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Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI: Foresight Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WINNEBAGO, Ill., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Financial Group, Inc. (OTCQX: FGFH) reported net income of $2.99 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, an 8% decrease compared to the $3.27 million reported for the second quarter of 2024, and a 307% increase compared to the $734 thousand reported for the first quarter of 2025. Diluted Earnings per Share for the second quarter was $0.82 compared to $0.94 for the second quarter of 2024 and $0.20 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The second quarter of 2025 results include $1.56 million of charter consolidation expenses, which were partially offset by nonrecurring revenue of $1.20 million related to a debit card branding agreement. The second quarter results produced a Return on Average Equity of 7.60% and Return on Average Assets of 0.75%.

    Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2025 decreased 45% to $3.72 million compared to $6.77 million for the first half of 2024. The decrease in net income reflects a $1.33 million increase in provision for loan losses, a $1.96 million impairment charge related to other investments and $1.88 million of charter consolidation expenses. Diluted Earnings per share for the first six months of 2025 was $1.03 compared to $1.94 for the half of 2024.

    Foresight CEO Peter Q. Morrison stated, “The legal consolidation of our Company’s six banking charters occurred on May 1, 2025, and the conversions of operating systems to a single platform is on track to be completed in the third and fourth quarters of this year. The charter consolidation is expected to provide significant savings via the elimination of duplicative expenses and efficiencies gained by operating under one banking platform. These efficiencies combined with more consistent credit administration practices gained through the charter consolidation will improve credit quality, earnings, and shareholder value.”  

    Net interest income for the second quarter of 2025 increased by $588 thousand, or 5%, to $12.95 million as compared to $12.36 million for the second quarter of 2024; and increased by $685 thousand, or 6%, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis increased to 3.40% compared to 3.24% in the second quarter of 2024; and 3.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2025, increased $740 thousand, or 3%, to $25.21 million compared to $24.47 million in the first six months of 2024. The net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis was 3.29% for the first six months of 2025.

    Total loans increased by $29.27 million during the quarter to $1.13 billion as of June 30, 2025 compared to $1.10 billion as of March 31, 2025; and increased $8.3 million as compared to total loans as of June 30, 2024. Total deposits decreased by $8.8 million during the second quarter to $1.38 billion as of June 30, 2025; and increased by $11.5 million as compared to total deposits as of June 30, 2024.

    The provision for loan losses for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 increased by $100 thousand to $238 thousand as compared to $138 thousand in the second quarter of the prior year; and decreased by $1.06 million compared to the first quarter of 2025. During the second quarter of 2025 loan net charge-offs totaled $2.93 million. The provision for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $1.54 million, a $1.33 million increase over the provision expense for the first half of 2024.

    Total non-performing assets of the Company as of June 30, 2025 were $28.29 million compared to $29.71 million the previous quarter, and $21.40 million as of June 30, 2024. The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets equaled 1.76% as of June 30, 2025 compared to 1.83% as of March 31, 2025 and 1.34% as of June 30, 2024.

    Noninterest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 increased $1.35 million to $3.0 million compared to $1.66 million in the second quarter of the prior year. The increase is primarily attributable to $1.2 million of non-recurring revenue received under a debit card branding agreement.

    Noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2025 increased by $1.61 million to $4.95 million compared to $3.33 million the first half of 2024. This increase includes the $1.2 million non-recurring revenue received under the debit card branding agreement.

    Noninterest expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 totaled $11.95 million, a $2.31 million increase over $9.64 million in the second quarter of 2024; and a $234 thousand decrease from the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The increase in operating expenses over the second quarter of 2024 includes $1.56 million in charter consolidation expenses, including $57 thousand in salary and benefits, $143 thousand in outside services and $1.36 million in other expenses, which is primarily related to data system conversions.

    Noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2025 increased by $5.34 million to $24.13 million compared to $18.79 million the first half of 2024. This increase in noninterest expense includes $1.88 million in charter consolidation expenses and a $1.96 million impairment charge related to a nonmarketable equity investment.

    The closing price for the Company’s stock was $31.50, as of the close of business April 16, 2025. Tangible book value per share of the Company’s common stock increased by $1.78 and $2.82 to $44.37 as of June 30, 2025, compared to $42.59 and $41.55 as of December 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively. The tangible book value per share of the Company’s common stock, excluding Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income was $52.43 as of June 30, 2025, compared to $51.79 at the end of 2024 and $51.36 as of June 30, 2024.

    About Foresight Financial Group, Inc.

    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Winnebago County, Illinois and is the parent company of Foresight Bank, which operates in Northern Illinois under its divisional names Northwest Bank of Rockford, State Bank in Freeport, State Bank of Davis, German American State Bank in German Valley, Winnebago and Pecatonica, Lena State Bank, and the State Bank of Herscher. Foresight’s common stock is listed on the “OTCQX” market under the trading symbol FGFH.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    When used in this communication, the words “believes,” “expects,” “likely”, “would”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause such a variance to occur include, but are not limited to: heightened competition; adverse state and federal regulation; failure to obtain new or retain existing customers; ability to attract and retain key executives and personnel; changes in interest rates; unanticipated changes in industry trends; unanticipated changes in credit quality and risk factors, including general economic conditions particularly in the Company’s markets; potential deterioration in real estate values, success in gaining regulatory approvals when required; changes in the Federal Reserve Board monetary policies; unexpected outcomes of new and existing litigation in which the Company, or its subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees is named defendants; technological changes; changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; changes in assumptions or conditions affecting the application of “critical accounting policies”; inability to recover previously recorded losses as anticipated, and the inability of third party vendors to perform critical services for the Company or its customers. The inclusion of forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that future events or plans contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or otherwise.

    Peter Morrison  Todd James
    Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
    (815) 847-7500 (815) 847-7500
           
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024
    (Unaudited)      
      June 30,   December 31,
    Assets   2025       2024  
      (in thousands, except per share data)
    Cash and due from banks $ 28,002     $ 16,905  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks   13,025       45,357  
    Federal funds sold   787       1,738  
    Total cash and cash equivalents   41,814       64,000  
           
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks – term deposits   2,259       4,434  
    Debt securities:      
    Debt securities available-for-sale (AFS)   361,146       369,945  
    Debt securities held-to-maturity (HTM)   3,263       3,263  
    Marketable equity securities and other investments   5,446       7,592  
    Loans held for sale   480       852  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   1,116,498       1,100,657  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   703       –  
    Premises and equipment, net   16,889       17,125  
    Bank owned life insurance   24,646       24,459  
    Other assets   37,870       40,892  
    Total assets $ 1,611,014     $ 1,633,219  
           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
           
    Liabilities:      
    Deposits:      
    Noninterest-bearing $ 247,002     $ 249,076  
    Interest-bearing   1,136,961       1,151,627  
    Total deposits   1,383,963       1,400,703  
    Federal funds purchased   –       5,804  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   12,466       15,017  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and other borrowings   39,889       40,911  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   14,737       17,386  
    Total liabilities   1,451,055       1,479,821  
           
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock   –       –  
    Common stock   1,062       1,060  
    Additional paid-in capital   16,704       16,482  
    Retained earnings   187,237       184,961  
    Treasury stock, at cost   (16,013 )     (16,008 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (29,031 )     (33,097 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   159,959       153,398  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,611,014     $ 1,633,219  
           
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries   
    Consolidated Statements of Income   
    (Unaudited)      
           
      Six Months Ended June 30,
        2025       2024  
      (in thousands, except per share data)
    Interest and dividend income:      
    Loans, including fees $ 34,657     $ 34,092  
    Debt securities:      
    Taxable   4,059       3,578  
    Tax-exempt   802       831  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks and other   933       1,099  
    Federal funds sold   8       69  
    Total interest income   40,459       39,669  
    Interest expense:      
    Deposits   14,464       14,329  
    Federal funds purchased   2       28  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   111       218  
    FHLB and other borrowings   669       621  
    Total interest expense   15,246       15,196  
    Net interest income   25,213       24,473  
    Provision for credit losses   1,536       202  
    Net interest and dividend income,      
    after provision for credit losses   23,677       24,271  
           
    Noninterest income:      
    Customer service fees   893       684  
    Loss on sales and calls of AFS securities, net   0       -111  
    Gain on sale of loans, net   163       287  
    Loan servicing fees, net   535       155  
    Bank owned life insurance   334       379  
    ATM / interchange fees   1,049       1,057  
    Other   1,971       882  
    Total noninterest income   4,945       3,333  
           
    Noninterest expenses:      
    Salaries and employee benefits   12,610       11,985  
    Occupancy expense of premises, net   1,398       1,225  
    Outside services   1,088       765  
    Data processing   1,936       1,432  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   0       6  
    Other   7,096       3,372  
    Total noninterest expenses   24,128       18,785  
           
    Income before income taxes   4,494       8,819  
    Income tax expense   772       2,045  
           
    Net income $ 3,722     $ 6,774  
           
    Earnings per common share:      
    Basic $ 1.03     $ 1.95  
    Diluted $ 1.03     $ 1.94  
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
    (Unaudited)                  
                       
      For the Quarter Ended
      June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
    Interest and dividend income:                  
    Loans, including fees $ 17,739     $ 16,918     $ 17,249     $ 17,943     $ 17,394  
    Interest on investment securities   2,394       2,467       2,269       2,183       2,236  
    Interest on fed funds sold and other deposits   285       656       818       573       625  
    Total interest income   20,418       20,041       20,336       20,699       20,255  
    Interest expense:                  
    Deposits   7,099       7,365       7,641       7,885       7,448  
    Federal funds purchased   –       5       7       29       8  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   39       72       132       134       103  
    FHLB and other borrowings   331       335       328       365       335  
    Total interest expense   7,469       7,777       8,108       8,413       7,894  
    Net interest income   12,949       12,264       12,228       12,286       12,361  
    Provision for credit losses   238       1,298       665       185       138  
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses   12,711       10,966       11,563       12,101       12,223  
                       
    Noninterest income:                  
    Customer service fees   551       342       371       366       342  
    Net securities gains (losses)   –       –       –       –       –  
    Gain on sale of loans, net   26       137       182       303       183  
    Loan servicing fees, net   226       309       192       (98 )     86  
    Bank owned life insurance   177       157       160       571       163  
    ATM / debit card revenue   555       494       539       547       550  
    Other   1,468       503       429       298       334  
    Total noninterest income   3,003       1,942       1,873       1,987       1,658  
                       
    Noninterest expenses:                  
    Salaries and employee benefits   6,408       6,202       6,383       6,302       6,230  
    Occupancy expense of premises, net   796       602       587       592       587  
    Outside services   422       666       435       411       391  
    Data processing   1,205       731       968       788       716  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   –       –       –       6       6  
    Other   3,116       3,980       1,878       1,759       1,709  
    Total noninterest expenses   11,947       12,181       10,251       9,858       9,639  
    Income before income taxes   3,767       727       3,185       4,230       4,240  
    Income tax expense   779       (7 )     692       833       975  
    Net income $ 2,988     $ 734     $ 2,493     $ 3,397     $ 3,265  
                       
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries         
    Consolidated Balance Sheets         
    (Unaudited)                  
      As of
      June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
    Assets                  
    Cash and due from banks $ 28,002     $ 19,996     $ 16,905     $ 30,162     $ 21,290  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks   13,025       46,118       45,357       20,040       11,196  
    Federal funds sold   787       452       1,738       2,183       3,433  
    Total cash and cash equivalents   41,814       66,566       64,000       52,385       35,919  
                       
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks – term deposits   2,259       2,466       4,434       5,169       4,983  
    Debt securities:                  
    Debt securities available-for-sale (AFS)   361,146       380,667       369,945       368,386       359,762  
    Debt securities held-to-maturity (HTM)   3,263       3,263       3,263       3,616       3,609  
    Marketable equity securities and other investments   5,446       5,671       7,592       6,738       6,215  
    Loans held for sale   480       573       852       794       480  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   1,116,498       1,084,761       1,100,657       1,102,342       1,107,199  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   703       –       –       –       68  
    Premises and equipment, net   16,889       16,978       17,125       17,125       17,234  
    Bank owned life insurance   24,646       24,615       24,459       24,300       24,653  
    Other assets   37,870       40,519       40,892       39,350       39,550  
    Total assets $ 1,611,014     $ 1,626,079     $ 1,633,219     $ 1,620,205     $ 1,599,672  
                       
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                  
    Liabilities:                  
    Deposits:                  
    Noninterest-bearing $ 247,002     $ 250,709     $ 249,076     $ 237,685     $ 244,414  
    Interest-bearing   1,136,961       1,142,009       1,151,627       1,138,578       1,128,081  
    Total deposits   1,383,963       1,392,718       1,400,703       1,376,263       1,372,495  
    Federal funds purchased   –       55       5,804       4,764       6,053  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   12,466       21,095       15,017       23,381       21,930  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and other borrowings   39,889       37,810       40,911       39,174       39,293  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   14,737       16,670       17,386       16,970       16,674  
    Total liabilities   1,451,055       1,468,348       1,479,821       1,460,552       1,456,445  
    Stockholders’ equity:                  
    Preferred stock   –       –       –       –       –  
    Common stock   1,062       1,060       1,060       1,060       1,022  
    Additional paid-in capital   16,704       16,482       16,482       16,445       11,660  
    Retained earnings   187,237       184,972       184,961       183,118       180,346  
    Treasury stock, at cost   (16,013 )     (16,008 )     (16,008 )     (16,008 )     (16,008 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (29,031 )     (28,775 )     (33,097 )     (24,963 )     (33,793 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   159,959       157,731       153,398       159,653       143,227  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,611,014     $ 1,626,079     $ 1,633,219     $ 1,620,205     $ 1,599,672  
                       
    KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS         
    (Unaudited)                  
      As of and for the Quarter Ended
      June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
                       
    Basic earnings per common share $ 0.83     $ 0.20     $ 0.69     $ 0.97     $ 0.95  
    Diluted earnings per common share   0.82       0.20       0.69       0.97       0.94  
    Dividends per common share       0.20       0.18       0.18       0.18  
                       
    Book value per common share   44.41       43.84       42.63       44.38       41.59  
    Tangible book value per common share   44.37       43.80       42.59       44.34       41.55  
    Tangible book value, excluding AOCI, per share   52.43       51.80       51.79       51.28       51.36  
    End of period shares outstanding   3,606,087       3,598,042       3,598,042       3,597,418       3,443,937  
    Average number of shares outstanding   3,606,137       3,598,042       3,597,478       3,494,270       3,450,527  
                       
    Return on average assets   0.75%       0.21%       0.58%       0.82%       0.82%  
    Return on average equity   7.60%       2.18%       6.08%       8.83%       9.40%  
    Net interest margin, tax equivalent   3.40%       3.25%       3.14%       3.21%       3.24%  
    Efficiency ratio, tax equivalent   73.61%       83.72%       72.58       68.97       68.13  
    ASSET QUALITY DATA         
    (Unaudited) As of
    (Amounts in thousands) June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
                       
    Nonaccrual Loans   25,939       28,564       28,175       23,653       21,366  
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more   688       185       230       680       32  
    Total non-performing loans   26,627       28,749       28,405       24,333       21,398  
    Other real estate owned and other assets   703       6       13       7       –  
    Impaired other investments   961       961       –       –       –  
    Total non-performing Assets   28,291       29,716       28,418       24,340       21,398  
                       
    Total Loans   1,130,124       1,100,853       1,115,351       1,117,022       1,121,742  
    Allowance for credit losses   13,626       16,092       14,694       14,678       14,543  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   1,116,498       1,084,761       1,100,657       1,102,344       1,107,199  
                       
    Nonperforming assets tototal assets   1.76%       1.83%       1.74%       1.50%       1.34%  
    Nonperforming loans to total loans   2.36%       2.61%       2.55%       2.18%       1.91%  
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans   1.21%       1.46%       1.32%       1.31%       1.30%  
    Allowance for credit losses to noperforming loans   51.17%       55.97%       51.73%       60.32%       67.96%  
                       

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Foresight Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WINNEBAGO, Ill., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Financial Group, Inc. (OTCQX: FGFH) reported net income of $2.99 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, an 8% decrease compared to the $3.27 million reported for the second quarter of 2024, and a 307% increase compared to the $734 thousand reported for the first quarter of 2025. Diluted Earnings per Share for the second quarter was $0.82 compared to $0.94 for the second quarter of 2024 and $0.20 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The second quarter of 2025 results include $1.56 million of charter consolidation expenses, which were partially offset by nonrecurring revenue of $1.20 million related to a debit card branding agreement. The second quarter results produced a Return on Average Equity of 7.60% and Return on Average Assets of 0.75%.

    Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2025 decreased 45% to $3.72 million compared to $6.77 million for the first half of 2024. The decrease in net income reflects a $1.33 million increase in provision for loan losses, a $1.96 million impairment charge related to other investments and $1.88 million of charter consolidation expenses. Diluted Earnings per share for the first six months of 2025 was $1.03 compared to $1.94 for the half of 2024.

    Foresight CEO Peter Q. Morrison stated, “The legal consolidation of our Company’s six banking charters occurred on May 1, 2025, and the conversions of operating systems to a single platform is on track to be completed in the third and fourth quarters of this year. The charter consolidation is expected to provide significant savings via the elimination of duplicative expenses and efficiencies gained by operating under one banking platform. These efficiencies combined with more consistent credit administration practices gained through the charter consolidation will improve credit quality, earnings, and shareholder value.”  

    Net interest income for the second quarter of 2025 increased by $588 thousand, or 5%, to $12.95 million as compared to $12.36 million for the second quarter of 2024; and increased by $685 thousand, or 6%, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis increased to 3.40% compared to 3.24% in the second quarter of 2024; and 3.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2025, increased $740 thousand, or 3%, to $25.21 million compared to $24.47 million in the first six months of 2024. The net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis was 3.29% for the first six months of 2025.

    Total loans increased by $29.27 million during the quarter to $1.13 billion as of June 30, 2025 compared to $1.10 billion as of March 31, 2025; and increased $8.3 million as compared to total loans as of June 30, 2024. Total deposits decreased by $8.8 million during the second quarter to $1.38 billion as of June 30, 2025; and increased by $11.5 million as compared to total deposits as of June 30, 2024.

    The provision for loan losses for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 increased by $100 thousand to $238 thousand as compared to $138 thousand in the second quarter of the prior year; and decreased by $1.06 million compared to the first quarter of 2025. During the second quarter of 2025 loan net charge-offs totaled $2.93 million. The provision for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $1.54 million, a $1.33 million increase over the provision expense for the first half of 2024.

    Total non-performing assets of the Company as of June 30, 2025 were $28.29 million compared to $29.71 million the previous quarter, and $21.40 million as of June 30, 2024. The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets equaled 1.76% as of June 30, 2025 compared to 1.83% as of March 31, 2025 and 1.34% as of June 30, 2024.

    Noninterest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 increased $1.35 million to $3.0 million compared to $1.66 million in the second quarter of the prior year. The increase is primarily attributable to $1.2 million of non-recurring revenue received under a debit card branding agreement.

    Noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2025 increased by $1.61 million to $4.95 million compared to $3.33 million the first half of 2024. This increase includes the $1.2 million non-recurring revenue received under the debit card branding agreement.

    Noninterest expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 totaled $11.95 million, a $2.31 million increase over $9.64 million in the second quarter of 2024; and a $234 thousand decrease from the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The increase in operating expenses over the second quarter of 2024 includes $1.56 million in charter consolidation expenses, including $57 thousand in salary and benefits, $143 thousand in outside services and $1.36 million in other expenses, which is primarily related to data system conversions.

    Noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2025 increased by $5.34 million to $24.13 million compared to $18.79 million the first half of 2024. This increase in noninterest expense includes $1.88 million in charter consolidation expenses and a $1.96 million impairment charge related to a nonmarketable equity investment.

    The closing price for the Company’s stock was $31.50, as of the close of business April 16, 2025. Tangible book value per share of the Company’s common stock increased by $1.78 and $2.82 to $44.37 as of June 30, 2025, compared to $42.59 and $41.55 as of December 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively. The tangible book value per share of the Company’s common stock, excluding Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income was $52.43 as of June 30, 2025, compared to $51.79 at the end of 2024 and $51.36 as of June 30, 2024.

    About Foresight Financial Group, Inc.

    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Winnebago County, Illinois and is the parent company of Foresight Bank, which operates in Northern Illinois under its divisional names Northwest Bank of Rockford, State Bank in Freeport, State Bank of Davis, German American State Bank in German Valley, Winnebago and Pecatonica, Lena State Bank, and the State Bank of Herscher. Foresight’s common stock is listed on the “OTCQX” market under the trading symbol FGFH.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    When used in this communication, the words “believes,” “expects,” “likely”, “would”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause such a variance to occur include, but are not limited to: heightened competition; adverse state and federal regulation; failure to obtain new or retain existing customers; ability to attract and retain key executives and personnel; changes in interest rates; unanticipated changes in industry trends; unanticipated changes in credit quality and risk factors, including general economic conditions particularly in the Company’s markets; potential deterioration in real estate values, success in gaining regulatory approvals when required; changes in the Federal Reserve Board monetary policies; unexpected outcomes of new and existing litigation in which the Company, or its subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees is named defendants; technological changes; changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; changes in assumptions or conditions affecting the application of “critical accounting policies”; inability to recover previously recorded losses as anticipated, and the inability of third party vendors to perform critical services for the Company or its customers. The inclusion of forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that future events or plans contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or otherwise.

    Peter Morrison  Todd James
    Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
    (815) 847-7500 (815) 847-7500
           
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024
    (Unaudited)      
      June 30,   December 31,
    Assets   2025       2024  
      (in thousands, except per share data)
    Cash and due from banks $ 28,002     $ 16,905  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks   13,025       45,357  
    Federal funds sold   787       1,738  
    Total cash and cash equivalents   41,814       64,000  
           
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks – term deposits   2,259       4,434  
    Debt securities:      
    Debt securities available-for-sale (AFS)   361,146       369,945  
    Debt securities held-to-maturity (HTM)   3,263       3,263  
    Marketable equity securities and other investments   5,446       7,592  
    Loans held for sale   480       852  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   1,116,498       1,100,657  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   703       –  
    Premises and equipment, net   16,889       17,125  
    Bank owned life insurance   24,646       24,459  
    Other assets   37,870       40,892  
    Total assets $ 1,611,014     $ 1,633,219  
           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
           
    Liabilities:      
    Deposits:      
    Noninterest-bearing $ 247,002     $ 249,076  
    Interest-bearing   1,136,961       1,151,627  
    Total deposits   1,383,963       1,400,703  
    Federal funds purchased   –       5,804  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   12,466       15,017  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and other borrowings   39,889       40,911  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   14,737       17,386  
    Total liabilities   1,451,055       1,479,821  
           
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock   –       –  
    Common stock   1,062       1,060  
    Additional paid-in capital   16,704       16,482  
    Retained earnings   187,237       184,961  
    Treasury stock, at cost   (16,013 )     (16,008 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (29,031 )     (33,097 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   159,959       153,398  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,611,014     $ 1,633,219  
           
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries   
    Consolidated Statements of Income   
    (Unaudited)      
           
      Six Months Ended June 30,
        2025       2024  
      (in thousands, except per share data)
    Interest and dividend income:      
    Loans, including fees $ 34,657     $ 34,092  
    Debt securities:      
    Taxable   4,059       3,578  
    Tax-exempt   802       831  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks and other   933       1,099  
    Federal funds sold   8       69  
    Total interest income   40,459       39,669  
    Interest expense:      
    Deposits   14,464       14,329  
    Federal funds purchased   2       28  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   111       218  
    FHLB and other borrowings   669       621  
    Total interest expense   15,246       15,196  
    Net interest income   25,213       24,473  
    Provision for credit losses   1,536       202  
    Net interest and dividend income,      
    after provision for credit losses   23,677       24,271  
           
    Noninterest income:      
    Customer service fees   893       684  
    Loss on sales and calls of AFS securities, net   0       -111  
    Gain on sale of loans, net   163       287  
    Loan servicing fees, net   535       155  
    Bank owned life insurance   334       379  
    ATM / interchange fees   1,049       1,057  
    Other   1,971       882  
    Total noninterest income   4,945       3,333  
           
    Noninterest expenses:      
    Salaries and employee benefits   12,610       11,985  
    Occupancy expense of premises, net   1,398       1,225  
    Outside services   1,088       765  
    Data processing   1,936       1,432  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   0       6  
    Other   7,096       3,372  
    Total noninterest expenses   24,128       18,785  
           
    Income before income taxes   4,494       8,819  
    Income tax expense   772       2,045  
           
    Net income $ 3,722     $ 6,774  
           
    Earnings per common share:      
    Basic $ 1.03     $ 1.95  
    Diluted $ 1.03     $ 1.94  
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
    (Unaudited)                  
                       
      For the Quarter Ended
      June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
    Interest and dividend income:                  
    Loans, including fees $ 17,739     $ 16,918     $ 17,249     $ 17,943     $ 17,394  
    Interest on investment securities   2,394       2,467       2,269       2,183       2,236  
    Interest on fed funds sold and other deposits   285       656       818       573       625  
    Total interest income   20,418       20,041       20,336       20,699       20,255  
    Interest expense:                  
    Deposits   7,099       7,365       7,641       7,885       7,448  
    Federal funds purchased   –       5       7       29       8  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   39       72       132       134       103  
    FHLB and other borrowings   331       335       328       365       335  
    Total interest expense   7,469       7,777       8,108       8,413       7,894  
    Net interest income   12,949       12,264       12,228       12,286       12,361  
    Provision for credit losses   238       1,298       665       185       138  
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses   12,711       10,966       11,563       12,101       12,223  
                       
    Noninterest income:                  
    Customer service fees   551       342       371       366       342  
    Net securities gains (losses)   –       –       –       –       –  
    Gain on sale of loans, net   26       137       182       303       183  
    Loan servicing fees, net   226       309       192       (98 )     86  
    Bank owned life insurance   177       157       160       571       163  
    ATM / debit card revenue   555       494       539       547       550  
    Other   1,468       503       429       298       334  
    Total noninterest income   3,003       1,942       1,873       1,987       1,658  
                       
    Noninterest expenses:                  
    Salaries and employee benefits   6,408       6,202       6,383       6,302       6,230  
    Occupancy expense of premises, net   796       602       587       592       587  
    Outside services   422       666       435       411       391  
    Data processing   1,205       731       968       788       716  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   –       –       –       6       6  
    Other   3,116       3,980       1,878       1,759       1,709  
    Total noninterest expenses   11,947       12,181       10,251       9,858       9,639  
    Income before income taxes   3,767       727       3,185       4,230       4,240  
    Income tax expense   779       (7 )     692       833       975  
    Net income $ 2,988     $ 734     $ 2,493     $ 3,397     $ 3,265  
                       
    Foresight Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries         
    Consolidated Balance Sheets         
    (Unaudited)                  
      As of
      June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
    Assets                  
    Cash and due from banks $ 28,002     $ 19,996     $ 16,905     $ 30,162     $ 21,290  
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks   13,025       46,118       45,357       20,040       11,196  
    Federal funds sold   787       452       1,738       2,183       3,433  
    Total cash and cash equivalents   41,814       66,566       64,000       52,385       35,919  
                       
    Interest-bearing deposits in banks – term deposits   2,259       2,466       4,434       5,169       4,983  
    Debt securities:                  
    Debt securities available-for-sale (AFS)   361,146       380,667       369,945       368,386       359,762  
    Debt securities held-to-maturity (HTM)   3,263       3,263       3,263       3,616       3,609  
    Marketable equity securities and other investments   5,446       5,671       7,592       6,738       6,215  
    Loans held for sale   480       573       852       794       480  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   1,116,498       1,084,761       1,100,657       1,102,342       1,107,199  
    Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned, net   703       –       –       –       68  
    Premises and equipment, net   16,889       16,978       17,125       17,125       17,234  
    Bank owned life insurance   24,646       24,615       24,459       24,300       24,653  
    Other assets   37,870       40,519       40,892       39,350       39,550  
    Total assets $ 1,611,014     $ 1,626,079     $ 1,633,219     $ 1,620,205     $ 1,599,672  
                       
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                  
    Liabilities:                  
    Deposits:                  
    Noninterest-bearing $ 247,002     $ 250,709     $ 249,076     $ 237,685     $ 244,414  
    Interest-bearing   1,136,961       1,142,009       1,151,627       1,138,578       1,128,081  
    Total deposits   1,383,963       1,392,718       1,400,703       1,376,263       1,372,495  
    Federal funds purchased   –       55       5,804       4,764       6,053  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   12,466       21,095       15,017       23,381       21,930  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and other borrowings   39,889       37,810       40,911       39,174       39,293  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   14,737       16,670       17,386       16,970       16,674  
    Total liabilities   1,451,055       1,468,348       1,479,821       1,460,552       1,456,445  
    Stockholders’ equity:                  
    Preferred stock   –       –       –       –       –  
    Common stock   1,062       1,060       1,060       1,060       1,022  
    Additional paid-in capital   16,704       16,482       16,482       16,445       11,660  
    Retained earnings   187,237       184,972       184,961       183,118       180,346  
    Treasury stock, at cost   (16,013 )     (16,008 )     (16,008 )     (16,008 )     (16,008 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (29,031 )     (28,775 )     (33,097 )     (24,963 )     (33,793 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   159,959       157,731       153,398       159,653       143,227  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,611,014     $ 1,626,079     $ 1,633,219     $ 1,620,205     $ 1,599,672  
                       
    KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS         
    (Unaudited)                  
      As of and for the Quarter Ended
      June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
                       
    Basic earnings per common share $ 0.83     $ 0.20     $ 0.69     $ 0.97     $ 0.95  
    Diluted earnings per common share   0.82       0.20       0.69       0.97       0.94  
    Dividends per common share       0.20       0.18       0.18       0.18  
                       
    Book value per common share   44.41       43.84       42.63       44.38       41.59  
    Tangible book value per common share   44.37       43.80       42.59       44.34       41.55  
    Tangible book value, excluding AOCI, per share   52.43       51.80       51.79       51.28       51.36  
    End of period shares outstanding   3,606,087       3,598,042       3,598,042       3,597,418       3,443,937  
    Average number of shares outstanding   3,606,137       3,598,042       3,597,478       3,494,270       3,450,527  
                       
    Return on average assets   0.75%       0.21%       0.58%       0.82%       0.82%  
    Return on average equity   7.60%       2.18%       6.08%       8.83%       9.40%  
    Net interest margin, tax equivalent   3.40%       3.25%       3.14%       3.21%       3.24%  
    Efficiency ratio, tax equivalent   73.61%       83.72%       72.58       68.97       68.13  
    ASSET QUALITY DATA         
    (Unaudited) As of
    (Amounts in thousands) June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024  
                       
    Nonaccrual Loans   25,939       28,564       28,175       23,653       21,366  
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more   688       185       230       680       32  
    Total non-performing loans   26,627       28,749       28,405       24,333       21,398  
    Other real estate owned and other assets   703       6       13       7       –  
    Impaired other investments   961       961       –       –       –  
    Total non-performing Assets   28,291       29,716       28,418       24,340       21,398  
                       
    Total Loans   1,130,124       1,100,853       1,115,351       1,117,022       1,121,742  
    Allowance for credit losses   13,626       16,092       14,694       14,678       14,543  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses   1,116,498       1,084,761       1,100,657       1,102,344       1,107,199  
                       
    Nonperforming assets tototal assets   1.76%       1.83%       1.74%       1.50%       1.34%  
    Nonperforming loans to total loans   2.36%       2.61%       2.55%       2.18%       1.91%  
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans   1.21%       1.46%       1.32%       1.31%       1.30%  
    Allowance for credit losses to noperforming loans   51.17%       55.97%       51.73%       60.32%       67.96%  
                       

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: AIXA Miner Launches XRP-Based Daily Income Model through One-Click BTC Cloud Mining Access

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, Colorado, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AIXA Miner, a next-generation cloud mining platform, has announced a strategic upgrade that enables XRP holders to generate daily income by participating in Bitcoin (BTC) cloud mining, with zero need for hardware, technical setup, or manual execution. This innovation is built upon the company’s high-performance computing infrastructure, automated reward engine, and fully compliant operational model.

    The new feature allows users to recharge their XRP directly into the AIXA Miner platform, select a cloud mining contract, and activate it with a single click. Earnings are calculated and distributed automatically via smart contract, providing a frictionless, secure, and transparent income stream that settles in real time.

    “Our vision has always been to remove complexity from the mining process while expanding access to sustainable crypto income,” said a spokesperson from AIXA Miner’s Engineering and Innovation Division. “This XRP-to-BTC model represents a major step in that direction—offering ease of use, consistent rewards, and global scalability.”

    The platform’s “remote start, real-time settlement” system bridges the gap between utility tokens and traditional mining assets, unlocking new value for XRP holders who may not have previously engaged in mining due to technical or financial barriers. AIXA Miner’s automated backend handles all aspects of the mining lifecycle: resource allocation, reward calculation, transaction processing, and energy load balancing.

    At the heart of this offering is a scalable AI-driven infrastructure designed to maximize mining output while minimizing downtime and operational waste. Users can begin participating by simply selecting their XRP deposit amount and preferred contract duration. Once activated, the smart contract immediately begins routing power toward BTC mining, and users receive daily payouts without further input.

    The ability to leverage XRP for BTC mining is particularly relevant in today’s dynamic crypto landscape. XRP’s fast transaction speed and low fees make it an ideal vehicle for initiating on-chain actions, while BTC continues to serve as the leading proof-of-work asset with consistent block rewards and market stability.

    This convergence is managed entirely through AIXA Miner’s platform, which serves as an intelligent orchestration layer. All contracts are executed under a compliant framework, with built-in safeguards for reward delivery, user data protection, and asset traceability. The company operates under strict protocols for transparency, offering users real-time access to performance metrics and income histories via its dashboard.

    AIXA Miner’s global data centers are powered primarily by clean energy sources, including hydroelectric, solar, and wind. These facilities—located strategically in the U.S., Southeast Asia, and South America—form the backbone of the company’s sustainable cloud mining architecture. As the energy demands of BTC mining continue to rise, AIXA Miner’s use of renewable resources ensures that scalability does not come at the expense of environmental integrity.

    In line with the platform’s commitment to green blockchain innovation, users participating in XRP-initiated contracts will also have access to insights about energy sourcing and sustainability data linked to each mining location. This transparency supports a growing demand from environmentally conscious participants who value ethical practices in digital finance.

    The new XRP-based mining plans come with varied durations, allowing users to select short, medium, or longer-term commitments based on their liquidity and earnings preferences. The flexibility of these contracts reflects AIXA Miner’s mission to serve a broad spectrum of users—from first-time participants to seasoned crypto investors seeking high profit platforms that are automated, secure, and optimized.

    By removing the need to invest in expensive hardware, configure mining pools, or maintain physical equipment, AIXA Miner simplifies the entry point to passive income generation. The only requirement is an XRP balance and a few minutes to complete the contract initiation process. From there, daily rewards begin accumulating immediately and are delivered automatically, 24/7.

    “This integration makes it possible for users to transform their XRP holdings into a reliable income channel without selling their assets or engaging in high-risk market behavior,” the spokesperson added. “It’s a utility upgrade, a compliance upgrade, and a user experience upgrade—wrapped into one.”

    With this feature now live, AIXA Miner continues to lead the evolution of intelligent, accessible crypto infrastructure, designed to support long-term growth through automation, sustainability, and global interoperability.

    Media Contact:
    PR Division
    info@aixaminer.com
    https://aixaminer.com

    Attachment

    • AIXA Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Creatd’s Flyte Introduces Jet Card Membership Program, Featuring Cryptocurrency Payment Option

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Flyte Jet Card launches as a premium loyalty program offering guaranteed jet access, fixed hourly rates, and no hidden fees across a curated fleet of private aircraft.
    • Program introduces Bitcoin as a payment option, reflecting Flyte’s commitment to financial flexibility and innovation.
    • Launch supports Creatd, Inc.’s broader strategy to expand digital asset infrastructure among its portfolio.

    NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Creatd, Inc. (OTC: CRTD) today announced that its aviation subsidiary, Flyte, Inc., has officially launched the Flyte Jet Card, a premium members loyalty program. The program is designed to provide frequent flyers with a streamlined, predictable, and elevated private aviation experience.

    The Flyte Jet Card gives members access to a curated fleet of luxury aircraft, with benefits including guaranteed aircraft availability, fixed hourly pricing, and complementary services. Membership is structured to meet the needs of high-frequency travelers seeking consistency, simplicity, and premium service.

    In line with Flyte’s customer-centric approach, the program will also accept Bitcoin as a payment method, providing clients with additional flexibility. This feature places Flyte as one of the only private aviation providers that accept cryptocurrency, and supports Creatd’s broader strategy to build a long-term Bitcoin treasury position.

    “The launch of the Flyte Jet Card represents the next evolution in our aviation business,” said Jeremy Frommer, CEO of Creatd, Inc. “This program is designed for clients who demand reliability, efficiency, and luxury. By accepting Bitcoin, we’re giving our members another layer of choice while aligning with the way high-net-worth individuals are managing their assets today.”

    “As we continue building infrastructure across our portfolio, we are prioritizing services that match the pace and preferences of today’s most discerning travelers,” Frommer added. “Flyte sits at the intersection of convenience, technology, and financial innovation.”

    About Creatd, Inc.
    Creatd, Inc. focuses on investments and operations across technology, media, aviation, advertising, and consumer sectors. By leveraging its expertise in structured finance and acquisitions, Creatd identifies and nurtures opportunities within small-cap companies, driving growth and innovation across its diverse portfolio.

    About Flyte, Inc.
    Flyte is an air mobility company redefining private air travel through AI-powered infrastructure and user-centered design. Flyte operates Flyte Hops, a regional air taxi service, as well as Flyte Luxe, a premium global charter service.

    For investor inquiries, contact:
    ir@creatd.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Microbes in deep-sea volcanoes can help scientists learn about early life on Earth, or even life beyond our planet

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James F. Holden, Professor of Microbiology, UMass Amherst

    A submersible, which travels to the seafloor to collect rock and microbe samples, is lifted by the arm of a research vessel. James F. Holden

    People have long wondered what life was first like on Earth, and if there is life in our solar system beyond our planet. Scientists have reason to believe that some of the moons in our solar system – like Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus – may contain deep, salty liquid oceans under an icy shell. Seafloor volcanoes could heat these moons’ oceans and provide the basic chemicals needed for life.

    Similar deep-sea volcanoes found on Earth support microbial life that lives inside solid rock without sunlight and oxygen. Some of these microbes, called thermophiles, live at temperatures hot enough to boil water on the surface. They grow from the chemicals coming out of active volcanoes.

    Because these microorganisms existed before there was photosynthesis or oxygen on Earth, scientists think these deep-sea volcanoes and microbes could resemble the earliest habitats and life on Earth, and beyond.

    To determine if life could exist beyond Earth in these ocean worlds, NASA sent the Cassini spacecraft to orbit Saturn in 1997. The agency has also sent three spacecraft to orbit Jupiter: Galileo in 1989, Juno in 2011 and most recently Europa Clipper in 2024. These spacecraft flew and will fly close to Enceladus and Europa to measure their habitability for life using a suite of instruments.

    A diagram of the interior of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which may have hot plumes beneath its ocean.
    Surface: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute; interior: LPG-CNRS/U. Nantes/U. Angers. Graphic composition: ESA

    However, for planetary scientists to interpret the data they collect, they need to first understand how similar habitats function and host life on Earth.

    My microbiology laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studies thermophiles from hot springs at deep-sea volcanoes, also called hydrothermal vents.

    Diving deep for samples of life

    I grew up in Spokane, Washington, and had over an inch of volcanic ash land on my home when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. That event led to my fascination with volcanoes.

    Several years later, while studying oceanography in college, I collected samples from Mount St. Helens’ hot springs and studied a thermophile from the site. I later collected samples at hydrothermal vents along an undersea volcanic mountain range hundreds of miles off the coast of Washington and Oregon. I have continued to study these hydrothermal vents and their microbes for nearly four decades.

    Crewed submarines travel deep underwater to collect samples from hydrothermal vents.
    Gavin Eppard, WHOI/Expedition to the Deep Slope/NOAA/OER, CC BY

    Submarine pilots collect the samples my team uses from hydrothermal vents using human-occupied submarines or remotely operated submersibles. These vehicles are lowered into the ocean from research ships where scientists conduct research 24 hours a day, often for weeks at a time.

    The samples collected include rocks and heated hydrothermal fluids that rise from cracks in the seafloor.

    The submarines use mechanical arms to collect the rocks and special sampling pumps and bags to collect the hydrothermal fluids. The submarines usually remain on the seafloor for about a day before returning samples to the surface. They make multiple trips to the seafloor on each expedition.

    Inside the solid rock of the seafloor, hydrothermal fluids as hot at 662 degrees Fahrenheit (350 Celsius) mix with cold seawater in cracks and pores of the rock. The mixture of hydrothermal fluid and seawater creates the ideal temperatures and chemical conditions that thermophiles need to live and grow.

    Plumes rising from hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic Ocean.
    P. Rona / OAR/National Undersea Research Program; NOAA

    When the submarines return to the ship, scientists – including my research team – begin analyzing the chemistry, minerals and organic material like DNA in the collected water and rock samples.

    These samples contain live microbes that we can cultivate, so we grow the microbes we are interested in studying while on the ship. The samples provide a snapshot of how microbes live and grow in their natural environment.

    Thermophiles in the lab

    Back in my laboratory in Amherst, my research team isolates new microbes from the hydrothermal vent samples and grows them under conditions that mimic those they experience in nature. We feed them volcanic chemicals like hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur and iron and measure their ability to produce compounds like methane, hydrogen sulfide and the magnetic mineral magnetite.

    The thermophilic microbe Pyrodictium delaneyi isolated by the Holden lab from a hydrothermal vent in the Pacific Ocean. It grows at 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 Celsius) on hydrogen, sulfur and iron.
    Lin et al., 2016/The Microbiology Society

    Oxygen is typically deadly for these organisms, so we grow them in synthetic hydrothermal fluid and in sealed tubes or in large bioreactors free of oxygen. This way, we can control the temperature and chemical conditions they need for growth.

    From these experiments, we look for distinguishing chemical signals that these organisms produce which spacecraft or instruments that land on extraterrestrial surfaces could potentially detect.

    We also create computer models that best describe how we think these microbes grow and compete with other organisms in hydrothermal vents. We can apply these models to conditions we think existed on early Earth or on ocean worlds to see how these microbes might fare under those conditions.

    We then analyze the proteins from the thermophiles we collect to understand how these organisms function and adapt to changing environmental conditions. All this information guides our understanding of how life can exist in extreme environments on and beyond Earth.

    Uses for thermophiles in biotechnology

    In addition to providing helpful information to planetary scientists, research on thermophiles provides other benefits as well. Many of the proteins in thermophiles are new to science and useful for biotechnology.

    The best example of this is an enzyme called DNA polymerase, which is used to artificially replicate DNA in the lab by the polymerase chain reaction. The DNA polymerase first used for polymerase chain reaction was purified from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus in 1976. This enzyme needs to be heat resistant for the replication technique to work. Everything from genome sequencing to clinical diagnoses, crime solving, genealogy tests and genetic engineering uses DNA polymerase.

    DNA polymerase is an enzyme that plays an essential role in DNA replication. A heat-resistant form from thermophiles is useful in bioengineering.
    Christinelmiller/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    My lab and others are exploring how thermophiles can be used to degrade waste and produce commercially useful products. Some of these organisms grow on waste milk from dairy farms and brewery wastewater – materials that cause fish kills and dead zones in ponds and bays. The microbes then produce biohydrogen from the waste – a compound that can be used as an energy source.

    Hydrothermal vents are among the most fascinating and unusual environments on Earth. With them, windows to the first life on Earth and beyond may lie at the bottom of our oceans.

    James F. Holden receives funding from NASA.

    – ref. Microbes in deep-sea volcanoes can help scientists learn about early life on Earth, or even life beyond our planet – https://theconversation.com/microbes-in-deep-sea-volcanoes-can-help-scientists-learn-about-early-life-on-earth-or-even-life-beyond-our-planet-260977

    MIL OSI –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Microbes in deep-sea volcanoes can help scientists learn about early life on Earth, or even life beyond our planet

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James F. Holden, Professor of Microbiology, UMass Amherst

    A submersible, which travels to the seafloor to collect rock and microbe samples, is lifted by the arm of a research vessel. James F. Holden

    People have long wondered what life was first like on Earth, and if there is life in our solar system beyond our planet. Scientists have reason to believe that some of the moons in our solar system – like Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus – may contain deep, salty liquid oceans under an icy shell. Seafloor volcanoes could heat these moons’ oceans and provide the basic chemicals needed for life.

    Similar deep-sea volcanoes found on Earth support microbial life that lives inside solid rock without sunlight and oxygen. Some of these microbes, called thermophiles, live at temperatures hot enough to boil water on the surface. They grow from the chemicals coming out of active volcanoes.

    Because these microorganisms existed before there was photosynthesis or oxygen on Earth, scientists think these deep-sea volcanoes and microbes could resemble the earliest habitats and life on Earth, and beyond.

    To determine if life could exist beyond Earth in these ocean worlds, NASA sent the Cassini spacecraft to orbit Saturn in 1997. The agency has also sent three spacecraft to orbit Jupiter: Galileo in 1989, Juno in 2011 and most recently Europa Clipper in 2024. These spacecraft flew and will fly close to Enceladus and Europa to measure their habitability for life using a suite of instruments.

    A diagram of the interior of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which may have hot plumes beneath its ocean.
    Surface: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute; interior: LPG-CNRS/U. Nantes/U. Angers. Graphic composition: ESA

    However, for planetary scientists to interpret the data they collect, they need to first understand how similar habitats function and host life on Earth.

    My microbiology laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studies thermophiles from hot springs at deep-sea volcanoes, also called hydrothermal vents.

    Diving deep for samples of life

    I grew up in Spokane, Washington, and had over an inch of volcanic ash land on my home when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. That event led to my fascination with volcanoes.

    Several years later, while studying oceanography in college, I collected samples from Mount St. Helens’ hot springs and studied a thermophile from the site. I later collected samples at hydrothermal vents along an undersea volcanic mountain range hundreds of miles off the coast of Washington and Oregon. I have continued to study these hydrothermal vents and their microbes for nearly four decades.

    Crewed submarines travel deep underwater to collect samples from hydrothermal vents.
    Gavin Eppard, WHOI/Expedition to the Deep Slope/NOAA/OER, CC BY

    Submarine pilots collect the samples my team uses from hydrothermal vents using human-occupied submarines or remotely operated submersibles. These vehicles are lowered into the ocean from research ships where scientists conduct research 24 hours a day, often for weeks at a time.

    The samples collected include rocks and heated hydrothermal fluids that rise from cracks in the seafloor.

    The submarines use mechanical arms to collect the rocks and special sampling pumps and bags to collect the hydrothermal fluids. The submarines usually remain on the seafloor for about a day before returning samples to the surface. They make multiple trips to the seafloor on each expedition.

    Inside the solid rock of the seafloor, hydrothermal fluids as hot at 662 degrees Fahrenheit (350 Celsius) mix with cold seawater in cracks and pores of the rock. The mixture of hydrothermal fluid and seawater creates the ideal temperatures and chemical conditions that thermophiles need to live and grow.

    Plumes rising from hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic Ocean.
    P. Rona / OAR/National Undersea Research Program; NOAA

    When the submarines return to the ship, scientists – including my research team – begin analyzing the chemistry, minerals and organic material like DNA in the collected water and rock samples.

    These samples contain live microbes that we can cultivate, so we grow the microbes we are interested in studying while on the ship. The samples provide a snapshot of how microbes live and grow in their natural environment.

    Thermophiles in the lab

    Back in my laboratory in Amherst, my research team isolates new microbes from the hydrothermal vent samples and grows them under conditions that mimic those they experience in nature. We feed them volcanic chemicals like hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur and iron and measure their ability to produce compounds like methane, hydrogen sulfide and the magnetic mineral magnetite.

    The thermophilic microbe Pyrodictium delaneyi isolated by the Holden lab from a hydrothermal vent in the Pacific Ocean. It grows at 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 Celsius) on hydrogen, sulfur and iron.
    Lin et al., 2016/The Microbiology Society

    Oxygen is typically deadly for these organisms, so we grow them in synthetic hydrothermal fluid and in sealed tubes or in large bioreactors free of oxygen. This way, we can control the temperature and chemical conditions they need for growth.

    From these experiments, we look for distinguishing chemical signals that these organisms produce which spacecraft or instruments that land on extraterrestrial surfaces could potentially detect.

    We also create computer models that best describe how we think these microbes grow and compete with other organisms in hydrothermal vents. We can apply these models to conditions we think existed on early Earth or on ocean worlds to see how these microbes might fare under those conditions.

    We then analyze the proteins from the thermophiles we collect to understand how these organisms function and adapt to changing environmental conditions. All this information guides our understanding of how life can exist in extreme environments on and beyond Earth.

    Uses for thermophiles in biotechnology

    In addition to providing helpful information to planetary scientists, research on thermophiles provides other benefits as well. Many of the proteins in thermophiles are new to science and useful for biotechnology.

    The best example of this is an enzyme called DNA polymerase, which is used to artificially replicate DNA in the lab by the polymerase chain reaction. The DNA polymerase first used for polymerase chain reaction was purified from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus in 1976. This enzyme needs to be heat resistant for the replication technique to work. Everything from genome sequencing to clinical diagnoses, crime solving, genealogy tests and genetic engineering uses DNA polymerase.

    DNA polymerase is an enzyme that plays an essential role in DNA replication. A heat-resistant form from thermophiles is useful in bioengineering.
    Christinelmiller/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    My lab and others are exploring how thermophiles can be used to degrade waste and produce commercially useful products. Some of these organisms grow on waste milk from dairy farms and brewery wastewater – materials that cause fish kills and dead zones in ponds and bays. The microbes then produce biohydrogen from the waste – a compound that can be used as an energy source.

    Hydrothermal vents are among the most fascinating and unusual environments on Earth. With them, windows to the first life on Earth and beyond may lie at the bottom of our oceans.

    James F. Holden receives funding from NASA.

    – ref. Microbes in deep-sea volcanoes can help scientists learn about early life on Earth, or even life beyond our planet – https://theconversation.com/microbes-in-deep-sea-volcanoes-can-help-scientists-learn-about-early-life-on-earth-or-even-life-beyond-our-planet-260977

    MIL OSI –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: ‘Democratizing space’ is more than just adding new players – it comes with questions around sustainability and sovereignty

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Timiebi Aganaba, Assistant Professor of Space and Society, Arizona State University

    A group of people gaze up at the Moon in Germany. AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

    “India is on the Moon,” S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, announced in August 2023. The announcement meant India had joined the short list of countries to have visited the Moon, and the applause and shouts of joy that followed signified that this achievement wasn’t just a scientific one, but a cultural one.

    India’s successful lunar landing prompted celebrations across the country, like this one in Mumbai.
    AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade

    Over the past decade, many countries have established new space programs, including multiple African nations. India and Israel – nations that were not technical contributors to the space race in the 1960s and ‘70s – have attempted landings on the lunar surface.

    With more countries joining the evolving space economy, many of our colleagues in space strategy, policy ethics and law have celebrated the democratization of space: the hope that space is now more accessible for diverse participants.

    We are a team of researchers based across four countries with expertise in space policy and law, ethics, geography and anthropology who have written about the difficulties and importance of inclusion in space.

    Major players like the U.S., the European Union and China may once have dominated space and seen it as a place to try out new commercial and military ventures. Emerging new players in space, like other countries, commercial interests and nongovernmental organizations, may have other goals and rationales. Unexpected new initiatives from these newcomers could shift perceptions of space from something to dominate and possess to something more inclusive, equitable and democratic.

    We address these emerging and historical tensions in a paper published in May 2025 in the journal Nature, in which we describe the difficulties and importance of including nontraditional actors and Indigenous peoples in the space industry.

    Continuing inequalities among space players

    Not all countries’ space agencies are equal. Newer agencies often don’t have the same resources behind them that large, established players do.

    The U.S. and Chinese programs receive much more funding than those of any other country. Because they are most frequently sending up satellites and proposing new ideas puts them in the position to establish conventions for satellite systems, landing sites and resource extraction that everyone else may have to follow.

    Sometimes, countries may have operated on the assumption that owning a satellite would give them the appearance of soft or hard geopolitical power as a space nation – and ultimately gain relevance.

    Small satellites, called CubeSats, are becoming relatively affordable and easy to develop, allowing more players, from countries and companies to universities and student groups, to have a satellite in space.
    NASA/Butch Wilmore, CC BY-NC

    In reality, student groups of today can develop small satellites, called CubeSats, autonomously, and recent scholarship has concluded that even successful space missions may negatively affect the international relationships between some countries and their partners. The respect a country expects to receive may not materialize, and the costs to keep up can outstrip gains in potential prestige.

    Environmental protection and Indigenous perspectives

    Usually, building the infrastructure necessary to test and launch rockets requires a remote area with established roads. In many cases, companies and space agencies have placed these facilities on lands where Indigenous peoples have strong claims, which can lead to land disputes, like in western Australia.

    Many of these sites have already been subject to human-made changes, through mining and resource extraction in the past. Many sites have been ground zero for tensions with Indigenous peoples over land use. Within these contested spaces, disputes are rife.

    Because of these tensions around land use, it is important to include Indigenous claims and perspectives. Doing so can help make sure that the goal of protecting the environments of outer space and Earth are not cast aside while building space infrastructure here on Earth.

    Some efforts are driving this more inclusive approach to engagement in space, including initiatives like “Dark and Quiet Skies”, a movement that works to ensure that people can stargaze and engage with the stars without noise or sound pollution. This movement and other inclusive approaches operate on the principle of reciprocity: that more players getting involved with space can benefit all.

    Researchers have recognized similar dynamics within the larger space industry. Some scholars have come to the conclusion that even though the space industry is “pay to play,” commitments to reciprocity can help ensure that players in space exploration who may not have the financial or infrastructural means to support individual efforts can still access broader structures of support.

    The downside of more players entering space is that this expansion can make protecting the environment – both on Earth and beyond – even harder.

    The more players there are, at both private and international levels, the more difficult sustainable space exploration could become. Even with good will and the best of intentions, it would be difficult to enforce uniform standards for the exploration and use of space resources that would protect the lunar surface, Mars and beyond.

    It may also grow harder to police the launch of satellites and dedicated constellations. Limiting the number of satellites could prevent space junk, protect the satellites already in orbit and allow everyone to have a clear view of the night sky. However, this would have to compete with efforts to expand internet access to all.

    The amount of space junk in orbit has increased dramatically since the 1960s.

    What is space exploration for?

    Before tackling these issues, we find it useful to think about the larger goal of space exploration, and what the different approaches are. One approach would be the fast and inclusive democratization of space – making it easier for more players to join in. Another would be a more conservative and slower “big player” approach, which would restrict who can go to space.

    The conservative approach is liable to leave developing nations and Indigenous peoples firmly on the outside of a key process shaping humanity’s shared future.

    But a faster and more inclusive approach to space would not be easy to run. More serious players means it would be harder to come to an agreement about regulations, as well as the larger goals for human expansion into space.

    Narratives around emerging technologies, such as those required for space exploration, can change over time, as people begin to see them in action.

    Technology that we take for granted today was once viewed as futuristic or fantastical, and sometimes with suspicion. For example, at the end of the 1940s, George Orwell imagined a world in which totalitarian systems used tele-screens and videoconferencing to control the masses.

    Earlier in the same decade, Thomas J. Watson, then president of IBM, notoriously predicted that there would be a global market for about five computers. We as humans often fear or mistrust future technologies.

    However, not all technological shifts are detrimental, and some technological changes can have clear benefits. In the future, robots may perform tasks too dangerous, too difficult or too dull and repetitive for humans. Biotechnology may make life healthier. Artificial intelligence can sift through vast amounts of data and turn it into reliable guesswork. Researchers can also see genuine downsides to each of these technologies.

    Space exploration is harder to squeeze into one streamlined narrative about the anticipated benefits. The process is just too big and too transformative.

    To return to the question if we should go to space, our team argues that it is not a question of whether or not we should go, but rather a question of why we do it, who benefits from space exploration and how we can democratize access to broader segments of society. Including a diversity of opinions and viewpoints can help find productive ways forward.

    Ultimately, it is not necessary for everyone to land on one single narrative about the value of space exploration. Even our team of four researchers doesn’t share a single set of beliefs about its value. But bringing more nations, tribes and companies into discussions around its potential value can help create collaborative and worthwhile goals at an international scale.

    Tony Milligan receives funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 856543).

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

    – ref. ‘Democratizing space’ is more than just adding new players – it comes with questions around sustainability and sovereignty – https://theconversation.com/democratizing-space-is-more-than-just-adding-new-players-it-comes-with-questions-around-sustainability-and-sovereignty-257306

    MIL OSI –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: ‘Democratizing space’ is more than just adding new players – it comes with questions around sustainability and sovereignty

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Timiebi Aganaba, Assistant Professor of Space and Society, Arizona State University

    A group of people gaze up at the Moon in Germany. AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

    “India is on the Moon,” S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, announced in August 2023. The announcement meant India had joined the short list of countries to have visited the Moon, and the applause and shouts of joy that followed signified that this achievement wasn’t just a scientific one, but a cultural one.

    India’s successful lunar landing prompted celebrations across the country, like this one in Mumbai.
    AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade

    Over the past decade, many countries have established new space programs, including multiple African nations. India and Israel – nations that were not technical contributors to the space race in the 1960s and ‘70s – have attempted landings on the lunar surface.

    With more countries joining the evolving space economy, many of our colleagues in space strategy, policy ethics and law have celebrated the democratization of space: the hope that space is now more accessible for diverse participants.

    We are a team of researchers based across four countries with expertise in space policy and law, ethics, geography and anthropology who have written about the difficulties and importance of inclusion in space.

    Major players like the U.S., the European Union and China may once have dominated space and seen it as a place to try out new commercial and military ventures. Emerging new players in space, like other countries, commercial interests and nongovernmental organizations, may have other goals and rationales. Unexpected new initiatives from these newcomers could shift perceptions of space from something to dominate and possess to something more inclusive, equitable and democratic.

    We address these emerging and historical tensions in a paper published in May 2025 in the journal Nature, in which we describe the difficulties and importance of including nontraditional actors and Indigenous peoples in the space industry.

    Continuing inequalities among space players

    Not all countries’ space agencies are equal. Newer agencies often don’t have the same resources behind them that large, established players do.

    The U.S. and Chinese programs receive much more funding than those of any other country. Because they are most frequently sending up satellites and proposing new ideas puts them in the position to establish conventions for satellite systems, landing sites and resource extraction that everyone else may have to follow.

    Sometimes, countries may have operated on the assumption that owning a satellite would give them the appearance of soft or hard geopolitical power as a space nation – and ultimately gain relevance.

    Small satellites, called CubeSats, are becoming relatively affordable and easy to develop, allowing more players, from countries and companies to universities and student groups, to have a satellite in space.
    NASA/Butch Wilmore, CC BY-NC

    In reality, student groups of today can develop small satellites, called CubeSats, autonomously, and recent scholarship has concluded that even successful space missions may negatively affect the international relationships between some countries and their partners. The respect a country expects to receive may not materialize, and the costs to keep up can outstrip gains in potential prestige.

    Environmental protection and Indigenous perspectives

    Usually, building the infrastructure necessary to test and launch rockets requires a remote area with established roads. In many cases, companies and space agencies have placed these facilities on lands where Indigenous peoples have strong claims, which can lead to land disputes, like in western Australia.

    Many of these sites have already been subject to human-made changes, through mining and resource extraction in the past. Many sites have been ground zero for tensions with Indigenous peoples over land use. Within these contested spaces, disputes are rife.

    Because of these tensions around land use, it is important to include Indigenous claims and perspectives. Doing so can help make sure that the goal of protecting the environments of outer space and Earth are not cast aside while building space infrastructure here on Earth.

    Some efforts are driving this more inclusive approach to engagement in space, including initiatives like “Dark and Quiet Skies”, a movement that works to ensure that people can stargaze and engage with the stars without noise or sound pollution. This movement and other inclusive approaches operate on the principle of reciprocity: that more players getting involved with space can benefit all.

    Researchers have recognized similar dynamics within the larger space industry. Some scholars have come to the conclusion that even though the space industry is “pay to play,” commitments to reciprocity can help ensure that players in space exploration who may not have the financial or infrastructural means to support individual efforts can still access broader structures of support.

    The downside of more players entering space is that this expansion can make protecting the environment – both on Earth and beyond – even harder.

    The more players there are, at both private and international levels, the more difficult sustainable space exploration could become. Even with good will and the best of intentions, it would be difficult to enforce uniform standards for the exploration and use of space resources that would protect the lunar surface, Mars and beyond.

    It may also grow harder to police the launch of satellites and dedicated constellations. Limiting the number of satellites could prevent space junk, protect the satellites already in orbit and allow everyone to have a clear view of the night sky. However, this would have to compete with efforts to expand internet access to all.

    The amount of space junk in orbit has increased dramatically since the 1960s.

    What is space exploration for?

    Before tackling these issues, we find it useful to think about the larger goal of space exploration, and what the different approaches are. One approach would be the fast and inclusive democratization of space – making it easier for more players to join in. Another would be a more conservative and slower “big player” approach, which would restrict who can go to space.

    The conservative approach is liable to leave developing nations and Indigenous peoples firmly on the outside of a key process shaping humanity’s shared future.

    But a faster and more inclusive approach to space would not be easy to run. More serious players means it would be harder to come to an agreement about regulations, as well as the larger goals for human expansion into space.

    Narratives around emerging technologies, such as those required for space exploration, can change over time, as people begin to see them in action.

    Technology that we take for granted today was once viewed as futuristic or fantastical, and sometimes with suspicion. For example, at the end of the 1940s, George Orwell imagined a world in which totalitarian systems used tele-screens and videoconferencing to control the masses.

    Earlier in the same decade, Thomas J. Watson, then president of IBM, notoriously predicted that there would be a global market for about five computers. We as humans often fear or mistrust future technologies.

    However, not all technological shifts are detrimental, and some technological changes can have clear benefits. In the future, robots may perform tasks too dangerous, too difficult or too dull and repetitive for humans. Biotechnology may make life healthier. Artificial intelligence can sift through vast amounts of data and turn it into reliable guesswork. Researchers can also see genuine downsides to each of these technologies.

    Space exploration is harder to squeeze into one streamlined narrative about the anticipated benefits. The process is just too big and too transformative.

    To return to the question if we should go to space, our team argues that it is not a question of whether or not we should go, but rather a question of why we do it, who benefits from space exploration and how we can democratize access to broader segments of society. Including a diversity of opinions and viewpoints can help find productive ways forward.

    Ultimately, it is not necessary for everyone to land on one single narrative about the value of space exploration. Even our team of four researchers doesn’t share a single set of beliefs about its value. But bringing more nations, tribes and companies into discussions around its potential value can help create collaborative and worthwhile goals at an international scale.

    Tony Milligan receives funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 856543).

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

    – ref. ‘Democratizing space’ is more than just adding new players – it comes with questions around sustainability and sovereignty – https://theconversation.com/democratizing-space-is-more-than-just-adding-new-players-it-comes-with-questions-around-sustainability-and-sovereignty-257306

    MIL OSI –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why is heart cancer so rare? A biologist explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Julie Phillippi, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh

    When heart cancer does happen, it can be particularly serious. Olga Pankova/Moment via Getty Images

    Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.


    Why is heart cancer so rare? – Jackson, age 12, Davis, California


    You probably know someone who is affected by cancer. This disease results when cells divide uncontrollably and can make a person sick, sometimes very seriously.

    Cancer can occur anywhere in the body because every tissue and organ is made up of billions or even trillions of cells. But there are some parts of the body where cancer doesn’t happen as often, such as the heart. Studies show 3 in 10,000 people develop heart cancer. In comparison, 1 in 20 women are expected to develop breast cancer. Why is that?

    I’m a biologist who specializes in the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system. A big part of my work focuses on how cells interact with their environment to regulate the function of tissues and organs. Disease can develop when things go wrong.

    Turns out, heart cells have unique features that make them super resistant to cancer.

    How cancer starts

    Cells produce more cells to grow, replace older or worn-out cells or to repair damaged tissues. This process is called cell division. Each type of cell in the body divides at different rates based on multiple factors, including what their function is and a person’s age.

    For example, the cells of a growing human embryo divide extremely fast, undergoing four divisions in three days. The cells that make up the skin, nails and hair regularly replenish across your lifespan. Bone cells divide at a rate that will give you an entirely new skeleton approximately every 10 years.

    Whether and how often a cell divides is tightly regulated by a series of molecular checkpoints. During cell division, genes within DNA are duplicated and evenly distributed into two daughter cells. Damage to these genes caused by exposure to harmful chemicals, ultraviolet light or radiation can result in mutations that cause disease. Mutations can just happen randomly, too. When there are mutations on the genes regulating cell division, cancer can develop.

    Cells move through a series of checkpoints before division.
    OpenStax, CC BY-SA

    What protects heart cells from cancer?

    Even though the heart is the first organ to form and start working during early development, cells in the adult heart divide very few times after birth, with division dramatically declining after age 20. In fact, less than 50% of heart cells are replaced over the course of an average human life. That means half of the heart cells you’re born with will be helping pump blood for your entire life.

    This low rate of cell division in the adult heart likely serves as its primary defense against cancer. The less often a cell divides, the fewer opportunities there are for mistakes during DNA replication.

    The heart’s location in the body gives it more protection from certain cancer-causing factors.
    OpenStax, CC BY-SA

    The heart is also less directly exposed to cancer-causing factors, such as UV light on the skin or inhaled substances in the lung, due to its protected location in the chest.

    Unfortunately, the heart’s low rate of cell division has some downsides, such as a reduced ability to repair and replace cells damaged by disease, injury or aging.

    Why heart cancer still happens

    Even with the heart’s resistance to cancer, tumors may still form.

    When cancer is found in the heart, it’s often the result of cancer cells migrating from another part of the body to the heart. This process is called metastasis. Certain types of skin cancers or cancers in the chest are more likely to spread to the heart, though this is still rare.

    When they do happen, heart tumors can be quite serious and more aggressive than other cancers. A study analyzing more than 100,000 heart cancer cases in the United States found that patients who underwent surgery and chemotherapy to treat their heart cancer survived longer than those who did not.

    Successful cancer care spans multiple areas of medicine. These include palliative care, which focuses on relieving pain and addressing symptoms, and integrative medicine, which considers the mind-body-spirit connection.

    Heart cancer holds clues to heart regeneration

    Understanding how heart cells divide and what causes that process to change offers clues about disease and shapes ideas for new treatments.

    For example, research into how heart cells divide helps scientists better understand why the heart doesn’t heal well after a heart attack. Researchers found that although failing hearts have more dividing cells than healthy hearts, they need help to recover fully.

    New technologies, such as the ability to reprogram blood cells into heart cells, have allowed researchers to develop new heart disease models to study and one day achieve heart regeneration. This opens doors for new treatments for heart diseases, including cancer.

    Understanding why cancer doesn’t happen is just as important for developing new and better treatments as knowing why it does. The answers to both questions lie truly at the heart.


    Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

    Julie Phillippi receives funding from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

    – ref. Why is heart cancer so rare? A biologist explains – https://theconversation.com/why-is-heart-cancer-so-rare-a-biologist-explains-256055

    MIL OSI –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Inquiry to uncover truth of Orgreave

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Inquiry to uncover truth of Orgreave

    Inquiry into violent confrontation at Orgreave to be established this year, with the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, appointed as chair.

    The Home Secretary visiting the site alongside campaigners and the National Union of Mineworkers

    An inquiry into the violent confrontation between police, picketers and subsequent protesters at Orgreave 41 years ago will be established as the government delivers its manifesto commitment to uncover the truth.

    The inquiry, expected to launch in the autumn, will investigate the events surrounding clashes at the Orgreave Coking Plant in 1984, causing 120 injuries. In total, 95 picketers were arrested and initially charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited.

    The inquiry will be statutory, with the appropriate powers to compel people to provide information where necessary.

    The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, has agreed to chair the inquiry, which is intended to aid the public’s understanding of how the events on the day, and immediately after, came to pass.

    The event has left a lasting impact on those present that day and their families, as well as undermining the wider mining community’s confidence in policing for decades.

    That is why, as the government looks to rebuild public confidence in policing as part of its Plan for Change, it is delivering on this manifesto commitment to bring to light what happened at Orgreave, with the Home Secretary visiting the site alongside the campaigners and the National Union of Mineworkers who have fought for years for answers.

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 

    Every community should have confidence in their police, but we know what happened at Orgreave cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas.

    The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened.

    I pay tribute to the campaigners who never stopped in their search for truth and justice, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as we build an inquiry that gets the answers they and their communities deserve.

    The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox said:

    I am extremely grateful to the Home Secretary for the opportunity to chair this inquiry and for the support I shall be given in doing so. I do not underestimate the weight of expectation or the significance of the task. 

    I look forward to engaging with stakeholders in the coming weeks over the draft terms of reference, and to working with the government to identify experts to support me on the independent panel.

    I expect the panel to begin its work in the autumn, and we will endeavour to deliver an inquiry which is thorough and fair, and which will uncover what happened at Orgreave as swiftly as possible.

    The government has engaged with campaign groups throughout the process of designing the inquiry to ensure their concerns and experiences are considered.

    Formal consultation between the Home Secretary and the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox on the inquiry’s terms of reference has already begun, and further engagement with key stakeholders will be an important part of that process. The inquiry will aim to deliver swiftly to ensure the wellbeing of those searching for answers is not unduly impacted.

    A final copy of the terms of reference will then be published at the earliest opportunity.

    Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign Secretary, Kate Flannery, said: 

    We have waited a long time for this day and this is really positive news. All these years of hard work by the OTJC and our many supporters has helped to influence this constructive announcement. We appreciate the Home Secretary’s commitment to holding some kind of Orgreave inquiry. 

    We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films.

    The National Union of Mineworkers General Secretary, Chris Kitchen, said:

    The NUM welcome the announcement the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has made to hold a statutory inquiry into the policing at Orgreave and subsequent court case abandoned after police evidence was discredited.

    It is hugely welcome to see this government fulfil its pledge made in the Labour Party Manifesto to the mining community. The events at Orgreave, and throughout the strike, destroyed the trust between the police and mining communities even now, 41 years later. It is vital that this trust is won back and the NUM believe this inquiry will go some way to rebuilding that trust.

    The NUM will offer the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, any assistance that he requires to ensure that the inquiry uncovers the truth about who orchestrated the events at Orgreave and the failed court case so that precautions can be put in place, so it never happens again.

    South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said:

    What happened at Orgreave remains one of the most controversial episodes in policing history. The violent clashes, the arrest of 95 miners, the collapse of the subsequent trial after revelations about police conduct, and the absence of any investigation or accountability scarred those involved, and people across our entire community.

    So, the announcement of a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave is a landmark moment for justice and accountability. We wouldn’t have got this without the sheer determination of the campaigners and a government and Home Secretary who have listened to the long-held concerns.

    The inquiry represents an opportunity to examine not only the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces on that day, but also the broader role of government at the time. It’s a step towards setting the historical record straight, ensuring lessons are learned, and restoring public trust.

    We owe it to the miners, their families, and our communities to ensure that the events of Orgreave are finally understood. My hope is that the public inquiry is completed at pace and that at the end of the process it brings closure and a sense of justice for those involved and their families in particular, and that we are finally able to turn the page on the events of that moment in our history.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Rouge National Urban Park Celebrates 10 Years

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Milestone anniversary for Canada’s first national urban park

    July 21, 2025                                  Markham, Ontario                                       Parks Canada

    Rouge National Urban Park, Canada’s first national urban park and one of the largest protected urban parks in the world, offers easy access to residents of Canada’s largest urban centre to explore a rich assembly of forests, creeks, farms and trails as well as marshland, a beach on Lake Ontario and human history spanning 10,000 years.

    Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, celebrated this important milestone at an event honouring Indigenous partners, volunteers, farmers, advocates, and local stakeholders who have helped shape the vision of the park. The ceremony highlighted key achievements from the past decade, including major land assembly and legislation, the completion of the park’s first management plan, the development of a multi-species action plan, the completion of 137 restoration projects with partners and collaborators, the addition of 23 km of new trails and a $21 million investment in the future visitor, learning and community centre.

    Since its establishment in 2015, Rouge National Urban Park has become a globally recognized model for conservation in an urban setting. Spanning over 79 square kilometres, an area 1.3 times larger than the city of Manhattan, the park protects a remarkable diversity of natural, cultural, and agricultural landscapes and continues to evolve through Indigenous leadership, community stewardship, restoration efforts, and collaboration across all levels of government.

    Parks Canada will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Rouge National Urban Park throughout 2025. Weekly features on the park’s Facebook page will highlight key moments of its history, while on-site anniversary programming will offer visitors opportunities to reflect on the park’s past, share their own stories, and contribute to a collective vision for the future of Canada’s first national urban park. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: China’s State Council appoints officials

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

    BEIJING, July 21 — China’s State Council announced the appointment of several new officials on Monday.

    Xie Yuansheng was appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Ling Zhifeng was named vice minister of the Ministry of Public Security.

    Liu Jianqiao was appointed deputy head of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Zhao Jianheng was named vice president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Farmers across China busy with agricultural production in farming season around Dashu

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

    Farmers across China busy with agricultural production in farming season around Dashu

    Updated: July 21, 2025 20:58 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows villagers driving transplanters to plant rice seedlings in Yuyao, east China’s Zhejiang Province. Farmers across the country are busy with agricultural production in the farming season around Dashu, or the Great Heat, the 12th of traditional Chinese 24 solar terms falling on July 22 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Farmers harvest marigold flowers in Tengchong, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, July 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Farmers transplant rice seedlings in Loudi, central China’s Hunan Province, July 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows a farmer carrying rice seedlings in Loudi, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows villagers transplanting rice seedlings in Hengyang, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows villagers transplanting rice seedlings in Hengyang, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: China launches first national standard on school meal services

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

    BEIJING, July 21 — China has released its first national standard specifically targeting school meal services, scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1 this year, the country’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced Monday.

    The Guidelines for the Management of School Meal Service Enterprises will apply to enterprises that provide meal preparation and delivery services to primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.

    China now has more than 460,000 primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, involving over 237 million students.

    The guidelines stated that enterprises must designate full-time staff responsible for food safety management and inspection.

    Enterprises are required to purchase major ingredients such as rice, flour and oil from designated suppliers, and retain testing reports for each batch of raw materials.

    Meal preparation should be integrated into the internet-enabled transparent kitchen monitoring system, with key operational procedures publicly accessible to schools, parents and students, according to the guidelines.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Russia makes group raids on Ukraine

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

    Russian forces launched an overnight group strike on Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and the infrastructure of military airfields, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

    The raid involved long-range high-precision weapons launched from air, land and sea-based platforms, including “Kinzhal” air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles and combat drones, the ministry said in a statement.

    Meanwhile, Russia’s air defense intercepted 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 23 in the Moscow Region, it added.

    Airports in Moscow introduced air restrictions in the early hours of Monday for flight safety reasons, which were subsequently lifted, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency.

    Downed drone debris caused a fire on the roof of the railway station in the village of Kamenolomni in the Rostov Region, and more than 50 trains were delayed, said Russian Railways.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: At least 19 killed as Bangladeshi military plane crashes

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

    At least 19 people, mostly students, were killed as a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed on the campus of a college on Monday.

    A government statement said that over 100 people were injured in the accident. Many of the injured are in critical condition.

    The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) of the Bangladesh Army said the training aircraft crashed at around 13:30 local time.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Tennessee Man Sentenced to Prison for Operating Investment Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Tennessee man was sentenced to 71 months in prison after being convicted of running a $1.9 million Ponzi scheme.

    According to court documents, Alcides Roman, 66, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
    Roman defrauded victims in Kansas, New York, Texas, and in Canada by soliciting their participation in purportedly high-yield investment programs. In truth, these investment opportunities were fraudulent. Roman did not invest the funds and failed to redeem the investments upon the victims’ requests. Rather, he left the funds in bank accounts he controlled and used the money for his own and others’ benefit. Roman induced victims to make additional or larger investments by making payments to them, ostensibly as returns on investment. Those payments, however, were from the same victim’s prior principal investments or another victim’s investments.

    Roman used funds from the scheme to pay for his personal living expenses, to buy vehicles and land, and to send money to numerous foreign and domestic companies. The total known loss to victims was $1,977,857.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION, a leading Cloud mining platform reveals new mining contracts not only for small investors but for Whales as well.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Driven by the wave of digital currency, we are delighted to witness the collision of innovation and opportunity. Recently, Whale Capital has made a heavy investment in Dogecoin (DOGE) and so ETHRANSACTION cloud mining platform has launched many mining contracts to explore the unlimited potential of decentralized finance. This launching not only demonstrates the long-term confidence in the Dogecoin ecosystem, but also brings sustainable wealth growth solutions to global users through the platform’s leading stable yield and income technology.

    Why choose ETHRANSACTION for cooperation?

    ETHRANSACTION is a world-leading integrated mining service provider, providing customers with one-stop solutions such as cloud mining. ETHRANSACTION is committed to building a secure, compliant and transparent blockchain infrastructure, and providing global customers with a variety of stable and intelligent computing power service solutions.

    Efficient and stable: ETHRANSACTION relies on the world’s leading data centers and uses the most advanced mining equipment to ensure that every user’s investment can generate returns efficiently and stably.

    Security: In the field of blockchain, security is one of the most concerned issues for investors. ETHRANSACTION uses multiple levels of security measures, including SSL encryption, L&G insurance, and a 24/7 all-weather monitoring system to ensure the safety of your funds and information.

    Flexible investment options: The platform provides users with flexible investment options. Whether you invest large or small amounts, long-term or short-term, you can find a plan that suits you. At the same time, the platform regularly launches promotions to reward new and old customers.

    Platform advantages:
    ⦁ Register to get an instant bonus of $19.

    ⦁ High profits and daily dividends.

    ⦁ No other service fees or management fees.

    ⦁ The platform uses more than 10 cryptocurrencies (such as: DOGE, XRP, SOL, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, USDT, BNB, BCH) for settlement.

    ⦁ The company’s affiliate program allows you to refer friends and get up to $370,000 in referral bonuses.

    ⦁ McAfee® security protection. Secured by Cloudflare®. 100% uptime guarantee and excellent 24/7 live technical support.

    How to get started
    Step 1: Register an ETHRANSACTION user

    It takes less than a minute to create your free user and get a $19 welcome bonus, which will enable you to earn $0.9 per day for free with your initial deposit.

    Step 2: Choose a plan

    We offer a variety of high-yield mining contract plans to meet your financial goals. Whether you are looking for short-term gains or long-term returns, ETHRANSACTION has you covered.

    Step 3: Start earning

    Easily control your income growth without any management. Daily income will be automatically deposited into your account, and you can also withdraw your income to your cryptocurrency wallet address.

    Participate in the following contracts to earn stable passive income:

    After purchasing a contract, the income will be automatically credited to your account the next day. When the account balance reaches $100, you can choose to withdraw to your digital currency wallet or continue to purchase contracts to earn more.

    Everything is safe and transparent – officially operated, control your financial freedom anytime, anywhere.

    Download the official APP with one click, support Apple and Android mobile APP applications, convenient to monitor your income at any time.

    How to participate in ETHRANSACTION mining and earn more than one million US dollars in a short time

    For example: someone invests $330,000 and can buy 1 ANTSPACE HK3 [Advanced Computing Power Contract] worth $330,000, with a contract period of 35 days and a contract daily interest rate of 2.75%.

    Daily passive income after purchase = $330,000*2.75%=$9,075.

    Principal and income after 35 days = $330,000 + $9,075*35 = $647,625

    Generous affiliate program
    ETHRANSACTION rewards users who help promote its excellent platform. Refer others to get unlimited rewards and commissions to further increase your mining income. Seize the opportunity and open up more lucrative sources of income.

    Summary
    In the strategic agreement reached by both parties, ETHRANSACTION will focus on efficient and transparent cloud mining services, combined with the community momentum of Dogecoin, to create a safe and high-return participation experience. We firmly believe that this cooperation will bring “blessings” to every participant and help you move forward steadily in the crypto field! If you are interested in mining investment, don’t miss this opportunity. I believe that ETHRANSACTION will become your right-hand man on the road to wealth appreciation.

    For more information about ETHRANSACTION, please visit its official website: https://ethransaction.vip
    Email: info@ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION, a leading Cloud mining platform reveals new mining contracts not only for small investors but for Whales as well.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Driven by the wave of digital currency, we are delighted to witness the collision of innovation and opportunity. Recently, Whale Capital has made a heavy investment in Dogecoin (DOGE) and so ETHRANSACTION cloud mining platform has launched many mining contracts to explore the unlimited potential of decentralized finance. This launching not only demonstrates the long-term confidence in the Dogecoin ecosystem, but also brings sustainable wealth growth solutions to global users through the platform’s leading stable yield and income technology.

    Why choose ETHRANSACTION for cooperation?

    ETHRANSACTION is a world-leading integrated mining service provider, providing customers with one-stop solutions such as cloud mining. ETHRANSACTION is committed to building a secure, compliant and transparent blockchain infrastructure, and providing global customers with a variety of stable and intelligent computing power service solutions.

    Efficient and stable: ETHRANSACTION relies on the world’s leading data centers and uses the most advanced mining equipment to ensure that every user’s investment can generate returns efficiently and stably.

    Security: In the field of blockchain, security is one of the most concerned issues for investors. ETHRANSACTION uses multiple levels of security measures, including SSL encryption, L&G insurance, and a 24/7 all-weather monitoring system to ensure the safety of your funds and information.

    Flexible investment options: The platform provides users with flexible investment options. Whether you invest large or small amounts, long-term or short-term, you can find a plan that suits you. At the same time, the platform regularly launches promotions to reward new and old customers.

    Platform advantages:
    ⦁ Register to get an instant bonus of $19.

    ⦁ High profits and daily dividends.

    ⦁ No other service fees or management fees.

    ⦁ The platform uses more than 10 cryptocurrencies (such as: DOGE, XRP, SOL, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, USDT, BNB, BCH) for settlement.

    ⦁ The company’s affiliate program allows you to refer friends and get up to $370,000 in referral bonuses.

    ⦁ McAfee® security protection. Secured by Cloudflare®. 100% uptime guarantee and excellent 24/7 live technical support.

    How to get started
    Step 1: Register an ETHRANSACTION user

    It takes less than a minute to create your free user and get a $19 welcome bonus, which will enable you to earn $0.9 per day for free with your initial deposit.

    Step 2: Choose a plan

    We offer a variety of high-yield mining contract plans to meet your financial goals. Whether you are looking for short-term gains or long-term returns, ETHRANSACTION has you covered.

    Step 3: Start earning

    Easily control your income growth without any management. Daily income will be automatically deposited into your account, and you can also withdraw your income to your cryptocurrency wallet address.

    Participate in the following contracts to earn stable passive income:

    After purchasing a contract, the income will be automatically credited to your account the next day. When the account balance reaches $100, you can choose to withdraw to your digital currency wallet or continue to purchase contracts to earn more.

    Everything is safe and transparent – officially operated, control your financial freedom anytime, anywhere.

    Download the official APP with one click, support Apple and Android mobile APP applications, convenient to monitor your income at any time.

    How to participate in ETHRANSACTION mining and earn more than one million US dollars in a short time

    For example: someone invests $330,000 and can buy 1 ANTSPACE HK3 [Advanced Computing Power Contract] worth $330,000, with a contract period of 35 days and a contract daily interest rate of 2.75%.

    Daily passive income after purchase = $330,000*2.75%=$9,075.

    Principal and income after 35 days = $330,000 + $9,075*35 = $647,625

    Generous affiliate program
    ETHRANSACTION rewards users who help promote its excellent platform. Refer others to get unlimited rewards and commissions to further increase your mining income. Seize the opportunity and open up more lucrative sources of income.

    Summary
    In the strategic agreement reached by both parties, ETHRANSACTION will focus on efficient and transparent cloud mining services, combined with the community momentum of Dogecoin, to create a safe and high-return participation experience. We firmly believe that this cooperation will bring “blessings” to every participant and help you move forward steadily in the crypto field! If you are interested in mining investment, don’t miss this opportunity. I believe that ETHRANSACTION will become your right-hand man on the road to wealth appreciation.

    For more information about ETHRANSACTION, please visit its official website: https://ethransaction.vip
    Email: info@ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: XRP soars to $3.5: Mint Miner launches new medium- and short-term mining contracts, popular with users

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the price of XRP rises strongly to $3.5, the crypto market has once again attracted widespread attention. As the world’s leading cloud mining platform, Mint Miner took the lead in its layout and officially launched new medium- and short-term XRP cloud mining contracts this week, which continue to be popular.

    The leap in XRP prices not only reflects the market’s confidence in the Ripple ecosystem, but also stimulates a new round of demand for XRP asset appreciation. Under this trend, Mint Miner launched flexible contracts covering medium and short terms. Users can choose the most suitable investment cycle based on their personal funds and strategies to achieve “daily calculation and daily income”.

    “The current XRP ecosystem has entered the fast lane. Mint Miner’s goal is to help users seize this growth opportunity. Without hardware and maintenance, they can easily participate in mining and obtain daily income.” Jane Carter, Mint Miner’s operations director, said, “We see that medium- and short-term contracts are particularly popular among young users and novice investors because they have low barriers to entry, short cycles, and fast returns.”

    Mint Miner contract highlights:
    Flexible cycle: The contract can be opened in as little as 1 day;
    Daily income settlement: The platform automatically settles the income and distributes it to the user’s account every day without manual operation;
    Green energy mining support: All computing power is hosted in a data center using renewable energy, practicing the concept of environmentally friendly mining.

    It only takes 3 steps to quickly join Mint Miner cloud mining:
    1.Mint Miner launched a new user event: Register to get a $15 reward, and sign in every day to get $0.6.
    2. Choose a contract: After successful registration, the next step is to choose a mining contract that meets your goals and budget.
    Here are some of the contract options:
    [New User Experience Contract]: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, maturity income: $100 + $10
    [Avalon Miner A13]: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, maturity income: $500 + $30.5
    [Bitcoin Miner S19 XP+ Hyd]: Investment amount: $1,500, contract period: 9 days, maturity income: $1,500 + $178.2
    [ETC Miner E9 Pro]: Investment amount: $3,200, contract period: 14 days, maturity income: $3,200 + $672
    [Antminer L7 ]: Investment amount: $5,200, contract period: 20 days, maturity income: $5,200 + $1,612
    [Bitcoin MinerS21+ Hyd]: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 28 days, maturity income: $10,000 + $4,760
    Click here to explore more mining contracts
    3. Start earning → Daily settlement, withdraw to your wallet at any time or choose to reinvest.

    Advantages of MintMiner Cloud Mining Platform
    MintMiner is committed to creating a safe, efficient and rewarding mining environment for users of different experience levels. Its core advantages include:
    ◆ Legal and Compliance: Fully compliant with British and global standards – your trust is our foundation.
    ◆ Security: The platform integrates McAfee® security and Cloudflare® protection to protect user data security and smooth mining.
    ◆ Zero management fee: No management fee is required, no hidden fees. The mining process is clean, transparent, honest, reliable and completely transparent.
    ◆ Support multiple currencies: XRP supports a variety of mainstream cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, DOGE, LTC, etc.
    ◆ Technology and service: Provided by an experienced team of experts. The 24/7 fast-response customer service team will solve every problem you encounter, so that you have no worries.

    Mint Miner pointed out:
    The strong rise of XRP, coupled with the favorable implementation of the GENIUS Act, has ushered in a new growth cycle for the Mint Miner compliance platform. Mint Miner’s rapid response and product innovation not only meet investors’ needs for flexible configuration, but also once again consolidate its position as the “cloud mining platform with the fastest market response speed”.

    About Mint Miner:
    Mint Miner is a compliant cloud mining platform headquartered in London, UK, dedicated to providing users with zero-threshold, safe and efficient digital asset mining services through innovative cloud computing technology. The platform already supports mainstream cryptocurrency mining such as BTC and DOGE, and insists on green energy mining, actively promoting the sustainable development of the industry.

    Visit https://mintminer.com/ now to start your XRP mining journey and enjoy the fun of daily passive income.

    Media Contact:
    Contact email: info@mintminer.com
    Official website: https://mintminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: ETHRANSACTION launches new mining contracts to Allow Retail Investors to yield more Dogecoin

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, Colorado, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  ETHRANSACTION’s cloud mining contracts are leading the cloud mining industry due to its ease of use and stable crypto yields, In the recent past ETHRANSACTION has launched a variety of new mining contracts including one where the users can generate Dogecoin as a reward of crypto mining.

    Countdown to policy dividends:
    DOGE mining income is expected to be halved in Q4 2025, and the current network computing power competition has surged by 45%! Now you can enter the market to lock in a 40-day high-yield contract and grab the last dividend before halving.

    Hedging volatility tool:
    When DOGE plummeted 20% in a single day due to the news of ETF extension, ETHRANSACTION users still received a stable DOGE fixed dividend share every day.

    Musk’s ecological expansion:
    DOGE payment scenarios penetrate Twitter rewards and Tesla peripherals, hoarding coins = laying out the next generation of payment infrastructure!

    ETHRANSACTION core advantages: security + high returns + extreme simplicity

    Triple security protection, stable capital protection
    Asset insurance:
    Each contract is underwritten by the British century-old insurance giant Legal & General to ensure the protection of the planned contract.

    Military-grade encryption:
    EV SSL encryption + McAfee® anti-hacking system + cold wallet isolated storage, 0 security incident record.

    Compliance backpack:
    Established in 2017, it holds all necessary licenses issued by the British government and has now developed into a world-renowned cloud mining company. [The company is currently preparing for a stock listing]

    Turn on DOGE automatic money printing mode:

    1. Use your email to register an account on the ETHRANSACTION platform and get a $19 bonus in seconds to experience mining immediately.

    2. Purchase a planned contract: A variety of profitable mining plans are available to meet your personal financial needs, whether you are seeking short-term gains or long-term returns. For example:

    Investment amount Plan period Daily profit Total income at maturity
    $100 2 $9 $118
    $600 6 $7.5 $645
    $1300 13 $16.9 $1518.7
    $3700 20 $51.06 $4721.2

    3. Collect daily DOGE: You can easily view the daily account income growth remotely without any management.

    Take action now to grab the DOGE pre-halving bonus: Click to enter the official website https://ethransaction.vip.

    Why do veterans in the cryptocurrency circle choose ETHRANSACTION?

    Hedge trading risks:
    When you are anxious about the rise and fall of the exchange, the miner’s daily DOGE income has been received.

    Turn connections into money:
    Invite friends to get a lifetime 6% commission reward.

    Green mining pioneer:
    The mine is driven by 100% renewable energy, and each DOGE mined reduces carbon emissions by 0.3kg.

    Millionaire Roadmap in 2025
    Suppose you take action today:

    Invest $33,000 and choose ANTSPACE HK3
    “Premium Contract” (40 days):

    Daily income: $9,075 × 40 days = $363,000

    Compound interest reinvestment: Add multiple contracts on the 40th day, and the return will increase by 4%

    Take action now, miss it = miss out!
    The 2025 wealth window is closing: DOGE halving countdown, SEC policy variables, and fierce computing power competition – those who enter the market at this moment will lock in the highest future returns! Take action and don’t miss out on opportunities. Go directly to ETHRANSACTION mining to unlock the DOGE password.

    Email: info@ethransaction.vip
    Website: https://www.ethransaction.vip

    Attachment

    • ETHRANSACTION

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Siton Mining launches cloud mining solution to help XRP enthusiasts easily earn XRP rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Houston, Texas, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The GENIUS Act was officially passed, the crypto market heated up, and XRP once again became the focus of investors. As the world’s leading cloud mining service platform, Siton Mining officially released a new cloud mining solution for XRP users, providing investors with a low-threshold, high-efficiency, zero-technical-burden participation channel, opening up a new model for easily earning XRP rewards.

    What is cloud mining?
    Cloud mining is a way for users to participate in cryptocurrency mining by renting computing power remotely without having to purchase mining machines or maintain equipment. All mining operations are completed in the data center, and users only need to select the appropriate computing power contract through the platform to enjoy daily income. This method has the advantages of low threshold, zero technical requirements, flexibility and convenience, and is suitable for novices and investors who want to obtain stable passive income.

    Break down barriers, everyone can participate
    Traditional mining relies on expensive hardware and technical barriers, which discourages ordinary users. Siton Mining provides a new solution: no need to purchase mining machines, no technical background, just register and start mining. Users only need to choose the appropriate cloud computing power contract to remotely access global green mines and obtain daily cryptocurrency income.

    Platform highlights: Why choose Siton Mining?
    ⦁Sign up and get a bonus: New users can get a random bonus of $10-$100
    ⦁Daily sign-in bonus: Daily login can get a bonus of $0.6
    ⦁Efficient mining: Global green energy mines, automatic mining, intelligent system allocation
    ⦁Security guarantee: Bank-level security protection + McAfee security protocol + cold wallet management
    ⦁Multi-currency support: supports mining and settlement of multiple crypto assets such as XRP, BTC, ETH, USDT, DOGE, SOL, LTC, etc.
    ⦁ Withdraw at any time: Withdraw when the balance reaches $100, and reinvest flexibly

    Investment contract actual profit display

    MiningEquipment Contract Amount Net income Total net profit
    Zcash Miner $100 $8 $108($100 + $8)
    ETC Miner $500 $30 $530($500 + $30)
    IceRiver AE2 $1,200 $140.40 $1,340.40
    Bitcoin Miner $3,000 $538.20 $3,538.20
    iPollo V2 $7,000 $1,839.60 $8,839.60
    VOLCMINER D1 Pro $10,000 $3,657.00 $13,657.00

    You may ask: “Can you really make money?” Here is Siton Mining’s official profit model (display):

    How to join: Just 3 steps to start your XRP passive income journey
    1. Visit the official website SitonMining.com to register an account;
    2. Select a suitable mining contract and recharge to activate;
    3. Enjoy daily income, the platform automatically settles and distributes it to the account balance.
    Daily sign-in can also get a $0.6 USD reward, continuous mining, continuous income!

    The official APP is now online, making mobile mining easier
    Download the Siton Mining App to keep track of mining trends anytime, anywhere, and check revenue records, operate contracts, and withdraw assets more conveniently.
    Applicable platforms: iOS / Android
    Download method: Click https://yunquantum.com/download/ to download now

    Conclusion: Join Siton Mining now to seize new opportunities for digital wealth
    At a critical moment when the global financial system is moving towards decentralization, Siton Mining is opening a new channel for global users to increase the value of digital assets. Whether you are a novice who has just come into contact with the world of encryption, or a veteran player seeking stable passive income, Siton Mining provides you with a safe, transparent, and low-threshold new choice.
    The rise of XRP is just a prelude, and the real opportunity belongs to those who dare to take the lead. Join now, start your cloud mining journey, and grasp the future of digital wealth!

    Siton Mining contact information
    Official website: https://Sitonmining.com
    Email: info@Sitonmining.com
    APP download: https://yunquantum.com/download/

    Attachment

    • Siton Mining

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Appoints Jonathan Zanger as Chief Technology Officer to Strengthen Cyber Security Capabilities through AI Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced the appointment of Jonathan Zanger as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Zanger will lead Check Point’s global cyber security and AI strategy and AI centers. He will also shape the company’s AI innovation efforts.

    Jonathan Zanger brings more than 15 years of experience building and scaling cyber security and AI-driven platforms. Prior to joining Check Point, he served as CTO at Trigo, where he led the development of advanced AI and computer vision systems for autonomous retail. He holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    “AI is fundamentally reshaping both how cyber threats emerge and how we defend against them,” said Nadav Zafrir, CEO at Check Point Software Technologies. “Jonathan’s deep technical expertise and leadership in cyber security and applied AI, will accelerate our mission to deliver prevention-first security for a hyperconnected world. His appointment reinforces our commitment to shaping the future of cyber defense through bold innovation.”

    As CTO, Zanger will steer the evolution of Check Point’s AI strategy, embedding advanced automation and machine learning across its Infinity Platform to support a prevention-first approach. These efforts build on a series of recent milestones, including Check Point’s recognition as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platform, Q3 2025, which praised its “plan to deliver AI-driven capabilities to automate network security functions.” Zanger’s appointment also aligns with Miercom’s validation of Check Point as one of the industry’s top-performing AI-powered security platforms. Together, these distinctions reinforce the company’s leadership in delivering intelligent, unified cyber security for hybrid IT environments.

    “I’m thrilled to join Check Point at such a pivotal moment,” said Jonathan Zanger, Chief Technology Officer at Check Point. “Cyber security must evolve faster than the threats it’s designed to stop. By embedding AI across every layer of our architecture, from gateways to the cloud, we’re not just keeping pace, we’re setting the pace.”

    Zanger’s appointment comes as Check Point expands its AI investments and talent base, reinforcing its leadership in intelligent, unified cyber defense. Backed by a prevention-first approach and its open garden ecosystem, the company is uniquely positioned to help enterprises navigate digital transformation with confidence and resilience.

    Follow Check Point via:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
    X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
    Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 

    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements  
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Appoints Jonathan Zanger as Chief Technology Officer to Strengthen Cyber Security Capabilities through AI Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced the appointment of Jonathan Zanger as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Zanger will lead Check Point’s global cyber security and AI strategy and AI centers. He will also shape the company’s AI innovation efforts.

    Jonathan Zanger brings more than 15 years of experience building and scaling cyber security and AI-driven platforms. Prior to joining Check Point, he served as CTO at Trigo, where he led the development of advanced AI and computer vision systems for autonomous retail. He holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    “AI is fundamentally reshaping both how cyber threats emerge and how we defend against them,” said Nadav Zafrir, CEO at Check Point Software Technologies. “Jonathan’s deep technical expertise and leadership in cyber security and applied AI, will accelerate our mission to deliver prevention-first security for a hyperconnected world. His appointment reinforces our commitment to shaping the future of cyber defense through bold innovation.”

    As CTO, Zanger will steer the evolution of Check Point’s AI strategy, embedding advanced automation and machine learning across its Infinity Platform to support a prevention-first approach. These efforts build on a series of recent milestones, including Check Point’s recognition as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platform, Q3 2025, which praised its “plan to deliver AI-driven capabilities to automate network security functions.” Zanger’s appointment also aligns with Miercom’s validation of Check Point as one of the industry’s top-performing AI-powered security platforms. Together, these distinctions reinforce the company’s leadership in delivering intelligent, unified cyber security for hybrid IT environments.

    “I’m thrilled to join Check Point at such a pivotal moment,” said Jonathan Zanger, Chief Technology Officer at Check Point. “Cyber security must evolve faster than the threats it’s designed to stop. By embedding AI across every layer of our architecture, from gateways to the cloud, we’re not just keeping pace, we’re setting the pace.”

    Zanger’s appointment comes as Check Point expands its AI investments and talent base, reinforcing its leadership in intelligent, unified cyber defense. Backed by a prevention-first approach and its open garden ecosystem, the company is uniquely positioned to help enterprises navigate digital transformation with confidence and resilience.

    Follow Check Point via:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
    X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
    Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 

    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (checkpoint.com) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements  
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Moomoo And New York Mets Unveil Display at Citi Field: A Bold New Presence at The Ballpark

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — moomoo, the global investment and trading platform, has unveiled a new, 36-foot high, double-sided display at Citi Field as part of its multi-year collaboration with the New York Mets. First displayed on July 18, the vibrant orange moomoo logo now adds a bright pop of color to the ballpark’s dynamic visual landscape. This prominent signage, complemented by the moomoo mascot, ribbon displays, and immersive billboard advertisements, significantly amplifies moomoo’s brand visibility and recognition among millions of baseball fans at Citi Field.

    Caption: Moomoo’s prominent 36-foot high signage lights up Citi Field

    With an average attendance of over 38,603 fans per game and 80 home games this season, the stadium brings extensive brand exposure to moomoo. Announced in April, the cross-sector collaboration between moomoo and the Mets also gives thousands of baseball fans the opportunity to watch the game in the moomoo Suite throughout the season. With this opportunity, fans have access to premium seats while enjoying best in class in-game entertainment, top tier dining options and exciting on-field performance.

    Since the start of the baseball season, moomoo has seen a significant increase in app downloads, brand visibility in various channels, and welcomes the opportunity to provide advanced tools and features, a global community of over 26 million investors, and free educational resources to beginner and advanced investors alike.

    Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz stars in a new commercial for moomoo, where the All-Star reliever details similarities between closing and stock trading: reading the game, analyzing opportunities, timing the moment, and moving with accuracy.

    “During this exciting season, moomoo is continuing its engagement with New York communities, and we have gained more opportunities to do investor education. We are delighted to see more and more people getting to know moomoo and understand our business philosophy through our collaboration with the Mets,” said Neil McDonald, CEO at Moomoo Financials Inc. “We believe that through learning and practice on the moomoo platform, which offers a variety of investment tools, investors can ultimately invest like professional investors.”

    “This new signage marks an exciting next step in the growth of our partnership with moomoo and will help enhance their brand visibility around the ballpark,” said Brenden Mallette, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at the New York Mets. “We’ve seen great engagement from our fans over the past few months and look forward to bringing more exciting moments to moomoo investors and Mets fans.”

    For every Mets win, $10,000 will be added to a special fund, culminating in a potential $1 million grand prize for one lucky moomoo investor if the team reaches 100 regular season victories*. In addition to organizing special events, moomoo offers various giveaways. These include 500 free game tickets on “moomoo Mondays” throughout the season for moomoo users** and the opportunity to score exclusive Mets x moomoo merch.

    *Terms and conditions apply (https://terms.easypromosapp.com/t/68294).

    ** Limited to Moomoo Financial Inc customers residing in tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT, and PA). Terms and conditions apply (https://www.moomoo.com/us/support/topic4_591?_ftsdk=1747041092307575 ).

    About moomoo

    Moomoo is a leading global investment and trading platform dedicated to empowering investors with user-friendly tools, data, and insights. Our platform is designed to provide essential information and technology, enabling users to make more-informed investment decisions. With advanced charting tools, pro-level analytical features, moomoo evolves alongside our users, fostering a dynamic community where investors can share, learn, and grow together.

    Founded in the US, moomoo operates globally, serving investors in countries such as the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Canada and Malaysia. As a subsidiary of a Nasdaq-listed Futu Holdings (FUTU), we take pride in our role as a global strategic partner of the Nasdaq, earning numerous international accolades from renowned industry leaders such as Benzinga and Fintech Breakthrough. Moomoo has also received multiple awards in the US, Singapore, and Australia for its innovative, inclusive approach to investing.

    Contact:

    For more information, please visit moomoo’s official website at www.moomoo.com or contact us at pr@moomoo.com

    For the New York Mets questions, please contact:

    Katie Agostin
    Manager, Communications
    New York Mets
    kagostin@nymets.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0159404-1710-4d0e-a6f8-ed195a0a3723

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Online Presentation: Altucher Spotlights Elon Musk’s Next Big Leap as Countdown to August 13 Begins

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Could Elon Musk’s next public move signal the start of a new era in American infrastructure? According to entrepreneur and bestselling author James Altucher, the signs are all there—if you know where to look.

    In a newly published prediction, Altucher makes the case that Starlink—Musk’s space-based internet network—may soon take center stage in a dramatic transformation of how the world connects, communicates, and competes.

    From Quiet Build to Public Breakthrough

    For years, Starlink has been building quietly, with thousands of satellites launched and regulatory groundwork laid across dozens of countries. But Altucher believes we’re now approaching a public moment that could change everything.

    The Date That Could Define the Decade

    Altucher emphasizes August 13, 2025, as a key turning point.

    “This is the moment Elon’s been quietly preparing for—building toward it piece by piece over nearly two decades,” he writes. And with little fanfare, Altucher adds, “After this date, the window could slam shut—and you may never have this same chance again”.

    The Race for Space-Based Sovereignty

    Altucher frames Starlink not just as a product—but as a potential geopolitical force. He argues that Starlink’s independence from legacy infrastructure could make it the most powerful communications tool on Earth.

    In an increasingly unstable world, Altucher believes that matters now more than ever.

    Why the Public Isn’t Prepared

    Altucher believes this is a moment most people will miss—not because it’s hidden, but because it’s too big to see clearly.

    “You don’t need to be an expert in satellites or data to understand what’s happening here,” he writes. “You just need to connect the dots before the rest of the world does”.

    He calls this shift “a rare convergence of timing, technology, and transformation”.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and podcast host. He has launched more than 20 companies across technology, finance, and digital media. His books—including Choose Yourself and Skip the Line—have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Altucher’s commentary has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch, and he has been featured on CNBC, Fox Business, and other major outlets. Through his daily insights, Altucher continues to help readers understand the forces shaping our future.

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: FloQast Named to CNBC’s 2025 List of World’s Top Fintech Companies in Enterprise Category

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FloQast, an Accounting Transformation Platform created by accountants for accountants, today announced it has been named to CNBC’s 2025 list of the World’s Top Fintech Companies, securing a spot in the Enterprise FinTech category. The annual ranking, produced in collaboration with Statista, recognizes the most innovative and high-impact fintech firms globally.

    “It’s truly an honor to have earned a spot on CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies list in the Enterprise category,” said Mike Whitmire, Co-founder and CEO of FloQast. “At FloQast, we are singularly focused on solving real problems for accounting professionals and leveraging AI and automation to enhance the way they work. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our entire team, the trust our customers place in us every day, and the growing impact we’re having at the enterprise level—helping large organizations automate accounting workflows using AI and drive meaningful business outcomes at scale.”

    Now in its third year, CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies list evaluates thousands of firms across seven key segments, including Payments, Digital Assets, and Enterprise Technology. Companies were assessed based on quantitative KPIs, growth metrics, and industry influence, with data sourced from public reports, company submissions, and independent research.

    FloQast’s inclusion highlights its rapid growth and leadership in modernizing accounting workflows for mid-market and enterprise organizations. Through the use of AI and the automation of common accounting workflows, FloQast makes it easier for accounting teams to work smarter, not harder.
    For more information about the award and to read the full list, please visit here.

    About FloQast
    FloQast, an Accounting Transformation Platform created by accountants for accountants, enables organizations to automate a variety of accounting operations. Trusted by more than 3,000 global accounting teams – including Twilio, Los Angeles Lakers, and Zoom – FloQast enhances the way accounting teams work, enabling customers to automate close management, account reconciliations, accounting operations, and compliance activities. With FloQast, teams can utilize the latest advancements in AI technology to manage aspects of the close, reduce their compliance burden, stay audit-ready, and improve accuracy, visibility, and collaboration overall. FloQast is consistently rated #1 across all user review sites. Learn more at FloQast.com.

    Contacts:

    John Siegel
    Senior Content Marketing Manager
    john.siegel@floQast.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Gevo Sells Carbon Credits from North Dakota Asset

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is pleased to announce that it is selling carbon abatement into the market for the first time. To support decarbonization and to mitigate its corporate travel emissions, the buyer, a global financial and technology company, purchased high-integrity durable carbon removal credits, known as CORCs (or CO2 Removal Certificates), that are Puro.earth-certified and are ready to retire immediately. CORCs provide true carbon abatement, with a volume of actual carbon dioxide permanently removed from circulation, which offsets the effect of emissions.

    Selling high-integrity CORCs is core to Gevo’s strategy, with the rapidly expanding demand for high-quality carbon credits presenting a real market opportunity today. CO2 produced by operations at Gevo’s North Dakota ethanol-production facility is currently being generated and sequestered through carbon capture and storage (“CCS”), delivering credits backed by real carbon removal.

    The Gevo North Dakota facility has the appropriate geological formation and operational Class IV well for CCS, with a total estimated sequestration capacity of up to 1 million metric tonnes of CO2 per year. This site can supply customers with CORCs today that are ready to be retired immediately. The supply of credits is certified by Puro.earth under its strict standards for 1,000-plus-years permanence and other key quality parameters required by customers. CCS is a key part of our decarbonization strategy for sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) as we develop production on multiple pathways.

    CO2 is a product that is often used in industrial applications, including the food and beverage industry or the petroleum production industry through enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”). Alternatively, CO2 can have value by being captured and permanently stored, in lieu of being emitted to the atmosphere. At Gevo North Dakota, biogenic CO₂ is captured and securely stored underground—enabling the generation of the CORCs.

    “These are real sales of credits for carbon dioxide removal that are being generated right now,” says Alex Clayton, Chief Business Development Officer for Gevo. “Customers should feel confident in the CORCs we provide due to the rigor Gevo and Puro.earth are putting into every step of the process. We previously said that after our purchase of Gevo North Dakota that we would be selling carbon and that’s what we’re doing.”

    “Gevo is demonstrating that durable carbon removal isn’t some distant solution—it’s available now,” said Trenton Spindler, Chief Growth Officer at Puro.earth. “With Puro-certified CORCs, buyers worldwide can act decisively to tackle their toughest emissions with confidence in real, permanent results.”

    About Gevo
    Gevo is a next-generation diversified energy company committed to fueling America’s future with cost-effective, drop-in fuels that contribute to energy security, abate carbon, and strengthen rural communities to drive economic growth. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of renewable products, including SAF, motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials that provide U.S.-made solutions. By investing in the backbone of rural America, Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities that create jobs and revitalize communities. Gevo owns and operates one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States, turning by-products into clean, reliable energy. We also operate an ethanol plant with an adjacent carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) facility, further solidifying America’s leadership in energy innovation. Additionally, Gevo owns the world’s first production facility for specialty alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) fuels and chemicals. Gevo’s market-driven “pay for performance” approach regarding carbon and other sustainability attributes, helps ensure value is delivered to our local economy. Through its Verity subsidiary, Gevo provides transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tracking, measuring, and verifying various attributes throughout the supply chain. By strengthening rural economies, Gevo is working to secure a self-sufficient future and to make sure value is brought to the market.

    For more information, see www.gevo.com.

    About Puro.earth
    Puro.earth is a leading carbon-crediting platform for durable carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”). Via the Puro Standard’s rigorous carbon credit methodologies, suppliers that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to durable storages for at least 100 years are certified and issued CORCs into the transparent Puro Registry. CORCs are then purchased by corporations to help address climate change and neutralize residual carbon emissions. Puro.earth is driving forward the carbon removal industry, enabling new revenue streams to accelerate carbon removal.

    For more information, visit puro.earth.

    Forward Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to a variety of matters, including, without limitation, Puro.earth and its business system, the markets for CORCs and carbon dioxide removal, and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are made based on the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Gevo undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Gevo believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.

    Media Contacts
    Heather L. Manuel for Gevo
    VP, Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
    PR@gevo.com

    Charlie Morrow for Puro.earth
    PuroEarth@cognitomedia.com

    IR Contact
    Eric Frey, PhD
    VP, Finance & Strategy
    IR@Gevo.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Edge Conversion Launches Custom AI Systems to Supercharge Sales and Scale Growth for Small Businesses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, California, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Edge Conversion, an emerging AI automation agency based in Los Angeles, has unveiled a suite of tailored AI systems that simplify operations and supercharge growth for service-based and online businesses. Built to solve the everyday challenges of modern entrepreneurs, these systems automate critical functions like lead generation, customer communication, and proposal creation, saving valuable time while boosting revenue.

    Edge Conversion

    Founded by Mateo Stuyck-Plant, who was inspired by his own journey of transforming his business through automation, Edge Conversion offers a range of solutions tailored to meet the needs of modern entrepreneurs. “After seeing how automation transformed my own business, I realized other entrepreneurs needed the same edge,” says Stuyck-Plant. “Now our systems help clients recover 10+ hours per week, while turning manual follow-ups into scalable workflows that drive real results.”

    Some of Edge Conversion’s AI Systems

    • AI Lead Response Systems
    • AI Cold Email System
    • AI Proposal & Quote Generators

    These systems are designed to work together seamlessly. A typical business workflow might begin with AI-powered cold outreach that brings in prospects through personalized email campaigns. Once a lead responds, AI-driven response systems instantly follow up to keep the conversation going, ensuring no opportunity is missed. When the lead is ready to buy, dynamic proposal generators deliver polished, client-ready quotes in minutes, dramatically speeding up the close

    To further support business growth, Edge Conversion also offers systems for intake, onboarding, hiring, and CRM optimization, including:

    • AI Application & Intake Systems
    • CRM Customization & Nurture Flows
    • AI Onboarding & Project Fulfillment Systems
    • AI Hiring & Scoring Tools
    • Automated Sales & Content Systems

    The company focuses on providing done-for-you AI solutions that are not only effective but also scalable. With a strong emphasis on custom AI workflows, Edge Conversion helps businesses streamline their marketing, sales, and support processes, enabling them to scale with ease.

    “Small businesses don’t need more tools, they need the right systems that fit their goals,” says Stuyck-Plant. “We don’t just hand over software. We build and manage solutions that align with how each business actually operates.”

    Edge Conversion’s AI-driven solutions provide businesses with a trusted partner to automate key tasks, save time, and boost efficiency, making it easier than ever to scale.

    Clients in real estate, digital marketing, and professional services have already seen measurable growth by implementing Edge Conversion’s automated customer journey systems. One client cut lead response times from 24 hours to under 2 minutes, leading to a 30% increase in conversions within the first month.

    To see how Edge Conversion’s systems work in action, book a free 20-minute discovery call, or explore real case studies at www.edgeconversion.com. You can also follow Edge Conversion on LinkedIn and Instagram for client wins, new releases, and automation tips.

    About Edge Conversion

    Edge Conversion is an AI automation agency dedicated to helping service-based and online businesses automate their sales, marketing, and support processes. With custom-built AI systems, Edge Conversion enables businesses to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and scale faster.

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Report Reveals Gaming and Travel Are Top Crypto Payment Interests

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, has released its third Onchain Report—Crypto Payment Use Cases—providing a detailed look into how global users want to spend their digital assets. Based on a survey of 4,599 crypto wallet users conducted in early 2025, the report highlights that gaming (36%), daily purchases (35%), and travel bookings (35%) are the top categories where users express the strongest interest in paying with crypto. The results point to a demand for practical, day-to-day applications of digital assets in both online and offline environments.

    The report captures preferences across generational cohorts. Gen Z (aged 18–29) shows strong interest in social and entertainment-driven use cases, including gaming and gifting. Millennials (30–44) express more diversified use across travel, subscriptions, and digital goods. Gen X (45+) favors high-value or essential categories such as travel (40%), digital products, and real estate. This distribution reflects the need for flexible and secure crypto payment experiences tailored to different life stages and priorities.

    Regional analysis reveals varied motivations shaped by infrastructure and local behavior. Southeast Asia ranks highest for gaming (41%) and gifting, reflecting a young, mobile-first population and strong adoption of digital wallets and play-to-earn models. In East Asia, daily purchases and digital product spending both reached 41%—the highest globally—supported by robust QR payment systems and e-commerce integration. Africa stands out for education-related payments (38%), a reflection of crypto’s role in improving access to cross-border services in underbanked environments. Latin America leads in digital product purchases (38%) and online shopping (35%), pointing to crypto’s utility in inflation-prone markets. Meanwhile, the Middle East shows distinct demand for luxury and lifestyle-related purchases, with 31% interested in buying high-end goods and 29% in cars with crypto.

    “Crypto payments are no longer a fringe behavior — they’re becoming embedded in how people transact across regions and age groups,” said Jamie Elkaleh, CMO of Bitget Wallet. “What users are asking for is reliability, compatibility, and control. Whether it’s a QR code at checkout or a stablecoin-powered purchase online, the expectation is that spending crypto should feel as seamless as spending cash. The challenge for wallets is to meet that expectation without compromising the principles of self-custody.”

    Bitget Wallet is expanding its PayFi infrastructure to meet this demand, most recently with the rollout of a crypto-linked card powered by Mastercard, enabling users to spend digital assets at over 150 million merchants worldwide. The non-custodial wallet also supports QR-based payments across blockchain-native systems such as Solana Pay and national QR standards in select markets, allowing users to pay in crypto while merchants receive fiat. Through its in-app Shop section, users can directly purchase lifestyle goods, mobile top-ups, game credits, digital subscriptions and book flight tickets and hotels using stablecoins like USDT or USDC.

    To read to full report, please visit Bitget Wallet blog.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ad0a7007-06f3-4d01-b461-4009d622f569

    The MIL Network –

    July 22, 2025
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