuck between endless policy whiplash and slow-motion climate and health crises, paying the polluter may be worth considering. It’s politically fraught and emotionally frustrating, but when it comes to stopping pollution sooner rather than later, it is perhaps more tractable than waiting for political will, corporate courage and public consensus to converge.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. Coal power plants were paid to close. Is it time to do the same for slaughterhouses? – https://theconversation.com/coal-power-plants-were-paid-to-close-is-it-time-to-do-the-same-for-slaughterhouses-257418

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Sorensen Pushes Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to Commit to Supporting the Peoria Ag Lab

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    Congressman Sorensen to Secretary Rollins: “How Committed Are You to Making Sure That Our Research, Like the Peoria Ag Lab [and at] Ag Labs Across the Country, Are Fulfilled and That the Money is Going to Them?”

    Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to commit to supporting critical research work at the National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research (NCAUR), also known as the Peoria Ag Lab, during a House Agriculture Committee hearing. 

    “The Peoria Ag Lab and agriculture labs across the country play a vital role in supporting our farmers with cutting-edge research that we all benefit from,” said Congressman Sorensen. “While I am relieved the Peoria Ag Lab will remain open, it is important we get firm commitments from USDA leadership to continue supporting the important work of the men and women at the lab.” 

    You can watch the full exchange with Secretary Rollins HERE. 
    Congressman Sorensen has been a fierce advocate for the Peoria Ag Lab, including recently leading his colleagues in a letter to Secretary Rollins in March outlining the lab’s vital contributions to agriculture and the regional economy. This month, he announced the Peoria Ag Lab will remain open and is even slated for growth.  
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank project restores electricity in Zimbabwean communities following devastating Cyclone Idai

    In March 2019, Cyclone Idai tore through Zimbabwe’s eastern districts with unprecedented fury, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Among the hardest hit regions were Chimanimani and Chipinge, where the lifelines of modern life—electricity, roads, and water systems—were severed in a matter of hours.

    The 155-kilometer powerline stretching from Middle Sabi to Charter, once the backbone of energy supply for Manicaland Province, lay in ruins, plunging over 300,000 people into darkness. For more than two agonizing months, industries ground to a halt, hospitals operated without reliable power for life-saving equipment, and school computer labs stayed closed.

    “The cyclone brought operations to a near standstill, recalls Witness Teteni, engineering foreman at Charter Sawmills, a facility employing 320 workers. “We experienced numerous power faults that severely disrupted our work. We had to rely on generators, which are expensive to run and not environmentally friendly.

    The African Development Bank stepped forward with a $24.7 million Post-Cyclone Idai Emergency Recovery Project (PCIREP), implemented through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the United Nations agency dedicated to implementing humanitarian and development projects, in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe.

    The goal was not just to restore what had been lost, but to provide a better, stronger, and more resilient replacement.

    A beacon of light and hope

    The electricity component of PCIREP, representing $3.7 million in strategic investment, focused on reinforcing 155 kilometers of 33kV overhead power lines and constructing a new 12-kilometer 33kV distribution line in Chipinge to separate the two districts’ power supplies.

    It also included infrastructure upgrades such as replacing wooden poles with steel, using installation techniques that help these poles better withstand extreme weather conditions. The project also saw the supply of essential equipment, including vehicles and tools, to the state-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC).

    The African Development Bank-supported project has helped restore power to over 300,000 people. “We have significantly reduced the number of faults in the system,” explains engineer Selina Mudzinganyama, who oversaw the rehabilitation. “Maintenance costs have also gone down because the upgraded design is built to withstand harsher conditions. Clinics, schools, and households now enjoy reliable power, and businesses can operate without constant interruptions.”

    Echoing this, Andreas Moyo, development engineer for ZETDC’s Eastern Region, says, “We now have just our normal faults. The safety, especially for these lines that we reinforced, has improved a lot. We only experience small faults now—one hour, and it’s sorted, whereas before we could easily go quite a long time without resolution.”

    In Chimanimani’s health facilities, the impact has been life changing. Clinical nurse Patricia Chikandi describes the transformation: “Reliable electricity has been a game-changer for us. During emergencies, we no longer worry about power cuts, and our vaccines are stored safely in temperature-controlled refrigerators. It has improved the quality of care we provide.”

    Farai Ndlovu, a student at Chipinge High School, says, “With electricity back, we can use computers in the lab and study after dark. This is helping us prepare better for exams and giving us skills we wouldn’t have access to otherwise.”

    For agriculture workers, it means more earnings. “Before the power line was restored, our irrigation systems were unreliable, and we often lost crops,” says smallholder farmer Tsitsi Mutswairo. “Now, with consistent electricity, our yields have improved significantly, and we’re earning more from our produce.”

    It’s a similar story for Leonard Nyamukondiwa, an agro-processor in Chipinge. “Before the rehabilitation, we couldn’t meet our targets because of constant outages. Now, we’re able to process more produce, and our profits have increased.”

    Electricity equals entrepreneurship

    Perhaps nowhere is the project’s impact more visible than in Jacob Mukunukuji’s workshop in Marimauta Village.

    Before the power line restoration, Jacob’s business was severely constrained by the high cost of diesel generators. Now, with access to reliable three-phase industrial power, his small workshop has become a hub for skills development, training apprentices from local vocational centers, and creating a ripple effect of opportunity throughout the community.

    “Having electricity is very, very important because I can make whatever I want,” Jacob explains, gesturing toward his creations—rip saw tables, grinding mills, and maize processing equipment that serve farmers across the region.

    He points to Paul, whom he trained and now employs as a welder in his workshop. “He is part of the fourth batch I am training. One of my first graduates, Danmore Majuta has his own copper workshop at Rusitu. Another female apprentice is manufacturing window frames and building materials for general local housing maintenance.”

    A model for sustainable development

    Today, the lights are on in Chimanimani and Chipinge. Community elder and farmer Jeremiah Mutasa highlights the transformation: “The power lines have brought hope back to our region. We have electricity for our homes, our farms, and our schools. It’s more than just power; it is the light that keeps our community alive.”

    The project, which aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy (NDS1), demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investments can transform entire regions.

    As the African Development Bank’s Power Engineer, Seaga Molepo sums it up: “The electricity infrastructure interventions under this project exemplify the critical intersection of disaster recovery and sustainable development. The successful collaboration between the Bank, the Government of Zimbabwe, and UNOPS proves that when we align our efforts with clear strategic priorities – particularly ‘Lighting and Powering Africa’ – we can deliver transformative results that improve the quality of life for the people we serve.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quigley, Keating, & McGovern Reintroduce Bill To Provide War Risk Insurance To Commercial Vessels Trading With Ukraine

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

    On June 12, Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), Co-Chair of the Ukraine Caucus, along with Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, and Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee reintroduced the Ukraine War Risk Insurance Act of 2025.

    As Russia continues its illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, the United States must continue to provide vital support for Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its aggression, and assemble the support of our like-minded allies and partners who recognize that the seizure of land through military force is illegal and immoral. As part of broader efforts to support Ukraine, the Ukraine War Risk Insurance Act would help increase Ukrainian exports, ensure the Ukrainian agriculture sector can effectively deliver its products to the global market, and strengthen Ukraine’s economy as it defends itself from aggression.

    “Putin’s unprovoked war has upended every aspect of life for Ukrainians—including their economy. Amidst a constant state of fear and unease, Russia has deliberately targeted Ukraine’s thriving grain industry, limiting the country’s ability to export and threatening the food security of millions,” said Ukraine Caucus Co-Chair Quigley. “This legislation will counteract Putin’s malicious actions and help Ukraine increase its exports, strengthen its economy, and feed its people. This must be the first in many steps Congress takes to ensure Ukraine can continue its fight for freedom.”

    “The Ukraine War Risk Insurance Act would allow the U.S. government to provide vital war risk insurance to NATO and partner vessels importing cargo into or exporting cargo from Ukraine,” said Ranking Member Keating. “As Russia’s war of aggression continues, the United States must expand its support for Ukraine and we must do all we can to ensure Ukraine is able to export grain to the global market.”

    “Ukraine’s fight is the world’s fight—and nowhere is that more evident than Russia’s malicious targeting of their ability to export grain, threatening food security for millions around the world,” said Ranking Member McGovern. “The Ukraine War Risk Insurance Act would ensure Ukrainians can continue to participate in the global economy, and would provide critical insurance to those working to export grain and prevent starvation in food insecure areas around the world. Congress should pass this bill quickly to ensure that Ukraine can continue to fight back against Putin’s evil and unprovoked war of aggression.”

     Specifically, this legislation: 

    • Expands eligibility for war risk insurance to NATO and Ukrainian vessels participating in waterborne commerce importing cargo to or exporting cargo from Ukraine.
    • Establishes the Insurance for Ukraine Initiative to bolster confidence in Ukraine’s economic recovery, encourage investment in Ukraine’s economic recovery, promote closer economic integration with Ukraine, coordinate dialogue related to war risk insurance, and work with Ukraine and other partners to ensure the shipment of grain to and from Ukraine.
    • Directs the Secretary of State to provide diplomatic and political support to countries that provide war risk insurance for Ukraine, and to pursue a multilateral insurance mechanism through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to protect the shipment of grain and other commodities from Ukraine.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fishing for evidence: How can machine learning help?

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Fishing for evidence: How can machine learning help?

    As human impacts on the environment rapidly accelerate, so does the need to understand those impacts and develop strategies to build resilience amidst growing threats.

    This story was written by Gretchen Stokes, ORISE Participant with the National CASC and was originally published by Current Conservation at Fishing for evidence: How can machine learning help? | Current Conservation

    As human impacts on the environment rapidly accelerate, so does the need to understand those impacts and develop strategies to build resilience amidst growing threats. Often, researchers can identify the larger causes of environmental degradation (‘drivers’, such as climate change or pollution), observe changes in the environment (‘impacts’, such as habitat loss or poor water quality), and notice how species respond (‘responses’, such as changes in reproduction or population declines) to these changes. 

    However, it is much more challenging to link drivers, impacts, and responses as a direct cause-and-effect relationship. For example, illegal logging might cause increased soil erosion along a river and fishers may catch fewer fish, but documenting a direct link between land use change and fish mortality can be difficult. Yet, uncovering these driver-impact-response links can help identify opportunities for interventions and appropriate conservation actions. 

    Untangling the links

    One logical approach to understanding these links is utilising documented evidence of drivers, impacts, and responses already published in the scientific literature. There has been a surge in the number of publications about global environmental change, which is useful for providing more evidence but challenging because of the high volume of papers, and in turn requires substantial effort to sift and extract information. However, artificial intelligence tools such as machine learning—computers that learn to detect patterns and make predictions based on the data—can help overcome this challenge.

    In this study, we focused on understanding driver-impact-response links across 45 river basins and large lakes with the highest freshwater fish catch. Freshwater fish comprise over half of the world’s fish species and are a vital food source for billions of people. Yet, they are some of the most threatened animals on the planet. 

    We searched for relevant literature using keywords and extracted 9,336 abstracts for review. After reviewing over half of them, we realised that machine learning could help sort abstracts “with threats” and “without threats” into two categories. We trained and tested four computer models and chose the one that best detected abstracts with threats to sort the remaining abstracts. This process taught us a few things.

    Lessons learned

    First, we discovered that some threats are better documented than others. For example, pollution and dams were the most documented drivers and the most frequently linked to negative fish responses. Other drivers known to have substantial impacts on fish, such as climate change, were seldom documented with direct fish responses. This may be because it is difficult to link climate impacts in real-time, and because some drivers have complex interactions with other drivers. 

    Second, we learned that machine learning was much better at classifying irrelevant abstracts (those without threats) than at correctly classifying those with threats. We think this may be due, in part, to the unstandardised nature of fisheries literature. For instance, defining a fishery can be variable, so it is not surprising that computers would have a hard time learning text patterns with nuanced language. This contrasts with other fields like medicine, where language is more standardised for medical reports. High performance in classifying irrelevant abstracts is still extremely useful and quickly helped us eliminate thousands of papers. 

    Through this study, we were able to demonstrate a successful application of machine learning to improve efficiency—by over 50 percent—and optimise the extraction of evidence to inform conservation planning. While neither method of evidence synthesis (human or computer) could function independently, the combination of both methods proved useful. 

    Since ecologists often lack the specialised training to apply complex methods in machine learning, we also created a toolkit for users to extract evidence and understand performance metrics and outputs. Overall, our study provides a transdisciplinary bridge from computer science to ecology and a useful toolkit for evidence synthesis amidst accelerating global environmental change.  

    Related

    Assessing the State of Global Inland Fisheries

    The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) documents the status and trends of marine fish stocks that represent approximately 80% of global marine catch. These stocks are routinely monitored, and the FAO assessment describes the extent of exploitation against different reference points – such as underfished, sustainable fished, or overfished. Although inland…

    The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) documents the status and trends of marine fish stocks that represent approximately 80% of global marine catch. These stocks are routinely monitored, and the FAO assessment describes the extent of exploitation against different reference points – such as underfished, sustainable fished, or overfished. Although inland fisheries, which

    Learn More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Celebrating Completion of $45M Food Hub in the Bronx

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the New York State Regional Food Hub, a $45 million cold-storage facility that will transform food access across New York. The first-of-its-kind 60,000 square-foot facility, operated by GrowNYC in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx, will enable a 600 percent increase in locally-sourced food distribution — from approximately 3 million pounds to 20 million pounds annually by 2034 — while creating over 200 new jobs and providing a critical economic lifeline to New York farmers. The facility, supported by $19 million from New York State, as recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, represents a joint State and City investment designed to strengthen the local food economy, support New York farmers, and improve access to healthy and affordable foods for low-income communities.

    “The New York State Regional Food Hub is a game-changer for families and farmers across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “From the streets of the Bronx to the farms of Batavia, the Empire State has so much to offer. That’s why we invested in this massive GrowNYC facility to expand access to fresh, local food while creating new economic opportunities for our agricultural producers.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “We are proud to support this transformative infrastructure that will create jobs and dramatically expand access to affordable, healthy food for New Yorkers. ESD’s strategic investment enhances the efficiency, sustainability, and equity of our state’s food system by connecting upstate farmers directly to downstate markets, ensuring urban families have access to the quality produce they deserve. The New York State Regional Food Hub represents a model investment that will benefit communities across our state.”

    New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The New York State Regional Food Hub is designed to be a game changer for our farmers bringing product to market and to our families who will have greater access to quality New York grown fruits and vegetables. We learned during the pandemic that we needed to double down on our efforts to strengthen the food supply chain and make sure that we had a food system right here in New York that was resilient and could feed its communities. This Food Hub is a tremendous piece of that puzzle and will provide an incredible benefit to our underserved populations and to our farmers.”

    GrowNYC President and CEO Marcel Van Ooyen said, “We’re beyond grateful for the vast support from City and State leaders that led to the completion of this state-of-the-art facility and that will advance our work promoting equitable food access in New York. Our Food Hub provides ample opportunities for GrowNYC and farmers to make a tangible impact on the everyday lives of underserved New Yorkers, and I’m hopeful it will serve as a scalable model for how cities across the United States can combat hunger while supporting local farm systems.”

    The Food Hub will enable GrowNYC to quadruple its aggregation and distribution square footage, dramatically expanding wholesale distribution capacity to make fresh, local foods accessible to underserved New Yorkers. The facility will serve wholesale buyers including institutions and restaurants while strengthening innovative partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Building on GrowNYC’s current work distributing free produce through New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets New York Food for New York Families program — which unites a network of 20 community partners including Graham Windham and The POINT to serve the Hunts Point community and beyond — the expanded Hub will significantly scale these vital food access efforts. Additional funding was provided by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York City Council, U.S. Economic Development Administration, Bank of America, and others.

    The facility addresses a critical need identified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when food insecurity in New York City grew from 1.4 million residents to approximately 2 million. By sourcing food directly from regional farms and creating new jobs, the Hub will support New York State farmers — particularly small- and mid-sized operations — while increasing food distribution capacity and enhancing access to New York City’s wholesale marketplace. The processing facility will assist upstate producers and processors in targeting institutional and private sector procurement opportunities, offering a significant boost to New York’s agricultural economy while building a more resilient food supply chain.

    NYCREDC Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, City University of New York Chancellor, and William D. Rahm, CEO of Everview Partners, said, “The NYCREDC sees the Food Hub as a vital tool to address our region’s needs, and an engine of economic opportunity for New York City and our upstate neighbors. The expansive cold storage space will help alleviate food insecurity — a major struggle for many households in the region — and support farming communities’ livelihoods. This investment strengthens our regional food system and builds economic partnerships that benefit communities across New York State.”

    State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Strengthening the connection between upstate farmers and downstate communities has long been one of New York’s greatest opportunities — and the NYS Regional Food Hub brings that vision to scale. Every New Yorker deserves to eat fresh, healthy food, and this innovative model lays the groundwork to expand food access to more New Yorkers, especially those in historically underserved communities. It sets a national standard for how we fight hunger and invest in agriculture as a powerful engine of both economic growth and social progress, and I’m proud to champion this project alongside partners who share that vision.”

    Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “We have anxiously awaited the opening of GrowNYC’s new Regional Food Hub. Providing expanded market opportunities for NY farmers is a win-win for them and for the communities who will benefit from fresh and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. I’m very happy that Empire State Development agreed with NYC’s Regional Council to make this substantial investment. I’m sure that other cities will want to emulate the work being done here.”

    The New York State Regional Food Hub was first developed as the result of the New York State-New York City Regional Food Hubs Task Force, which created a roadmap to build a Regional Food Hub System. The goal was to enhance the connection between upstate food producers and the downstate market, increase access to fresh food for underserved populations, boost in-state food production and consumption, and create new job opportunities in the growing sector of food manufacturing. As a high priority in the task force’s final action plan, this facility now serves as a national model for creating sustainable, self-sufficient food systems that safeguard local food supplies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Cyber A.I. Group Appoints Irving Bruckstein as Director of Global Technology Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, NEW YORK and LONDON, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cyber A.I. Group, Inc. (“CyberAI” or the “Company”), an emerging growth Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and IT services company engaged in the development of next-generation AI-driven Cybersecurity technology, announced today the appointment of Irving Bruckstein as Director of Global Technology Integration. Mr. Bruckstein brings over three decades of transformational IT leadership across higher education, enterprise and international markets.

    Irving Bruckstein will work in coordination with Dr. Peter J. Morales, CyberAI’s Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Bruckstein will advise and support CyberAI’s global integration initiatives focusing on harmonizing advanced technologies across enterprise environments, scaling secure infrastructure and aligning systems integration with the Company’s expanding global footprint. His appointment underscores CyberAI’s commitment to innovation, security and operational excellence as it prepares for the imminent launch of the Company’s next-generation AI-driven cybersecurity IP through its patent pending CyberAI Sentinel 2.0™ initiatives.

    CyberAI Sentinel 2.0™ represents a paradigm shift in Cybersecurity, committed to monetizing proprietary technology and providing clients with a holistic solution to cybersecurity threats by safeguarding digital assets. CyberAI Sentinel 2.0™ is delivering a cost-effective solution providing comprehensive Cybersecurity services for middle market companies on a global basis as part of CyberAI’s objective of achieving $100 million in revenues with an anticipated listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

    “Irving is an extraordinary technologist and strategist with a rare ability to commercialize complex architectures into scalable, resilient global systems,” said A.J. Cervantes, Jr., Executive Chairman at CyberAI. “His deep experience leading enterprise-scale IT and Cybersecurity initiatives—particularly across advanced technology, cloud and infrastructure domains—makes him an ideal person to support our highly proactive global launch of our proprietary CyberAI Sentinel 2.0™ AI-driven Cybersecurity advanced technology.”

    Mr. Bruckstein currently serves as the Chief Information Officer and CISO at Washington College where he spearheads the Cybersecurity modernization and compliance with GLBA, FERPA, HIPAA, as well as a member of the Board of Directors at MDREN and the Cybersecurity Intelligence Authority. In past experience, Mr. Bruckstein served as CIO at Salve Regina University and held senior leadership roles at NYU, Columbia University and in private sector ventures. He has led billion-dollar campus buildouts, cloud and data center migrations and Cybersecurity modernization efforts across diverse environments in the US, UAE and beyond.

    “Cyber A.I. Group stands at the intersection of global Cybersecurity, AI innovation and digital infrastructure transformation—and I’m thrilled to join the team during such a pivotal time,” said Mr. Bruckstein. “There’s enormous opportunity to unify systems, scale intelligent architectures and build resilient global frameworks that enable secure and sustainable digital ecosystems. I look forward to working with this proactive technology team driving these initiatives forward.”

    During his time at NYU from 2010 to 2016, Mr. Bruckstein was the Senior Director of Global Technology Services where he oversaw and directed the full-stack technology implementation for a new multi-billion U.S. dollar campus build-out for NYU’s campus in Abu Dhabi. At Columbia University beginning in 2007, Mr. Bruckstein led IT infrastructure modernization across the university, including managing a $45 million technology portfolio and implemented virtualization, VoIP and SAN infrastructure at the university.

    Mr. Bruckstein holds an M.S. and B.S. in Computer Science from Hofstra University and has served on several national and regional technology advisory councils. He will report directly to the CTO and work closely with cross-functional teams as CyberAI builds out its CyberAI Sentinel 2.0 technology. Through AI innovation, CyberAI Sentinel 2.0™ is designed to empower enterprises with intelligent, adaptive and proactive protection while also leveraging CyberAI’s expanding customer base.

    About Cyber A.I. Group

    Cyber A.I. Group, Inc. (“CyberAI”) is a next-generation technology company pioneering the development of advanced, proprietary platforms at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. With a mission to redefine how organizations protect, predict, and respond to digital threats, CyberAI is positioning patent pending technologies that enable autonomous threat detection, adaptive risk mitigation, and intelligent system resilience across enterprise and cloud environments. At the core of CyberAI’s innovation is a team of world-class technologists, data scientists, and cybersecurity experts dedicated to creating breakthrough solutions that are scalable, secure, and globally deployable. The company’s technologies are designed to address the most urgent and complex challenges facing today’s digital infrastructure—from AI-driven security orchestration to autonomous anomaly detection and predictive analytics for critical systems. CyberAI’s commitment to continuous innovation and deep IP development is positioning it at the critical merger between AI and the global cybersecurity landscape. By fusing artificial intelligence with real-world cyber defense expertise, the company aims to set new standards for intelligent infrastructure protection and digital trust. For more information, please visit: cyberaigroup.io

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abff6299-661a-455a-9f71-4229e4969a39

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Invest $3.4 Million to Support Usask’s Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship Project

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 17, 2025

    Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison today announced $3.4 million over four years to support the development of two new facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) which includes the Omics Resource Centre at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Beef Reprotech facilities at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

    The investment will be delivered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) as part of the governments’ commitment to support partnerships with strategic agricultural research organizations.

    The new initiative, called IntegrOmes (Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship), will advance beef genetics by matching genomic markers with desirable traits and evaluate reproductive efficiencies. This integrated approach will enable producers to make more precise and data-driven breeding decisions that improve livestock productivity in Saskatchewan.

    “Innovation – like what we are seeing through genomics research – is vital to the continued success of Canada’s agriculture sector,” MacDonald said. “This shared investment with Saskatchewan will support the expanded efforts of these facilities and ensure a vibrant future for Saskatchewan’s livestock sector.” 

    “Saskatchewan producers already bring generations of expertise and innovation to our livestock sector, and this investment builds on that legacy – helping ensure Saskatchewan’s ranchers remain global leaders at what they do best,” Harrison said. “The work of USask is recognized globally, and we are proud to support this initiative and the livestock sector it serves.”

    The IntegrOmes project will address issues of beef cattle production and reproductive efficiency, animal health and the environment through the adoption of genomic tools. Saskatchewan producers will benefit from having access to these tools to stay competitive in the domestic and international market.

    “Genomic research is advancing rapidly, and USask is leading the way in this evolving field,” University of Saskatchewan Research Vice-President Baljit Singh said. “Our researchers are applying cutting-edge methods to advance our understanding of beef genetics, which couldn’t be possible without the support of this joint funding from the provincial and federal governments. We thank them for their continued support as we aspire to be the university the world needs.”

    USask, the WCVM and the LFCE are world-class research, teaching and knowledge-transfer facilities that connect innovation across the livestock production chain. USask’s work in feedlot and cow-calf management, veterinary science and forage systems plays a vital role in driving improvements in productivity and sustainability in the sector.

    This investment builds on the long-standing support for agricultural research by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan. Through shared priorities under Sustainable CAP, over the past five years nearly $170 million has been committed in Saskatchewan toward research to improve productivity, expand markets and ensure our agri-food products remain globally competitive.

    With today’s announcement, USask’s LFCE and the WCVM continue to strengthen Saskatchewan’s reputation as a global leader in high-quality, safe and sustainable food production.

    Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments.

    To strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa Accelerates Drive to Expand Intra-African Trade through African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

    South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock new growth opportunities for local businesses and strengthen regional integration. Opening the IATF2025 South Africa Business Roadshow in Johannesburg, Mr. Humphrey Nwugo, Regional Director (Southern Africa) at Afreximbank (https://www.Afreximbank.com/), emphasised the urgency of mobilising concrete action. “This is the time to ensure that South Africa’s public and private sectors are not only present but strategically positioned to seize the immense opportunities that IATF2025 will present.”  

    Mr. Nwugo underscored South Africa’s pivotal role in the continent’s integration journey, citing its strong economic foundations, entrepreneurial energy, and institutional capacity – well positioned to integrate into African value chains. 

    “We are here to invite South Africa to lead. We want to see the country’s private sector on full display in Algiers,” he added. The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), set to take place in Algiers from 4–10 September 2025, is poised to be a landmark market event and gateway to unprecedented trade and investment prospects across Africa. 

    E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, highlighted the critical importance of IATF2025, taking place amid global instability, climate change, and shifting trade dynamics. 

    “Despite these headwinds, Africa has the capacity to navigate the challenges, accelerate industrial development, and realise the vision of a fully integrated continent,” he said. 

    He stressed the urgency of building regional value chains in sectors like automotive and agribusiness, which offer vast potential for inclusive growth. Strengthening these interconnected ecosystems will support technology transfer, diversify intra-African trade, and create new opportunities for small and medium enterprises across the continent. 

    Speaking at the event, the Honourable Sihle Zikalala, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, noted South Africa’s strong positioning to drive industrialisation, innovation, and regional value chain development.  

    “South Africa views the AfCFTA as a historic opportunity to deepen economic ties with our neighbours, expand market access for our goods and services, and promote inclusive, job-rich growth,” said Minister Zikalala.  

    “The IATF2025 must be viewed as more than just a marketplace, and rather as a strategic tool for implementation, where policy meets practice. South Africa has a critical role to play in driving this vision, underpinned by entrepreneurial spirit, institutional strength, and a dynamic SMME ecosystem. Through partnerships and public-private collaboration, we can develop world-class infrastructure across Africa while reducing our reliance on foreign exchange by trading in our own currencies,” he added. 

    H.E Ms. Baleka Mbete, founder NaLHISA and former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa was also in attendance. 

    The Roadshow convened over 350 business leaders, policymakers, creatives, and investors, as well as senior representatives from African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the AfCFTA Secretariat. Themed “Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA,” the event spotlighted strategies to build resilient supply chains and boost intra-African trade. 

    Accelerating intra-African trade is pivotal to unlocking industrial opportunities tailored to the continent’s strengths. It reduces dependence on external markets, builds economic resilience, and enables value addition within Africa. When African nations trade more with one another, they retain more wealth, create higher-quality jobs, and foster inclusive growth through regional value chains. 

    With the AfCFTA creating a single market of 1.4 billion people, Africa gains the scale and efficiency needed to compete globally. A stronger internal market also improves the continent’s bargaining power in international negotiations, strengthens its integration into global supply chains, and sets the stage for long-term economic transformation. 

    South Africa’s strong industrial base, advanced financial sector, and world-class infrastructure position it as a regional anchor for AfCFTA implementation. According to South African Revenue Service (SARS) and UN COMTRADE, South Africa recorded merchandise exports of $110.5 billion and imports of $113.2 billion in 2023, resulting in a modest trade deficit of $2.7 billion. Trade made up 65.7% of GDP (World Bank, 2023), demonstrating South Africa’s deep integration into global markets. 

    Notably, intra-African trade remained a national strength. As reported in Afreximbank’s 2024 African Trade Report, South Africa exported $29.6 billion and imported $9.6 billion from African partners, with intra-African exports comprising 26.8% of total exports. Key sectors such as automotive, agro-processing, and financial services are already benefiting and poised to grow further through regional integration and value chain expansion. 

    Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, highlighted ongoing efforts to enable seamless intro-Africa trade: “Afreximbank is deeply committed to unlocking Africa’s industrial and trade potential by building enabling ecosystems from financing to infrastructure and standards. Through platforms like the Africa Trade Gateway and Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), we are removing long-standing barriers to intra-African trade, allowing businesses to transact in local currencies and access real-time market intelligence.”  

    Dr. Zanamwe also emphasised the growing role of South Africa and Algeria in regional value chains, especially in manufacturing and automotive sectors. He encouraged South African companies to participate actively in IATF2025, pointing to over $13 billion in EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contracts facilitated by Afreximbank. He also highlighted funding vehicles such as the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the Africa Direct Investment Initiative, and the $2 billion Export Agriculture for Food Security programme. 

    “IATF2025 is not just an exhibition – it’s a business gateway. With 2,000+ exhibitors, 35,000 visitors, and 140+ participating countries, we project over $44 billion in trade and investment deals. This is South Africa’s opportunity to lead,” he said. 

    In closing, H.E. Ambassador Ali Achoui, Algeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, extended a warm invitation to South African businesses: 

    “Welcome to Algeria – a country with the third-largest GDP in Africa, no external debt, and ranked first in Africa and the Arab world in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud to host IATF2025 and are committed to facilitating streamlined visa processes by reducing documentation requirements to ease access for all African participants.” 

    Since 2018, IATF has secured more than $100 billion in trade deals, welcomed over 70,000 visitors, more than 4500 exhibitors and has become Africa’s most influential trade and investment platform. 

    The event will feature: 

    • A trade exhibition 
    • The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) showcase of fashion, music, film, sports, gastronomy, arts and craft, and literature 
    • A four-day Trade and Investment Forum 
    • The Africa Automotive Show 
    • Special Country Days and Global Africa Day celebrations 
    • B2B and B2G matchmaking 
    • The AU Youth Start-Up programme 
    • The Africa Research & Innovation Hub 
    • AfSNET to promote sub-national trade and cultural exchange 
    • IATF virtual. 

    To register for IATF2025 or learn more, please visit: www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact: 
    media@intrafricatradefair.com  
    press@afreximbank.com

    About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
    Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is designed to boost intra-African trade and investment. It provides a unique platform for businesses to connect, exchange trade and market information, and explore opportunities to scale across Africa. IATF is open to African and global companies committed to supporting the continent’s industrialisation and transformation. 

    About The Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC):  
    JTC, the official sponsor of the IATF2025 South Africa Business Roadshow, is focused on promoting Johannesburg as a business and leisure destination and often supports various events within the city.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Trusted Crypto Casinos: 2025 Player Preferences Exposed in New Research Release! By All iGaming

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Martinsburg, West Virginia, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — All iGaming experts have thoroughly tested a wide range of crypto gambling platforms to reveal the top-rated crypto casinos for 2025, featured in this exclusive report. The evaluation focused on key aspects such as licensing, security, game variety, bonus fairness, payout speed, and overall user experience to curate a list of the most trusted and rewarding platforms.

    This guide is your roadmap to navigating the fast-evolving world of crypto gambling and discovering the best bitcoin casinos that suit your playing style and preferences.

    >>> Leading Casinos Listed by All iGaming – Find Out Who’s The Winner

    Why Crypto Casinos Are Revolutionizing Online Gambling

    Crypto casinos are reshaping the iGaming industry in 2025 by offering unparalleled advantages over traditional online casinos. These platforms combine cutting-edge technology with player-centric features, making them the go-to choice for modern gamblers. All iGaming team has identified the key reasons why the best crypto casinos are dominating the market:

    • Lightning-Fast Transactions

    Speed is a defining feature of the best crypto casinos. Unlike traditional platforms, where withdrawals can take days due to banking delays, crypto casinos leverage blockchain technology for near-instant transactions. All iGaming’s top-rated platforms, such as those in our 2025 list, process payouts in as little as 8–30 minutes, ensuring players can access their winnings quickly. This efficiency makes trusted crypto casinos a favorite for those who value rapid cashouts.

    • Cost-Effective Transactions

    Cryptocurrency transactions are remarkably cost-efficient, with minimal fees compared to traditional banking methods, which can charge up to 10% for international transfers or card payments. The best crypto casinos, as vetted by All iGaming, often cover network fees, allowing players to keep more of their winnings. This affordability is especially beneficial for global players, as cryptocurrencies eliminate costly currency conversion fees, enhancing the value of every bet.

    • Enhanced Privacy and Anonymity

    Privacy is a major draw for players choosing the best crypto casinos. Many platforms offer no-KYC (Know Your Customer) registration, requiring only an email address for signup, enabling anonymous gameplay. By supporting privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Monero and ZCash, these casinos allow players to shield their transaction details, reducing data exposure risks. All iGaming prioritizes platforms that balance privacy with robust security, ensuring a safe gaming environment.

    • Provably Fair Gameplay

    A standout feature of the best bitcoin casinos is their use of provably fair games, which utilize blockchain technology to ensure transparency and fairness. Players can independently verify game outcomes, confirming randomness and addressing concerns about rigged results. Popular provably fair games like Crash, Dice, and Plinko are staples at All iGaming’s recommended casinos, fostering trust among players. This transparency sets crypto casinos apart from traditional platforms and is a key criterion in our evaluation process.

    • Global Accessibility

    Crypto casinos transcend geographical boundaries, making them accessible to players in regions with restrictive banking systems, such as parts of Asia or Africa. Cryptocurrencies bypass local currency barriers, and many platforms support VPN usage to enhance inclusivity. 

    All iGaming’s top picks ensure that players worldwide can enjoy trusted crypto casinos, regardless of local regulations, making them a truly global gaming solution.

    • Booming Market Growth

    The crypto gambling industry is experiencing explosive growth, with total bets reaching $26 billion in Q1 2025, nearly double the previous year’s volume. Industry projections estimate the crypto casino market will grow from $6.3 billion in 2023 to $55.3 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.29%. 

    All iGaming’s meticulous analysis ensures that only the most reliable and innovative platforms make our list, capitalizing on this booming market to deliver exceptional gaming experiences.

    >>> Explore the Premier Crypto Casinos Rated by All iGaming!

    How All iGaming Experts Reviewed and Ranked Crypto Casinos for 2025

    To identify the best crypto casinos for 2025, All iGaming employed a comprehensive testing methodology, ensuring only the most trustworthy platforms are recommended. Our evaluation process focuses on the following critical criteria:

    1. Licensing and Security

    All iGaming endorses only casinos with valid licenses from reputable authorities like Curaçao or Malta. Platforms without clear licensing are excluded from our recommendations. We also prioritize advanced security measures, such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA), to protect player data and funds. 

    Our top picks, including those in our 2025 list, are licensed by the Curaçao eGaming Commission and employ robust security protocols.

    2. Diverse Game Offerings

    The best crypto casinos offer expansive game libraries, including slots, table games, live dealer options, and provably fair titles. All iGaming favors platforms partnered with top-tier providers like Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, and NetEnt to ensure high-quality gameplay. Our recommended casinos boast game catalogs exceeding 7,000 titles, catering to all player preferences.

    3. Transparent Bonuses

    Bonuses are a key attraction, but transparency is essential. All iGaming scrutinizes bonus generosity, wagering requirements (20x–40x), maximum bet limits, and clear terms. Only casinos with player-friendly promotions, such as wager-free spins or high-match bonuses, qualify for our list of the best crypto casinos.

    4. Flexible Payment Methods

    Support for multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and altcoins, is a must. All iGaming evaluates transaction speeds and fees, favoring platforms with instant withdrawals and minimal costs. Our top picks support a wide range of crypto and fiat payment methods to ensure flexibility.

    5. Seamless User Experience

    A user-friendly interface enhances the gaming experience. All iGaming tests platforms across desktop and mobile devices, assessing navigation, load times, and mobile compatibility. Casinos with intuitive interfaces and Telegram integration rank highly for convenience and accessibility.

    6. Reliable Customer Support

    Responsive support is crucial for resolving issues quickly. All iGaming contacts support teams to evaluate response times and assistance quality, prioritizing casinos with 24/7 live chat and clear communication. Our top platforms offer round-the-clock support to ensure player satisfaction.

    7. Industry Reputation

    Player feedback and industry standing are key indicators of reliability. All iGaming considers platforms with consistently positive reviews and no unresolved complaints. Our recommended casinos have earned high ratings and industry accolades, solidifying their status as trusted crypto casinos.

    >>> Ready to Play? Find the Best Crypto Casinos Curated by All iGaming!

    ⚖️Legal Landscape of Crypto Casinos

    The legality of crypto casinos varies by region, creating a complex regulatory environment. In jurisdictions like the UK and Malta, crypto casinos operate legally under licenses from authorities such as Curaçao. However, in countries with strict gambling or crypto laws, such as China or certain U.S. states, their status may be ambiguous. 

    All iGaming strongly recommends that players verify local regulations before engaging with crypto gambling sites. Choosing licensed platforms ensures compliance and enhances player safety. Our top picks display clear licensing information to prioritize trust and security.

    ️Game Selection at the Crypto Casinos

    The best crypto casinos offer diverse game libraries that cater to all player types. All iGaming’s top-rated platforms feature thousands of games across multiple categories, ensuring a thrilling experience for everyone. Here’s a breakdown of the key offerings in 2025:

    1. Slots

    Slots dominate crypto casinos, with thousands of titles ranging from classic three-reel games to modern video slots with features like Megaways, cascading reels, and progressive jackpots. Popular games like Sweet Bonanza and Book of Dead offer high RTPs (95%–97%), while exclusive crypto-themed slots add a unique flair. All iGaming’s top picks feature over 6,000 slot titles from leading providers like Pragmatic Play and BGaming.

    2. Table Games

    Classic table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker are available in multiple variants. European roulette offers better odds than American roulette, while poker variants like Texas Hold’em include side bets for bigger wins. Betting starts at $1, with high-stakes options for experienced players. All iGaming’s recommended casinos offer extensive table game selections.

    3. Live Dealer Games

    Live dealer games deliver an immersive casino experience with professional dealers streamed in real-time. Options include live blackjack, roulette, and game shows like Crazy Time, powered by providers like Evolution Gaming. Bets start as low as $0.20, making these games accessible to all budgets. All iGaming’s top platforms excel in offering high-quality live dealer experiences.

    4. Provably Fair Games

    Unique to crypto casinos, provably fair games like Crash, Dice, Mines, and Plinko allow players to verify outcomes on the blockchain. These fast-paced games combine transparency with engaging gameplay, appealing to trust-conscious players. All iGaming prioritizes platforms with robust provably fair offerings.

    5. Specialty Games

    Casual players enjoy specialty games like keno, bingo, scratch cards, and virtual sports. These low-stakes options, often under $1, offer instant results and simple fun, perfect for relaxed gaming sessions. All iGaming’s top casinos include a variety of specialty games to cater to diverse preferences.

    >>> Find the Top Crypto Casinos with the Best Game Selection at All iGaming!

    Bonuses and Promotions at Crypto Casinos

    Bonuses are a major draw for players at the best crypto casinos, and All iGaming ensures that only platforms with transparent and player-friendly promotions make our list. Here’s a detailed look at the key bonus offerings in 2025:

    • Welcome Bonuses

    Most crypto casinos provide 100%-325 % match bonuses on initial deposits, up to 5 BTC, often paired with 50–250 free spins. All iGaming emphasizes casinos with reasonable wagering requirements (20x–40x) to ensure players can maximize bonus value.

    • No Deposit Bonuses

    Some of All iGaming’s top-rated crypto casinos offer no-deposit bonuses, such as small crypto amounts or free spins, allowing players to test platforms without risking funds. These bonuses typically carry higher wagering requirements (40x–60x), but they’re ideal for exploring new casinos.

    • Reload Bonuses

    Reload bonuses, ranging from 25%–100% up to $50–$300, reward subsequent deposits. These are often tied to weekly promotions or VIP status. All iGaming prioritizes casinos with frequent and fair reload bonuses to enhance player value.

    • Cashback Offers

    Cashback of 5%–20% on losses, often daily or weekly, is a common feature at crypto casinos. All iGaming’s top picks offer wagering in an instant, and MIRAX Casino. Here’s a detailed look at each platform’s unique features, payment methods, and bonuses. 

     >>> Maximize Your Winnings with All iGaming’s Expert Tips!

    All iGaming’s Tips for Maximizing Your Crypto Casino Experience

    To make the most of the best crypto casinos, All iGaming recommends the following strategies:

    • Understand Terms: Read the bonus and withdrawal policies to avoid unexpected restrictions.
    • Manage Funds: Set a budget and wager only what you can afford to lose to maintain responsible gambling habits.
    • Use Bonuses Wisely: Leverage fair bonuses to extend playtime and increase winning potential.
    • Choose Provably Fair Games: Prioritize transparent games to ensure trust and fairness.
    • Test Support: Contact customer service before depositing to assess responsiveness and reliability.
    • Secure Your Account: Use 2FA and trusted crypto wallets to protect your funds.

    By following these tips, you can enjoy a safe and rewarding experience at All iGaming’s top-rated crypto casinos.

    Responsible Gambling at Crypto Casinos

    Responsible gambling is a priority at All iGaming’s recommended crypto casinos. Top platforms offer tools to help players stay in control, including:

    • Deposit Limits: Cap daily, weekly, or monthly deposits to manage spending.
    • Session Timers: Receive reminders to monitor playtime.
    • Self-Exclusion: Temporarily or permanently block account access for a break from gambling.
    • Support Resources: Access organizations like Gamblers Anonymous for additional help.

    All iGaming encourages players to set limits early and monitor spending to keep gambling fun and safe. If gambling feels overwhelming, seek support immediately.

    Are Crypto Casinos Worth It in 2025? According to All iGaming

    Crypto casinos in 2025 are undeniably worth exploring, offering unmatched speed, privacy, and innovative features like provably fair games and generous bonuses. All iGaming’s rigorous testing ensures that only the most reliable and exciting platforms make our list, delivering secure and thrilling experiences for players worldwide. 

    However, choosing the right casino is crucial- verify licensing, review bonus terms, and check local laws to ensure compliance. By selecting All iGaming’s trusted crypto casinos, you can dive into the exhilarating world of crypto gambling with confidence.

    >>> Start Your Crypto Journey with All iGaming’s Top Picks Today!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Why did my balance suddenly change after a game ended?

    ANS: Crypto values can fluctuate rapidly. If your casino wallet auto-converts to a stablecoin or fiat equivalent, price swings in BTC or ETH could impact your displayed balance. Also, game providers may round wins- check your transaction history for precise entries.

    2. Can I reverse a mistaken crypto transaction?

    ANS: Unfortunately, no. Blockchain transactions are irreversible. Always double-check the deposit address and amount before sending. If you sent funds to the wrong address, the casino can’t retrieve them- only the wallet owner can.

    3. My bonus vanished after logging out. What happened?

    ANS: Some promotions are time-limited or tied to a single session. If you didn’t meet the playthrough or exit during bonus rounds, the offer may expire. Always check the bonus countdown timer and wagering status under “Promotions” or “My Bonuses.”

    4. What should I do if a game loads forever or says ‘Connecting to server’?

    ANS: Clear your cache and cookies, try incognito mode, or switch browsers. If the issue persists, it could be a provider-side error- take a screenshot and report it to live chat so they can troubleshoot or credit your session.

    5. Can I play from a country with restricted access using a VPN?

    ANS: Technically, yes, but it’s risky. Many crypto casinos ban accounts caught using VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions, and winnings may be forfeited. Always check the Terms of Service- some platforms support VPNs explicitly, while others strictly prohibit them.

    6. What if I accidentally claimed the wrong bonus?

    ANS: Reach out to support immediately via live chat. Some casinos can reverse a mistakenly activated bonus if it hasn’t been used yet. Otherwise, you may need to meet the wagering requirements before claiming a different promo.

    7. Why was my withdrawal converted into a different coin?

    ANS: Some platforms automatically convert smaller altcoin balances into stablecoins or Bitcoin to streamline processing. You can usually set your preferred payout currency under account settings- be sure to check this before requesting a withdrawal.

    8. Can I recover an abandoned session from another device?

    ANS: Yes, most top-tier crypto casinos sync your sessions across devices. Just log in from your new device and reopen the game. Your state- whether mid-spin, bet placed, or free round active- should load automatically thanks to cloud sync.

    9. What happens if I try to withdraw a bonus without meeting the wagering terms?

    ANS: Your withdrawal may be blocked, or the bonus and any winnings from it could be removed. Always check the wagering progress bar- usually found in your account dashboard- to ensure you’ve met the requirements before cashing out.

    10. Are mobile crypto casinos secure for real-money play?

    ANS: Yes- if you’re playing at a licensed, reputable platform. Look for SSL encryption (padlock icon), two-factor authentication, and provably fair games. Avoid downloading sketchy apps from unofficial sources- stick to web-based mobile versions or apps from trusted links.

    >>> Get Answers to All Your Questions at All iGaming!

    Disclaimer

    The information provided about the best crypto casinos is for informational purposes only. While All iGaming strives to offer accurate and up-to-date details, online gambling involves financial risks, and all players are encouraged to proceed responsibly. We recommend that users verify the licensing, security measures, and terms of service of any crypto casino before engaging in play. Gambling may be subject to legal restrictions in some regions, so it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with local laws. All iGaming does not endorse or promote any specific casino and strongly advises users to gamble responsibly.

    Email: support@alligaming.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Schengen area turns 40

    Source: European Union 2

    Freedom and security

    What do Prague, Lisbon, Geneva and Schengen have in common? 

    They all speak the same language

    They are all cities of countries in the Schengen area

    They all share borders

    All the previous answers are correct

    Correct!

    They are all cities of countries in the Schengen area.

    Incorrect.

    The correct answer is: They are all cities of countries in the Schengen area.

    On 14 June 1985, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands came together in the town of Schengen and agreed to gradually abolish checks at their internal borders.

    They signed the Schengen Agreement, allowing for the free movement of people, goods, and services amongst themselves.

    Where is Schengen? 

    With a population of over 5 200 the village of Schengen in Luxembourg has been on everyone’s lips for 40 years.

    ©Getty Images | © Allard Schager

    ©Getty Images | © Allard Schager

    Did you know?

    Schengen is bordered by the Moselle, a river that is a shared territory between

    Luxembourg, France, and Germany.

    There is no better symbol of EU integration than this one.

    What does Schengen mean today?

    The Schengen area has blossomed into the world’s largest area of freedom and security.

    The widening of the Schengen area

    A beacon of freedom and opportunity

    People can travel freely between Schengen countries. 

    Shifting border controls to our common external borders has reduced paperwork, waiting times and costs.

    It has fundamentally transformed how people live, work and travel for the better.

    ©Getty Images | Thierry Monasse

    ©Getty Images | Thierry Monasse

    Did you know?

    Every year Europeans make an estimated

    1.25 billion journeys

    within the Schengen area.

    Working together: greater security

    We are safer too, thanks to Schengen.

    Reducing barriers internally was accompanied by increased cooperation between police forces, customs authorities and external border control authorities, helping to make Europe more secure and reinforcing our external borders and managing migration more effectively. 

    This is essential to fight terrorism, organised crime and hybrid threats.

    Schengen Information System (SIS) is the most widely used and largest information sharing system for security and border management in Europe and allows authorities to share and access security alerts in real time across Schengen.

    ©Getty Images | Hristo Rusev

    ©Getty Images | Hristo Rusev

    Did you know?

    Almost

    2 million

    police officers, border guards, immigration officers, and consular staff work and cooperate every day to ensure our freedom and security.

    A place where businesses and citizens can thrive

    Schengen is a major driver of competitiveness and a true enabler of the single market. Since workers and goods can move freely, companies are able to reduce administrative costs and access larger markets at the same time.

    The same goes for the tourism and cultural sectors. Schengen simplifies travel, making Europe an even more attractive tourist destination. For example, visitors coming from non-Schengen countries can access all Schengen 29 countries with just one Schengen visa. This in turn directly benefits revenues for local businesses and economies.

    ©Getty Images | Bloomberg

    ©Getty Images | Bloomberg

    Did you know?

    In 2024,

    nearly 1.5 billion nights

    were spent at tourism establishments across the Schengen countries by tourists from other Schengen states or outside Schengen.

    Freedom. Opportunity. Security. Unity.

    Thanks to Schengen, we have more of all of them.

    40 years of expanding our horizons, while bringing us closer together.

    Now that’s truly something to celebrate.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: AGCO Slashes Total Case Injury Rates by Over 50% Across South America Using VelocityEHS Industrial Ergonomics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS, the global leader in EHS & ESG software solutions, today announced that AGCO, the world’s largest pure-play agricultural equipment manufacturer, has achieved a dramatic improvement in workplace safety through its implementation of VelocityEHS Industrial Ergonomics.

    “Ergonomics improvement is about enhancing productivity, reducing cost and boosting morale by reducing employee injuries and ultimately delivering the best products for our farmers,” said Tim Millwood, AGCO’s Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer.

    In 2024 alone, AGCO conducted nearly 400 Kaizen events across six South American facilities—with more than half of those focused specifically on ergonomics and safety. The results speak volumes: Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) dropped by more than 50% in sites where the ergonomics initiative was deployed.

    These improvements were achieved primarily through low-cost, high impact solutions and were driven by a structured, bottom-up approach that empowered local teams to easily identify, assess, and reduce musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries using the VelocityEHS AI-driven Industrial Ergonomics solution.

    “Our people were trained to ‘see with ergo eyes’—giving them the ability to recognize risks and spot improvement opportunities in their everyday work,” said Walid El-Sayed, Global Director of Lean Academy and Global Director of Materials Management at AGCO.

    From Training to Transformation

    The partnership between AGCO and VelocityEHS began with a bold vision: to build an internal culture of ergonomics expertise and embed safety into every layer of production. As a result, AGCO delivered a structured, scalable program—an approach that served as a practical model for implementation across facilities.

    Their program included:

    • 2 days of software training
    • 2 days of hands-on Kaizen workshops with cross-functional teams
    • Seamless integration into AGCO’s APS (AGCO Production System) using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology

    Leadership That Walks the Talk

    AGCO credits its success to more than technology. The company’s leadership—guided by its core cultural beliefs: “Farmer First, Speak Up!, Team Up!”—has made a visible commitment to employee well-being.

    “I’m blessed to have leaders who don’t just talk the talk, but walk the talk,” said El-Sayed.

    Looking ahead, AGCO is now embedding ergonomics into New Product Introduction (NPI) processes—ensuring safety is designed in from the start, not added as an afterthought.

    A Shared Commitment to Safety and Innovation

    “AGCO exemplifies how operational excellence and worker well-being can go hand in hand,” said Matt Airhart, CEO of VelocityEHS. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to making ergonomics accessible, effective, and embedded in the fabric of everyday operations. Their results prove that when you empower people with the right tools and training, safety becomes a driver of performance.”

    Read the full case study on the VelocityEHS website.

    About VelocityEHS

    Relied on by more than 10 million users worldwide to drive operational excellence and achieve outstanding outcomes, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform is the definitive gold standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for managing Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. In addition, Velocity offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.

    The VelocityEHS team includes unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified experts in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, the environment, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized by the EHS industry’s top independent analysts as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS is committed to industry thought leadership and to accelerating the pace of innovation through its software solutions and vision. Its privacy and security protocols, which include SOC2 Type II attestation, are among the most stringent in the industry.

    VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Western Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com.

    To learn more, visit www.EHS.com.

    Media Contact

    Jennifer Sinkwitts

    jsinkwitts@ehs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TechSmith Debuts Camtasia Online, the Free Web-based Version of the Award-Winning Screen Recorder and Editor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EAST LANSING, Mich., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TechSmith Corporation, an industry leader in visual communication, released Camtasia online, a free lite web-based version of its industry-leading screen recorder and video editor, Camtasia, used by more than 34 million people globally. The streamlined experience of the popular screen recorder enables users to create, customize, share, and collaborate on high-quality videos for free with no software download, subscription, or watermark. The solution is ideal for creating step-by-step walkthroughs and tutorials, providing personalized feedback or coaching, and showcasing a product or service.

    “We’re excited to launch the first free, online version of Camtasia—a foundational step in bringing the power of our award-winning solution to more people, right in their browser,” said Tony Lambert, CTO of TechSmith. “Video is a team sport now, and Camtasia online makes it easier for creators of all skill levels to collaborate and create high-quality content from anywhere. While this first release focuses on streamlined creation, it will continue to grow in capability, and users can move projects into the Camtasia desktop editor for more advanced editing when needed.”

    Camtasia online features

    • High-quality screen recording: Capture crystal-clear five-minute scenes in 1080p HD with flexible options for application-specific or full-screen recording, ensuring every detail is sharp and professional. Camtasia online records screen, camera, and microphone on separate layers to offer maximum editing flexibility.
    • Endless design options: Choose from 85+ pre-defined “looks” that match your style and then customize further with thousands of different effects and backgrounds for both camera and screen. Enjoy features like background removal, borders, drop shadows, corner rounding, masks, and reflections — all of which can be applied before or after recording.
    • Effortless editing: Quickly trim video scenes. Every edit is completely reversible, giving users the freedom to refine content stress-free.
    • Seamless collaboration: Invite others to collaborate on entire projects or assign access to specific scenes.
    • Flexible export and sharing options: Publish a Camtasia online project via link share or export directly to Camtasia 2025’s desktop editor to take advantage of enhanced capabilities including transitions, annotations, and dynamic captions.

    Camtasia online is available for free today on popular web browsers including Google Chrome and Safari. Start recording at https://camtasia.techsmith.com/.

    About Camtasia
    Camtasia is an industry-leading screen recording, video, and audio editing solution to simplify the creation of high-quality tutorials, demos, training, and visual content. With a rich, expansive, and flexible feature set, Camtasia has the lowest barrier of entry of any recording and editing software, helping users educate, inspire, and excite their audience with professional-quality videos. Its intuitive Camtasia Rev workflow guides users through various size, layout, background, effect, and filter choices, empowering users of all skill levels to quickly create professional quality videos. Camtasia is used by more than 34 million people globally, including all Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google. In 2024, Camtasia was rated a top 5 screen and video capture solution by G2’s community of reviewers. Camtasia is offered both as a full-featured desktop application and a streamlined web-based version, which also integrates seamlessly with the main editor. For more information, visit www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html. Connect with Camtasia on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram. For more information, visit https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/.

    About TechSmith
    TechSmith is the market leader in screen capture software and productivity solutions for daily in-person, remote or hybrid workplace communication and customer-facing image and video content. The company’s award-winning flagship products, Snagit, Camtasia, and Audiate empower anyone to create remarkable videos and images that share knowledge for better training, tutorials, and everyday communication. TechSmith creates easy-to-use software and provides expert training resources and unmatched support — making TechSmith the global leader for easily creating effective images and videos. To date, billions of images and videos have been created with TechSmith’s products by more than 73 million people across more than 190 countries. TechSmith is ranked as a top 10 company in G2’s Spring 2024 report and winner of a 2024 Training Magazine Network Choice Award. Connect with TechSmith on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook. For more information, visit www.techsmith.com.

    Media Contact:
    Ross Blume
    Fusion Public Relations
    techsmith@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Declining soil health is a global concern – here’s how AI could help

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nima Shokri, Professor, Applied Engineering, United Nations University

    The arid Loess plateau landscape of northern China. yang1498/Shutterstock

    One-third of the Earth’s land surface is already degraded. The UN estimates that more than 2.6 billion people are harmed by land degradation, with countries losing up to US$10.6 trillion (£7.8 trillion) a year because of damage to “ecosystem services”, including the benefits people get from nature such as water and food.

    Unhealthy soil is a major contributor to land degradation. This can lead to loss of biodiversity, harm plants and animals, cause sand and dust storms and affect crop yields.

    These consequences affect the regulation of the planet’s climate and water cycle, socioeconomic activities, food security and forced migration of people.

    Emerging smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite remote sensing and big data analysis offer a chance to protect our soils. These tools can help track soil health in real time. This will support farmers, landowners, government agencies and local communities in making better decisions to care for the soil.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    As a professor of geo-hydroinformatics – a field that combines geoscience, hydrology and information technology – my research focuses on using AI, algorithms and advanced modelling tools to better analyse and predict soil health.

    My team and I have developed the first global map of soil salinisation (accumulation of salt in soil) under various climate scenarios using AI-powered techniques. Soil salinisation is one of the leading contributors to soil degradation and can happen naturally or because of human activities, such as using salty irrigation water or poor drainage systems.

    With increasing climate uncertainty, our models help identify regions most vulnerable to salinisation. Our AI-driven analysis predicts that by the year 2100, dryland regions in South America, southern and western Australia, Mexico, the southwestern US and South Africa will be key hotspots of soil salinisation.

    In another key study, we used satellite data, AI and big data tools to investigate the interaction between soil salinity and soil organic carbon – an important part of healthy soil that stores nutrients, holds water and supports plants.

    Part of this analysis revealed a general negative correlation between salinity levels and soil organic carbon content. As salinity increased, we found that the soil organic carbon content tended to decrease.

    Our two studies underscore the transformative potential of AI technologies and big data analytics in understanding soil degradation. With a deeper understanding, land can be better managed through more effective mitigation policies and sustainable land use planning.

    Restoration at scale

    Large-scale land restoration can transform degraded soils. In the Loess plateau in China, centuries of deforestation and unsustainable farming have led to significant ecological challenges. Loess soils (a type not limited to this location in China, formed essentially by the accumulation of wind-blown dust) are easily eroded because they are made up of fine and loose particles.

    Degradation here has led to more frequent floods, droughts and dust storms because soil degradation is often associated with compaction. This reduces the ability of soil to absorb and hold water.

    In the 1990s, this prompted the Chinese government to invest in reforestation and sustainable agriculture. This led to the landmark Loess plateau watershed rehabilitation project, with the main goal of boosting farming and incomes on 15,600km² of land in the Yellow River’s tributary area. The total project cost of US$150 million, partly funded by the World Bank, was approved in 1994.

    Elsewhere, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the EthioTrees project was launched in 2016 to tackle land degradation through community-based reforestation, enclosures to limit grazing, and reinvestment of funds generated through climate finance mechanisms.

    Tree planting and other efforts have transformed the Tigray region of Ethiopia into a more fertile landscape.
    Jon Duncan/Shutterstock

    Despite challenges including drought and limited financial resources, these large-scale restoration projects have transformed the landscape and lives of people living there.

    But the Loess plateau and Tigray projects have been complex and expensive. A lot of coordination between people across huge regions and in different sectors is required to ensure a successful, integrated approach. AI can take these successful but resource-intensive restoration efforts and help scale them up.

    I’m also involved with a European Commission-funded project called AI4SoilHealth, which aims to advance the use of AI to monitor and quantify soil health across Europe. This project shows how data-driven initiatives can support more sustainable land management policies by providing timely, actionable information to governments, farmers and other stakeholders such as landowners, agribusiness companies and local communities.

    By integrating satellite imagery with accurate data about soil properties in different locations, AI can help develop robust, scalable models that cross local boundaries. Knowing where best to invest money, resources and effort in scaling up soil health solutions will help protect people, businesses and ecosystems from extreme events in the future.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Nima Shokri receives funding from European Commission for the AI4SoilHealth project.

    – ref. Declining soil health is a global concern – here’s how AI could help – https://theconversation.com/declining-soil-health-is-a-global-concern-heres-how-ai-could-help-258847

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: MKS Named in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) (“MKS”), a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report (“U.S. News”) as one of the 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For. MKS was rated as a top company in the Manufacturing and Agriculture Industries category based on factors contributing to job seekers’ decision-making when choosing a workplace that best meets their needs.

    “Receiving this prestigious recognition for the third consecutive year is a testament to the innovative work we do and the supportive organizational climate we have cultivated,” said John T.C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer at MKS. “Our success rests on our ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals who are committed to advancing technology and serving as invaluable partners to our customers. We are grateful for this acknowledgement of our efforts to provide engaging and meaningful careers for our employees.”

    U.S. News’ ratings reflect the evolving sentiments that factor into employee decision-making when choosing the “best” company to work for. The ratings then analyze that sentiment against other factors, including quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

    “Choosing a company to establish yourself or advance your career is a crucial decision for anyone,” said Carly Chase, Vice President of Careers at U.S. News & World Report. “The 2025-2026 list features companies that excelled across various metrics, contributing to a positive work environment and the daily employee experience.”

    To calculate the annual U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list, U.S. News only considered the largest 5,000 publicly traded companies as of January 2025 that had more than 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 2021-2025. Relevant data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs, Good Jobs First’s Violation Tracker and QUODD to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology.

    For more information on the Best Companies to Work For, review the FAQs and explore Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) using #BCTWF.

    About MKS Inc.
    MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) enables technologies that transform our world. We deliver foundational technology solutions to leading edge semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications. We apply our broad science and engineering capabilities to create instruments, subsystems, systems, process control solutions and specialty chemicals technology that improve process performance, optimize productivity and enable unique innovations for many of the world’s leading technology and industrial companies. Our solutions are critical to addressing the challenges of miniaturization and complexity in advanced device manufacturing by enabling increased power, speed, feature enhancement, and optimized connectivity. Our solutions are also critical to addressing ever-increasing performance requirements across a wide array of specialty industrial applications. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com.

    About U.S. News & World Report
    U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

    Contacts:

    Bill Casey
    Vice President, Marketing
    Telephone: +1 (630) 995-6384
    Email: press@mksinst.com

    Kelly Kerry, Partner
    Kekst CNC
    Email: kerry.kelly@kekstcnc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MKS Named in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) (“MKS”), a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report (“U.S. News”) as one of the 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For. MKS was rated as a top company in the Manufacturing and Agriculture Industries category based on factors contributing to job seekers’ decision-making when choosing a workplace that best meets their needs.

    “Receiving this prestigious recognition for the third consecutive year is a testament to the innovative work we do and the supportive organizational climate we have cultivated,” said John T.C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer at MKS. “Our success rests on our ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals who are committed to advancing technology and serving as invaluable partners to our customers. We are grateful for this acknowledgement of our efforts to provide engaging and meaningful careers for our employees.”

    U.S. News’ ratings reflect the evolving sentiments that factor into employee decision-making when choosing the “best” company to work for. The ratings then analyze that sentiment against other factors, including quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

    “Choosing a company to establish yourself or advance your career is a crucial decision for anyone,” said Carly Chase, Vice President of Careers at U.S. News & World Report. “The 2025-2026 list features companies that excelled across various metrics, contributing to a positive work environment and the daily employee experience.”

    To calculate the annual U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list, U.S. News only considered the largest 5,000 publicly traded companies as of January 2025 that had more than 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 2021-2025. Relevant data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs, Good Jobs First’s Violation Tracker and QUODD to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology.

    For more information on the Best Companies to Work For, review the FAQs and explore Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) using #BCTWF.

    About MKS Inc.
    MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) enables technologies that transform our world. We deliver foundational technology solutions to leading edge semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications. We apply our broad science and engineering capabilities to create instruments, subsystems, systems, process control solutions and specialty chemicals technology that improve process performance, optimize productivity and enable unique innovations for many of the world’s leading technology and industrial companies. Our solutions are critical to addressing the challenges of miniaturization and complexity in advanced device manufacturing by enabling increased power, speed, feature enhancement, and optimized connectivity. Our solutions are also critical to addressing ever-increasing performance requirements across a wide array of specialty industrial applications. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com.

    About U.S. News & World Report
    U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

    Contacts:

    Bill Casey
    Vice President, Marketing
    Telephone: +1 (630) 995-6384
    Email: press@mksinst.com

    Kelly Kerry, Partner
    Kekst CNC
    Email: kerry.kelly@kekstcnc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mercurity Fintech Partners with Franklin Templeton to Advance Real-World Asset Tokenization with BENJI Tokens and FOBXX Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mercurity Fintech Holding Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our company,” or “MFH”) (NASDAQ: MFH), a digital fintech group, today announced a strategic partnership with Franklin Templeton, a global investment management organization managing over $1.53 trillion in assets as of April 30, 2025. This collaboration will integrate Franklin Templeton’s BENJI token and the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX) into Mercurity’s expanding platform for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).

    Created by Franklin Templeton, BENJI is a blockchain token that gives investors direct access to FOBXX, a regulated U.S. money market fund. Unlike traditional investments, BENJI combines the stability of government-backed securities with the flexibility of digital assets so investors can potentially earn steady returns while maintaining easy access to their funds.

    Moreover, the blockchain-based structure addresses traditional inefficiencies in money market fund operations by reducing settlement times, simplifying peer-to-peer asset transfers, streamlining collateral management, and speeding up transaction processing. All while maintaining full regulatory compliance and security standards.

    Mercurity Fintech’s target clients—both institutional and retail investors—can gain access to money market opportunities, while earning yield on their holdings without sacrificing liquidity or navigating complex traditional banking processes. The platform offers seamless crypto-to-fiat conversions, multi-chain ecosystem exposure across networks like Avalanche and Solana, and enhanced treasury tokenization capabilities that optimize yield and liquidity management for corporate cash reserves.

    Mercurity Fintech also plans to benefit from tokenized treasury products like BENJI in its own operations by generating returns on capital reserves while maintaining the flexibility needed for its growing digital asset ecosystem. The Company’s FINRA-registered broker-dealer subsidiary, Chaince Securities, will play a vital role in handling investment transactions and advisory services for these tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), providing compliant distribution and efficient market access through its investment banking and brokerage expertise.

    “This partnership with Franklin Templeton reflects our focus on bridging the gap between traditional and digital finance,” said Shi Qiu, CEO of Mercurity Fintech. “BENJI addresses a real pain point in the market by offering regulated money market access through blockchain technology. It’s the type of compliant, institutional-grade solution our platform is designed to support.”

    The partnership represents a significant step in making institutional-grade financial products more accessible through blockchain technology. As tokenized assets continue to gain traction, this collaboration between Mercurity Fintech and Franklin Templeton demonstrates how traditional financial institutions and fintech companies can work together to modernize investment access while maintaining regulatory standards.

    About Mercurity Fintech Holding Inc.
    Mercurity Fintech Holding Inc. (NASDAQ: MFH) is a fintech group powered by blockchain infrastructure, offering technology and financial services. Through its subsidiaries including Chaince Securities, LLC, MFH aims to bridge traditional finance and digital innovation, offering services spanning digital assets, financial advisory, and capital markets solutions.

    About Chaince Securities
    Chaince Securities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercurity Fintech, is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer specializing in investment banking and brokerage services. Chaince provides tailored advisory services, structured financial products, and compliant distribution channels for tokenized assets and securities, supporting Mercurity’s vision of bridging traditional finance with blockchain innovation.

    About Franklin Templeton
     Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE: BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and $1.53 trillion in AUM as of April 30, 2025. The Company posts information that may be significant for investors in the Investor Relations and News Center sections of its website, and encourages investors to consult those sections regularly. For more information, please visit investors.franklinresources.com.

    Franklin Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.

    Contacts:
    International Elite Capital Inc.
    Vicky Chueng
    Tel: +1(646) 866-7928
    Email: mfhfintech@iecapitalusa.com

    The MIL Network –

  • Kharif sowing rises to 89.29 lakh hectares in 2025, up by 1.48 lakh hectares from 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare released data on Monday on the progress of area coverage under kharif crops as of June 13, 2025, indicating a slight increase compared to the previous year. The total area sown for kharif crops in 2025 stands at 89.29 lakh hectares, up by 1.48 lakh hectares from 87.81 lakh hectares in 2024.

    According to the data, rice cultivation has seen a positive trend, with 4.53 lakh hectares sown in 2025 compared to 4.00 lakh hectares in 2024, marking an increase of 0.53 lakh hectares. The normal area for rice, based on the average from 2019-20 to 2023-24, is 403.09 lakh hectares. Pulses have also recorded a rise, with the sown area increasing to 3.07 lakh hectares in 2025 from 2.60 lakh hectares in 2024, a gain of 0.47 lakh hectares. Among pulses, urd bean and moong bean showed notable increases of 0.24 lakh hectares and 0.17 lakh hectares, respectively, while arhar saw a slight decline of 0.11 lakh hectares.

    The area under coarse cereals, including Shri Anna, remained nearly stable at 5.89 lakh hectares in 2025, marginally lower than 5.90 lakh hectares in 2024. Bajra cultivation surged significantly, with 0.86 lakh hectares sown compared to just 0.03 lakh hectares last year, an increase of 0.83 lakh hectares. However, maize and ragi witnessed declines of 0.68 lakh hectares and 0.29 lakh hectares, respectively.

    Oilseeds recorded a positive shift, with the sown area rising to 2.05 lakh hectares in 2025 from 1.50 lakh hectares in 2024, driven largely by a 0.66 lakh hectare increase in soybean cultivation. Groundnut, however, saw a slight decrease of 0.13 lakh hectares. Sugarcane cultivation remained robust, with 55.07 lakh hectares sown in 2025, slightly up from 54.88 lakh hectares in 2024. Cotton and jute & mesta, on the other hand, experienced minor declines of 0.09 lakh hectares and 0.17 lakh hectares, respectively.

    The data reflects the normal area coverage for kharif crops, calculated as an average from 2019-20 to 2023-24, totaling 1096.64 lakh hectares. The marginal increase in sown area this year highlights steady progress in kharif sowing, with notable variations across specific crops. The Ministry continues to monitor agricultural trends to support farmers and ensure food security as part of its ongoing initiatives.

  • MIL-OSI: The Netherlands Associations for Investor Relations (NEVIR) announces the nominees for the 18th Annual Dutch IR Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 12, 2025: The Netherlands Association for Investor Relations (NEVIR) is proud to announce the nominations for the 18th Annual Dutch IR Awards.

    The nominees are:

    AEX Company of the Year

    ASML Holding

    ASR Nederland

    Shell

    AEX IR Professional of the Year

    Marcel Kemp, ASML Holding

    Michel Hulters, ASR Nederland

    Robin van den Broek, NN Group

    AMX Company of the Year

    CTP

    Just Eat Takeaway.com

    Royal Vopak

    AMX IR Professional of the Year

    Rutger Relker, Aalberts

    Maarten Otte, CTP

    Fatjona Topciu, Royal Vopak

    AScX Company of the Year

    Alfen

    Avantium

    Wereldhave

    AScX IR Professional of the Year

    Aarne Luten, Avantium

    Floor van Maaren, ForFarmers

    Inge Laudy, PostNL

    Best ESG Engagement

    ASR Nederland

    Royal Ahold Delhaize

    Unilever

    Best Investor Event

    ASR Nederland

    Royal Ahold Delhaize

    Shell

    Best IR Website

    AkzoNobel

    KPN

    Philips

    Most Improved Company (IR Programme)

    Adyen

    Corbion

    Exor

    Young IR Talent

    Valentina Fantigrossi, ASM International

    Lennart Scholtus, Heineken Company

    Thomas Turnock, NN Group

    The Dutch IR Awards celebrates the achievements of individuals and companies of Dutch stock-listed companies across nine categories; ranging from Best IR professional and Company, to Best Investor Event. 

    The nominations for the Dutch IR Awards are based on European research by Extel and incorporate feedback from global buy and sell-side professionals. 

    The 2025 awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 3 in Amsterdam.

    SPONSORS

    We would like to extend our gratitude to our 2025 Dutch IR Awards sponsors:

    Platinum: ABN AMRO and ODDO BHF, CMi2i, Computershare Georgeson, Euronext Corporate Solutions, Ingage, ING 

    Gold: FGS Global, Nasdaq, Notified

    Silver: S&P Global Market Intelligence, Tangelo

    Sponsoring through services / products: Extel and NFGD

    The publication of this press release has been made possible by GlobeNewswire.

     For media enquiries:

    Heather Robertson and Jonathan Berger

    secretariaat@nevir.nl

     About the NEVIR:

    The Netherlands Association for Investor Relations (NEVIR), is the professional representative

    body and advocacy organisation for all members of Investor Relations teams at Dutch listed

    companies and consultants in the field of Investor Relations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fengate Asset Management and Tilbury Properties achieve financial close on new student residence in Ontario

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SARNIA, Ontario, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fengate Asset Management (Fengate), in partnership with Tilbury Properties (Tilbury), today announced financial close on a new student residence at Lambton College in Sarnia. The residence will provide much-needed accommodation to 311 college students when it opens in September 2027.

    Fengate and Tilbury were selected to design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain the new on-campus residence following a competitive procurement process. Fengate is managing the investment on behalf of the Fengate Infrastructure Yield Fund and its affiliated entities, including an investment by LiUNA’s Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada.

    Located in the heart of Lambton County, Lambton College is a globally recognized leader in education, innovation, and applied research. As the sole post-secondary institution in the region, the College plays a vital role in the community, driving economic development and diversification, propelling social and environmental innovation, and providing quality education to domestic and international students to ensure a thriving skilled workforce.

    “Fengate looks forward to bringing its deep institutional project experience to this new campus residence to provide modern, sustainable accommodation opportunities to Lambton College students in 2027,” said Mac Bell, Managing Director, Infrastructure Investments at Fengate.

    Fengate delivered and is operating the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in British Columbia (B.C.) – the only specialized post-secondary institution in B.C. In 2023, the firm also completed a public-private partnership bundle of six schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to provide state-of-the-art schools and 8,000 new desks for K-8 and middle school students.

    “Tilbury is proud to partner with Lambton College on this exciting new student residence,” said Michael Kaye, Founding Partner at Tilbury. “This thoughtfully designed project will modernize the College’s on-campus housing and support the academic and personal success of students for decades to come.”

    Specializing in purpose-built student accommodation, Tilbury takes a collaborative, hands-on approach with its post-secondary partners. The company prides itself on tailoring each project to meet the unique needs of academic institutions, creating exceptional living and learning environments. In September 2025, Tilbury will open a 452-bed residence and dining hall at the University of Windsor, further demonstrating its leadership in on-campus housing development.

    The new campus residence at Lambton College will incorporate energy-efficient systems and sustainable building materials to minimize environmental footprint and will include landscaped green spaces to enhance the campus environment.

    Construction is scheduled to start later this month.

    About Fengate

    Fengate is a leading alternative investment manager focused on infrastructure, private equity and real estate strategies, with more than $10 billion of capital commitments under management. The firm has been investing in infrastructure since 2006 with a focus on mid-market greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets in the transportation, social, energy transition and digital sectors. Fengate is one of North America’s most active infrastructure investors and developers with a portfolio of more than 50 assets. Learn more at www.fengate.com.

    About Tilbury

    Tilbury Properties is a Canadian real estate development firm focused on purpose-built student housing. Founded in 2020, the company has over 1,000 student beds in various stages of development, making it one of the leading developers in Canada’s student housing sector. Learn more at www.tilburyprop.com.

    Media Contact

    Maddison Sharples
    Vice President, Communications and Marketing
    Fengate Asset Management
    +1 416-254-3326
    Maddison.Sharples@fengate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fengate Asset Management and Tilbury Properties achieve financial close on new student residence in Ontario

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SARNIA, Ontario, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fengate Asset Management (Fengate), in partnership with Tilbury Properties (Tilbury), today announced financial close on a new student residence at Lambton College in Sarnia. The residence will provide much-needed accommodation to 311 college students when it opens in September 2027.

    Fengate and Tilbury were selected to design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain the new on-campus residence following a competitive procurement process. Fengate is managing the investment on behalf of the Fengate Infrastructure Yield Fund and its affiliated entities, including an investment by LiUNA’s Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada.

    Located in the heart of Lambton County, Lambton College is a globally recognized leader in education, innovation, and applied research. As the sole post-secondary institution in the region, the College plays a vital role in the community, driving economic development and diversification, propelling social and environmental innovation, and providing quality education to domestic and international students to ensure a thriving skilled workforce.

    “Fengate looks forward to bringing its deep institutional project experience to this new campus residence to provide modern, sustainable accommodation opportunities to Lambton College students in 2027,” said Mac Bell, Managing Director, Infrastructure Investments at Fengate.

    Fengate delivered and is operating the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in British Columbia (B.C.) – the only specialized post-secondary institution in B.C. In 2023, the firm also completed a public-private partnership bundle of six schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to provide state-of-the-art schools and 8,000 new desks for K-8 and middle school students.

    “Tilbury is proud to partner with Lambton College on this exciting new student residence,” said Michael Kaye, Founding Partner at Tilbury. “This thoughtfully designed project will modernize the College’s on-campus housing and support the academic and personal success of students for decades to come.”

    Specializing in purpose-built student accommodation, Tilbury takes a collaborative, hands-on approach with its post-secondary partners. The company prides itself on tailoring each project to meet the unique needs of academic institutions, creating exceptional living and learning environments. In September 2025, Tilbury will open a 452-bed residence and dining hall at the University of Windsor, further demonstrating its leadership in on-campus housing development.

    The new campus residence at Lambton College will incorporate energy-efficient systems and sustainable building materials to minimize environmental footprint and will include landscaped green spaces to enhance the campus environment.

    Construction is scheduled to start later this month.

    About Fengate

    Fengate is a leading alternative investment manager focused on infrastructure, private equity and real estate strategies, with more than $10 billion of capital commitments under management. The firm has been investing in infrastructure since 2006 with a focus on mid-market greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets in the transportation, social, energy transition and digital sectors. Fengate is one of North America’s most active infrastructure investors and developers with a portfolio of more than 50 assets. Learn more at www.fengate.com.

    About Tilbury

    Tilbury Properties is a Canadian real estate development firm focused on purpose-built student housing. Founded in 2020, the company has over 1,000 student beds in various stages of development, making it one of the leading developers in Canada’s student housing sector. Learn more at www.tilburyprop.com.

    Media Contact

    Maddison Sharples
    Vice President, Communications and Marketing
    Fengate Asset Management
    +1 416-254-3326
    Maddison.Sharples@fengate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cuts to School Lunch and Food Bank Funding Mean Less Fresh Produce for Children and Families

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The U.S. government recently cut more than $1 billion in funding to two long-running programs that helped schools and food banks feed children and families in need. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the reductions are a “return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.” But advocacy groups say the cuts will hurt millions of Americans.

    The reductions came just days before the release of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again report, an analysis of the factors causing chronic disease in children. One of those factors, the report says, is poor diet.

    Marlene Schwartz, a professor of human development and family sciences and director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health at UConn, discusses why cutting the Local Food for Schools and the Local Food Purchase Assistance programs means less fresh food will be available to children and families – and could hurt local farmers and ranchers too.

    The Conversation has collaborated with SciLine to bring you highlights from the discussion, edited here for brevity and clarity.

    Could you explain the two programs that were cut?

    Marlene Schwartz: Most schools were eligible for Local Food for Schools, a $660 million program, which has now been cut. The funds for Local Food for Schools were on top of the reimbursement that schools get for meals and would have allowed them to buy more local, fresh food.

    The Local Food Purchase Assistance program was designed primarily for food banks. Again, the idea was to provide federal money, about $500 million, so food banks could buy from local farmers and support local agriculture. But that too was cut.

    How will these cuts affect families and schoolchildren?

    Schwartz: Many children eat two of their meals, five days a week, at school. During the 2022-2023 school year, about 28 million kids ate lunch at school. More than 14 million had breakfast there.

    Having fresh, local produce in the school cafeteria provides the opportunity to introduce children to more fruits and vegetables and teach them about the food grown in their own communities. Think about how powerful a lesson about nutrition and local agriculture can be when you not only hear and read about it but can taste it too.

    How will these cuts affect farmers and ranchers?

    Schwartz: When the funding was there, the farmers and ranchers knew they had guaranteed buyers for their products. So the loss of these funds, especially so quickly, will have a very negative effect on them. Suddenly, the buyers they counted on don’t have the money to buy from them.

    How does nutritious food in schools impact kids?

    Schwartz: Both the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are required to comply with the dietary guidelines for Americans, so they’ve always had nutrition standards. These guidelines are updated every five years to reflect the most recent science and public health needs.

    The regulations on school meal nutrition were strengthened significantly with the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. We’ve done a number of studies showing that because of these changes, healthier meals are available at schools, and children eat better. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also did a large national study that reported much the same.

    Another study looked at the nutritional quality of the food at school, from home and at restaurants. It found that school food was the healthiest of all. Many people were surprised by this, but when you think about it, schools are the only setting required to follow federal and state nutrition regulations – restaurants and grocery stores don’t have to do that.

    But getting kids to eat nutritious food can be a challenge.

    Schwartz: We’ve known for decades that American children are not eating enough fruits and vegetables. We know they’re eating too much added sugar, saturated fat and sodium.

    This is due in part to the millions of dollars food companies spend to entice children to eat more sugary cereals, sweetened beverages and fast food.

    I think the best nutrition education happens on your plate. By maximizing the quality of food served in schools, policymakers can influence the diets of millions of children every single day.

    How nutritious are the foods at food banks?

    Schwartz: Food banks often measure their success in terms of the pounds of food they distribute into a community. But families relying on the charitable food system often have a higher risk of diet-related illness – like high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes – and many want healthier foods.

    In response, food banks, which nationwide serve about 50 million Americans, have made a concerted effort to improve the nutritional quality of their food. There’s now a system to help food banks consistently track the nutritional quality of what they provide.

    Watch the full interview to hear more.

    Originally published in The Conversation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oklahoma Survivors Can Apply for SBA Loans

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Oklahoma Survivors Can Apply for SBA Loans

    Oklahoma Survivors Can Apply for SBA Loans

    OKLAHOMA CITY – Businesses and residents in seven Oklahoma counties impacted by the March 14-21 wildfires and straight-line winds are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster assistance loans from the U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA)

    FEMA partners with other agencies to meet the needs of survivors after a disaster, and SBA loans are the largest source of federal recovery funds

    Residents and businesses in Cleveland, Creek, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee and Payne counties can apply for these loans if they sustained property damage

    Affected homeowners, renters and businesses do not need to wait for an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application – and are under no obligation to accept an SBA loan if an application is approved

    Residents can still apply for an SBA loan if they received assistance from FEMA

    Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3

    25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2

    688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years

    Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement

    SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement

    Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or rebuilding

    The SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $100,000 to replace important personal property, such as damaged automobiles

    Businesses and private nonprofit organizations can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged property, destroyed real estate, inventory, machinery and equipment, and other essential assets

    The SBA can lend additional funds for measures that help protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future

     SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofits to help recover from economic damage caused by a declared disaster

     The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program may be used to cover operating expenses, including fixed debts, payroll, rent, and other bills not paid due to the disaster

    EIDLs are available even if the business or private nonprofit did not suffer any physical damage

    The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises

    Oklahoma residents can apply for a disaster loan online at SBA

    gov/disaster or by calling 800-659-2955

     For the latest information about Oklahoma’s recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4866

     Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    thomas

    wise
    Mon, 06/16/2025 – 20:03

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Easter SOS for Greek sheep and goat farming – E-001630/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 1337/2013[1] introduced the compulsory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for swine, poultry, sheep and goat meat from 1 April 2015.

    Member States have the primary responsibility to monitor the application of the relevant legal provisions, ensuring compliance with EU law.

    The Commission evaluated[2] rules on meat origin labelling in 2021 and concluded that existing traceability systems in conjunction with legislation on identification and registration of livestock provide all the information needed for operators to correctly label meat origin.

    Competent authorities reported no systematic difficulties or problems in implementing the regulation or verifying origin labelling requirements.

    According to Regulation (EU) 2017/625[3] the competent authorities of Member States must perform official controls on animals and goods, which includes the inspection of traceability and labelling related to information of consumers. These controls must be performed on a risk basis with appropriate frequency.

    EU agriculture is market oriented, and demand driven. Farmers’ production decisions respond to consumer preferences and market opportunities.

    Member States can support the sector in their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans, including Coupled Income Support for sheep and goats or specific sectorial interventions.

    CAP support is also available for farmers applying sustainable production methods, and the common market Organisation offers tools for strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain.

    • [1] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1337/2013 of 13 December 2013 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for fresh, chilled and frozen meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry, OJ L 335, 14.12.2013, p. 19-22 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2013/1337/oj.
    • [2] REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL evaluating the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for meat of swine, poultry, sheep and goat. COM/2021/462 final. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0462.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/oj/eng.
    Last updated: 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Richard Doornbosch: People over profit – the benefits of cooperatives – relevant as ever

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Introduction 

    It is a true honor to be with you today at this impactful Annual Leadership conference here in Curaçao, an island where cooperation is not optional but a necessity. We are living in what you have aptly called the disruptive age. An era in which leaders must navigate technological, environmental, and social change.

    I will argue that in this era, the key cooperative principle of people over profit has enduring relevance. However, this is not business as usual. During this conference you will delve into the strategies credit unions need to thrive in today’s financial world. What I will do is ask three hard questions you need to be able to answer or at least consider when formulating your strategies.

    On behalf of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you.

    I am pleased to see the energy, enthusiasm, and diversity represented here today. Leaders and professionals who share a commitment to strengthen the credit union sector, not just for today’s members, but for generations to come. 

    People Over Profit 

    At the core of the credit union sector lies a guiding value that sets you apart within the broader financial system: people over profit. This principle is not incidental- it is a deliberate and defining element of your institutional model. And it finds its most concrete and consistent expression in the seven internationally recognized cooperative principles.

    These principles- (1) voluntary and open membership, (2) democratic member control, (3) member economic participation, (4) autonomy and independence, (5) education, training and information, (6) cooperation among credit unions, and (7) concern for community- are not mere formalities. They represent a coherent framework that ensures accountability, transparency, and equitable treatment of members.

    In a world marked by rapid technological advancements, societal shifts, and economic uncertainties, these cooperative principles provide a stable foundation. By responding to the need for social relevance, sustainable economic models, and participatory governance, these principles are well-suited to address contemporary challenges and contribute to a stable and forward-looking organizational culture.

    As a supervisory body, the CBCS views the framework of credit unions both as a strength and a safeguard because in a world where many feel left behind by traditional financial institutions, credit unions stand for inclusion, trust and service to communities. Because of their uniqueness, credit unions are in a strong position to help address financial inclusion. To fulfill that purpose the credit union sector must, however, evolve.

    To do so, I will outline three key questions you need to be able to answer:

    1. Why are we a cooperative organization?
    2. What is or should be the added value for our members?
    3. How should we embrace innovation and technology to ensure competitiveness and compliance?

    Where We Are Today 

    Allow me to first begin with some personal connection and to reflect on our local context. I come from a family rooted in cooperation. My parents are both from Groningen, a traditional agricultural region, up north in the Netherlands. My grandfather was one of the founding members of the AVEBE, a cooperative that organized farmers after the First World War in 1919 to ensure fair pricing of their products. AVEBE is now a multinational in the food industry but still owned and governed by its 1900 members that are all farmers. The operations have changed greatly but the foundation remains the same. To serve each other.

    The same principle guided the origin of credit unions in the Caribbean in the first half of the 20th century. They were set up as a social instrument to give workers and small independent entrepreneurs access to savings and credit services. Since then, the credit union sector has been essential to Caribbean communities. However, the necessity for cooperatives remains present. Not everyone in the Caribbean can put his or her money in a bank account to save, not all entrepreneurs have access to finance.

    In Curaçao, the credit union sector is an important pillar of financial inclusion and community empowerment. Almost 25% of the population of Curaçao is a member of a credit union. There is great strength in the business of credit unions: community trust, (financial) education, deep member relationships, and a core purpose that places people before profits. Credit unions play a vital role in promoting financial inclusion, offering access to savings, credit, and financial services to individuals and families across the island. They provide opportunities for small businesses to grow, for young people to finance their education, and for families to build secure futures.

    But we must also recognize that the sector has its challenges around governance, innovation, and risk management that have the potential to undermine its benefits to the community. The foundation is strong because of the deep member relationship, the powerful sense of mission and purpose and an enduring commitment to community welfare, but it must be reinforced, and it must evolve.

    That brings us back to our key questions. The why, what and how. Why are you serving your members, what should be your added value and how to use innovation and technology to thrive. If you are not able to answer these questions, there is probably some searching and homework to do.

    Three key tasks 

    1. Why? Reinforce your cooperative culture

    Obviously, I cannot answer the “why” question for you. It should define your focus. It might be ensuring access to basic financial services to your membership, or enhancing financial literacy, or guaranteeing access to finance to ensure growth opportunities to small and medium sized businesses. It should be closely aligned with your membership needs.

    The answer should define your organizational culture. Culture is the force that shapes decisions, drives behavior, and defines an organization’s identity; what motivates employees to go the extra mile for members, inspires teams to innovate, adapt, grow and earn the trust and loyalty of communities. When “financial health” of your members is your mission, you probably will have different priorities as when “access to finance” is in your primary mission statement.

    Credit unions traditionally boast a strong organizational culture because their members believe in the principles of cooperativism. It is this shared belief that forms the heart of their success. To ensure continued growth and relevance, it is essential to nurture and strengthen the reason to serve your members. By doing so, you continuously reaffirm the central role of the members.

    2. What? What should be your added value and how should that guide your strategic goals

    Alongside a strong culture, credit unions need a clear strategy driven by the added value you provide to your members. Strategic goals provide a roadmap for the future. A well-defined strategy focuses resources, guides decision-making, and ensures that all efforts are aligned with the organization’s vision, the ‘why’.

    There are a few misconceptions about credit unions I would like to address in this context.

    Misconception number 1. For credit union efficiency is less important. And I hope I preach to the converted here. Yes, credit unions main focus is not profit, but they do need to provide low-cost financial solutions to serve their members. You can only provide low-cost products and services if you organize yourself efficiently. And size does matter because there are economies of scale. There are fixed costs in operating a core banking system, in external control, in basic governance structures. And although the minimal size to operate a credit union depends on the regulatory framework and operational design of the institution, it seems that a credit union with less members will be harder to operate in a sustainable manner while adding value to its members.

    Number 2. Compliance is less important because you know your members. It’s indeed a great advantage for compliance if you know your customers. However, for effective oversight your compliance still needs to be ‘auditable’ and your risk management up to par. Without it you risk high fines and ultimately your license to operate.

    A final misconception is that in credit unions members decide everything because they are democratic. Indeed, democratic member control is an important principle. But just like in a democracy, the people are being represented by parliamentarians and powers are being shared between the different branches of government. In a cooperation members decide on a council of supervision to oversee management that is responsible for day-to-day operations and decision making. The governance needs to be designed in a careful and deliberate manner in order to balance democratic member control with room for independent executive decision making and professional oversight in order to guarantee soundness and integrity of operations.

    People over profit does not mean you should not be competitive and professional. Being competitive means that you would like to succeed. How you define success will be different for credit unions compared to financial institutions driven by shareholder value.

    For credit unions, strategic goals will aim to service their members:

    • Introducing digital service channels to enhance member convenience /nursing technology-driven accessibility: mobile banking, online applications, real-time services.
    • Deepening community partnerships to extend impact and relevance.
    • Offer member-centric products that meet life cycle needs: from microloans to housing finance and retirement savings.

    3. How? By embracing innovation and technology to ensure competitiveness and compliance 

    The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten envisions a credit union sector that is not only surviving but thriving. A sector that is dynamic, inclusive, and innovative.

    For this we must imagine a future where credit unions embrace innovation and new technologies to service their members.

    In an ageing society, membership of credit unions is also ageing. This provides opportunities and challenges. The opportunity to guide members into the digital age and assist with new online banking tools to ensure digital inclusion. And the challenge to ensure young generations are also inspired by their mission and vision and appreciate the financial products and services.

    In several Caribbean countries banking and insurance is seen as cumbersome, slow and expansive. There are ample opportunities for credit unions to:

    • Deliver tech-enabled services that attract new members,
    • Work together across borders to share infrastructure and reduce costs,
    • Operate with world-class governance and compliance,
    • Lead the way in promoting financial literacy and empowerment.

    The principle of people before profit is timeless, however for credit unions to succeed in a fast-changing world you have to embrace innovation without hesitation. Embracing innovation means investing in people and technology.

    CBCS as a regulator

    CBCS supervises credit institutions to ensure the soundness and integrity of the financial institutions of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

    In this context, prudential supervision plays a key role by ensuring that financial institutions maintain adequate solvency and liquidity, while strong governance and compliance provide the foundation for sound operations, enabling timely identification and management of risks.

    A Shared Commitment

    One of the features of the dialogue between credit unions in Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten is the emphasis on open communication and proportionate regulation within the legal requirements. Proportional does not mean the bar is lower for credit unions. It means that where risks are lower the requirements can be lower. Or where complexity is lower the reporting requirements can be less onerous and complex while still meeting legal requirements.

    A significant aspect of our dialogue is the annual meetings between the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and FEKOSKAN. These meetings serve as a platform for discussion to ensure that the sector remains resilient and aligned with regulatory standards. The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and FEKOSKAN are committed to addressing challenges collectively.

    Furthermore, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten is involved in supporting education and professional development within the credit union sector. By offering learning opportunities, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten wants to help credit unions enhance their internal expertise and manage their operations more efficiently and sustainably. This proactive approach will contribute to strengthening the capabilities of staff, enabling them to better support their members and adapt to changes in the financial landscape.

    The journey ahead is one of the enormous opportunities.

    With a strong culture and clear strategic goals, credit unions in Curaçao and Sint Maarten and across the Caribbean can position themselves not only as competitive financial institutions but as leaders in shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous financial future.

    At the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, we are committed to supporting this journey where appropriate.

    Closing

    Credit unions were born out of necessity: a community-based solution to exclusion. The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten thinks that that mission remains. But today, members need digital, responsive, and ethical financial partners. This can be achieved by focusing on the three key actions outlined today: reinforcing your cooperative culture, setting clear and strategic goals to drive transformation and competitiveness, and embracing innovation and collaboration to build lasting resilience for the future. Throughout this journey, it is essential to remain grounded in the core value that defines credit unions: putting people over profit.

    I wish you all a conference full of inspiration, collaboration, and new ideas. I hope it sparks new strategies, strengthens leadership bonds, and ignite a renewed sense of purpose for credit unions in the region to thrive.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshops Promote Prosperity and Employment in China’s Rural Areas

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) workshops have become a powerful engine for rural development in China.

    According to official data, there are currently over 11,000 such workshops in the country, which play an active role in preserving and developing traditional crafts, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy.

    These workshops are located in 2,005 county-level administrative areas, including 670 formerly poor counties and 135 key counties that received assistance under the national rural revitalization program, and have provided employment to more than 1.2 million people in related industries.

    Notably, more than 4,300 workshops operate directly in villages, providing flexible working conditions that are particularly suitable for the elderly, women and people with disabilities – they can work from their place of residence and receive daily wages.

    The Chinese government has been actively promoting the role of intangible cultural heritage in cultural preservation and economic development. In December 2021, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and other central government departments issued a regulation specifically regulating the establishment and operation of ICH workshops, focusing on cultivating talented successors, creating jobs, and supporting the development of traditional crafts.

    At the local level, 18 provincial-level administrative units have put forward similar policies. These policies concern the certification of ICH workshops, the management of these establishments, the provision of financial and marketing assistance to them, and the regulation of the allocation of necessary resources to ensure their development.

    In Zhejiang Province, for example, a “workshop plus farmers” mechanism was established in Xiaoshan District, whereby the provincial-level NCI workshop signed contracts to supply Xiaoshan pickled radish, the craft of which is listed in the NCI register of the said province, with more than 40,000 local farmers, resulting in the production value of this delicacy reaching 300 million yuan (about 42 million US dollars) in 2024.

    As of March 2025, the number of artisans who inherit state-level intangible cultural heritage in China has increased to nearly 4,000. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –