Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI: Herzfeld Credit Income Fund, Inc. Announces Board Approval of Change in Dividend Reinvestment Policy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI BEACH, Fla., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Herzfeld Credit Income Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: HERZ) (the “Fund”) today announced that the Fund’s Board of Directors (“Board”) approved amendments to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), on May 8, 2025. The changes to the Plan will become effective thirty (30) days from the date that notice is mailed to shareholders of the Fund.

    The amendments make a number of changes to the Plan to align the terms with more recently adopted dividend reinvestment plans of similar funds in our industry. Such changes include a modification that allows the Fund to issue new shares to Plan participants regardless of whether the Fund’s common stock is trading at a premium or discount to the Fund’s NAV. The prior plan required the Fund to purchase shares on the open marketing in cases where the market price of the common stock is trading at a price below NAV.

    In addition, the Plan, as amended, determines the number of shares to be received when distributions are reinvested by dividing the amount of the distribution by 95% of (i) the market price per share of common stock at the close of regular trading on the securities exchange where the Fund’s securities are listed on that date (currently the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “Exchange”)), or, (ii) if there is no sale on the Exchange on that date, then the average between the closing bid and asked quotations on the Exchange on such date will be used.

    The Fund encourages its shareholders to carefully review the Plan to determine whether they would like to remain or become a Plan participant.

    About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.

    Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”), founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds.

    More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com.

    Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release, and other statements that the Advisor or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or the Advisor’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. The Advisor and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Advisor and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following risk factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) portfolio fair value risk; (2) potential conflicts of interest risk; (3) collateralized loan obligation risk; (4) covenant-lite loans risk; (5) subordinated securities risk; (6) high yield investment risk; (7) default risk; (8) non-diversification risk; (9) leverage risk; (10) reliance on senior management personnel of the Adviser risk; (11) liquidity risk; (12) risks related to the Adviser’s incentive fee; (13) market risks; (14) inflation risk; (15) interest rate risk; (16) regulatory risk; (17) credit spread risk; (18) prepayment risk; (19) volatility risk; (20) equity risk; (21) foreign exchange rate risk; and (22) cybersecurity risk. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the Advisor’s website at www.herzfeld.com/herz, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on the Advisor’s website is not a part of this press release.

    Contact:
    Thomas Morgan
    Chief Compliance Officer
    Herzfeld Credit Income Fund, Inc.
    1-305-777-1660

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: RadarFirst Unveils Radar AI Risk™, The Breakthrough Product Powering Next-Gen AI Compliance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PORTLAND, Ore., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RadarFirst, a leader in regulatory risk automation, today announced the launch of Radar AI Risk, the industry’s first end-to-end solution purpose-built for AI governance under global frameworks such as the EU AI Act, with U.S. and U.K. regulations close behind.

    “Radar AI Risk gives enterprises a dynamic, future-ready foundation for AI governance,” said Lauren Wallace, Chief Legal Officer at RadarFirst. “Guided by our principles of transparency, adaptability, and proactive legal alignment, we’ll continue extending coverage, partnering with customers as regulations evolve and new use cases emerge.”

    As organizations deploy hundreds of new AI applications every month, legacy tools such as spreadsheets, siloed committees, and generic GRC systems can’t keep up. Radar AI Risk replaces these fragmented approaches with a unified platform designed to evolve alongside emerging requirements:

    • Conversational Intake: Capture rich, context-driven model details via a streamlined web interface.
    • Automated Classification: Instantly map models to EU AI Act risk tiers with a transparent scoring framework built to flexibly incorporate new regulations and policies as they emerge
    • Mapped Regulatory Guidance: Receive explicit risk-assessment rationale tied directly to applicable laws and regulations.
    • Versioned System Inventory: Maintain a centralized, version-controlled registry of AI systems, assessments, and documentation for effortless audits.
    • Rapid Assessments: Turn model reviews from hours into minutes, backed by continuous updates from your legal review team.
    • Third-Party Coverage: Apply the same rigorous risk process to in-house and vendor-sourced AI systems.
    • Audit-Ready Documentation: Generate timestamped, versioned assessments with a single click and review enhanced dashboard exports.
    • Unified Dashboards: Gain real-time visibility across Legal, Risk, Audit, and Executive teams.
    • Remediation & Overrides: Accept recommended actions or document custom responses, all tracked in one secure system of record.
    • Built on the Patented Radar® Platform: Leverage our proven, nine-patent-backed foundation for regulatory automation and control.

    Early adopters in finance, healthcare, and insurance report dramatic drops in manual errors and audit-prep time while unifying stakeholders around a single source of truth.

    “Our clients needed more than static scripts; they wanted a purpose-built platform that grows with their AI ambitions,” said Zach Burnett, CEO of RadarFirst. “Radar AI Risk delivers continuous innovation, automation, and real-time insights so teams can confidently chart the course ahead.”

    Radar AI Risk is available immediately. To learn more about Radar AI Risk, www.radarfirst.com/product/radar-ai-risk/

    About RadarFirst

    RadarFirst is a regulatory risk automation platform that empowers global enterprises to simplify complex decision-making and ensure the responsible and legal use of data across the organization. With patented workflows, real-time risk assessments, and built-in compliance intelligence, RadarFirst helps teams respond faster, reduce exposure, and unify stakeholders around a single source of truth. From incident response to third-party oversight, RadarFirst transforms regulatory risk into a strategic advantage, building trust, improving defensibility, and fueling enterprise growth.

    Media Contact:

    Alexis Kramer-Ainza
    Marketing Manager
    alexis.kramer@radarfirst.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Symbotic Announces Date for Reporting Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Mass., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Symbotic Inc. (Nasdaq: SYM), a leader in A.I.-enabled robotics technology for the supply chain, today announced it will release third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results after the market close on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The press release will also be available on the Symbotic Investor Relations website: www.ir.symbotic.com. The company will host a live webcast to discuss its financial results for the quarter at 5:00 p.m. ET on the same date.

    To listen to the live webcast, register at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/Symbotic-Q3-2025. The webcast will be available for replay on the Symbotic Investor Relations website at: www.ir.symbotic.com.

    Please direct any questions regarding obtaining access to the webcast to Symbotic Investor Relations at ir@symbotic.com.

    ABOUT SYMBOTIC

    Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, A.I.-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-generation technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today’s complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of commerce, Symbotic transforms the flow of goods and the economics of the supply chain for its customers. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com.

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Matt Buckley
    Vice President, Communications
    mediainquiry@symbotic.com

    INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

    Charlie Anderson
    Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
    ir@symbotic.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Climate Policy Radar

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Climate Policy Radar is a not-for-profit organisation building open databases and research tools so people can discover, understand and generate data-driven insights on climate law and policy. Our data and tools help governments, researchers, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector to understand and advance effective climate policies and deploy climate finance.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI: PBK Miner launches 2-day XRP mining contract, XRP short-term investment users surge 380%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, United Kingdom , July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The global leader in the cloud mining industry, PBK Miner, Launches a new 2-day XRP cloud mining contract. This new contract provides the investors with a felexible and efficient opportunity to gain XRP. The product has received a warm response from the market. In just one week, the number of XRP short-term investors on the platform surged by 380%, reflecting the strong market demand for low-threshold, high-liquidity cryptocurrency investment products. 
    2-Day XRP Mining Contract is the latest short-term cryptocurrency mining product launched by PBKMiner following the great success of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin cloud mining contracts. 
    With ultra-low entry barriers, stable returns and flexible terms, this new XRP-focused solution has quickly become the first choice for the XRP holders and short-term investors.

    In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, the most crucial points are sustainable profits and the ease of use. The cloud mining services of PBK Miner are an attractive option for the people who are new to the crypto worls and are looking for a stable passive income.

    What is PBKMiner cloud mining?
    PBK Miner’s cloud mining is a remote solution to mine cryptocurrencies, it supports a variety of digital assets including the XRP. By utilizing the powerful computing power of PBK Miner, users can earn substantial income without upfront cost of complex hardware and strong technical knowledge. The cloud mining farm of PBK miner is so powerful in solving complex blockchain problems that the users can earn real time mining rewards effortlessly.

    The main advantages of PBKMiner cloud mining
    No Mining Hardware Needed: No need to buy expensive mining hardware, Users utilize the powerful mining equipment of PBK Miner.
    No Maintenance Cost: All the maintenance cost like operations, repair and power are the responsibility of PBK Miner.
    Environment Friendly: All the mining farms of PBK Miner use the power generated by Solar and  wind resources, hence environment friendly and cost effective.
    Non-experience Friendly: The mining system of PBK is too simple that no technical knowledge is needed to start the mining, even with zero prior experience. New users can immediately receive a $10 bonus upon registration.
    Daily stable income: Daily income, full return of principal at contract expiration, guaranteeing the safety of funds.
    Flexible contract options: Investment plans range from $100 to $100,000, and contract terms range from 1 day to 50 days.

    Cloud Mining Contract Strategy: Based on Actual Results
    With the launch of 2-day XRP contracts, PBKMiner has opened its high-performance cloud mining infrastructure to the public – with free access. Since its inception in 2019, the platform has expanded to 183+
    countries and regions, with more than 8.5 million active users, and has achieved outstanding results:
    $10 mining contract – 1 day term – earns $0.60 per day;
    $100 mining contract – 2 days term – earns $3.5 per day;
    $500 mining contract – 5 days term – earns $6.50 per day;
    $1,000 mining contract – 10 days term – earns $13.5 per day;
    $5,000 mining contract – 30 days term – earns $77.5 per day.
    These performance data are not predictions, but real experiences of millions of users, thanks to PBKMiner’s AI-based profit optimization and result-centric mining model.

    Click here to learn more about mining contracts
    How to start using PBKMiner cloud mining
    Register: Register now to get a $10 welcome bonus plus a $0.60 daily login bonus.
    Choose a contract: Choose a mining plan that fits your budget and financial goals. PBKMiner offers solutions for both beginners and advanced investors.
    Start earning: Once your contract is activated, PBKMiner’s intelligent platform will do the rest – ensuring seamless, efficient mining operations to maximize your earnings。

    About PBKMiner

    PBKMiner is committed to establishing long-term trust-based partnerships with global users with the vision of “convenient and efficient cloud services and intelligent operation and maintenance management”. Relying on a strong technical background and stable mining infrastructure, we continue to promote the innovative development of digital currency cloud mining. We strive to break the limitations of geography and technology to make cryptocurrency mining smarter, simpler and more inclusive. Our goal is to provide global users with a safe, reliable and long-term cloud mining platform so that everyone can easily participate in and share the fruits of the future digital economy.
    Full details and how to participate: https://pbkminer.com/
    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and may result in loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence, including consulting a professional financial advisor, before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities.

    Media Contact:
    Alison Evans
    PBK Miner
    info@pbkminer.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Estes Op-ed Celebrates Historic Legislation to Restore Foundational Values and Support Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

    U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) published an op-ed in the Daily Wire on why the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is the most pro-family, pro-life piece of legislation in American history. 

    The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law,” wrote Rep. Estes. “It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country. But embedded in the wonky tax policy is a reflection of a larger American desire to return to the foundational values that made our country great. It’s a statement that the commitment to life and family is still a pillar of this nation.

    Read the op-ed here or below.

    How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Help Make Big Beautiful Families

    Most of the conversation about the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act has rightly focused on the bill’s pro-growth economic reforms. But something that deserves more attention is the fact that the bill is the most pro-life and pro-family piece of legislation signed into law in decades.

    For years, the federal government has been funneling Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, skirting the Hyde Amendment and Congress’ intent. That is both wrong and a betrayal of taxpayers. Medicaid, a program meant to help protect and preserve life, should not be used to end it.

    The Big Beautiful Bill directly addresses this issue by prohibiting Medicaid funding from being directed to Planned Parenthood through Fiscal Year 2026, and allowing Congress essential time to permanently enshrine this in law. This comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that states can block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood.

    The urgency of protecting life is underscored by recent data. In Kansas, birth rates have dropped to just 11.7 per 1,000 people, the lowest in more than a century. This mirrors a nationwide trend: in 2022, our birth rates hit a historic low of 1.67 births per woman, indicating that American families are simply not having enough children.

    For the United States to maintain economic and societal stability, experts assert that our country should have a birth rate of 2.1 births per woman. The long-term consequences of missing this marker are serious, from a shrinking workforce to a weakened social safety net. 

    Republicans in Congress addressed this issue in the Big Beautiful Bill Act by making meaningful adjustments to support American families. The legislation enhances and adjusts for inflation the Child Tax Credit (CTC), raising it to $2,200 per child and indexing it to inflation. The law also boosts the adoption tax credit by ensuring it will be partially refundable for up to $5,000 and similarly indexed for inflation. These provisions are significant victories for life, for children yet to be born and for families across America. 

    The law also supports families through newly-established Trump Accounts, which set up American children for success, providing a financial “welcome” of $1,000 to every newborn American citizen. Similar to a Health Savings Account or 529 education savings plan, Trump Accounts empower parents to make tax-free contributions over time that can eventually be used by the child for education, housing, health care or any other qualifying expense to jumpstart their entrance into adulthood. It also allows churches, charities and employers to contribute up to $5,000 a year to the accounts.

    As the former Kansas State Treasurer, I have a deep appreciation for programs that empower families to take control of their finances and build financial stability for their families’ well-being. The Trump Accounts encourage early and consistent saving, establishing the foundation for hardworking families and everyday Americans to develop generational wealth. 

    In addition, the Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the Employer-Provided Childcare Credit so that working families can afford quality early education while continuing to participate in the workforce. It also makes permanent Paid Family and Medical Leave so that families have a lifeline if the breadwinner becomes ill or in the case of a family emergency.

    The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law. It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Software Catalog Puts Agency Solutions at Innovators’ Fingertips

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s latest open Software Catalog, released Wednesday, offers more than 1,200 downloadable codes developed by agency engineers that could enable faster solutions to energize the space economy and stimulate American ingenuity. The catalog is part of NASA’s effort to place advanced technologies, including agency software, into the hands of businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs to foster economic growth and innovation.
    Agency developers will provide more information about the Software Catalog, the only repository of its kind in the federal government, during NASA’s summer software webinar series beginning Tuesday, July 22.
    “NASA has droves of talented experts creating software to automate elements of agency missions,” said Dan Lockney, program executive, Technology Transfer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The resulting efficiency benefits humankind, and its public value increases exponentially when the agency provides access to those software programs for companies, enabling them to save time and money, improve commercial offerings, and build their businesses.”
    The four webinars accompanying this year’s NASA Software Catalog feature developers of popular programs for mission planning, systems design, propulsion analysis, and more, each consisting of a presentation followed by a live question-and-answer session.
    Programs offered in NASA’s 2025-2026 Software Catalog are grouped into 15 categories that may be useful for organizations working with spacecraft and aircraft. For example, the Vehicle Management category includes a tool for designing satellite constellations and a software library for minimizing public safety risks around expendable launch vehicles. The Aeronautics section includes several programs that are widely used by industry for creating, modifying, and analyzing aircraft designs.
    Although the categories have specific themes, the codes are meant to be useful to various innovators. Companies can use aircraft programs NASA wrote to design cars, trucks, and countless other products. The catalog’s Business Systems and Project Management section includes software for estimating project costs, building and assessing complex schedules, and uncovering root causes of mishaps. Other popular programs support 3D rendering for simulation and virtual reality, bring hyper-accuracy to GPS tracking, and analyze electrical power system architectures.
    NASA released its first Software Catalog more than a decade ago in 2013, and since then, the agency’s annual rate of software downloads has skyrocketed, reaching up to 5,722 downloads in a single year.
    The Software Catalog is a product of NASA’s Technology Transfer program, managed by the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA routinely makes improvements to the Software Catalog website, ensuring the process is fast and easy. Access restrictions apply to some software that may be limited to use by U.S. citizens or for U.S. government purposes only.
    View and learn more about NASA’s Software Catalog by visiting:
    https://software.nasa.gov
    -end-
    Jasmine HopkinsHeadquarters, Washington321-432-4624jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov   

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Trump cut to LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, California steps up to fill the gap

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 16, 2025

    What you need to know: On July 17, the LGBTQ support option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will end thanks to the Trump administration – but California is stepping up and doubling down on life-saving support for young gay people in crisis. 

    LOS ANGELES – Just weeks after the Trump administration announced that they would eliminate specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth callers through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, California is taking action to improve behavioral health services and provide even more affirming and inclusive care. Through a new partnership with The Trevor Project, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will provide the state’s 988 crisis counselors enhanced competency training from experts, ensuring better attunement to the needs of LGBTQ youth, on top of the specific training they already receive.

    This partnership builds on existing collaborations, like those under California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, and reflects a shared commitment to evidence-based, LGBTQ+ affirming crisis care. Callers to 988 will continue to be met with the highest level of understanding, respect, and affirmation when they reach out for help.

    “While the Trump administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ kids, California has a message to the gay community: we see you and we’re here for you. We’re proud to work with the Trevor Project to ensure that every person in our state can get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “To every young person who identifies as LGBTQ+: You matter. You are not alone. California will continue to show up for you with care, with compassion, and with action,” said Kim Johnson, Secretary of CalHHS. “Through this partnership, California will continue to lead, providing enhanced support for these young people.”

    “There could not be a more stark reminder of the moral bankruptcy of this Administration than cutting off suicide prevention resources for LGQBT youth. These are young people reaching out in their time of deepest crisis—andI’m proud of California’s work to partner with the Trevor Project to creatively address this need. No matter what this Administration throws at us, I know this state will always meet cruelty with kindness and stand up for what’s right,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

    California’s crisis call centers

    Across California, twelve 988 call centers remain staffed around the clock by trained crisis counselors, ready to support anyone in behavioral health crises, including LGBTQ youth.

    If you, a friend, or a loved one are in crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call, chat, or text 988 and be immediately connected to skilled counselors at all times. Specialized services for LGBTQ youth are also available via The Trevor Project hotline at 1‑866‑488‑7386, which continues as a state-endorsed access point.
     

    State supports

    California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a key component of Governor’ Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, offers behavioral health services and supports for children, youth, and families.  In addition to focused messaging for LGBTQ youth within three ongoing statewide youth mental health campaigns, CYBHI has funded more than a dozen community organizations to provide targeted services for LGBTQ youth by establishing or expanding LGBTQ community spaces, increasing workforce supports, reducing behavioral health stigma, and raising awareness about suicide prevention. 

    Additional free continuum-of-care services are available to help address concerns before they become crises, including peer support through CalHOPE and virtual behavioral health services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna. These resources are available for all California youth, young adults, and families, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

    Why this matters

    LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and without affirming services, their risk increases dramatically. Since its launch in 2022, the 988 LGBTQ+ “Press 3” line connected more than 1.5 million in crisis.

    How to get help 

    Call, text or chat 988 at any time to be connected with trained crisis counselors.

    Text PRIDE, or dial 1‑866‑488‑7386, to reach Trevor Project specialists.

    Visit CalHOPE for non-crisis peer and family support.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Compensation for livestock farmers in Thessaly – Delays in payment – E-001985/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In January 2024, EUR 101 million were granted to Greece from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF)[1] to cover costs[2] for emergency and recovery operations in response to the disaster caused by the storm ‘Daniel’.

    Private damage and the agricultural sector are not eligible for EUSF support. Greece needs to submit to the Commission an implementation report describing the implemented operations 24 months after the disbursement date .

    In December 2023, the Commission provided EUR 43 million emergency financial support for the agricultural sectors most impacted by wildfires and floodings which affected Greece during August and September 2023[3], from which the amount of EUR 42 591 470.10 was disbursed by 28 April 2025, based on payments made to beneficiaries within the deadline .

    It is under Member States responsibility to ensure that payments are disbursed to the beneficiaries in full and within the payment deadlines as laid down by Union law[4].

    The Commission is closely reviewing the implementation of all the measures and interventions of both the Rural Development Programme[5] and the Common Agriculture Policy Strategic Plan of Greece (CSP)[6]. Commission representatives participate in the Monitoring Committees of the above programmes in an advisory role.

    In this context, the Commission reviews the financial data, the result indicators, and the progress towards quantified target values and milestones, encouraging the authorities to concentrate their efforts and speed up the implementation of all measures .

    A broad range of activities contributing to improving the administrative capacity necessary to ensure a smooth implementation of interventions and related payments, could be supported through the technical assistance aid available within the CSP.

    • [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012.
    • [2] This means, for example, the recovery of essential infrastructure, provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations, and protection of the cultural heritage.
    • [3] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2820/oj.
    • [4] Article 38, Article 44 and Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 — http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2116/oj.
    • [5] RDP 2014-2022: https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/paa-2014-2020/egkriseis-tropopoiiseis/.
    • [6] CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027: https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/category/sskap-2023-2027/sskap-egkrisi-tropopoiiseis/.
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: With Over $21M Raised, Next Phase of Lightchain AI Project Underway

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHREWSBURY, United Kingdom, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lightchain AI, a decentralized infrastructure project integrating artificial intelligence and blockchain, has announced the launch of its Bonus Round following the successful completion of 15 presale stages. The project has raised a total of $21.1 million in early participation, with the Bonus Round now open at a fixed price of $0.007 per token.

    This milestone marks a significant phase in Lightchain AI’s roadmap as it transitions from presale fundraising to broader community onboarding, validator setup, and developer engagement.

    The Lightchain AI protocol features a modular, AI-native blockchain architecture. Core technologies include the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) for real-time task execution, Proof of Intelligence consensus, and decentralized storage to ensure secure and verifiable data handling. Public GitHub repositories are now live, and the Developer Portal is open with technical documentation, APIs, and SDKs.

    “We are excited to enter the Bonus Round with strong momentum and a growing community,” said a Lightchain AI spokesperson. “Our focus remains on building an efficient and scalable decentralized infrastructure that supports real-world AI applications.”

    In addition to its core protocol, Lightchain AI is rolling out an ecosystem to support developers and early participants, including:

    • Validator and contributor node onboarding
    • A $150,000 grant pool to fund ecosystem tools and dApps
    • Cross-chain infrastructure and DeFi partnership integrations
    • Incentivized Launchpad for new project deployments

    The Bonus Round presents an opportunity for wider participation as the network moves toward mainnet deployment and broader ecosystem development.

    To learn more or participate in the Bonus Round, visit:

    https://lightchain.ai

    https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf

    https://x.com/LightchainAI

    https://t.me/LightchainProtocol

    Contact:
    SHAJAN SKARIA
    media@lightchain.ai

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

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12daf850-a1c7-4477-8dfb-1459797c59e1

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f771121-bc4a-4a52-890f-81d624399842

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: With Over $21M Raised, Next Phase of Lightchain AI Project Underway

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHREWSBURY, United Kingdom, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lightchain AI, a decentralized infrastructure project integrating artificial intelligence and blockchain, has announced the launch of its Bonus Round following the successful completion of 15 presale stages. The project has raised a total of $21.1 million in early participation, with the Bonus Round now open at a fixed price of $0.007 per token.

    This milestone marks a significant phase in Lightchain AI’s roadmap as it transitions from presale fundraising to broader community onboarding, validator setup, and developer engagement.

    The Lightchain AI protocol features a modular, AI-native blockchain architecture. Core technologies include the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) for real-time task execution, Proof of Intelligence consensus, and decentralized storage to ensure secure and verifiable data handling. Public GitHub repositories are now live, and the Developer Portal is open with technical documentation, APIs, and SDKs.

    “We are excited to enter the Bonus Round with strong momentum and a growing community,” said a Lightchain AI spokesperson. “Our focus remains on building an efficient and scalable decentralized infrastructure that supports real-world AI applications.”

    In addition to its core protocol, Lightchain AI is rolling out an ecosystem to support developers and early participants, including:

    • Validator and contributor node onboarding
    • A $150,000 grant pool to fund ecosystem tools and dApps
    • Cross-chain infrastructure and DeFi partnership integrations
    • Incentivized Launchpad for new project deployments

    The Bonus Round presents an opportunity for wider participation as the network moves toward mainnet deployment and broader ecosystem development.

    To learn more or participate in the Bonus Round, visit:

    https://lightchain.ai

    https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf

    https://x.com/LightchainAI

    https://t.me/LightchainProtocol

    Contact:
    SHAJAN SKARIA
    media@lightchain.ai

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

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12daf850-a1c7-4477-8dfb-1459797c59e1

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f771121-bc4a-4a52-890f-81d624399842

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Young, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Investment in Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 16, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (DIL) joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (RIN), Ruben Gallego (DAZ) and Jim Risch (RID) in reintroducing the Investing in Main Street Act to increase investment in small businesses by permitting banks to invest up to 15 percent of their capital in Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC). 

    “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy—when they grow, our economy grows,” said Duckworth. “Yet too many small business owners have trouble accessing affordable capital to grow their business and create new jobs in their communities. I am proud to join Senators Young, Risch and Gallego in introducing this bipartisan legislation to help get more dollars in the hands of small business owners in Illinois and across our nation.”

    “The Small Business Investment Company program has provided critical support to countless Hoosier small businesses,” said Young. “Our legislation will help spur further investment in innovative startups and unlock capital for existing, high-growth small businesses across America.”

    “Starting a small business gives those willing to work hard a shot at achieving the American dream. But without access to capital, it’s nearly impossible to get a small business off the ground,” said Gallego. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill helps unlock more capital for Main Street, empowering small businesses across the country to grow, innovate and create jobs. I’m proud to introduce it with my colleagues.”

    “Idaho small businesses fuel our economy, employ our friends and family and are the lifeblood of our communities,” said Risch. “The Investing in Main Street Act supports our Gem State entrepreneurs’ access to early-stage capital by allowing banks to invest more into Small Business Investment Companies.”

    In 1958, the Small Business Administration launched the SBIC program to facilitate and regulate investment from privately owned companies to U.S. small businesses. This program has successfully allowed more small businesses across America to expand their competitive edge, create more jobs and contribute to the local economy.

    Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

    -30-



    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Budd, Justice, Hawley, Ricketts Introduce Bill to Increase Transparency of Foreign Funds Fueling Left-Wing Agitators

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    FRONT Act would require U.S. nonprofits to register under FARA if they accept funds from hostile nations

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led his colleagues in introducing the Foreign Registration Obligations for Nonprofit Transparency (FRONT) Act today, which would require nonprofits in the United States that receive funding from foreign principals in countries of concern, such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The bill would also require nonprofits to disclose the activities they use foreign funds to engage in to mitigate future unrest.

    “There are serious indicators recent left-wing riots, protests, and rallies resulting in violence and political unrest are funded by foreign agitators. It’s time for American nonprofit organizations to be transparent about where they are getting their funding from. No foreign country with hostile intentions should be meddling in our democratic process. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the FRONT Act to increase transparency and help put a stop to this,” said Senator Budd.

    “Let me just say this and be clear: foreign influence in our country’s nonprofits ends now. The FRONT Act ensures that any money coming from our adversaries, like China, will be fully disclosed. This bill is common-sense, provides much needed transparency, and I’m proud to join Senator Budd in this effort,” said Senator Justice.

    “I am concerned that U.S. non-profits are receiving foreign funding from our adversaries and countries of concern. Senator Budd’s FRONT Act hardens the United States’ ability to monitor potentially malign influence of non-profits from foreign adversaries. In order to stop adversaries such as Communist China, Russia, and Iran, we must have the tools to better understand their efforts to infiltrate our American system and influence our institutions,” said Senator Ricketts.

    Senators Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) joined Senator Budd in introducing the bill.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    Recent civil unrest has raised alarms about possible foreign influence impacting U.S. nonprofits that organize and provide material support for protests.

    For example, when it comes to riots against ICE enforcement operations, FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly stated, “The FBI is investigating any and all monetary connections responsible for these riots.” Reports have also indicated that “[the] socialist group [which] promoted the chaotic anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles…is tied to a network of groups bankrolled by a pro-China millionaire.”

    But this is just the surface of a deeply troubling trend of foreign interference in our political processes. As former Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines claimed, “We have observed actors tied to Iran’s government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters,” following the October 7 attacks.

    What we’re witnessing is not isolated. Safeguarding our political system from continued foreign interference must be a top national security priority to protect the integrity of our democracy.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Works to Reform Our Nation’s Immigration System

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Rep. Salazar (FL-27), Rep. Escobar (TX-16), and a bipartisan delegation of 17 members to introduce the Dignity Act of 2025. This bill creates the Dignity Program, which offers a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for 5 years or more (since before 2021) and can meet certain other requirements, including the ability to pass a criminal background check. Once completed, they will be granted legal status, allowing them to live and work in the United States.

    Congressman Valadao was a co-sponsor of the Dignity Act in the 118th Congress.

    “It’s past time for Congress to pass reasonable immigration reform that restores law and order while recognizing the contributions of undocumented immigrants who have built their lives here,” said Congressman Valadao. “In the Valley there are many people who have lived and worked peacefully for years, and they deserve a fair opportunity to earn legal status. The Dignity Act is a bipartisan step toward fixing our broken immigration system and delivering the reforms our communities need, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in support.”

    “The Dignity Act of 2025 is a revolutionary bill that offers the solution to our immigration crisis: secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and provide an earned opportunity for long-term immigrants to stay here and work,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “No amnesty. No handouts. No citizenship. Just accountability and a path to stability for our economy and our future.”

    “I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of our broken immigration system, and as a member of Congress, I take seriously my obligation to propose a solution. Realistic, common-sense compromise is achievable, and is especially important given the urgency of this moment. I consider the Dignity Act of 2025 a critical first step to overhauling this broken system,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Immigrants – especially those who have been in the United States for decades – make up a critical component of our communities and also of the American workforce and economy. The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents; and, most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find bipartisan reforms. We can enact legislation that incorporates both humanity and security, and the Dignity Act of 2025 offers a balanced approach that restores dignity to people who have tried to navigate a broken system for far too long. The reintroduction of this legislation includes changes that reflect the challenges in today’s political environment. I’m proud of my bipartisan work with Representative Salazar, who has been a strong partner on this issue since December 2022. It is our hope that Congress seizes the opportunity to take an important step forward on this issue.”

    Key provisions of the Dignity Act include:

    • Grants legal status and a path to permanent residency for Dreamers. 
    • Supports American industries—including agriculture—by addressing labor shortages.
    • Takes steps toward legal immigration reform by updating visa categories to align with 21st century needs.
    • Reduces backlogs for high-skilled Employment Based (EB) worker visas.

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain Sign Documentary Credit Insurance Policy to Boost Shariah-Compliant Trade

    Source: APO

    The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (https://ICIEC.IsDB.org), a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, and Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain signed a Documentary Credit Insurance Policy (DCIP). The policy aims to strengthen support for Shariah-compliant trade finance, enabling greater security and confidence in the international trade ecosystem.

    The agreement was signed by Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, and Dr. Adel Salem, Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain, in a joint effort to enhance the capacity of Islamic financial institutions to manage trade-related risks more effectively.

    Under this partnership, ICIEC will provide insurance coverage for the confirmation of Letters of Credit (LCs) issued by Al Baraka Islamic Bank in connection with the import and export of eligible Shariah-compliant goods and services. This solution will help mitigate payment risks associated with cross-border trade while promoting sustainable growth in ICIEC’s member states.

    Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, CEO of ICIEC, stated: “This strategic collaboration with Al Baraka Islamic Bank reflects ICIEC’s unwavering commitment to advancing intra-OIC trade and investment. By supporting Shariah-compliant trade finance through our Documentary Credit Insurance Policy, we are facilitating secure trade flows while empowering Islamic banks to broaden their offerings to clients. This partnership demonstrates the power of multilateral cooperation in achieving shared development goals.”

    For his part, Dr. Adel Salem, CEO of Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC Bahrain, stated: “We are delighted to partner with ICIEC on this pioneering Credit Insurance Policy, which empowers us to extend Shariah‑compliant trade finance to our clients, bolster Bahrain’s role as a regional hub for Islamic banking, and stimulate sustainable economic growth across member states worldwide. This collaboration underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation and robust risk management, giving the businesses we serve greater confidence to expand in global markets.”

    The DCIP serves as a vital tool for Islamic banks, enhancing their ability to expand trade finance operations with reduced exposure to commercial and political risks. The policy also complements ICIEC’s broader mandate to promote economic resilience, financial inclusion, and private sector development in member countries.

    Both institutions reaffirmed their shared dedication to expanding the reach of Islamic finance, strengthening risk mitigation tools, and contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic development.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).

    Media Contacts:
    ICIEC

    Email: ICIEC-Communication@isdb.org

    Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC
    Email: marketing@albaraka.bh

    Follow ICIEC on: 
    X: https://apo-opa.co/44Qre2B
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3Iv2bL3
    LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/44JYv0J
    YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4eRJkG9
    Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/44LpCak

    About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC):
    As a member of ‘AAA’ rated Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC Member States and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front in delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions to companies and parties in its 50 Member States. ICIEC, for the 17th consecutive year, maintained an “Aa3” insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody’s, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) Industry. Additionally, S&P has reaffirmed ICIEC “AA-“ long-term Issuer Credit and Financial Strength Rating for the second year with Stable Outlook.  ICIEC’s resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, global reinsurance network, and strong risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than USD 121 billion in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to several sectors – energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.

    Website: https://ICIEC.IsDB.org

    About Al Baraka Islamic Bank BSC:
    Al Baraka Islamic Bank (AIB) is one of leading financial institutions in the Islamic banking sector within Bahrain. Throughout its history of more than four decades (since its establishment in 1984), the Bank has played a prominent role in building the infrastructure of the Islamic finance industry. The Bank also played a significant role in promoting the Islamic finance industry and publicizing its merits.

    AIB offers innovative financial products, including investments, international trading, management of short-term liquidity and consumer financing, all of which are all based on Islamic financing modes. Such financing includes Murabaha, Wakala, Istisna, Musharaka, Mudarabah, Salam, and Ijara Muntahia Bittamleek.

    Website: https://www.AlBaraka.bh

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 3339, Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 3339 would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to develop an exam and certify people who pass as “accredited investors,” which would allow them to make investments for which they are not currently eligible. Under current law, accredited investors are defined as people or entities with sufficient financial sophistication and resources to sustain the risk of loss, including banks, broker-dealers, and investment companies. Accredited investors may participate in investment opportunities not available to nonaccredited investors, such as purchasing securities that are exempt from registration with the SEC.

    Based on the cost of similar provisions, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3339 would cost $1 million in both 2026 and 2027. CBO expects that the SEC would need three employees, at an average annual cost of $330,000 for each employee, to establish the examination and amend the current rules on accredited investors. Because the SEC is authorized to collect fees each year to offset its annual appropriation, CBO expects that the net effect on discretionary spending over the 2025-2030 period would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority.

    If the SEC increases annual fees to offset the costs of implementing provisions of H.R. 3339, it would increase the costs of an existing private-sector mandate on entities required to pay those fees. CBO estimates that the incremental cost of the mandate would be small and would fall well below the annual threshold established in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) for private-sector mandates ($206 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    The bill contains no intergovernmental mandates.

    The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Aurora Swanson (for federal costs) and Rachel Austin (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: AI Changes Bitcoin Mining, PFMCrypto Launches AI-Enhanced BTC Cloud Mining with Daily Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin’s ecosystem gains global momentum, PFMCrypto is proud to introduce a major leap in accessible crypto mining: the launch of BTC-focused cloud mining contracts. Now available on both web and mobile platforms, these flexible short-term contracts allow users to mine BTC remotely and receive daily BTC rewards—no mining hardware, no complex setup, and no prior experience required. For the first time, retail participants can engage with the Bitcoin economy through a streamlined, fully integrated platform.
    Explore the PFMCrypto website or download the app today.

    BTC Cloud Mining Is Here—Simple, Smart, and Rewarding:
    Traditionally known as the world’s first and most decentralized digital asset, Bitcoin now enters a new chapter with PFMCrypto’s latest innovation: easy-to-use cloud mining. Users can mine BTC directly or leverage PFMCrypto’s intelligent AI engine to automatically switch between the most profitable assets—including ETH, XRP, DOGE, USDC, and more—for optimized returns. All earnings are paid out daily in your chosen cryptocurrency, providing reliable income regardless of market fluctuations.
    Designed for both everyday users and professional investors, this platform empowers users to generate consistent crypto earnings from anywhere, at any time.

    Key Features of PFMCrypto’s BTC Cloud Mining Contracts:
    –  Full BTC Integration: Deposit, purchase, mine, and withdraw BTC directly within the platform.
    –  Multi-Coin Mining Support: Mine and receive earnings in ETH, XRP, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, and BCH.
    –  AI Revenue Optimization: Proprietary algorithms automatically allocate mining power to the top-performing assets to maximize returns.
    –  100% Remote Access: No mining equipment needed—fully accessible via the PFMCrypto mobile app or browser.
    –  Capital Protection: All contracts include full principal return upon maturity, reducing risk while growing crypto assets.

    Mining Contracts for Every Budget and Strategy:
    PFMCrypto offers a broad range of mining contracts that support BTC-based deposits and withdrawals. Each contract is crafted for flexibility, predictable income, and effective risk management:
    $10 Contract – 1 Day – Earn $0.66 (Free with signup bonus)
    $100 Contract – 2 Days – Earn $3.00 daily + $2 reward
    $500 Contract – 5 Days – Earn $6.15 daily
    $5,000 Contract – 30 Days – Earn $78.50 daily
    $20,000 Contract – 45 Days – Earn $380.00 daily
    Whether you’re testing the waters or building a long-term portfolio, PFMCrypto provides low-risk, high-transparency contracts that deliver stable daily income in BTC.
    Click here to explore more BTC cloud contracts.

    Why PFMCrypto’s BTC Mining Stands Out?
    –  Accessible to Everyone: No mining rigs, no setup, no complexity—just tap and earn.
    –  BTC-Native Integration: Deposit, mine, and withdraw BTC in one seamless ecosystem.
    –  Stable Returns, Smart Allocation: An AI-powered engine dynamically adjusts mining strategies to maximize rewards and ensure daily income across all supported coins.
    –  Multi-Asset Flexibility: Mine BTC directly or diversify earnings into other top digital assets—all with one contract.
    –  Instant Setup, Global Access: Mine from anywhere using your phone or browser—securely and remotely.

    Get Started Today in 3 Easy Steps:
    1.  Sign Up – Create your account and receive a $10 welcome bonus
    2.  Choose a Plan – Select a short- or long-term contract (1–60 days available)
    3.  Start Earning – Track daily profits and withdraw in the token of your choice

    Start mining BTC now at: https://pfmcrypto.net 
    Or download the PFMCrypto mobile app (available for iOS & Android).

    BTC Mining for a Digital Future:
    Since 2018, PFMCrypto has helped millions of users around the world generate passive crypto income through secure, smart, cloud-based mining. With the introduction of BTC mining, the platform offers the ideal combination of institutional-grade infrastructure and retail accessibility. Now, users can choose to earn directly in BTC or diversify into major digital assets—all within a secure, fully remote environment.
    “Bitcoin has always been secure, decentralized, and globally trusted,” said a PFMCrypto spokesperson. “Now, it’s also mineable—securely, remotely, and profitably. We’ve eliminated the barriers so anyone can participate in Bitcoin’s future growth.”
    Markets may shift—but daily mining income can remain steady.

    Join the BTC mining revolution today at: https://pfmcrypto.net

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Home Price Growth Moderates in Second Quarter

    Source: Fannie Mae

    WASHINGTON, DC – Single-family home prices increased 4.1 percent from Q2 2024 to Q2 2025, down from the previous quarter’s year-over-year growth pace of 5.0 percent, according to the latest reading of the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Home Price Index (FNM-HPI) . The FNM-HPI is a national, repeat-transaction home price index measuring the average, quarterly price change for all single-family properties in the United States, excluding condos. This continues the general moderation in home price growth observed since the start of 2024. On a quarterly basis, home prices rose 0.3 percent and 2.0 percent in Q2 2025 on a seasonally adjusted and non-seasonally adjusted basis, respectively.

    The FNM-HPI is produced by aggregating county-level data to create both seasonally adjusted and non-seasonally adjusted national indices that are representative of the whole country and designed to serve as indicators of general single-family home price trends. The FNM-HPI is publicly available at the national level as a quarterly series with a start date of Q1 1975 and extending to the most recent quarter, Q2 2025. Fannie Mae publishes the FNM-HPI approximately mid-month during the first month of each new quarter.

    The full FNM-HPI data sets and a description of the methodology are available on Fannie Mae’s Data and Insights page: https://www.fanniemae.com/data-and-insights.

    Fannie Mae’s home price estimates are based on preliminary data available as of the date of index estimation and are subject to change as additional data become available. Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views of Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae’s business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR Group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views published by the ESR Group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

    About the ESR Group
    Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, led by Chief Economist Mark Palim, studies current data, analyzes historical and emerging trends, and conducts surveys of consumers and mortgage lenders to provide forecasts and analyses on the economy, housing, and mortgage markets.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Unanimously Passes Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Advance U.S. Manufacturing Policy and Competitiveness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters(MI) to establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Peters’ National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act would establish the National Manufacturing Advisory Council as a key component in developing federal manufacturing policy to help strengthen U.S. leadership in global manufacturing. 

    “To support manufacturers in Michigan and throughout the United States, we need our industry partners, economic developers, lawmakers, and workers reading from the same playbook,” said Senator Peters. “A National Manufacturing Advisory Council would help bring together and amplify the voices of manufacturers, workers, and industry experts to strengthen our federal manufacturing policy. In doing so, we can proactively address rising challenges in the industry and better seize opportunities that will propel American manufacturing to new heights in the coming decades.”

    Peters’ bipartisan legislation – which he introduced with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) – would establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council made up of manufacturing, labor, and education leaders to advise both Congress and the Secretary of Commerce on how best to ensure the United States remains the top destination globally for investment in manufacturing. It would serve as a bridge between the manufacturing sector and federal government to improve communication and collaboration, and better support the industry and its workforce.

    The National Manufacturing Advisory Council would meet at least twice a year to advise the Secretary of Commerce on policies and programs that impact U.S. manufacturing. It would also propose solutions to challenges and problems facing manufacturers in the United States. The Advisory Council would be required to: 

    • IDENTIFY AND ASSESS the effects of technological developments, production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, and emerging needs for United States manufacturing competitiveness.  
    • SOLICIT INPUT from the public and private sectors – including businesses and labor groups – as well as academia on emerging trends in manufacturing. 
    • PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS to the Secretary addressing global and domestic manufacturing trends threatening the U.S. manufacturing sector, including supply chain interruptions, logistical challenges, and technological changes. The Advisory Council would also advise the Secretary on ways to increase federal attention with respect to manufacturing – as well as matters relating to the U.S. manufacturing workforce such as the impact of new technology and worker training and education priorities.  
    • IDENTIFY REGULATORY ISSUES encountered by the domestic manufacturing sector and provide advice on how to mitigate issues through a favorable environment for manufacturers, workers, and consumers.  

    “This initiative, the National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act, is designed to improve the resources and support for our nation’s small and medium-size manufacturers, which are a truly vital driver of our economy. I applaud Senator Peters for his steadfast, unwavering commitment to American manufacturing,” said Ingrid Tighe, President of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, the Michigan representative of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  

    “We applaud Senator Gary Peters for introducing this bill to improve the federal government’s planning and coordination of efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing,” said Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). “Recent supply chain disruptions have made clear that it is time for the United States to shore up its critical manufacturing capabilities, which will not only better prepare us for the next crisis but also create jobs and boost the economy. This increased coordination between the many programs designed to support our manufacturers and their workers is an important step towards rebuilding our industrial base. We are grateful to Senator Peters for his efforts to bolster American manufacturing.”  

    “The Association of Equipment Manufacturers applauds Senator Gary Peters and Senator Marsha Blackburn for their continued leadership on behalf of the manufacturing sector and for introducing legislation that will prioritize a national strategy focused on ensuring American manufacturing policy can rapidly respond to changes in the global marketplace,” said Kip Eideberg, American Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations. “Our economic prosperity and national security depend on a strong manufacturing sector, and establishing a National Manufacturing Advisory Council will help unleash innovation and mobilize a comprehensive, coordinated, and competent national effort in support of the manufacturing sector and its workforce.”    

    “We commend Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) for introducing legislation to establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council,” said Ana Meuwissen, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), The Vehicle Suppliers Association. “This council will be a forum for manufacturers and other key stakeholders to provide input to the Department of Commerce (DOC) on important long-range issues such as workforce, supply chain, technology, and defense industrial base. The NMAC legislation would also foster better coordination of federal manufacturing policy in the DOC and across the federal government. When this legislation is enacted, it will be an asset to assist in retaining U.S. competitiveness in critical manufacturing sectors like motor vehicle parts.”    

    Peters’ National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act is also supported by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC).   

    Peters has consistently prioritized strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply chains. Peters helped author and pass into law the CHIPS and Science Act to boost U.S. manufacturing of semiconductor chips, strengthen critical domestic supply chains, and create good-paying American jobs. The CHIPS and Science Act additionally increased funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which has been a priority for Peters. In May, Peters’ bipartisan Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act passed the Senate, which builds upon the Chips and Science Act to strengthen federal efforts to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains.

    Peters additionally supported and helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which will strengthen domestic manufacturing, onshore our supply chains, combat the climate crisis, and create millions of American jobs.  

    In May 2024, the Senate unanimously passed Peters’ bipartisan Strengthening Support for American Manufacturing Act to bolster federal efforts supporting U.S. manufacturing and American workers. Last year, the Senate also unanimously passed Peters’ bipartisan legislation to strengthen federal efforts to expand domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips.   

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Moskowitz, Blumenthal, Raskin, Stansbury Introduce New Bill to Rein in Potential Corruption Through Presidential Library Donations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    July 16, 2025

    Special interests seemingly seeking favors from Donald Trump have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into Trump’s presidential library 

    Recent Paramount settlement, $400M Qatari jet gift raise questions about potential influence-peddling

    Bill Text (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, along with Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) unveiled the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act to close loopholes that allow presidential libraries to be used as tools for corruption and bribery.

    Giant corporations, at least one foreign government, and other entities have promised donations collectively worth hundreds of millions of dollars to President Donald Trump’s future library while he has the power to impact those same entities’ futures, from mega-merger approvals, to the preservation of the U.S. military base in Qatar, to Big Tech regulation, and more. The contributions, many in the form of settlements to Trump-filed lawsuits, raise serious ethics concerns about potential bribery and influence-peddling.

    “Companies like Paramount and Meta and foreign governments like Qatar may be paying off Donald Trump in plain sight — and right now, there are no rules to stop them,” said Senator Warren. “I’m leading the fight to rein in this avenue for corruption. Government should work for the American people, not just whichever giant company or foreign government can dump the most money into the president’s future library.”

    “President Trump’s acceptance of an extravagant plane from the Qatari government for eventual use in his Presidential Library is corruption plain and simple. Without any restrictions on donations to Presidential Libraries, other foreign governments can potentially extract policy favors from the White House in exchange for gifts and benefits. Our bill closes these loopholes for good so that Presidential Libraries cannot be used as backdoor tools for influence and corruption,” said Senator Blumenthal.

    “Presidential libraries are an incredible resource for American families to learn about our history and the people who shaped it—but it’s also important we know who’s funding that history. Right now, these libraries are a black box, allowing for anonymous donors and even foreign governments to give unlimited amounts of money,” said Representative Moskowitz. “This bill reforms the process so presidents of all parties are subject to commonsense ethics rules. I led this effort last Congress and am doing it again now because the American people deserve the transparency created under this bill, and all presidents should be subject to it.” 

    “I’m proud to co-lead this legislation, which would impose commonsense safeguards on fundraising for presidential libraries,” said Representative Raskin. “Our bill would ensure that presidential libraries are tools for teaching and preserving presidential history, and not just another corrupt self-enrichment scheme for the president. Our bill would ban the use of library donations for personal expenses, ensure quarterly disclosures of contributions made while the president is still in office, and prevent presidential library donations from being used as a backdoor tool by powerful corporations, lobbyists and foreign governments to influence the president and foreign and domestic policy.”

    Unlike presidential campaigns or inaugural committees, Presidential Libraries are subject to almost no restrictions on donations. Presidents can raise funds for their libraries, even while still in office, and accept donations from anyone — including foreign nationals, lobbyists, people seeking presidential pardons, and corporations with matters before federal agencies. These donations can be unlimited and donor names do not have to be disclosed. 

    Just weeks ago, Paramount settled President Trump’s seemingly meritless lawsuit for $16 million — with the money funneling straight into Trump’s future library. Paramount is currently vying for the Trump administration’s approval of its proposed mega-merger with Skydance. In May 2025, President Trump announced that he would accept a free luxury jet — worth about $400 million — from the government of Qatar, and that the jet would be donated to his Presidential Library after he leaves office. 

    Senator Warren this week published a new analysis revealing that companies seeking favorable outcomes from the Trump administration have pledged to funnel at least $63 million into Trump’s future presidential library. Other gifts and in-kind donations — including the luxury Qatari jet, expensive candlelight dinners at Mar-a-Lago, leftover inauguration donations, revenue from sales of Trump-themed merchandise, and more — bring the total value of gifts flowing into Trump’s library to roughly half a billion dollars. 

    The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act would:

    • Ban fundraising while the President is in office, with a carveout for nonprofits: Require that Presidential Libraries wait until the President leaves office before fundraising or accepting donations, except from 501(c)(3) organizations (mirroring the standard adopted by the Obama Foundation).
    • Establish a contribution cap: For 501(c)(3) organizations that can donate while a president is still in office, limit donations to $10,000 total.
    • Impose a cooling-off period for donations from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors, individuals seeking pardons: For an additional 2 years after the President leaves office, prohibit donations from foreign nationals or foreign governments, registered lobbyists, federal contractors, and individuals seeking presidential pardons.
    • Ban conversion of donations to personal use: Bar the use of Library donations for personal expenses or unrelated financial obligations.
    • Mandate quarterly disclosures: During the President’s time in office and for 5 years after, require all donations of $200 or more to be disclosed to the National Archives each calendar quarter. Publish donor information (including name, employer, and date and amount of the donation) online in a searchable, downloadable format.
    • Prohibit straw donations: Make it illegal to donate in someone else’s name, or to knowingly allow your name to be used for a straw donation.

    The following senators joined as cosponsors: Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The bill is also cosponsored by Representatives Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Nikema Williams (D-Ga.). 

    The bill is endorsed by the following: Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Democracy Defenders Action (DDA), Campaign Legal Center (CLC), Freedom of the Press Foundation, Public Citizen, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, Demand Progress, and American Governance Institute.

    “The Presidential Library system was created by FDR to be a gift to the people and posterity – not a grift for a greedy president or a conduit for favor-seekers and influence peddlers. The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act turns off this firehose of corruption and restores Presidential Libraries to their original mission: to enable the American people to access presidential papers so they can learn from the past and build a better future,” said Jon Golinger, Democracy Advocate at Public Citizen.

    “For far too long, presidential libraries have operated without sufficient transparency or guardrails. Recent reporting that the Trump administration plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari government to be donated to President Trump’s presidential library foundation raises significant concerns regarding the use of gifts from foreign actors to curry favor with the president,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Senator Warren’s Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act of 2025 would bring urgently needed reform to presidential libraries by prohibiting presidents from fundraising or accepting most donations until after they leave office and impose an additional two year ban on any donations from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors or individuals seeking pardons. CREW enthusiastically endorses this legislation and urges the Senate to pass it expeditiously.”

    “There are already too many ways for powerful interests to game the system, peddle influence and capture institutions,” said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Vice-President of Policy and Government Affairs at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO). “The fact that it appears as though presidential libraries have become yet another vector of potential corruption and pay-to-play is deeply disturbing. It only makes sense to enact some commonsense guardrails and rules around how donations to presidential libraries can be made, when, in what amounts and by who, similar to campaign finance rules. Senator Warren and her colleagues should be commended for introducing this bill and leading the way on these anti-corruption reforms.” 

    “The American people deserve to know which self-interested corporations, billionaires and foreign nationals are funneling millions of dollars to the president. The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act is a commonsense reform that brings needed transparency to the legal wild west of presidential library donations. We thank Sen. Warren for working to stop this corruption and for holding presidents of both parties accountable,” said Emily Peterson-Cassin, Corporate Power Director of Demand Progress.

    “Donations to presidential libraries are the soft belly of political corruption, providing an opportunity for foreign nations and unscrupulous actors to bribe sitting presidents with gifts of unlimited funds for their post-presidential projects. The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act provides critical limits and accountability to reign in corrupt practices that have besmirched presidents for decades,” said Daniel Schuman, Executive Director of the American Governance Institute.

    “Campaign Legal Center (CLC) strongly supports the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act and thanks its sponsors for introducing this vital legislation,” said Erin Chlopak, Senior Director of Campaign Finance at Campaign Legal Center. “Presidential libraries are supposed to be about our nation’s history. However, donations to these institutions are increasingly being used as a loophole for wealthy special interests, corporations, and even foreign governments to seek favor with the president and gain undue influence. Because existing laws that regulate money in politics don’t extend to presidential libraries, new rules are needed to prevent them from becoming another avenue for corruption that undermines trust in our government. CLC urges Congress to pass this legislation and safeguard the integrity of our democracy without delay.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Instead of Lowering Prices, Trumponomics is Increasing Inflation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — As Trump’s irresponsible tariff taxes and reckless trade wars cause inflation to surge and continue to push up the price of many goods – including clothing, furniture, groceries, and large appliances, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:

    “President Trump is forcing Americans to pay higher costs for everyday goods.  His senseless decision to ramp up tariffs on nearly every good entering the U.S. has created a de facto national sales tax and his chaotic policy decisions are dragging down American family finances.  He should reverse course and work on a bipartisan basis to help bring down costs, lower prices, and strengthen our economy.

    “His so-called 90 deals in 90 days hasn’t materialized, but his trade war rhetoric has already driven up costs for Main Street businesses and those price hikes are passed along to consumers. 

    “I urge the president to curb his tariff taxes, senseless attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve, and pressure campaign to lower interest rates for political expedience, which would only turbocharge inflation.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New wildland provincial park in Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: CUMBERLAND COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Celebrate Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund’s 30th Anniversary

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    July 17, 2025Camp Hill, PA

    ADVISORY – CUMBERLAND COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Celebrate Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund’s 30th Anniversary

    The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will mark the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund’s (USTIF) 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of service and commitment to cleaner and safer communities across the Commonwealth.

    Since its inception in 1994, USTIF has remained committed to providing critical financial assistance to underground storage tank owners and operators that protect Pennsylvania’s environment, while also supporting business continuity and demonstrating how partnerships between the public and private sectors can unite to serve Pennsylvanians.

    WHO:
    Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys
    Laura Lyon Slaymaker, Deputy Insurance Commissioner
    Ramez Ziadeh, DEP Executive Deputy Secretary
    Andrew Greiner, USTIF Board Member
    Nick Ruffner, Public Affairs Manager, Sheetz, Inc.

    WHEN:
    TOMORROW, Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM

    WHERE:
    Soon-to-be new Sheetz facility at 4415 Carlisle Pike, Camp Hill, PA 17011

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP to ra-in-press@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Agricultural Scientific Begins Construction on Innovative Hydroponic Greenhouse to Transform U.S. Food Supply Chain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAGRANGE, Ga., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Agricultural Scientific, LLC announces that construction is now underway on the Agriculture Technology Campus (ATC), an innovative agricultural project in South Carolina set to transform food production in the Eastern U.S.

    Located at the 1,000-acre Agriculture Technology Campus, the high-tech hub will feature a hydroponic greenhouse and processing facility in Early Branch, SC. It will produce locally grown, organic tomatoes with 90% greater water efficiency than traditional farming, reducing dependence on imports from Mexico, California, and Canada.

    Initially announced in September 2020 during the COVID pandemic, the highly anticipated project that garnered international interest, has been galvanized through a strategic partnership between Phoenix Lender Services, a subsidiary of Community Bankshares, Inc. and Optus Bank of South Carolina.

    Backed by a complex capital stack of USDA Business & Industry and Food Supply Chain loans, the project will enable 400+ acres of hydroponic greenhouses to produce year-round vegetables, cutting water use and eliminating pesticides. Upon completion, this innovative project will bring $350 million in private capital investment and over 1000 direct jobs to rural Hampton County and the surrounding region.

    “This isn’t just about growing vegetables—it’s about reshaping the future of agriculture and re-shoring our critical U.S. supply chain,” said Zeb Portanova, CEO of Agricultural Scientific. “By producing fresh, high-quality produce closer to consumers, we can reduce food miles, cut emissions, and limit our reliance on foreign countries. Thank you to the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for her integral support of this project.”

    Currently, 90% of vegetables consumed in the Eastern U.S. are transported from other countries and regions, leading to supply chain vulnerabilities and excessive carbon emissions. This project will drastically shorten food miles, ensuring fresher produce while slashing CO₂ emissions by approximately 600 metric tons per 100 truckloads.

    Key benefits of this initiative include:

    • Enhance food security by reducing reliance on imported produce from Mexico and Canada
    • Lower carbon emissions through sustainable, localized production
    • Align with retailers’ goals by providing fresher, locally grown, organic, and environmentally responsible products
    • Foster U.S.-based manufacturing growth and reinvestment in critical sectors that sustain communities and the economy
    • Generate hundreds of skilled agricultural jobs in South Carolina

    “This is a landmark moment for agriculture, rural America, and sustainability,” said Chris Hurn, President of Phoenix Lender Services and Community Bankshares, Inc. “By investing in local food production, we’re not only boosting U.S. agriculture but also bringing manufacturing back home, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains and creating lasting economic impact.”

    “This facility represents the future of sustainable food production,” said Reggie Webber, Chief Credit Officer of Optus Bank. “It’s not just an investment in farming—it’s an investment in economic stability, job creation, and environmental responsibility.

    “At Optus Bank, we are proud to bank on communities through innovation, impact, and economic empowerment. Our strategic partnership with Community Bankshares and their subsidiaries, Phoenix Lender Services, allows us to achieve a key strategic imperative for the Bank,” said Benita Lefft, President of Optus Bank.

    A total USDA loan capital stack of $46,157,187 was successfully structured through the partnership. This included two food supply chain loans totaling $29,610,400 and a Business & Industry (B&I) loan of $16,546,787.

    The ATC is developed and owned by Agricultural Scientific, LLC and leased to Lokal Harvest USA (LHUSA), a subsidiary of Harvest House, one of Europe’s largest and most successful greenhouse operators. With a track record of supplying major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s, and Publix, Lokal Harvest USA is well-positioned to scale operations and meet the rising demand for fresh, locally grown produce.

    “The Agriculture Technology Campus has been the talk of Hampton County since it was first announced, and the commencement of construction could not have come at a better time. We in Hampton County understand that good economic development has a direct tie to a better quality of life for all of our citizens, and we are excited about this innovative agricultural project. We thank everyone involved in the ATC project for their support, and we look forward to working with the company for decades to come as new jobs and opportunities emerge in Hampton County,” said Dr. Roy Hollingsworth, Chairman of Hampton County Council.

    “SouthernCarolina Alliance is delighted to see this critical project coming to fruition. We appreciate the support of our partners at USDA, the SC Dept. of Commerce, the SC Dept. of Agriculture, Phoenix Lender Services, Community Bankshares, and Optus Bank in facilitating this investment in our region. Good jobs and investment change communities, and this project will not only affect Hampton County locally, but also improve the quality of life in our region and beyond through both its economic impact and fresher, healthier produce for all,” said Danny Black, President and CEO, SouthernCarolina Alliance.

    This landmark project is more than just a local initiative—it’s a scalable model for the future of agriculture in the U.S. With federal support, private investment, and the expertise of global leaders in hydroponic agriculture, this initiative is poised to set a new standard for modern farming—one that delivers fresher produce, reduces environmental impact, and supports economic growth.

    Local, legislative and state leaders gathered at the construction site on July 16 to celebrate the partnership and view the construction underway.

    For more information, please visit The Agriculture Technology Campus https://agtechcampus.com.

    For more information about Phoenix Lender Services and its lending solutions, please visit www.phoenixlenderservices.com.

    ABOUT AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS (ATC)

    The Agriculture Technology Campus in Hampton County, SC, is a pioneering agricultural development designed to revolutionize food production through controlled-environment farming, sustainable growing practices, and strategic partnerships with global leaders in greenhouse technology. If you are interested in joining the ATC campus, please email info@gemozf.com. Backed by a complex capital stack of USDA Business & Industry and Food Supply Chain loans, the project will enable 400+ acres of hydroponic greenhouses to produce year-round vegetables, cutting water use and eliminating pesticides.

    ABOUT PHOENIX LENDER SERVICES

    Based in Georgia and serving clients nationwide, Phoenix Lender Services offers a comprehensive suite of commercial lending solutions, including loan underwriting, closing, and servicing; participant lender matching; secondary market sales; portfolio management; risk analysis; and compliance reviews and regulatory support. Our seasoned professionals combine extensive industry expertise in SBA, USDA, and other commercial government-guaranteed lending with industry-leading technologies to deliver tailored solutions that align with each client’s unique strategic goals. Phoenix Lender Services is leading the way in SBA and USDA commercial lending.

    ABOUT COMMUNITY BANKSHARES INC

    Community Bankshares, Inc. is a dynamic company that is revolutionizing the financial landscape via its support for America’s businesses. As a mission-focused company, we are redefining how lending capital is provided across the nation and its territories in ways that promote business stability and encourage local area prosperity. In doing so, we foster economic growth, job creation and retention, and community strength. https://communitybankshares.com/

    ABOUT OPTUS BANK

    Established in 1921, Optus Bank is a federally designated Minority Depository Institution (MDI) and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to serving underserved communities. Optus is committed to Banking on Communities Through Innovation, Impact, and Economic Empowerment—providing access to capital, financial education, and full-service banking for individuals, small businesses, and mission-aligned organizations. https://optus.bank/

    ABOUT LOKAL HARVEST USA

    Lokal Harvest USA is a leading producer of hydroponic greenhouse vegetables, bringing advanced farming techniques and global supply chain expertise to the U.S. market in partnership with Harvest House, one of Europe’s largest greenhouse operators.

    https://agtechcampus.com/

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Abigail Davison
    Uproar PR by Moburst for Community Bankshares, Inc.
    abigail.davison@moburst.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e99b9c29-2298-468a-8d70-705020ace65d

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Protecting customers from Octo Tempest attacks across multiple industries

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Protecting customers from Octo Tempest attacks across multiple industries

    In recent weeks, Microsoft has observed Octo Tempest, also known as Scattered Spider, impacting the airlines sector, following previous activity impacting retail, food services, hospitality organizations, and insurance between April and July 2025. This aligns with Octo Tempest’s typical patterns of concentrating on one industry for several weeks or months before moving on to new targets. Microsoft Security products continue to update protection coverage as these shifts occur. 

    To help protect and inform customers, this blog highlights the protection coverage across the Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel security ecosystem and provides security posture hardening recommendations to protect against threat actors like Octo Tempest.

    Get ahead of threat actors with integrated security solutions from Microsoft Defender

    Overview of Octo Tempest 

    Octo Tempest, also known in the industry as Scattered Spider, Muddled Libra, UNC3944, or 0ktapus, is a financially motivated cybercriminal group that has been observed impacting organizations using varying methods in their end-to-end attacks. Their approach includes: 

    • Gaining initial access using social engineering attacks and impersonating a user and contacting service desk support through phone calls, emails, and messages.
    • Short Message Service (SMS)-based phishing using adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) domains that mimic legitimate organizations.
    • Using tools such as ngrok, Chisel, and AADInternals.
    • Impacting hybrid identity infrastructures and exfiltrating data to support extortion or ransomware operations.  

    Recent activity shows Octo Tempest has deployed DragonForce ransomware with a particular focus on VMWare ESX hypervisor environments. In contrast to previous patterns where Octo Tempest used cloud identity privileges for on-premises access, recent activities have involved impacting both on-premises accounts and infrastructure at the initial stage of an intrusion before transitioning to cloud access. 

    Octo Tempest detection coverage 

    Microsoft Defender has a wide range of detections to detect Octo Tempest related activities and more. These detections span across all areas of the security portfolio including endpoints, identities, software as a service (SaaS) apps, email and collaboration tools, cloud workloads, and more to provide comprehensive protection coverage. Shown below is a list of known Octo Tempest tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) observed in recent attack chains mapped to detection coverage.

    Tactic  Technique  Microsoft Protection Coverage (non-exhaustive) 
    Initial Access  Initiating password reset on target’s credentials  Unusual user password reset in your virtual machine; (MDC) 
    Discovery  Continuing environmental reconnaissance  Suspicious credential dump from NTDS.dit; (MDE)
    Account enumeration reconnaissance; (MDI)
    Network-mapping reconnaissance (DNS); (MDI)
    User and IP address reconnaissance (SMB); (MDI)
    User and Group membership reconnaissance (SAMR); (MDI)
    Active Directory attributes reconnaissance (LDAP); (MDI) 
    Credential Access,  Lateral Movement  Identifying Tier-0 assets  Mimikatz credential theft tool; (MDE)
    ADExplorer collecting Active Directory information; (MDE)
    Security principal reconnaissance (LDAP); (MDI)
    Suspicious Azure role assignment detected; (MDC)
    Suspicious elevate access operation; (MDC)
    Suspicious domain added to Microsoft Entra ID; (MDA)
    Suspicious domain trust modification following risky sign-in; (MDA) 
    Collecting additional credentials  Suspected DCSync attack (replication of directory services); (MDI)
    Suspected AD FS DKM key read; (MDI) 
    Accessing enterprise environments with VPN and deploying VMs with tools to maintain access in compromised environments  ‘Ngrok’ hacktool was prevented; (MDE)
    ‘Chisel’ hacktool was prevented; (MDE)
    Possibly malicious use of proxy or tunneling tool; (MDE)
    Possible Octo Tempest-related device registered (MDA) 
    Defense Evasion, Persistence  Leveraging EDR and management tooling  Tampering activity typical to ransomware attacks; (MDE) 
    Persistence, Execution  Installing a trusted backdoor  ADFS persistent backdoor; (MDE) 
    Actions on Objectives  Staging and exfiltrating stolen data  Possible exfiltration of archived data; (MDE)
    Data exfiltration over SMB; (MDI) 
    Deploying ransomware  ‘DragonForce’ ransomware was prevented; (MDE)
    Possible hands-on-keyboard pre-ransom activity; (MDE) 
    Note: The list is not exhaustive. A full list of available detections can be found in the Microsoft Defender portal. 

    Disrupting Octo Tempest attacks  

    Disrupt in-progress attacks with automatic attack disruption:
    Attack disruption is Microsoft Defender’s unique, built-in self-defense capability that consumes multi-domain signals, the latest threat intelligence, and AI-powered machine learning models to automatically predict and disrupt an attacker’s next move by containing the compromised asset (user, device). This technology uses multiple potential indicators and behaviors, including all the detections listed above, possible Microsoft Entra ID sign-in attempts, possible Octo Tempest-related sign-in activities and correlate them across the Microsoft Defender workloads into a high-fidelity incident. 

    Based on previous learnings from popular Octo Tempest techniques, attack disruption will automatically disable the user account used by Octo Tempest and revokes all existing active sessions by the compromised user. 

    While attack disruption can contain the attack by cutting off the attacker, it is critical for security operations center (SOC) teams to conduct incident response activities and post-incident analysis to help ensure the threat is fully contained and remediated.  

    Investigate and hunt for Octo Tempest related activity:
    Octo Tempest is infamously known for aggressive social engineering tactics, often impacting individuals with specific permissions to gain legitimate access and move laterally through networks. To help organizations identify these activities, customers can use Microsoft Defender’s advanced hunting capability to proactively investigate and respond to threats across their environment. Analysts can query across both first- and third-party data sources powered by Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel. In addition to these tables, analysts can also use exposure insights from Microsoft Security Exposure Management.  

    Learn more about Microsoft Security Exposure Management

    Using advanced hunting and the Exposure Graph, defenders can proactively assess and hunt for the threat actor’s related activity and identify which users are most likely to be targeted and what will be the effect of a compromise, strengthening defenses before an attack occurs.  

    Proactive defense against Octo Tempest 

    Microsoft Security Exposure Management, available in the Microsoft Defender portal, equips security teams with capabilities such as critical asset protection, threat actor initiatives, and attack path analysis that enable security teams to proactively reduce exposure and mitigate the impact of Octo Tempest’s hybrid attack tactics.

    Ensure critical assets stay protected 

    Customers should ensure critical assets are classified as critical in the Microsoft Defender portal to generate relevant attack paths and recommendations in initiatives. Microsoft Defender automatically identifies critical devices in your environment, but teams should also create custom rules and expand critical asset identifiers to enhance protection.  

    Take action to minimize impact with initiatives 

    Exposure Management’s initiatives feature provides goal-driven programs that unify key insights to help teams harden defenses and act fast on real threats. To address the most pressing risks related to Octo Tempest, we recommend organizations begin with the initiatives below: 

    • Octo Tempest Threat Initiative: Octo Tempest is known for tactics like extracting credentials from Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) using tools like Mimikatz and signing in from attacker-controlled IPs—both of which can be mitigated through controls like attack surface reduction (ASR) rules and sign-in policies. This initiative brings these mitigations together into a focused program, mapping real-world attacker behaviors to actionable controls that help reduce exposure and disrupt attack paths before they escalate.
    • Ransomware Initiative: A broader initiative focused on reducing exposure to extortion-driven attacks through hardening identity, endpoint, and infrastructure layers. This will provide recommendations tailored for your organization.  

    Investigate on-premises and hybrid attack paths

    Security teams can use attack path analysis to trace cross-domain threats—like those used by Octo Tempest—who’ve exploited the critical Entra Connect server to pivot into cloud workloads, escalate privileges, and expand their reach. Teams can use the ‘Chokepoint’ view in the attack path dashboard to highlight entities appearing in multiple paths, making it easy to filter for helpdesk-linked accounts, a known Octo target, and prioritize their remediation.  

    Given Octo Tempest’s hybrid attack strategy, a representative attack path may look like this: 

    Recommendations 

    In today’s threat landscape, proactive security is essential. By following security best practices, you reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of adversaries like Octo Tempest. Microsoft recommends implementing the following to help strengthen your overall posture and stay ahead of threats: 

    Identity security recommendations 

    Endpoint security recommendations 

    • Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus cloud-delivered protection for Linux.
    • Turn on Microsoft Defender Antivirus real-time protection for Linux.
    • Enable Microsoft Defender for Endpoint EDR in block mode to block post breach malicious behavior on the device through behavior blocking and containment capabilities.
    • Turn on tamper protection that essentially prevents Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (your security settings) from being modified.
    • Block credential stealing from the Windows local security authority subsystem: Attack surface reduction (ASR) rules are the most effective method for blocking the most common attack techniques being used in cyber-attacks and malicious software.
    • Turn on Microsoft Defender Credential Guard to isolate secrets so that only privileged system software can access them.

    Cloud security recommendations 

    • Key Vaults should have purge protection enabled to prevent immediate, irreversible deletion of vaults and secrets.
    • To reduce risks of overly permissive inbound rules on virtual machines’ management ports, enable just-in-time (JIT) network access control. 
    • Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommends encrypting data with customer-managed keys (CMK) to support strict compliance or regulatory requirements. To reduce risk and increase control, enable CMK to manage your own encryption keys through Microsoft Azure Key Vault.
    • Enable logs in Azure Key Vault and retain them for up to a year. This enables you to recreate activity trails for investigation purposes when a security incident occurs or your network is compromised.
    • Microsoft Azure Backup should be enabled for virtual machines to protect the data on your Microsoft Azure virtual machines, and to create recovery points that are stored in geo-redundant recovery vaults.

    Microsoft Defender

    Comprehensive threat prevention, detection and response capabilities for everyone.

    Explore security solutions

    ​​To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Microsoft Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters.

    Also, follow us on Microsoft Security LinkedIn and @MSFTSecurity on X for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity. 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Africa: In Burkina Faso, cashew cultivation is a lever for sustainable and inclusive rural development

    Source: APO

    Launched in 2017 and completed in 2024, the Cashew Development Support Project in the Comoé Basin for REDD+ (PADA/REDD+) exemplified sustainable development. The project combined poverty reduction, ecological transition and the empowerment of women and young people, achieving a remarkable implementation rate of 95 percent.  It has revitalised the cashew nut industry, Burkina Faso’s third largest agricultural export after cotton and sesame.

    The PADA/REDD+ project received support from the African Development Bank, which granted a loan of $4 million, and the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional funding window, with a grant of $1.39 million, representing 61 percent of the total project cost of $8.82 million. The government of Burkina Faso and the beneficiaries provided the remaining funding.

    The project mobilised the necessary resources to contribute to the sustainable transformation of the Cascades, Hauts Bassins and South-West regions, with significant participation from women. It enabled producers to reduce maintenance costs, improve soil fertility and structure, and increase cashew productivity and incomes in a sustainable manner.

    Climate action combined with agricultural production

    The first component of the PADA/REDD+ focused on carbon sequestration. This resulted in the creation of seven tree parks, the production of more than 1.6 million improved seedlings and the development of approximately 27,000 hectares of agroforestry plantations. One-third of these plantations are maintained by women, underlining the project’s commitment to promoting social inclusion. A total of 35,340 producers, including 6,047 women, were trained in good agricultural and organic practices.

    This capacity-building approach for producers and processors equipped each stakeholder with the skills required to meet their needs and expectations, particularly in mastering technical production and processing methods.

    Adama Patrick Sombié, a cashew nut processor in Bérégadougou, confirms his satisfaction: “Before the project, there were no cashew tree parks in the village, only forest and a few orchards. When the project offered plots to promoters, I signed up and received two hectares.”

    Access to finance and modernization of processing

    The second component of the project focused on strengthening value chains. Long hampered by limited access to finance, the sector’s development has benefited from an innovative partnership with the umbrella organisation of Burkina Faso’s Caisses populaires banks, alongside savings and loan cooperatives.

    This mechanism enabled investment loans to be granted based on a sliding scale of interest rates, financing 103 microprojects for a total of 888 million CFA francs, or approximately $500,000. The project also created 9,580 additional “green” jobs, 92.66 percent of which were for women, by financing micro-investment projects.

    Thanks to the funding provided, seven processing units were modernised. A new unit called “Tensya” was established in the commune of Toussiana, and three warehouses were built, one of which is reserved for women. The project also enabled the purchase of 12 trucks and 45 tricycles, training in good practices for 631 people, strengthening the environmental skills of 477 stakeholders, and the construction and equipping of infrastructure such as a cooking and shelling centre for women in Diéri, entirely subsidised by the African Development Bank.

    An inclusive and sustainable impact

    These microprojects reached nearly 18,000 people, 61 percent of whom were women, further strengthening the inclusive approach of PADA/REDD+. “This project is a blessing for us. Thanks to the income generated, we can send our children to school and keep them healthy. Before, we used to sell our products at rock-bottom prices, but now, with our own processing units, we control the entire value chain,” says Aramatou Barro, a processor in Diéri.

    Christiane Koné, a processor in Toussiana, confirms this postive impact: “Thanks to the project, we have been able to purchase six automatic shelling machines, which are twice as fast as our 25 manual shelling tables.”

    At the same time, the project structured supply networks, ensured that 96 cooperatives complied with OHADA (Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa) standards and implemented an environmental management plan. Working conditions have improved significantly. Isso Kindo, a trader in Bobo-Dioulasso, says: “Transport was our main obstacle. Today, thanks to the truck financed by the project, I can transport up to 60 tonnes of nuts from the towns of Banfora and Mangodara.”

    The impact of PADA/REDD+ can also be measured in terms of job creation for young people and rural entrepreneurs. In Orodara, Arzouma Zougouri, a producer and business owner, explains that “the project’s support has enabled me to better equip my processing unit. I’ve gone from 200 to 300 employees,” he says proudly.

    By structuring the cashew nut sector sustainably, increasing productivity and strengthening local processing, PADA/REDD+ achieved its objectives whilst laying the foundations for more resilient rural development. Its contribution to carbon sequestration through agroforestry plantations strengthens its environmental impact. Perennial plantations, modernised agricultural practices, a strengthened local processing network and better access to finance were the pillars of this success.

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

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1469, Senior Security Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 1469 would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish and administer a task force to identify challenges faced by senior investors, coordinate commission activities with respect to senior investors, and consult with state securities and law enforcement authorities and insurance regulators. The task force would be required to report to the Congress every two years on its activities. The bill also would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress and the task force on the financial exploitation of senior citizens.

    Using information from the SEC, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1469 would cost $8 million over the 2025-2030 period. CBO expects that the SEC would need five employees, at an average annual cost of $330,000 for each employee, to administer the task force and report to the Congress. Because the SEC is authorized to collect fees each year to offset its annual appropriation, CBO expects that the net effect on discretionary spending over the 2025-2030 period would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority. CBO estimates that the GAO report would cost less than $500,000; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    If the SEC increased fees to offset the costs for rulemaking as required by the bill, H.R. 1469 would increase the cost of an existing mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) on private entities required to pay those fees. CBO estimates that the incremental cost of the mandate would be small and would fall well below the annual threshold for private-sector mandates established in UMRA ($206 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    The bill would not impose any intergovernmental mandates.

    The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Aurora Swanson (for federal costs) and Lucy Marret (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: EXL announces availability of EXL Code Harbor™ and EXL Smart Agent Assist™ in the new AWS Marketplace AI Agents and Tools category

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS), a global data and AI company, announced the availability of its Code Harbor™ (“Code Harbor”) and Smart Agent Assist™ (“Smart Agent Assist”) solutions in the new AI Agents and Tools category of AWS Marketplace. Customers can now use AWS Marketplace to easily discover, buy, and deploy AI agents solutions, including EXL’s AI-powered code migration and real-time conversational insights and agent assist solutions, using their AWS accounts, accelerating agentic AI integration initiatives.

    EXL’s Code Harbor helps organizations streamline the code migration process by orchestrating multiple AI agents including those for code comprehension, data cleaning, data lineage, code conversion and code validation, resulting in accelerated delivery, reduced costs, and higher accuracy. EXL’s Smart Agent Assist enhances customer service operations by orchestrating multiple intent recognition AI agents with real-time conversational insights, automated call summaries and smart audits that enable customer service centers to deliver personalized and efficient experiences in addition to improving first call resolution, boosting agent productivity and reducing average handling time.

    “By offering Code Harbor and Smart Agent Assist in AWS Marketplace, we’re providing customers with a highly scalable, efficient and compliant way to embed EXL’s agentic AI solutions into their workflows,” said Anand “Andy” Logani, executive vice president and chief data and AI officer at EXL. “Our customers in insurance, banking and finance, healthcare, retail and other industries are already using these capabilities to improve workflows, reduce costs and deliver better customer experiences, demonstrating the real-world value of our agentic AI solutions.”

    Based on internal studies, Code Harbor helps customers reduce code migration time on average by 35% over manual migrations, while reducing code compute time and memory usage generally by 25% and driving a 10% reduction in query plans. Additionally, analysis shows that Smart Agent Assist delivers typically a 12-15% reduction in contact center agent handling time, enhancing overall resource utilization and minimizing after-call work, ordinarily leading to a 20% decrease in service costs.

    With the availability of AI Agents and Tools in AWS Marketplace, customers can significantly accelerate their procurement process to drive AI innovation, reducing the time needed for vendor evaluations and complex negotiations. With centralized purchasing using AWS accounts, customers maintain visibility and control over licensing, payments, and access through AWS.

    To learn more about Code Harbor and Smart Agent Assist in AWS Marketplace, visit https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=4dcbd65f-ce73-4978-80e5-4953047fd369. To learn more about the new Agents and Tools category in AWS Marketplace, visit https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/solutions/ai-agents-and-tools/.

    About EXL

    EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and AI company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and capital markets, retail, communications and media, and energy and infrastructure, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have approximately 60,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management’s experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL’s actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to maintain and grow client demand, our ability to hire and retain sufficiently trained employees, and our ability to accurately estimate and/or manage costs, rising interest rates, rising inflation, recessionary economic trends, and ability to successfully integrate strategic acquisitions, are discussed in more detail in EXL’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law.

    Contacts
    Keith Little
    media.relations@exlservice.com

    Investor Relations
    John Kristoff
    +1 212 209 4613
    IR@exlservice.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: EXL announces availability of EXL Code Harbor™ and EXL Smart Agent Assist™ in the new AWS Marketplace AI Agents and Tools category

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS), a global data and AI company, announced the availability of its Code Harbor™ (“Code Harbor”) and Smart Agent Assist™ (“Smart Agent Assist”) solutions in the new AI Agents and Tools category of AWS Marketplace. Customers can now use AWS Marketplace to easily discover, buy, and deploy AI agents solutions, including EXL’s AI-powered code migration and real-time conversational insights and agent assist solutions, using their AWS accounts, accelerating agentic AI integration initiatives.

    EXL’s Code Harbor helps organizations streamline the code migration process by orchestrating multiple AI agents including those for code comprehension, data cleaning, data lineage, code conversion and code validation, resulting in accelerated delivery, reduced costs, and higher accuracy. EXL’s Smart Agent Assist enhances customer service operations by orchestrating multiple intent recognition AI agents with real-time conversational insights, automated call summaries and smart audits that enable customer service centers to deliver personalized and efficient experiences in addition to improving first call resolution, boosting agent productivity and reducing average handling time.

    “By offering Code Harbor and Smart Agent Assist in AWS Marketplace, we’re providing customers with a highly scalable, efficient and compliant way to embed EXL’s agentic AI solutions into their workflows,” said Anand “Andy” Logani, executive vice president and chief data and AI officer at EXL. “Our customers in insurance, banking and finance, healthcare, retail and other industries are already using these capabilities to improve workflows, reduce costs and deliver better customer experiences, demonstrating the real-world value of our agentic AI solutions.”

    Based on internal studies, Code Harbor helps customers reduce code migration time on average by 35% over manual migrations, while reducing code compute time and memory usage generally by 25% and driving a 10% reduction in query plans. Additionally, analysis shows that Smart Agent Assist delivers typically a 12-15% reduction in contact center agent handling time, enhancing overall resource utilization and minimizing after-call work, ordinarily leading to a 20% decrease in service costs.

    With the availability of AI Agents and Tools in AWS Marketplace, customers can significantly accelerate their procurement process to drive AI innovation, reducing the time needed for vendor evaluations and complex negotiations. With centralized purchasing using AWS accounts, customers maintain visibility and control over licensing, payments, and access through AWS.

    To learn more about Code Harbor and Smart Agent Assist in AWS Marketplace, visit https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=4dcbd65f-ce73-4978-80e5-4953047fd369. To learn more about the new Agents and Tools category in AWS Marketplace, visit https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/solutions/ai-agents-and-tools/.

    About EXL

    EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and AI company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and capital markets, retail, communications and media, and energy and infrastructure, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have approximately 60,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management’s experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL’s actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to maintain and grow client demand, our ability to hire and retain sufficiently trained employees, and our ability to accurately estimate and/or manage costs, rising interest rates, rising inflation, recessionary economic trends, and ability to successfully integrate strategic acquisitions, are discussed in more detail in EXL’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law.

    Contacts
    Keith Little
    media.relations@exlservice.com

    Investor Relations
    John Kristoff
    +1 212 209 4613
    IR@exlservice.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: XRP Accumulates Rise, Leading Cloud Mining Platform DRML Miner Launches with Potential to Earn $20,000 per Day

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DRML Miner solves all problems for you. Now, all profits are settled in multiple mainstream currencies – completely transparent and convenient. You can exchange USDT for XRP, BTC, ETH or other mainstream cryptocurrencies at any time. You are no longer limited to a single token – the asset allocation is entirely up to you.

    Even better, no hardware or technical skills are required. Newbies can easily start mining anytime, anywhere with just a few clicks of the mouse. Digital wealth has become so safe, efficient and convenient.

    Advantages of DRML Miner mining

    Strong security

    Security is the top priority of DRML Miner. DRML Miner attaches great importance to the security of user assets and information, uses multiple encryption technologies to protect data, and has a professional team to monitor the system 24 hours a day to resist network threats. At the same time, real-time public mining data (such as computing power, income, etc.) can be viewed intuitively through the platform, allowing you to clearly understand the mining process and income situation without being affected by any hidden routines.

    Withdraw at any time, flexible and convenient

    One of the biggest advantages is instant withdrawal. Once you receive your income, you can withdraw or reinvest as needed – fast and simple.

    Multi-currency exchange

    All income is settled in USDT. Want XRP, Solana or BTC? You can switch at will. Combine your digital assets as you like – everything is under your control.

    Newbie-friendly, easy to use

    No mining machine, no complicated settings. DRML Miner’s automated cloud mining system handles everything for you. Just sign up and follow the simple guide to get started. New users can easily enjoy passive income.

    Transparent income, fully traceable

    View your income accurately every day. All account activities and income details are clearly visible on the dashboard, without any hidden fees.

    How to join DRML Miner

    Registration: New users can get a $10 reward when they register.

    Choose a contract: After successfully registering, the next step is to choose a mining contract that meets your goals and budget. DRML Miner provides a variety of contracts to meet different needs, whether you are a novice or an experienced miner, you can easily get started.

    Affiliate Program

    Recommend friends and receive up to $20,000 in rewards per month, thereby increasing your extra income. For every successful friend you invite to register and complete the first mining order, you will receive a 3% reward on the friend contract.

    The invitation mechanism is open and transparent, and can be checked at any time, truly realizing “zero investment, make money at home”.

    How to start making money with DRML Miner:

    After selecting and activating a mining contract, you just need to wait for the system to do all the work for you. DRML Miner’s advanced technology ensures that your mining operations run efficiently, thereby maximizing your potential profits.

    $10 mining contract – 1 day term – earn $0.60 per day;

    $100 mining contract – 2 days term – earn $3.5 per day;

    $500 mining contract – 5 days term – earn $6.5 per day;

    $1,000 mining contract – 10 days term – earn $13.5 per day;

    $5,000 mining contract – 30 days term – earn $77.5 per day.

    Click here to explore more mining contracts.

    Who is DRML Miner for?

    Crypto Newbies

    No technical skills? No problem. DRML Miner is designed for beginners who want to easily explore cryptocurrency gains.

    Busy Professionals

    No time to manage mining equipment? Let DRML Miner’s automated system take care of it for you, so you can focus on business. Enjoy worry-free daily income.

    Self-managed Asset Managers

    Want full control over when to withdraw or which cryptocurrencies to hold? DRML Miner gives you the flexibility to manage and rebalance your cryptocurrency portfolio according to your needs.

    Passive Income Seekers

    Want daily rewards? DRML Miner offers login rewards and welcome gifts to make every day more rewarding.

    Long-term Investors

    Focus on steady growth rather than market noise? DRML Miner’s transparent and stable income model is ideal for building long-term digital wealth.

    In a nutshell
    DRML Miner makes it easier than ever to earn daily rewards and make financial freedom a dream. With high-quality apps, green cloud infrastructure and global support, DRML Miner is for everyone, not just the tech elite.

    Your phone is already smart – now let it start making money for you.

    Full details and how to participate: https://drmlminers.com

    The MIL Network