Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade Oct 15, 2024

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade
    Oct 15, 2024

    [Dubai, UAE, October 15, 2024] During GITEX Global 2024, Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Stadium Solution at a forum themed AI Enables Smart Building Upgrade. The solution is intended for facilitating digital and intelligent transformation of stadium campuses. At the forum, Huawei discussed with business elites, industry experts, and leading partners how to seize tremendous opportunities that AI brings and use digital and intelligent technologies to lead industry development.
    Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that Huawei aims to become the preferred partner for digital and intelligent transformation in the Middle East’s real estate industry by advancing technologies, leveraging experience, and developing the industry ecosystem. “Looking toward the future, Huawei will continue to integrate smart technology into industries by acting as a bridge and an amplifier. We are committed to expanding our industry knowledge and delivering better services to global customers and partners. Eventually, we will bring intelligence to the Middle East and the world,” said Mr. Liu.
    Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU

    Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept, mentioned in his speech that the building industry’s digital journey has just begun, but it holds enormous potential for the future. He also emphasized that AI will bring buildings and campuses into an era of intelligence, transforming the management and operational models of an intelligent campus. “Huawei advocates using ICTs to redefine the campus. We have been leveraging the advantages of our product portfolios to redefine campus connectivity, platform, and business, helping global customers build digital and intelligent campuses,” said Eric Li.
    Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept

    Viga Liu, Director of Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He believes that AI is enabling buildings and campuses to go digital, intelligent, green, and low-carbon at a faster pace. According to Viga Liu, Huawei has developed pioneering solutions such as Campus Service Network and Campus Digital Platform. “We have collaborated with our partners to assist over 1000 customers worldwide in building 10 Gbps, digital, and green intelligent campuses, including office campuses, stadium campuses, and commercial complexes.”
    Ahmad Bana, the Center of Excellence Manager at Waseef, an asset management company from Qatar, shared Waseef’s experience with digital and intelligent transformation of networks in employee apartments. Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Solution adopts a flat optical fiber architecture, which allows Waseef to save 80% of IT equipment room footprint and cabling space, as well as achieve more intelligent network O&M and more flexible bandwidth upgrades. Moreover, this architecture contributes to a green network that is future-proof for 30 years, provision of additional services, asset appreciation, and project success.
    OODA World, a global software vendor headquartered in France, specializes in delivering innovative software solutions for different industries. Méliné EOLMEZIAN-SOULIE, Vice President of Public Safety and Strategic Partner Ecosystem, highlighted that OODA’s Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform utilizes distinctive 3D native and real-time data visualization and command & control technologies to implement real-time situation awareness, automatic workflows, and centralized incident management. She said OODA will collaborate with Huawei to build campuses that are more intelligent.
    Techno Q, a system integrator from Qatar, participated in the forum. Saad Afzal, the Head of Solutions Architecture at Techno Q, stated in his speech that smart building solutions, based on data convergence and system integration, can unlock the value of data and provide targeted use cases for areas such as energy efficiency management, predictive maintenance, asset management, operational efficiency, and subscription-based value-added services. This can provide customers with enhanced user experience, reduce security risks, and improve management efficiency.
    Neuxnet, headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to helping customers go digital and intelligent. According to Eric Yang, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Neuxnet, stadiums are evolving toward being diversified, integrated, and intelligent, providing spectators with a spectacular experience before, during, and after sports events through various new technologies and applications. “By offering functions such as smart parking, navigation, ticketing services, and one-stop customer services, Neuxnet provides efficient management tools for stadium operators, and helps them create dynamic, technologically advanced, and sustainable sports stadiums,” said Eric Yang.
    Official release of the Intelligent Stadium Solution

    At the end of the forum, Huawei officially released its Intelligent Stadium Solution. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with partners to help customers implement top-notch security assurance, operations management, communications assurance, spectating experience, and service experience, as well as innovate in management and service models, delivering brand-new sports stadium experiences in the digital and intelligent era.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: JBTC Announces 3rd Quarter 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JONESTOWN, Pa., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JBT Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: JBTC) reported quarterly earnings of $2,306,000 or $0.94 per share for the third quarter of 2024. Nine-month reported earnings are $5,780,000 or $2.37 per share, up from $5,720,000 or $2.35 per share in the prior year, representing a 1.05% increase in earnings.

    President & CEO Troy A. Peters stated: “This earnings increase is largely attributable to growing net interest income while actively slowing loan growth and focusing on overall liquidity. Net interest income is up 2.65% year-to-date as funding cost increases slowed during the summer. Most certificates of deposit have been repriced into current rates and the escalating costs of these deposits has leveled off and created a more stable environment.”

    More information can be found at OTC Markets at http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/JBTC/overview.

    Contact: Andrea Shetterly, EAA
    ashetterly@jbt.bank
    Jonestown Bank & Trust Co.
    2 West Market Street
    Jonestown, PA 17038-0717
    Phone: 717-865-4246

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: RTI Awarded Elite Supplier Status by Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) Division

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems, has earned Elite Supplier status from Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) division. This prestigious designation was awarded to only 37 of over 10,300 of Lockheed Martin’s suppliers. The recognition highlights RTI’s role in delivering innovative, data-centric software that powers mission-critical applications, enabling industry leaders like Lockheed Martin to integrate next-generation defense technologies and advance modular system design.

    Built on the industry-leading Data Distribution Service (DDS™) StandardRTI Connext® enables Lockheed to seamlessly incorporate newer and advanced sensors into critical defense systems. Connext ensures that platforms such as Aegis remain adaptable to evolving global threats, supporting Lockheed Martin’s current and future battlefield requirements.

    As a long-term supplier, RTI also plays a pivotal role in facilitating Lockheed’s open architecture approach, ensuring that Aegis integrates radar, weapons, and command management systems efficiently. This framework is crucial for Navy programs and prevents vendor lock-in while adhering to Navy Open Architecture standards.

    Aegis is designed for interoperability among onboard and offboard sensors and weapon systems, including surface-to-air missiles and naval guns, and relies on a real-time command and control framework. Central to this rapid response is Connext, which ensures fast, secure, and reliable data transmission within sensor-to-shooter networks, as each engagement—from detection to interception—must occur in real time.

    As defense systems continue to evolve, leveraging AI and machine learning will become more essential for identifying and processing the vast amounts of data generated by additional sensors designed to spot increasing threats. While humans currently play a role, AI is needed to make faster, more informed decisions; this is where Connext comes in– ensuring the critical data flow that powers future combat systems.

    “We are proud to support Lockheed Martin and Aegis, the world’s most capable multi-mission combat system, which integrates a wide array of sensors and weapons to deliver unmatched Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities,” said John Breitenbach, Director of A&D at RTI. “Connext serves as the nervous system of these architectures, connecting all components to ensure real-time performance. Connext not only supports today’s missions but also lays the groundwork for the future of AI-enhanced defense systems.”

    Lockheed Martin works with over 10,300 suppliers across 46 countries. RTI is proud to be among less than 0.004% of suppliers who achieve Lockheed’s Elite Supplier designation, underscoring RTI’s dedication to performance, quality, and innovation in defense systems, further enabling 21st Century Security.

    For more information on RTI in Aerospace & Defense, please visit the RTI website.

    About RTI

    Real-Time Innovations (RTI) is the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems. RTI Connext® is the world’s leading software framework for intelligent distributed systems. Uniquely, Connext users can build systems that combine advanced sensing, fast control, and AI algorithms.

    With 2,000 customer designs, RTI excels at getting customers to production. RTI software runs over 250 autonomous vehicle programs, supports dozens of automotive ADAS and software-defined architectures, controls the largest power plants in North America, integrates over 400 major defense programs, drives a new generation of MedTech systems and robotics, and underlies Canada’s air traffic control and NASA’s launch control systems.

    RTI runs a smarter world.

    RTI is the market leader in products compliant with the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard. RTI is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with regional offices in Colorado, Spain, and Singapore.

    Download a free trial of the latest, fully-functional Connext software today: http://www.rti.com/downloads

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Launches Evergreen Secondaries Products for Global Wealth Investors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced the launch of Apollo S3 Private Markets Fund (“ASPM US”) and Apollo S3 Private Markets Lux (“ASPM Lux,” together with ASPM US, “ASPM”), products designed to provide investors with turnkey solutions to access diversified portfolios of multi-asset secondary investments across private markets. 

    ASPM US is available through a semi-liquid, perpetual 1940 Act tender offer fund and is part of Apollo’s suite of products accessible to accredited U.S. investors. ASPM Lux is part of the Apollo Private Markets SICAV umbrella, a Luxembourg-based platform offering a holistic set of Apollo’s alternative solutions to wealth investors in EMEA, Asia and Latin America. ASPM Lux is accessible in multiple currencies to address local investor needs.

    ASPM offers a differentiated approach to secondaries through a flexible mandate to invest across the capital stack, execute a variety of transaction types and aim to offer diversification across vintages and managers. These new offerings seek to build a balanced and diversified portfolio with attractive growth potential and long-term capital appreciation.

    Apollo’s Stephanie Drescher, Partner and Chief Client and Product Development Officer, said, “The launch of ASPM underscores Apollo’s commitment to providing access to institutional quality alternative offerings tailored to individuals and wealth investors. We continue to make progress as global investors increasingly seek more diversification than what has historically been provided through traditional portfolio construction.”

    Steve Lessar, Partner and Co-Head of Apollo’s Sponsor & Secondary Solutions (S3) business, added, “We believe these new offerings will provide distinct access points to private market secondaries, leveraging the collective strengths of the Apollo Private Markets ecosystem and the Apollo S3 team, which has sourced over $160 billion in these types of transactions in the past year. It is our view that secondaries can provide a combination of attractive attributes not commonly found in other private market strategies, and we’re pleased to make that available to investors.”

    Apollo’s Jason Singer, Partner and Global Lead for Product Development and Veronique Fournier, Managing Director and Head of EMEA Global Wealth said, “Apollo is an innovator in bringing institutional quality products to individual investors in tailored formats. As investors look to supplement public markets holdings and diversify their overall portfolios, we believe that Apollo’s Global Wealth platform provides solutions that prioritize the needs of the end investor globally.”

    Important Information

    This material is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to purchase any security. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, tax information, charges and expenses of ASPM US. This information and other important details about ASPM US are contained in the prospectus, which can be obtained by visiting http://www.apollo.com/aspm. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Prospective investors should be aware that an investment in ASPM US entails substantial risks. Prior to investing, prospective investors should consult with their own tax and legal advisors.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” or other similar words. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, investors should not rely on such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to: uncertainties relating to changes in general economic and real estate conditions; uncertainties relating to the implementation of our investment strategy; uncertainties relating to capital proceeds; and other risk factors as outlined in ASPM US’s prospectus, statement of additional information, annual report and semi-annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    This communication has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product or be relied upon for any other purpose. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of ASPM US or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, but not guaranteed.

    About Apollo
    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of June 30, 2024, Apollo had approximately $696 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit http://www.apollo.com.

    Apollo Contacts

    Noah Gunn
    Global Head of Investor Relations
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0540
    IR@apollo.com

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0491
    Communications@apollo.com  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Blackford Capital Expands Its Patio Consolidation Platform with the Acquisition of Empire Distributing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blackford Capital (“Blackford”), a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced the acquisition of Empire Distributing, an outdoor living and hearth distributor. This marks the latest add-on to the Patio Consolidation Platform (the “Platform”) and expands its operations to provide full product breadth with outdoor living and hearth items and achieve Blackford’s goal of creating an omnichannel platform to being a one-stop-shop for the backyard. The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

    Co-Founded in 1978 by Mike and Lois Rupp in Arcade, New York, Empire Distributing is a premier distributor of hearth and outdoor living products servicing more than 780 dealers across the Northeast and Midwest US. Empire Distributing’s hearth product offerings include fireplaces, stoves, gas logs, inserts; and its outdoor living items include fire pits, fire tables, BBQ grills, kitchen islands, outdoor heaters and fireplaces. With more than 75 product lines from over 100 industry-leading hearth and outdoor living manufacturers, and with nearly 200,000 square feet of office and warehouse space across three facilities, Empire Distributing brings extensive scaling capabilities and a dealer distribution channel to the Patio Consolidation Platform.

    Blackford’s vision has been to build an asset-light, multiproduct, omnichannel marketing Platform for the outdoor living market. To build it into a comprehensive one-stop-shop, Blackford acquired Starfire Direct and Artificial Turf Supply in 2022 and, subsequently, LTD Online in 2023. The acquisition of Empire Distributing is expected to dramatically increase the Platform’s size and add a new distribution channel as well as new geographies.

    “We are impressed by Empire Distributing’s strong sales talent and processes and are excited to welcome the company to the Patio Consolidation Platform,” said Martin Stein, Founder, and Managing Director of Blackford Capital. “With Empire we’re positioned to enhance our distribution channels, broaden our product offerings, capture synergy and build operational efficiencies. We believe the outdoor living segment of the residential homeowner market has strong growth potential, and this acquisition strengthens our ability to lead in that space.”

    Jeremy Rupp, President of family-and founder-owned Empire Distributing, is the son of the co-founders, and will continue to lead the company following the acquisition. Jeremy has 25 years of experience managing distribution and sales operations, and oversees warehouse management, logistical operations, purchasing/receiving and IT. His brother, Jason, will assume the role of New Business Development. The Rupps will remain employed at Empire Distributing through the acquisition and employees will retain their current positions as the company focuses on growth within the consolidation platform and in the broader hearth and outdoor living market.

    “We are delighted to join forces with Blackford and be part of Patio Consolidation Platform,” said Jeremy. “Partnering with their experienced management team will allow us to diversify our product lines and expand into new markets. We are excited to gain Blackford’s sourcing expertise and to partner with the existing Patio Platform companies.”

    Paramax served as the exclusive financial advisor to Empire Distributing on the transaction.

    Loeb & Loeb and Varnum LLP served as legal counsel for Blackford Capital. Mercantile Bank and Energy Impact Partners provided financing for the acquisition. Grant Thornton, Hilco Global and Plante Moran advised on financial and tax diligence.

    About Blackford Capital
    Founded in 2010, Blackford Capital is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Blackford acquires, manages, and builds founder and family-owned, lower middle-market companies, with a focus on the manufacturing, industrial and distribution industries. Blackford has a track record of exceptional returns, a disciplined and relentless approach to value creation, and a focus on operational excellence and a compelling culture. In 2023, Blackford Capital was named to Inc’s list of Founder-Friendly Investors, was recognized by ACG Detroit with the 2023 M&A Dealmaker of the Year Award and awarded the 2023 Small Markets Deal of the Year award by both Buyouts Magazine and the Global M&A Network Atlas Awards. For more information, visit http://www.blackfordcapital.com.

    About Empire Distributing
    Empire Distributing began as a small regional hearth distributor in the 1980’s supplying a handful of independent hearth dealers with one appliance product line. From modest beginnings, our company has grown to be recognized in the Northeast as a premier distributor of both hearth and outdoor living products. Much has changed throughout our company’s 30-year history, but our dedication to providing customers with the best products and service remains constant. Our dedicated staff, humble beginnings, and desire for enriching our customers lives, drives our quest to remain a premier distributor in the hearth and outdoor living industries. To learn more about the company, visit https://www.empiredistributing.net.

    Media Contact: Jackson Lin Lambert
    (646) 717-4593
    jlin@lambert.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a642076-38f3-42b9-9c79-7d2283658745

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Provident Bank’s First-Time Home Buyer Survey Reveals That While Homeownership Continues to Be Challenging, Many Americans Are Finding Their Home in Less Than a Year

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ISELIN, N.J., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Bank, a leading New Jersey-based financial institution, has released the results of its First-Time Home Buyer Survey, taking stock of the generational differences in how Americans are navigating a complicated housing market. This year’s survey revealed that, not surprisingly, searching for a first home is extremely challenging. The top two factors impacting budgets are high mortgage rates and the lack of homes within an original budget. However, across generations, Americans appear to be buying their first home after only looking less than a year, signaling growing optimism in the market.

    Potential homeowners are prolonging the buying process and waiting to make a final purchase:

    Searching for a new home is challenging for first-time home buyers across generations. There are frequent bidding wars, which can lead to many making sacrifices for their dream home.

    • Over 40% of Gen Xers have been involved in a significant number (5+) of bidding wars during the home-buying process. Comparatively, only 30% of Millennial respondents have had the same experience.
    • Over 50% of Gen X respondents have had to significantly adjust their search criteria to stay within budget. Nearly 50% of both Millennials and Gen X respondents noted that they’ve settled for an older home that needs renovations to complete the buying process, compared to only 39% of Gen Z respondents.

    Amidst all of these challenges, Americans still look toward traditional financial avenues to complete the home-buying process:

    Overall, potential homeowners are still looking to traditional financial institutions to help them through the home-buying process. However, there are clear differences between how generations think about their financing options and the experts available to them.

    • Over half of respondents noted that their savings account is their main source of capital for their down payment. The second highest source of capital stems from access to first-time home buyer program grant(s).
    • 15% of Gen X respondents will look to a fintech company for financing for buying a first home compared to only 6% of Gen Z respondents. Nearly 56% of Gen X respondents will be speaking to a traditional bank as a source for the financing process in buying their first home.
    • Just under 50% of all Millennial respondents noted they would look to a traditional bank for financing to buy their first home.

    “The findings from this year’s survey support what we’ve been hearing directly from customers – in order to navigate a highly competitive home buying market, understanding all of the financing resources and capital requirements at your disposal is the key to success,” said Margaret Volk, Senior Vice President, and Director of Mortgage and Consumer Lending, at Provident Bank. “Especially as we enter a new phase of the mortgage rate cycle, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure our customers are equipped with the resources and information needed to navigate the financing process to achieve such an important life goal like buying a home.”

    The survey was conducted by Survey Monkey, a market research provider, on behalf of Provident Bank. The findings are based on 1,000 responses.

    About Provident Bank

    Founded in Jersey City in 1839, Provident Bank is the oldest community-focused financial institution based in New Jersey and is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS). With assets of $24.07 billion as of June 30, 2024, Provident Bank offers a wide range of customized financial solutions for businesses and consumers with an exceptional customer experience delivered through its convenient network of 140 branches across New Jersey and parts of New York and Pennsylvania, via mobile and online banking, and from its customer contact center. The bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company, and insurance services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Provident Protection Plus, Inc. To learn more about Provident Bank, go to http://www.provident.bank or call our customer contact center at 800.448.7768.

    Media Contact:
    Provident Bank
    Keith Buscio – keith.buscio@provident.bank

    Vested
    providentbank@fullyvested.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Second Gold for Regula at the Merit Awards for Cybersecurity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This independent award recognizes Regula’s innovation and technical expertise in identity verification. Even after more than 30 years in the market, Regula continues to explore the frontiers of new technologies. Its comprehensive solution enables businesses worldwide to stay ahead of sophisticated identity fraud and build stronger, more secure verification processes.

    This is Regula’s second consecutive Merit Award for Technology and Cybersecurity. The previous one was awarded to the company exactly one year ago, in 2023, when it was a first-time nominee.

    The Merit Awards is an independent program that highlights the best in current and next-generation innovations and technologies. “We’re excited to reveal the outstanding winners of the 2024 Merit Awards for Technology. These visionary innovators and companies have not only showcased exceptional skill in leveraging technology but have also set new standards of excellence,” said Marie Zander, Executive Director of the Merit Awards.

    Regula was recognized for its complete IDV solution designed to beat document and biometric fraud with the most comprehensive set of checks from a single vendor. Comprising two standalone and seamlessly integrated software products, Regula Document Reader SDK and Regula Face SDK, the solution streamlines the entire IDV procedure, enhances customer experience, and ensures security and compliance.

    Regula Document Reader SDK offers an innovative set of liveness detection checks that help detect the physical presence of documents and verify their dynamic security features, such as holograms. In remote customer onboarding scenarios, this is a crucial check to ensure that you are dealing with a real document, not a screen or a forged image.

    Regula Face SDK also performs liveness detection of biometric facial features. This check effectively protects organizations from diverse presentation attacks, including, but not limited to, video replays, video injections, screenshots, printed copies, masks, and others.

    “We are incredibly proud to receive the Merit Gold Award for Cybersecurity for the second consecutive year. This recognition underlines our non-stop research and development efforts to help organizations withstand even the most advanced fraud techniques. In today’s world of AI-generated fraud, traditional methods like ID scans or static face images are no longer reliable. Regula’s liveness-centric approach ensures that identity verification is based on real, physical objects—real people and real documents—by focusing on their dynamic features. So far, it is the most reliable way to tackle identity fraud, which is becoming more and more sophisticated,” says Ihar Kliashchou, Chief Technology Officer at Regula.

    Earlier this year, Regula won the Global InfoSec Awards (also for the second time in a row) for its commitment to expertise in developing hardware and software identity verification solutions. Also, the company won silver in the 2024 Globee Awards for Cybersecurity in the Identity Proofing and Corroboration category for securing identity verification processes in various industries across the world. At the beginning of 2024, Frost & Sullivan honored Regula with the Global Enabling Technology Leadership Award. The analysts recognized the company as a pioneer and industry leader in identity verification solutions.

    In today’s digital landscape, identity verification is a crucial component for any online business. That is why we at Regula never stop researching new threats and diving deeper into IDV techniques and technologies. Read more about our findings:

    About the Merit Awards

    Designed to recognize the efforts of global industries and the markets they serve, the Merit Awards acknowledge companies that have contributed to the continued growth of the market. The Annual Merit Awards are judged by industry executives, members of the media, and consultants.

    Learn more at http://www.merit-awards.com.

    About Regula

    Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® Market Guide for Identity Verification.

    Learn more at http://www.regulaforensics.com.

    Contact:
    Kristina – ks@regulaforensics.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: GLMX Reports Third Quarter 2024 Activity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GLMX, a leading global provider of transformative technology solutions for securities financing, money markets, and total return swaps, reported its third quarter platform activity along with significant developments in the company’s overall growth.

    • Average Daily Volume (ADV) of $1.01 trillion, up 99% year-on-year and the first quarter over $1 trillion in ADV for GLMX.
    • Average Daily Balance (ADB) of $2.75 trillion, up 74% year-on-year.

    3Q 2024 Highlights:

    • Balances on the GLMX platform reached $3 trillion, a significant milestone and a reflection of the firm’s dedication to delivering client success through innovative technology.
    • GLMX continues to onboard clients in Securities Lending for both equities and fixed income, demonstrating traction in a rapidly growing and changing market.
    • To support its geographic expansion and overall company growth, GLMX is pleased to welcome new hires in NY, London, and Singapore.
      • To address growing business in the Asia-Pacific region, GLMX has opened a new office in Singapore, and hired James Davis and Rachel Han. Davis has joined in a business development role, and Han has joined in a client operations role.
      • Industry veterans James Day (London) and Jay Epstein (NY), have been hired to fill senior roles in the newly created Client Relationship Management team.

    CEO Glenn Havlicek commented,“GLMX’s powerful growth trajectory has shown significant durability for what is now over 5 years. Very excitingly, we have begun to see this growth expand beyond our traditional repo business and into adjacent securities finance and money market segments. As ever, our sole priority is to consistently deliver purpose-built technology that supports the success of our clients across the entire securities financing and money market ecosystem.”

    About GLMX

    GLMX is a technology company serving the capital markets and is a leading global provider of transformative technology for equities and fixed income securities financing. With offices in North America, the United Kingdom, and Asia-Pacific, global buy-side and sell-side institutions rely on GLMX for access to enhanced market liquidity and to maximize trade lifecycle efficiency and reporting.

    GLMX’s powerful market position continues to grow as it diversifies, taking its proven model into adjacent market sectors such as Total Return Swaps (TRS), and Time Deposits, CDs, and Commercial Paper. For more information about GLMX, please visit http://www.glmx.com.

    Media inquiries, please contact:
    GLMX
    646 854-4569
    sales@glmx.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ZOOZ Power Ltd. to Present at the LD Micro Main Event XVII on Wednesday, October 30, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tel Aviv, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZOOZ POWER Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ZOOZ), the leading provider of Flywheel-based power boosting and power management solutions enabling ultra-fast multi ports EV charging, today announced that Erez Zimerman, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the LD Micro Main Event XVII in Los Angeles, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 8:30am PT / 11:30am ET.

    Representatives of ZOOZ Power’s management will be available on site for one-on-one meetings. To schedule a meeting, please contact LD Micro or Miri Segal at msegal@ms-ir.com.

    A webcast of the presentation will be streamed live at the following link: https://me24.sequireevents.com/. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately 24 hours after the presentation ends.

    About ZOOZ Power

    ZOOZ Power is the leading provider of Flywheel-based power boosting and power management solutions enabling widespread deployment of ultra-fast multi ports charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EV), while overcoming existing grid limitations.

    ZOOZ Power pioneers its unique Flywheel-based power boosting technology, enabling efficient utilization and power management of a power-limited grid at an EV charging site. Its Flywheel-based technology allows high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective ultra-fast charging infrastructure.

    ZOOZ Power’s sustainable, power-boosting solutions are built with longevity and the environment in mind, helping its customers and partners accelerate the deployment of fast-charging infrastructure, thus facilitating improved utilization rates, better efficiency, greater flexibility, and faster revenues and profitability growth. ZOOZ Power is publicly traded on NASDAQ and TASE under the ticker ZOOZ.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.zoozpower.com/

    About LD Micro

    LD Micro aims to be the most essential resource in the micro-cap world. Whether it is the Index, comprehensive data, or hosting the most significant events annually, LD’s sole mission is to serve as an invaluable asset for all those interested in finding the next generation of great companies. To learn more about LD Micro, visit http://www.ldmicro.com

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    917-607-8654
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    Forward-Looking Statement

    This Press Release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of ZOOZ Power. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding ZOOZ Power, and any of ZOOZ Power’s strategy and future operations are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause ZOOZ Power’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and other risks and uncertainties are more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of ZOOZ Power’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as well as other documents that may be subsequently filed by ZOOZ Power from time to time with the SEC. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the limited operating history and evolving business model that make it difficult for investors to evaluate ZOOZ Power’s business and future prospects, material weaknesses identified in ZOOZ Power’s internal control over financial reporting and the potential results of ZOOZ Power being unable to remediate these material weaknesses, or identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise failure to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, ZOOZ Power’s management’s determination that substantial doubt exists about the continued existence of ZOOZ Power as a “going concern”, changes to fuel economy standards or changes to governments’ regulations and policies in relation to environment or the success of alternative fuels which may negatively impact the EVs market and thus the demand for ZOOZ Power’s products, delays in deployment of public ultra-fast charging infrastructure which may limit the need and urgency for ZOOZ Power’s products, the potential outcome of ZOOZ Power’s collaborations with third parties for installation of its Flywheel-based power boosting solution, and the effects of the evolving nature of the war situation in Israel, and the related evolving regional conflicts, may adversely affect ZOOZ Power’s operations. These forward-looking statements are only estimations, and ZOOZ Power may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements, so you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements made in this Press Release. ZOOZ Power’s management has based these forward-looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and trends that such persons believe may affect ZOOZ Power’s business, financial condition and operating results. Forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are made as of the date hereof, and none of ZOOZ Power or any of its representatives or any other person undertakes any duty to update such information except as may be expressly required under applicable law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Why Some Experts are Predicting Gold will Trade in Range of $2,800/oz to $3,200/oz in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Gold, often referred to as the “safe-haven asset,” has been a cornerstone of global finance for centuries. Its value has historically been influenced by a myriad of factors, including economic indicators, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. According to expert analysts in a report by Skilling.com, the gold price prediction for 2024 is expected to be positive, with prices potentially reaching $2,500 per ounce. This is driven by the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, interest rates, and global demand for safe-haven assets. Some experts predict that gold will trade in the range of $2,800-$3,200 in 2025, reflecting expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut. The report said: “In the long term, the gold price prediction is influenced by factors such as inflation, central bank policies, and global economic trends. Analysts predict that the price of gold could reach $6,800 an ounce by 2040, estimating a rate of return of 7.2% per year. The increasing demand for gold as a safe-haven asset and the potential for a global recession are also driving factors behind the positive gold price prediction. Gold prices have been on a steady rise since 2023, with many analysts predicting a continued upward trend in 2024. According to J.P. Morgan Research, gold prices are expected to climb to $2,500/oz by the end of 2024, driven by factors such as U.S. fiscal deficit concerns, central bank reserve diversification into gold, inflationary hedging, and a fraying geopolitical landscape. This prediction is in line with other analysts’ predictions, with some predicting even higher prices, such as AG Thorson’s target of $3,000.” Active mining companies in the markets this week include RUA GOLD Inc. (OTCQB: NZAUF) (TSX-V: RUA), Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT), OceanaGold Corporation (OTCQX: OCANF) (TSX: OGC), New Found Gold Corp. (NYSE: NFGC) (TSX-V: NFG), GoldMining Inc. (NYSE American: GLDG) (TSX: GOLD).

    Skilling.com concluded: “The current market trends also suggest a bullish outlook for gold prices in 2024. The World Gold Council reported that central banks purchased 1,037 tonnes of gold in 2023, with 2024 starting strongly with net purchases of 290 tonnes in the first quarter. This increased demand from central banks, combined with the ongoing economic uncertainty, is likely to drive gold prices higher in 2024. However, it’s worth noting that there are also bearish risks to the gold price prediction, such as a scenario where the Fed turns more aggressive in ensuring inflation swiftly reaches its target. Nevertheless, many analysts believe that the structural drivers that have helped gold’s rally so far will remain a critical bullish driving force going forward, making it likely for gold prices to hit another all-time high in 2024.”

    RUA GOLD’s (TSXV:RUA) (OTCQB:NZAUF) Drill Program Intersects Near Surface Gold at The Reefton Project – RUA GOLD Inc. (WKN: A4010V) (“RUA GOLD” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update from the drilling campaign underway at the Reefton Project on the South Island of New Zealand. The Company commenced its near mine drill program on the Murray Creek targets in July. A second drill rig was introduced in September to test the Capleston vein system. These historic mines collectively produced ~700koz of gold at 25.2g/t within a radius of ~20 kilometers.

    Robert Eckford, CEO of RUA GOLD commented: “Our five years of meticulous surface exploration work over the Reefton project is paying dividends from the outset of this drill program. Both of the initial drill holes have confirmed we are in right area and are locating these lodes. The near surface intercepts on Capleston are encouraging and makes for compelling economic ounces, it supports our thesis that the surface veins are continuous past the old workings. Despite the initial drill hole at Murray Creek hitting old workings, it is extremely encouraging that we have identified the dip angle of the Victoria lode and we have even more confidence with the subsequent hole that is underway now, and results from this will be ready in the next few weeks.”

    Capleston – On the second drill rig, which was introduced to test the Capleston vein system, the Company targeted an undeveloped and near-surface vein at the southern end of the two kilometer long historic Capleston project, the highest-grade producer of the Reefton Goldfield historically. Near surface targets lend themselves to early development and are the closest to transportation and infrastructure, providing low-cost operational advantages.

    The first diamond drill hole, DD_REF_043, intersected a 12m zone of quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite in the hanging wall, with a 1m quartz vein from 31m to 32m @ 3.86 g.t Au. A legacy drill hole intercepted the southern lode at 33m downhole, with 1m @ 24g/t Au followed by 1m @ 2.5g/t Au1. Mapping has recorded historical waste samples up to 32.0g/t Au in the vicinity, and a strong soil anomaly enveloping the vein (up to 410ppb Au).

    Murray Creek – RUA GOLD reports the completion of the first hole testing the down-dip extension of the Victoria lode, DD_VIC_041, which is being evaluated by the team. This intersected the targeted reef at 344m down hole and encountered historical underground workings over a 4m length. It then exited out to the footwall before drilling on for an additional 20m.

    This confirms that the lode extension is accurate and, with the precise location confirmed, a second hole is underway that is 50m deeper down dip from the initial drill hole. The Company anticipates an intersection into an un-mined portion of the reef at around 350m. Results from this testing will be available in the coming weeks. CONTINUED Read this full press release and more news for RUA GOLD at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-rua/

    Other recent developments in the mining industry of note include:

    Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT) has recently announced it will sell its Akyem operation in the Republic of Ghana to Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. (“Zijin”) under a definitive agreement, for cash consideration of up to $1 billion. The sale is part of Newmont’s ongoing program to divest non-core assets as the Company makes a strategic shift to focus on its Tier 1 assets.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Newmont is expected to receive cash consideration of $900 million upon closing. A further $100 million is expected to be received upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. Proceeds from the transaction will support the Company’s capital allocation priorities, including strengthening the balance sheet and returning capital to shareholders.

    OceanaGold Corporation (OTCQX: OCANF) (TSX: OGC) recently reported that it will release its operational and financial results for the third quarter of 2024 after market close on Wednesday November 6th, 2024. The results will be made available on the Company’s website at http://www.oceanagold.com.

    Senior management will host a conference call / webcast to discuss the results on Thursday November 7th, 2024, at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

    Webcast and Conference Call Details:

    To register, please copy and paste the link into your browser: https://app.webinar.net/2wLnxVkYjlM
    Toll-free North America: +1-888-510-2154
    International: +1 437-900-0527

    New Found Gold Corp. (NYSE: NFGC) (TSX-V: NFG) recently announced the results of the first phase of channel samples from the Keats Trench and an update on the Iceberg Trench at the Queensway Project (“Queensway“), located on the Trans-Canada Highway 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland.

    Greg Matheson, COO of New Found, stated: “Our approach at the Keats Trench has been to systematically test across the entire exposed surface to accurately map the extent of gold mineralization and determine with more certainty the distribution and variability of the gold contained within the mineralized domain. This is the highest density of assay data at Keats obtained to date and we are extremely pleased to see the broad widths of high-grade mineralization carrying across the exposure which is largely in line with modelled mineralization from the drilling program. The assay grade data from the trench is another key component to building our geologic understanding of the mineralization and structural controls at Keats. Given some of the elevated high-grade gold encountered, with many individual samples exceeding 100 g/t and some above 1,000 g/t, the team is now completing a second phase of channel sampling. This Phase II program will include a more targeted assessment of the high-grade components of Keats and cross veins that were not well tested in the first phase.”

    GoldMining Inc. (NYSE American: GLDG) (TSX: GOLD) recently highlighted an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (“Whistler MRE”) that was announced by its publicly traded subsidiary, U.S. GoldMining Inc. (“U.S. GoldMining”) (NASDAQ: USGO) on October 7, 2024 for U.S. GoldMining’s Whistler Gold-Copper Project (the “Project”) located in Alaska, U.S.A.

    Alastair Still, Chief Executive Officer of GoldMining, commented: “Since the initial public offering of U.S. GoldMining in April 2023, we are extremely pleased by the progress of its exploration initiatives at the Whistler Project, which have resulted in strengthened confidence of the Whistler MRE by increasing the gold equivalent ounces in the indicated category by approximately 117% from prior estimates. The Project now contains 6.5 Moz AuEq in the indicated resource category and an additional 4.2 Moz AuEq in the inferred resource category. The successful 2023 drilling program and growth of the mineral resources at Whistler is an example of how our spin-out strategy continues to unlock value for GoldMining shareholders. We now hold over $175 million in cash and equities1 that help position us to advance strategic initiatives across our portfolio, which globally holds 12.5 million AuEq ounces of measured and indicated resources and 9.7 million AuEq ounces of inferred resources.”

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at http://www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #pressrelease #tickertaggingpressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated forty nine hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by RUA GOLD Inc. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: HashiConf 2024 brings community and customers together to do cloud right with best practices for cloud infrastructure automation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HashiCorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCP), The Infrastructure Cloud™ Company, is hosting its annual flagship conference, HashiConf, beginning today in Boston. More than 1,400 in-person attendees and 5,000 virtual viewers will join HashiConf to learn about new product announcements supporting enterprises as they scale their platform teams with comprehensive Infrastructure (ILM) and Security (SLM) Lifecycle Management. These new capabilities address Day 0 concerns related to launching enterprise cloud programs and adopting automation workflows like infrastructure as code (IaC) and identity-based access control, through Day 2+ concerns related to standardization, optimization, security, and compliance.

    With ILM and SLM on the HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP), enterprises can use shared services that bridge silos across infrastructure, security, and development teams, helping reduce technology costs, mitigate security concerns, and ship new applications faster. Today’s announcements build on over 10 years of work with more than 4,700 customers, and further enhance their ability to tackle the ongoing challenges of delivering successful cloud programs.

    Infrastructure Lifecycle Management
    Infrastructure Lifecycle Management uses infrastructure as code workflows and capabilities to build, deploy, and manage the full lifecycle of cloud infrastructure. ILM product announcements cover HashiCorp Terraform, Packer, Nomad, and Waypoint, including:

    • HCP Terraform Stacks (public beta) helps users coordinate, deploy, and manage interdependent Terraform configurations within IaC workflows and eliminates the need to manually track and manage cross-configuration dependencies.
    • Terraform migrate (public beta) automates the migration of common DIY workflows from Terraform Community Edition to HCP Terraform or Terraform Enterprise.
    • HCP Waypoint (generally available) is an internal developer portal with announcements for templates to codify golden patterns for Day 0 provisioning, add-ons for Day 1 updates, and actions (public beta) to manage Day N operations.
    • Nomad GPU enhancements in 1.9 (generally available) adds advanced GPU scheduling to support demanding AI workloads. This includes support for multi-tenant workloads sharing GPUs to maximize utilization and resource quotas to efficiently broker access to shared resources.

    Security Lifecycle Management
    Security Lifecycle Management uses identity-based security workflows and capabilities to protect, inspect, and connect the full lifecycle of secrets and data. SLM product announcements cover HashiCorp Vault, Boundary, and Consul, including:

    • HCP Vault Secrets adds new lifecycle management features, including auto-rotation (generally available), dynamic secrets (public beta), and dynamic cloud credentials for HCP Terraform (public beta) to support secrets lifecycle management for enterprises.
    • HCP Vault Radar (public beta) provides secret scanning and adds new features for unmanaged secrets prevention, hybrid agents, and guidance for remediation of a leaked secret.
    • Boundary transparent sessions (public beta) let authorized remote users securely connect to privileged resources without adding friction for end users.
    • Vault 1.18 (generally available) brings additional hardening for high-scale and high-throughput workloads. Additionally, enhanced PKI support for protocols like CMPv2 enables workloads such as 5G networks to automatically retrieve and rotate certificates.
    • Consul DNS views in 1.20 (generally available) allow secure and transparent service discovery between applications that are running on shared infrastructure using DNS. This makes it easier for application and service owners to migrate their applications from single-tenant clusters to a shared multi-tenant environment.

    HashiConf 2024 has five content tracks, with keynotes, sessions for practitioners, and sessions for business decision makers. In-person attendees can participate in HashiCorp Learn Labs focused on new product enhancements, as well as sit for a HashiCorp Cloud Engineer certification test for Terraform, Vault, or Consul. HashiConf sessions feature talks from leading global enterprises, including:

    • The Hartford accelerated its time to market by streamlining its cloud journey with HashiCorp products for faster deployment and improved agility.
    • Canva enhanced security and scalability by using dynamic secrets to manage third-party Kubernetes applications more efficiently, reducing operational complexity.
    • Adobe achieved greater scalability and resilience by using a cell architecture to scale Vault Enterprise, ensuring secure, high-availability environments for its global operations.
    • Skechers USA simplified its cloud provisioning processes with the combined power of HCP Terraform and ServiceNow, increasing operational efficiency and reducing manual efforts.
    • Toyota scaled cloud onboarding across global teams by using HCP Terraform and AWS Control Tower Account Factory for Terraform (AFT) for faster cloud adoption and more streamlined infrastructure management.
    • Clover achieved more efficient and flexible deployments with Nomad, implementing rainbow deployments to support rapid and reliable application updates.
    • Duke Energy will discuss its approach to Infrastructure Lifecycle Management in a fireside chat as part of the Day 1 (Oct. 15) keynote.
    • SAP will share insights from its deployment of Security Lifecycle Management practices in a fireside chat as part of the Day 2 (Oct. 16) keynote.

    “I’m excited to welcome our community to HashiConf 2024, where we’re unveiling new features and capabilities that respond to our customers’ need for Infrastructure and Security Lifecycle Management as they scale their cloud environments,” said Armon Dadgar, CTO and Co-Founder, HashiCorp. “With Terraform Stacks, we’re reimagining infrastructure as code, making it easier to build and deploy the same infrastructure multiple times, across multiple environments, regions, landing zones, or accounts within a cloud provider. And with new features across Vault and Boundary, we’re bringing important management capabilities to our security portfolio, including auto-rotation, dynamic secrets, and secret scanning to provide full lifecycle management for security.”

    “As organizations advance their cloud strategies, managing the complete application lifecycle is critical. While IaC has enabled enterprises to deploy applications quickly, the challenge now lies in managing and optimizing cloud environments at scale,” said Jevin Jensen, Research Vice President, Intelligent CloudOps and Edge, IDC. “HashiCorp’s platform approach to Infrastructure Lifecycle Management (ILM) helps organizations streamline their cloud operations and improve governance across diverse application landscapes, regions, and landing zones. This ensures security, cost efficiency, and agility throughout their cloud journey.”

    For more information and detailed coverage of all Infrastructure and Security Lifecycle Management announcements at HashiConf 2024, please visit the HashiCorp blog.

    About HashiConf
    HashiConf is HashiCorp’s global cloud conference, featuring 2+ days of conversations on the future of cloud automation with product announcements, technical sessions, hands-on labs, certifications, social events, and more. HashiConf 2024 is sponsored by AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Akamai, Carahsoft, Coder, Datadog, Palo Alto Networks, River Point Technology, TeraSky, Wiz, Atyeti, and Checkly. To register for a free virtual pass to HashiConf — with access to a dedicated platform to view the live streamed keynotes, educational content, and live chat with online attendees, as well as access to all virtual sessions on demand after the event — visit the conference website.

    About HashiCorp
    HashiCorp is The Infrastructure Cloud™ Company, helping organizations automate multi-cloud and hybrid environments with Infrastructure Lifecycle Management and Security Lifecycle Management. HashiCorp offers The Infrastructure Cloud on the HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) for managed cloud services, as well as self-hosted enterprise offerings and community source-available products. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information, visit hashicorp.com.

    All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

    Media and analyst contact
    Kate Lehman
    Senior Director, Corporate Communications
    media@hashicorp.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Sky Quarry Partners with Atlas Roofing Corp. to Explore Asphalt Shingle Recycling

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Exploratory Relationship Will Assess and Develop Mutually Beneficial Processes for the Recovery of Waste Asphalt Shingle Material and Oil

    WOODS CROSS, Utah, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sky Quarry Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYQ) (“Sky Quarry” or the “Company”), an oil production, refining, and development-stage environmental remediation company formed to deploy technologies to facilitate the recycling of waste asphalt shingles and remediation of oil-saturated sands and soils, today announced it has entered into an exploratory relationship with Atlas Roofing Corporation (“Atlas”) to assess and develop mutually beneficial processes for asphalt shingle recycling.

    Atlas Roofing Corporation is an innovative, customer-oriented manufacturer of residential and commercial building materials. Atlas has grown from a single shingle-manufacturing plant into an industry leader with 33 facilities across North America. Atlas has partnerships with some of North America’s most respected companies, allowing Sky Quarry to provide new technologies to various markets.

    Under the partnership, Sky Quarry will collaborate with Atlas to explore the use of its closed loop recycling process and proprietary shingle extraction technology to recover both material and oil from Atlas’ waste shingles. In lab testing, Sky Quarry’s ECOSolv technology has demonstrated a material recovery rate of up to 95%, recycling of up to 99% of its solvent, and recovery of up to 99% of hydrocarbons.

    “As a leader in the building products industry, Atlas is an ideal partner to demonstrate our groundbreaking application capable of separating waste shingles into clean oil and other valuable materials,” said David Sealock, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Sky Quarry. “Currently, there are no sustainably viable solutions for the disposal of waste asphalt shingles, and we believe this exploratory relationship will show how our sustainable business model can transform an environmental challenge into a profitable and sustainable prospect. We look forward to working with the team at Atlas to develop mutually beneficial processes for their waste shingles.”

    About Atlas Roofing Corporation

    From a single asphalt shingle manufacturing facility in 1982, Atlas has grown to 33 manufacturing facilities in North America providing worldwide product distribution. Today, products from the company’s four major divisions, Polyiso Roof & Wall Insulation, Shingles & Underlayments, Molded Products, and Web Technologies, are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities and shipped from a network of manufacturing plants and distribution facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Atlas’ mission is to deliver leading products and solutions that enrich the lives of those they touch, by nurturing a culture of agility, teamwork, and accessibility that attracts the most talented people in their industries.

    Atlas Roofing Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hood Companies, Inc. Hood Companies is a privately owned, closely held holding company and is the parent to operating subsidiaries involved in the manufacture and distribution of forest and wood products, building and construction materials, and flexible and corrugated packaging products throughout North America. For more information, please visit atlas-arc.com.

    About Sky Quarry Inc.

    Sky Quarry Inc (NASDAQ: SKYQ) and its subsidiaries are, collectively, an oil production, refining, and a development-stage environmental remediation company formed to deploy technologies to facilitate the recycling of waste asphalt shingles and remediation of oil-saturated sands and soils. Our waste-to-energy mission is to repurpose and upcycle millions of tons of asphalt shingle waste, diverting them from landfills. By doing so, we can contribute to improved waste management, promote resource efficiency, conserve natural resources, and reduce environmental impact. For more information, please visit http://www.skyquarry.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may include ”forward-looking statements.” All statements pertaining to our future financial and/or operating results, future events, or future developments may constitute forward-looking statements. The statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “look forward to,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “project,” or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of our management, of which many are beyond control. These are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and factors, including but not limited to those described in disclosures. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying expectations not occur or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or our achievements may (negatively or positively) vary materially from those described explicitly or implicitly in the relevant forward-looking statement. We neither intend, nor assume any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the offering statement filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained.

    Investor Relations
    Chris Tyson
    Executive Vice President
    MZ Group – MZ North America
    949-491-8235
    SKYQ@mzgroup.us
    http://www.mzgroup.us

    Company Website
    https://investor.skyquarry.com/

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Alto’s Magic Valley Facility Production Rate Consistently Achieving Full Capacity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PEKIN, Ill., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alto Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTO), a leading producer and distributor of specialty alcohols, renewable fuel and essential ingredients, provided updates on its Magic Valley facility in Idaho where it has installed Harvesting Technology’s patented system to capture its high protein and corn oil products.

    For October to date, the new equipment and system modifications to improve capacity at the Magic Valley facility are delivering the following metrics:

    • Average renewable fuel production rates at full production capacity while operating the high protein and corn oil technology systems;
    • Protein content at 50% or greater, with improved protein production yields of over three pounds per bushel, diversifying the facility’s product mix with a higher margin offering; and
    • Corn oil yields are improving and are expected to increase further as Alto continues aligning systems and operations.

    Alto Ingredients CEO Bryon McGregor said, “We are proud of our team’s hard work and tenacity in integrating the necessary design changes to achieve these production milestones. We expect our improved output to contribute to Magic Valley’s bottom line results. We have begun marketing our new high protein products and anticipate sales from associated products to ramp up in the fourth quarter of 2024.”

    About Alto Ingredients, Inc.
    Alto Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTO) is a leading producer and distributor of specialty alcohols, renewable fuel and essential ingredients. Leveraging the unique qualities of its facilities, the company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and commercial products in the Health, Home & Beauty; Food & Beverage; Industry & Agriculture; Essential Ingredients; and Renewable Fuels markets. For more information, please visit http://www.altoingredients.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

    Statements and information contained in this communication that refer to or include Alto Ingredients’ estimated or anticipated future results or other non-historical expressions of fact are forward-looking statements that reflect Alto Ingredients’ current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of the communication. Forward looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning renewable fuel production rates and potential increases in sales of, or product margins or profits deriving from, corn oil and high protein products at Alto Ingredients’ Magic Valley facility; and Alto Ingredients’ other plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. It is important to note that Alto Ingredients’ plans, objectives, expectations and intentions are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially from Alto Ingredients’ current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Alto Ingredients’ business and plans. These factors include, among others, Alto Ingredients’ ability to continue to achieve current renewable fuel production rates at its Magic Valley facility into the future and to achieve anticipated higher sales, margins and profits from its corn oil and high protein products at the Magic Valley facility in the fourth quarter of 2024; adverse economic and market conditions, including for renewable fuels, specialty alcohols and essential ingredients, including high protein and corn oil products; export conditions and international demand for the company’s products; fluctuations in the price of and demand for oil and gasoline; raw material costs, including production input costs, such as corn and natural gas; adverse impacts of inflation and supply chain constraints. These factors also include, among others, the inherent uncertainty associated with financial and other projections and the operation of new large-scale capital projects; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Alto Ingredients’ products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the alcohol production, marketing and distribution industries; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; successful compliance with governmental regulations applicable to Alto Ingredients’ facilities, products and/or businesses; changes in laws, regulations and governmental policies; the loss of key senior management or staff; and other events, factors and risks previously and from time to time disclosed in Alto Ingredients’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, specifically, those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section contained in Alto Ingredients’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2024.

    Media and Company IR Contact:                 
    Michael Kramer, Alto Ingredients, Inc., 916-403-2755
    Investorrelations@altoingredients.com

    IR Agency Contact:
    Kirsten Chapman, LHA Investor Relations, 415-433-3777
    Investorrelations@altoingredients.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Banzai Engages MZ Group to Lead Strategic Investor Relations and Shareholder Communications Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Banzai International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNZI) (“Banzai” or the “Company”), a leading marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions, has engaged international investor relations specialists MZ Group (MZ) to lead a comprehensive strategic investor relations and financial communications program across all key markets.

    MZ Group will work closely with Banzai’s management team to develop and implement a comprehensive capital markets strategy designed to increase the Company’s visibility throughout the investment community. The campaign will highlight that Banzai is consolidating mission-critical, sub-scale marketing technology (MarTech) products to build a data-driven platform of solutions that seamlessly integrate out of the box. The company’s award-winning products capitalize on economies of scale and complementary customer bases to maximize cross-selling opportunities and grow recurring revenue.

    MZ has developed a distinguished reputation as a premier resource for institutional investors, brokers, analysts, and private investors and maintains offices worldwide. Chris Tyson, Executive Vice President at MZ North America, along with Directors Larry Holub and Brooks Hamilton, will advise Banzai’s investor relations team in all facets of investor relations including, but not limited to, the coordination of roadshows and investment conferences across key cities and building brand awareness with financial and social media outlets.

    Chris Tyson commented: “The MarTech market continues to expand, with Banzai’s total available market expected to grow to $39.4 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 11.8%, according to the Winterberry Group. At the same time, companies and marketers are struggling with the explosion of SaaS vendors. According to a Netskope Cloud Report, enterprises use an average of over 120 marketing tools for their daily operations, leading to disjointed customer experiences and messy data. Customer data specifically remains a challenge for marketers, with 70% of marketing analytics consumers agreeing that access to unified customer data is a major barrier to the success of marketing analytics as reported in a 2022 Gartner® Marketing Data and Analytics Survey. With AI continuing to eat away at marketing, companies need to deliver more growth with less resources, and solutions that integrate seamlessly. Banzai gives marketers the data, analytics, and integrated applications they need to win. With over 11,000 MarTech vendors, Banzai has established a clear acquisition strategy with well-defined evaluation and success criteria to capitalize on a major consolidation opportunity in the industry. Banzai’s M&A strategy, taken together with its recurring revenue model, high profit margins, and significant operating leverage combined with rapid growth, presents an exciting story to share with our network of institutional, family offices and retail investors.”

    Brooks Hamilton added: “Customers including Cisco, Sprinklr, Globe Life Insurance, and LoanDepot praise Banzai’s award-winning products for their user-friendly interfaces and powerful features that get content in front of target audiences. Its AI-driven Reach solution identifies ideal customer profiles (ICP) from a database of over 379 million verified contacts and deploys multi-channel outbound campaigns directly to them. Demio is the top webinar and virtual event platform for marketers, built with powerful engagement features designed to elevate audience interactions and transform webinars into interactive experiences. Building on this success, Banzai is developing and acquiring mission-critical MarTech solutions across three functions, to create a family of seamlessly integrated solutions for customers. Banzai’s acquisition evaluation playbook is focused on growth and profitability profile, and strategic cross-sale potential. Successful new integrations will provide customer retention, expansion, efficiency, and growth.”

    “Our ability to leverage deep analytics and insights to drive marketing decisions has led to the addition of 1,434 customers through August 2024,” said Joe Davy, CEO of Banzai. “This includes 981 new customers and 453 reactivating customers, highlighting our strong organic growth and customer loyalty. Customer adoption has been driven by improvements to both our Demio product and our customer acquisition efficiency. We currently serve nearly 3,000 customers, presenting a great opportunity for continued expansion of our customer base as we execute our planned acquisition strategy and seek new opportunities for inorganic expansion.

    “We have taken key steps very recently to improve our overall financial position having entered into restructuring agreements totaling $28.8 million in reduced and restructuring liabilities, with participation from company insiders. In tandem with the $5 million private placement that we recently closed, we are well positioned to execute on our growth initiatives. We look forward to working with the team at MZ Group to communicate our exciting product releases, business milestones and other announcements in the weeks and months ahead,” concluded Davy.

    For more information on Banzai, please visit http://www.banzai.io. To schedule a conference call with management, please email your request to BNZI@mzgroup.us or call Chris Tyson at 949-491-8235.

    About MZ

    MZ North America is the US division of MZ Group, a global leader in investor relations with over 250 employees, 800 clients across 12 different exchanges. For over 25 years, MZ has implemented award winning programs and developed a reputation for delivering tangible results for public and private companies via strategic communications, industry-leading investor outreach, public relations, a market intelligence desk, and a suite of technology solutions, spanning websites, conference call/webcasting, video production and XBRL/Edgar filing services. MZ maintains a global footprint with professionals located throughout every time zone in North America, as well as Taipei and São Paulo. For more information, please visit http://www.mzgroup.us.

    About Banzai

    Banzai is a marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions for businesses of all sizes. On a mission to help their customers achieve their mission, Banzai enables companies of all sizes to target, engage, and measure both new and existing customers more effectively. Banzai customers include Square, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thinkific, Doodle and ActiveCampaign, among thousands of others. Learn more at http://www.banzai.io. For investors, please visit https://ir.banzai.io.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “target,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “propose,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar variations and expressions. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding Banzai International, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”): future financial, business and operating performance and goals; annualized recurring revenue and customer retention; ongoing, future or ability to maintain or improve its financial position, cash flows, and liquidity and its expected financial needs; potential financing and ability to obtain financing; acquisition strategy and proposed acquisitions and, if completed, their potential success and financial contributions; strategy and strategic goals, including being able to capitalize on opportunities; expectations relating to the Company’s industry, outlook and market trends; total addressable market and serviceable addressable market and related projections; plans, strategies and expectations for retaining existing or acquiring new customers, increasing revenue and executing growth initiatives; and product areas of focus and additional products that may be sold in the future. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the markets in which the Company operates, customer demand, the financial markets, economic, business and regulatory and other factors, such as the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy. More detailed information about risk factors can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” and in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

    Investor Relations
    Chris Tyson
    Executive Vice President
    MZ Group – MZ North America
    949-491-8235
    BNZI@mzgroup.us
    http://www.mzgroup.us

    Media
    Rachel Meyrowitz
    Director, Demand Generation, Banzai
    media@banzai.io

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ETC Announces Fiscal 2025 Second Quarter Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Environmental Tectonics Corporation (OTC Pink: ETCC) (“ETC” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the thirteen week period ended August 23, 2024 (the “2025 fiscal second quarter”) and the twenty-six week period ended August 23, 2024.

    Robert L. Laurent, Jr., ETC’s Chief Executive Officer and President stated, “We are pleased with the overall 56% increase in 2025 fiscal second quarter sales vs. prior year, as well our improvements in gross margin, operating margin and our $2.1 million increase in net income in the 2025 fiscal second quarter versus the prior year. We ended the 2025 fiscal second quarter with a backlog of $109 million. The large backlog positions us well moving forward.”

    2025 Fiscal Second Quarter Results of Operations

    Net Income (Loss)

    Net income was $1.7 million, or $0.09 earnings per diluted share, in the 2025 fiscal second quarter, compared to net loss of ($0.4) million during the 2024 fiscal second quarter, equating to ($0.04) earnings per diluted share. The $2.1 million variance is due primarily to increased sales and improved gross profit margin.

    Net Sales

    Net sales in the 2025 fiscal second quarter were $14.1 million, an increase of $5.1 million, or 56.2%, compared to 2024 fiscal second quarter net sales of $9.0 million. The increase in net sales was driven by a $4.3 million or 100.4% increase in ATS, a $0.4 million or 51.7% increase in ADMS and a $0.3 million or 10.5% increase in Sterilizer Systems net sales in 2025 fiscal second quarter compared to 2024 fiscal second quarter net sales.

    Gross Profit

    Gross profit for the 2025 fiscal second quarter of $4.2 million increased from $2.3 million in the 2024 fiscal second quarter, an increase of $1.9 million or 83.3%. Gross profit margin of 29.8% increased 4.4% in the 2025 fiscal second quarter compared to 25.4% in the 2024 fiscal second quarter. The increase in gross profit was due to higher net sales within the ATS, ADMS and Sterilizer Systems business units, along with an increased overhead absorption resulting from higher production levels.

    Operating Expenses

    Operating expenses, including sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development, for the 2025 fiscal second quarter were $2.2 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 6.1%, compared to $2.4 million for the 2024 fiscal second quarter. Operating expenses decreased due primarily to lower research and development expense for the 2025 fiscal second quarter as compared to the 2024 fiscal second quarter. The increase in sales and gross profit margin along with the decrease in operating expenses resulted in an improvement in operating margin from (-0.8%) in the 2024 second fiscal quarter to 14.0% in the 2025 fiscal second quarter.

    2025 Fiscal First Half Results of Operations

    Net Income (Loss)

    Net income was $3.1 million, or $0.17 earnings per diluted share, in the 2025 fiscal first half, compared to net loss of ($1.5) million during the 2024 fiscal first half, equating to ($0.11) earnings per diluted share. The $4.6 million variance is attributable to an increase in sales and improved gross profit margin.

    Net Sales

    Net sales in the 2025 fiscal first half were $27.6 million, an increase of $10.9 million, or 65.3%, compared to 2024 fiscal first half net sales of $16.7 million. The increase in net sales is primarily attributable to a $7.7 million or 106.8% increase in ATS 2025 fiscal first half net sales and a $3.2 million or 54.1% increase in sterilizer systems net sales in the 2025 fiscal first half as compared to the 2024 fiscal first half.

    Gross Profit

    Gross profit for the 2025 fiscal first half was $8.7 million compared to $4.1 million in the 2024 fiscal first half, an increase of $4.6 million, or 111.5%. Gross profit margin of 31.6% increased 6.9% in the 2025 fiscal first half compared to 24.7% in the 2024 fiscal first half. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to an increase in net sales and gross profit margin within the ATS and Sterilizer Systems business units.

    Operating Expenses

    Operating expenses, including sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development, for the 2025 fiscal first half were $5.2 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 4.4%, compared to $5.0 million for the 2024 fiscal first half. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased expense related to higher sales and personnel expense and general and administrative expense slightly offset by a decrease in research and development expense. The increase in sales and gross profit margin along with the decrease in operating expenses resulted in an improvement in operating margin from (-5.1%) in the 2024 fiscal first half to 12.8% in the 2025 fiscal first half.

    Interest Expense, Net

    Interest expense, net for the 2025 fiscal first half was $0.3 million compared to interest expense, net of $0.4 million for the 2024 fiscal first half, a favorable variance of $0.1 million. The favorable variance was primarily attributable to an increase in interest income included in the proceeds received related to the 2020 and 2021 Employee Retention Credits received in the 2025 first fiscal first half.

    Cash Flows from Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities

    During the 2025 fiscal first half, the Company used $2.1 million of cash from operating activities, due primarily from an increase in contract assets and reduction in accounts payable and contract liabilities, slightly offset by an increase in net income and a decrease in accounts receivable and prepaid expenses and other assets, as compared to using $5.9 million during the 2024 fiscal first half.

    Cash used for investing activities was $0.2 million during the 2025 and 2024 fiscal first half and primarily relates to funds used for capital expenditures on equipment and software development.

    The Company’s financing activities included borrowings of $1.6 million during the first half of fiscal 2025 under the Company’s credit facility as compared to borrowing $4.7 million of cash during the 2024 fiscal first half under the Company’s credit facilities.

    About ETC

    ETC was incorporated in 1969 in Pennsylvania. For over five decades, we have provided our customers with products, services, and support. Innovation, continuous technological improvement and enhancement, and product quality are core values that are critical to our success. We are a significant supplier and innovator in the following areas: (i) software driven products and services used to create and monitor the physiological effects of flight, including high performance jet tactical flight simulation, fixed and rotary wing upset prevention and recovery and spatial disorientation, and both suborbital and orbital commercial human spaceflight, collectively, Aircrew Training Systems (“ATS”); (ii) altitude (hypobaric) chambers; (iii) hyperbaric chambers for multiple persons (multiplace chambers); (iv) Advanced Disaster Management Simulators (“ADMS”); (v) steam and gas (ethylene oxide) sterilizer systems (“Sterilizer Systems” or “Sterilizers”); and (vi) environmental testing and simulation systems (“ETSS”).

    We operate in two primary business segments, Aerospace Solutions (“Aerospace”) and Commercial/Industrial Systems (“CIS”). Aerospace encompasses the design, manufacture, and sale of: (i) ATS products; (ii) altitude (hypobaric) chambers; (iii) hyperbaric chambers for multiple persons (multiplace chambers); and (iv) ADMS, as well as integrated logistics support (“ILS”) for customers who purchase these products or similar products manufactured by other parties. These products and services provide customers with an offering of comprehensive solutions for improved readiness and reduced operational costs. Sales of our Aerospace products are made principally to U.S. and foreign government agencies and to civil aviation organizations. CIS encompasses the design, manufacture, and sale of: (i) steam and gas (ethylene oxide) sterilizer systems; and (ii) ETSS; as well as parts and service support for customers who purchase these products or similar products manufactured by other parties. Sales of our CIS products are made principally to the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries.

    ETC-PZL Aerospace Industries Sp. z o.o. (“ETC-PZL”), our 100%-owned subsidiary in Warsaw, Poland, is currently our only operating subsidiary. ETC-PZL manufactures certain simulators and provides software to support products manufactured domestically within our Aerospace segment.

    The majority of our net sales are generated from long-term contracts with U.S. and foreign government agencies (including foreign military sales (“FMS”) contracted through the U.S. Government) for the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of ATS products, including Chambers and the simulators manufactured and sold through ETC-PZL, collectively, ATS. The Company also enters into long-term contracts with domestic customers for the sale of sterilizers and ETSS. Net sales of ADMS are generally much shorter term in nature and vary between domestic and international customers. We generally provide our products and services under fixed-price contracts.

    ETC’s unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. ETC’s headquarters is located in Southampton, PA. For more information about ETC, visit http://www.etcusa.com/.

    ______________

    Forward-looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management’s expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and these statements may include words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “future”, “predict”, “potential”, “intend”, or “continue”, and similar expressions. We base our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events or future financial performance. Our forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about ETC and its subsidiaries that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

    – Financial Tables Follow –

    Table A                
    Environmental Tectonics Corporation
    Summary Table of Results
    (in thousands, except per share information) 
    (unaudited) 
                       
        Thirteen weeks ended   Variance  
        August 23, 2024
        August 25, 2023
        ($)   (%)  
    Net sales $ 14,083     $ 9,016     $ 5,067     56.2    
    Cost of goods sold   9,886       6,726       3,160     47.0    
    Gross Profit   4,197       2,290       1,907     83.3    
      Gross profit margin %   29.8%       25.4%       4.4%     17.3%    
                       
    Operating expenses   2,219       2,364       (145 )   -6.1    
    Operating income (loss)   1,978       (74 )     2,052     2772.9    
      Operating margin %   14.0%       -0.8 %     14.8%     1799.0%    
                       
    Interest expense, net   233       228       5     2.2    
    Other expense, net   29       93       (64 )   -69.0    
    Income (loss) before income taxes   1,716       (395 )     2,111     534.4    
      Pre-tax margin %   12.2%       -4.4 %     16.6%     377.3%    
                       
    Income tax provision   20       40       (20 )   -50.0    
    Net income (loss)   1,696       (435 )     2,131     489.9    
    Preferred Stock dividends   (121 )     (121 )         0.0    
    Income (loss) attributable to common and                
    Participating shareholders $ 1,575     $ (556 )   $ 2,131     383.2    
                       
    Per share information:                
    Basic earnings (loss) per common and participating share:                
    Distributed earnings per share:                
    Common $     $     $        
    Preferred $ 0.02     $ 0.02     $     0.0    
    Undistributed earnings (loss) per share:                
    Common $ 0.10     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.14     350.0    
    Preferred $ 0.10     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.14     350.0    
    Earnings (loss) per diluted share $ 0.09     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.13     325.0    
                       
                       
    Total basic weighted average common and participating shares     15,569       15,569            
                       
    Total diluted weighted average shares   16,725       15,569            
    Table B                
    Environmental Tectonics Corporation 
    Summary Table of Results
    (in thousands, except per share information) 
    (unaudited) 
                       
        Twenty-six weeks ended   Variance  
        August 23, 2024   August 25, 2023
        ($)   (%)  
    Net sales $ 27,575     $ 16,683     $ 10,892     65.3    
    Cost of goods sold   18,851       12,559       6,292     50.1    
    Gross Profit   8,724       4,124       4,600     111.5    
      Gross profit margin %   31.6%       24.7%       6.9%     27.9%    
                       
    Operating expenses   5,194       4,973       221     4.4    
    Operating income (loss)   3,530       (849 )     4,379     515.8    
      Operating margin %   12.8%       -5.1 %     17.9%     351.0%    
                       
    Interest expense, net     349       426       (77 )   -18.1    
    Other expense, net   85       143       (58 )   -40.6    
    Income (loss) before income taxes   3,096       (1,418 )     4,514     318.3    
      Pre tax margin %   11.2%       -8.5 %     19.7%     231.8%    
                       
    Income tax provision   40       80       (40 )   -50.0    
    Net (loss) income   3,056       (1,498 )     4,554     304.0    
    Preferred Stock Dividends   (242 )     (242 )         0.0    
    Income (loss) attributable to common and                
    Participating shareholders $ 2,814     $ (1,740 )   $ 4,554     261.7    
                       
    Per share information:                
    Basic earnings (loss) per common and participating share:                
    Distributed earnings per share:                
    Common $     $            
    Preferred $ 0.04     $ 0.04     $     0.0    
    Undistributed (loss) per share:                
    Common $ 0.18     $ (0.11 )   $ 0.29     263.6    
    Preferred $ 0.18     $ (0.11 )   $ 0.29     263.6    
    Earnings (loss) per diluted share $ 0.17     $ (0.11 )   $ 0.28     254.5    
                       
    Total basic weighted average common and participating shares   15,569       15,569            
                       
    Total diluted weighted average shares   16,725       15,569            

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: CVR Energy to Release Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUGAR LAND, Texas, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVR Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CVI) plans to release its third quarter 2024 earnings results on Monday, Oct. 28, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company also will host a teleconference call on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m. Eastern to discuss these results.

    This call, which will contain forward-looking information, will be webcast live and can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of CVR Energy’s website at http://www.CVREnergy.com. For investors or analysts who want to participate during the call, the dial-in number is (877) 407-8291. The webcast will be archived and available for 14 days at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/fm39ca3r. A repeat of the call also can be accessed for 14 days by dialing (877) 660-6853, conference ID 13749245.

    CVR Energy’s third quarter 2024 earnings news release will be distributed via GlobeNewswire and posted at http://www.CVREnergy.com.

    About CVR Energy, Inc.
    Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, CVR Energy is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the renewables, petroleum refining and marketing businesses as well as in the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing business through its interest in CVR Partners, LP. CVR Energy subsidiaries serve as the general partner and own 37 percent of the common units of CVR Partners, LP.

    For further information, please contact:

    Investor Relations:
    Richard Roberts
    CVR Energy, Inc.
    (281) 207-3205
    InvestorRelations@CVREnergy.com

    Media Relations:
    Brandee Stephens
    CVR Energy, Inc.
    (281) 207-3516
    MediaRelations@CVREnergy.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Trio Provides Operational Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company Details Plans to Increase Production

    Bakersfield, CA, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trio Petroleum Corp (NYSE American: TPET) (“Trio” or the “Company”), a California-based oil and gas company, today provided an operational update on each of its current oil and gas assets, by field. The update details the specific operational activities the Company is taking to increase daily oil and gas production.

    McCool Ranch Field

    • Production has been stable for a number of months averaging about 20 BOPD from the HH-1 and 35X wells collectively and we are actively continuing operations to increase oil production.
    • The Company is planning to acidize the HH-1 and 35X wells and anticipates a notable increase in oil production.
    • Planning is underway to return the 58X, HH-3 and HH-4 wells to production over the next several months.
    • Operations continue to prepare the field for cyclic-steam operations – when our current five oil wells were initially steamed in 2014-2015 oil production steadily increased over a nine month period from 30 BOPD to a peak of about 400 BOPD.

    Presidents Field, South Salinas Project

    • First oil sales from the HV-3A well occurred in August 2024. We believe production at HV-3A may be improved with acid treatments, by adding up to 625 feet of perforations across the proven oil-producing zones, and/or opening deeper behind-pipe oil zones that are currently below a bridge plug.
    • We expect workovers at HV-3A, whether acidizing, perforating and/or opening deeper zones, will result in notable increases in oil production.
    • Initially we expect to acidize (for borehole cleanup) the currently open 250 feet of perforations and anticipate production of at least 30 BOPD, (which was the average rate in the well’s first month of production), and potentially a much higher oil rate.

    Asphalt Ridge

    • The HSO 2-4 well is currently producing, utilizing a downhole heater, and the operator, Valkor LLC, expects that production may stabilize at approximately 40 BOPD.
    • Asphalt Ridge is known to be one of the largest tar-sand deposits in North America outside of Canada, and to have now established first-oil at this project is of utmost significance to the Company.
    • Downhole heater operations are expected to be operational shortly at the 8-4 well.
    • We expect at least one additional well at Asphalt Ridge by year’s end.
    • Valkor LLC projects that these 3 wells collectively will produce roughly 120-150 BOPD.

    “We are pleased to be able to provide these operational updates on our three oil and gas assets,” commented Robin Ross, CEO of Trio. “We have three good scalable projects today and one of my top priorities is developing what we control, and increasing production. The next few months should be exciting as we continue to demonstrate the potential of our company and grow our business.”

    About Trio Petroleum Corp

    Trio Petroleum Corp is an oil and gas exploration and development company headquartered in Bakersfield, California, with operations in Monterey County, California, and Uintah County, Utah. In Monterey County, Trio owns a 85.75% working interest in 9,245 acres at the Presidents and Humpback oilfields in the South Salinas Project, and a 21.92% working interest in 800 acres in the McCool Ranch Field. In Uintah County, Trio owns a 2.25% working interest in 960 acres and options to acquire up to an additional 17.75% working interest in the 960 acres, and also an option to acquire 20% working interest in an adjacent 1,920 acres, and a right of first refusal to participate in an additional approximate 30,000 acres of the Asphalt Ridge Project at terms offered to other third parties.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this press release of Trio Petroleum Corp (“Trio”) and its representatives and partners that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Acts”). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words “estimates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “intends,” “on-track”, “plans,” “anticipates,” or “may,” and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Acts and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Acts. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Trio’s control, that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth in the Risk Factors sections of the Trio reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of such documents are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Trio undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Redwood Empire Financial Communications
    Michael Bayes
    (404) 809 4172
    michael@redwoodefc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro enters into Agreement with Blacksheep Fund Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. MICHAEL, Barbados, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dye & Durham Limited (“Dye & Durham”) announced today that it had entered into a cooperation agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with Blacksheep Fund Management Ltd. (together with its affiliates, “Blacksheep”) pursuant to which, among other things: (i) Blacksheep has the right to designate one individual (the “Investor Nominee”) who will be appointed to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), and (ii) the Company and Blacksheep have agreed to a construct whereby they will mutually identify a new independent director nominee for the Board (the “Independent Nominee”).

    In connection with the Cooperation Agreement, Plantro has entered into a letter agreement with Blacksheep pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Plantro has agreed to vote its common shares of Dye & Durham (the “Common Shares”) in favour of the Investor Nominee and the Independent Nominee, or their replacements, at any annual or special meetings of Dye & Durham’s shareholders up to, and including, the 2025 annual meeting.

    As of the date hereof, Plantro holds 10,861,110 Common Shares, representing approximately 16.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Plantro intends to review its investment in Dye & Durham on a continuing basis and may determine to buy additional common shares, or sell some or all of the common shares it holds, depending upon price, market conditions, availability of funds, evaluation of alternative investments and other factors it considers relevant from time to time.

    Dye & Durham’s address is 25 York Street, Suite 1100, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2V5. Plantro’s address is Cidel Place, Lower Collymore Rock, St. Michael, Barbados 11000. To obtain a copy of the early warning report relating to Plantro’s agreement with Blacksheep, please contact Amanda J. Lashley at +1 246-430-5350.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Progressive Reports September 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) today reported the following results for the month ended September 30, 2024 and the third quarter of 2024:

      September Quarter
    (millions, except per share amounts and ratios; unaudited)  2024  2024    2023    Change
    Net premiums written $     6,570.0 $ 19,455.6   $ 15,593.8     25 %
    Net premiums earned $     6,262.7 $ 18,296.7   $ 14,894.3     23 %
    Net income $        584.6 $     2,333.4   $     1,121.3     108 %
      Per share available to common shareholders $          0.99 $          3.97   $          1.89     110 %
    Total pretax net realized gains (losses) on securities $        121.2 $        287.4   $      (149.0 )   (293)%
    Combined ratio   93.4   89.0     92.4     (3.4)pts.
    Combined ratio – prior year month   89.7          
    Average diluted equivalent common shares   587.7   587.6     587.5     0 %
                         

    In October 2023, we converted our monthly accounting closing calendar to align with the Gregorian calendar. We do not expect that this change will have a material impact on our reported quarterly and annual underwriting results but it may impact our year-over-year comparisons on monthly results from October 2023 through September 2024. Therefore, during this time period, we have modified and limited the content of the earnings release, compared to our historical reporting. Click here for further discussion on the closing calendar conversion in the October 2023 release, issued November 17, 2023.

      September 30,
    (thousands; unaudited) 2024   2023   % Change
    Policies in Force          
    Personal Lines          
    Agency – auto 9,415.6   8,363.3   13
    Direct – auto 13,387.9   11,154.3   20
    Total personal auto 22,803.5   19,517.6   17
    Total special lines 6,475.0   5,956.2   9
    Total Personal Lines 29,278.5   25,473.8   15
    Total Commercial Lines 1,130.5   1,110.3   2
    Total Property business 3,459.6   3,025.2   14
    Companywide Total 33,868.6   29,609.3   14
               
               

    See Progressive’s complete monthly earnings release, including the “Monthly Commentary,” for additional information.

    About Progressive

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

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

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

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

    Company Contact:
    Douglas S. Constantine
    (440) 395-3707
    investor_relations@progressive.com
     
    The Progressive Corporation
    300 North Commons Blvd.
    Mayfield Village, Ohio  44143
    http://www.progressive.com

    Download PDF: Progressive September 2024 Complete Earnings Release

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Microchip Releases 20 Advanced Wi-Fi® Products for Industrial and Commercial Applications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Industry 4.0, the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digitized manufacturing and the age of IoT everything, the demand for wireless connectivity in commercial and industrial applications is growing at an exceptional pace. These applications typically require reliable connectivity that can withstand extreme environments that are exposed to high temperatures, background noise and obstructions. To help meet this need, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has added 20 products to its Wi-Fi® portfolio. Expanding one of the industry’s most extensive wireless connectivity product lines, Microchip offers high-performance Wi-Fi microcontrollers (MCUs), network and link controllers and plug-and-play modules designed to simplify development and speed time to market.

    The company’s Wi-Fi solutions are designed to support various application needs and developer skill levels. The selection ranges from modules that are regulatory certified in several countries that require no Radio Frequency (RF) expertise and little programming to robust Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) with industrial-level features.

    Microchip’s Wi-Fi portfolio includes:

    • Wi-Fi MCUs: all-in-one solution designed to combine the functionality of an MCU with reliable wireless connectivity
    • Link Controllers: an SDIO interface enables the addition of Wi-Fi to Linux® MPUs
    • Network Controllers: an SPI interface allows the addition of wireless connectivity to an MCU
    • Plug-and-Play Modules: simplify wireless-to-cloud connectivity by sending simple text commands from an MCU over a UART interface

    “For decades Microchip has been a respected MCU provider, and we’ve leveraged that background, along with our comprehensive support ecosystem, to build a portfolio of Wi-Fi products and services that is unmatched in the industry today,” said Rishi Vasuki, vice president of Microchip’s wireless solutions business unit. “Our experience allows us to provide developers with wireless solutions designed to support advanced applications such as precision sensing and motor control operating under harsh conditions.”

    The latest PIC32MZ-W1 Wi-Fi MCUs build on Microchip’s trusted 32-bit MCU line and feature advanced analog peripherals—including CAN, Ethernet, capacitive touch and ADC—to offer exceptional versatility. Additionally, the new devices feature some of the highest General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) capabilities on the market.

    Also included in the lineup are next-generation WINCS02 network controllers and WILCS02 link controllers. Updates to the popular WINC and WILC solutions include improved radio performance and enhanced security features. The new wireless modules are pin-to-pin compatible with previous generations to ease migration from legacy devices.

    To simplify Wi-Fi to cloud connectivity, Microchip has also expanded its plug-and-play product line with new RNWF02 modules. These modules connect MCUs to a cloud platform using simple ASCII commands sent over a UART interface.

    Secure connections, which are critical for Wi-Fi applications that send or receive data from the cloud, can be challenging to implement depending on the developer’s skill level. To ease this process, Microchip has integrated its Trust Platform into many of its Wi-Fi products. Trust&GO module variants are pre-provisioned for secure authentication with popular cloud services, including AWS® and Azure®, to streamline the process of network authentication.
                 
    Millions of Microchip Wi-Fi products are already powering industrial applications around the world, offering seamless integration, enhanced security, robust connectivity and long-term performance and reliability throughout their lifecycle. To learn more, visit Microchip’s Embedded Wireless Connectivity Products web page. 

    Development Tools
    Microchip’s Wi-Fi portfolio is supported by a comprehensive suite of development tools, application demos, evaluation boards and services. Additional services include free design checks to give developers the support they need to create high-quality products efficiently.

    Pricing and Availability
    For additional information or to purchase, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or visit Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website, http://www.microchipdirect.com.

    Resources
    High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

    About Microchip Technology:
    Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control and processing solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve approximately 123,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at http://www.microchip.com.

    Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo, MPLAB are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries.  All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: NEWTON GOLF Company Expands its Global Presence with the Launch of Newton Motion Shafts in Japan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Newton Motion shafts now available in 50 of Japan’s largest golf retailers and through GDO, the country’s leading e-commerce platform

    CAMARILLO, CA, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEWTON GOLF Company (Nasdaq: SPGC) (“NEWTON GOLF” or the “Company”), a technology-forward golf company with a growing portfolio of golf products, including putters, golf shafts, golf grips, and other golf-related accessories, announces the launch of its Newton Motion shafts in Japan.

    Now available in 50 of the largest retail golf stores across Japan, golfers and golf enthusiasts in Japan have access to the Company’s proprietary Newton Motion shaft design and construction, including the four essential technologies embedded in each shaft: Elongated Bend Profile; Kinetic Storage Construction; Newton Symmetry360 Design; and a Variable Bend Profile.

    In addition to this new, extensive retail presence, NEWTON GOLF has partnered with GDO, Japan’s largest e-commerce company for distribution of the Newton Motion shafts, ensuring that golfers can conveniently purchase the new shafts online.

    “Newton Motion has had considerable success with the U.S. tour pros, consumers, and professional fitters,” said Shige Okabe, Newton Golf’s Sales Representative for Japan. “Our initial testing with Japanese buyers and tour professionals confirmed that Newton Motion shafts surpass anything that exists in the Japanese market today. We are confident it will make an immediate impact there.”

    Japan is the second largest golf market in the world, behind the U.S. According to the 2021 World Golf Report, these two countries are responsible for about two-thirds of the world’s golf equipment market.

    The Newton Motion shafts have quickly gained traction among top players on the PGA TOUR Champions, including Doug Barron, who won his first major championship with the Newton Motion Shaft in his driver, John Daly, Clark Dennis, Chris DiMarco, Ken Duke, Fred Funk, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara, Tim Petrovic, and Duffy Waldorf, among others.

    The shafts are sold “ready to play” and include the shaft adapter and grip. The grip is a Lamkin Crossline 360, and there are adapter options to choose from that fit most driver heads.

    The Newton Motion shafts are manufactured in the Company’s St. Joseph, Missouri manufacturing facility.

    All Newton Motion shafts, including the newly introduced 6.5-DOT and 7-DOT shafts, can be seen and are available for purchase at https://newtonshafts.com.

    About NEWTON GOLF: A Sacks Parente Company

    NEWTON GOLF: A Sacks Parente Company, is a technology-forward golf company that help golfers elevate their game. With a growing portfolio of golf products, including putters, golf shafts, golf grips, and other golf-related accessories, the Company’s innovative accomplishments include: the First Vernier Acuity putter, patented Ultra-Low Balance Point (ULBP) putter technology, weight-forward Center-of-Gravity (CG) design, and pioneering ultra-light carbon fiber putter shafts.

    In consideration of its growth opportunities in golf shaft technologies, the Company expanded its manufacturing business in April of 2022 to develop the advanced Newton brand of premium golf shafts by opening a new shaft manufacturing facility in St. Joseph, MO. It is the Company’s intent to manufacture and assemble substantially all products in the United States, while also expanding into golf apparel and other golf-related product lines to enhance its growth.

    The Company’s future expansions may include broadening its offerings through mergers, acquisitions or internal developments of product lines that are complementary to its premium brand. The Company currently sells its products through resellers, the Company’s websites, Club Champion retail stores, and distributors in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.newtongolfco.com or on social media at @newtongolfco.com, @newtonshafts, or @gravityputters.

    Media Contact for NEWTON GOLF

    Beth Gast
    BG Public Relations
    beth.gast@bgpublicrelations.com

    Investor Contact for NEWTON GOLF
    CORE IR
    516-222-2560
    investors@sacksparente.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: More Than One-Third of Gig Workers Rely on Gig Work as Primary Source of Income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While consumers have grown accustomed to on-demand services, like ridesharing and food delivery, they are also increasingly open to participating in the gig economy as workers. More than half of U.S. adults (62%) now earn money working for one or more gig platforms, according to new TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) research.

    Across generations, over one-third (37%) reported gig work as a primary source of income. Millennials lead this group with more than half (55%) leveraging gig work as their primary employment and income source. These findings and more are available in the TransUnion Fall 2024 US Gig Economy Report.

    “The gig economy has earned a strong reputation among workers as a reliable source of income that allows for unparalleled flexibility,” said Tracey Lazos, senior director of TransUnion’s gig economy business. “Our research indicates that this trend is likely to continue as more seek a primary or supplementary income from gig work.”

    Millennials are the leading generation of gig workers, with 78% currently earning income from one or more gig platforms. Gen Z and Gen X workers followed closely behind, at 67% and 65%, respectively. Just 36% of Baby Boomers reported earning from one or more platforms; however, 40% indicated they plan to engage in gig work in the future.

    Improved quality of life
    More than half of respondents reported their household finances were better than planned, and work satisfaction on gig platforms was generally high, with 64% of respondents saying they were somewhat or very satisfied.

    Top Reasons for Worker Satisfaction with Gig Platforms
    Flexibility Enjoy the Work Good Fit for Skillset Earning Potential
    71% 59% 47% 41%
           

    When deciding what type of work to engage in, flexibility (47%) and skillset match (39%) were the leading factors. The top three types of gig work were driving for a ride sharing service (23%), freelancing for a digital or online service (19%), and driving for a restaurant delivery service (19%).

    “The sense of acceptance from one’s social circle is also important to how people feel about themselves as professionals,” said Lazos. “That the report found a quarter of gig workers started because it was recommended by friends or family members indicates that gig work has a growing sense of legitimacy as a profession.”

    Over 60% of gig workers participate to supplement their income, and, predictably, two-thirds report earnings under $2,500 per month. However, 36% of Millennials and 21% of Gen Z workers—those most likely to use gig economy work as a primary source of income—report earnings more than $5,000 per month.

    Competing for workers
    The report found most gig earners plan to either maintain or increase their involvement in the gig economy. More than one-third (35%) of Gen Z workers indicated a plan to increase their work levels on gig platforms, either through increased hours or engaging with a greater number of platforms. Millennials were close behind, with 31% saying they plan to do the same.

    Only 8% of earners plan to stop working and acquire a full-time job, an indication that factors such as convenience and skillset alignment are driving more individuals to treat the gig economy as their primary workplace in place of more traditional employment. 

    The possibility for gig platforms to gain a greater share of the workforce creates an imperative for them to consider services and incentives to attract and retain workers. The survey proposed several potential services platforms could offer workers and found the most desirable options were identity protection, financial education, and supplementary insurance coverage.

    Seasonality is also an important consideration for attracting new workers. While 45% of earners say they work year-round, younger respondents reported a much higher likelihood to take on extra gig work during specific seasons—such as summer and winter—indicating a spike in gig work outside of the school year. Older earners, by contrast, are much more likely to work on an as-needed basis for extra income.

    “Gig workers already enjoy a flexible work experience that allows them to earn what they want, when they want, and how they want,” said Lazos. “By introducing services that also help them feel more empowered and able to meet long-term goals, platforms can provide a comprehensive offering that attracts workers who will create great customer experiences—while boosting worker retention.”

    Companies interested in attracting a high-value workforce should consider TransUnion’s TruAudience solutions for targeting and outreach. In addition, TransUnion’s TruEmpower™ line of solutions for consumer-facing identity protection and financial education can help retain workers.

    Click here to read the latest TransUnion Fall 2024 US Gig Economy Report.

    Research Methodology
    This online survey of 1,013 adults was conducted in August 2024, by TransUnion in partnership with third-party research provider, Toluna. Survey participants included adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States who participate in the gig economy as a contractor of gig economy services. Participants included current, past, and future contractors of gig economy services. To ensure general population sample representativeness across United States resident demographics, the survey targeted respondents in line with the census statistics on the dimensions of age, gender, household income, and region. These research results are unweighted and statistically significant at a 95% confidence level within ±3.1 percentage points based on calculated error margin. Please note some chart percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding or multiple answers being accepted.

    About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

    TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world. http://www.transunion.com/business

    Contact   Dave Blumberg
        TransUnion
    E-mail   david.blumberg@transunion.com
    Telephone   312-972-6646

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Nametag Unveils Deepfake Defense™ to Combat AI-Powered Impersonation Threats, Expands Integration Partnership with Okta

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More than 50% of executives expect deepfake attacks to increase over the next 12 months, but only 7% report using new technologies to detect deepfakes*. Meanwhile, researchers are repeatedly demonstrating how AI-generated ID documents, selfie photos, and videos can successfully fool antiquated Know Your Customer (KYC) verification checks. To address this gaping security hole, Nametag Inc., the leading provider of integrated identity verification and account protection solutions, today announced Deepfake Defense™ at Okta’s annual Identity Conference, Oktane. This next-generation identity verification (IDV) engine is an industry-first, finally addressing the escalating global threats posed by modern AI-powered impersonation.

    “Nametag’s Deepfake Defense engine is the first scalable solution for remote identity verification that’s capable of blocking the AI deepfake attacks plaguing enterprises,” said Bruce Schneier, internationally renowned security technologist and cryptography expert. “This will make it much harder for bad actors to profit from deepfakes.”

    Deepfake Defense for Okta

    As a longtime working partner of Okta, Nametag also officially announced its membership in the Okta Elevate Partner Program. Nametag and Okta’s combined solution, powered by Deepfake Defense, helps enterprises protect their entire Okta user account lifecycle via self-service and agent assisted workflows, delivering on the two companies’ shared vision of deploying deepfake-protected identity security across every workforce and customer account.

    “We’re thrilled to join Okta in creating the future of identity security. Our membership in the Okta Elevate partner program highlights our advanced identity verification technology and commitment to protecting workforce and customer identities,” said Leonard Navarro, VP Business Development at Nametag. “This partnership strengthens the Okta identity security ecosystem and gives our joint customers even easier access to proven tools and ready-to-use solutions for robust identity assurance.”

    Introducing Nametag Deepfake Defense: A New Standard for Identity Verification

    Nametag Deepfake Defense connects the company’s proprietary technologies and patented innovations together into a unified IDV engine that unlocks greater outcomes across fraud prevention and user experience. Deepfake Defense blocks emerging, AI-powered impersonation threats while verifying legitimate users quickly and more securely. It’s the first and only IDV engine that:

    • Prevents injection attacks via Cryptographic Attestation™ which ensures data integrity using hardware-backed keystore assurance and secure enclave technology from Apple and Google.
    • Detects digital manipulation and forgery with Adaptive Document Verification™, preventing the use of even the most sophisticated digitally-altered or counterfeit identity documents.
    • Confirms human likeness, liveness, and presence using Spatial Selfie™ technology to map a person’s 3-dimensional selfie to their 2-dimensional ID photo with biometrics and sensor data.

    IDV with Deepfake Defense takes just a few seconds using a photo ID and a smartphone. It’s available today through Nametag’s solutions for self-service account recovery and helpdesk verification.

    “Make no mistake: we’re facing a global deepfake pandemic that’s spreading ransomware and disinformation. Identity fraud runs rampant and enterprises are defenseless against AI-powered fraudsters. That’s why we’re introducing Deepfake Defense, the only identity verification engine that prevents, not just detects, the use of deepfakes,” said Aaron Painter, CEO of Nametag. “As part of our partnership with Okta, we chose to launch Deepfake Defense for Okta customers here at Oktane 2024. Today, this new technology is generally available and easily accessible to all organizations interested in protecting their users from the growing threat of deepfakes.”

    For more information and a demo of Nametag and Okta’s combined solution, visit getnametag.com.

    About Nametag
    Nametag provides integrated identity verification and account protection solutions that prevent modern impersonation threats and streamline user experiences. Powered by Deepfake Defense™, Nametag detects and blocks sophisticated attacks which bypass other, outdated approaches to user verification, delivering the highest possible level of identity assurance. Nametag’s out-of-the-box solutions help enterprises secure their entire user account lifecycle, from onboarding through recovery, while ensuring compliance with the latest privacy standards. Security-conscious enterprises trust Nametag to protect their businesses and reduce IT and support costs. For more information, visit getnametag.com.

    *Deloitte. (May 2024). Generative AI and the fight for trust.

    Nametag Media Contact:
    Jennifer Schenberg
    PenVine for Nametag
    917-445-4454
    jennifer@penvine.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6853673-cdd8-4c5f-ba2f-f1972d5c694a

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OLAF intelligence supports Spanish Operation enforcing EU sanctions against Russia

    Source: European Anti-Fraud Offfice

    Press release 17/2024
    PDF version 

    The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) assisted the Spanish authorities with the enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia during Operation “Probirka” (Russian for “Test Tube”). The operation led to the arrest of four individuals involved in the illegal export of chemicals to Russia and the seizure of 13 tons of chemical substances.

    Since 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has imposed sanctions on the country, including strict bans on the export and import of certain goods. OLAF has been actively engaged in investigating, monitoring trade flows, conducting analytical work, and identifying potential attempts to circumvent these sanctions. By mapping out suspicious trade routes and identifying operators, OLAF has played a key role in preventing illegal transactions that could support Russia’s military capabilities.

    As part of the Joint Sanctions Enforcement Operation that OLAF has been running since July 2023, OLAF was called upon by the Spanish authorities to assist with investigations into the export of chemical substances from Spain. It was suspected that certain companies were bypassing EU sanctions by rerouting goods through intermediaries in Kyrgyzstan, with the final destination being Russia. 

    OLAF responded by gathering export data from various EU Member States and sharing critical intelligence with the Spanish investigators. OLAF’s collaboration provided crucial evidence to confirm that these illegal exports were indeed reaching Russia.

    Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF, reiterated that: “OLAF’s ability to join the dots and to bring together the data and intelligence from national authorities is once again key to the success of our partners. OLAF is best placed to facilitate this synergy and cooperation and we remain steadfast in our commitment to support our partners in their endeavours to enforce the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus. Sanctions are only as effective as their enforcement, and we are proud to contribute actively.”

    Four arrested and 13 tons of chemicals seized 

    As part of the investigation, the Spanish National Police and Customs Surveillance Service arrested four individuals in the Spanish region of Catalonia, three of whom are Russian nationals. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 13,000 kilograms of a chemical compound subject to export restrictions, at the Port of Barcelona.

    The investigation revealed that a Spanish company, managed by Russian nationals, had established a sophisticated logistical and economic scheme to export internationally sanctioned chemical products to Russia. This network involved the use of shell companies in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to disguise the true destination of the goods, which were later rerouted to Russia.

    OLAF’s contribution has been pivotal in enhancing the Spanish authorities’ ability to enforce EU sanctions and prevent illegal trade that could undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions against Russia. The investigation remains ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying and arresting additional individuals involved in this smuggling network.

    OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
    OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

    OLAF fulfils its mission by:
    •    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
    •    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
    •    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

    In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
    •    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
    •    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
    •    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

    Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

    For further details:

    Pierluigi CATERINO
    Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    X: @EUAntiFraud
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

    Theresa ZAHRA
    Deputy Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32 (0)2 29-57270   
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    X: @EUAntiFraud
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

    If you’re a journalist and you wish to receive our press releases in your inbox, pleaseleave us your contact data.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Childless cat ladies’ is a political catchphrase that doesn’t match reality − Democrats and Republicans have similar demographics and experiences when it comes to parenthood

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Laurel Elder, Professor of Political Science, Hartwick College

    Republicans and Democrats tend to have children at around the same rates and ages and to view parenthood in a similar way. iStock / Getty Images Plus

    Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance infamously said in 2021 that the Democratic Party is run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices they’ve made” – and do not have a “direct stake” in the future of the United States.

    Three years later, after Vance’s selection as Trump’s vice presidential pick, these comments resurfaced and quickly became a cultural touchstone.

    In July 2024, Vance clarified his controversial comments, saying that what he meant was that the Democratic Party has become anti-family and anti-child.

    At a September 2024 campaign event alongside Donald Trump, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders echoed Vance’s sentiments about Democrats being anti-family. “My kids keep me humble. Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble,” she said.

    The single cat lady theme was amplified further when singer Taylor Swift used it to sign off on her Instagram endorsement of Harris.

    While the cat lady framing is new, politicians making parenthood and family a centerpiece in their appeals to the American public has a long history.

    As we show in our 2012 book, “The Politics of Parenthood,” and subsequent research, politicians have been using messages about parenthood as a way to appeal to voters since the 1980s. eg: link wouldn’t work for me

    Content analysis of party platforms and speeches by presidential candidates reveals that both parties have devoted more and more time and space to making the case that they are the true pro-family party. Republicans argue that lower taxes and smaller government strengthen American families, while Democrats argue that strengthening social welfare programs represents the best way to support families.

    Despite the parties’ contrasting pro-family messages and the image conjured by Vance’s childless cat lady comments, Republicans and Democrats are not really that different when it comes to their actual experiences having and raising children.

    Our analysis shows that the age at which Americans have children, how many children they have and whether parents work outside the home are surprisingly similar across partisan lines.

    A woman attends a CatCon event in Pasadena, Calif., in August 2024 and wears a ‘Childless cat ladies for Kamala’ shirt.
    Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    Democrats and Republicans find parenting rewarding

    To explore whether there are differences between Republicans and Democrats in terms of their families, we analyzed data from the 2022 General Social Survey, which had 4,149 respondents. GSS is a nationally representative and well recognized survey of American adults that has been conducted since 1972. We also analyzed data from a 2022 Pew survey of 3,757 mothers and fathers focused on parenting in America.

    This data shows that both Republicans and Democrats deeply value their roles as parents. In the Pew survey, 87% of parents said that their role as a parent is the most important or one of the most important aspects of their identity. Our analysis shows this is true for parents in both parties – 86% of Democrats and 88% of Republicans said they value their role as parents as the most or one of the most important aspects of their identity.

    Similarly, our analysis of the Pew data reveals that Democrats and Republicans both enjoy being parents – 84% of Republicans say they find parenting enjoyable most or all of the time, compared with 81% of Democrats.

    That said, contemporary parenting is also challenging.

    The 2022 Pew survey showed that 29% of parents describe raising children as stressful most or all of the time. And 42% of parents report that raising children is tiring all or most of the time. Our analysis shows that this is equally true for Republicans and Democrats.

    Indeed, the stresses of modern parenthood led the U.S. surgeon general in August 2024 to issue a public health advisory about parents’ declining mental well-being.

    One of the reasons for this stress is that most parents today are balancing parenthood with work. The Republican Party has long embraced “traditional marriage,” meaning a marriage between a man and a woman, where the mother stays home to raise the children. Yet the reality is that most moms have jobs outside the home. In our analysis of the 2022 Pew data, we find that about the same portion of Republican moms – 67% – work outside the home as Democratic moms, who totaled 69%.

    Both Republican and Democratic moms do more parenting

    Another way that the experience of parenthood is similar across partisan lines is that moms spend more time parenting than dads. Pew asked parents with partners and spouses about the division of labor around a variety of child care tasks in 2022.

    In our analysis of the full set of this data, which Pew provided us, we found that 77% of Democratic mothers and 80% of Republican mothers report doing more than their spouse or partner when it comes to managing their children’s activities. And 60% of Democratic mothers and 58% of Republican mothers report providing more comfort and emotional support to their children than their spouses or partners do.

    This may account for why the Pew data reveals that mothers, more so than fathers, report parenting being tiring most or all of the time – 47% for moms, compared with 34% for dads. Once again, our analysis shows that mothers’ higher levels of fatigue hold true for both Republican and Democratic mothers compared with Republican and Democratic dads.

    To assess the demographics of parenthood, we analyzed the 2022 General Social Survey data and found that Republicans and Democrats start their families at a similar age, just as they did a decade ago.

    On average, male and female Democrats are 26 when they have their first kid, while Republicans are 25. Higher levels of education are associated with starting families later, but this is true for those in both parties.

    Looking at women specifically, we find that Democratic women have their first child at 25 years old, and Republican women at 24. There is no evidence that Democratic women – more so than Republican women – are delaying having children so that they can pursue their careers, as suggested by Vance and Sanders in their critiques of the Democratic Party and Harris specifically.

    It is true that Americans are having fewer children compared with a few decades ago. But this drop in having children is nearly universal in high-income democracies, even despite some government policies that seek to increase the birth rate in the U.S.

    Our analysis reveals that the gap between Republicans and Democrats on this issue is modest. On average, Democrats are having 1.53 children, compared with 1.86 for Republicans.

    And the 2022 General Social Survey data shows that Democrats do report having no children at a modestly higher rate than Republicans, but it is men – more than women – who report being childless at higher rates. Among Americans over 40, 22% of Democratic men and 16% of Republican men have no kids, compared with 17% of Democratic women and 10% of Republican women.

    Despite political rhetoric suggesting there is a deep partisan divide among Americans on issues of families and child-rearing, the data tells a different story. It paints a picture of Americans, whether Democrats or Republicans, as remarkably similar in the basic demographics of parenting, as well as in their views about the joys and challenges of parenthood.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. ‘Childless cat ladies’ is a political catchphrase that doesn’t match reality − Democrats and Republicans have similar demographics and experiences when it comes to parenthood – https://theconversation.com/childless-cat-ladies-is-a-political-catchphrase-that-doesnt-match-reality-democrats-and-republicans-have-similar-demographics-and-experiences-when-it-comes-to-parenthood-238960

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: On crime and justice, Trump and Harris records differ widely

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College

    Though crime and criminal justice policy are central issues in many elections, that’s not true in 2024. Surveys show that relatively few American voters rank crime as their most important concern.

    Yet both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris say they take those problems seriously. Trump and the Republicans have focused attention on the problem of illegal immigration and the crimes that he says immigrants commit.

    Harris, as The Economist noted, “is using her history as a prosecutor in San Francisco to burnish her tough-on-crime bona fides.” She has mentioned that background in connection with immigration, drug policy and corporate wrongdoing.

    As someone who studies crime and justice in the United States, it is clear to me that there are substantial differences between the two candidates, though each of their records contains some interesting twists and turns.

    Kamala Harris gives her first news conference as attorney general of California in November 2010.
    AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

    Kamala Harris, the prosecutor

    Harris has a long record of working in the criminal justice system. She worked in the Alameda County district attorney’s office in California, starting in 1990, where she specialized in child sexual assault cases. She then served as district attorney in San Francisco from 2004 to 2010 and as attorney general of California from 2010 to 2017, when she was elected to the U.S. Senate.

    Axios reported that during her term as district attorney, “the number of violent crimes rose steadily in the city of San Francisco during her first five years in office then fell 15% in her last two years.” And when she served as the state’s attorney general, “the violent crime rate in the state was 439.6 per 100,000 residents the year before she took office and fell to 396.4 by 2014. … However, violent crime surged to 444.8 in 2016 during her last year in office to a six-year high,” Axios reported.

    In both offices, Harris undertook a number of reforms in criminal justice policy.

    For example, in San Francisco she developed a “Back on Track” initiative“ that aimed to help nonviolent drug offenders between the ages of 18 and 30. According to The New York Times, its key promise was that ”after a full year of employment, education, community service, regular meetings with a supervising judge and crime-free behavior, the charge would be expunged from the offender’s record.“ It was generally well received, especially among progressives.

    When Harris became the state’s attorney general, she reformed California’s approach to school truancy by focusing on the parents of truant children. As The New York Times reported, she threatened them ”with fines or even imprisonment if they did not ensure that their children attended class.“ FactCheck.org found that as a result of her policy, ”district attorneys reported prosecuting 3 to 6 … cases per year,“ on average.

    Considering Harris’ record in California, The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California) said Harris ”earned a reputation as tough on sexual abuse, human trafficking and organized crime, and did not shy away from pursuing incarceration.“

    Throughout her career, Harris has been an opponent of the death penalty. During her first campaign for San Francisco district attorney, she promised that she would never seek a death sentence no matter how heinous the crime. She stuck to that promise, but as attorney general she went to court to defend death sentences that had been imposed under prior administrations.

    The Los Angeles Times said her decision to do so was an appropriate one for the attorney general, ”putting professional responsibility over personal politics.“

    CNN summarized her record on capital punishment by saying it ”broke hearts on both sides.“

    Donald Trump speaks at a meeting about prison reform in 2018.
    AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

    Donald Trump’s record as president

    Trump, by contrast, was a strong proponent of the death penalty during his time in the Oval Office. In March 2018, he directed the Department of Justice to seek the death penalty in cases involving drug traffickers. The department also vigorously pursued new death penalty prosecutions in other areas and defended existing death sentences in court.

    After a long time without any federal executions, the Trump administration carried out 13 of them in the last seven months of his term. ProPublica said Trump’s administration ”executed more federal prisoners than any presidency since Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s” and more than the prior 10 presidents combined.

    In other areas, the Trump administration stepped in to stop some criminal justice reform initiatives. For example, according to ABC News, Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, stopped former President Barack Obama’s effort to end prison privatization, and then began distributing contracts for new privately run detention centers.

    But during his presidency, Trump was not consistent in being tough on crime. For instance, in March 2018, he signed an executive order creating the Federal Interagency Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry Council. He charged it with identifying ways “to provide those who have engaged in criminal activity with greater opportunities to lead productive lives” and to develop “a comprehensive strategy that addresses a range of issues, including mental health, vocational training, job creation, after-school programming, substance abuse, and mentoring.”

    The Biden administration built on and extended those efforts.

    And in December 2018, Trump supported the so-called “First Step Act,” which passed Congress with bipartisan support. It funded efforts to reduce the likelihood that inmates would be convicted again after their release, including by providing addiction treatment, mental health care, education and job training.

    Trump also commuted the sentences of more than 90 people and pardoned more than 140 others. His use of clemency power was quite controversial, as some of its beneficiaries were Trump associates, such as Steve Bannon and Paul Manafort, who led Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and had committed financial fraud.

    As far as the crime rate during Trump’s presidency, the Dallas Morning News reported that “During the first three years of Trump’s presidency, the violent crime rate per 100,000 population … fell each year. But, the Morning News – citing Politifact – said that in 2020, “the violent crime rate spiked,” though it was slightly lower than it had been in Obama’s final year in office.

    Crime and criminal justice in the next administration

    The next president will have choices to make about the crime and justice policies that the federal government will pursue and about whether to emphasize reform or harsh punishment. He or she will also have to decide whether, and how, the federal government should use grants and other funding, guidelines and enforcement to further those goals.

    Their records suggest that Harris and Trump would make very different choices about those and other crime and criminal justice issues.

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

    ref. On crime and justice, Trump and Harris records differ widely – https://theconversation.com/on-crime-and-justice-trump-and-harris-records-differ-widely-240004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Candidate experience matters in elections, but not the way you think

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charlie Hunt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

    Previously holding political office is an obvious advantage for candidates seeking votes. SDI Productions/E+/Getty Images

    Ever since he was chosen as Donald Trump’s running mate back in July, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, has come under a level of scrutiny typical for a vice presidential candidate, including for some of his eyebrow-raising public statements made in the past or during the campaign.

    One line of critique has persisted through the news cycles: that his lack of political experience may make Vance less qualified than others, including his opponent, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, to be vice president.

    Do more politically experienced politicians have advantages in elections? And if they enjoyed such advantages in the past, do they still in such a polarized political moment?

    The answers are complicated, but political science offers some clues.

    Why experience should matter

    Previously holding political office, and for a longer period of time, is in some ways an obvious advantage for candidates making the case to potential voters. If you were applying for a job as an attorney, previous legal experience would be favorably looked upon by an employer. The same is true in elections: If you want to run for office, experience as an officeholder could help you perform better at the job you’re asking for.

    This approach has been taken by a number of high-profile politicians over the years. For example, in Hillary Clinton’s first campaign for president in 2008, the U.S. senator from New York and future secretary of state made “strength and experience” the centerpiece of her argument to the voters.

    Experience also might matter for the same reasons as incumbency – that is, when a candidate is currently holding the office they are seeking in an election. Incumbents typically have much higher name recognition than their challenger opponents, distinct fundraising advantages and, at least in theory, a record of policy achievement on which to base their campaigns. Even for nonincumbents, these advantages are more prevalent for previous officeholders rather than someone who is a newcomer to politics.

    Barack Obama and his family on Nov. 4, 2008, the day he won the presidential election, showing that a lack of political experience can be used as a benefit.
    Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

    Inexperienced, or an ‘outsider’?

    But Hillary Clinton was, of course, unsuccessful in her first bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. She was beaten by a relatively inexperienced candidate named Barack Obama; like Vance, Obama had served less than a full term in the Senate before running for higher office.

    Obama’s 2008 win shows that a lack of political experience can be leveraged as a benefit.

    One of the few things Obama and Donald Trump have in common is that both benefited from an appeal to voters as a political “outsider” in elections in which Americans were frustrated with the political status quo. As outsiders, they appeared uniquely positioned to fix what voters believed was wrong with politics.

    Does experience equal ‘quality’?

    The “outsider” label isn’t always a ticket to victory.

    In 2020, for example, voters were frustrated with the chaos of having a political outsider in the White House and turned to Joe Biden – possibly the most experienced presidential candidate in modern history at that point, with eight years as vice president and several decades in the Senate under his belt. Voters were hungry for political normalcy in the White House and made that choice for Biden.

    Does U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s lack of political experience make him less qualified than his opponent, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, to be vice president?
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    Political science has other important lessons about when experience matters and when it doesn’t. In Congress, electoral challengers – those running against incumbents – enjoy more of a boost from prior experience in places such as the state legislature. In fact, the typical indicator for challenger “quality” used in political science research is a simple marker of whether the challenger has prior political experience.

    But even this finding is more complicated than it seems: Political scientists such as Jeffrey Lazarus have found that high-quality – that is, politically experienced – challengers do better in part because they are more strategic in waiting for better opportunities to run in winnable races.

    Experience matters only sometimes – and maybe less than ever

    The usefulness of a lengthy political resume also depends on which stage of the election candidates are in.

    Research has found, for example, that a candidate’s experience matters much more in settings such as party primaries, where differences between the candidates on policy issues are typically much narrower. That leaves nonpolicy differences such as experience to play a bigger role.

    In the general election, voters supportive of one party are unlikely to factor candidate experience in that heavily, even, or especially, when the candidate they support lacks it.

    The political science phenomenon known as negative partisanship means that, more and more, voters are motivated not by positive attributes of their own party’s candidates but rather by the fear of losing to the other side. This has only been exacerbated as the two parties have polarized further.

    Voters are therefore more willing than ever to lower the standards they might have for their favored candidates’ resumes if it means beating the other side. Even if a Democrat is clearly more qualified than a Republican in terms of political experience, that advantage is unlikely to sway many Republican voters, and vice versa.

    What about 2024?

    In 2024, the experience factor is complicated. Trump, of course, has been president before – the ultimate prior experience for someone running for exactly that office.

    But he has continued to run as an outsider from the political establishment, casting Kamala Harris – who, as vice president, has little actual institutional power – as an incumbent who is responsible for the current state of the country. Since polls show consistently that a majority of Americans believe the country is not headed in the right direction, we can see why Trump might try to frame the race in this way.

    Whether Trump’s strategy ends up working will be more apparent after the election is over. For now, Trump and Harris can rest assured that most of their supporters don’t appear to care how much – or how little – experience they have.

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

    ref. Candidate experience matters in elections, but not the way you think – https://theconversation.com/candidate-experience-matters-in-elections-but-not-the-way-you-think-240191

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: How dogs were implicated during the Salem witch trials

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bridget Marshall, Professor of English, UMass Lowell

    An illustration of a court scene during the late-17th century witch trials in Salem, Mass. Christine_Kohler/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    I teach a course on New England witchcraft trials, and students always arrive with varying degrees of knowledge of what happened in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692.

    Nineteen people accused of witchcraft were executed by hanging, another was pressed to death and at least 150 were imprisoned in conditions that caused the death of at least five more innocents.

    Each semester, a few students ask me about stories they have heard about dogs.

    In 17th century Salem, dogs were part of everyday life: People kept dogs to protect themselves, their homes and their livestock, to help with hunting, and to provide companionship.

    However, a variety of folklore traditions also associated dogs with the devil – beliefs that long predated what happened in Salem. Perhaps the most famous example of such belief is the case of a poodle named Boy who belonged to Prince Rupert, an English-German cavalry commander on the Royalist side during the English Civil War. Between 1643 and 1644, stories spread across Europe that Boy the poodle had supernatural powers, including shape-shifting and prophecy, that he used to aid his master on the battlefield.

    There is no mention in the official records of Salem’s trials of any dogs being tried or killed for witchcraft. However, dogs appear several times in the testimony, typically because an accused witch was believed to have had a dog as a “familiar” who would do her bidding, or because the devil appeared in the form of a dog.

    Numerous testimonies in the Salem trial records claim that dogs were in league with the devil, adding to the paranoia of this community that was spinning out of control.

    Associating the devil with the dog

    On May 16, 1692, a 45-year-old Amesbury, Massachusetts, man named John Kimball testified against Susanna Martin, a 71-year-old widow, saying, among other things, that she had caused a “black puppy” to appear before him when he was alone in the woods. Kimball testified that he was terrified by the dog, which he thought would tear out his throat. The dog disappeared when he began to pray.

    This, among other testimony, would contribute to Martin’s conviction for witchcraft in June 1692; she was hanged on July 19, 1692.

    In several instances recorded by the courts, accused witches confessed that the devil had appeared to them in the form of a dog. In September 1692, 19-year-old Mercy Wardwell testified that she had been conversing with the devil, and that he had appeared to her in the shape of a dog. Her confession caused her to be jailed, although she was later released when the hysteria died down.

    During the same proceedings that September, 14-year-old William Barker Jr. testified that the “shape of a black dog” appeared to him and provoked anxiety; soon after this, the devil appeared. It’s hard to know if he was suggesting that the dog was the devil himself or his companion.

    Barker confessed that he had “signed the devil’s book,” meaning that he had made a covenant with the devil and was a witch. Barker was jailed, though he would later be acquitted.

    Tituba, a woman of color enslaved in the Rev. Samuel Parris’ household, also testified about a dog. When she was examined by magistrates on March 1, 1692, Tituba recounted how the devil had appeared to her at least four times, “like a great dog” and as “a black dog.” She also said she saw cats, hogs and birds, an entire menagerie of animals working for the devil.

    An accused witch was believed to have a dog or another animal as a ‘familiar’ who would do her bidding,
    © The Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA

    Kimball’s, Wardwell’s, Barker’s and Tituba’s testimonies certainly may have contributed to the ongoing alarm that the residents of Salem were being led astray by a devil who might appear to them in the shape of a dog.

    Sketchy evidence

    Some popular accounts of the trials also suggest that at least two dogs were killed during the trials, but there is no evidence supporting this in the official legal testimony of the time. There is certainly some local legend that supports the claim, and many accounts of Salem have included these two dog deaths as a part of the story.

    According to local historical researcher Marilynne K. Roach’s 2002 book, “The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege,” some of the afflicted girls claimed that a man named John Bradstreet had bewitched a dog. Although the dog was a victim, it was killed. Roach’s history also notes that another dog was shot to death when a girl claimed that the dog’s specter had afflicted her.

    Witchcraft belief at the time held that witches could send their “spectres,” or spirits, out to do their bidding.

    While these are compelling stories, neither of these events can be verified in any existing official trial documents. The source that Roach cites for the Bradstreet case is Robert Calef’s book “More Wonders of the Invisible World,” which was published in 1700. Calef, who was a Boston merchant, objected to how the trials were conducted. However, he was not present at the trials, and it is not clear what his source was for the dog stories. Such stories – and Calef’s uncited retelling of it – do not have the same authority as the legal documents in the case.

    The earliest account of a dog being shot for being a witch appears in a commentary on the Salem trials, “Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits,” published in 1693, in which the clergyman Increase Mather claims that “I am told by credible persons” that a dog was shot for bewitching a person.

    But significantly, Mather did not name the human victim or the person who told him the story. Surprisingly, Mather actually defended the dog, saying that the fact that they had successfully killed it meant that “this dog was no Devil.”

    Nearly every history of Salem recounts how when Samuel Parris’ daughters were having terrible fits that led people to believe they were bewitched, Tituba, the enslaved woman who lived in the household, baked a “witch cake” using urine from the afflicted girls and fed it to the family’s dog.

    Somehow, this was supposed to cause the dog to reveal the identity of the witch. Indeed, Reverend Parris condemned the ritual, which itself seemed to be its own kind of witchcraft.

    Fear and distrust

    All around, Salem’s witch trials seem to have been bad for dogs. Although there is no official legal evidence that dogs were killed for being witches, it’s clear that there were strong associations between dogs and the devil, and that dogs were sometimes treated poorly because of superstition.

    The Salem trials are a horrifying example of what happens when people use terrible logic and leap to indefensible conclusions with shoddy evidence. In an environment of fear and distrust, even man’s best friend could be suspected of dealings with the devil.

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

    ref. How dogs were implicated during the Salem witch trials – https://theconversation.com/how-dogs-were-implicated-during-the-salem-witch-trials-239802

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mitchell Gallagher, Ph.D Candidate in Political Science, Wayne State University

    In the quiet backwaters of Yunnan, Dong Meihua – though her followers know her by the public alias Dianxi Xiaoge – has done something remarkable: She’s taken the pastoral simplicity of rural China and made it irresistible to millions. In her hands, a village kitchen becomes a stage, and the rhythms of farm life become a story as compelling as any novel. She is one of many rural influencers returning to their roots.

    In a digital revolution turning established narratives on their head, China’s countryside is emerging as an unlikely epicenter of viral content. Xiaoge is one of thousands of influencers redefining through social media how the countryside is perceived.

    Upending preconceptions of rural China as a hinterland of poverty and stagnation, this new breed of social media mavens is serving up a feast of bucolic bliss to millions of urbanites. It is a narrative shift encouraged by authorities; the Chinese government has given its blessing to influencers promoting picturesque rural images. Doing so helps downplay urban-rural chasms and stoke national pride. It also fits nicely with Beijing’s rural revitalization strategy.

    Hardship to revival

    To fully appreciate any phenomenon, it’s necessary to first consider the historical context. For decades, China’s countryside was synonymous with hardship and backwardness. The Great Leap Forward of the late 1950s and early 1960s – Communist China’s revered founder Mao Zedong’s disastrous attempt to industrialize a largely agrarian country – devastated rural communities and led to widespread famine that saw tens of millions die.

    The subsequent Cultural Revolution, in which Mao strengthened his grip on power through a broad purge of the nation’s intelligentsia, further disrupted customary rural life as educated youth were sent to the countryside for “reeducation.” These traumatic events inflicted deep scars on the rural psyche and economy.

    Meanwhile, the “hukou” system, which since the late 1950s has tied social benefits to a person’s birthplace and divided citizens into “agricultural ” and “nonagricultural” residency status, has created a stark divide between urban and rural citizens.

    The reform era of Mao’s successor, Deng Xiaoping, beginning in 1978, brought new challenges. As China’s cities boomed, the countryside lagged behind.

    Millions of rural Chinese have migrated to cities for better opportunities, abandoning aging populations and hollowed-out communities. In 1980, 19% of China’s population lived in urban areas. By 2023, that figure had risen to 66%.

    Government policies have since developed extensively toward rural areas. The abolition of agricultural taxes in 2006 heralded a major milestone, demonstrating a renewed commitment to rural prosperity. Most recently, President Xi Jinping’s “rural revitalization” has put countryside development at the forefront of national policy. The launch of the Internet Plus Agriculture initiative and investment in rural e-commerce platforms such as Taobao Villages allow isolated farming communities to connect to urban markets.

    Notwithstanding these efforts, China’s urban-rural income gap remains substantial, with the average annual per capita disposable income of rural households standing at 21,691 yuan (about US$3,100), approximately 40% of the amount for urban households.

    Enter the ‘new farmer’

    Digital-savvy farmers and countryside dwellers have used nostalgia and authenticity to win over Chinese social media. Stars such as Li Ziqi and Dianxi Xiaoge have racked up huge numbers of followers as they paint rural China as both an idyllic escape and a thriving cultural hub.

    The Chinese term for this social media phenomenon is “new farmer.” This encapsulates the rise of rural celebrities who use platforms such as Douyin and Weibo to document and commercialize their way of life. Take Sister Yu: With over 23 million followers, she showcases the rustic charm of northeast China as she pickles vegetables and cooks hearty meals. Or Peng Chuanming: a farmer in Fujian whose videos on crafting traditional teas and restoring his home have captivated millions.

    Since 2016, these platforms have turned rural life into digital gold. What began as simple documentation has evolved into a phenomenon commanding enormous audiences, fueled not just by nostalgia but also economic necessity. China’s post-COVID-19 economic downturn, marked by soaring youth unemployment and diminishing urban opportunities, has driven some to seek livelihoods in the countryside.

    In China’s megacities, where the air is thick with pollution and opportunity, there’s clearly a hunger for something real – something that doesn’t come shrink-wrapped or with a QR code. And rural influencers serve slices of a life many thought lost to China’s breakneck development.

    Compared with their urban counterparts, rural influencers carve out a unique niche in China’s vast social media landscape. Although fashion bloggers, gaming streamers and lifestyle gurus dominate platforms such as Weibo and Douyin, the Chinese TikTok, rural content creators tap into a different cultural romanticism and a yearning for connection to nature. In addition, their content capitalizes on the rising popularity of short video platforms such as Kuaishou and Pinduoduo, augmenting their reach across a wide demographic, from nostalgic retirees to eco-conscious millennials.

    But this is not simply digital escapism for the masses. Tourism is booming in once-forgotten villages. Traditional crafts are finding new markets. In 2020 alone, Taobao Villages reported a staggering 1.2 trillion yuan (around $169.36 billion) in sales.

    The Chinese government, never one to miss a PR opportunity, has spotted potential. Rural revitalization is now the buzzword among government officials. It’s a win-win: Villagers net economic opportunities, and the state polishes its reputation as a champion of traditional values. Government officials have leveraged platforms such as X to showcase China’s rural revitalization efforts to international audiences.

    Authenticity or illusion?

    As with all algorithms, there’s a catch to the new farmer movement. The more popular rural influencers become, the more pressure they face to perform “authenticity.” Or put another way: The more real it looks, the less real it might actually be.

    It raises another question: Who truly benefits? Are we witnessing rural empowerment or a commodification of rural life for urban consumption? With corporate sponsors and government initiatives piling in, the line between genuine representation and curated fantasy blurs.

    Local governments, recognizing the economic potential, have begun offering subsidies to rural content creators, causing skepticism about whether this content is truly grassroots or part of a bigger, state-led campaign to sanitize the countryside’s image.

    Yet, for all the conceivable pitfalls, the new farmer trend is an opportunity to challenge the urban-centric narrative that has dominated China’s development story for decades and rethink whether progress always means high-rises and highways, or if there’s value in preserving ways of life that have sustained communities for centuries.

    More importantly, it’s narrowing the cultural disconnect that has long separated China’s rural and urban populations. In a country where your hukou can determine your destiny, these viral videos foster understanding in ways that no government program ever could.

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

    ref. Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life – https://theconversation.com/farms-to-fame-how-chinas-rural-influencers-are-redefining-country-life-239540

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: Paxful Modernizes P2P with Reinvented App and Brand, featuring AI-Enhanced Safety, Security, and Support

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paxful, the global payment network for people-powered money announced a major upgrade to its brand and products for 14 million total Paxful users in over 140 countries:

    1. A totally reinvented mobile and web P2P trading experience, designed for smoother trades, getting you the right information at the right time, and keeping you secure.
    2. Dozens of core product updates including the industry’s lowest fees on cryptocurrency swaps, plus the addition of nearly a hundred new payment methods.
    3. Major improvements across safety, security, and support – merging the best of expert talent and the latest in AI.

    New Brand, New App, New Team – Same Mission

    Founded in 2015, today’s announcement represents the biggest change to Paxful’s brand and core products since its founding, and a breath of fresh air for peer-to-peer markets.

    Paxful’s modern rebrand emphasizes simplicity, delivered across updated web and mobile products, and is designed from the ground up based on years of marketplace data and daily user feedback.

    This inflection point comes as the team approaches 100 members around the globe under the leadership of Paxful CEO Roshan Dharia.

    Dharia says, “We built an incredible team that works tirelessly to connect with our users, improve our marketplace, and keep everyone safe. Then we listened, built, and optimized everything about Paxful, inside and out. The result is a brand new Paxful, with the best designed app in peer-to-peer, loyal to its founding mission: building a financial system for the 100%”

    The Best of Human Ingenuity and Cutting-Edge Technology

    Paxful is modernizing key areas of its business through the integration of AI, resulting in faster trades, more intuitive support, and enhanced scam prevention. By leveraging a substantial dataset of historical information alongside expert human input, Paxful’s AI tools are enabling the company to accomplish more with better results:

    • Safety – Paxful has strengthened its compliance and identity programs by integrating crypto forensics, layered identity screening, and process automation, all supported by a dedicated compliance team. These enhancements facilitate quicker onboarding while reducing risks like identity theft and blocking high-risk transactions, ultimately protecting users from known scams and maintaining the marketplace’s integrity.
    • Security – Supported by a global 24/7 support team, Paxful’s security suite continually scans thousands of data points from its marketplace to prevent scams. Repeat offenders are barred from rejoining, fostering a safer marketplace for all users.
    • Support – By pairing AI with expert moderators, Paxful has achieved resolution times that are 2.3 times faster than the industry average. This efficiency is complemented by newly launched features such as Live Chat support and a streamlined knowledge base available for self-service, ensuring that users retain access to the human touch in support interactions.

    About Paxful

    Paxful is the world’s largest people-powered marketplace, connecting over 14 million users across 140+ countries to move, earn, save, and store money – even without a bank account. Founded in 2015 and based in the United States, Paxful offers safe, fast, and reliable access to the global economy through cryptocurrencies bought and sold on a borderless peer-to-peer payment network. With over 300 payment methods for accessing Bitcoin, USDT, and other popular digital and local currencies, Paxful is building a financial system for 100%. 

    Users can visit Paxful at https://paxful.com

    For queries, users can visit reach out to media relations at email: press@paxful.com

    Contact

    Elliot Ledley
    Elliot@EnergentMedia.net

    The MIL Network