NewzIntel.com

Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI China: English-dubbed ‘Ne Zha 2’ featuring Michelle Yeoh to debut in August

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

    A new English-language version of “Ne Zha 2,” already the world’s highest-grossing animated film, is set to open in cinemas in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand from Aug. 22, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh joining the English voice cast.

    A still from “Ne Zha 2.” [Image courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    A24 and CMC Pictures will distribute the English-language version, the companies announced Wednesday. The film will be released in IMAX, 3D and other premium large formats.

    “I’m honored to be part of ‘Ne Zha 2,’ a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”

    The announcement did not say which character Yeoh will voice or disclose other members of the English cast.

    Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film follows mythological figures Ne Zha and Ao Bing, who are reborn in lotus-formed bodies after a catastrophe and must unite against vengeful dragon kings and a scheming god. 

    The film combines traditional Chinese mythology with action, humor and advanced visual effects. The production took five years, with a crew of 4,000 and the involvement of 138 Chinese animation and special effects companies.

    “Ne Zha 2” has emerged as a box office sensation since its release earlier this year, ending its China run on June 30 with 15.45 billion yuan ($2.13 billion) to become the highest-grossing Chinese film ever.

    Its worldwide total has reached $2.19 billion, making it the top-grossing animated film globally, the highest-grossing non-English-language film and the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Titanic.”

    The film is the highest-rated animated feature of 2025, earning a 96% approval rating from critics and a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also ranks among the top-rated releases on Letterboxd. Critics have called it “animated cinema on a scale rarely seen” and “a technical marvel that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.”

    CMC Pictures, the film division of CMC Inc., released a Chinese-dubbed, English-subtitled version of “Ne Zha 2” overseas in February, grossing more than $20 million in North America. The English-dubbed version is expected to further boost the film’s global box office.

    Chinese Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh at an Olympic event in 2023. [File photo/Xinhua]

    “Children, teenagers and families in international markets rarely watch subtitled foreign-language films, and the language barrier remains a key distribution challenge,” said Catherine Ying, vice president of CMC Inc. and president of CMC Pictures. “The English-dubbed version of ‘Ne Zha 2’ is aimed at reaching mainstream audiences and building long-term franchise potential.”

    CMC Pictures has operated internationally since 2016, handling film development, production, investment and distribution in 100 countries.

    A24, the entertainment company behind Oscar-winning films such as “Moonlight” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and the series “Euphoria,” has a catalogue of more than 150 films and 50 television series, with 21 Academy Awards, 18 Golden Globes and 18 Emmys. CMC Pictures said the partnership aims to expand the franchise’s global reach, promote Chinese culture and attract a broader international audience.

    Wang Changtian, chairman of Beijing Enlight Media and producer of “Ne Zha 2,” said at a forum during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 15 that he expects the film’s final international box office receipts to exceed $100 million.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Annual Report 2024

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    The Bank of Botswana has released the 2024 Annual Report. The report includes the statutory report on the Bank’s operations during 2024 and audited financial statements. It also includes an economic review section providing an extensive range of economic and financial data. The economic review covers both recent developments in the Botswana economy and a theme section that looks in detail at the topic ‘Next Generation Payment Systems, Innovation And Financial Technologies – Opportunities For Botswana’.

    Annual Report 2024.pdf

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Treasury allocates emergency funding of R750m towards HIV and TB after US funding cuts

    Source: Government of South Africa

    National Treasury has allocated R753 million to the Department of Health — under Section 16 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) — to help bridge the shortfall caused by the United States’ decision to cut HIV and tuberculosis (TB) grants.

    Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement on Wednesday during the Budget Vote presentation in Parliament.

    According to the Minister, R590 million of the total of R753 million will be allocated for service delivery in the provinces, distributed through the comprehensive HIV/Aids component of the District Health Programme Grant.

    In addition, R32.1 million will be given to the National Department of Health to support the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) Programme, as well as pharmaceutical supply chain management.

    Furthermore, R132 million will be transferred to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to enhance health research across the country.

    “This is how it is going to work: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust have pledged R100 million each. 

    “They put a condition that each R100 million they contribute be matched by R200 million from our own Treasury, and that money be given to researchers. Treasury duly agreed.” 

    This means South Africa will receive a total of R600 million allocated to researchers, even though the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has withdrawn support. 

    The United States government’s withdrawal of funding to key health initiatives, including PEPFAR, which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003, led to a loss of R7.9 billion spent on HIV/Aids programmes annually.

    “Hence, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust will together immediately release R200 million. On the other hand, the matching R400 million by Treasury will be released over three years, hence the first tranche of R132 million I have mentioned.“

    According to the Minister, these funds are meant to address the most urgent needs, with the possibility of additional allocations being considered later.

    This week, he stated that the South African Medical Research Council , along with researchers from various institutions and universities, are discussing how they will distribute funds, which will be transferred to the SAMRC.

    “We are determined more than ever before to end the scourge of HIV/Aids as a public health threat. Today is a historic day in this regard. As I am speaking to you now, the Global Fund in Geneva is announcing… that it has signed an access agreement with Gilead Sciences to procure lenacapavir,” the Minister said. 

    The Minister has referred to lenacapavir, a long-acting injection for HIV prevention, as one of the most significant advancements in HIV prevention in decades. 

    This is the first long-acting injectable treatment for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), administered twice a year. 

    According to the Minister, lenacapavir significantly expands the options available for HIV prevention, offering the most choices ever.

    “For South Africa, we regard this as a game changer in our fight against HIV/Aids.

    “As such, as South Africa, we have agreed to be one of the first countries in the starting blocks for lenacapavir.” 

    According to the Minister, the first shipment is expected to arrive in at least one African country by the end of 2025.

    “We intend to be such a country, and we have already started putting the plan together. We plan to offer lenacapavir to young women and everyone at risk to stay HIV-free.

    “We all know that for far too long, women and girls in our country have carried the greatest burden of this epidemic.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK The story behind the despatch boxes

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    Frontbench members speak at the despatch boxes during business in the chamber, but what exactly is a despatch box? Curator of the Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection, Eloise, explains.

    Catch-up on House of Lords business:

    Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
    Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

    Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

    • X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ukhouseoflords/albums
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-house-of-lords
    • Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mKJERk2Fe2I

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grant Award for Brewery

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Dundee City Council is helping to draw up new opportunities for a local brewery with a grant award. 

    The local authority allocated Holy Goat Brewing a £10,500 Business Growth and Innovation Grant to assist the firm. 

    Councillor Siobhan Tolland visited Holy Goat’s base in the city to see how the funds are making a difference. 

    The firm is using the award to: 

    Councillor Tolland, who is the depute convener of the Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee said: “I was delighted to see the premises of Holy Goat Brewing and hear the inside story of this local company. 

    “I hope the assistance that has been provided will assist in their endeavours in UK and international markets. 

    “It is encouraging for the future of the city to see how our businesses are working hard to grow in innovative ways.”  

    James Scanlan, of Holy Goat, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Dundee City Council for their support, which has allowed us to invest in new fermenters and expand our production capacity. With the increased capacity, we’re able to bring more variety to our range and meet growing demand for our beers both in the UK and in export markets. The support played a big part in giving us the confidence and initial resources to move forward with expansion plans. It’s encouraging to know there are opportunities like this available for other small businesses looking to showcase local talent and create jobs.”

    The city council’s Economic Growth Team has worked closely with Business Gateway Tayside to manage the Business Growth and Innovation Grant. This phase was funded with legacy monies from Scottish Govt funded Local Authority Economic Development Recovery Fund (LACER),  

    You can find out more about Holy Goat brewing on their website here  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maximum Contribution Applying in Each Region From 1 July 2025

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    Background

    Under section 53 of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018, the Director-General of Health has determined the maximum contribution that applies in each region for long-term aged residential care.

    The maximum contribution is the maximum weekly amount (inclusive of GST) that a resident assessed as requiring long-term residential care (through a needs assessment and service coordination agency) is required to pay for contracted care services provided to them in the region in which their rest home or continuing care hospital is located.

    The maximum contribution is the same for all residents regardless of the type of contracted care services they receive. It is equivalent to the rest home contract price applying to residential care facilities in each region.

    The maximum contribution set by this notice applies from 1 July 2025 and replaces the previous maximum contribution notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 September 2024, Notice No. 2024-go4265.

    Description of Regions

    The appendix of this notice sets out the maximum contribution rates. The appendix contains two parts:

    • Part 1, which sets out the rates that apply within Territorial Local Authority (TLA) boundaries; and
    • Part 2, which sets out the rates that apply within specific Statistical Areas, which are smaller subregions within the TLA boundaries specified in Part 1.

    The rate specified for the relevant region in Part 1 applies unless the facility is in a statistical area region set out in Part 2, in which case the rate specified in Part 2 applies. This reflects that a higher maximum contribution rate applies in the isolated rural localities represented by the Statistical Area Regions in Part 2 of the Table.

    Statistics New Zealand has a geographic boundary viewer that displays the TLA areas and statistical areas in the appendix on a map of New Zealand. See here for more information: Geographic Boundary Viewer.

    Health New Zealand will notify residences of the maximum contribution rate that applies to their facility. The facility will inform residents.

    Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) Agencies, Specialised Processing Services, the Ministry of Social Development and residential care providers will also be able to advise the maximum contribution rate for a facility.

    Dated at Wellington this 18th day of June 2025.

    Audrey Sonerson, Director-General of Health.

    Appendix: 2025-26 Maximum Contribution rates

    Part 1: Territorial Local Authority Region Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
    Far North District $1,460.27
    Whangarei District $1,491.84
    Kaipara District $1,502.48
    Rodney District $1,527.33
    North Shore City $1,566.32
    Waitakere City $1,535.24
    Auckland City $1,571.57
    Manukau City $1,555.96
    Papakura District $1,527.33
    Franklin District $1,487.85
    Thames-Coromandel District $1,508.08
    Hauraki District $1,465.87
    Waikato District $1,465.87
    Matamata-Piako District $1,465.87
    Hamilton City $1,502.55
    Waipa District $1,465.87
    Otorohanga District $1,497.37
    South Waikato District $1,455.16
    Waitomo District $1,502.55
    Taupo District $1,491.84
    Western Bay of Plenty District $1,487.85
    Tauranga City $1,509.97
    Rotorua District $1,491.84
    Whakatane District $1,481.34
    Kawerau District $1,502.48
    Opotiki District $1,502.48
    Gisborne District $1,463.28
    Wairoa District $1,528.73
    Hastings District $1,486.52
    Napier City $1,486.52
    Central Hawke’s Bay District $1,486.52
    New Plymouth District $1,486.52
    Stratford District $1,460.27
    South Taranaki District $1,465.87
    Ruapehu District $1,502.55
    Wanganui District $1,465.87
    Rangitikei District $1,502.48
    Manawatu District $1,460.27
    Palmerston North City $1,481.34
    Tararua District $1,460.27
    Horowhenua District $1,460.27
    Kapiti Coast District $1,491.84
    Porirua City $1,491.84
    Upper Hutt City $1,481.34
    Lower Hutt City $1,512.28
    Wellington City $1,535.66
    Masterton District $1,463.28
    Carterton District $1,460.27
    South Wairarapa District $1,460.27
    Tasman District $1,517.95
    Nelson City $1,517.95
    Marlborough District $1,481.34
    Kaikoura District $1,487.85
    Buller District $1,497.37
    Grey District $1,455.16
    Westland District $1,497.37
    Hurunui District $1,508.08
    Waimakariri District $1,487.85
    Christchurch City $1,496.88
    Banks Peninsula District $1,539.09
    Selwyn District $1,530.06
    Ashburton District $1,470.98
    Timaru District $1,465.87
    Waimate District $1,455.16
    Waitaki District $1,455.16
    Central Otago District $1,460.27
    Queenstown-Lakes District $1,512.91
    Dunedin City $1,481.34
    Clutha District $1,455.16
    Southland District $1,497.37
    Gore District $1,455.16
    Invercargill City $1,460.27
    Part 2: Statistical Area Region Statistical Area code 2 2023 Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
    Kaeo 101900 $1,502.48
    Kaitaia 100800 $1,502.48
    Hokianga South 102100 $1,502.48
    Kaikohe 103501 $1,502.48
    Wellsford 110501 $1,569.54
    Cape Rodney 110400 $1,569.54
    Glenbrook 162400 $1,530.06
    Te Kauwhata East 171101 $1,508.08
    Raglan 171601 $1,508.08
    Matarawa 186400 $1,497.37
    Athenree 190400 $1,530.06
    Tokomaru 205000 $1,505.49
    Opunake 220700 $1,508.08
    Te Roti-Moeroa 221201 $1,508.08
    Pātea 222201 $1,508.08
    Pahiatua 233600 $1,502.48
    Tākaka 300500 $1,560.09
    Waitohi (Marlborough District) 306801 $1,523.48
    Oxford 313200 $1,530.06
    Methven 336901 $1,513.12
    Danseys Pass 343300 $1,497.37
    Palmerston 344700 $1,497.37
    Alexandra North 345500 $1,502.48
    Teviot Valley 345800 $1,502.48
    Lindis-Nevis Valleys 344800 $1,502.48
    Cromwell West 344900 $1,502.48
    Wānaka West 346800 $1,555.12
    Wānaka Central 347000 $1,555.12
    Balclutha South 356500 $1,497.37
    Balclutha North 356600 $1,497.37
    West Otago 355800 $1,497.37
    Milton 356400 $1,497.37

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Docker Brings Agentic Apps to Life with New Compose Support, Cloud Offload, and Partner Integrations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BERLIN, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Docker, Inc.®, a provider of cloud-native and AI-native development tools, infrastructure, and services, today announced major new capabilities that make it dramatically easier for developers to build, run, and scale intelligent, agentic applications. By extending Docker Compose to support agents and AI models, introducing Docker Offload for cloud-scale execution, and collaborating with cloud providers like Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure and AI SDKs like CrewAI, Embabel, LangGraph, Sema4.ai, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, Docker is delivering on its mission to simplify complex technology and empower developers.

    “Agentic applications are rapidly evolving, but building production-grade agentic systems is still too hard,” said Tushar Jain, EVP of Engineering, Docker, Inc. “Just like Docker democratized microservices a decade ago, we’re now making agentic apps accessible to every developer by making agent-based development as easy, secure, and repeatable as container-based app development has always been. The next wave of software is powered by intelligent agents, and Docker makes it easy to turn that potential into real, running applications.”

    These advancements are more than just new tools. They help solve one of the biggest challenges facing developers today, which is moving agentic applications from local prototypes to secure and scalable production environments.

    Docker Compose Enters the Agent Era

    For over a decade, Docker Compose has been the go-to tool used by millions of developers for defining and running multi-container applications. Now, Docker is extending Compose into the agent era, enabling developers to define intelligent agent architectures consisting of models and tools in the same simple YAML files they already use for microservices and take those agents to production.

    With the new Compose capabilities, developers can:

    • Define agents, models, and tools as services in a single Compose file
    • Run agentic workloads locally or deploy seamlessly to cloud services like Google Cloud Run or Azure Container Apps
    • Integrate with Docker’s open source Model Context Protocol (MCP) Gateway for secure tool discovery and communication
    • Share, version, and deploy agentic stacks across environments without rewriting infrastructure code

    This approach brings powerful agent orchestration into familiar workflows with no new languages or tools required.

    “Making it just as straightforward for developers to take AI apps from prototype into production as it already is for regular code—that’s the next big thing in app development,” said Torsten Volk, Principal Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. “Expanding Docker Compose to give developers the same familiar, simple experience for AI deployments as they have for traditional apps is exactly what we need. Plus, the new capability to run AI models directly in the cloud—without clogging up your laptop—is another major step forward. This should make a real difference in how quickly enterprises can start adopting AI at scale.”

    Introducing Docker Offload: Cloud Power, Local Simplicity
    As agentic applications demand more GPU power for complex AI tasks, local machines frequently fall short of the necessary capacity, which has become a significant pain point for developers. To solve this, Docker today unveiled Docker Offload (Beta), a new capability that enables developers to offload AI and GPU-intensive workloads to the cloud without disrupting their existing workflows.

    With Docker Offload, developers can:

    • Maintain local development speed while accessing cloud-scale compute and GPUs
    • Run large models and multi-agent systems in high-performance cloud environments
    • Choose where and when to offload workloads for privacy, cost, and performance optimization
    • Keep data and workloads within specific regions to meet sovereignty requirements and ensure data does not leave designated zones across the globe.

    Docker Offload integrates directly into Docker Desktop, preserving the familiar docker compose up experience while delivering cloud horsepower under the hood.

    Built on a Thriving Ecosystem
    Docker’s agentic capabilities are launching alongside new integrations with leading cloud and AI platforms. Key partnerships include:

    • Google Cloud: Deploy agentic applications to production via serverless environments with the new gcloud compose up command
    • Microsoft Azure: Seamless deployments via Azure Container Apps, arriving soon
    • Popular agent frameworks: Compose integrations now support CrewAI, Embabel, Google’s ADK, LangGraph, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, and more.

    Steren Giannini, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud Run
    “With Compose Spec support in Cloud Run, we’re making it dramatically simpler to move sophisticated AI apps from local development straight to production. This collaboration brings the best of both worlds: Docker’s local dev power combined with Cloud Run’s serverless scale and reliability, all with one simple command.”

    Scott Hunter, Vice President Director of Product, Azure Developer Experience
    “Microsoft has been collaborating with Docker for many years, and we’re pleased to see Docker extend the Compose Spec to support agent-based application development.
    We’re working together to make agentic app deployment seamless on Microsoft Azure Container Apps—helping developers easily build and scale AI applications and agents from local dev to the cloud. These integrations help ensure developers can easily adopt Docker’s agentic tooling alongside the frameworks they already use.”

    Ram Venkatesh, CTO and Co-founder of Sema4.ai
    “Agent-based systems represent a transformative leap in how software interacts with the world: autonomous, goal-driven, and contextual. Docker’s direction supporting agentic architectures is a major unlock for developers, making it radically easier to compose, scale, and iterate on multi-agent systems without compromising security or reinventing infrastructure. This is the kind of pragmatic innovation that accelerates agentic adoption for real-world use cases.”

    Craig McLuckie, CEO and Founder of Stacklok and Co-Creator of Kubernetes “Enterprises that want to lift up their knowledge workers and create powerful new customer experiences need to connect the right data to AI models at the right times, and that requires use of MCP. Docker has a critical role to play in facilitating adoption of MCP through familiar constructs like containers and Docker Compose. By working together, in the open, we can bring simplicity and security to MCP that will unlock real enterprise adoption.”

    Availability

    • Docker Compose enhancements for agentic applications are available today
    • Docker Offload is available in closed beta for developers who request access.
    • Google Cloud Run integration is live; Azure Container Apps support is coming soon
    • MCP Gateway and Docker Hub MCP Server are open source and ready for use

    Resources

    About Docker
    Docker drives modern software development by making it easy to adopt container technology to radically boost productivity, security, testing, and collaboration at every step of the developer experience, including emerging AI workflows. Embraced by over 20 million developers worldwide, Docker’s unmatched flexibility and choice make it the preferred tool for developers seeking efficiency and innovation for creating modern applications. Learn more about Docker at www.docker.com.

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/972c3a61-d15d-40cf-a719-ad54e0a73fc2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Docker Brings Agentic Apps to Life with New Compose Support, Cloud Offload, and Partner Integrations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BERLIN, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Docker, Inc.®, a provider of cloud-native and AI-native development tools, infrastructure, and services, today announced major new capabilities that make it dramatically easier for developers to build, run, and scale intelligent, agentic applications. By extending Docker Compose to support agents and AI models, introducing Docker Offload for cloud-scale execution, and collaborating with cloud providers like Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure and AI SDKs like CrewAI, Embabel, LangGraph, Sema4.ai, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, Docker is delivering on its mission to simplify complex technology and empower developers.

    “Agentic applications are rapidly evolving, but building production-grade agentic systems is still too hard,” said Tushar Jain, EVP of Engineering, Docker, Inc. “Just like Docker democratized microservices a decade ago, we’re now making agentic apps accessible to every developer by making agent-based development as easy, secure, and repeatable as container-based app development has always been. The next wave of software is powered by intelligent agents, and Docker makes it easy to turn that potential into real, running applications.”

    These advancements are more than just new tools. They help solve one of the biggest challenges facing developers today, which is moving agentic applications from local prototypes to secure and scalable production environments.

    Docker Compose Enters the Agent Era

    For over a decade, Docker Compose has been the go-to tool used by millions of developers for defining and running multi-container applications. Now, Docker is extending Compose into the agent era, enabling developers to define intelligent agent architectures consisting of models and tools in the same simple YAML files they already use for microservices and take those agents to production.

    With the new Compose capabilities, developers can:

    • Define agents, models, and tools as services in a single Compose file
    • Run agentic workloads locally or deploy seamlessly to cloud services like Google Cloud Run or Azure Container Apps
    • Integrate with Docker’s open source Model Context Protocol (MCP) Gateway for secure tool discovery and communication
    • Share, version, and deploy agentic stacks across environments without rewriting infrastructure code

    This approach brings powerful agent orchestration into familiar workflows with no new languages or tools required.

    “Making it just as straightforward for developers to take AI apps from prototype into production as it already is for regular code—that’s the next big thing in app development,” said Torsten Volk, Principal Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. “Expanding Docker Compose to give developers the same familiar, simple experience for AI deployments as they have for traditional apps is exactly what we need. Plus, the new capability to run AI models directly in the cloud—without clogging up your laptop—is another major step forward. This should make a real difference in how quickly enterprises can start adopting AI at scale.”

    Introducing Docker Offload: Cloud Power, Local Simplicity
    As agentic applications demand more GPU power for complex AI tasks, local machines frequently fall short of the necessary capacity, which has become a significant pain point for developers. To solve this, Docker today unveiled Docker Offload (Beta), a new capability that enables developers to offload AI and GPU-intensive workloads to the cloud without disrupting their existing workflows.

    With Docker Offload, developers can:

    • Maintain local development speed while accessing cloud-scale compute and GPUs
    • Run large models and multi-agent systems in high-performance cloud environments
    • Choose where and when to offload workloads for privacy, cost, and performance optimization
    • Keep data and workloads within specific regions to meet sovereignty requirements and ensure data does not leave designated zones across the globe.

    Docker Offload integrates directly into Docker Desktop, preserving the familiar docker compose up experience while delivering cloud horsepower under the hood.

    Built on a Thriving Ecosystem
    Docker’s agentic capabilities are launching alongside new integrations with leading cloud and AI platforms. Key partnerships include:

    • Google Cloud: Deploy agentic applications to production via serverless environments with the new gcloud compose up command
    • Microsoft Azure: Seamless deployments via Azure Container Apps, arriving soon
    • Popular agent frameworks: Compose integrations now support CrewAI, Embabel, Google’s ADK, LangGraph, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, and more.

    Steren Giannini, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud Run
    “With Compose Spec support in Cloud Run, we’re making it dramatically simpler to move sophisticated AI apps from local development straight to production. This collaboration brings the best of both worlds: Docker’s local dev power combined with Cloud Run’s serverless scale and reliability, all with one simple command.”

    Scott Hunter, Vice President Director of Product, Azure Developer Experience
    “Microsoft has been collaborating with Docker for many years, and we’re pleased to see Docker extend the Compose Spec to support agent-based application development.
    We’re working together to make agentic app deployment seamless on Microsoft Azure Container Apps—helping developers easily build and scale AI applications and agents from local dev to the cloud. These integrations help ensure developers can easily adopt Docker’s agentic tooling alongside the frameworks they already use.”

    Ram Venkatesh, CTO and Co-founder of Sema4.ai
    “Agent-based systems represent a transformative leap in how software interacts with the world: autonomous, goal-driven, and contextual. Docker’s direction supporting agentic architectures is a major unlock for developers, making it radically easier to compose, scale, and iterate on multi-agent systems without compromising security or reinventing infrastructure. This is the kind of pragmatic innovation that accelerates agentic adoption for real-world use cases.”

    Craig McLuckie, CEO and Founder of Stacklok and Co-Creator of Kubernetes “Enterprises that want to lift up their knowledge workers and create powerful new customer experiences need to connect the right data to AI models at the right times, and that requires use of MCP. Docker has a critical role to play in facilitating adoption of MCP through familiar constructs like containers and Docker Compose. By working together, in the open, we can bring simplicity and security to MCP that will unlock real enterprise adoption.”

    Availability

    • Docker Compose enhancements for agentic applications are available today
    • Docker Offload is available in closed beta for developers who request access.
    • Google Cloud Run integration is live; Azure Container Apps support is coming soon
    • MCP Gateway and Docker Hub MCP Server are open source and ready for use

    Resources

    About Docker
    Docker drives modern software development by making it easy to adopt container technology to radically boost productivity, security, testing, and collaboration at every step of the developer experience, including emerging AI workflows. Embraced by over 20 million developers worldwide, Docker’s unmatched flexibility and choice make it the preferred tool for developers seeking efficiency and innovation for creating modern applications. Learn more about Docker at www.docker.com.

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/972c3a61-d15d-40cf-a719-ad54e0a73fc2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitdu Launches Largest-Ever Global Trading Challenge with Over $50 Million in Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdu, a next-generation global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially announced the launch of its most ambitious event to date: the “Battle of the Peak” Global Trading Challenge. With a total prize pool exceeding $50 million in cash and platform tokens, the competition marks the largest trading event in Bitdu’s history and one of the most lucrative challenges in the digital asset industry.

    The competition will run from July 10 to August 10, 2025 (UTC), and is open to verified traders worldwide. With a participation cap of 10,000 users, the event requires a minimum entry fund of $10,000 and supports major assets including USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH. Traders can compete using spot trading only, and withdrawals during the contest will be treated as a forfeit.

    Participants will be ranked by net profit, calculated as the difference between final account value and total funds invested (including any top-ups). Rankings will be updated daily, with the top 100 traders published publicly and the top 10 receiving high-visibility visual leaderboards.

    The event will be strictly monitored by Bitdu’s dual-layered compliance system, combining AI-based behavioral tracking and manual reviews. The top 100 winners will undergo deep audits post-competition. Any form of market manipulation, multi-accounting, or abnormal transfers will result in disqualification and profit reset.

    “Bitdu is committed to creating a competitive yet fair environment where the best traders can rise to the top,” said a Bitdu spokesperson. “This event is not only about the size of the prize pool, but about setting a new standard in transparent, compliant, and rewarding trading competitions.”

    About Bitdu
    Bitdu is a globally regulated cryptocurrency exchange offering spot, futures, and staking services to millions of users. The platform holds MSB licenses in the U.S. and Canada, is registered as a VASP in the EU, and operates with DCE approval in Australia. Bitdu is committed to building a secure, compliant, and high-performance trading ecosystem.

    Company: Bitdu UAB
    Contact Person: Yvonne Bennett, Global Communications Manager
    Email: bitdu@bitdu.com
    Website: www.bitdu.com
    Telephone: 447933919784
    City: London

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97510e64-9885-4182-b98d-0112eb1ee59c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36bd0d00-3168-4e0e-a3cd-71e735388e4a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0446bcce-6dc6-4c9d-96d1-393d2aa2daeb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitdu Launches Largest-Ever Global Trading Challenge with Over $50 Million in Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdu, a next-generation global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially announced the launch of its most ambitious event to date: the “Battle of the Peak” Global Trading Challenge. With a total prize pool exceeding $50 million in cash and platform tokens, the competition marks the largest trading event in Bitdu’s history and one of the most lucrative challenges in the digital asset industry.

    The competition will run from July 10 to August 10, 2025 (UTC), and is open to verified traders worldwide. With a participation cap of 10,000 users, the event requires a minimum entry fund of $10,000 and supports major assets including USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH. Traders can compete using spot trading only, and withdrawals during the contest will be treated as a forfeit.

    Participants will be ranked by net profit, calculated as the difference between final account value and total funds invested (including any top-ups). Rankings will be updated daily, with the top 100 traders published publicly and the top 10 receiving high-visibility visual leaderboards.

    The event will be strictly monitored by Bitdu’s dual-layered compliance system, combining AI-based behavioral tracking and manual reviews. The top 100 winners will undergo deep audits post-competition. Any form of market manipulation, multi-accounting, or abnormal transfers will result in disqualification and profit reset.

    “Bitdu is committed to creating a competitive yet fair environment where the best traders can rise to the top,” said a Bitdu spokesperson. “This event is not only about the size of the prize pool, but about setting a new standard in transparent, compliant, and rewarding trading competitions.”

    About Bitdu
    Bitdu is a globally regulated cryptocurrency exchange offering spot, futures, and staking services to millions of users. The platform holds MSB licenses in the U.S. and Canada, is registered as a VASP in the EU, and operates with DCE approval in Australia. Bitdu is committed to building a secure, compliant, and high-performance trading ecosystem.

    Company: Bitdu UAB
    Contact Person: Yvonne Bennett, Global Communications Manager
    Email: bitdu@bitdu.com
    Website: www.bitdu.com
    Telephone: 447933919784
    City: London

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97510e64-9885-4182-b98d-0112eb1ee59c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36bd0d00-3168-4e0e-a3cd-71e735388e4a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0446bcce-6dc6-4c9d-96d1-393d2aa2daeb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Andrew Bailey: The meaning of reserve currency

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to make some remarks this afternoon. This is not just to be able to follow a fascinating and timely lecture, but also because I worked for Andrew Crockett at the Bank of England nearly 40 years ago. Andrew was inspiring to work for, one of the deepest thinkers about international economic policy and central banking. He also had a quite incautious side too. He was a practitioner of one of his favourite phrases – “if you have never missed a plane, you obviously arrive at airports too early”. Andrew was also the creator of the Financial Stability Forum, and its first chair.

    I want to spend my time developing a theme that has run though Maury’s lecture, namely what has been the meaning of the term reserve currency, and what does it mean today. My conclusion is that it is best to think of the term as one that has evolved with the times, and continues to do so. Thinking of it as a constant term does not help to understand its meaning.

    I will start with the nineteenth century meaning of the term. The monetary regime was the classical gold standard, and convertibility of domestic currency into gold at a fixed price was the nominal anchor of the system. The term reserve therefore referred to the gold reserves that were held to enable convertibility and the promise thereof.

    The nineteenth century Bank of England spent time managing that reserve balance to create confidence in the promise of convertibility. Today, our banknotes still carry the words “I promise to pay the bearer on demand, the sum of”. Nowadays, it means that someone can have another banknote, but under the gold standard it meant much more. This system did not put as much emphasis on financial stability, with the consequence that when crises occurred (as they did in that time), they were managed with a certain degree of adhocery. Hence, Walter Bagehot wrote his famous critique of the Bank.

    There was rather more to the concept of reserve currency in this period. Sterling was the premier currency of international trade, built on trade with the British Empire, but extending further over time to the countries of the so-called Sterling Area. It is one of the questions in central bank Trivial Pursuit to name countries in the Sterling Area.

    The collapse of this system between the wars led to the Bretton Woods system coming into existence and its heyday once full convertibility was restored. This system had the joint dollar-gold anchor in the form of a fixed dollar-gold rate and pegging of the major currencies. The consequence was a substantial growth of official dollar reserves, and the further emergence thus of the dollar as the reserve currency.

    The system therefore had a joint anchor. Because Bretton Woods solved the so-called Trilemma by restricting capital flows, the threat of countries exhausting reserves was limited, but not sufficiently so to prevent difficult devaluations at times. Moreover, I tend to think of the Triffin Dilemma as posing the question – what if the bluff of the dollar-gold tie had been called, and what would be the consequence?

    From the early 1970s that system broke down. Countries moved to free float, with periodic attempts at management, and a lifting of restrictions on capital controls. Alongside this was the emergence of the domestic anchor of monetary policy, usually an inflation target. The dollar had become the predominant currency of international trade and payments.

    The role and nature of reserves had changed. No longer were they a nineteenth century description of the central bank’s balance sheet and its liquidity under the classical gold standard. Rather, they became a description of so-called official reserves typically, but not always, held by governments, though often managed by central banks. Their role was different, reflecting the changes to the solution of the Trilemma. As foreign exchange intervention to influence exchange rates came to an end, the role of reserves in many countries was to act as a bulwark against pressures from capital flows, as seen in the Asian crisis of the late 1990s.

    A few numbers help here. The stock of FX reserves relative to global GDP increased from 3% to 11% between 1976 and last year.

    During that period, foreign currency reserves as a proportion of global reserve assets including gold increased from 50% to 90%, while the dollar’s share of foreign currency reserves declined from 80% to 57%. I take four points from these figures: the total stock of FX reserves has increased; the share of gold fell; the dollar’s share fell as it moved from being the anchor currency to the largest currency; and the evidence further supports the view that the meaning of the term reserve currency has changed over time.

    Today, with domestic monetary anchors, financial stability has become the focus of international co-ordination, the opposite of the gold standard arrangements. The meaning of reserve currency has changed again as a consequence. I would point to two important features of today’s system.

    First, the concept of reserve currency has a lot more to do with the supply and denomination of safe assets which act as security in the financial system, and are increasingly at the heart of it. This version of the concept of reserve currency has as much to do with the role of US Treasuries as a safe asset, that is present not just in official reserves but also to provide security and collateral in financial markets.

    Second, these arrangements are backed up by the provision of contingent liquidity insurance in the form of central bank swaps and a repo facility. These arrangements underpin the role and primacy of the reserve currency.

    I will end with two points which strike me as unfinished or emerging. First, at least for the large economies, it could be asked today, what is the point of official reserves? My view is that today their use is more to do with preserving financial stability in the event of stress. They may be needed to support financial system liquidity in situations of extreme stress.

    My second point, as BIS colleagues have emphasised, is that we need to watch carefully the evolution of payments forms and whether innovation here introduces fragility into what I would call the “money system”.

    If, for instance, stablecoins emerge as a new form of money, we have to decide how to ensure the singleness of money and therefore trust in money in this world, and what role the notion of reserve currency should play here.

    To finish, thank you Maury for such a stimulating lecture. You pushed me to think further about the meaning of reserve currency. The conclusion I draw was that we need to emphasise more its adaptable nature, but thereby be very clear what it means in the world of today and tomorrow.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Andrew Hauser: What has Australian macroeconomic thought achieved in the past century – and where can it contribute in the next?

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Introduction

    It is a great honour to address you on the 100th anniversary of the Economics Society of Australia.

    It’s an honour because, over that past century, Australian thinkers have helped develop some of the most important building blocks in open economy macroeconomics – the branch of economics that seeks to understand how the global trading economy works.

    Those were significant – sometimes world-leading – intellectual achievements.

    But they were more than just that. Because they also shaped the policies and institutions that helped Australia navigate the global economy of that period so successfully, delivering wealth and stability for its citizens.

    Indeed Australian macroeconomic research has pulled that trick off twice. First, powering the ideas that lifted the country out of the Great Depression to flourish after the Second World War. And, second, helping to design a reform program that rescued the country from the slump of the 1970s, and led to more than a quarter century of recession-free growth.

    Two Golden Ages, marshalling thought into action.

    But to thrive in the next 100 years, Australia’s researchers will need to go for the hat-trick.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Eddie Yue: Unlocking value through China’s resilience

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning. It is an honour to join you today as we celebrate the 8th anniversary of the Bond Connect. The theme today, “Unlocking Value through China’s Resilience,” could not be more timely. The global capital markets are undergoing profound transformation, driven by a host of factors including increasing trade tensions, geopolitical and economic shifts, and changing investment appetite and patterns. These changes are reshaping the way capital flows across the world, creating both new opportunities and challenges for market participants. Now, let me first share some observations about the macro trends.

    Macro trends:

    The first trend is global diversification. Global capital markets have been on a roller-coaster driven by shifting policies and economic uncertainties. In light of these unpredictable swings, diversification stands out as the most essential investment strategy. Indeed we are now in a world of unprecedented choice and many more institutional investors are looking to further diversifying their portfolios. The strong investor response to the Hong Kong Government’s recent issuance of HK$27 billion in green and infrastructure bonds is telling of the diversifying trend. This multi-currency issuance attracted participation from a wide spectrum of investors from more than 30 markets across Asia, Europe, Middle East, and the Americas, with total order at about 9 times of the issuance size. In particular, the 30-year HKD government bond was offered for the first time, further extending the HKD yield curve. The 20-year and 30-year RMB government bonds, which were first introduced last year, also received overwhelming support, doubling in issuance size from last year. 

    Against this backdrop of global trend for diversification, China’s bond assets have emerged as a particularly compelling choice.

    • First, China’s bond market is the second largest in the world. Chinese bonds have the market depth and liquidity to become an increasingly important asset class among global investors.
    • Secondly, China has a relatively low debt level, with the general government debt-to-GDP ratio at around 84%, which is much lower than some major advanced economies.1
    • Thirdly, the low correlation between China’s onshore market and major global markets, at just 0.1 over the past 10 years, makes China bonds a very good diversifier.2
    • Fourthly, the risk-adjusted return of China bonds is relatively attractive. Onshore RMB bonds had an annualised volatility of around 1.3% over the past year, significantly lower than the volatility in other advanced markets during the same period.3

    This combination of features of China’s bond market as an attractive asset class for global investors seeking high-quality investments. In fact, according to a recent survey on central banks, over 30% of the respondents expect to increase their RMB holdings in the next five years.

    The second trend is Mainland China’s rapid wealth accumulation, particularly in institutional capital, which is creating new opportunities for their outbound investment. For example, China’s national pension reserve fund grew to around USD 400 billion by the end of 2023.4 Recent policy discussion also reaffirms that China encourages the national pension fund to cooperate with high-quality overseas investment managers to optimise its investment approach.5 The new private pension scheme has already attracted over 60 million participants since its inception in 2022, with this rapidly growing pool of capital projected to reach nearly USD 1 trillion by 2030.6 As Mainland institutional investors increasingly seek to diversify their portfolios and expand overseas asset allocation, there is significant potential for future growth in the Southbound Bond Connect, through Hong Kong’s platform to invest overseas.

    These two-way trends — global investors’ growing interest in RMB-denominated bonds and Mainland investors’ expanding overseas allocations — underscore the critical role of the Bond Connect as a gateway to facilitate cross-border capital flows between the Mainland and global financial markets. In a rapidly changing global financial landscape, the ability to adapt and innovate is key. Bond Connect exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing the changing needs of investors, as it continues to evolve over the years.

    Policy work:

    In the past year, we have been working closely with relevant Mainland authorities, especially with the People’s Bank of China, to step up efforts to enhance the Bond Connect and its ecosystem. I wish to take the opportunity to make the following three announcements:

    • First, under the Northbound channel, investors can already use Bond Connect bonds as collateral for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)’s RMB Liquidity Facility, margin collateral for OTC Clearing Hong Kong Limited (OTCC) derivative transactions, and for conducting offshore RMB bond repurchase (repo) transactions. We are expanding the offshore RMB repo business to also support re-hypothecation and cross-currency repo, and the CMU OmniClear will enhance the operational arrangements accordingly. These enhancements will be implemented in late August 2025. 
    • Secondly, the Southbound Bond Connect investor scope is expanded to include securities firms, fund companies, insurance companies and wealth management companies, formally effective from today. This will open up more channels to meet the growing demand from Mainland investors, addressing their needs for diversified asset allocation. It will also bolster the development of Hong Kong’s bond market by widening the investor base and enhancing market liquidity, hence increasing Hong Kong’s attractiveness to bond issuers and global investors.
    • Thirdly, further to the announcement in May 2025, 30-year interest rate swaps (IRS) contracts have already gone live early last week (on 30 June) under the Swap Connect, and IRS contracts using the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) as reference rate will be launched in the coming months.    

    Besides, we have been working on strengthening Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure to support greater efficiency in the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese bond markets. For example, the recent signing of a MoU between CMU OmniClear and LCH could facilitate the wider use of CNH bonds as collateral in the international market. This highlights the unparalleled role of Hong Kong’s infrastructure in supporting investment in CNH-denominated debt securities by investors from all over the world. 

    Looking ahead:

    As investors navigate geopolitical changes and search for greater diversification, the Bond Connect will continue to serve as a key platform connecting China’s bond market with the world. The HKMA will work closely with stakeholders to ensure that the platform will meet these changing needs — by enhancing market liquidity (such as cross-border repo in the pipeline), strengthening risk management (with offshore CMOF bond futures under preparation), and further broadening the investment channels. The continuous development of Bond Connect will not only deepen market integration but also reinforce Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway between China and the international financial market. Thank you!

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Vasileios Madouros: Opening statement – Oireachtas Select Committee on Budgetary Oversight

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good afternoon Chair and Members of the Committee. Thank you for inviting us to appear before the Committee today.

    I am joined by my colleagues Martin O’Brien, Head of our Irish Economic Analysis Division and Thomas Conefrey, Deputy Head in the same Division. We very much welcome the opportunity to engage with you on the outlook for the economy and the public finances.

    In my opening statement, I will cover briefly our latest assessment of the economic outlook, as outlined in our June Quarterly Bulletin, as well as our latest economic advice to the Government, as outlined in the Governor’s pre-Budget letter (PDF 3.04MB), published last week.

    The economic outlook

    Let me start with the global context, because the key factors shaping the domestic outlook stem from developments abroad, but with important implications for Ireland.

    Since the start of the year, we have seen a material shift in trade policy, with rising tariffs between the US and its trading partners, as well as a sharp increase in policy uncertainty.

    In light of these developments, the global growth outlook has weakened. Short-term forecasts for world trade and economic activity have been revised downwards. And uncertainty around these forecasts is particularly elevated, given the range of potential outcomes around trade policy.

    The openness of the Irish economy and the prominent role that FDI and multinational firms play domestically mean that Ireland is particularly exposed to changes in the global economic outlook as well as shifts in trade policy, and broader economic policy, in the US.

    Given uncertainty over the future direction of US trade policy, our June Quarterly Bulletin presented projections for the economy under a baseline and a more adverse scenario.

    These were based on different assumptions around the level and coverage of tariffs, the level and persistence of uncertainty and the future path of financing conditions.

    In the baseline scenario, we expected Modified Domestic Demand to grow by 2.0 per cent in 2025 and by 2.1 per cent per annum on average in 2026 and 2027.

    This is a downward revision to the growth outlook relative to our previous projections – but the central outlook is still consistent with a full-employment economy.

    The adverse scenario assumed persistently higher and broader tariffs, including due to retaliation from the EU. It also assumed that policy uncertainty would remain higher for longer and that financing conditions would be tighter.

    In this scenario, annual average MDD growth would almost halve compared to the baseline, illustrating the sensitivity of economic activity to an escalation of trade tensions.

    The trade-offs facing the public finances

    The economy and public finances are entering this period of heightened uncertainty from a strong position. But there are also underlying vulnerabilities that need to be managed carefully.

    The exceptional growth in corporation tax receipts since 2015 and the strong pace of economic expansion in recent years have resulted in a marked increase in government revenues.

    As a result, even with the substantial rise in government spending and some tax cuts, the headline budget balance has run substantial surpluses in recent years.

    However, external developments mean that this benign combination of factors, namely, a rapidly growing economy and exceptional corporate tax receipts, could be at risk in the coming years.

    In particular, risks to the fiscal position from lower corporate taxes and other MNE-dependent taxes have increased given recent international developments.

    And, excluding estimated “excess” corporation tax (and the impact of the Apple State Aid case), the budget balance has been in a persistent deficit position for 17 consecutive years.

    At the same time, in the current juncture, an important public policy priority is the need for higher investment, both to address infrastructure deficits and to support the transition to net zero.

    Indeed, these infrastructure deficits have become an increasingly significant factor constraining the supply side of the economy.

    Addressing infrastructure deficits will not only help meet important societal and economic needs today, but also enable our economy to remain competitive amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.   

    Finally, looking further into the future, there are known future funding needs that the State needs to prepare for today.

    Given demographic trends, Ireland is expected to see the largest increase in age-related spending, on areas such as pensions, healthcare and long-term care, amongst the EU by 2050.

    And we know already that the Future Ireland Fund, the establishment of which has been a very positive public policy intervention, will not be sufficient, on its own, to finance the higher level of public expenditure that will be required to meet the needs of an older population.

    Overall, the current environment presents important trade-offs for fiscal policy. Between investing in infrastructure, but not adding excessively to demand in a capacity-constrained economy. Between addressing the funding needs of today, but also preparing for the funding needs of the future.

    Managing those trade-offs

    While undoubtedly this presents a difficult balancing act, careful management of the public finances can contribute to achieving these multiple aims. So let me finish off by summarising our economic policy advice outlined in the Governor’s pre-budget letter, in light of those trade-offs.

    I will focus on three areas in particular.

    First, it is important that the Government commits, and adheres to, a credible fiscal anchor that results in sustainable increases in net government expenditure over time. In the current context of the economy operating at capacity, it is important, from a macro-stabilisation perspective, that the overall fiscal policy stance does not add excessively to demand.  

    Second, within that overall fiscal envelope, the public finances need to prioritise investment. Sustainably achieving the necessary rise in public investment requires creating sufficient economic and fiscal space, through offsetting choices in terms of current spending or taxation. Beyond demand management considerations, broadening the tax base is also important for addressing future funding needs and mitigating the reliance of the public finances on corporate tax receipts.

    Third, public investment alone will not be sufficient to address the economy’s infrastructure gaps. Measures that reduce delays, and, therefore, the ultimate costs, in the planning and building of infrastructure are needed to help ensure that the benefits of public investment for long-term growth are realised fully.  Measures that incentivise scale and investment in new machinery, equipment and technologies in the construction sector can also help enhance productivity and enable more sustainable delivery of housing and infrastructure. These structural policies can have an outsized impact on strengthening the supply side of the economy, complementing, and adding to the effectiveness of, additional public investment in infrastructure.

    Thank you for your attention and we look forward to your questions.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Gent Sejko: Bolstering credit to the agriculture sector

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Dear Minister Minister of Finance,

    Dear representatives of the banking sector,

    Let me start by conveying my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this important roundtable discussion, co-organized with the Ministry of Finance. This event aims to identify the appropriate pathways and instruments for opening a new chapter regarding credit to the agricultural sector in Albania.

    As we have emphasized in many previous discussions and communication platforms, lending to the agricultural sector has been-and continues to be-a structural weakness for both our economy and banking sector.

    The comparison of the significant role that agriculture plays in the Albanian economy with the limited level of credit this sector receives from the banking sector, clearly illustrates this weakness. Agriculture accounts for around 20% of GDP of Albania and employs around 1/3 of population, yet it benefits less than 2% of total bank credit. Moreover, recent trends in the agricultural lending have not been encouraging.

    The underlying reasons of the low level of credit to the agricultural sector-ranging from property ownership issues and high levels of informality, to the relatively high business risk and low productivity due to the absence of economies of scale-have been consistently discussed. Some of these problems still remain relevant, while others are gradually being addressed.

    However, even in this challenging context – credit to the agricultural remains low. This deficiency must be addressed without further delay if we aim at boosting the stable development of this sector that is crucial for the Albanian economy.

    Against this backdrop, the Bank of Albania has aligned its Financing Programme to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises to emphasize the growth of credit to the agricultural sector.
    This program, that involves all stakeholders in the banking sector, offers a reliable and sustainable source of low-cost funding to support lending of development projects in the agricultural sector, including agrotourism and the agro-food industry.

    Last, the Government of Albania has undertaken concrete steps in this regard, by making available a sovereign guarantee scheme for loans granted to the agriculture sector.  This guarantee significantly mitigates the credit risk related with this sector, in turn considerably reducing one of the fundamental problems we have discussed, and the collateral.

    We deem that both development projects provide a solid platform for progressing further as we make a new qualitative step in lending to the agriculture. Nevertheless, the success of this platform considerably dependents on the involvement and the commitment to utilising its instruments.

    In this context, allow me to draw your attention to three important points.

    • First, from the narrower perspective of the business interests you represent, I would like to highlight that the low level of lending to the agricultural sector should be considered equally both as a reflection of existing structural and operational problems, and as a potential indicator for the high returns you may have from investments in this sector. In light of this, I encourage you to give agricultural sector the attention and expertise it rightly deserves.
    • Second, from the perspective of the overall economic development, the growth of the agricultural sector-aligned and progressing in parallel with other sectors of the economy-should be regarded as a crucial pillar for the long-term and sustainable development of Albania. From this standpoint, as primary actors in Albania’s economic and financial landscape, you are encouraged to view lending to the agricultural sector as a strategic investment that yields positive returns for the country’s sustainable and inclusive growth.
    • Third, as key actors in the social life of the country, the support to the agriculture sector should also be viewed as a moral obligation toward Albania, the country where you safely carry out your business and in a profitable manner. Supporting the food supply chain industry remains a factor of vital importance for a country and its population.

    Dear representatives of the banking sector,

    I kindly invite you to consider the issues addressed above more as an appeal to your rational judgement than to your emotions. The Bank of Albania will not, under no circumstances, take measures that would jeopardise the soundness of your financial positions or undermine the financial stability interests of Albania in the long term.

    That said, while safeguarding financial stability, I believe it is appropriate to engage in an open and transparent dialogue aimed at rethinking our approach to lending in the agricultural sector, in line with the long-term interests of the social and economic development of Albania.

    Thank You!

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: NUCLIDIUM Closes CHF 79 Million (EUR 84 Million) Series B Financing to Advance Clinical Development of its Copper-based Radiopharmaceutical Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Proceeds will fund further clinical development of the company’s true theranostic pipeline and expansion of the global production and manufacturing network for copper-based radiopharmaceuticals.
    • Initial clinical data presented at SNMMI 2025 by Dr. Gary Ulaner, MD, PhD show a solid safety profile and potentially improved performance of 61Cu-NuriPro in metastatic prostate cancer imaging.
    • The financing round was led by Kurma Growth Opportunities Fund, Angelini Ventures, Wellington Partners, and Neva SGR (Intesa Sanpaolo Group), with participation from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Bayern Kapital, Eurazeo, Vives Partners, NRW.BANK and HighLight Capital, with existing investors.
    • Alongside Tony Rosenberg, who recently joined as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, David Meek joins as an additional new Independent Director; Oliver Sartor, MD and Bela Denes, MD join as additional Scientific Advisors.

    Basel, Switzerland / Munich, Germany, July 10, 2025 – NUCLIDIUM AG, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing a proprietary copper-based theranostic platform, today announced the successful closing of its Series B financing round, raising CHF 79 million (EUR 84 million). The round was led by Kurma Growth Opportunities Fund, Angelini Ventures, Wellington Partners, and Neva SGR (Intesa Sanpaolo Group), with participation from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Bayern Kapital, Vives Partners, Eurazeo, NRW.BANK and HighLight Capital, as well as existing investors. The proceeds will be used to advance the clinical development of NUCLIDIUM’s Copper-61/Copper-67 (61Cu/67Cu) theranostic pipeline across multiple oncology indications. In parallel, the company will expand its production and manufacturing capabilities through a global production network.

    NUCLIDIUM’s differentiated platform links tumor-targeting molecules with copper isotopes – Copper-61 for diagnostics and Copper-67 for therapeutics – to address current limitations in radiotheranostics, such as suboptimal clinical efficacy and complex manufacturing. Diagnostic results from initial clinical trials in these indications show superior lesion detection and higher tumor-to-background ratios compared with clinically approved tracers. Initial data were recently presented at SNMMI 2025 by Dr. Gary Ulaner, MD, PhD highlighting a favorable safety profile and potentially improved imaging performance of 61Cu-NuriPro™ compared to current PET imaging standards, suggesting strong clinical promise and broader potential for 61Cu/67Cu theranostic pairing. Early therapeutic data from the two lead compounds, NuriPro™ and TraceNET™, show strong tumor-to-background ratios in metastatic prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors including breast cancer.

    “NUCLIDIUM is entering the next clinical phases with its lead compounds to diagnose and treat metastatic prostate, neuroendocrine tumors and breast cancer,” said Leila Jaafar, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of NUCLIDIUM. “Our copper-based radiotheranostics are developed for seamless use in hospital workflows, care delivery and waste management, making these therapies more accessible worldwide. Our groundbreaking next generation copper theranostic platform also allows us to rapidly develop new targets across a wider range of cancers, particularly those highly relevant to women’s health.”

    With this financing, NUCLIDIUM will continue expanding its worldwide production and manufacturing network for diagnostics and therapeutics, growing its international team, and strengthening strategic collaborations with hospitals and academic centers, initially across Europe and North America.

    In conjunction with the financing round, Daniel Parera, MD, Partner at Kurma Partners, Regina Hodits, PhD, Managing Director at Angelini Ventures, and Liliana Nordbakk, Partner Life Sciences at Neva SGR, will join NUCLIDIUM’s Board of Directors.

    “This significant Series B financing reflects the confidence of our investors in NUCLIDIUM’s vision and the transformative potential for the diagnostic and therapeutic industry in oncology and nuclear medicine,” said Tony Rosenberg, Chairman of the NUCLIDIUM Board. “With this backing, we are positioned to accelerate clinical development, broaden patient access globally, and reinforce our commitment to innovation in precision oncology. I am delighted to welcome our new Board and advisory members, whose deep expertise will further strengthen NUCLIDIUM’s leadership in radiopharmaceuticals.”

    “NUCLIDIUM’s platform stands out in a rapidly evolving field and will change how radiotheranostic care is delivered. This investment reflects our strong conviction in the future of precision medicine and our belief in NUCLIDIUM’s potential to scale as a next-generation company — an ambition shared across a strong European syndicate,” added Daniel Parera, MD, Partner at Kurma Partners, Regina Hodits, PhD, Managing Director at Angelini Ventures, and Liliana Nordbakk, Partner Life Sciences at Neva SGR for all participating investors.

    The Series B financing transaction was advised by VISCHER AG, and Walder Wyss, Switzerland as legal counsels.

    About NUCLIDIUM
    NUCLIDIUM AG is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of next-generation copper-based radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Leveraging copper isotopes – Copper-61 for diagnostics and Copper-67 for therapeutics – NUCLIDIUM is creating a differentiated platform with the potential to overcome existing limitations in radiotheranostics. The company’s operations in Switzerland and Germany combine innovative chemistry, deep clinical expertise, and strategic manufacturing capabilities to deliver scalable, accessible, and clinically superior theranostic solutions to patients worldwide. NUCLIDIUM is committed to expanding the reach and efficacy of radiotheranostics, including addressing critical unmet medical needs in oncology and women’s health.

    For more information, please contact:

    NUCLIDIUM
    Leila Jaafar, PhD, CEO
    Email: info@nuclidium.com

    Investor/Media Contact NUCLIDIUM
    Trophic Communications
    Stephanie May
    Email: nuclidium@trophic.eu
    Phone: +49 171 1855682

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LET Mining: The application of cryptocurrency will make your travel more convenient, let cloud mining pay for you

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Now, this future is within reach, because this week Emirates has partnered with leading digital asset platform Crypto.com to explore accepting cryptocurrency payments in all its services. Not only that, there are currently more than tens of thousands of companies around the world accepting cryptocurrency payments, and it has become easier than ever to use Bitcoin or Ethereum to book flights, hotel accommodations, and even a cup of coffee. In the future, you can even complete the entire journey with only cryptocurrency.

    LET Mining: Let your crypto assets pay for your travel
    Now cryptocurrency is no longer just a speculative asset. It is becoming a popular means of payment. And the LET Mining cloud mining platform can make your digital assets gain additional value every day. With just a few simple steps, the platform deploys computing power for you and settles the income daily. The income can be freely withdrawn for investment, savings, or even directly for living expenses or travel expenses.

    The core advantages include:
    √ Daily income, automatic arrival: truly realize passive income, and the income is clearly visible.
    √ Environmentally friendly and sustainable: driven by hydropower and wind energy, supporting the concept of green travel.
    √ 0 technical threshold: no need to install mining machines or understand the principles of mining, everyone can participate.
    √ Flexible withdrawal: supports the withdrawal of multiple crypto assets, which can be used for travel payments or exchange for legal currency.

    Start using LET Mining and start your crypto travel journey
    Step 1: Open the official website: https://letmining.com/, click to register, fill in the registration information, and you will receive a $12 reward after successful registration

    Step 2: The platform provides a variety of high-yield and flexible cloud computing contracts, and users can choose to purchase them freely. The following are some cloud computing contracts ]

    ◆Experience Contract: investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, maturity income: $100 + $8
    ◆BTC Classic Hash Power: investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $6, maturity income: $500 + $30
    ◆DOGE Classic Hash Power: investment amount: $3,500, contract period: 24 days, daily income of $50.4, maturity income: $3,500 + $1,209.6
    ◆BTC Advanced Hash Power: investment amount: $8,200, contract period: 35 days, daily income of $130.38, maturity income: $8,200 + $4,563.3
    ◆BTC Advanced Hash Power: investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 45 days, daily income of $173, maturity income: $10,000 + $7,785
    ◆DOGE Super Hash Power: Investment amount: $30,000, contract period: 48 days, daily income of $555, maturity income: $30,000 + $26,640
    (Click here to view more high-yield contract details)

    Step 3: The system will send the daily income of the cloud computing contract you purchased to your account, and you can withdraw it to your wallet address at any time

    By participating in the purchase of LET Mining’s cloud computing power contract, you can get a fixed income every day, which provides additional income guarantee for a free lifestyle, so that you no longer rely on traditional salary income, and you don’t need to worry about international financial barriers such as exchange rates and transfers, and avoid expensive currency exchange fees.

    With the popularity of cryptocurrency applications, innovative models like LET Mining are redefining crypto assets. By intelligently utilizing crypto assets, it can become a self-sustaining lifestyle, making travel no longer just an expense. Let the digital world provide financial support for your real travel and open up a new way of traveling.

    Want to work in an island town in Southeast Asia? Want to write code in a small cafe in a European town? As long as your digital wallet is growing, the world will open its doors to you.

    Official website: https://letmining.com/
    Contact email: info@letmining.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Solaris Price Rollback Ignites Market Momentum Ahead of Major Exchange Launch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crypto winters come and go, but few events wake the market up like a perfectly timed price rollback. And Bitcoin Solaris just pulled off a surprise move that has investors scrambling. With major exchange listings on the horizon and a short-lived drop in presale price, analysts are calling it the most generous window of 2025. It is not just a coin anymore, it is a momentum machine.

    If there was ever a moment to pay attention, this is it.

    Bitcoin Solaris: Built to Dominate the Next Cycle

    Bitcoin Solaris, or BTC-S, is a next-generation crypto project designed to extend Bitcoin’s legacy into high-performance, real-world utility. It achieves this through a layered dual-consensus design that merges Proof of Work and Delegated Proof of Stake in a way few others have dared.

    Its architecture splits into a Base Layer that runs SHA-256 mining and a Solaris Layer that executes 15-second block finality with blazing-fast transaction speeds of over 10,000 TPS. Together, they balance speed, decentralization, and energy savings at 99.95 percent less consumption than traditional Bitcoin mining.

    More than just a tech demo, BTC-S is delivering tangible user value through:

    • The upcoming Solaris Nova App brings mobile-first mining to the masses.
    • A reward structure that includes validator rotation, adaptive load balancing, and secure finality.
    • Rust-based smart contracts ready for DeFi, enterprise apps, and more.

    And with recent security audits completed by both Cyberscope and Freshcoins, confidence in the protocol’s integrity has never been higher.

    A lot of crypto enthusiasts have taken notice, and according to the detailed review from Token Galaxy, the structure behind Bitcoin Solaris is what sets it apart. Even Token Empire released a breakdown that highlights why the community and investor base keep growing every week.

    This Isn’t Just Another Presale. It’s a Launchpad for Wealth.

    Here’s what the current presale phase looks like:

    • Current Price: $11
    • Next Phase: $11
    • Launch Price: $20
    • Presale Raised: Over $6.6 million
    • Users Joined: 14,150+
    • Timeline: Ends July 31, 2025

    This presale is short, explosive, and closing fast. What’s more, Bitcoin Solaris has introduced something that almost never happens in crypto: a rare Price rollback, dropping the cost per token to $5 instead of $11. It’s not a discount. It’s a once-only reversal, and only for a limited time.

    Get Paid to Participate in Mobile Mining Starts With BTC-S

    This move has reignited FOMO among those who nearly missed earlier phases. For those watching from the sidelines, this is your moment.

    Wallets like Trust Wallet and Metamask are recommended for seamless token delivery on launch day, ensuring a smooth transition when the project hits exchanges.

    Mobile Mining with Real Yield

    Bitcoin Solaris is not just scalable. It’s portable. Thanks to the upcoming Solaris Nova App, BTC-S introduces a mining system that fits in your pocket.

    With mining tools optimized for mobile devices and cross-platform functionality, users can generate passive income from:

    • CPU-mining tasks on mobile or desktop
    • Optimized PoW mechanics that adapt to low-power environments
    • Real-time earning estimates based on your device’s performance

    This allows anyone to tap into Bitcoin-level value accrual without investing in expensive hardware.

    You are not stuck hoping for a bull run. You’re earning now.

    Liquid Staking Reinvented

    Another pillar of the Bitcoin Solaris economy is its liquid staking model. Instead of locking assets away, staked BTC-S tokens are converted into sBTC-S, which can be traded or deployed across DeFi apps.

    This liquid staking upgrade brings new layers of accessibility:

    • Rewards without compromising liquidity
    • Compatibility with governance, lending, and DeFi protocols
    • Full integration with the Solaris Nova App
    • Increased decentralization and validator diversity

    This approach puts capital efficiency and usability back in the hands of users.

    Why This Rollback Changes the Game

    This isn’t your typical hype cycle. The price rollback came at the exact moment momentum was peaking. Community sentiment is at an all-time high, exchanges are circling, and developers are pushing regular upgrades.

    Add to that the fact that BTC-S is positioning for a 150 percent exchange gain from $5 to $20, and it’s not hard to see why analysts are calling it the best crypto to buy now.

    You can also check out the expanding conversation across platforms like Telegram and X. The buzz is real, and it’s growing louder by the day.

    Meanwhile, the official site is already receiving surging traffic from both retail and institutional visitors.

    Conclusion

    Bitcoin Solaris is positioning itself as a high-performance, user-focused ecosystem with cutting-edge technology, mobile-first tools, and a rare rollback opportunity.

    This presale window may be short, but the potential impact is long-lasting. With high scalability, advanced staking, a mobile-first mining model, and a rare rollback offer, BTC-S is not only redefining utility but rewriting the entry point for retail investors.

    For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:
    Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
     Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
     X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

    Media Contact:
    Xander Levine
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: Available upon request

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Bitcoin Solaris. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e409f96b-450e-4927-b0d0-ad73f28de003

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb2b2d29-ad7c-4a2c-9e18-0e4cd8ac8d40

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fd009aa-d54a-4556-b503-23e4c229dc6a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc8e8f72-2701-4b99-8d27-dfe7c2fafc78

    The MIL Network –

  • Global stocks climb on AI and rate cut optimism, unfazed by Trump’s tariff moves

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Global stocks advanced on Thursday, underpinned by optimism around artificial intelligence and the prospect of upcoming interest rate cuts, while investors kept a cautious eye on U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing assault on international trade.

    U.S. copper futures widened their premium to the London benchmark overnight after Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports. He said the levies would come into effect on August 1.

    Trump also threatened a punitive 50% tariff on Brazil’s exports to the U.S. on Wednesday and issued tariff notices to seven minor trading partners.

    The latest tariff moves did little to rattle markets as European stocks gained, with Germany’s DAX up 0.1% and UK’s FTSE 100 rising 1% to their respective all-time highs.

    MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.5%. U.S. stock futures took a breather, with Nasdaq futures down 0.1% after the tech-heavy index closed at a record high on Wednesday.

    The market reaction to Trump’s tariff developments this week was less severe than in April, and Jeff Ng, SMBC’s head of Asia macroeconomic strategy, said investors had grown somewhat “numb” to the ever-changing situation.

    “They know that there is still room for negotiation. A lot of these announcements, they start off with eye-catching numbers, but they are not totally final, and they are still subject to changes. Even if they are implemented, they could also be reversed in the coming few months to year,” he said.

    Meanwhile, investors digested upbeat quarterly results from TSMC that reflected strong demand for the world’s largest contract chipmaker’s products, kept alive by surging interest in artificial intelligence applications.

    TSMC’s report came a day after AI chip giant Nvidia became the world’s first public company to hit a $4 trillion market value. Other tech-related stocks in Korea and Japan further got a boost.

    Also keeping stocks supported were expectations of at least two interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.

    Minutes released on Wednesday showed “most participants” at the Fed’s meeting last month anticipated rate cuts would be appropriate later this year, with any price shock from tariffs expected to be “temporary or modest.”

    “Our view remains that in the balance of risks between employment and inflation, Fed would be more sensitive to employment than to inflation. Hence, if our view holds, and we get some weakness in the employment numbers over summer, Fed will respond by cutting rates in September,” said Mohit Kumar, an economist at Jefferies.

    DOLLAR EASES

    The dollar was on the back foot on Thursday against the euro, but holding its own against the yen JPY=EBS at 146.35, after a sharp rise earlier this week when Trump slapped Japan with 25% tariffs.

    The euro was up 0.17% to $1.1734 and sterling gained 0.15% to $1.36110.

    An exception was the Brazilian real, which languished near a one-month low at 5.5826 per dollar owing to Trump’s tariff threat on Latin America’s largest economy.

    The real’s volatility gauges spiked to the highest since late April when markets were still trying to get to grips with Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff threats.

    “Without a clear path yet to de-escalation, the real is likely to continue to trade on a softer footing in the near-term. The initial real sell-off was exacerbated by the unwind of popular carry trades,” Lee Hardman, a senior currency economist at MUFG said.

    “The risk is that carry trades continue to be unwound on the back of heightened trade risks and higher financial market volatility triggering a further reversal of real gains.”

    In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was pinned near a record high and was last at $111,207, while ether was up 1.8% to $2,790.9.

    Elsewhere, crude prices were steady with Brent futures hovering at $70.2 per barrel, while U.S. crude was flat at $68.33 a barrel.

    Spot gold rose 0.22% to $3,320.59 an ounce.

    (Reuters)

  • OpenAI to release web browser in challenge to Google Chrome

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    OpenAI is close to releasing an AI-powered web browser that will challenge Alphabet’s market-dominating Google Chrome.

    The browser is slated to launch in the coming weeks, three of the people said, and aims to use artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how consumers browse the web. It will give OpenAI more direct access to a cornerstone of Google’s success: user data.

    If adopted by the 500 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s browser could put pressure on a key component of rival Google’s ad-money spigot. Chrome is an important pillar of Alphabet’s ad business, which makes up nearly three-quarters of its revenue, as Chrome provides user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably, and also gives Google a way to route search traffic to its own engine by default.

    OpenAI’s browser is designed to keep some user interactions within a ChatGPT-like native chat interface instead of clicking through to websites, two of the sources said.

    The browser is part of a broader strategy by OpenAI to weave its services across the personal and work lives of consumers, one of the sources said.

    OpenAI declined to comment.

    The sources declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

    Led by entrepreneur Sam Altman, OpenAI upended the tech industry with the launch of its AI chatbot ChatGPT in late 2022. After its initial success, OpenAI has faced stiff competition from rivals including Google and startup Anthropic, and is looking for new areas of growth.

    In May, OpenAI said it would enter the hardware domain, paying $6.5 billion to buy io, an AI devices startup from Apple’s AAPL.O former design chief, Jony Ive.

    A web browser would allow OpenAI to directly integrate its AI agent products such as Operator into the browsing experience, enabling the browser to carry out tasks on behalf of the user, the people said.

    The browser’s access to a user’s web activity would make it the ideal platform for AI “agents” that can take actions on their behalf, like booking reservations or filling out forms, directly within the websites they use.

    TOUGH COMPETITION

    OpenAI has its work cut out – Google Chrome, which is used by more than 3 billion people, currently holds more than two-thirds of the worldwide browser market, according to web analytics firm StatCounter. Apple’s AAPL.O second-place Safari lags far behind with a 16% share. Last month, OpenAI said it had 3 million paying business users for ChatGPT.

    Perplexity, which has a popular AI search engine, launched an AI browser, Comet, on Wednesday, capable of performing actions on a user’s behalf. Two other AI startups, The Browser Company and Brave, have released AI-powered browsers capable of browsing and summarizing the internet.

    Chrome’s role in providing user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably has proven so successful that the Department of Justice has demanded its divestiture after a U.S. judge last year ruled that the Google parent holds an unlawful monopoly in online search.

    OpenAI’s browser is built atop Chromium, Google’s own open-source browser code, two of the sources said. Chromium is the source code for Google Chrome, as well as many competing browsers including Microsoft’s Edge and Opera.

    Last year, OpenAI hired two longtime Google vice presidents who were part of the original team that developed Google Chrome. The Information was first to report their hires and that OpenAI previously considered building a browser.

    An OpenAI executive testified in April that the company would be interested in buying Chrome if antitrust enforcers succeeded in forcing the sale.

    Google has not offered Chrome for sale. The company has said it plans to appeal the ruling that it holds a monopoly.

    OpenAI decided to build its own browser, rather than simply a “plug-in” on top of another company’s browser, in order to have more control over the data it can collect, one source said.

    (Reuters)

  • HM Shah chairs Eastern Zonal Council meet in Ranchi, 20 key issues on agenda

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council commenced in Ranchi on Thursday, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    The meeting, being held at Hotel Radisson Blu, brings together top leaders and officials from Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha to deliberate on 20 crucial inter-state coordination issues.

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren welcomed Amit Shah on his arrival for the meeting.

    Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, are participating in the deliberations.

    Senior bureaucrats from the four states, including a 15-member IAS-IPS team from Jharkhand, are also attending.

    The agenda includes a wide range of interstate concerns. The Mayurakshi Dam water-sharing dispute between Jharkhand and Bengal tops the chart.

    Apart from that, cost-sharing of the Fulbari Dam under the Upper Mahananda Water Scheme; construction of the Indrapuri Reservoir Project in Bihar; formulation of a comprehensive silt management policy; expansion of banking services to remote villages; timely investigation of cases under the POCSO Act and crimes against women and children; status of fast-track special courts and the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112); and delays in the establishment of BSF battalions and sector headquarters due to pending land acquisition in West Bengal are the issues being discussed.

    Additionally, unresolved matters dating back to the bifurcation of Bihar and Jharkhand are expected to be discussed — particularly those related to pension liabilities.

    The Union Home Ministry had earlier directed the Accountants General of both states to reconcile data, following disputes over inconsistencies in pension payment records.

    Key decisions on these issues are likely to be made during the day-long meeting.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and France partner on navigation systems to protect critical infrastructure from hostile threats

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK and France partner on navigation systems to protect critical infrastructure from hostile threats

    UK and French researchers join up to shield critical infrastructure, including power supplies and emergency services, with more resilient navigation and timing systems. 

    • UK and French researchers join up to shield critical infrastructure, including power supplies and emergency services, with more resilient navigation and timing systems. 
    • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing systems are critical to everything from banking to transport – and the Ukraine war has shown how these systems can be targeted by malign actors. 
    • Partnerships on AI supercomputing infrastructure, and AI research, to be agreed when French President and UK Science and Tech Secretary meet in London. 

    UK and French experts will work more closely to increase the resilience of both countries’ critical infrastructure to the signal-jamming seen in the war in Ukraine, as part of a suite of joint science and tech work being announced today (Thursday 10 July).  

    From our electricity infrastructure, to transport, to financial transactions, the tech we rely on for everyday life depends on reliable Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), often provided via satellites. The conflict in Ukraine has shown how new technologies – in some cases, just small hand-held devices – can be used to disrupt PNT services, potentially causing major disruption to the vast areas of life and the economy reliant on them. 

    As part of a raft of UK-France joint science and tech efforts being announced today, researchers from both countries will work together on technologies complementary to the likes of GPS, which are highly resistant to this sort of jamming.  

    An example is e-LORAN, a program driven by the UK government, working closely with the National Physical Laboratory and private sector companies. The system uses ground-based radio towers, which are much more challenging to block, for a reliable “backup” to GPS, so that UK infrastructure can keep running even when GPS fails.  

    The UK’s Science and Tech Secretary used a joint visit to Imperial College London, with President Macron, to set out how this sort of collaboration makes both the UK and France stronger and safer. Whilst speaking at Imperial, Peter Kyle also pointed out the tens of millions of pounds in investment being brought into the British tech sector through UK-French trade, as well as the new jobs and growth that this partnership creates.

    These are efforts that will bolster our economic and national security, which are foundational pillars of the Plan for Change. 

    UK Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said: 

    France and the UK both have huge ambitions for technology to boost economic growth and strengthen national security. It is vital we work with natural partners like our French neighbours in these endeavours, particularly as the threats from hostile state actors only grows.

    Today we build on the Entente Cordiale with an Entente Technologique, celebrating and renewing our longstanding and historic partnership so that together we can face down the challenges of tomorrow.

    Additionally, the UK and France are launching a partnership on supercomputing. The partnership will be led by the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, the home of Isambard-AI, and the French computing centre GENCI, who lead France’s AI Factory.  

    Closer ties between both nations’ world-leading compute power, and sharing AI best practice, will turbocharge the breakthroughs in AI, transforming public services and improving lives. These efforts build on the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the UK government’s blueprint to fuel the use of AI across the economy. 

    This builds on the strong existing UK-France cooperation on AI. The UK’s AI Security Institute and France’s INESIA have committed to further technical workshops to deepen their collaboration on frontier AI research, in order to support our national security. 

    Some of the UK and France’s leading research institutions are also committing to closer work. Collaboration agreements were signed today when President Macron and Science and Tech Secretary Peter Kyle visited Imperial College London, where they witnessed first-hand some of the cutting-edge uses of AI being pioneered in the UK, from health to clean energy.

    The spotlight will shine on the vast opportunities for UK-France science and tech collaboration again on Friday, when the UK’s AI Minister Feryal Clark and her French counterpart Minister Clara Chappaz will tour Diamond Light Source in Oxford.

    Diamond is one of the most advanced scientific facilities in the world. Researchers here are harnessing light 10 billion times brighter than the sun to study new scientific samples, like previously unknown virus structures, to pioneer new medicines and treatments for diseases. 

    Notes to editors

    The 3 UK-France science and technology agreements being signed are between: 

    • Imperial and CNRS Ayrton Blériot Engineering Lab (ABEL)
    • University College London (UCL) and National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria)
    • Oxford-Cambridge and HEC, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay

    UK-French export and investment announcements

    British tech unicorns are winning tens of millions of pounds in significant contracts with French corporates, driving jobs and growth at home. This includes Synthesia’s new partnership with Decathlon to create a pioneering AI avatar lab which the global sports retailer will use to communicate with customers and employees, building on Synthesia’s existing work with over half of France’s CAC40 (equivalent to FTSE 100). Other deals include ElevenLabs’ collaboration with M6 and TV5 Monde and Darktrace’s contract with GL Events, a French major events operator.

    BT’s operations in France totalled approximately £130 million last financial year, connecting more than 80 French-headquartered companies, from Alstom to Michelin. BT has supported French telecoms, communications, cyber security and banking operations for 55 years. BT has invested more than £24 billion domestically so far this decade, with plans to invest a further £20 billion by 2030. BT’s investment into digital infrastructure projects also boosts the UK’s attractiveness for French investment and act as an enabler of British exports to France.  

    Thales, in conjunction with partners, is planning £40 million of AI-focussed R&D investment as part of its CortAIx UK AI Accelerator – which will employ 200 people and serve as a focal point for Thales’ AI innovation in the UK. This initiative will further enhance AI cooperation between France and the UK, ss well as help both countries to stay ahead of evolving threats, unleashing the potential of AI to increase mission success for both countries.

    Comand AI are investing £35 million over the next 5 years to set up an office in the UK, in their first step to becoming a pan-European defence company. This investment will create around 40 highly skilled jobs in tech, bringing the best of software engineering to defence. These jobs would represent half of their global engineering team. They aim to build the future of defence technology between the UK and France, from capability assessment to mission planning and execution for our Allied nations.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Invest Hong Kong seminar promotes in-depth exchanges between fintech enterprises and investment community (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) seminar – Meeting Our Leading VCs in Hong Kong – concluded today (July 10), gathering over 200 fintech enterprise founders, venture capital (VC) leaders and industry experts to help inject new vitality into the future prosperity of Hong Kong’s fintech ecosystem.
          
         InvestHK has been linking global fintech enterprises with local and international capital resources. Hong Kong’s capital environment has shown strong vitality and new opportunities recently. The Government is providing public funding support and introducing measures to accelerate the development of fintech and related areas such as Web3 and AI. Moreover, as of the end of June 2025, the investment amount brought by the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme into Hong Kong is expected to be over HK$46.4 billion, reinforcing Hong Kong’s standing as a pre-eminent international investment hub.  
          
         For private capital, Hong Kong’s advantages are becoming increasingly prominent. Hong Kong has the second-largest capital pool in the Asia-Pacific region, after only the Mainland, with managed private equity funds over US$233.9 billion as of the first half of 2024. As the largest hedge fund centre and cross-border wealth management centre in Asia, Hong Kong continues to attract global capital. Since the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government issued the Policy Statement on Developing Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong, the family office business has developed rapidly. There are more than 2 700 single-family offices operating in Hong Kong, and the scale of managed assets continues to rise. New listing volumes on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong jumped around eight times to US$14 billion in the first half of 2025, fully demonstrating the attractiveness of Hong Kong’s financial market.
          
         This seminar created a valuable opportunity for start-ups and growing enterprises to connect with well-known VC leaders. At the seminar, experienced investors shared market patterns and trends in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other markets. For VCs, through the Global Fast Track programme and the invitation-only online business matching platform Fast-Track Connect, they have accelerated access to high-quality deal flows and strengthened strategic investment networks.
          
         Director of MindWorks Capital Mr Jeffrey Wu highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages for fintech startups, namely a transparent regulatory regime, deep offshore capital markets, and a trusted legal system, which make it an ideal springboard for regional and global expansion. Founding Partner of Wings Capital Ventures Mr Jonathan Wu said that as connectivity between Mainland and Hong Kong continues to accelerate, demand for cross-boundary financial services is growing at a remarkable pace. The Mainland’s strengths, including its abundant software development resources and rapid innovation cycles paired with Hong Kong’s international market and diverse application scenarios, create a promising synergy.
          
         The Managing Partner of 01Fintech Limited, Mr Kenny Man, emphasised that the Southeast Asian market has huge potential, and fintech enterprises should seize the opportunity to expand their business there. He also noted that the event provided valuable exposure to high-potential fintech innovations, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a global fintech hub with rich cross-border opportunities. These insights provide valuable reference for 01Fintech’s investment strategy in the region. Founding General Partner of Transcend Capital Partners Ms Winnie Leung also mentioned that Hong Kong is truly where East meets West, offering a vibrant fusion of cultures and business opportunities. With a substantial amount of capital available, it stands as an ideal hub for exciting venture capital projects.  
          
         In addition, the Head of FinTech of Cyberport, Mr Victor Yim, shared the experiences and achievements of Cyberport in supporting fintech and Web3 enterprises. The Senior Manager, New Ventures Development of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Ms Josephine Chan, introduced the innovative resources and development platforms provided by HKSTPC for enterprises.
          
         The Global Head of Financial Services, FinTech & Sustainability at InvestHK, Mr King Leung, concluded, “This seminar has not only built a bridge for exchanges and co-operation among Hong Kong’s fintech industry, it has also brought new impetus to shape the global fintech funding landscape. Through seminars like this, enterprises and investors can conduct in-depth exchanges, jointly seize market opportunities, and achieve mutual benefits and win-win results. This promotes the development of the fintech industry and further consolidates Hong Kong’s leading position in the global fintech field. We will continue to organise such high-quality activities, both online and offline, to contribute to the development of the industry.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prof Lo Chung-mau to visit Nanjing

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau will depart for a visit to Nanjing tomorrow and return to Hong Kong the following day.

     

    During the visit, Prof Lo will meet health officials of Jiangsu Province and introduce the latest developments of healthcare policies in Hong Kong to them.

     

    He also plans to attend the 13th Nanjing Academic Symposium on Hepatobiliary Surgery & Liver Transplantation with the aim of deepening exchanges and collaboration on healthcare related areas with the Mainland.

     

    As part of Prof Lo’s agenda, he will visit pharmaceutical companies and hospitals there to introduce the latest progress in enhancing Hong Kong’s drug approval mechanism and registration regime, and share the city’s experiences in strengthening hospital management and services.

     

    During his absence, Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee will be Acting Secretary.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New backing for small businesses to protect their intellectual property from security threats

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New backing for small businesses to protect their intellectual property from security threats

    Up to 500 small or medium-sized companies could benefit from new reviews involving approved experts giving tailored advice to teams on risks they face.

    • Up to 500 small and medium sized UK firms backed by government funding to strengthen their security.
    • Security review scheme includes expert advice to protect ideas and innovations from powerful competitors including state actors.
    • Open to range of sectors from AI to life sciences to help businesses grow securely while boosting our economy and supporting our Plan for Change.

    Hundreds of UK tech start-ups and other innovative businesses can now apply for government support to protect their intellectual property from powerful competitors, including threats from other states and hostile actors, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today (Thursday 10 July).

    Up to 500 small or medium-sized companies will potentially benefit from new Secure Innovation Security Reviews, which involve approved experts giving tailored advice to teams on risks they face, so they can build thriving businesses which create jobs and support the economy.

    This could include advice on strengthening checks on prospective employees to reduce insider threats and ensure their suitability for handling sensitive information, and key cyber security measures to guard against common cyber-attacks.

    A range of technology sectors operating throughout the UK will be able to apply, from artificial intelligence to life sciences, advanced materials like semiconductors to renewable energy systems and beyond – backing businesses at the forefront of boosting economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    Support can help combat the efforts of certain states to steal technological, economic, or military insight, to enhance their own capabilities rather than engaging in fair international competition.

    While threats of hostile actors recruiting an insider to exploit their physical access are not new, such threats are becoming more advanced, underlining the importance of integrating personnel, physical, and cyber security to protect start-ups.

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    The UK economy is built on the courage, ambition and hard work of small businesses which ultimately benefits us all, creating new technologies and jobs that grow our economy under our Plan for Change.

    By supporting firms to protect their innovations, this government-backed scheme will help those who put the hours in to reap the rewards while keeping key companies and sectors safe from malicious larger competitors, including state actors.

    Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

    Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and they need security to thrive. 

    With 98% of businesses reporting a lack of knowledge to identify security threats, it is crucial they are equipped with the tools necessary to protect themselves against increasingly volatile threats.

    This initiative, spearheaded by the National Protective Security Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre, supports businesses to build the skills and the confidence they need to grow.

    To take part in the scheme, companies will need to apply through Innovate UK and contribute £500, with £2,500 covered by the government.

    National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) figures show 39% of companies have only one protective security or cyber measure in place and 55% do not conduct pre-employment screening of new personnel. By helping businesses to integrate protective security into their wider business strategy, the work can also help to boost customer and investor confidence.

    The reviews involve a professional conducting a site visit of the company to carry out a security health check, against a framework developed by the UK’s national technical authorities, NPSA – part of MI5 – and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

    They will then provide the company with a bespoke report with recommendations for improvement. The professional will conduct a follow up with the company after 6 months to gauge improvements made since the site visit.

    It builds on a pilot scheme in 2023, where 98% fed back that they now have sufficient knowledge to identify the security threats to their business, with the same figure committing to further action strengthen their security.

    NCSC CEO Richard Horne said:

    Small and medium-sized businesses power the UK’s innovation engine – but where ideas thrive, threats are never far behind.

    States, state-backed competitors, and cyber criminals target cutting-edge ideas and valuable data, exploiting gaps in cyber and protective security defences to launch attacks that can cripple organisations and steal their most sensitive innovations.

    That’s why building resilience is no longer optional – it’s essential for business growth and survival. I encourage SMEs across the UK to take advantage of the NCSC and NPSA-backed Secure Innovation Security Reviews scheme.

    Executive Director of Strategy and Performance at Innovate UK Robert Shaw said:

    Innovate UK is proud to be a partner in delivering Security Reviews for spinouts and start-ups in such critical sectors.

    If these innovators can protect valuable intellectual property and their competitive edge and demonstrate their commitment to security to investors and customers, they will be better placed to realise their growth potential in the UK, and globally.

    Notes to editors

    The funding call is now live

    Eligible organisations must be small or medium sized enterprises which employ under 250 people.

    Organisations must be working in one of the 17 sensitive areas of the economy set out in the National Security and Investment Act (2021), or one of the selected sectors in Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy.

    The scheme is delivered through and in partnership with Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Piyush Goyal holds talks with Malaysian minister on review of ASEAN trade pact

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he had a productive meeting with Tzafrul Aziz, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, during which he discussed the ongoing review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

    “Looking forward to fast-tracking discussions with ASEAN member states to ensure fair trade and balanced growth,” Piyush Goyal said in a post on X.

    “We also held discussions on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between both countries,” the minister further stated.

    Malaysia is India’s permanent coordinator from ASEAN on economic matters.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also met his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar bin Ibrahim, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro this week, and among other issues, discussed the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement review.

    PM Modi congratulated Malaysia for its successful stewardship of ASEAN and welcomed its continued support for a strengthened ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including early and successful completion of ASEAN-India FTA review, according to an official statement.

    The AITIGA is a trade pact between the ten ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and India. It aims to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to facilitate trade.

    The agreement was signed in 2009 and came into force on January 1, 2010, as part of a broader Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) framework.

    AITIGA focuses on trade in physical goods and does not cover trade in services, which are addressed in a separate agreement that was signed in 2014.

    AITIGA has contributed to increased trade between India and ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching $121 billion in 2023-24.

    The AITIGA is a significant step towards greater economic integration between India and ASEAN, and its review is expected to further enhance trade and investment opportunities.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI: TSplus Announces Strategic Partnership with ImsCloud to Deliver Secure, Accessible Cloud Solutions to French IT Resellers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LYON, France, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus, a leading provider of secure remote access and application delivery solutions, is proud to announce its new partnership with ImsCloud, a trusted name in IT services and cloud hosting in France.

    This partnership brings TSplus Remote Access to ImsCloud’s portfolio of ready-to-deploy solutions, offering French IT resellers a secure and cost-effective remote desktop alternative to Citrix and Microsoft RDS. As part of ImsCloud’s reseller catalog, TSplus will now be available alongside complementary tools such as Signitic and Cloudiway—enabling partners to deliver complete, modern digital workspaces to their customers.

    “We are excited to partner with ImsCloud, a company that shares our values of simplicity, security, and customer support,” said François Stoop, International Sales Director at TSplus. “Together, we’re making enterprise-level remote access easy to deploy and affordable for businesses of all sizes.”

    With this integration, ImsCloud’s partners can now offer TSplus Remote Access directly to their clients—simplifying remote work and IT management with no hidden fees or technical complexity.

    A Strategic Boost for TSplus in the French Market

    This partnership is a key milestone in TSplus’ expansion strategy. By aligning with ImsCloud—recognized for its close relationships with resellers and membership in the EURABIS group—TSplus gains:

    • Stronger visibility in the French-speaking IT channel
    • Direct access to a qualified network of local resellers
    • Accelerated adoption of TSplus Remote Access in SMBs across France
    • A trusted partner to ensure seamless deployment and support for end users

    For TSplus, it’s a unique opportunity to grow its presence in a market that values practical, secure, and budget-conscious IT solutions. For ImsCloud and its resellers, it means gaining a proven alternative to complex and costly virtualization tools like Citrix or Microsoft RDS.

    To learn more about the new TSplus solution available via ImsCloud, visit: https://imsbackup.com/

    To learn more about TSplus range of remote access solutions, visit www.tsplus.net

    About ImsCloud
    Based in Le Mans, ImsCloud is a fast-growing IT services company specializing in secure cloud solutions including data backup, hosting, cybersecurity, and Microsoft 365 services. Known for their agility, personalized service, and technical reliability, ImsCloud is a key member of the EURABIS group and a trusted partner for resellers across France.

    About TSplus
    TSplus is a global software company that empowers organizations to securely access their business applications from anywhere. With solutions in Remote Access, Server Monitoring, and Remote Support, TSplus is the smart alternative to traditional virtualization tools—trusted by over 500,000 users in 140+ countries.

    Press Contact:

    Caleb Zaharris

    Marketing Director at TSplus

    Caleb.zaharris@tsplus.net

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80a3d510-317a-425c-a9eb-6ec9c91c2cf3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TSplus Announces Strategic Partnership with ImsCloud to Deliver Secure, Accessible Cloud Solutions to French IT Resellers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LYON, France, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus, a leading provider of secure remote access and application delivery solutions, is proud to announce its new partnership with ImsCloud, a trusted name in IT services and cloud hosting in France.

    This partnership brings TSplus Remote Access to ImsCloud’s portfolio of ready-to-deploy solutions, offering French IT resellers a secure and cost-effective remote desktop alternative to Citrix and Microsoft RDS. As part of ImsCloud’s reseller catalog, TSplus will now be available alongside complementary tools such as Signitic and Cloudiway—enabling partners to deliver complete, modern digital workspaces to their customers.

    “We are excited to partner with ImsCloud, a company that shares our values of simplicity, security, and customer support,” said François Stoop, International Sales Director at TSplus. “Together, we’re making enterprise-level remote access easy to deploy and affordable for businesses of all sizes.”

    With this integration, ImsCloud’s partners can now offer TSplus Remote Access directly to their clients—simplifying remote work and IT management with no hidden fees or technical complexity.

    A Strategic Boost for TSplus in the French Market

    This partnership is a key milestone in TSplus’ expansion strategy. By aligning with ImsCloud—recognized for its close relationships with resellers and membership in the EURABIS group—TSplus gains:

    • Stronger visibility in the French-speaking IT channel
    • Direct access to a qualified network of local resellers
    • Accelerated adoption of TSplus Remote Access in SMBs across France
    • A trusted partner to ensure seamless deployment and support for end users

    For TSplus, it’s a unique opportunity to grow its presence in a market that values practical, secure, and budget-conscious IT solutions. For ImsCloud and its resellers, it means gaining a proven alternative to complex and costly virtualization tools like Citrix or Microsoft RDS.

    To learn more about the new TSplus solution available via ImsCloud, visit: https://imsbackup.com/

    To learn more about TSplus range of remote access solutions, visit www.tsplus.net

    About ImsCloud
    Based in Le Mans, ImsCloud is a fast-growing IT services company specializing in secure cloud solutions including data backup, hosting, cybersecurity, and Microsoft 365 services. Known for their agility, personalized service, and technical reliability, ImsCloud is a key member of the EURABIS group and a trusted partner for resellers across France.

    About TSplus
    TSplus is a global software company that empowers organizations to securely access their business applications from anywhere. With solutions in Remote Access, Server Monitoring, and Remote Support, TSplus is the smart alternative to traditional virtualization tools—trusted by over 500,000 users in 140+ countries.

    Press Contact:

    Caleb Zaharris

    Marketing Director at TSplus

    Caleb.zaharris@tsplus.net

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80a3d510-317a-425c-a9eb-6ec9c91c2cf3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AB Quantitative Trading Empowers Global Investors with FCA License, Proven Returns, and Free Trial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In an era where crypto asset volatility challenges even seasoned traders, one company is standing out with transparent regulation, robust quantitative strategies, and real investor success stories: AB Quantitative Trading (www.abquant.net).

    Recently, AB Quantitative Trading proudly confirmed its operational compliance under the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (see attached certificate). This FCA supervision ensures that clients benefit from the highest standards of financial conduct, security, and transparency — a rare credential in the crypto trading world.

    From Doubt to Consistent Gains: A Client’s Story

    “Until 2024, I was constantly losing money trading crypto on my own. Then I discovered AB Quantitative Trading and their AI-driven strategies. I started with a free trial, cautiously testing the system. One year later, my portfolio has grown by 412%, averaging 50 trades per day — fully automated. I finally feel in control.”
    — Vaclav, AB Quantitative Trading user

    Why AB Quantitative Trading Is Different

     Licensed & Regulated — With the FCA license in place, AB Quantitative Trading offers an extra layer of trust that many crypto platforms lack.

     AI-Powered Automated Strategies — The platform uses advanced quant models to analyze market data 24/7 and execute trades at optimal moments, minimizing human error.

     Transparent Results — Clients can verify real-time portfolio growth and trade logs anytime via the Portfolio Analyst dashboard.

     Try Before You Commit — New investors can sign up for a risk-free trial to experience the system’s power firsthand.

    Get Started Today

    Investors worldwide are increasingly turning to regulated quant strategies to navigate the crypto market’s turbulence. Whether you are new to crypto or an experienced trader looking for smarter automation, AB Quantitative Trading invites you to take the first step — completely free.

    Learn more and start your free trial at www.abquant.net

     For inquiries, contact our real-time support team: strategy@abquant.net

    About AB Quantitative Trading

    AB Quantitative Trading is an FCA-licensed UK-based firm specializing in AI-driven crypto trading strategies. Backed by quantitative research and real-time analytics, the company empowers investors to achieve stable, transparent returns with fully automated trading solutions.

    Media Contact:
    AB Quantitative Trading
    Email: strategy@abquant.net
    Website: www.abquant.net

    Attachments:

    UK Financial Conduct Authority License Certificate

    Verified Account Performance Report (+412% annual return)

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Revised designs submitted for Castle and Eye of York area

    Source: City of York

    A new flythrough has revealed what the Castle Car Park and the Eye of York could look like.

    Amendments to the existing Castle car park and Eye of York planning application have now been submitted.

    The key changes include:

    • a new green park
    • introducing a dedicated space for children to play
    • replacing the paved event space with 30 Blue Badge parking spaces to replace existing parking – two of which will have electric vehicle charging points
    • reducing the costs of the overall scheme to ensure it is deliverable.

    This follows public engagement on the revised concept designs which took place during summer 2024. Design consultancy, BDP, reflected priorities including accessibility, heritage and maintenance in the updated design.

    Councillor Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion at City of York Council, said:

    “This is an important step forwards for the project which aims to transform one of the most historic parts of the city centre.

    “These plans seek to create a versatile public space where people of all ages want to spend time, making it greener and more accessible, as well as more affordable and deliverable, when compared to previous plans. We are sensitive to the area and its history and that is reflected in the plans which honour some of the more difficult aspects of our past.

    “We also want this to be a space for all and as well as a number of accessible features, these plans include retaining 30 blue badge parking spaces, following public feedback.

    “We will continue to listen as this project moves through the planning process.”

    Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economy and Culture said:

    “We are working to transform this area from a car park to a people park.

    “These plans have been shaped by comments from local people, disabled groups, businesses and other stakeholders.

    “Our proposals include new play areas for families – something people have been asking for more of in the city centre, and green open space for people to relax and take some time out.

    “Our aspiration is for this historic site to be a free, welcoming place for residents and visitors to enjoy, away from the bustle of the city.”

    Matthew Costa, Landscape Architect Director at BDP, said:

    “We’ve listened carefully to what people want from this space and continue to shape the design around the community vision.

    “The updated plans aim to make the area greener, easier to get around, and more enjoyable for everyone – whether you’re coming to relax, play, or meet others. It’s about turning the Castle Gateway into a place that feels like an inclusive, cultural and nature-rich part of the city again.”

    The revised designs can be viewed in the updated flythrough video.

    The planning application can be found using this reference 22/00209/FULM via the Online Planning Register and comments can be made via the statutory planning process before at the Planning Portal. People can also email comments to planning.comments@york.gov.uk or post to Development Management, City of York Council, West Offices, York YO1 6GA.

    A report will be taken to the council’s Executive later this year, seeking a decision to close Castle car park, approval to procure a contractor to deliver the scheme, setting the delivery budget and timeframe, plus provide updates on other Castle Gateway schemes.

    Read the latest My Castle Gateway blog and find out more about the scheme.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –