NewzIntel.com

Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI USA: New NIST Standard Helps Deliver the Right Dosage of Cancer-Fighting Drugs

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Actinium-225 and some other radioactive elements that emit alpha rays can be transformed into cancer-fighting missiles if they are attached to molecules that seek out and attach to tumor cells. Because alpha rays dump most of their energy within extremely short distances in the human body, this radiation can be harnessed to kill cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

    Credit: S. Kelley/NIST

    Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed the first U.S. standard for measuring the radioactivity of actinium-225, a radioactive isotope that drug companies are using to develop a new class of anticancer drugs.

    The new standard, which is tied to the International System of Units (SI), has enabled NIST to open a calibration service for drug companies and research institutions studying the cancer-fighting potential of actinium-225. By comparing NIST’s measurement of a sample of actinium-225 to their own measurements, the companies can ensure that human volunteers injected with actinium-225 receive the exact amount of radioactivity required for it to be effective.

    “Health care providers don’t want to overdose patients. Then they risk doing more harm than good,” said NIST chemist Denis Bergeron. “But they also don’t want to underdose patients. In a way, that’s even worse because a patient is exposed to potentially harmful radiation without effectively treating their cancer. This is a case where you have to get it precisely right. That’s our job at NIST. For actinium-225, that means accurately measuring the injected radioactivity.”

    As the national measurement institute for the U.S., NIST provides a wide range of calibration services to industry and other organizations to help ensure that their equipment is providing accurate readings. This latest calibration service could facilitate FDA review of anticancer drugs based on actinium-225, potentially speeding their deployment to cancer patients. More than 15 clinical trials in the U.S. have revealed that drugs based on actinium-225 show promise for fighting several cancers, including prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors and acute myeloid leukemia.

    Blasting Tumors With Radioactive Atoms

    Actinium-225 is one of several radioisotopes — radioactive versions of stable elements — that dump a massive amount of energy, in the form of alpha particles, within an extremely short distance in the human body. Alpha particles, composed of two protons and two neutrons, are relatively bulky and dense, so they don’t travel far before depositing all their energy.

    Taking advantage of this short-range blast of energy, clinicians have devised drugs that act like anticancer missiles, binding actinium-225 or another alpha-emitting radioisotope to molecules that seek out and attach to cancer cells specifically. Once the radioactive source arrives at a tumor, alpha particles destroy the DNA of the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed.

    To deliver the right dose to the tumor, clinicians must know how many alpha particles are being emitted at the tumor site. But counting radioactive decays is not as simple as it may seem.

    When it decays, actinium-225 successively transforms into a series of smaller atoms that are also unstable and emit their own alpha particles, along with gamma rays (a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation) and beta particles (electrons). To measure radioactivity, researchers must account for all the decay products.

    The radioactive decay chain of actinium-225 includes several lighter radioactive elements as daughter products. As the elements decay, they emit alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) ray radiation.

    Credit: S. Kelley/NIST

    Setting the Standard for Measuring a Radioactive Drug

    To create the new standard, Bergeron and his NIST colleagues relied on an established method of measuring radioactivity known as the triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR). They placed a small amount of actinium-225 in a vial filled with a liquid that emits flashes of light when struck by radioactive particles. They then converted the flashes into electrical signals.

    This allowed the researchers to accurately measure the number of decays per second of actinium-225, a unit of measure known as the becquerel that is defined by using fundamental constants of nature. Other measurement techniques confirmed the accuracy of the new standard, the team reported online in the journal Applied Radiation and Isotopes.                             

    Helping Pharmaceutical Companies Accurately Measure Their Drug’s Dosage

    Once the NIST team established the new standard with TDCR, pharmaceutical companies began sending NIST samples of actinium-225 that they had measured in their own laboratories. The NIST scientists measured the radioactivity of the samples using the NIST standard. By comparing NIST’s measurement to its own, each pharmaceutical company was able to calibrate its equipment to the NIST standard.

    “When you inject a radioactive drug into a patient, you want to make sure that the strength is exactly right for treating a tumor; a lower amount could harm the patient without any benefit,” said Elisa Napoli, a nuclear physicist at the pharmaceutical company ARTBIO in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which specializes in developing radioactive anticancer drugs. “If you have different dial settings or different instruments that measure radioactivity [in different parts of the world] and they are not calibrated with the same standard, then it’s a mess,” she added. “You don’t know how much radioactivity you’re injecting into a patient in Japan or how much you’re injecting into another patient in Italy.”

    The service is in high demand: Since November, five pharmaceutical companies have sent samples of actinium-225 to NIST for radioactivity measurements, and several other companies are on a waiting list. Instructions for using the service are available on the NIST website.

    “Our goal in developing, improving and disseminating radioactivity standards is to give pharmaceutical companies and research facilities the resources they need to accurately monitor the activity of radionuclides on their own,” Bergeron said.

    Linking Radioactivity Measurements to the NIST Standard

    Pharmaceutical companies measured the radioactivity of actinium-225 by using a simpler, easier-to-use method than NIST’s. They placed the radioactive element in a gas-filled device known as an ionization chamber. Gamma rays released by the sample of actinium-225 ionized the gas, stripping atoms in the gas of electrons and creating an electric current proportional to the intensity of the radiation.

    When they received a company’s sample, the NIST scientists measured the radioactivity of the sample also using an ionization chamber — but with one important difference. The radioactivity recorded by the chamber at NIST had been calibrated according to the NIST standard.

    “We let the calibrated ionization chamber serve as the repository, or memory, for our primary standard,” Bergeron said.

    Paper: Bergeron, D.E.; Hamad, G.; Broder, B.A.; Cesna, J.T.; Pearce, A.J.; LaRosa, J.; Pibida, L.; Salter, R.; Saxena, N.S.; and Zimmerman, B.E. Activity measurements and calibrations for 225Ac in radioactive equilibrium with its progeny. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. Published online Dec. 9, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111630

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Declaring June Worker Safety Month

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today proclaimed June as Worker Safety Month as part of her continued commitment to keep New Yorkers safe while on the job. The announcement coincides with three new laws going into effect, the Retail Worker Safety Act, the Fashion Workers Act, and the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program. These new policies are meant to safeguard thousands of workers in these sectors by requiring employers to implement health and safety programs to reduce incidents of work-related injuries or abuse. Complementary to Workers Safety Month, the Governor announced safety enhancements for highway workers and users as part of her FY26 Enacted Budget. These new measures are the latest in Governor Hochul’s ongoing effort to make New York State safer and more affordable for workers statewide.

    “Our workers are the lifeline of the state and deserve to have a safe and secure work environment no matter the job,” Governor Hochul said. “With new safety enhancements and health programs in place, workers across the state will have the tools and resources necessary to ensure their safety while in the workplace.”

    New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Every worker has the right to a safe work environment, free from threats of violence, exploitation, and workplace oversights that lead to injuries. With these new laws, our Department now has more tools in its toolbox to better protect hundreds of thousands of workers across these industries. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to champion the safety of our precious workforce, this month and beyond.”

    New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Chair Clarissa M. Rodriguez said, “These new laws will help guarantee worker safety is prioritized in our great state. We applaud Governor Hochul for recognizing the contributions of hardworking New Yorkers and ensuring that employers take safety seriously. In the unfortunate circumstance when an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness though, the Board is committed to ensuring the proper delivery of benefits, so injured workers can recover and return to their lives.”

    New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Everything we do at the Department of Transportation is centered around safety — the safety of our workforce and the safety of the traveling public — and I thank Governor Hochul for commemorating the importance of keeping workers throughout New York safe through Worker Safety Month. Since its inception, our Department has lost 59 employees in state operated work zones, and just last week we suffered an unimaginable loss when Highway Maintenance Supervisor Robert Bornt was tragically killed as a result of a work zone intrusion. I urge all New Yorkers to take the matter of worker safety seriously – respect our DOT workers — the dedicated public servants who are working on our roads and bridges to keep you safe. Pay attention, put your phone down and please, slow down and move over in a work zone — lives are at risk.”

    New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “The Union Movement always prioritizes workplace safety, and we are resolute in our fight to create safe environments for all New Yorkers. These new laws will help ensure greater safety for retail workers and shoppers, implement injury reduction programs in specific warehouse distribution centers, and improve working conditions in the fashion industry. We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to prioritizing safety in the workplace.”

    New Yorkers for a Fair Economy Coalition Executive Director and Leader Theodore A. Moore said, “The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act is a massive victory for workers, to both prevent injuries and stand up to bad employers. Thanks to Governor Hochul, worker safety champions Senator Ramos and Assemblymember Bronson, and our mighty labor and community coalition for this huge achievement. Now, we must be vigilant. Workers need to know their rights, and New York must stay laser-focused on strong worker education and enforcement to ensure every New York worker is safe on the job.”

    The Retail Worker Safety Act requires retail employers with ten or more employees statewide to develop and implement training programs to prevent workplace violence, including acts or threats of physical violence, abuse, harassment, or intimidation. Additionally, employers with 500 or more employees must install silent response buttons or provide wearable or mobile phone-based silent response buttons by January 2027. Combined, these measures will make New York retail locations safer for workers and shoppers. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has created a series of training videos and a written model training to assist employers with creating their own workplace violence prevention training programs. The Department is also launching a social media campaign, featuring videos in English and Spanish to inform New Yorkers about the new law.

    Retail Council of New York State President and CEO Melissa O’Connor said, “The retail industry’s top priority is the safety of store employees and shoppers, as evidenced by our consistent collaboration with local police precincts, district attorneys, state and local leaders and community groups. We are encouraged by the new laws and related funding to address instances of organized retail crime and habitual retail theft in New York, including stronger penalties for the assault of retail employees. As we continue our work with Governor Kathy Hochul to promote public safety, we will also partner with the Department of Labor to ensure all covered employers are ready to comply with the Retail Worker Safety Act.”

    Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) President Stuart Appelbaum said, “Retail workers — and shoppers — across New York will now be safer because of the Retail Worker Safety Act. We are grateful that Governor Hochul has focused on preventing retail violence and theft. Retail workers should not have to go to work every day in fear; and this law goes a long way towards ending that. As implemented, the RWSA provides for preventative measures that will help deter violence and harassment before it starts; and most importantly, will assist workers in getting help quickly in the event of an emergency.”

    Also going into effect is the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program, requiring certain warehouse distribution center employers to establish and implement an injury reduction program. This will help them identify and reduce the risk of work-related injuries. Employers must now conduct worksite evaluations, provide training to employees and supervisors, and establish medical staffing and treatment protocols. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction program is part of the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which requires employers to disclose production quotas as well as protect warehouse workers from disciplinary action or firing where quotas are undisclosed or prevent legally protected breaks. To learn more, please see NYSDOL’s English and Spanish videos on the expansion of this law.

    Teamsters Joint Council 18 President Tom Quackenbush said, “The New York Teamsters thank Governor Hochul and legislative leaders for enacting the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act and giving the state the tools to tackle the injury crisis in this industry. Bad employers are putting their profits ahead of safety, and workers are getting hurt in staggering numbers. We look forward to working with the New York Department of Labor to ensure this law is properly implemented and enforced to hold these companies accountable and protect New York workers.”

    State Senator Jessica Ramos said, “Behind every paycheck, there’s a life worth protecting. Our fight for the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program and the Retail Worker Safety Act reflects our commitment to ensuring that every New Yorker goes home safe, every shift, every day. These laws aren’t the finish line; they’re the foundation for expanded protections that safeguard the health and dignity of our workforce. Declaring June as Worker Safety Month is a powerful reminder that no job is worth risking a life. Let’s keep pushing forward to make New York a safer place to work.”

    Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “As we recognize Worker Safety Month, it’s important we make sure policies are in place so when a New York worker leaves for work, they will return home to their family safely. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, which I sponsored

    in the Assembly and will take effect during Worker Safety Month, ensures that warehouses enact safety measures that put the health of our workers above profits. As Assembly Labor Chair, I will always fight for the protections our workers deserve.”

    The New York Fashion Workers Act goes into effect on June 19, requiring model management companies and model management groups to comply with new duties and responsibilities under the law. The new law outlines the duties and responsibilities companies must provide, including:

    • Acting in the best interest of the models they represent;
    • Ensuring a safe work environment;
    • Providing models with a written agreement detailing their total compensation before work begins and clearly communicating itemized deductions and disclosing any financial relationships with clients;
    • Establishing company policies and complaint processes that addresses abuse, harassment, and any other inappropriate behavior towards models; and
    • Outline penalties for violations of company policies.

    Starting December 21 of this year, these groups must register with the New York State Department of Labor and comply with any registration-related requirements. The law also prohibits these groups from imposing certain fees, requiring models to sign contracts for longer than three years, and using models’ digital replicas without permission. NYSDOL has created English and Spanish videos to raise awareness of the new law.

    Model Alliance Executive Director Sara Ziff said, “Models are workers who deserve the same labor rights and protections as anyone else. For too long, models have faced late payment, bogus fees, and unsafe working conditions — often without recourse. With the Fashion Workers Act, New York is finally saying: enough is enough. This victory is hard-fought recognition for a vulnerable workforce, one that is overwhelmingly young, female, and immigrant. We are deeply grateful to our bill sponsors, Senator Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Reyes, and to Governor Hochul for making this landmark protection a reality.”

    Complementary to Workers Safety Month, Governor Hochul announced safety enhancements for highway workers and users as part of her FY26 Enacted Budget. The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program has been expanded to include MTA Bridges and Tunnels and NYS Bridge Authority properties and has been extended until 2031. The program, which aims to improve work zone safety for both workers and drivers, was previously set to expire in 2026. The Governor’s FY26 Budget also doubles the number of work zones eligible for participation in the program for both the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority. A majority of the funds collected under this program are reinvested into the work zone safety programs including safety training and public awareness advertising.

    Keeping workers safe is at the core of the mission of the Department of Labor. Last month, NYSDOL announced that businesses statewide have saved around $500 million over the last five decades thanks to the On-Site Consultation Program. The free and confidential safety and health service helps small and medium-sized businesses operating in high-hazard industries prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. The program also provides assistance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory compliance. For more information, please visit the On-Site Consultation Program webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: HYPR Advances Mission to Bring Workforce Identification to Scale

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HYPR, the Identity Assurance Company, today announced at Identiverse, the next phase in its market leadership, unveiling strategic initiatives to deliver comprehensive, phishing-resistant identity assurance across all devices and applications. Headlining these developments are the public launches of the free HYPR Affirm identity verification solution trial and HYPR’s new Workforce Identity Verification Audit. Complementing these new offerings, the company is also forging a key partnership with HID Global to unify physical and digital access through verified identities, creating a cohesive and secure access experience. These strategic advancements collectively accelerate HYPR’s mission to scale FIDO-based authentication, setting a new standard for accessible identity security.

    Interactive Preview Unveils Seamless Identity Verification

    With 95% of organizations encountering some form of deepfake attack in the past year alone, the imperative for robust identity verification has never been clearer. Enterprises and users can now experience the power of HYPR Affirm firsthand with free, interactive access publicly available on the HYPR website. This self-service tool showcases how HYPR Affirm uses multi-factor identity checks, including document verification, facial biometrics, and passive liveness detection, to seamlessly and securely verify identities without requiring IT intervention or complex sign-ups. First time users can experience the complete verification flow, empowering organizations to ensure every current employee is indeed a fully verified identity.

    Unified Physical and Digital Security with HID Global

    Reflecting its commitment to a comprehensive identity assurance platform, HYPR has partnered with HID, a global leader in trusted identity solutions. This collaboration delivers a unified solution integrating physical and digital access control. By combining software- and hardware-based FIDO authenticators, including HID Crescendo® smart cards, the HYPR and HID integration enables organizations to deploy one smart credential for every door, device, and application. Key benefits of the partnership include:

    • Comprehensive Protection, Eliminated Password Fallbacks: Deploy device-bound passkeys across the entire identity stack, protecting sensitive resources and high-security areas while eliminating password fallbacks.
    • Simplified Provisioning, Accelerated Productivity: Enable users with simple, self-service provisioning and single-step enrollment for workstations and web access, leveraging identity verification (IDV) to ensure credentials are securely provisioned and recovered. This streamlines onboarding and enhances productivity.
    • Centralized Management, Reduced Overhead: Manage both Crescendo Cards and HYPR passkeys through a single console, reducing administrative burden and lowering maintenance costs.
    • Converged Access, Streamlined Login: Employees can use their Crescendo Cards for physical access and seamlessly log into corporate systems and applications using HYPR-provisioned FIDO credentials on the same card, or opt for software-based passkeys for flexibility.
    • Flexible Deployment, Universal Access: The joint solution caters to diverse use cases, including environments where smartphones are impractical or prohibited, such as call centers and secure facilities, while also supporting convenient software-based authentication via familiar mobile interactions.

    “Unifying physical and digital security has long been a critical challenge for enterprises, often leading to fragmented access and security gaps,” said Sean Dyon, VP of Authentication Business Unit at HID. “By combining HYPR’s phishing-resistant FIDO authentication with HID Crescendo smart cards, we’re enabling organizations to truly deploy one smart credential for every door, device, and application. This means comprehensive protection, simplified provisioning, and reduced overhead – fundamentally transforming how users access their world and IT teams manage identities.”

    Assured Workforce Identity with HYPR Affirm Audit

    Securing the workforce has become the ultimate frontline in a world of rapidly evolving cyber threats. HYPR is introducing its HYPR Workforce Identity Verification Audit, a precision-engineered, one-and-done solution designed to audit your workforce in a single sweep, providing a comprehensive, rapid assessment of an organization’s workforce identity. This audit acts as a critical spotlight, offering fast, secure, jargon-free, and real-time insights for high-stakes projects, routine security health checks, and essential compliance needs.

    The service provides end-to-end identity proofing and targeted deployment for a predefined number of users, automating the verification process to reduce manual effort, and offers robust audit trails and actionable insights for compliance and internal review. Ultimately, the HYPR Affirm Audit enhances security posture by stopping fraud at the source, mitigating identity fraud risks and helping organizations meet stringent compliance requirements and Know Your Employee (KYE) controls.

    “Today marks a pivotal moment in our mission to secure every digital identity,” says Bojan Simic, CEO of HYPR. “We’re committed to making best-in-class identity assurance accessible and user-friendly, and today’s announcements underscore that promise. The public launch of free HYPR Affirm and the Workforce Audit, combined with our strategic partnership with HID Global, fundamentally elevates enterprise security. We’re not just accelerating the adoption of FIDO-based authentication; we’re making it universally accessible, simple, and comprehensive across every facet of a user’s journey – from physical entry to critical digital access. Identity is the new perimeter, and we are dedicated to helping our customers secure it.”

    About HYPR
    HYPR, the Identity Assurance Company, helps organizations create trust in the identity lifecycle. The HYPR solution provides the strongest end-to-end identity security, combining modern passwordless authentication with adaptive risk mitigation, automated identity verification and a simple, intuitive user experience. With a third-party validated ROI of 324%, HYPR easily integrates with existing identity and security tools and can be rapidly deployed at scale in the most complex environments.

    Media Contact:

    Fabienne Dawson
    fabienne@hypr.com
    917.374.6860

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WISeKey’s WISeSat Confirms Next Satellite Launch Scheduled for Mid-June from California to Advance Quantum-Safe Space Communications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WISeKey’s WISeSat Confirms Next Satellite Launch Scheduled for Mid-June from California to Advance Quantum-Safe Space Communications

    • By 2027, WISeSat.Space aims to establish a large constellation of satellites, incorporating WISeKey cryptographic keys and PQC semiconductor technology from SEALSQ, to ensure robust, quantum-resistant communication capabilities from space.
    • The WISeSat satellite constellation aims to accelerate the deployment of its satellite constellation, scale QKD capabilities, and enable a scalable “Satellite-as-a-Service” business model that integrates decentralized IoT transactions and post-quantum secure communications

    Geneva, Switzerland, June 3, 2025 –WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, via its subsidiaries, WISeSat.Space SA (“WISeSat”) and SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES) (“SEALSQ” or “Company”), a company that focuses on developing and selling Semiconductors, PKI, and Post-Quantum technology hardware and software products, and today announced the upcoming launch of WISeSat 3.0, scheduled for second week of June 2025, marking the first satellite to embed SEALSQ’s Quantum RootKey. This mission initiates a new era of quantum-safe space communications, establishing a space-based Proof-of-Concept for Post-Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) designed to secure global data infrastructure against emerging quantum threats.

    This next-generation satellite platform will support cryptographic key generation and management both in orbit and at mission control. It ensures encryption, authentication, and validation of software and data using NIST-standardized post-quantum algorithms, including CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium, selected in August 2024.

    At the heart of WISeSat 3.0 lies the Quantum RootKey, a hardware-based root-of-trust module developed by SEALSQ to resist both classical and quantum cyberattacks. By isolating cryptographic operations within a tamper-resistant environment directly on the satellite, RootKey protects key storage, signing, and encryption processes. It enables end-to-end secure communications and digital identity services, even under the computing power of future quantum machines.

    The satellite will deliver several key capabilities: secure command authentication to prevent unauthorized satellite control, encryption of sensitive data such as Earth observation, defense telemetry, and scientific research, and post-quantum key distribution for critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, transportation, and smart cities. It also allows for the secure onboarding of billions of IoT devices by providing quantum-resistant digital identities from space, even in remote or disconnected regions.

    WISeSat has gradually embedded technologies from WISeKey, SEALSQ, and Hedera into its satellite operations, allowing these next-generation satellites to become a benchmark for post-quantum security from space. This advanced integration also supports the use of trusted digital tokens such as SEALCOIN, opening new frontiers in secure space-to-ground transactions and tokenized satellite-based services.

    WISeSat.Space has also established key infrastructure, including a satellite antenna in La Línea, Spain, with plans to install another in Switzerland. These installations will enhance the monitoring and management of the growing satellite constellation, ensuring optimal performance and secure operations. By 2027, WISeSat.Space aims to establish a large constellation of satellites, incorporating WISeKey cryptographic keys and PQC semiconductor technology from SEALSQ, to ensure robust, quantum-resistant communication capabilities from space.

    As quantum computing advances, the risk of key extraction, spoofing, and eavesdropping on satellite networks becomes increasingly urgent. SEALSQ’s Post-Quantum RootKey architecture provides robust, real-time defenses, including secure key isolation, signature validation, and quantum-resilient encryption, ensuring any attempt to intercept or tamper with quantum key exchanges is immediately detectable.

    In parallel, WISeSat’s multi-layered quantum-secure platform is designed to leverage the unique properties of space, including microgravity, to enable scientific breakthroughs impossible on Earth. This includes quantum sensing for unspoofable positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), secure deep-space exploration, and in-orbit manufacturing of quantum components in pristine, interference-free environments.

    These advancements position WISeSat 3.0 to play a strategic role in enabling a sovereign, resilient, and secure digital infrastructure at a time of rising geopolitical and cybersecurity tensions. The mission underscores Europe and its allies’ commitment to space sovereignty and secure digital transformation.

    Together, WISeSat and SEALSQ are setting the foundation for a new generation of cyber-resilient, quantum-ready space systems, redefining global digital trust from orbit.

    About WISeKey

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

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

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

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

    Press and Investor Contacts

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Celebrates the Inaugural Season of TGL Presented by SoFi: Defining a New Era of Golf

    Source: Samsung

    Now that TGL presented by SoFi has wrapped its groundbreaking inaugural season, Samsung Electronics America proudly celebrates its role as an Official Screen Partner, helping to redefine how fans experience the sport of golf. Throughout the season, TGL captivated audiences with team-based competition, innovative gameplay and dynamic content — all powered by Samsung Displays.
    The season culminated in a thrilling championship match, where the Atlanta Drive Golf Club claimed the first-ever SoFi Cup. Throughout the season, Samsung’s immersive display technology amplified every moment of the action, transforming the 250,000-square-foot SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., into a high-energy arena unlike anything previously seen in golf.
    “TGL’s goal was to harness technology to build a modern approach to sports, media and entertainment through the game of golf,” said David Phelps, Head of Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “They turned to us as the leader in delivering the highest quality visual experiences for fans, both in the venue or watching at home.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: SUTNTIB AB Tewox publishes its NAV for May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Vilnius, Lithuania, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    As at the end of May 2025, the net asset value (NAV) of SUTNTIB AB Tewox increased to EUR 46,740,384, compared to the previously determined NAV of EUR 42,086,793 at the end of April 2025.

    The share price increased to EUR 1.1165, from EUR 1.0053 at the end of April 2025. The pro-forma internal rate of return (IRR) rose to 3.62%, compared to previously announced IRR of 0.18% at the end of April 2025.

    Contact person for further information:

    Paulius Nevinskas

    Manager of the Investment Company

    paulius.nevinskas@lordslb.lt

    https://lordslb.lt/tewox_bonds/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: First Federal Savings Bank and ICBA Provide Tips to Support the Homebuying Process

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EVANSVILLE, Ind., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In recognition of National Homeownership Month, First Federal Savings Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are encouraging consumers to consult their local community banker about how to make the homebuying process simple, efficient and more affordable.

    “An important component in building financial independence is owning a home,” said Elisa Snyder, FVP, Retail Lending Sales Manager. “At First Federal Savings Bank, we want to simplify the homeownership process to make it as easy and affordable as possible. After you assess your needs, we can help find suitable options to finance your home, from first homes to forever homes.”

    Whether you are refinancing or purchasing your home, First Federal Savings Bank can help you determine:

    • The ideal loan amount and products to meet your budget considerations. We can review the mortgage process in detail and flag ideal programs and loan features.
    • How mortgage rates, terms, and related expenses (including property taxes and insurance premiums) affect payments. This will help you set a home budget and manage your homeownership expenses.
    • Your rights and obligations under your mortgage contract. Today’s consumers have many financing options—each with unique stipulations outlined in fine print.
    • Suitable government-sponsored programs. In addition to federal homeownership and home-buying assistance programs, we can recommend state, local government, and specialty programs for consideration.
    • Additional resources to help create a budget and set financial targets. We offer homebuyer seminars and other helpful resources. Free online educational tools can also be found at www.hud.gov.

    “Homeownership is an important step for many Americans in establishing financial stability and strengthening community roots,” said ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey. “Your community bank can help guide you through the process and provide tips to improve your position as informed buyers.”

    For more information on how First Federal Savings Bank can support your homeownership needs, visit us at https://www.firstfedsavings.bank or contact our Retail Loan Advisors at (812) 492-8142.

    About First Federal Savings Bank Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender NMLS# 433121

    First Federal Savings Bank was established on Evansville, Indiana’s Westside in 1904. A community bank offering eight locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson County. First Federal Savings Bank is also proud to offer Home Building Savings Bank locations in Daviess and Pike County.

    About ICBA

    The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

    As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cornerstone Community Bancorp and Plumas Bancorp Report Shareholder Approval of Merger

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cornerstone Community Bancorp (“Cornerstone”) and Plumas Bancorp (“Plumas”) announced today that Cornerstone’s shareholders approved the principal terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization providing for the merger of Cornerstone with and into Plumas (the “Merger”) and the conversion of each outstanding share of Cornerstone common stock into the right to receive cash and stock of Plumas.

    The completion of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the merger agreement. Plumas has received the bank regulatory approvals necessary to complete the Merger. The approval of Plumas shareholders is not required to complete the Merger.

    Cornerstone and Plumas expect that the Merger will be completed in early July 2025.

    “Our merger with Cornerstone is a pivotal milestone in our company’s evolution,” said Andrew J. Ryback, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plumas Bancorp. “Both institutions share a strong connection to the people and businesses that make Northern California thrive. By integrating Cornerstone Community Bank’s deep local expertise with Plumas Bank’s advanced technology and small business solutions, we are enhancing the services available to our communities. This partnership will create lasting value for our shareholders, clients, employees, and the broader region for years to come.”

    “We are thrilled to unite with Plumas, combining our strengths to continue delivering exceptional products, services, and support to our customers, employees, and stakeholders,” said Matthew B. Moseley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone, who will remain with Plumas following the acquisition. “Access to Plumas’ extensive network of offices and diverse product offerings enables us to broaden our reach beyond the Shasta and Tehama communities we have proudly served for nearly two decades. Our two organizations share a deep connection to the communities we serve, and this partnership allows us to leverage our collective experience to maintain the high standards of service our customers have come to rely on.”

    The combined company is expected to have approximately $2.3 billion in total assets and 19 full-service banking branches in 11 counties in Northern California and Nevada.

    Contact:

    Investor Relations
    Plumas Bancorp
    5525 Kietzke Lane Ste. 100
    Reno, NV 89511
    775.786.0907 x8908
    investorrelations@plumasbank.com

    Investor Relations
    Cornerstone Community Bancorp
    192 Hartnell Avenue
    Redding, CA 96002
    530.222.1460
    mmoseley@bankcornerstone.com

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding Plumas, Cornerstone, the combined company and the Merger that are subject to the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to plans, expectations, projections, and statements about the benefits of the Merger, the timing of completion of the Merger, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause or contribute to results differing from those in or implied in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of Plumas or Cornerstone to terminate the merger agreement; the risk that the cash consideration to be paid to Cornerstone shareholders may be reduced in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement; the failure of Plumas or Cornerstone to satisfy any of the conditions to the Merger on a timely basis or at all; the ability to complete the Merger and integration of Plumas and Cornerstone successfully; costs being greater than anticipated; cost savings being less than anticipated; changes in economic conditions; the risk that the Merger disrupts the business of the Plumas, Cornerstone or both; difficulties in retaining senior management, employees or customers; and other factors that may affect the future results of Plumas, Cornerstone or the combined company. Further information regarding risk factors is contained in Plumas’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to Merger, copies of which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the investor relations section of Plumas’s website at www.plumasbank.com. Forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release. Neither Plumas nor Cornerstone undertake any obligation to revise or publicly release any revision or update to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sustain SoCal to Host 12th Annual Driving Mobility Symposium on June 26, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire — Sustain Southern California (“Sustain SoCal”), today announces that it will host the 12th Annual Driving Mobility Symposium (“Driving Mobility 12″) on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The event will be held in person at UCI Beall Applied Innovation, 5270 California Avenue, Irvine, CA.

    Driving Mobility 12 is the latest edition in the premier event series focusing on evolving trends in mobility and advanced transportation. The in-person symposium and extensive clean vehicle EXPO will attract renowned thought leaders and experts from across the state and broader region, to advance the discourse on sustainability and economics in the Southern California region.

    Invited speakers shall share their perspectives on a variety of aspects related to the transition towards green transportation in both the private and public spheres. Discussions will delve into autonomous vehicles, EV battery recycling, vehicle-to-grid, fuel cell vehicles, and micro-transport.

    Highly engaging and enlightening sessions will enable attendees to fine-tune their understanding of the broader industry landscape; build a deeper appreciation for the geopolitical, consumer, and environmental factors at play; explore collaborative opportunities with industry peers; and learn industry best practices and innovative strategies to address prevailing challenges.

    Key topics of interest shall include EV & Fuel Cell Infrastructure, Fleet Management, OEM Trends, Vehicle to Grid, Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility as a Service (MAAS), Multimodal Transportation, Last Mile Delivery Efficiency, Drone Applications, Workforce Shifts, Active Transportation, Policy Trends, and Legislation & Incentives.

    The EXPO will offer industry professionals and student attendees a unique opportunity to interact with cutting-edge technologies in the mobility decarbonization space and associated industries.

    With C-suite leaders and senior management available on the EXPO floor, attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the high-powered networking opportunities available to them and build stronger relationships with fellow professionals to expand their industry networks.

    C. Scott Kitcher, President and CEO of Sustain SoCal, commented,“Now in its 12th edition, the Driving Mobility series has been an important pillar of the mobility ecosystem in Southern California and surrounding regions. At Sustain SoCal, we are committed to nurturing academic and industry cross-networks and collaboration, as well as advancing the discussion related to sustainable economic development among a highly curious and knowledgeable audience. The high-quality EXPO shall offer deep insights into the latest technological advancements, making this a must-attend event.”

    Previous speakers at Sustain SoCal events have included representatives from local government bodies, utilities, and technology companies, as well as large corporate adopters, seasoned investors, and non-profit agencies.

    For more information and registration details, visit: https://sustainsocal.org/event/driving-mobility-12/

    About Sustain SoCal:
    Sustain SoCal, a non-profit organization, accelerates sustainability and economic growth through innovation, collaboration and education in Southern California. The organization has a ten-year history in exploring and implementing pragmatic, real-world solutions to the challenges created by growth, change and inefficiency. It conducts conferences, workshops and networking events that lead to initiatives that positively impact our region’s economic progress and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.sustainsocal.org.

    About IBN

    IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 18+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

    Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP), IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) total news coverage solutions.

    For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

    Corporate Communications

    IBN
    Austin, Texas
    www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    512.354.7000 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches NEV promotional campaigns in rural regions

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

    BEIJING, June 3 — China is seeking to boost the consumption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the country’s rural regions with accelerated efforts to improve the supporting environment for their use.

    According to a circular issued by five government departments on Tuesday, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Commerce, promotional campaigns for NEVs will be carried out in certain counties where the NEV penetration rate is low but the consumption potential is huge.

    As part of these promotional campaigns, NEV models suitable for driving conditions in rural areas, and which have good reputations and are known for reliable quality, will be selected. Activities such as exhibitions and test drives will be organized.

    NEV after-sales maintenance and repair service enterprises, electric car charging and battery switching service providers, and financial service enterprises will also be included in these promotional campaigns, with a view to optimizing the supporting environment for NEV adoption in rural areas.

    Car companies are encouraged to enrich the provision of NEV models and improve their services to tap consumption potential in China’s countryside.

    NEV manufacturers, car retailers, financial service companies, and electricity charging and after-sales service providers are also encouraged to offer “promotional deals” that integrate services spanning car purchase, car use and after-sales services to rural customers.

    Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that NEV production in China had surged 48.3 percent year on year to nearly 4.43 million units in the first four months of 2025, with sales up by 46.2 percent year on year to 4.3 million units. NEVs accounted for 42.7 percent of total new vehicle sales in China in the January-April period this year.

    The cumulative number of charging infrastructure facilities nationwide had reached almost 13.75 million at the end of March. This figure included 3.9 million public charging points for NEVs and 9.85 million private charging installations, official data revealed.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Housing will become more affordable – Putin orders expansion of preferential mortgages to families with children under 14

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Mainfin Bank –

    How might preferential mortgages for families with children change?

    The government will submit proposals to revise the terms of family leave by June 15, 2025. mortgages. It is expected that the parameters for issuing preferential loans for the purchase of housing will change:

    mortgages will become available to families with children under 14, i.e. the circle of potential borrowers will be significantly expanded; credit limits will be differentiated and will depend on the size of the family; other conditions may also change, which the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction previously insisted on in the hope of reviving the market.

    The terms of preferential mortgages are planned to be relaxed, which will ensure housing availability for a wide range of families. The proposals are being prepared by the government and the commission of the project “Infrastructure for Life”.

    What conditions are currently in effect under the Family Mortgage program?

    The preferential mortgage program was launched in Russia in 2020 and partially curtailed in the summer of 2024. However, families with children under 6 years of age (or a disabled child) can still take advantage of state support. Loans are provided on the following terms:

    interest rate – 6% per annum; the amount is limited to 12 million rubles in large cities and 6 million in other regions; you can get a loan to buy housing in new buildings or individual housing construction; the minimum down payment is 20%.

    “Currently, preferential mortgages are as targeted as possible – families who need to expand their living space can participate in the program,” the expert noted.

    The family mortgage, which was originally planned to be completed in 2024, was extended until 2030. Russian borrowers also have access to other preferential programs – Rural, Far Eastern, Arctic, Military, IT mortgage. A preferential mortgage program at 2% per annum for SVO participants is also being developed, but the launch dates have not yet been disclosed.

    15:00 03.06.2025

    Source:

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //Mainfin.ru/novosti/ Zhil-sustain-access, more accessible-Putin-Rasyutin-Rassit-Holot-Model-Na-seven-S-Stymi-Dom-Dos-14-Let

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Special Report: Silkworms Weave New Ties of Cooperation Between China and Azerbaijan under Belt and Road Initiative

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BAKU, June 3 (Xinhua) — In the small town of Gakh, 350 km northwest of Baku, Chief Engineer Manet Suleymanli was inspecting a mulberry plantation at the Gakh Sericulture Breeding Station on a foggy morning. Pointing to the trees, he said: “There are 30,000 Chinese saplings planted in 2019 growing on these three hectares. See, they are almost reaching my shoulders. In six years, we have imported 4.5 million saplings, they are planted all over the country. This is a revival.”

    THIRTY YEARS OF DECLINE: FROM SOVIET GREATNESS TO OBLIVION

    Azerbaijan was one of the centers of the eastern silk industry with a history of more than 1,500 years. In the 1960s and 70s, cocoon production exceeded 20 thousand tons – the second place in the USSR after Uzbekistan. In terms of quality, Azerbaijani silk was considered the best in the world and was exported to Japan, Switzerland, and Italy. But after the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s, economic ties were destroyed, collective farms disappeared, plantations were abandoned, breeds degraded, and specialists left. Akram Fataliyev, who headed the Gakh station for 40 years, recalls: “In 1986, 6,000 tons of cocoons were produced, in 2014 – only 10 tons, in 2015 – 236 kilograms. Production was disappearing.” According to him, with the decline of sericulture, he had to go into business.

    CHINESE TECHNOLOGY BEARS FRUIT: “PROJECT GREEN” REVITALIZES THE INDUSTRY

    The turning point came in 2016, when President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on state support for sericulture. The “new silkworm project” began, and the first Chinese seedlings and silkworms crossed the Tien Shan and the Caspian to take root again in Azerbaijan. This became a new chapter in the cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. M. Suleymanli explains: “The Chinese tree has large leaves – the caterpillars love them. But the Chinese caterpillars eat little, but produce a lot of silk.”

    In order to develop the industry, the “State Program for the Development of Cocoon Farming and Sericulture in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2018-2025” was adopted in 2017. The country began actively purchasing cocoons from China, incubating them and distributing them free of charge to farmers in order to increase cocoon production to 6,000 tons per year.

    The main partner is Shandong Guangtong Silkworm Eggs Co., Ltd. Li Qiliang, who worked in Gakh from 2016 to 2019, explains: “The mulberry tree bears fruit for 15-20 years, then the harvest declines. Most of the trees were inherited from the USSR – they are old. China supplies grafted seedlings of the Jisang No. 3 variety – they are resistant to diseases, heat and drought, and produce high-quality leaves.” The Chinese breed of silkworms Huakang No. 3 forms cocoons up to 1,200 meters long – this is 300-400 meters longer than local caterpillars.

    GAKHSKAYA STATION OF SILKWORM BREEDING: INDEPENDENT SELECTION OF HYBRID LINES OF SILKWORMS

    In 2018, cooperation between China and Azerbaijan in the field of sericulture reached a new level. With technical support from China, the breeding station in Gakh was reconstructed. President I. Aliyev and his wife attended the opening ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the project. Three Chinese specialists, including Li Qiliang, took a commemorative photo with the presidential couple.

    Silkworms are the basis of sericulture. The Gakh station is the only institution in the country engaged in their breeding. Investment in its restoration was the first step towards self-sufficiency in this area. Founded in 1973, the station ceased operations in 1998, but after reconstruction it occupies five hectares, including an administrative building, a laboratory, incubation and hybrid centers.

    Three hectares of mulberry plantations have been created at the station. In 2019, 30,000 Chinese seedlings resistant to the harsh climate began to grow here. That same year, research on silkworm hybridization began – for the first time in the history of Azerbaijan. According to Li Qiliang, the training was carried out strictly according to Chinese standards. Hybridization increases the resistance of silkworms to diseases and increases the yield of cocoons.

    Chief Engineer M. Suleymanli said that currently “Gakh-1” and “Gakh-2” are being grown, having reached the fifth age. Soon they will begin to form cocoons, after which mating will occur to obtain a new species. Delivery of two more varieties of gren from China is expected.

    In 2018, Lalazar Gaidarova, an employee of the station, completed a two-week training in China. “Chinese technologies are modern and effective. Now we do everything the same way as in China. Even the equipment was brought from there,” she shared. L. Gaidarova advocates for a regular exchange of experience with the Chinese side and sending Azerbaijani youth for internships. “Our specialists are getting older. 62-year-old Manet is the youngest. We need to prepare a replacement,” she says.

    This year, the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan again imported 5,000 boxes of garnets from China, supplementing them with 1,000 boxes of local production. A total of 6,000 boxes were distributed among 40 districts and Nakhchivan. The projected harvest is 240 tons. M. Suleymanli noted that in sericulture, as in viticulture, there are lean years, and the current year is not the best.

    Farmers have realized the advantages of sericulture: high profits and quick results – after 40 days the caterpillars form cocoons. Capital turnover is only two months. Now farmers in 40 of the country’s 66 regions and in Nakhchivan are engaged in sericulture. The leaders are Zardab, Fizuli, Zagatala and others.

    According to Zaur Abbasov, Advisor to the Head of the Gakh District, registration of farmers begins in February. Based on applications, the Ministry of Agriculture imports the required amount of grains. By the end of April and the beginning of May, the grains are distributed among the regions. “Grans and mulberry tree seedlings are provided free of charge. The revival of sericulture is important for diversifying the economy and preserving traditions,” he noted.

    To stimulate farmers, the state increased the purchase price of cocoons from three to 11 manats per kilogram, of which five is paid by the buyer and six by the state in the form of a subsidy.

    There are already tangible results: 236 kg of cocoons were collected in 2015, and 643.7 tons in 2019, which provided income for more than 10,000 rural families.

    Xinhua met Sahib, Azerbaijan’s champion sericulturist. In 2018, he collected one ton of cocoons from 20 boxes of geraniums, setting a record. Now he works with five boxes, expecting a 250-kilogram harvest. His sericulture workshop resembles a factory, with two-tiered racks and temperature and humidity controls. “Look, the caterpillars are sleeping. In 15 days, the cocoons will be ready. At 11 manat per kilogram, that will bring in 2,750 manat, a third of the family’s annual income,” he said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF announces new NextG wireless funding opportunity

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The NSF VINES program will invest up to $100 million in advanced wireless communications networks

    The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced a new funding opportunity to support research and technology development that will improve the next generation of wireless communication systems known as NextG.     In collaboration with industry, other government agencies, and international partners, the NSF Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork  Systems (NSF VINES) program will invest up to $100 million to accelerate performance and capabilities of next-generation (NextG) advanced intelligent network systems  spanning the user-edge-core-cloud continuum. 

    “NSF VINES will enhance U.S. competitiveness in advanced telecommunications technologies, including NextG wireless telecommunications and emerging potential NextG vertical industries, and prepare the American workforce for jobs available now and in the future,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF Director.

    “This important investment from NSF, in collaboration with industry and other government agencies, will help strengthen U.S. leadership and ensure the American people reap the benefits in areas such as self-driving cars, advanced manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and beyond,” said Dr. Lynne Parker, Principal Deputy Director of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. 

    NSF VINES is in partnership with several major industry organizations and U.S. federal agencies, including Ericsson, Intel, Qualcomm, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, and U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as international partners from Finland, India, Japan and Sweden. 

    NSF VINES will invest in both use-inspired basic research (Track 1) as well as technological innovations that enable vertical applications, including piloting, prototyping and demonstration of high technology-readiness level solutions (Track 2). By collaborating with industry and international partners, the program will ensure U.S.-led technological advancements drive NextG global telecommunication networks as well as emerging “vertical industries” such as connected autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, precision agriculture, disaster response, remote healthcare, critical infrastructure, and smart grids, among others. NSF will fund research teams spanning multiple fields to achieve the program goals. 

     Partnering with international organizations will also bring complementary expertise and resources that will accelerate the program’s impact on the development of global standards and interoperability. These collaborations will ensure that solutions address worldwide market and economic needs. 

    In addition, NSF VINES will support research and technology development that leverage other emerging technologies to advance NextG telecommunications networks. For example, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum communications will be deeply embedded in NextG networks, potentially transforming how they are designed, managed and utilized.

    NSF VINES offers two tracks:

    • Track 1 (Use-inspired Fundamental Research) will invest in activities focused on use-inspired fundamental research to develop novel networking techniques and solutions; and
    • Track 2 (Verticals-Driven Technology Development, Demonstration and Translation) will invest in activities focused on technology development, maturation, demonstration, integration and translation of solutions with higher technology readiness levels, with the goal of producing adoption-ready technologies.

    More information about VINES

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers remarks at the Opening Ceremony of 2025 Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (MCM) in Paris

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (MCM) on 3 June 2025, commemorating the handover of the co-chairmanship of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) from current Co-Chairs, Australia and Viet Nam, to the incoming Co-Chairs, Canada and the Philippines.
     
    In his remarks, Dr. Kao welcomed the continued collaboration between ASEAN and the OECD, underscoring shared commitment to promote good regulatory practices, prioritise sustainable development, and place inclusive growth at the core of region’s economic progress.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers remarks at the Opening Ceremony of 2025 Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (MCM) in Paris appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Peace has long been elusive in rural Colombia – Black women’s community groups try to bring it closer each day

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tania Lizarazo, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies and Global Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Local activists known as ‘comisionadas’ pose with women from Tanguí, Chocó, Colombia, at the end of a workshop in 2013. Tania Lizarazo

    It’s been almost nine years since Colombia celebrated a landmark peace agreement between one guerrilla group and the government, and three years since President Gustavo Petro vowed “total peace.” But in reality, the country’s decades-long internal conflict continues – making it one of the oldest in the world.

    Violence surged in early 2025, the most intense uptick in years. Fighting between two armed guerrilla groups in the northeastern Catatumbo region killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands more. Since the largest armed group – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC – signed the 2016 peace accord, more than 400 signatories have been killed. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 social leaders and human rights defenders have been assassinated.

    We often define peace as the absence of war. The problem with thinking about peace and war as an all-or-nothing binary, however, is that it obscures the violence that takes place in “peaceful times.” For Colombians, that paradox is nothing new. In many communities most affected by the violence, thinking about a “post-conflict era” feels utopian.

    As a Colombian researcher who has collaborated with Afro-Colombian leaders for over a decade, I have noticed that emphasizing peace talks and accords erases the historical violence that is still present, especially for racial minorities. Colombia has the largest Black population in Spanish-speaking Latin America. In Chocó – a region on the Pacific coast where I conducted my research – Afro-Colombians form a majority.

    Communities there are contending not only with the contemporary conflict, but also ongoing challenges from the legacies of slavery, colonialism and extractive industries. Many residents, particularly women, work together every day to try to bring peace and justice within reach.

    Signs in the office of COCOMACIA, a Black women’s organization, say ‘option for life’ and ‘peace, we all build it.’
    Tania Lizarazo

    Rights vs. reality

    Colombia has been mired in war for over six decades, as legal and illegal armed groups across the political spectrum fight for territories and resources. The conflict is estimated to have killed around 450,000 people and displaced around 7 million.

    Black and Indigenous communities have disproportionately suffered the brunt of the war – especially in rural areas, where their lives and territories have been threatened by armed groups and companies alike. In Chocó Department, the site of my research, the region’s remoteness and biodiversity have attracted illegal groups and practices like drug trafficking, as well as mining and other types of resource extraction that threaten traditional livelihoods. Mercury from industrial mining poses an additional danger to people’s health and the environment.

    Andres Magallan carries an urn with the remains of Ivan Mejia, who was murdered by right-wing paramilitary guerrillas years before, in Santa Maria, Chocó, Colombia, in 2010.
    Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images

    Black rural communities in the Pacific lowlands, where most of Chocó is located, have a legal right to collective ownership of their territories and to be consulted about development plans. In reality, land grabs and targeted killings over illegal crops, mining and other extractive practices have become the norm here, as is true throughout rural Colombia.

    The conflict has intensified racism and gender hierarchies, with Black women, particularly activists, especially vulnerable. Vice President Francia Márquez Mina, for example – who has won awards for her activism against illegal mining – survived an attack near her home in the nearby department of Cauca in 2019. She and her family have received other threats on their lives since then.

    Building solidarity

    Even in “postconflict” times, peace is a challenging task. It requires social change that does not happen overnight. Rather, it is the accumulation of tiny sparks in people’s daily commitments.

    In my book “Postconflict Utopias: Everyday Survival in Chocó, Colombia,” I write about how Black women’s organizations care for their territories and communities. The “comisionadas,” for example, belong to one of the largest such groups in Colombia, called COCOMACIA. These women travel the Atrato River and its tributaries to lead workshops about the organization, as well as territorial rights and women’s rights.

    Comisionadas next to a poster with information about a landmark law against domestic violence, on July 7, 2012. María del Socorro Mosquera Pérez sits on the left.
    Tania Lizarazo

    Everyone in the community is welcome to participate in dialogues about issues such as women’s political participation, land ownership and related legislation. Comisionada María del Socorro Mosquera Pérez, for example, wrote a song to share the importance of Law 1257, a landmark 2008 law against violence and discrimination against women.

    In her story for the research project that I discuss in my book, “Mujeres Pacíficas,” comisionada Rubiela Cuesta Córdoba says it best: “The best legacy that one leaves to family and friends is resistance.”

    One focus of these women’s groups’ work is the Atrato River itself. Since 2016, the same year of the peace accords, Colombian courts have recognized the river as a legal person, with rights to protection, conservation, maintenance and restoration.

    Students paint a mural in Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia, which says ‘Somos Atrato’: We are the Atrato River.
    Jan Sochor/Getty Images

    The river is a source of food and transportation between many basin communities where potable water, electricity and other amenities are scarce. But it is also intertwined with politics and spirituality. Pilgrimages like “Atratiando,” a trip along the river and its tributaries that has taken place multiple times since 1999, highlight that there is no life without the river. Participants travel through areas where paramilitaries and guerrillas are active, showing solidarity with vulnerable communities.

    COCOMACIA’s comisionadas are part of many other organizations – highlighting how survival is not only intertwined with lands and rivers, but other regions and countries. The struggle for women’s rights has led the comisionadas to collaborate with other organizations, creating wider networks of care. These include La Red Departamental de Mujeres Chocoanas, a feminist coalition of women’s organizations in Chocó; La Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres, a feminist movement of 300 organizations from across Colombia; and Women in Black, an anti-militarism network with members in over 150 countries.

    Their solidarity is a reminder that peace and justice are a collaborative, everyday effort. As Justa Germania Mena Córdoba, leader of the comisionadas at the time, told me in 2012: “One cannot change the world by herself.”

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

    – ref. Peace has long been elusive in rural Colombia – Black women’s community groups try to bring it closer each day – https://theconversation.com/peace-has-long-been-elusive-in-rural-colombia-black-womens-community-groups-try-to-bring-it-closer-each-day-219550

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is methylene blue really a brain booster? A pharmacologist explains the science

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lorne J. Hofseth, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina

    This vibrantly colored chemical was originally created for use as a fabric dye. Kittisak Kaewchalun via iStock/Getty Images Plus

    The internet is abuzz with tributes to a liquid chemical called methylene blue that is being sold as a health supplement.

    Over the past five or 10 years, methylene blue has come to be touted online as a so-called nootropic agent – a substance that enhances cognitive function. Vendors claim that it amps up brain energy, improves memory, boosts focus and dispels brain fog, among other supposed benefits.

    Health influencers, such as podcaster Joe Rogan, have sung its praises. In February 2025, shortly before he was confirmed as health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in a video squirting a blue liquid widely presumed to be methylene blue into a glass – though he never verbally endorsed the substance.

    As a researcher studying inflammation and cancer, I investigate how dyes affect human health. Claims about methylene blue are alluring, and it’s easy to buy into its promise. But so far, evidence supporting its health benefits is scant, and there are some serious risks to using the substance outside of medical practice.

    What is methylene blue?

    Methylene blue was first synthesized in the 19th century by scientists at the German chemical company BASF.
    Museo di Chimica dell’Università di Genova via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Methylene blue is a synthetic dye that exists as a dark green powder and takes on a deep blue color when dissolved in water. My work and that of others suggest that many synthetic dyes widely used in foods and medicines can trigger potentially harmful immune system reactions in the body. But unlike commonly used food dyes – one of which was recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – methylene blue is not derived from petroleum, also known as crude oil. Instead, it comes from a different family of dyes, which isn’t thought to have these health concerns.

    Methylene blue was first synthesized in 1876 as a dye for textiles and was valued for its intense color and ability to bind well to fabrics. Soon after, German physician Paul Ehrlich discovered its ability to stain biological tissues and to kill the parasite that causes malaria — making it one of the first synthetic drugs used in medicine.

    The chemical didn’t gain widespread use as a malaria treatment because it was no more effective than quinine, the standard therapy at the time. But in the 1930s, the dye found a new use in testing the safety of raw or unpasteurized milk. If its blue color faded quickly, the milk was contaminated with bacteria, but if it remained blue, the milk was considered relatively clean.

    This safety test now is largely obsolete. But it works thanks to methylene blue’s chemical superpower, which is that its molecules can swap electrons with other molecules, like a tiny battery charger.

    How do doctors use it today?

    That same chemical superpower enables some of methylene blue’s medical uses. Most significantly, doctors use it to treat a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia, in which hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, takes on a different form that can’t do the job. Methylene blue restores hemoglobin’s function by transferring an electron.

    Doctors also sometimes use methylene blue to treat the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, septic shock or toxicities from drugs such as chemotherapy. It is also used as a surgical dye to highlight specific tissues such as lymph nodes, or to identify where tissue is leaky and therefore may be damaged.

    How does methylene blue affect the brain?

    Methylene blue can enter the brain by crossing the protective tissue barrier that surrounds it. Researchers have also found that the chemical can protect and support mitochondria, cell structures that are often described as the powerhouses of the cell. Methylene blue may help mitochondria generate energy for cells to use. For these reasons, researchers are studying methylene blue’s effect on the brain.

    So far, most of what’s known about the substance’s effects on the brain comes from studies in rats and in cells grown in a lab dish – not in people. For example, researchers have found that methylene blue may improve learning, boost memory and protect brain cells in rats with a condition that mimics Alzheimer’s disease.

    Studies in rodents have also found that methylene blue can protect the brain from damage from brain injury. Other studies showed that methylene blue is useful in treating ischemic stroke in rats. However, no research to date has examined whether it protects peoples’ brains from traumatic brain injury or stroke.

    A handful of clinical trials have investigated the effects of methylene blue in treating aspects of Alzheimer’s disease in people, but a 2023 review of these trials notes that their results have been mixed and not conclusive. A small study of 26 people found that a single low dose of the chemical boosted memory by about 7% and increased brain activity during thinking tasks. Another study by the same researchers found that methylene blue changed how different parts of the brain connected, though it didn’t improve thinking skills.

    Although some studies in people have shown hints that methylene blue may be beneficial for some brain-related issues, such as pain management and neuropsychiatric disorders, such studies to date have been small. This suggests that while there may be patient circumstances where methylene blue is beneficial, researchers have not yet pinned down what those are.

    Is methylene blue safe?

    Methylene blue is generally safe when used under medical supervision. However, the chemical has some serious risks.

    For one thing, it can interact with widely used medications. Methylene blue inhibits a molecule called monoamine oxidase, whose job is to break down an important brain chemical, serotonin. Many commonly used medications for treating anxiety and depression target serotonin. Taking the supplement along with these medicines can cause a condition called serotonin syndrome, which can lead to agitation, confusion, high fever, rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness and, in severe cases, seizures or even death.

    In people with a rare genetic deficiency of an enzyme called G6PD, methylene blue can cause a dangerous condition in which red blood cells break down too quickly. At high doses, the chemical can also raise blood pressure or cause heart problems. Also, it’s considered unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women because it may harm the fetus or baby.

    Overall, while scientists have found hints of some fascinating properties of methylene blue, much larger, longer trials are needed to know if it truly works, what the right dose is and how safe it is over time.

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

    – ref. Is methylene blue really a brain booster? A pharmacologist explains the science – https://theconversation.com/is-methylene-blue-really-a-brain-booster-a-pharmacologist-explains-the-science-257159

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicholas Green, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University

    The system of scientific naming began in the 1700s. Westend61 via Getty Images

    Most people would call it a “field mouse,” but a scientist would ask, “Was it Peromyscus maniculatus? Or Peromyscus leucopus?”

    Scientists use a system of complicated-sounding names to refer to everyday creatures, a practice heavily lampooned in the Warner Bros. cartoons featuring the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote – or, respectively, Accelleratii incredibus and Carnivorous vulgaris.

    As a biologist, I use these seemingly odd names myself and help my students learn them. For most people it’s a huge effort, like learning a second language. That’s because it is.

    A chimpanzee, otherwise known as Pan troglodytes.
    guenter guni/E+ via Getty Images

    Humans, skunks and maple trees

    The science of naming and classifying organisms is called taxonomy. Scientists do this so they can be as precise as possible when discussing living things.

    The first word in an organism’s name is its genus, which is a group of related species, such as Panthera for lions, tigers and leopards.

    The second word is the specific name identifying the species, usually defined as a population that can reproduce only with each other, such as Panthera leo for lion.

    Every two-word combination must be unique. Called binomial nomenclature, this naming system was popularized by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s. So, humans are Homo sapiens, the red maple Acer rubrum, garlic Allium sativum, and the eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius.

    Today, biologists maintain huge databases containing the taxonomic names of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms. For instance, one of these databases – the Open Tree of Life project – includes over 2.3 million species.

    The scientist who discovers a species usually names it by publishing a formal description in a peer-reviewed journal. From there, the name makes its way into the databases. From then on, scientists always use that name for the organism, even if it turns out to be misleading. For example, many fossils were originally given names containing the Greek root “saur,” which means lizard – even though paleontologists later realized dinosaurs were not lizards.

    The archosaur group includes dinosaurs and also today’s birds and crocodiles.
    Orla/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Snobbery isn’t the issue

    To most people, these names sound inscrutable. Particularly nowadays, as science becomes more open and accessible to everyone, such arcane vocabulary can come across as old-fashioned and elitist.

    Given the current backlash against “elites” and “experts” in every field, that’s a serious charge. But in a roundabout way, this seemingly exclusive practice is really a story of inclusiveness.

    As modern science began taking shape in Europe during the 1600s, scientists had a problem. They wanted to read and be read by others, but language got in the way. French scientists couldn’t read Swedish, Swedes couldn’t read Italian, and Italians couldn’t read German.

    Also, writing about plants and animals posed a particular challenge: Many species had common names that could vary from place to place, and some common names might apply to multiple species. Scientists needed a way to be precise and consistent when referring to species, so that everyone could understand each other.

    To sidestep the language issue, scientists of the era mostly published their work in classical Latin. Back then, everyone learned it – at least every European man wealthy enough to attend school and become a scientist. Others published in classical Greek, also widely taught. By sticking with these more universally known languages, early scientists made sure that science was accessible to as many of their peers as possible.

    By the late 1700s and 1800s, translation services were broadly available, so naturalists such as Georges Cuvier could write in his native French, and Charles Darwin in his native English. Today, English has become the de facto language for science, so most scientists publish in English regardless of their native tongue.

    So why continue to use Latin and Greek names today? Taxonomists do it partly out of tradition, but partly because the terminology is still useful. Even without seeing a photo of the animal, a biologist might work out that Geomys bursarius – “earth-mouse with a pouch” – was a pocket gopher. Or that Reithrodontomys fulvescens – “groove-toothed mouse that is yellow” – is a yellow mouse with grooves on its incisors.

    A two-minute, how-to-do-it lesson.

    What’s in a name?

    Although taxonomists still largely adhere to the naming principles of Linnaeus, new scientific names are more and more frequently derived from non-European languages. For example, a chicken-size dinosaur discovered and named in China is called Yi qi, meaning “strange wing” in Mandarin.

    Some of the more recent names are touched by whimsy, with a few honoring politicians and celebrities. Etheostoma obama is a spangled darter named after the 44th U.S. president; the Swift twisted-claw millipede – Nannaria swiftae – is named after pop star Taylor Swift.

    With so much of Earth’s biodiversity yet to be discovered and named, remember that names are just names. What we call these species often reflects our own values and perspectives.

    In the future, another language – or no language at all – might rise to dominance. Artificial intelligence may act as a universal translator. This possibility would let everyone publish and read science in their own language. Predicting how technology will change our relationship with terminology is challenging, but the need for precise scientific language, including the names of species, will never go away.

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

    – ref. A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names – https://theconversation.com/a-bottlenose-dolphin-or-tursiops-truncatus-why-biologists-give-organisms-those-strange-unpronounceable-names-252265

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Uncertainty at NASA − Trump withdraws his nominee for administrator while the agency faces a steep proposed budget cut

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, Air University

    The vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

    Over the past several days, NASA’s ambitious space exploration plans have experienced major setbacks. First, on May 30, 2025, newly released budget documents revealed the extent of the significant budget and personnel cuts proposed by the Trump administration. Then, just a day later, President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator just days before an expected confirmation vote.

    From my perspective as a space policy expert, these events signal problems ahead for a space agency that now faces stiff competition in space exploration from the commercial sector. Without a leader and facing a fight over its budget, NASA faces an uncertain future, both in the months ahead and longer term.

    Budget problems

    When the Trump administration released a preview of its budget proposal in early May, it was clear that NASA was facing significant cuts.

    After receiving US$24.9 billion for 2025, the president’s proposal would allot NASA $18.8 billion in 2026. After accounting for inflation, this amount would represent NASA’s smallest budget since 1961.

    Space science programs are one of the largest targets of the proposed budget cuts, seeing an almost 50% reduction, to just $3.9 billion. Specific programs targeted for elimination include the Mars Sample Return mission, the currently operating Mars Odyssey and MAVEN missions around Mars, and several missions to Venus.

    Several ongoing and proposed astrophysics programs, including the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, would also end if the proposed budget passes.

    NASA’s human spaceflight programs also face potential cuts. The budget proposes canceling the Space Launch System, the Orion crew vehicle and the Lunar Gateway following the Artemis III mission.

    Artemis III, planned for 2027, would be the first crewed flight back to the lunar surface since 1972. The mission would use the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew vehicle to get there. The proposed Lunar Gateway, a mini-space station in lunar orbit, would be abandoned entirely.

    Instead, the budget proposes to establish a Commercial Moon to Mars program. Under this initiative, NASA would utilize commercial systems such as Blue Origin’s New Glenn and SpaceX’s Starship to put Americans on the Moon and Mars.

    Several Mars missions, including the Mars Sample Return, MAVEN and Mars Odyssey, would be canceled under the proposed budget. It would instead establish a program to work with commercial partners to put humans on the red planet.
    NASA, ESA, Zolt G. Levay (STScI)

    A smaller budget also means a smaller NASA workforce. The budget proposal suggests that the number of NASA employees would be reduced by one-third, from more than 17,000 to 11,853.

    Advocates for space science and exploration have criticized the cuts. The Planetary Society has stated that these cuts to space science represent an “extinction level event” that would all but end NASA’s ability to perform meaningful science.

    Democrats in Congress were also quick to push back on the proposed cuts, arguing that they would hamper the U.S.’s ability to carry out its missions.

    The budget documents released so far are just proposals. Congress must make the final decisions on how much money NASA gets and which programs are funded. While this might be good news for NASA funding, my research has shown that Congress rarely appropriates more money for NASA than the president requests.

    Leadership challenges

    The release of the president’s proposed budget was followed with the news that the president would withdraw his nomination of Jared Isaacman to be NASA’s administrator.

    Jared Isaacman, the former nominee for NASA administrator, is a businessman who has been to space on several commercial flights.
    AP Photo/John Raoux, File

    In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space.”

    Like the budget proposal, news of Isaacman’s withdrawal has also hit the space community hard. Following his nomination, Isaacman won the support of many in the space industry and in government. His confirmation hearing in April was largely uncontentious, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.

    NASA will now need to wait for the president to make a new choice for NASA administrator. That person will then need to go through the same process as Isaacman, with a hearing in the Senate and several votes.

    Given the amount of time it takes for nominations to make their way through the Senate, NASA is likely to face several more months without a confirmed administrator. This absence will come while many of its programs will be fighting for money and their existence.

    The months ahead

    Like many federal agencies right now, NASA faces a tumultuous future. Budgetary and leadership challenges might be the immediate problem, but NASA’s long-term future is potentially rocky as well.

    Since its founding, NASA’s mission has been largely centered on sending humans to space.

    If that role shifts to commercial companies, NASA will need to grapple with what its identity and mission is going forward.

    History provides some insight. One of NASA’s forerunners, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, largely focused on advanced research and development of aeronautical technologies. For instance, NACA researched things such as proper engine placement on airliners as well as advances that helped air flow more efficiently over those engines.

    A new NASA that’s more similar to NACA might continue research into nuclear engines or other advanced space technology that may contribute to the work commercial space companies are already doing.

    Choices made by the Trump administration and Congress in the coming months will likely shape what NASA will look like in the years to come. Until then, NASA, like many government organizations, faces a period of uncertainty about its future.

    Wendy N. Whitman Cobb is affiliated with the US School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. Her views are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense or any of its components.

    – ref. Uncertainty at NASA − Trump withdraws his nominee for administrator while the agency faces a steep proposed budget cut – https://theconversation.com/uncertainty-at-nasa-trump-withdraws-his-nominee-for-administrator-while-the-agency-faces-a-steep-proposed-budget-cut-258032

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Supporting Gaelic’s growth

    Source: Scottish Government

    Funding for schools and cultural projects.

    A new Gaelic primary school is set to open in Glasgow next year after a £2 million investment from the Scottish Government. 

    The funding will complete the refurbishment and extension of the former St James’ Primary School building to establish Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn (Calton Gaelic Primary School) which will become the city’s fourth Gaelic language primary.

    Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes announced the investment as part of a £2.4 million package to support Gaelic schools and cultural initiatives across Scotland.

    The funding will also support:

    • the construction of a second classroom at West Primary School in Paisley
    • the expansion of two Gaelic cultural centres in the Highlands
    • cultural events through An Comunn Gàidhealach who will host this year’s Royal National Mòd in Lochaber

    On a visit to the site of the new school, Ms Forbes said:

    “This school will build on the encouraging surge we have seen in the number of Gaelic speakers and learners in Glasgow and support the language’s growth into the future.

    “Gaelic medium education enriches communities and offers good value for money by providing better grade averages across all qualification levels despite costs being no greater than average. 

    “To support Gaelic’s growth across Scotland, we are providing an additional £5.7 million for Gaelic initiatives this year. We are also progressing the Scottish Languages Bill which, if passed by MSPs, will introduce measures to strengthen the provision of Gaelic education.”

    The new school, with space for 416 pupils, will be managed by Glasgow City Council. It meets a growing demand for Gaelic primary education in the city. Census figures published last year show a 45% increase in the number of people with some Gaelic skills in Glasgow compared to 2011.

    Alison Richardson, headteacher of Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn, said:

    “With Gaelic medium education continuing to flourish in Glasgow, our pupils and parents are excited and proud to be moving Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn into its very own repurposed school located in the East End.

    “We look forward to supporting Gaelic’s growth in the Calton area, where many spoke it in the past, and for the school to become a real focal point and asset to the local community.”

    Background

    Projects benefiting from Scottish Government Gaelic Capital Fund allocations for 2024-25 are listed below. 

    Project

    Capital allocated

    Summary

    Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn (Calton Gaelic Primary School)

    £2,000,000.00

    Refurbishment and extension of the former St James’ Primary School building.

    West Primary School, Paisley

    £43,000.00

    Construction of a second classroom.

    Broadford Primary School, Skye

    £60,630.00

    Upgrade to Games Hall.

    Calder Glen High School, East Kilbride

    £51,935.00

    Construction of a bothy with computing, cooking and gardening space and provision of laptops, speakers, desks and other equipment.

    Greenfaulds High School, Cumbernauld

    £38,772.50

    Equipment to allow more children from across North Lanarkshire to attend classes virtually.

    Whitehills Primary School, Forfar

    £5,748.36

    Chromebooks, tablet cases and a replacement smartboard.

    Inverclyde Academy, Greenock

    £2907.00

    Installation of bilingual signage throughout the school.

    Feasibility study on establishing a Gaelic secondary school in Stornoway

    £30,800.00

    Study to explore the feasibility of establishing Gaelic secondary provision.

    An Comunn Gàidhealach

    £65,600.00

    Delivery of this year’s Royal National Mòd.

    The University of Edinburgh’s Opening the Well Crowdsourcing Gaelic Transcription project

    £17,305.00

    Transcription of Gaelic audio recordings, which will be added to a free online archive of Gaelic folklore and historical materials.

    Ionad Thròndairnis (The Trotternish Centre)

    £75,000.00

    Extension of a Gaelic cultural centre in Skye.

    Co-Chomann Dualchas Shrath Naruinn (Strathnairn Heritage Association

    £40,000.00

    Establishment of a Gaelic heritage centre in the former Dunlichity Church building.

    Fèis Ghasaigh

    £36,469.00

    Delivery of a two-day Gaelic music event in South Uist.

    Glasgow is home to the third largest number of children and young people in Gaelic Medium Education in Scotland with 740 primary pupils in 2023. Census statistics show that 17,380 people in Glasgow had some Gaelic skills 2022, an increase of 7,911 people from 2011.

    Glasgow City Council has provided £17.6 million towards works at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn, within an overall project budget of £23.8 million. The works are supported by the Scottish Government’s £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme which is delivered in partnership with local authorities. Nine school projects included in the programme will open in 2025-26.

    A’ cumail taic ri fàs na Gàidhlig

    Maoineachadh do sgoiltean agus pròiseactan cultarail.

    Tha bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig ùr gu bhith a’ fosgladh ann an Glaschu an ath-bhliadhna às dèidh tasgadh-airgid luach £2 millean bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba.

    Leis a’ mhaoineachadh, thèid crìoch a chur air ath-uidheamachadh agus leudachadh an t-seann togalaich air làrach Bun-sgoil Naoimh Sheumais airson Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn a stèidheachadh, ’s i gu bhith na ceathramh bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig sa bhaile.

    Dh’fhoillsich an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear agus Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson na h-Eaconamaidh agus na Gàidhlig, Ceit Fhoirbeis, an tasgadh-airgid mar phàirt de phacaid luach £2.4 millean a chumas taic ri sgoiltean agus iomairtean cultarail Gàidhlig air feadh Alba.

    Cumaidh am maoineachadh cuideachd taic ri:

    • togail dàrna seòmar-teagaisg aig Bun-sgoil an Iar ann am Pàislig
    • leudachadh air dà ionad cultair Gàidhlig air a’ Ghàidhealtachd
    • tachartasan cultarail tron Chomunn Ghàidhealach a chumas am Mòd Rìoghail Nàiseanta ann an Loch Abar am-bliadhna

    Air turas do làrach na sgoile ùr, thuirt a’ Bh-uas. Fhoirbeis:

    “Togaidh an sgoil seo air an àrdachadh bhrosnachail a chunnacas ann an àireamh luchd-labhairt agus luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu, ’s i a’ cur taic ri fàs a’ chànain san àm ri teachd.

    “Tha foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a’ cur beairteas ri coimhearsnachdan agus tha deagh luach an airgid na lùib, ’s comharran cuibheasach nas fheàrr gan toirt do sgoilearan thar gach ìre teisteanais gun cosgaisean a bhith nas àirde na tha iad sa chumantas.

    “Gus taic a chumail ri fàs na Gàidhlig air feadh Alba, tha sinn a’ toirt £5.7 millean a bharrachd do dh’iomairtean Gàidhlig am-bliadhna. Tha sinn cuideachd a’ toirt air adhart Bile nan Cànan Albannach, agus ma ghabhas na BPA rithe, bheir i a-steach ceumannan gus solarachadh foghlam Gàidhlig a neartachadh.”

    Thèid an sgoil ùr, far am bi àite do 416 sgoilear, a stiùireadh le Comhairle Baile Ghlaschu. Tha i a’ coileanadh iarrtas a tha a’ sìor-fhàs air foghlam Gàidhlig bun-sgoile anns a’ bhaile. Tha figearan a’ chunntais-shluaigh a chaidh fhoillseachadh an-uiridh a’ sealltainn àrdachadh de 45% ann an àireamh nan daoine le beagan sgilean Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu an taca ri 2011.

    Thuirt Alison Richardson, ceannard Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn:

    “Le foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a’ sìor-shoirbheachadh ann an Glaschu, tha na sgoilearan agus pàrantan againn air bhioran agus moiteil gum bi Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn a’ gluasad a-steach dhan sgoil ath-leasaichte aice fhèin, ’s i suidhichte ann an Ceann an Ear a’ bhaile.

    “Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ri taic a chumail ri fàs na Gàidhlig ann an sgìre a’ Challtainn, far an robh mòran ga bruidhinn san àm a dh’fhalbh, agus ri an sgoil a bhith aig fìor theas-meadhan na coimhearsnachd ionadail agus na buannachd dhi.”

    Cùl-fhiosrachadh

    Tha pròiseactan a gheibh buannachd bho chuibhreannan Maoin Chalpa na Gàidhlig le Riaghaltas na h-Alba ann an 2024-25 air an liostadh gu h-ìosal. 

    Pròiseact

    Calpa air a shònrachadh

    Geàrr-chunntas

    Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn

    £2,000,000.00

    Ath-uidheamachadh agus leudachadh an t-seann togalaich air làrach Bun-sgoil Naoimh Sheumais.

    Bun-sgoil an Iar, Pàislig

    £43,000.00

    Togail dàrna seòmar-teagaisg.

    Bun-sgoil an Àth Leathainn, an t-Eilean Sgitheanach

    £60,630.00

    Ath-nuadhachadh air Talla nan Geamaichean.

    Àrd-sgoil Ghlinn Challdair, Cille Bhrìghde an Ear

    £51,935.00

    Togail bothain le àite airson coimpiutaireachd, còcaireachd agus gàirnealaireachd, agus solarachadh laptopaichean, labhradairean, deasgan agus uidheamachd eile.

    Àrd-sgoil Greenfaulds, Comar nan Allt

    £38,772.50

    Uidheamachd a leigeas le tuilleadh cloinne bho air feadh Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath clasaichean a fhrithealadh air astar.

    Bun-sgoil Whitehills, Farfar

    £5,748.36

    Laptopaichean Chromebook, còmhdaichean tablaid agus bòrd-glic ùr.

    Acadamaidh Inbhir Chluaidh, Grianaig

    £2907.00

    Cur suas shoidhnichean dà-chànanach air feadh na sgoile.

    Sgrùdadh iomchaidheachd air stèidheachadh àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig ann an Steòrnabhagh

    £30,800.00

    Sgrùdadh a rannsaicheas iomchaidheachd an lùib foghlam Gàidhlig àrd-sgoile a stèidheachadh.

    An Comunn Gàidhealach

    £65,600.00

    Lìbhrigeadh Mòd Rìoghail Nàiseanta na bliadhna seo.

    Pròiseact Opening the Well: Crowdsourcing Gaelic Transcription le Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann

    £17,305.00

    Tar-sgrìobhadh de chlàraidhean claisneachd Gàidhlig a thèid a chur ri tasglann an-asgaidh, air-loidhne de bheul-aithris na Gàidhlig agus stuth eachdraidheil.

    Ionad Thròndairnis

    £75,000.00

    Leudachadh air ionad cultar na Gàidhlig san Eilean Sgitheanach.

    Co-Chomann Dualchas Shrath Naruinn

    £40,000.00

    Stèidheachadh ionad dualchas na Gàidhlig ann an seann togalach Eaglais Dhùn Fhlichididh.

    Fèis Ghasaigh

    £36,469.00

    Lìbhrigeadh de thachartas-ciùil Gàidhlig thairis air dà latha ann an Uibhist a Deas.

    Tha baile Ghlaschu na dhachaigh dhan treas àireamh as motha de chloinn agus daoine òga a th’ ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Alba, ’s 740 sgoilear ann am bun-sgoiltean ann an 2023. Tha staitistigean a’ chunntais-shluaigh a’ sealltainn gun robh beagan sgilean Gàidhlig aig 17,380 duine ann an Glaschu ann an 2022, àrdachadh de 7,911 duine bho 2011.

    Tha Comhairle Baile Ghlaschu air £17.6 millean a thoirt do dh’obraichean aig Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ Challtainn, taobh a-staigh buidseat-pròiseict iomlan de £23.8 millean. Tha na h-obraichean a’ faighinn taic bho Phrògram Tasgaidh na h-Oighreachd Ionnsachaidh (luach £2 billean) le Riaghaltas na h-Alba a thèid a lìbhrigeadh ann an com-pàirteachas ri ùghdarrasan ionadail. Fosglaidh naoi pròiseactan-sgoile a tha nam pàirt dhen phrògram ann an 2025-26.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: “This is the most exciting thing technologically I’ve seen in my lifetime”. #radiodavos #weforum

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Google’s chief economist, Fabien Curto Millet, gives his take on the Outlook and the impact of GenAI, which he calls “the most exciting thing technologically I’ve seen in my lifetime”.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy7v54bXzIY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji coup culture and political meddling in media education gets airing

    Pacific Media Watch

    Taieri MP Ingrid Leary reflected on her years in Fiji as a television journalist and media educator at a Fiji Centre function in Auckland celebrating Fourth Estate values and independence at the weekend.

    It was a reunion with former journalism professor David Robie — they had worked together as a team at the University of the South Pacific amid media and political controversy leading up to the George Speight coup in May 2000.

    Leary was the guest speaker at a gathering of human rights activists, development advocates, academics and journalists hosted at the Whānau Community Centre and Hub, the umbrella base for the Fiji Centre and Asia Pacific Media Network.

    She said she was delighted to meet “special people in David’s life” and to be speaking to a diverse group sharing “similar values of courage, freedom of expression, truth and tino rangatiratanga”.

    “I want to start this talanoa on Friday, 19 May 2000 — 13 years almost to the day of the first recognised military coup in Fiji in 1987 — when failed businessman George Speight tore off his balaclava to reveal his identity.

    She pointed out that there had actually been another “coup” 100 years earlier by Ratu Cakobau.

    “Speight had seized Parliament holding the elected government at gunpoint, including the politician mother, Lavinia Padarath, of one of my best friends — Anna Padarath.

    Hostage-taking report
    “Within minutes, the news of the hostage-taking was flashed on Radio Fiji’s 10 am bulletin by a student journalist on secondment there — Tamani Nair. He was a student of David Robie’s.”

    Nair had been dispatched to Parliament to find out what was happening and reported from a cassava patch.

    “Fiji TV was trashed . . . and transmission pulled for 48 hours.

    “The university shut down — including the student radio facilities, and journalism programme website — to avoid a similar fate, but the journalism school was able to keep broadcasting and publishing via a parallel website set up at the University of Technology Sydney.

    “The pictures were harrowing, showing street protests turning violent and the barbaric behaviour of Speight’s henchmen towards dissenters.

    “Thus began three months of heroic journalism by David’s student team — including through a period of martial law that began 10 days later and saw some of the most restrictive levels of censorship ever experienced in the South Pacific.”

    Leary paid tribute to some some of the “brave satire” produced by senior Fiji Times reporters filling paper with “non-news” (such as haircuts, drinking kava) as act of defiance.

    “My friend Anna Padarath returned from doing her masters in law in Australia on a scholarship to be closer to her Mum, whose hostage days within Parliament Grounds stretched into weeks and then months.

    Whanau Community Centre and Hub co-founder Nik Naidu speaking at the Asia Pacific Media Network event at the weekend. Image: Khairiah A. Rahman/APMN

    Invisible consequences
    “Anna would never return to her studies — one of the many invisible consequences of this profoundly destructive era in Fiji’s complex history.

    “Happily, she did go on to carve an incredible career as a women’s rights advocate.”

    “Meanwhile David’s so-called ‘barefoot student journalists’ — who snuck into Parliament the back way by bushtrack — were having their stories read and broadcast globally.

    “And those too shaken to even put their hands to keyboards on Day 1 emerged as journalism leaders who would go on to win prizes for their coverage.”

    Speight was sentenced to life in prison, but was pardoned in 2024.

    Taeri MP Ingrid Leary speaking at the Whānau Community Centre and Hub. Image: Nik Naidu/APMN

    Leary said that was just one chapter in the remarkable career of David Robie who had been an editor, news director, foreign news editor and freelance writer with a number of different agencies and news organisations — including Agence France-Presse, Rand Daily Mail, The Auckland Star, Insight Magazine, and New Outlook Magazine — “a family member to some, friend to many, mentor to most”.

    Reflecting on working with Dr Robie at USP, which she joined as television lecturer from Fiji Television, she said:

    “At the time, being a younger person, I thought he was a little but crazy, because he was communicating with people all around the world when digital media was in its infancy in Fiji, always on email, always getting up on online platforms, and I didn’t appreciate the power of online media at the time.

    “And it was incredible to watch.”

    Ahead of his time
    She said he was an innovator and ahead of his time.

    Dr Robie viewed journalism as a tool for empowerment, aiming to provide communities with the information they needed to make informed decisions.

    “We all know that David has been a champion of social justice and for decolonisation, and for the values of an independent Fourth Estate.”

    She said she appreciated the freedom to develop independent media as an educator, adding that one of her highlights was producing the groundbreaking documentary Maire about Maire Bopp Du Pont, who was a student journalist at USP and advocate for the Pacific community living with HIV/AIDs community.

    She later became a nuclear-free Pacific parliamentarian in Pape’ete.

    Leary presented Dr Robie with a “speaking stick” carved from an apricot tree branch by the husband of a Labour stalwart based in Cromwell — the event doubled as his 80th birthday.

    In response, Dr Robie said the occasion was a “golden opportunity” to thank many people who had encouraged and supported him over many years.

    Massive upheaval
    “We must have done something right,” he said about USP, “because in 2000, the year of George Speight’s coup, our students covered the massive upheaval which made headlines around the world when Mahendra Chaudhry’s Labour-led coalition government was held at gunpoint for 56 days.

    “The students courageously covered the coup with their website Pacific Journalism Online and their newspaper Wansolwara — “One Ocean”.  They won six Ossie Awards – unprecedented for a single university — in Australia that year and a standing ovation.”

    He said there was a video on YouTube of their exploits called Frontline Reporters and one of the students, Christine Gounder, wrote an article for a Commonwealth Press Union magazine entitled, “From trainees to professionals. And all it took was a coup”.

    Dr Robie said this Fiji experience was still one of the most standout experiences he had had as a journalist and educator.

    Along with similar coverage of the 1997 Sandline mercenary crisis by his students at the University of Papua New Guinea.

    He made some comments about the 1985 Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap in the Marshall islands and the subsequent bombing by French secret agents in Auckland.

    But he added “you can read all about this adventure in my new book” being published in a few weeks.

    Taieri MP Ingrid Leary (right) with Dr David Robie and his wife Del Abcede at the Fiji Centre function. Image: Camille Nakhid

    Biggest 21st century crisis
    Dr Robie said the profession of journalism, truth telling and holding power to account, was vitally important to a healthy democracy.

    Although media did not succeed in telling people what to think, it did play a vital role in what to think about. However, the media world was undergoing massive change and fragmentation.

    “And public trust is declining in the face of fake news and disinformation,” he said

    “I think we are at a crossroads in society, both locally and globally. Both journalism and democracy are under an unprecedented threat in my lifetime.

    “When more than 230 journalists can be killed in 19 months in Gaza and there is barely a bleep from the global community, there is something savagely wrong.

    “The Gazan journalists won the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize collectively last year with the judges saying, “As humanity, we have a huge debt to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression.”

    “The carnage and genocide in Gaza is deeply disturbing, especially the failure of the world to act decisively to stop it. The fact that Israel can kill with impunity at least 54,000 people, mostly women and children, destroy hospitals and starve people to death and crush a people’s right to live is deeply shocking.

    “This is the biggest crisis of the 21st century. We see this relentless slaughter go on livestreamed day after day and yet our media and politicians behave as if this is just ‘normal’. It is shameful, horrendous. Have we lost our humanity?

    “Gaza has been our test. And we have failed.”

    Other speakers included Whānau Hub co-founder Nik Naidu, one of the anti-coup Coalition for Democracy in Fiji (CDF) stalwarts; the Heritage New Zealand’s Antony Phillips; and Multimedia Investments and Evening Report director Selwyn Manning.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Information on the total number of voting rights and shares of 74Software share capital as of May 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Information on the total number of voting rights and shares of 74Software share capital as of May 31, 2025

    Paris, June 3, 2025 – In accordance with Articles L.233-8 II and R.225-73 I of the French Commercial Code (Code de Commerce) and Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (RGAMF), 74Software hereby informs its shareholders that, as of May 31, 2025:

    • Total number of shares is 29,746,194.
    • Total number of theoretical voting rights is 41,294,970.

    It is calculated according to the total number of shares with voting rights, including those whose voting rights have been suspended, and is used to declare threshold crossing by shareholders in accordance with Article 223-11 of the RGAMF.

    • Number of exercisable voting rights is 40,813,565.

    Disclaimer

    This document is a translation into English of an original French press release. It is not a binding document. In the event of a conflict in interpretation, reference should be made to the French version, which is the authentic text.

    About 74Software

    74Software is an enterprise software group founded through the combination of Axway and SBS – independently operated leaders with unique experience and capabilities to deliver mission-critical software for a data driven world. A pioneer in enterprise integration solutions for 25 years, Axway supports major brands and government agencies around the globe with its core line of MFT, B2B, API, and Financial Accounting Hub products. SBS empowers banks and financial institutions to reimagine tomorrow’s digital experiences with a composable cloud-based architecture that enables deposits, lending, compliance, payments, consumer, and asset finance services and operations to be deployed worldwide. 74Software serves more than 11,000 companies, including over 1,500 financial service customers. To learn more, visit 74Software.com

    Contacts – Investor Relations:

    Arthur Carli – +33 (0)1 47 17 24 65 – acarli@74software.com
    Chloé Chouard – +33 (0)1 47 17 21 78– cchouard@74software.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Micron Ships World’s First 1γ (1-Gamma)-Based LPDDR5X, Enabling Rich Mobile AI Experiences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOISE, Idaho, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), announced today that it is shipping qualification samples of the world’s first 1γ (1-gamma) node-based low-power double data rate 5X (LPDDR5X) memory, designed to accelerate AI applications on flagship smartphones. Delivering the industry’s fastest LPDDR5X speed grade of 10.7 gigabits per second (Gbps), combined with up to a 20% power savings,1 Micron LPDDR5X transforms smartphones with faster, smoother mobile experiences and longer battery life — even when executing data-intensive workloads such as AI-powered translation or image generation.

    To meet the industry’s increasing demand for compact solutions for next-generation smartphone designs, Micron’s engineers have shrunk the LPDDR5X package size to offer the industry’s thinnest package of 0.61 millimeters,2 making it 6% thinner compared to competitive offerings,3 and representing a 14% height reduction from the previous generation.4 The small form factor unlocks more possibilities for smartphone manufacturers to design ultrathin or foldable smartphones.

    “Micron’s 1-gamma node-based LPDDR5X memory is a game-changer for the mobile industry,” said Mark Montierth, corporate vice president and general manager of Micron’s Mobile and Client Business Unit. “This breakthrough technology delivers lightning-fast speeds and remarkable power efficiency — all within the industry’s thinnest LPDDR5X package — paving the way for exciting new smartphone designs. This solution demonstrates our commitment to empowering the ecosystem to create extraordinary mobile experiences.”

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    The company’s 1γ-based LPDDR5X enables dramatic leaps in performance for mobile users by enabling faster AI insights. For example, Micron evaluated mobile AI response times from large language model Llama 2, based on 1γ LPDDR5X’s 10.7 Gbps bandwidth compared to 1β (1-beta) LPDDR5X’s 7.5 Gbps bandwidth,5 finding:

    • Responses are 30% faster when asking for location-based restaurant recommendations.
    • Results are more than 50% faster when translating a voice inquiry in English to text in Spanish to ask for directions.
    • Responses can be up to 25% faster when requesting car purchase recommendations based on vehicle type, affordability and certain infotainment and safety features.6

    Now ramping in Micron’s mobile portfolio, Micron’s 1γ-based LPDDR5X is the company’s first mobile solution to leverage advanced EUV lithography — providing customers with early access to the latest performance and power efficiency advancements, based on the industry’s most advanced memory node technology. This milestone builds on Micron’s February sampling of 1γ-based DDR5 memory for next-generation CPUs in the data center and client segments. Micron’s optimized 1γ DRAM node leverages CMOS7 advancements like next-generation high-K metal gate technology for improved transistor performance and incorporates leading-edge EUV lithography for enhanced bit density.

    As energy-intensive mobile AI workloads are increasingly processed on-device rather than only in the cloud, low-power chips are crucial for devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops, which need to conserve power while performing AI computations.

    Micron’s 1γ-based LPDDR5X’s significant 20% power savings will allow mobile users to enjoy their favorite AI applications, games and video content longer on a single charge. In addition, as AI intensifies the need for powerful, energy-efficient compute, data center servers, intelligent vehicles and AI PCs may also increasingly adopt LPDDR5X for its unique blend of optimized power efficiency and high performance.

    Micron is currently sampling 1γ-based LPDDR5X 16 gigabyte (GB) products to select partners and will offer a wide range of capacities from 8GB to 32GB for use in 2026 flagship smartphones.

    Additional Resources

    About Micron Technology, Inc.
    We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® Hand Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and compute-intensive applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

    © 2025 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    __________________________

    1 Compared to Micron’s previous generation LPDDR5X
    2 Package thickness varies based on capacity; 0.61mm thickness for Micron’s 8GB and 16GB 1γ-based LPDDR5X 496-ball packages.
    3 Based on Micron’s competitive market research and intelligence, with competitive offerings measuring at 0.65 mm thick
    4 Based on a thickness of 0.71mm for Micron’s 1β-based LPDDR5X for 16GB
    5 Examples below are based on extrapolation of data from devices using LPDDR5X running at 9.6 Gbps and 7.5 Gbps.
    6 Based on a test asking Llama 2 to recommend 10 SUVs while prioritizing user requirements such as affordability, Apple CarPlay and essential safety features such as emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors and all-wheel drive. Recommendations given were within a budget of $23,000 to $37,000.
    7 Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Capital Warns MediPharm Shareholders Current CEO David Pidduck is Looking for an Exit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CEO David Pidduck has Stated Desire to Cash Out at Current Levels

    Pidduck and Current Board Do Not Have Conviction in MediPharm or its Long-Term Value Creation Strategy

    Apollo Capital has a Plan to Increase MediPharm Share Price from $0.07 to Over $1.00 in Three Years, Restoring Medipharm’s Position as a Leading Global Medical Cannabis Company.

    SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE THE GOLD CARD “FOR” APOLLO CAPITAL’S SIX DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND NOT VOTE MEDIPHARM’s GREEN CARD

    TORONTO, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Apollo Technology Capital Corporation (“Apollo Capital”), one of MediPharm Lab’s largest investors, today warns all Medipharm shareholders that CEO David Pidduck is looking to sell the Company to cash out his shares based on credible information available to the investor. If shareholders support MediPharm’s current slate of directors, shareholders can expect to be heavily diluted while top executives take up to $5M in change in control payments.

    In 2025, a current Board member told Apollo Capital directly that CEO Pidduck was looking to sell the company to trigger his change in control awards. That Board member expressed their concern that the transaction was excessively dilutive and undervalued for shareholders. Since that time, multiple sources have come forward to confirm Pidduck and the current Board’s plans to pursue a transaction which would fire sell Medipharm’s assets at a discount. A sale of MediPharm would only benefit Pidduck and the current Board, not its shareholders.

    Between October 2024 and April 2025, Apollo Capital & Pidduck had multiple negotiations about Apollo Capital’s desire to make an investment in Medipharm in order to bolster its ability to pursue an aggressive growth strategy. In these negotiations, Pidduck was clear that he wants to cash out his shares, which were not bought, but instead granted to him by MediPharm.

    In 2025, a written offer to invest $3.4M in a private placement at the then-current market price with no discount or warrant coverage and to invest an additional nearly $3.5M to acquire shares from CEO Pidduck and President Stachan. As part of the significant cash investment, Apollo Capital would acquire 2 board seats to help guide a strategic growth strategy that the Company still lacks. Apollo Capital’s offer was rejected.

    “Our offer represented a way for MediPharm to capitalize the Company without selling key assets. Our goal was to preserve value for all shareholders. We saw our investment as a critical step towards rebuilding value at MediPharm. If our offer was accepted, we would have avoided a proxy contest and the cash balance would be millions higher than it is today. We would already be well on our way toward achieving our goal of a 10x increase in the stock price,” said Regan McGee, CEO of Apollo Capital.         

    Apollo Capital asks:

    • If Management’s plan is working, why would they want to sell the Company at the current valuation?
    • Why would the CEO want to sell his shares in Medipharm if he believed in its long-term strategy?
    • Where would the share price be today if management had accepted Apollo Capital’s offer, choosing to work with rather than against its largest shareholder in the interest of all shareholders?

    Why We Have Invested:

    Apollo Capital has invested in MediPharm and nominated director candidates to order to drive the urgent change needed to put the Company back on the right path. We see a clear opportunity to revitalize the business, reposition MediPharm as a market leader, and unlock value over the long term, with the potential to increase the share price to over $1.00.

    Apollo Capital’s goal is to build a Company for the long term that creates lasting value for all shareholders. It is NOT to acquire the Company, as MediPharm’s current management has falsely claimed. Since the start of the proxy contest, which management forced at great expense to MediPharm, Apollo Capital has not purchased, sold, shorted, or been involved in any transactions involving the Company’s stock. We are here to be long-term investors and to rebuild MediPharm into a leading medical cannabis company.

    Apollo Capital’s strategic five-pillar plan for MediPharm has been made available in detail at www.curemedipharm.com. With shareholder support, we can turn MediPharm around and transform it into the world’s leading medical cannabis company.

    Apollo Capital urges shareholders to vote for change by voting the GOLD CARD by June 13, 2025. Shareholders are urged NOT to sign or return the green proxy cards sent by the Company.

    Contacts

    For Shareholders:
    Carson Proxy
    North American Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-530-5189
    Local or Text Message: 416-751-2066 (collect calls accepted)
    E: info@carsonproxy.com

    For Media:
    CureMediPharm@gasthalter.com

    Legal Disclosures

    Information in Support of Public Broadcast Exemption under Canadian Law

    The information contained in this press release does not and is not intended to constitute a solicitation of a proxy within the meaning of applicable corporate and securities laws. Shareholders of the Company are not being asked at this time to execute a proxy in favour of Apollo Capital’s director nominees or in respect of any other matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. In connection with the Annual Meeting, Apollo Capital has filed a dissident information circular (the “Circular”) in compliance with applicable corporate and securities laws. Apollo Capital has provided in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release the disclosure required under section 9.2(4) of NI 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”) and the corresponding exemption under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), and has filed the preliminary Circular, available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Circular contains disclosure prescribed by applicable corporate law and disclosure required under section 9.2(6) of NI 51-102 in respect of Apollo Capital’s director nominees, in accordance with corporate and securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. The Circular is hereby incorporated by reference into this press release and is available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The registered office of the Company is 151 John Street, Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4N 2L1.

    SHAREHOLDERS OF MEDIPHARM ARE URGED TO READ THE CIRCULAR CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the Circular and any amendments or supplements thereto and further proxy circulars at no charge under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, shareholders are also be able to obtain free copies of the Circular and other relevant documents by contacting Apollo Capital’s proxy solicitor, Carson Proxy Advisors Ltd. (“Carson Proxy”) at 1-800-530-5189, local (collect outside North America): 416-751-2066 or by email at info@carsonproxy.com.

    None of Apollo Capital, any other “dissidents” within the meaning of the Ont. Reg. 62 of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), or any partner, officer, director and control person of such “dissident”, is requesting that Company shareholders submit a proxy at this time as the Company has yet to issue formal notice of the Annual Meeting and its management information circular. Once formal solicitation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting has commenced, proxies may be revoked in accordance with subsection 110(4) of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) by a registered shareholder of Company shares: (a) by completing and signing a valid proxy bearing a later date and returning it in accordance with the instructions contained in the accompanying form of proxy; (b) by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing; (c) by transmitting by telephonic or electronic means a revocation that is signed by electronic signature in accordance with applicable law, as the case may be: (i) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting is to be held, or (ii) with the chair of the Annual Meeting on the day of the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting; or (d) in any other manner permitted by law. In addition, proxies may be revoked by a non-registered holder of Company shares at any time by written notice to the intermediary in accordance with the instructions given to the non-registered holder by its intermediary. It should be noted that revocation of proxies or voting instructions by a non-registered holder can take several days or even longer to complete and, accordingly, any such revocation should be completed well in advance of the deadline prescribed in the form of proxy or voting instruction form to ensure it is given effect in respect of the Annual Meeting.

    The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of any circular or proxy solicitation by Apollo Capital and any other participants named herein will be borne directly and indirectly by Apollo Capital. However, to the extent permitted under applicable law, Apollo Capital intends to seek reimbursement from the Company of all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of its director nominees at the Annual Meeting.

    This press release and any solicitation made by Apollo Capital is, or will be, as applicable, made by such parties, and not by or on behalf of the management of the Company. Proxies may be solicited by proxy circular, mail, telephone, email or other electronic means, as well as by newspaper or other media advertising and in person by managers, directors, officers and employees of Apollo Capital who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. In addition, Apollo Capital may solicit proxies by way of public broadcast, including press release, speech or publication and any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian laws, and may engage the services of one or more agents and authorize other persons to assist it in soliciting proxies on their behalf.

    Apollo Capital has entered into an agreement with Carson Proxy Advisors (“Carson Proxy”) for solicitation and advisory services in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting, for which Carson Proxy will receive a fee not to exceed $250,000, together with reimbursement for reasonable and out-of-pocket expenses. Apollo Capital has also engaged Gasthalter & Co. LP (“G&Co”) to act as communications consultant to provide Apollo Capital with certain communications, public relations and related services, for which G&Co will receive a minimum fee of US$75,000 in addition to a performance fee of US$250,000 in the event that Apollo’s nominees make up a majority of the Board following the Annual Meeting, plus excess fees, related costs and expenses.

    No member of Apollo Capital nor any of their associates or affiliates has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last completed financial year or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will or would materially affect the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates. No member of Apollo nor any of their associates or affiliates has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, other than the election of directors.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward‐looking statements. All statements contained in this filing that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward‐looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward‐looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of Apollo and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof and Apollo disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which Apollo Capital hereafter becomes aware, except as required by applicable law.

    Hashtags: #ShareholderActivism #CorporateGovernance #InvestorProtection #Investor Alert #Investor Fraud #FinancialRegulation #CorporateCrime #FinancialCrime #HomelandSecurity #DHS #OpioidCrisis #OpioidEpidemic #OpioidLitigation #OpioidVictims #BMO #DEA #ONDCP

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) Announces American Rebel Light Beer’s Initial Expansion into 62 Total Wine & More Locations – America’s Largest Independent Alcohol Retailer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Consumers looking for American Rebel Light – America’s Patriotic Beer can now purchase in-store at several Total Wine & More locations across the American Rebel Light Beer Distribution Footprint.
    • Initial Placement for American Rebel Light Beer in either 12oz or 16oz cans is scheduled for 62 Total Wine & More Locations across 7 states.
    • Total Wine & More has officially approved American Rebel Light Beer for immediate placement reinforcing the brand’s rapid growth and consumer demand.

    NASHVILLE, TN, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), proudly reports that American Rebel Premium Light Lager Beer (“Rebel Light”) continues its rapid national retail and chain expansion with Total Wine and More, one of the nation’s leading alcohol retailers. American Rebel Light Beer, America’s Patriotic Beer, is initially scheduled to be placed into 62 Total Wine & More (www.totalwine.com) locations. This milestone marks another significant step in American Rebel Light Beer’s retail and chain growth strategy, ensuring greater accessibility for consumers across Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Connecticut, Missouri, and Kansas—key territories where the brand has active distribution partners.

    Total Wine & More (www.totalwine.com) is recognized as a premier national retailer, boasting over 250 locations across the United States. The company plays a pivotal role in the alcohol industry, generating billions in annual sales and serving as a top destination for beer, wine, and spirits enthusiasts. With beer accounting for approximately 42% of supplier gross revenues in the U.S. alcohol market, Total Wine remains a critical player in domestic light beer sales.

    “The U.S. domestic beer market is a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse, fueling American traditions and bringing people together in celebration. As America’s Patriotic Beer, American Rebel Light Beer is not just making waves—we are redefining what it means to be a beer brand with heart, grit, and unwavering American values. With explosive growth and a rapidly expanding footprint, we are proud to be recognized as America’s Fastest Growing Beer and well on our way to becoming America’s Next Great Success Story.’ said Andy Ross, CEO of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. “Adding a premier alcohol retailer like Total Wine & More to our distribution network is a critical milestone in our mission to bring American Rebel Light Beer to more consumers nationwide. Total Wine’s reputation for excellence and expansive reach will allow us to connect with new audiences who share our passion for quality beer and patriotic pride. This expansion reinforces our commitment to making American Rebel Light Beer a household name across the country.”

    “American Rebel Light Beer’s entry into Total Wine & More is another significant milestone for American Rebel Light Beer,” said Todd Porter, President at American Rebel Beverages. “Total Wine’s expansive reach and reputation as a trusted retailer will allow us to connect with more consumers who share our passion, patriotic values and see the market opportunity for a quality, better for you, domestic light beer.”

    Total Wine & More Market Influence, Sales Impact & Customer Experience

    Total Wine generates billions in annual revenue, surpassing many competitors in wine and spirits sales. The retailer plays a crucial role in the U.S. alcohol market, where beer alone accounts for 42% of supplier gross revenues.

    Customer Experience & Brand Strategy

    Total Wine enhances its customer experience with in-store tastings, educational events, and private-label offerings, making it a go-to destination for beverage enthusiasts. Its ability to provide exclusive products and expert recommendations sets it apart from general grocery and warehouse retailers

    American Rebel Light Beer’s presence in Total Wine locations will be supported by in-store promotions, digital marketing campaigns, and brand ambassador activations to engage customers and drive awareness. The company remains committed to delivering a premium domestic light beer that embodies the spirit of American pride and resilience.

    The placements have already begun with several locations currently in stock including

    Tennessee

    Brentwood (Nashville), TN

    Brentwood Place Shopping Center
    330 Franklin Rd., Suite 306C
    Brentwood, TN 37027

    Knoxville, TN

    Pinnacle at Turkey Creek
    11370 Parkside Dr., Suite 2400
    Knoxville, TN 37934

    North Carolina

    Charlotte (Rivergate), NC

    RiverGate
    14151 Steele Creek Rd., Suite 200
    Charlotte, NC 28273

    Charlotte (Promenade on Providence), NC

    Promenade on Providence
    5341 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. S. 100
    Charlotte, NC 28277

    Concord, NC

    Pavilion at Kings Grant
    8054 Concord Mills Blvd.
    Concord, NC 28027

    Charlotte (Myers Park), NC

    Park Towne Village (Myers Park)
    1600 East Woodlawn Road
    Charlotte, NC 28209

    Cornelius, NC

    The Shops at the Fresh Market
    20615 Torrence Chapel Road, Unit 101
    Cornelius, NC 28031

    Kentucky

    Lexington Green, KY

    The Mall at Lexington Green
    161 Lexington Green Circle
    Lexington, KY 40503

    Sir Barton, KY

    Sir Barton Place Shopping Center
    2321 Sir Barton Way Suite 165
    Lexington, KY 40509

    Connecticut

    Norwalk, CT

    Main Avenue Shopping Center
    380 Main Ave.
    Norwalk, CT 06851

    Milford, CT

    230 Cherry St.
    Milford, CT 06460

    Kansas

    Overland Park, KS

    Pinnacle Village Shopping Center
    12100 Blue Valley Parkway
    Overland Park, KS 66213

    Wichita, KS

    Greenwich Place
    2762 N Greenwich Ct.
    Wichita, KS 67226

    Florida

    Jacksonville, FL

    St. John’s Town Center North
    4413 Town Center Parkway 300
    Jacksonville, FL 32246

    For more information on American Rebel Light Beer and its availability at Total Wine & More, visit americanrebelbeer.com.

    About American Rebel Light Beer

    American Rebel Light is more than just a beer—it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

    For more information about American Rebel Light and its sponsorship of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, visit American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals | Events | Charlotte Motor Speedway or follow us on social media @AmericanRebelBeer

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or follow us on our social media platforms.

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About Total Wine & More

    Total Wine & More is America’s Wine Superstore® — the country‘s largest independent retailer of fine wine. We started in 1991 when brothers David and Robert Trone opened a small store in Delaware. Today, Total Wine & More operates 282 superstores across 29 states and continues to grow. Total Wine & More employs more than 11,000 dedicated men and women

    Total Wine and More offers nation’s best wine selection, with an emphasis on fine wines. The typical store carries more than 8,000 different wines from every wine-producing region in the world. The typical Total Wine & More also carries more than 2,500 beers, from America’s most popular brands to hard-to-find microbrews and imports, and more than 3,000 different spirits in every style and price range.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer.. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit www.americanrebel.com and www.americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit www.americanrebel.com/investor-relations.

    Media Inquiries:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@Precisionpr.co
    917-280-7329

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    ir@americanrebel.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of placements in Total Wine & More locations, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Orion180 Launches Its Customizable Private Flood Insurance in Florida

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELBOURNE, Fla., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion180, a leading provider of innovative insurance solutions, today announced the availability of its Residential Private Flood Insurance in Florida. Designed to provide fair, competitive, and comprehensive coverage, Orion180’s flood insurance solution leverages advanced risk analysis and customizable policy options to offer homeowners a smarter alternative to traditional options.

    Despite rising sea levels and increased hurricane frequency causing more flooding in Florida, only about 12% of Florida’s nine million properties had flood insurance as of June 2024—leaving a vast majority of homeowners financially vulnerable. These environmental changes have led to residential flooding extending beyond traditionally high-risk zones, with approximately 25% of all flood claims nationwide now coming from moderate- to low-risk areas.

    With low coverage rates, high premiums, and increasing flood risks, Florida homeowners need a reliable and accessible insurance solution that provides adequate protection without unnecessary hurdles. Orion180 goes beyond Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps, as their data-driven underwriting incorporates advanced third-party flood mapping and property-specific risk assessments, ensuring more accurate pricing and better protection for policyholders. With competitive pricing and a seamless, digital-first experience, Orion180 is making flood insurance more accessible, flexible, and beneficial for Florida homeowners.

    Key Benefits of Orion180’s Residential Private Flood Insurance include:

    • Comprehensive Coverage: Offers up to $1M in building coverage with a 10-day or less waiting period, far exceeding many traditional flood insurance policies like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) managed by FEMA, which only offers up to $250,000 with a 30-day waiting period.
    • No Elevation Certificate Required: Most homeowners can secure coverage without additional paperwork or home inspections.
    • Mortgage-approved: Policies meet FMAC and FNMA guidelines, ensuring seamless acceptance by mortgage lenders.
    • Additional Policy Enhancements: Includes loss of use, personal property replacement cost, water backup/sump pump overflow coverage, swimming pool cleanup/repair, and debris removal, among other benefits.
    • Expanded Zone Coverage: Covers all flood zones (X, A, & V) to provide protection where it’s needed most.

    “Flooding is a growing concern for homeowners in Florida, and too often, people find themselves underinsured or facing expensive policies with limited options,” said Ken Gregg, CEO of Orion180. “Our goal is to simplify the process, offer more competitive rates, and provide homeowners with superior protection that aligns with their actual risk—not just their zip code.”

    Homeowners can purchase Orion180’s Residential Private Flood Insurance as a standalone policy in Florida, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee or as an add-on to their existing Orion180 surplus lines home insurance in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit Orion180.com/flood.
      
    About Orion180
    Orion180 is a technology-driven and customer-centric insurance brand that combines proprietary technology, real-time data, and straightforward underwriting practices to provide a seamless and premier insurance experience. Orion180 operates through Orion180 Insurance Co., a surplus lines insurance company serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado (Flood only), Tennessee (Flood only), Illinois (Flood only) and Arizona, and Orion180 Select Insurance Co., an admitted insurance company offering coverage in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Ohio. With its proprietary MY180 platform and third-party integrations, Orion180 offers unmatched efficiency and innovation, fulfilling its vision of becoming the global leader in insurance solutions while maintaining its mission to deliver superior customer experiences and a comprehensive suite of products. Connect with Orion180 on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TruthSocial, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.Orion180.com.

    Media Contact
    Ross Blume
    Fusion Public Relations
    orion180@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Broadcom Ships Tomahawk 6: World’s First 102.4 Tbps Switch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) announced today that it is now shipping the Tomahawk® 6 switch series, delivering the world’s first 102.4 Terabits/sec of switching capacity in a single chip – double the bandwidth of any Ethernet switch currently available on the market. With unprecedented scale, energy efficiency, and AI-optimized features, Tomahawk 6 is built to power the next generation of scale-up and scale-out AI networks, delivering unmatched flexibility with support for 100G/200G SerDes and co-packaged optics (CPO). It offers the industry’s most comprehensive set of AI routing features and interconnect options, designed to meet the demands of AI clusters with more than one million XPUs.

    “Tomahawk 6 is not just an upgrade – it’s a breakthrough,” said Ram Velaga, senior vice president and general manager, Core Switching Group, Broadcom. “It marks a turning point in AI infrastructure design, combining the highest bandwidth, power efficiency, and adaptive routing features for scale-up and scale-out networks into one platform. Demand from customers and partners has been unprecedented. Tomahawk 6 is poised to make a rapid and dramatic impact on the deployment of large AI clusters.”

    “AI clusters are scaling from tens to thousands of accelerators, turning the network into a critical bottleneck while expected to deliver unprecedented bandwidth and latency,” said Kunjan Sobhani, lead semiconductor analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence. “By breaking the 100Tbps barrier and unifying scale-up and scale-out Ethernet, Broadcom’s Tomahawk 6 gives hyperscalers an open, standards-based fabric—free of proprietary lock-in—and a clear, flexible path to the next wave of AI infrastructure.”

    Join us here for the Tomahawk 6 digital launch event on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT, featuring insights from Broadcom and leading industry experts.

    Flexible Connectivity Options with Co-Packaged Optics Support

    The innovations of Tomahawk 6 extend far beyond the chip, delivering full system-level power efficiency and cost savings, enabled by Broadcom’s best-in-class SerDes and optics ecosystem. With industry-leading 200G SerDes, it provides the longest reach for passive copper interconnect, enabling high-efficiency, low-latency system design with the highest reliability and lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). The Tomahawk 6 family includes a groundbreaking option for 1,024 100G SerDes on a single chip, enabling customers to deploy AI clusters with extended copper reach and efficient use of XPUs and optics with native 100G interfaces.

    For systems requiring optical connectivity, Tomahawk 6 will also be available with co-packaged optics, providing the lowest power and latency while reducing link flaps and improving long-term reliability – essential advantages for hyperscale AI network operators. The Tomahawk 6 CPO solution builds upon the technology Broadcom delivered with CPO versions of Tomahawk 4 and 5.

    AI-Optimized Routing for Scale-Up and 1M+ XPU Scale-Out Networks

    Tomahawk 6’s architecture enables unified networks for AI training and inference at unprecedented scale. Cognitive Routing 2.0 in Tomahawk 6 features advanced telemetry, dynamic congestion control, rapid failure detection, and packet trimming, enabling global load balancing and adaptive flow control. These capabilities are tailored for modern AI workloads, including mixture-of-experts, fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, and reasoning models.

    With scale-out and scale-up networking support, Tomahawk 6 meets all networking demands for emerging 100,000 to one million XPU clusters. Leveraging Ethernet for both scale-out and scale-up interfaces offers significant advantages for network operators, enabling them to use a unified technology stack and consistent operational tools across the entire AI fabric. It also enables fungible interfaces where cloud operators can dynamically partition their XPU assets into the optimal configuration for different customer workloads.

    The momentum behind Tomahawk 6 and Ethernet for all backend networking needs      is unmistakable. Multiple deployments are planned with more than 100,000 XPUs using Tomahawk 6 for both the scale-out and scale-up interconnect.

    Open Scale-Up Innovation with the Scale Up Ethernet (SUE) Framework

    Tomahawk 6 is designed to be part of a vibrant, open scale-up Ethernet ecosystem. To this end, Broadcom is enabling the industry with open specifications for efficient scale-up interfaces for XPUs and NICs. The SUE Framework was announced by Broadcom at Open Compute Project (OCP) Dublin in April 2025 and is freely available at this link. This technology will be shared with open standards development organizations, including OCP.

    Open, End-to-End Platform for AI Infrastructure

    Broadcom’s end-to-end Ethernet AI platform includes the Tomahawk and Jericho switch families, Thor NICs, Agera retimers, Sian optical DSPs, co-packaged optics, and software development kits – delivering a complete solution for next-generation AI infrastructure.

    Tomahawk 6 is a key proof point for Broadcom’s commitment to enabling Ethernet for both scale-up and scale-out. Tomahawk 6 is Ultra Ethernet Consortium compliant and supports modern AI transports, congestion signaling, and telemetry for large, distributed training environments. It also supports arbitrary network topologies, including scale-up, Clos, rail-only, rail-optimized, and torus.

    Tomahawk 6 Series Key Benefits:

    • 102.4 Tbps of Ethernet switching in a single chip
    • Scale-up cluster size of 512 XPUs
    • 100,000+ XPUs in a two-tier scale-out network at 200 Gbps/link
    • 200G or 100G PAM4 SerDes with support for long-reach passive copper
    • Option for co-packaged optics
    • Cognitive Routing 2.0
    • Unmatched power and system efficiency for AI training and inference
    • Works with any NIC or XPU Ethernet endpoint
    • Support for arbitrary topologies, including scale-up, Clos, rail-only, rail-optimized, and torus
    • Compliant with Ultra Ethernet Consortium specifications

    To learn more about the Broadcom Tomahawk 6 family, click here. Explore the comprehensive Scale-Up/Scale-Out media kit here for resources and insights on Broadcom’s scalable solutions. For in-depth details on Broadcom’s CPO technology, click here.

    About Broadcom

    Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies a broad range of semiconductor, enterprise software and security solutions. Broadcom’s category-leading product portfolio serves critical markets including cloud, data center, networking, broadband, wireless, storage, industrial, and enterprise software. Our solutions include service provider and enterprise networking and storage, mobile device and broadband connectivity, mainframe, cybersecurity, and private and hybrid cloud infrastructure. Broadcom is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

    Broadcom, the pulse logo, and Connecting everything are among the trademarks of Broadcom. The term “Broadcom” refers to Broadcom Inc., and/or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Press Contact:

    Jon Piazza
    Global Communications
    press.relations@broadcom.com
    Telephone: +1 310 498 5254

    Industry Quotes

    Michael KT Lee, Senior Vice President of Research & Development Center, Accton
    “To keep pace with the rapid growth of AI workloads, Broadcom continues to innovate and lead the industry in speed and power of Ethernet Networking. With the 512-XPU scale-up at 200G/link for SUE, 1M+ XPUs cluster scale-out, and the leading-edge SerDes capability to support long-reach passive-copper of Tomahawk 6, Accton is excited to embrace the launch and collaborate closely with Broadcom to bring the Tomahawk 6 solutions to the market and enable open networking products with SONiC.”

    ML Chien, General Manager of Business Office, Alpha Networks
    “It has been a privilege to collaborate with Broadcom on the Tomahawk 6 platform. Not only does it scale-up and scale-out the Ethernet ecosystem, but it also enables us to offer higher reliability and lower TCO to our customers.”

    Forrest Norrod, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Data Center Solutions Group, AMD
    “As AI networking demands continue to grow, AMD is committed to advancing AI infrastructure through strategic collaborations with Broadcom and other industry leaders. Combining the AMD Infinity Fabric™ and Broadcom’s Tomahawk 6 enables the creation of massive-scale, low-latency GPU clusters that deliver the performance, scalability, and efficiency required for AI training and inference — empowering organizations to build next-generation AI infrastructure within an open ecosystem.”

    Hardev Singh, General Manager, Cloud Titans and AI, Arista Networks
    “Arista is proud of its 15 year partnership with Broadcom and collaboration on the latest Tomahawk 6 silicon combined with feature-rich Arista EOS. We are excited to leverage its low power, high radix, 1.6Tbps port speeds, and advanced packet processing capabilities for AI-aware routing, based on open Ethernet standards.”

    Shekar Ayyar, Chairman and CEO, Arrcus
    “The launch of Broadcom’s Tomahawk 6 is a major leap forward. Its impressive scale and efficiency align perfectly with Arrcus’ ArcOS-driven, high-performance ACE networking platform to meet the evolving routing and switching demands of hyperscale AI deployments. Together with Broadcom, we are enabling cloud, telecom, and enterprise customers to build flexible, distributed networks for AI data centers and edge environments.”

    Wangson Wang, General Manager of Data Networks Infrastructure BU, Delta Electronics
    “With our proven experience as the first Taiwanese company to showcase and deliver a high-performance 800G switch featuring Broadcom’s Tomahawk 5, Delta is thrilled to continue its broad collaboration with Broadcom and seamlessly transition to the next-generation Tomahawk 6 switch. With a total switching capacity of 102.4T and 224G SerDes lanes, Broadcom’s Tomahawk 6 series significantly doubles the performance of the current generation, enabling us to deliver high-density, high-performance switching platforms to meet the demanding requirements of GPU scale-up and scale-out architectures at the core of next-generation AI and cloud computing. Delta’s in-house expertise in signal integrity, power supply, and fan and cooling solutions allows us to provide fully integrated, energy-efficient switching solutions at scale.”

    Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO, IPI
    “Tomahawk 6 is the next generation in Broadcom’s series of high-performance, high-density switches. Fully realizing the benefits of this technical innovation requires performance-oriented software and an unprecedented combination of power, speed, and scale — paired with open and compatible software. This combination is tailor-made for the unique networking requirements of today’s resource-intensive applications, such as artificial intelligence and other advanced platforms, and represents a logical upgrade for networking customers.”

    Praveen Jain, SVP/GM AI Clusters and Cloud Ready Data Center, Juniper Networks
    “Broadcom’s innovative Tomahawk 6, with its open, UEC-compliant architecture and advanced SUE technology, sets a new benchmark for scale-out and scale-up networks for AI — doubling bandwidth, improving power efficiency, and enabling advanced capabilities AI clusters demand. Juniper builds on this foundation with AI-optimized Junos® software (e.g. AI load balancing), multivendor fabric management, and leading AIOps from our Mist™ AI-native networking platform — delivering a secure, high-performance solution that simplifies operations, accelerates time to value, and reduces total cost of ownership.”

    Bob Wheeler, Analyst at Large, LightCounting
    “The explosive growth in AI workloads and rapid evolution of AI models in the data center are driving million-GPU clusters and higher system complexity. Networks must be designed to support both generative AI inference and training to meet the insatiable need for bandwidth. With the launch of the Tomahawk 6 switch and its full stack of Ethernet AI innovations, Broadcom is enabling its customers and the larger ecosystem to develop the next generation of scale-out and scale-up AI networks.”     

    Andrew Qu, CTO, Micas
    “Broadcom’s Tomahawk 6 sets a new bar for AI networking, and we’re thrilled to be building next-generation switches around it. Its groundbreaking 102.4 Tbps capacity, native CPO support, and advanced network features like Cognitive Routing 2.0, congestion-aware flow control, and high-resolution telemetry are game changers for hyperscale data centers. Tomahawk 6 enables us to deliver AI and cloud networking systems that are both massively scalable and intelligently adaptive. It sets a new standard for performance, efficiency, and operational visibility at scale.”

    Jeff Jakab, Vice President of Hardware, Nokia
    “With an impressive switching capacity of 102.4Tb/s and extensive range of AI networking topologies and features, Broadcom’s Tomahawk 6 series provide a valuable tool set in support of Nokia’s expanding portfolio of modern data center switches for AI networks.”

    Vincent Ho, Chairman and CEO, Ufispace
    “Broadcom is once again setting a new standard in high performance networking with the Tomahawk 6. UfiSpace is proud to be among the first to integrate this advanced technology into our S9331-64HO 1.6T open networking platform. Our close collaboration reflects a shared vision to deliver the scale, efficiency, and innovation that today’s data center and carrier networks demand.”

    Johnson Hsu, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Connected Home BG and Networking BG, WNC
    “We’re excited to work with Broadcom on the groundbreaking Tomahawk 6. This next-generation solution delivers unmatched performance, efficiency, and scalability empowering our customers to build faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective data center networks.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: May Commercial Chapter 11 Filings Increase 62 Percent over Last Month

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Commercial chapter 11 filings totaled 733 in May, an increase of 62 percent over the 453 filings in April, according to data provided by Epiq AACER, the leading provider of U.S. bankruptcy filing data. The overall May commercial filing total of 2,695 represented an 8 percent increase from the April 2025 commercial filing total of 2,489. Small business filings, captured as subchapter V elections within chapter 11, increased 3 percent to 228 in May 2025 from 223 the previous month.

    May’s 48,218 total bankruptcy filings represented a 3 percent decrease from April’s filing total of 49,610. The 45,523 noncommercial filings in May also represented a 3 percent decrease from the April 2025 noncommercial filing total of 47,121. Consumer chapter 7 filings decreased 7 percent to 28,716 from the 30,823 chapter 7s filed in April 2025, while chapter 13 filings increased 3 percent to 16,694 over the 16,198 filings in April.

    “The sharp uptick in overall commercial chapter 11 filings in May 2025 underscores the ongoing economic pressures businesses face, from elevated borrower costs, potential tariff impacts and geopolitical uncertainty,” said Michael Hunter, vice president of Epiq AACER. “Meanwhile, consumer filings continue to climb yet remain below pre-pandemic levels; however, the resumption of student loan collections and the expiration of the FHA modification programs are likely to drive further increases in filings, particularly through the end of 2025 and into 2026.”

    Overall commercial filings registered a slight increase of 1 percent in May 2025 to 2,695 from the 2,664 commercial filings in May 2024. Commercial chapter 11 filings decreased also, as the 733 filings in May 2025 represented a 4 percent decline from the 765 filings reported in May 2024.

    The 48,218 total U.S. bankruptcy filings in May 2025 increased 7 percent from the May 2024 total of 45,025. Noncommercial bankruptcy filings also registered a 7 percent increase, to 45,523 in May 2025 from the May 2024 noncommercial total of 42,361. The number of consumers filing for chapter 7 increased 11 percent to 28,716 in May 2025 from the 25,773 who filed for chapter 7 last year, while chapter 13 filings increased 1 percent to 16,694 in May 2025 from the 16,507 chapter 13 filings in May 2024.

    “The current financial landscape presents struggling businesses and consumers with additional challenges of elevated prices, higher borrowing costs and uncertain geopolitical events,” said ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss. “Bankruptcy provides a proven process to a financial fresh start for distressed businesses and families.”

    Epiq AACER is a division of Epiq and is the leading provider of data, technology, and services for companies operating in the business of bankruptcy. Its Bankruptcy Analytics subscription service provides on-demand access to the industry’s most dynamic bankruptcy data, updated daily. Learn more at https://bankruptcy.epiqglobal.com.

    About Epiq

    Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to the legal industry and corporations, takes on large-scale, increasingly complex tasks for corporate counsel, law firms, and business professionals with efficiency, clarity, and confidence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of business operations, class action and mass tort, court reporting, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. Epiq subject-matter experts and technologies create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to high-performing clients around the world. Learn more at https://www.epiqglobal.com.

    About ABI 

    ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 10,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abi.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abi.org/calendar-of-events.

    Press Contacts 

    Carrie Trent 
    Epiq, Director of Communications 
    Carrie.Trent@epiqglobal.com

    Vicki LaBrosse
    Edge Marketing, Director of Global PR
    vlabrosse@edgemarketinginc.com

    John Hartgen 
    ABI, Public Affairs Officer
    jhartgen@abi.org

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/01db2547-f52c-490f-b923-58f9b0c6ab4a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ciroos Raises $21M to Bring Agentic AI to Operations Teams

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PLEASANTON, Calif., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ciroos, a pioneer in AI-powered operations, today announced it has raised $21 million, led by Energy Impact Partners LP (EIP), to deliver the industry’s first extensible, multi-domain AI SRE Teammate for modern enterprise operations. The company’s SRE Teammate enables site reliability engineers, DevOps and operations teams to automate, augment and drive autonomous operations to slash incident response time by 90%.

    Today’s enterprise applications are increasingly dynamic and span multiple domains. Consequently, many operations teams struggle to identify the root cause of incidents and anomalies, even when engaging hundreds of expert responders. This difficulty is largely due to an overreliance on static runbooks, dashboard-based “click operations” and siloed tooling. Furthermore, as teams incorporate AI into their applications, operational practices require modernization. Compounding these issues, while new AI tooling causes developer productivity to skyrocket, the resulting increased operational load often overwhelms already stretched SRE teams.

    With these challenges in mind, Ciroos has reimagined observability operations with an AI SRE Teammate that empowers companies to initiate investigations into anomalies proactively, often before any expert is paged. The SRE Teammate uses a multi-agent system incorporating human expert-like reasoning to understand and correlate vast amounts of cross-domain interactions to identify what is — and what isn’t — a problem. Built on the recently announced Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent 2 Agent (A2A) architectures, the SRE Teammate is extensible by allowing easy integration with third-party AI agents deployed in the enterprise. By seamlessly integrating with existing observability tools, ticketing systems, collaboration software, code repositories and incident response tools, the SRE Teammate becomes an integral part of the operations team. At all times, humans are in control, choosing their desired level of augmentation and autonomous operations on their AI journeys.

    “SREs carry a heavy burden — from middle-of-the-night incidents to hours of repetitive analysis and postmortems,” said Ronak Desai, co-founder and CEO of Ciroos. “We built our AI SRE Teammate to end that toil, fully embracing our mission to provide an AI SRE Teammate that empowers SREs to be superheroes. It achieves this by accelerating root cause identification, automating or augmenting actions, and ultimately giving them back the time, clarity and control so they can do what they do best: build, safeguard and evolve reliable systems at scale.”

    Built by Industry Experts

    Founded in February 2025 by Ronak Desai, Amit Patel and Ananda Rajagopal, Ciroos brings together executives with proven track records of scaling businesses from zero to more than $5 billion. With leadership experience in roles at Cisco, AWS and Gigamon, the founding team holds 84 patents across AI, observability, distributed systems, cloud, cybersecurity and networking. The investment will build go-to-market operations and accelerate the rollout of SRE Teammate across enterprises. The company is currently hiring AI engineers, full-stack engineers and go-to-market experts.

    “Ciroos represents a transformative approach that delivers immediate and measurable impact,” said Shawn Cherian, partner at EIP. “The team’s deep domain expertise — both on the ground working with the SREs and in leadership at global enterprises — and their vision to automate, augment and drive autonomous operations make them uniquely qualified to address challenges in this emerging space.”

    Visit ciroos.ai to schedule a demo or become part of the early access program.

    About Ciroos

    Ciroos offers an AI SRE Teammate that empowers SREs, DevOps and operations teams to be superheroes. Built from the ground up with the power of multi-agentic AI, Ciroos enables operations teams to reduce toil, investigate incidents, explain anomalies and drive autonomous operations, across complex multi-domain environments, all while leaving humans in control. Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, Ciroos is funded by Energy Impact Partners and prominent angel investors, and serves enterprises across the globe. Learn more at ciroos.ai and follow on LinkedIn and X.

    Media Contact:

    Jennifer Tanner
    Look Left Marketing
    ciroos@lookleftmarketing.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77cdf1c2-6998-4e9f-859a-0276f77e599a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ea47fa6-73d8-41b7-8da3-16385afc8617

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Paytronix Announces Nonita Verma as New GM, Changes to Executive Structure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWTON, Mass., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paytronix, an Access Group company, and the leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, has announced the appointment of technology industry veteran Nonita Verma as its new General Manager. A seasoned executive with over two decades of leadership experience, Verma brings a proven track record of scaling global platforms and driving hyper-growth. Verma’s appointment, along with changes to the executive team, will help accelerate Paytronix’s growth and provide its customers with a flexible, industry-leading guest engagement platform that meets their challenges.

    Verma previously served as a Chief Strategy Officer at Keenai Global, where she focused on their Go-to-Market strategy and operational alignment as the Wealthtech platform readied for market entry across their B2C and B2B platforms. She has an extensive financial services background dating back to 2000 at Goldman Sachs, as well as senior roles at Credit Suisse among other places.

    Verma’s connection to the hospitality industry was strengthened during her tenure at Tripadvisor, where she served as B2B General Manager and Global Head of Hotels.

    According to Access North America President Jonah Paransky, “Nonita brings a plethora of skillsets to the table that will be essential during a pivotal time in Paytronix’s history. Her leadership qualities and experience are a great complement to our executive team and are sure to enhance our guest engagement offerings in the industry.”

    “The hospitality industry is under pressure from uncertain market conditions and Paytronix is poised to help equip brands with the solutions they need to meet evolving customer expectations,” said Verma. “We’re accelerating investment in our platform while infusing it with advanced technologies like AI and new unique functionalities from Access to further enhance value we drive for our customers.”

    Additionally, other members of the Paytronix executive team have taken on new roles:

    • Former Chief Revenue Officer Charles Gray will become the VP of Product Management at Paytronix, leveraging his extensive product and technology background with NCR, California Pizza Kitchen, and Cosi to lead product development and direction.
    • Pamela Robertson, who was brought on as Chief Marketing Officer of Paytronix in late 2022, will take on a larger role in Access, becoming the VP of Marketing, Hospitality for the Americas. She will maintain her role at Paytronix, and work alongside Access’ hospitality brands in North America to unify their marketing initiatives with Paytronix and Access.
    • Digger McElligott will become VP of Sales at Paytronix.
    • Customer Success will see a new face in Philippe Mestritz, who will become Access Group’s VP of Customer Success, Hospitality for the Americas.

    For more information, reach out to Communications Manager Calen McGee.

    About Paytronix
    Paytronix, an Access Group company, is a cloud-based digital guest engagement platform for the hospitality industry. Our innovative, unified platform provides loyalty programs, online ordering, gift cards, branded mobile applications, and strategic insights to more than 1,800 leading restaurant and convenience store brands. Our valued clients leverage the power of Paytronix across 50,000 sites globally to create seamless, personalized, and brand-authentic experiences that foster lasting relationships with their customers. For more than 20 years, Paytronix has been a trusted partner helping brands maximize the lifetime value of their guests and grow more profitable businesses. For more information, visit www.paytronix.com.

    About The Access Group  

    The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered business management software providers. It provides solutions that empower more than 128,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what’s important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs approx. 8,000 people, continuously driving product innovation and customer service excellence. For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow us @TheAccessGroup

    Media Contact:
    Calen McGee
    Paytronix Systems, Inc.
    Calen.McGee@theaccessgroup.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32e6fab2-3ac0-4858-aa54-0c5c96ecde18

    The MIL Network –