NewzIntel.com

Category: Farming

  • Centre asks states to crack down on fake, substandard fertilizers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move to protect farmers and ensure the integrity of agricultural inputs, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written to the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories, calling for immediate and strict action against the sale of fake and substandard fertilizers.

    The directive aims to curb the black marketing of subsidized fertilizers, the circulation of counterfeit products, and illegal practices such as forced tagging of nano or bio-stimulant fertilizers.

    Emphasizing that agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy, the Minister stressed the importance of providing farmers with quality fertilizers on time, at affordable prices. He reminded states that the sale of substandard or fake fertilizers is prohibited under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which is part of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

    The Centre has directed states to monitor fertilizer distribution closely, take action against overpricing and diversion, and strengthen sampling and testing to detect counterfeit products. It also instructed authorities to immediately halt forced tagging practices and to take strict legal action, including license cancellations and FIRs, against violators.

    States have been encouraged to involve farmers and farmer groups in monitoring efforts and to launch awareness campaigns to help them distinguish between genuine and fake fertilizers.

    Calling for a statewide crackdown, Chouhan said regular monitoring and strict enforcement would ensure lasting solutions and protect farmers’ interests.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oil funds for ‘Big Push’ will be efficiently used, Mahama tells Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC)

    Source: APO


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    President John Dramani Mahama has assured members of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) that oil revenues earmarked for his proposed $10 billion “Big Push” infrastructure initiative will be efficiently disbursed and managed.

    The President gave the assurance during a courtesy call by the PIAC members. Led by its Chairman, Mr Constantine K.M. Kudzedzi, the Committee members visited to congratulate the President on his recent election victory and discuss matters concerning the management of Ghana’s oil revenues.

    President Mahama outlined his government’s ambitious plan to invest $10 billion over the next five years, allocating $2 billion annually, into priority infrastructure projects across the country.

    These projects will target key sectors, including roads, major bridges, education, and health infrastructure, as well as areas vital for boosting productivity in the agriculture sector.

    He specified that agricultural projects under the “Big Push” would encompass irrigation schemes, construction of farmer service centres, and support for agribusiness development.

    The President stated that the primary sources of funding for this significant policy initiative would be petroleum revenue and minerals royalties.

    Commending PIAC for its vital role, President Mahama praised the Committee’s efforts in monitoring and ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilisation of Ghana’s petroleum revenues.

    He highlighted PIAC as a commendable model for other countries seeking effective oversight mechanisms.

    President Mahama inaugurates committee for UGMC transfer to University of Ghana.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Indonesia plans to rewrite its national history: A return to an incomplete narrative?

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Adrian Perkasa, Peneliti Pascadoktoral, Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies

    Indonesia’s plan to rewrite its official national history was initially met with positive responses, particularly for its goal of better serving the younger generation. But the project to reshape the country’s mainstream historical narrative soon ignited widespread controversy for overlooking underrepresented groups and reinforcing authoritarian tendencies.

    By incorporating the latest data and expanding the coverage of historical events and figures, the initiative — launched by the Indonesian Historian Association (MSI) and backed by the Culture Ministry on May 2025 — raised hopes for a more inclusive, accurate, and relevant national history.

    However, backlash soon followed, with criticism intensifying after Culture Minister Fadli Zon’s controversial statement) dismissing the 1998 mass rapes as mere rumours.

    Various groups argue that the rewriting of national history is a calculated move to bolster an increasingly authoritarian government, as it relies solely on scholars and historians with ties to those in power.

    Many groups remain underrepresented

    A nation’s relationship with its history is deeply tied to how contemporary narratives are constructed or shaped. For national historiography to carry legitimacy, it must meaningfully include the voices of diverse groups, classes, communities, and entities.

    However, the project’s terms of reference fail to give due attention to space for women’s roles in the Indonesian independence movement].

    Its treatment of historical narratives from regions beyond Java also remains insufficient — let alone its neglect of non-political and non-economic themes, such as the arts or sports.

    Silent affirmation?

    In response to the controversy, few formal statements have been made from either MSI or the historians involved in the project, apart from the minister and the project’s principal editor.

    One notable exception came from a historian via his social media page, where he reflected on the dilemma of being both an intellectual and a public servant involved in the project.

    He argued that speaking from within, rather than criticising from the outside, demands greater courage and careful calculation – a stance he fears is likely to be overlooked.

    As a history-and-culture researcher, his remarks reinforce the perception that many of the historians involved in the revision project are civil servants at state universities or individuals closely aligned with those in power.

    Lessons from the past

    History itself tells us that the writing of national history is deeply intertwined with the interests of ruling authorities and their affiliated groups.

    From its inception, the genre of national history that emerged in 19th-century Europe and the United States was closely tied to efforts to legitimise territorial expansion and colonial rule.

    In the context of Indonesia’s current national history revision project, it is worth revisiting comparisons between how national histories were written under Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines and Suharto in Indonesia.

    Historians in both countries should be recognised as active agents with their own interests and authority — not as passive participants or easily influenced figures.

    During Suharto’s regime, one historian even withdrew from the state-led national history writing project due to disagreements, particularly over methodological approaches.

    The project’s director marginalised historian Sartono Kartodirdjo — who championed a multidimensional approach — in favour of a more linear, state-centric narrative. Sartono’s more holistic perspective made space for a broader range of historical actors, including farmers and other often-overlooked communities.

    A similar precedent can be traced back to the early years of Indonesian independence, when the government initiated efforts to document the country’s national history in the 1950s. At the time, the National History Writing Committee — comprising prominent scholars — organised Indonesia’s first National History Seminar.

    Yet the initiative failed to produce an official national history, partly due to the same kind of unresolved methodological debates that resurfaced during Suharto’s rule.

    A project for whom?

    Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman philosopher-turned-statesman, once said, historia magistra vitae est – history is the teacher of life.

    Given the failures and controversies surrounding Indonesia’s earlier attempt to produce an official national history, the current revision project demands critical re-evaluation — and, if necessary, a complete halt.

    Merely involving more historians to boost representation is not an adequate solution either.

    The core issue lies not in revising history, but in advancing Indonesian historiography. Rather than pushing ahead with an extensive national history rewrite, the government should prioritise fostering diverse local history initiatives — through programmes such as the Cultural Endowment Fund or the Indonesiana Fund.

    This approach would enable a more comprehensive and representative account of Indonesian history — one that integrates local perspectives while remaining connected to national and global narratives.

    Saya pernah dan masih berkolaborasi untuk riset dengan beberapa lembaga di lingkungan Kementerian Kebudayaan seperti Museum dan Cagar Budaya Nasional, Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan, dan lainnya.

    – ref. Indonesia plans to rewrite its national history: A return to an incomplete narrative? – https://theconversation.com/indonesia-plans-to-rewrite-its-national-history-a-return-to-an-incomplete-narrative-260298

    MIL OSI –

  • Shivraj Singh calls PM Modi’s tenure a ‘golden era’ for employment in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure a ‘golden era’ for employment in India. He made the remarks while distributing appointment letters to successful candidates at the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Mela held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

    The nationwide employment drive saw over 51,000 youth across the country receiving appointment letters for government jobs. PM Modi also addressed the event virtually.

    Speaking at the event, Chouhan said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is a blessing for India. Under his leadership, we are on a grand mission to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’. There’s tremendous work happening across all sectors. In terms of employment, Prime Minister Modi’s current tenure is a golden era, as over 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line. He has uprooted poverty from its roots.”

    “Speaking of direct government jobs – more than 10 lakh youth have already been provided with employment”, he added.

    Chouhan emphasized that more than 51,200 youth have been appointed to various departments on Saturday, including the Railways, through a fully transparent, merit-based process.

    Congratulating the newly appointed candidates, he said their employment marks not only personal success but also their role in building a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He also thanked PM Modi for his visionary leadership and continued commitment to youth empowerment.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Secures Several Key Priorities in Committee-Passed NDAA To Expand IVF Coverage, Strengthen Oversight of Domestic Military Deployments, Boost American Manufacturing and More

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 11, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—secured several important provisions to support servicemembers and boost American competitiveness and national security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved this week and the full Senate will now consider. Among the provisions that the Senator secured in the Committee-passed legislation, Duckworth successfully led a provision to expand IVF access for uniformed servicemembers and ensure military families have the same level of coverage that Members of Congress and other federal employees already have. As President Donald Trump continues to misuse our military to intimidate American citizens across our nation, Duckworth also successfully secured provisions that would safeguard Americans’ civil rights when servicemembers assist law enforcement on U.S. soil.

    “The brave men and women in uniform who serve our nation at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country and our Constitution,”?said Duckworth.?“While I don’t support every provision included in this bill, I’m proud that it includes several of my provisions to support our servicemembers and their families, boost American manufacturing, improve Americans’ faith in their military as well as rein in the Trump Administration. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue improving this NDAA and ensure Congress passes a strong final bill that lets our troops know we have their backs.”  

    NDAAs set our nation’s defense policy and laws, authorize funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and ensure that our servicemembers have the tools they need to defend our nation. Additionally, this year’s committee-passed legislation authorizes funding to support a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members.

    Key Duckworth-led provisions secured in this year’s Committee-passed NDAA would:

    • Expand access to IVF for military families by requiring TRICARE to cover fertility treatment services, including IVF, to ensure servicemembers and their families have the same level of coverage that Members of Congress already receive. This is the second time Senator Duckworth secured this provision in the committee-passed version of an NDAA bill.  
      • Regarding this provision, Duckworth said: “Even before I was wounded, I had made the difficult decision to delay building a family because I knew getting pregnant would impact my ability to be an Army aviator—and to advance in the career I loved. Because of the miracle of IVF—and my access to reproductive healthcare through the VA—I’m now a mom to two beautiful girls. The reality is that the men and women of the uniformed services face unique challenges when trying to start or build a family, and studies show that servicemembers and Veterans have higher rates of infertility compared to the general population. After successfully securing this provision in last year’s Committee-passed bill, I’m so proud my colleagues helped me build on this progress by including it in this year’s bill as well. It’s past time our nation provides our military families with the same access to IVF that all Members of Congress already have and ensure our heroes can start the families they’ve dreamed of.” 
    • Strengthen public trust of the military and enhance civil rights by requiring that servicemembers identify themselves as part of the military when assisting federal law enforcement in the United States. As the Trump Administration continues to send federal agents and our nation’s military into our communities to intimidate their fellow Americans, this provision ensures that servicemembers identify themselves properly—to avoid public misunderstanding about who is providing logistical support versus conducting arrests or law enforcement duties.  
      • Regarding this provision, Duckworth said: “In my own experience serving in the National Guard, I saw firsthand the difference drawing a bright line between the roles of our military and law enforcement can make in terms of maintaining public trust in our military. I’m proud my colleagues agreed that this is a necessary requirement to provide accountability to the public during tense moments when troops might be interacting with citizens, from protests to natural disasters to humanitarian crises, and I hope the rest of my colleagues in the Senate do too.” 
    • Ensure all servicemembers know their legal obligations during deployments both at home and abroad by mandating legal training to all servicemembers, including a refresher within 90 days of any mobilization or deployment, on their responsibilities under the law of armed conflict, rules of engagement, defense support for civil authorities and standing rules for the use of force within the United States. In light of the Trump Administration’s increasing use of troops to support law enforcement within the United States, this provision will ensure troops know how to responsibly operate within the bounds of domestic laws and protect American civil rights.
    • Establish a senior leader of DoD Programs for military to civilian transition efforts by directing DoD to appoint a senior official to oversee policy and programs related to the transition of servicemembers to civilian life or to the reserves. This would elevate and strengthen DoD’s attention on services to assist troops as they leave service and enter civilian life, providing a streamlined conduit for coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
    • Explore international co-production of auxiliary vessels by requiring DoD to identify opportunities to enter joint ventures between U.S. military, U.S. companies and foreign partners to co-produce auxiliary vessels and small boats. Senator Duckworth’s effort aims to increase our nation’s sealift capacity and shipbuilding workforce through leveraging the strengths of our allies and partners in constructing smaller vessels as well as building our ability to surge production of these vessels closer to the point of need in the event of conflict. 
    • Enhance Congressional oversight of the military justice system by requiring the President and DoD to notify Congress of any removal of Judge Advocates General, to ensure that military commanders have the legal advice they need to make their difficult decisions. In addition to notice, the President and DoD must provide a justification for the involuntary removal of any of the top Judge Advocates General (JAG) at least five days before the JAG is removed. This follows Secretary Hegseth’s unceremonious firing of JAGs, which are our military’s legal experts on everything from administrative and domestic protections to international law.  
    • Protect servicemembers from dangerous PFAS in their protective garments by requiring the DoD’s to articulate its plan for acquiring chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threat protective garments free from toxic PFAS chemicals as soon as possible. 
    • Enable the nonpartisan, Duckworth-created Afghanistan War Commission to finish its final report by authorizing DoD to provide non-reimbursable support services—like staff, facilities and funding—and authorizing the Commission to enter into contracts to obtain essential goods and servicesauthor, including the ability to publish its final report through a private publisher. These provisions align its authorities with similar commissions, including the 9/11 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. 
    • Expand the successful Southeast Asia Cyber Pilot Program to allow U.S. forces to work with the Pacific Island nations to improve their cyber capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities, building resilience against threats in DoD’s priority region. 
    • Expand exchange opportunities for allies and partners by authorizing DoD to offer exchange opportunities at universities with ROTC programs for servicemembers from partner nations, creating a cost-effective way to train future leaders of key partner militaries.  
    • Ensure fairness in Special and Incentive Pay for Reservists by directing DoD to deliver a special and incentive pay assessment framework – which was required in the FY24 NDAA — by June 1, 2026, and also requiring DoD to make a specific determination about the percentage of aviation incentive pay that goes to maintaining skill proficiency. This provision is essential to ensuring Reservists are paid fairly when they are required to maintain skills and certifications that are expensive to maintain. 
    • Direct a GAO Report on Aviation Safety to review DoD policies and procedures for data gathering, risk assessment and risk mitigation of U.S. military flights, especially as in U.S. domestic civilian airspace. This provision follows investigations into the tragic crash at Reagan National Airport and close calls with military flights throughout civilian airspace.  
    • Bolster our nation’s aviation supply chain by encouraging the use of domestically manufactured helicopters in Initial Entry Rotary Wing pilot training by the Army. 
    • Improve servicemember mental health services and confidentiality by emphasizing support for consistent compliance with suicide prevention policy and confidential access to mental health care without retaliation for all servicemembers and across all branches. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ).  
    • Expand robotic enhancements for armaments manufacturing by authorizing an additional $5 million for the Secretary of the Army to expand prototyping and production capacity by integrating robotics, automation and digital manufacturing into the munitions industrial base. 
    • Use advanced manufacturing to improve the rapid repair of equipment in forward-based locations by authorizing digital manufacturing as part of the prototyping program for contested logistics and removing the sunset for the program. This provision would allow DoD to develop best practices regarding forward-based commercial, advanced digital manufacturing facilities for rapid, distributed parts production closer to the point of use. 
    • Elevate research on total force optimization by expressing support for investments in biomechanical, physiological, and psychological research to mitigate injury risks and improve physical resilience in combat operations.
    • Improve equipment connectivity for military airfields by encouraging the Air Force to integrate connectivity solutions for flightline support equipment, such as generators, light carts, and support vehicles, that are critical for ensuring our military aircraft can safely take off and land. This will improve equipment readiness to ensure our Airmen are prepared for expeditionary flightline operations in contested environments. 
    • Advance U.S. bio-industrial manufacturing innovation by supporting the innovative work being done at advanced facilities like the University of Illinois’s Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub (iFAB) by requiring more information on how DoD is investing in this technology critical for national security. 
    • Illuminate gaps in the military footwear industrial base by requesting DoD provide data and analysis on the necessary war reserves for footwear and textiles, and the accompanying surge needs in the event of crisis or conflict. This report language is a modified version of the Senator’s Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act, which recognizes that our defense industrial base for combat boots needs investment in order for it to support our troops and help ensure they have the sturdiest and most protective boots in a possible war.  
    • Strengthen domestic suppliers of critical uniform components by prohibiting the DoD from sourcing clothing, fabrics or components from countries of concern—such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia—when using domestic sourcing waivers under the Berry Amendment, to prevent further weakening of the U.S. clothing and textile industrial base.? 
    • Allow the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) to explore investments in nuclear energy and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing by authorizing inclusion of nuclear energy as a covered technology under Section 149 of Title 10 and directing OSC to explore the value of investments in PCBs. This change would enable DoD to explore new investments with these key industries critical for our national security.  
    • Accelerate commercially-useful Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers (FTQC) by recognizing the importance of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) program, which aims to build a commercially useful FTQC by 2033, and encouraging the Department to concurrently prepare algorithms to operate those machines, while the hardware is being built. This provision recognizes the importance of the development of the first FTQC, which is being built at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago, Illinois. 
    • Improve cross-state medical license reciprocity for Title 32 National Guard medical providers by requiring DoD to analyze any barriers to ensuring medical license reciprocity for Guardsmen to train under Title 32 status. This follows reports from National Guardsmen medical providers that they struggle to get the permissions necessary to conduct essential training across state lines, especially in specialized hospitals for trauma care – vital kinds of training for combat care. 
    • Protect Rock Island Arsenal by restricting the Secretary of the Army from using any funds authorized for restructuring Army commands until the Army provides more information about their proposed plan to integrate Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command, ensuring operations at Rock Island Arsenal are not unnecessarily affected. 
    • Improve Arsenal Workload Sustainment by establishing a 5-year pilot program requiring DoD to give preference to public-private partnerships in arsenals, especially those non-public partners that ensure equitable workshare to DoD employees to protect critical skills. This provision is a modified version of the  Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act that Duckworth introduced alongside U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) as well as U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) to help ensure Army arsenals and factories remain active and viable while preserving the skilled workforce, equipment and production capacity critical to our nation’s defense industrial base. 
    • Improve the governance of the organic industrial base by directing the Army to analyze the effectiveness of their current governance and resourcing model for the Army’s arsenals, depots as well as ammunition plants and identify opportunities for changes to ensure the enterprise and its workforce can support the military’s munitions and sustainment requirements now and in the future. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK).  
    • Improve predictive manufacturing analytics at Army Arsenals by urging the continued implementation of industrial control networks across our Army’s arsenals to enable the collection, aggregation and analysis of data associated with the manufacture and repair of equipment and supplies. 
    • Ensure Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC)’s continued success by securing a one-year extension of the Joint Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, which supports the operations of the North Chicago-based Lovell FHCC. This provision, led with Senator Durbin, will help safeguard continued access to vital services for military families and Veterans in the area. 
    • Improve the “Warm Hand-off Process” for Servicemembers by changing the current “opt-in” option on the DD-2648 form for sending servicemembers’ information to state veterans’ agencies to an “opt-out” option, aiming to streamline information flow to state services and improve the “warm hand-off” process for servicemembers when they separate or retire from the military service. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). 
    • Support the construction of a Child Development Center at Rock Island Arsenal by authorizing $50 million in Major Construction funds for a new addition to the Child Development Center at Rock Island Arsenal and to consolidate the existing facilities into a single building and make upgrades to meet DoD guidelines and safety requirements. This project will provide a necessary service to the Arsenal and surrounding community.
    • Support the design of a new Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Scott Air Force Base by authorizing $6 million in Planning and Design funds for the construction of a new aircraft maintenance hangar to support the training and operational mission of the 126th Aerial Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base. The current hangar was constructed in 1956, remains in disrepair and no longer meets Department of Defense standards or mission requirements, making a new hangar critical to the Wing’s mission.
    • Support the design renovation to General Jones Readiness Center by authorizing $5 million in Planning and Design funds for major alternations to the General Richard L. Jones National Guard Readiness Center in Chicago. This facility was built in 1931 and remains one of the largest readiness centers in the country. Renovating it to meet mission requirements is a top priority for the Illinois National Guard.
    • Improving the Tactical Vehicle Fleet by authorizing an additional $168 million to speed up replacement of Marine Corps HMMWVs with modernized vehicles to improve readiness for global missions.

    In addition to these provisions, Duckworth also successfully worked to protect Universities across the country from having their DoD funding for critical technological research cut unnecessarily. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) strengthens its strategy to make West Africa a world tourist destination of choice

    Source: APO – Report:

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    ECOWAS Commission has launched a four-day technical meeting on the 8th of July,2025 in Cotonou, Benin. This meeting brings together experts from Member States to examine six draft classification standards for tourist accommodation establishments. The standards, drawn up on the basis of various workshops organised as part of the ECOWAS tourism policy (ECOTOUR), concern hotels, motels, inns, ecolodges, aparthotels and holiday villages. The event is jointly organised by the private sector and industry directorates.

    In her opening speech, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, represented by the Director of the Private Sector, Dr Tony Luka Elumelu, recalled ECOWAS’s ambition to make tourism a major lever for economic development and regional integration. She affirmed that the region is striving to build a flourishing tourism industry, drawing on international best practice adapted to the West African context, with the aim of making it a world tourist destination of choice.

    She emphasised that this strategy is based on five closely linked pillars: strengthening infrastructure, including investment in transport, accommodation and tourist attractions; relaxing regional visa policies for third-country nationals to improve accessibility, streamline procedures and foster greater people-to-people diplomacy; the harmonisation of sectoral standards and regulations to facilitate travel, trade and enhance the overall tourism experience; the promotion of sustainable tourism practices that ensure an environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable industry; and collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders in the sector to pool expertise, share knowledge and develop effective solutions to common challenges.

    She stressed the importance of implementing a coherent, collaborative and sustainable approach to tourism in order to stimulate national economies, strengthen cultural exchanges and ensure the sustainability of the sector. In reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to responsible tourism practices, she emphasised the need to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, local cultures and host communities, and stressed the importance of implementing a coherent, collaborative and sustainable approach to tourism in order to stimulate national economies, strengthen cultural exchanges and ensure the sustainability of the sector. In reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to responsible tourism practices, she emphasised the need to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, local cultures and host communities.

    The Director General of the Standards Agency of the Republic of Benin, Mohamed Nazif El-Hadji Alassane, representing Benin’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mrs Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, welcomed ECOWAS’ efforts to harmonise standards and regulations in the tourism sector. He stressed that this will help to transform the region into a single tourism market, while boosting tourism, employment and public revenue, with positive spin-offs for the economies of Member States.

    – on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Biodiesel Advocates Applaud Grassley Efforts to Strengthen Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Biodiesel producers, farmers and renewable fuel stakeholders say the One Big Beautiful Bill will revitalize and strengthen Iowa’s renewable fuels industry and deliver for Iowa farmers. 
    On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. It improves and extends the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit through 2029, including the small agri-biodiesel tax credit – which provides transition relief to small biodiesel producers. After the Biden administration failed to release functional guidance to implement the credit, many small producers, including four in Iowa, shut down operations.  
    The legislation also protects Iowa farmers by eliminating tax subsidies for renewable fuels produced from imported feedstocks, such as used cooking oil from China or tallow and sugar cane from Brazil. Without this change, the tax code would subsidize foreign farmers at the expense of corn and soybean farmers in Iowa. ? 
    Here’s what they’re saying:
    Iowa Biodiesel Board/Iowa Soybean Association 
    “Senator Grassley’s leadership on ensuring the incorporation of biomass-based diesel in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reinforces his decades-long commitment to Iowa agriculture and renewable fuels. In particular, by extending and enhancing the Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit led by the senator, this bill provides much-needed certainty for Iowa’s small biodiesel producers—many of which are farmer-owned. That stability directly supports rural jobs, strengthens soybean oil demand and keeps biodiesel production thriving across our state.” 
    Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
    “Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the final bill includes a restoration of the small biodiesel producer tax credit for 2025 and 2026. We are hopeful this provision, along with the robust RFS blending levels proposed by President Trump’s EPA, will be enough to get our biodiesel plants running again.” 
    Clean Fuels Alliance America
    “Clean Fuels thanks Congress for working overtime to provide certainty for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers – especially small companies – so they can resume production and industry growth. Clean Fuels especially thanks Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for securing an enhancement to the Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit to help small producers as they make the transition to the §45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.” 
    National Oilseed Processors Association
    “We applaud Senator Grassley for his tireless efforts to improve 45Z to ensure it is effective for U.S. farmers, oilseed processors, and biofuel producers. This is a meaningful win for Iowa’s farmers and the broader ag economy. Coupled with strong RVOs, this new tax policy positions the industry for continued growth by prioritizing feedstocks grown and produced here in the U.S.” 
    American Soybean Association
    “ASA is pleased that the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit has been extended and strengthened in the budget reconciliation legislation. The improvements to 45Z will provide critical support to U.S. soybean farmers and bolster the biofuel industry by supporting domestic energy production using domestic resources. The addition of the North American feedstock ringfence and removal of indirect land use change penalties on farmers ensure that the credit will support American agriculture rather than foreign countries. We commend the lawmakers who prioritized this important policy and look forward to its successful enactment.” 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Wins for Rural America Signed into Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: How did you leverage your leadership for alternative energy?
    A: More than three decades ago, I helped launch Iowa’s rise to dominance in alternative energy with the first-ever federal wind energy tax credit. Wind energy supports more than 9,000 jobs in Iowa and generates more than 60% of our state’s electricity, making it the largest source of electricity in Iowa. During negotiations on the One Big Beautiful Bill, I fought tooth and nail to secure a 12-month runway that allows planned wind and solar projects to begin construction after the law’s enactment. This victory prevented a devastating blow to alternative energy that would have stunted investment, innovation and production when there’s growing demand for clean, affordable electricity. My efforts will help accelerate near-term growth in these projects to get them from the drawing board to installation and production while also providing the industry a sensible pathway to self-sustainability. It puts wind and solar on a level playing field with other technologies with respect to imported materials and components. Specifically, I led efforts to strike a punitive new tax on wind and solar projects that would have sunk domestic production and investment, as well as job creation here at home.
    Q: What new measures will boost Iowa’s renewable fuels industry?
    A: Iowa’s farm economy drives the state economy, employing nearly one in five Iowans in agriculture or ag-related industries. Family farmers across the state take pride in growing crops that feed and fuel the world. As a lifelong family farmer and tireless champion for the livelihoods and way of life for farm families, I brought the concerns of Iowa farmers to the policymaking tables during negotiations on the One Big Beautiful Bill. That includes expanding domestic markets for feedstock. The renewable fuels industry adds value to homegrown corn and soybean crops. I successfully fought to eliminate tax subsidies for renewable fuels produced from imported feedstocks, such as used cooking oil from China or tallow and sugar cane from Brazil. In 2023, the U.S. imported three billion pounds of used cooking oil that exploited tax incentives and clean fuel policies. The U.S. taxpayer should not foot the bill for subsidies that benefit foreign farmers at the expense of corn and soybean farmers from Iowa. Ensuring our nation’s renewable fuel policies benefit American farmers was my top priority as I fought to improve and extend the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit through 2029.  I also successfully secured transition relief for small biodiesel producers who shut down operations during the previous administration due to a lack of workable guidance implementing this credit. Taken together, this is a victory for Iowa farmers and Iowa renewable fuel producers.
    Q: What’s in the new law for Iowa farmers?
    A: Iowa farmers waited two years for Congress to update the five-year Farm Bill. High input costs for seed, fertilizer, fuel, machinery and rent were cutting into the bottom line, making it difficult for farming operations to make ends meet, let alone turn a profit. The farm safety net needed to reflect the double-digit increase to farm production costs. With President Trump’s signature on July 4, the new law increases reference prices and boosts the effective reference price escalator for the 2025 through 2031 crop years. That raises the benchmark for farm payments, such as the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) programs, to help ensure the farm safety net reflects higher input costs. The law also improves crop insurance for beginning farmers for the first decade of their operations, increasing the coverage level and affordability of certain crop insurance policies. Iowa’s agrarian heritage is not only the backbone of our state’s economy, it’s a way of life. Iowans should not be punished for wanting to keep a family farm in the family. For nearly two centuries, Iowa families have handed the reins of their farming operation to their kids and grandkids. An unfair, punitive death tax would force sons and daughters to sell the family land to pay the federal estate tax liability. I’ve long championed efforts to repeal the death tax and was glad to support provisions in the new law that permanently boost the death tax exemption, raising it to $15 million for individuals and $30 million for couples. In addition, the new law provides critical investments in conservation, ag research, trade promotion and animal health to help fight disease outbreaks, such as New World screwworm (NWS), Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF), to support livestock producers and protect the food supply.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eritrea: Training on Organic Fertilizer Preparation

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The Ministry of Agriculture branch in the Southern Red Sea Region has provided training on the preparation of solid and liquid organic fertilizers to exemplary farmers in the port city of Assab.

    The training was attended by exemplary farmers from the sub-zones of Assab and South Dankalia, as well as members of the agriculture office branch.

    The training covered the preparation of composted fertilizer from household waste and leaves, fertilizer from fish remains, and the proper use of organic pesticides.

    Mr. Mohammed Abdurahman, Head of the Agriculture Office in the region, said that the objective of the training was to enhance farmers’ understanding and encourage the application of organic fertilizers and pesticides in their daily agricultural activities.

    The participants noted that the training would significantly contribute to improving their agricultural productivity and called for similar future programs.

    – on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trade Subcommittee Democrats: Trump failed to deliver 90 trade deals in 90 days

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Democrats released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s failure to deliver 90 trade deals in the 90 days since he initially paused his reciprocal tariffs:

    “President Trump has failed to deliver a single trade deal for Congress to consider, let alone the 90 trade deals his administration bragged about three months ago. Trade Subcommittee Democrats remain united against his ongoing trade chaos, which includes the secretive negotiations kept hidden from the public.

    “These backdoor negotiations have produced nothing more than a handful of loose frameworks, vague handshake agreements and concepts of trade plans. President Trump’s trade agenda has failed to improve the economy, while betraying the workers he promised to defend.

    “Americans are bearing the brunt of his erratic trade agenda. Families are facing higher prices at the grocery store, small businesses need relief, and farmers and workers are left with fear and uncertainty. All while the president desperately posts letters on social media begging countries to negotiate with him.

    “There is clearly no strategic or coherent plan in place. It’s time to put an end to this madness. We call on our Republican colleagues to join Democrats and reassert Congress’ role in setting trade policies that support – rather than harm – our economy.”

    Trade Subcommittee Democrats

    Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Ranking Member
    Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.)
    Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.)
    Don Beyer (D-Va.)
    Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
    Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)
    Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
    John Larson (D-Conn.)
    Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trade Subcommittee Democrats: Trump failed to deliver 90 trade deals in 90 days

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Democrats released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s failure to deliver 90 trade deals in the 90 days since he initially paused his reciprocal tariffs:

    “President Trump has failed to deliver a single trade deal for Congress to consider, let alone the 90 trade deals his administration bragged about three months ago. Trade Subcommittee Democrats remain united against his ongoing trade chaos, which includes the secretive negotiations kept hidden from the public.

    “These backdoor negotiations have produced nothing more than a handful of loose frameworks, vague handshake agreements and concepts of trade plans. President Trump’s trade agenda has failed to improve the economy, while betraying the workers he promised to defend.

    “Americans are bearing the brunt of his erratic trade agenda. Families are facing higher prices at the grocery store, small businesses need relief, and farmers and workers are left with fear and uncertainty. All while the president desperately posts letters on social media begging countries to negotiate with him.

    “There is clearly no strategic or coherent plan in place. It’s time to put an end to this madness. We call on our Republican colleagues to join Democrats and reassert Congress’ role in setting trade policies that support – rather than harm – our economy.”

    Trade Subcommittee Democrats

    Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Ranking Member
    Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.)
    Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.)
    Don Beyer (D-Va.)
    Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
    Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)
    Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
    John Larson (D-Conn.)
    Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaMalfa Statement on House Passage of Budget Reconciliation Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed the budget reconciliation package, sending it to President Trump’s desk for final approval:

    “This package delivers a lot of what we’ve been pushing for years. It means more jobs and a stronger economy. It makes Social Security checks tax-free for most seniors, protects Medicare, makes sure tips and overtime pay aren’t taxed, and extends tax relief so families can hold on to more of what they earn. It also opens up more of our country for energy and timber production and takes care of the West’s water needs by fixing canals and building more storage. It funds actually securing the border so we can finally finish the wall, remove criminal illegal aliens and get this crisis under control. Importantly, it gets us back to the principle that if you’re a healthy able-bodied adult, you should be employed. I’m glad to see the House pass it and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

    The budget reconciliation package is expected to be signed into law by the President in the coming days.

    Background:

    • Tax Relief for Working Americans: Extends significant tax cuts, including about a 15% cut for those earning $30,000–$80,000. Expands the Child Tax Credit and adds a senior tax deduction of $6,000 to offset taxes on Social Security. Also exempts tips and overtime from being taxed. The median family in California’s 1st District will save around $3,500 under this bill.
    • Helping Families Afford New Cars: Makes it easier for working Americans to purchase new vehicles by making interest on new purchases of American made cars deductible.
    • Strengthens Timber & Farming: Expands timber harvesting and strengthens crop insurance and conservation tools, without adding red tape.
    • Public Lands: No sale of federally managed public lands.
    • Water Storage Expansion: Invests $1 billion to upgrade and expand water storage and fix canals, helping the West store and deliver more water in wet years.
    • Rural Healthcare: Includes a new $50 billion fund to keep rural hospitals afloat as states change Medicaid formulas.
    • Medicaid & SNAP Reform: Requires able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) to work, volunteer, or pursue education for at least 80 hours per month. Ends benefits for 1.4 million illegal immigrants.
    • Protects Seniors: Does not touch Social Security or Medicare while adding additional tax deductions to help seniors.
    • Energy & Resource Development: Repeals Green New Deal-style handouts, expands American oil, gas, and mineral production.
    • Border Security & Immigration Enforcement: Fully funds Trump’s border wall, ramps up deportations, adds thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Opposes Partisan Bill That Slashes Health Care, Food to Benefit Billionaires

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement after voting against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ extreme budget that cuts health care and raises grocery prices for hardworking families to pay for tax giveaways for billionaires and ultrawealthy corporations. 

    “Simply put, President Trump’s extreme budget hurts everyone who isn’t already a billionaire,” said Davids. “It hands out tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy while gutting Medicaid, raising grocery prices, and putting rural hospitals and reproductive health care at risk — all while adding trillions to the national debt. I was raised by a single mom in the Army, so I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. This proposal would only make it harder for families like the one I grew up in. Kansans deserve responsible leadership, not reckless cuts and partisan gimmicks — that’s why I’m focused on a commonsense, bipartisan path forward that actually lowers costs, supports small businesses, and grows our economy responsibly.”

    Background:

    President Trump and U.S. House Republicans pushed a budget that would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and emergency food assistance in American history — all to fund tax giveaways for billionaires. These extreme cuts would gut programs that help Kansans afford food and stay healthy. In contrast, Davids supports a commonsense tax framework to lower costs for Kansas’ hardworking families, support small businesses, and strengthen our long-term economy.

    How This Bill Hurts Kansans: Raising costs on the middle class so billionaires pay less

    • HIGHER Health Care Costs: The Joint Economic Committee estimates 92,937 Kansans will lose health care coverage under this reckless bill, including those on Medicaid. These cuts put six rural hospitals across Kansas at risk of closing and would increase Affordable Care Act premiums by $780 for people in Kansas’ Third District.
    • HIGHER Grocery Costs:In Kansas’ Third District alone, 15,000 households could lose access to the emergency food assistance they rely on through this bill. Also, local grocery stores nationwide may be forced to close due to lost revenue, worsening food deserts, especially in rural communities. These cuts would reduce farm income by more than $25 billion and threaten good-paying jobs.
    • HIGHER Utility Bills: Davids previously supported tax credits that are helping Kansans save on their energy bills, supporting farmers, and creating thousands of good-paying jobs across the state. But now, this budget proposal would gut those cost-saving policies — including some that even Republicans have backed. It’s projected to eliminate 10,000 manufacturing and energy jobs in Kansas and raise annual energy costs by $670 per household.
    • LOWER Reproductive Health Care Access: This bill would gut access to reproductive health care by putting nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers in 24 states at risk of closure — making it harder for 1.1 million patients to get lifesaving care like cancer screenings, birth control, abortion services, and more. 90 percent of those closures would happen in states where abortion is legal and protected, including Kansas.

    • HIGHER Deficit: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reported that this Trump-backed bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national deficit through 2034. Such high levels of borrowing could substantially boost interest rates, slow economic growth, and spark a debt spiral.

    • LOWER Taxes for Billionaires: The Republican budget actually raises taxes on the lowest-income families in the country, all while billionaires who already pay next to nothing in taxes get more breaks. The top 0.1 percent stands to gain $309,000, or $847 every day, in 2027 alone. This bill shows exactly where U.S. House Republicans’ loyalties lie: not with the hardworking Americans who sent them to Congress, but to Trump and their billionaire donors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ojo Amarillo Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Assault Resulting in Serious Injuries

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Ojo Amarillo man pleaded guilty to a violent assault that left the victim with lasting disfigurement.

    According to court records, on May 6, 2025, Kyle Kee, 44, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, intentionally struck the victim with his fists. As a result, the victim suffered an orbital floor fracture, nasal bone fractures, and facial disfigurement.

    Kee pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Kee faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Kee will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ojo Amarillo Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Assault Resulting in Serious Injuries

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Ojo Amarillo man pleaded guilty to a violent assault that left the victim with lasting disfigurement.

    According to court records, on May 6, 2025, Kyle Kee, 44, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, intentionally struck the victim with his fists. As a result, the victim suffered an orbital floor fracture, nasal bone fractures, and facial disfigurement.

    Kee pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Kee faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Kee will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Underwood Introduces Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act to Strengthen Health Care in Rural America

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

    WASHINGTON – Representative Lauren Underwood introduced the Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act, bipartisan legislation co-led by Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS). The Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act would address the pressing health care disparities that rural communities face by prioritizing funding for rural health care facilities applying for Rural Development funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    “Republicans just passed the largest cut to health care in American history, and now hundreds of rural health care facilities are projected to close. We must act immediately to address the significant challenges that people in our rural communities are facing in accessing quality health care,” said Congresswoman Underwood. “The Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act is a crucial step towards addressing these disparities, providing essential resources to improve health care infrastructure, and support the dedicated professionals who serve these areas.”

    Nearly 1 in 5 Americans live in rural areas and they face significant health care disparities compared to Americans living in urban areas. The shortage of physicians, longer wait times, and need to travel long distances to access medical care are just a few of the challenges rural residents endure.

    This bill will provide much-needed support to these communities by prioritizing funding for health facilities and ensuring USDA resources can be used to renovate, remodel, and equip closed facilities.

    Rural hospital closures result in inadequate preventive health care for rural residents, increasing the need for emergency treatments that are becoming increasingly unavailable. By prioritizing funding and resources for rural health care facilities, the Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act will help ensure that residents in rural areas receive the essential care they need.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Craig Votes Against Republicans’ Disastrous Budget Bill That Takes Food and Health Care from Minnesotans and Betrays the Middle Class

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig voted against the Republicans’ catastrophic budget bill that will add trillions to the national debt, take food and health care from hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans and betray the middle class – in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.

    As ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Craig testified before the House Rules Committee for five hours on Tuesday about the negative impacts of the bill on Minnesotans.

    Following her “no” vote on the House floor, Rep. Craig released the following statement:

    “Today, Republicans showed us once again that they are the party of billionaires and wealthy corporations – not everyday Americans. Instead of working to lower costs and reduce the national debt, which they promised to do, my Republican colleagues passed a budget bill that balloons the deficit and takes food and health care from hundreds of thousands of hard-working Minnesotans – all to line the pockets of the ultra-rich. 

    “Taking basic needs away from Minnesota’s kids, seniors, veterans, single mothers and people with disabilities is not an option. So, while the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress chip away at Minnesotans’ access to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP, I will keep working with state and local officials to ensure that every Minnesotan is able to get the care they need and put food on the table.”

    The Republicans’ budget cuts nearly $200 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), threatening to impact critical food assistance from 42 million Americans, and cuts $930 billion from Medicaid, which could result in over 173,000 Minnesotans losing access to health care. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Republicans’ budget bill will increase the deficit by $3.5 trillion over 10 years – or $4 trillion including interest. Shifting the burden of SNAP costs onto states put Minnesota’s counties in the position to raise property taxes to make up for the millions of dollars of an unfunded mandate from the federal government. 

    The bill passed the House with 218 Republican votes and not a single Democratic vote.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: For the first time, blueberries from the Chinese city of Dandong will be served on the tables of residents of the capital of Belarus

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — Blueberries from the Chinese city of Dandong in Liaoning Province (Northeast China) will soon be served on the tables of residents of the capital of Belarus for the first time.

    According to the Liaoning Daily newspaper, 2 tons of blueberries from the city of Dandong recently passed customs inspection and will be delivered to Minsk via the Manzhouli road checkpoint on the Chinese-Russian border.

    Dandong City is located on the Liaodong Peninsula, where the climate is moderately warm. Due to the excellent natural conditions, the city’s blueberry industry has been rapidly expanding in recent years. Now the city has formed a production chain in this industry from blueberry cultivation to export.

    “Dandong blueberries are in great demand in the domestic market, which prompted us to actively develop the overseas market,” said Li Xian’ao, director of one of the local trading companies.

    Blueberries contain anthocyanin pigments, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, tannins, organic acids and vitamins. In folk medicine, blueberries are used as a fixative for children’s stomach upset, and for inflammation of the mouth and throat. Blueberries are considered one of the best sources of phytonutrients with antioxidant action, they are used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Fruit extracts improve visual acuity and eye accommodation.

    According to statistics, in 2024, the total area of blueberry cultivation in China exceeded 73 thousand hectares. Thus, China has become one of the countries with the fastest growth rate of production of these nutritious berries. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Champions Conservative Values in NDAA, Supports Alabama’s Troops and Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released the following statement after the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was reported out of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). During the committee’s markup process, Sen. Tuberville fought to get key conservative wins included in the bill, which will strengthen our military, protect taxpayers, and make sure Alabama continues leading the way in defense.

     “Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, I’ve been fighting to get woke politics out of the military. Under Joe Biden, the Pentagon became ground zero for Democrats’ craziest ideas. Thankfully, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are working to purge the Pentagon of woke policies and restore focus on lethality and readiness. I’m proud to have secured key conservative wins in this year’s NDAA, which will support the great work the Trump administration is already doing. My amendments eliminate DEI at the Pentagon, make sure men can’t compete in women’s sports at service academies, prohibit military resources from being used to censor conservative outlets, and ban sex change procedures from taking place in taxpayer-funded military facilities.

    I am also proud of the wins I was able to secure for the great state of Alabama. In addition to providing a 3.8% pay raise for our troops, this year’s NDAA will make housing more affordable and safer for our military families. The bill supports Alabama’s defense industrial base by directing the DOD to fully support the development of all quantum computing technologies. It also makes key investments in surface ship sustainment and readiness that will boost Alabama shipbuilding. Importantly, the NDAA provides funding for the Golden Dome, which Alabama will play a critical role in building and supporting. As the state’s senior senator, I’ve been fighting every day to get Alabama’s military installations and defense contractors the resources and support they deserve. This year’s NDAA will ensure Alabama continues punching well above our weight.”

    BACKGROUND:

    As Alabama’s representative on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Tuberville is proud to have secured the below wins in this year’s NDAA:

    Conservative Wins:

    • Eliminates the existence of DEI-related requirements within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
    • Prohibits males from taking roster positions that belong to females at U.S. service academies.
    • Strengthens language to prohibit DOD recruiting funds from being used to censor and disadvantage conservative media sources.
    • Restricts any DOD money from being spent on sex change surgeries and prohibits these surgeries from taking place at military treatment facilities.

    Alabama Wins:

    • Secures 3.8% pay raise for troops.
    • Improves quality-of-life and makes housing safer for our servicemembers by encouraging all military commissaries to carry at-home mold test kits.
    • Supports Alabama’s defense industrial base by directing the DOD to fully develop the use of all quantum computing technologies. 
    • Encourages DOD to continue to leverage the benefits of the military-civilian partnership that helps further medical research initiatives for the DOD.
    • Directs DOD to accelerate the conversion and testing of successful air-launched weapon systems for ground employment.
    • Improves servicemembers’ quality of life by improving the accuracy and transparency of housing allowance calculations.
    • Supports procurement of MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters to modernize aging rotary wing aircraft fleet.
    • Improves advanced weapons systems by requiring the employment of advanced technologies and material improvements.
    • Continues investment in reactive target simulation and facility security enhancement to better meet evolving threats.
    • Makes important investments in surface ship sustainment and readiness, as well as shipyard optimization.

    Read more about FY2026 NDAA here.

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited Announces 57% Increase in Revenues and Transformed Balance Sheet for Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

    Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2025 Full-Year Highlights:

    • Revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, increased 57% to $2.0 million driven primarily by an increase in software subscriptions and license fees.
    • Net loss for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, of $5.2 million, an increase of $0.3 million compared to the net loss of $4.9 million recorded in the prior year.
    • Transformed balance sheet with net assets of $4.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to net liabilities of $23.0 million at March 31, 2024.
    • Completed Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) in January 2025.

    Post Year End Strategic Highlights

    • Signed a memorandum of understanding on June 5, 2025 to acquire Resulticks Group Companies Pte Limited (“Resulticks”), subject to definitive agreements, in a transaction valued at approximately US$2 billion, to be primarily settled in Diginex ordinary shares. This combination leverages Resulticks’ real-time audience engagement, agentic AI framework, and global reach to drive sustainability, compliance, customer relationships, and collective growth.
    • Executed a memorandum of understanding on May 23, 2025, to acquire Matter DK ApS (“Matter”), subject to definitive agreements, for approximately US$13 million in an all-share deal. Management believes the acquisition of Matter will strengthen the Company’s sustainability data coverage, ESG analytics offerings, as well as its automated data collection capabilities.

    Management Commentary

    “The year ended March 31, 2025 was a transformative period for the Company, marked by the successful completion of our IPO in January 2025, a 57% increase in revenues and strategic agreements signed during the fiscal year to boost future revenues and client acquisition with leading professional firms such as Russell Bedford International and Baker Tilly Singapore. During the year, we also enhanced our product offerings with the introduction of AI-powered compliance solutions, delivering features such as multi-variant drafting, automated risk reduction, future-proofing for evolving regulations, and improved scalability for users of our Sustainability SaaS reporting platform, diginexESG,” said Mark Blick, Chief Executive Officer of Diginex Limited. “We achieved overall revenue growth, driven in part, by a significant licensing agreement and ongoing demand for our core ESG reporting and supply chain risk management products. At the same time, we deliberately shifted resources to accelerate the development of diginexESG and diginexLUMEN, which positions us well for long-term growth and recurring revenues at the expense of revenues from one-off mandates via customization projects.”

    “We also maintained a disciplined approach to cost management. While general and administrative expenses increased year on year, this was primarily due to IPO related professional fees and the fair value adjustment related to the issuance of preferred shares under an anti-dilution clause following an $8 million capital raise in May 2024. We did, however, achieve cost reductions in employee benefits, IT development and maintenance costs, while continuing to deliver on our product road map, and other discretionary spending. These actions demonstrate our commitment to building a sustainable business model and cost structure that supports future profitability while continuing to fund strategic priorities.”

    “We’re also excited to have signed a memorandum of understanding on March 17, 2025, to pursue a dual listing of our ordinary shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange,” said Mr. Blick. “This planned listing is intended to increase exposure of Diginex to regional and international investors, strengthen our relationships in the Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) region, and support Abu Dhabi’s strategic focus on sustainable finance. We believe this step aligns with our long-term commitment to expand our global presence.” The memorandum of understanding also contemplates a planned capital raise of up to USD$250 million focused on large institutional investors based in the GCC and a strategic alliance to support business growth in Abu Dhabi and the surrounding GCC region.”

    “Importantly, we are advancing our strategy to strengthen and diversify our technology and data capabilities through targeted acquisitions,” continued Mr. Blick. “Following the close of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, we signed two memoranda of understanding to acquire Resulticks and Matter, subject to definitive agreements. These transactions, if completed, would meaningfully expand our AI-driven data management and sustainability analytics capabilities globally, supporting our vision of delivering integrated, high-value solutions to clients worldwide. While both agreements remain subject to due diligence, negotiation and finalizing definitive terms, they demonstrate our commitment to disciplined, strategic growth through carefully selected acquisitions. We see powerful synergies with Resulticks in targeted sustainability marketing at scale, bringing in Matter’s sustainability data for company benchmarking and supply chain due diligence through diginexLUMEN, and the provision of AI enabled sustainability reporting capabilities with diginexESG.”

    “Looking ahead, we have reason for optimism as our Company is on the leading edge of fundamental changes in the data industry that will drive future growth. We remain committed to investing across the Diginex platforms, enhancing our global market presence both organically and through acquisitions, and managing our operations with discipline to deliver long-term value to our shareholders,” Mr. Blick stated.

    Revenues

      For the year ended
    March 31,
    in USD millions 2025 2024
         
    Subscription and license fees 1.3 0.4
    Advisory fees 0.3 0.2
    Customization fees 0.4 0.7
    Total  2.0  1.3
         

    For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, total revenue increased by $0.7 million to $2.0 million, compared to $1.3 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to a $0.9 million license fee from the granting of a non-exclusive right to distribute a white-label version of diginexESG. Excluding this transaction, revenue from software subscriptions and licenses remained stable at $0.4 million for the year. Subscription and license fees are generated from sales of diginexESG and diginexLUMEN.

    Revenue from advisory fees increased modestly to $0.3 million, reflecting an improvement of $0.1 million compared to the prior year. Advisory services includes projects such as developing ESG strategies, conducting ESG materiality assessments or conducting training sessions on a range of ESG topics.

    The increase in total revenue was partially offset by a decline in revenue from customization projects, which decreased by $0.3 million to $0.4 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. This reduction was an expected outcome of the Company’s strategic decision to allocate more resources to the development and expansion of diginexESG and diginexLUMEN, leading to a temporary reduction in the acceptance of customization projects.

    “We are focused on building long-term, sustainable growth across all of our service lines,” said Mr. Blick. “This year’s results highlight the strength of our core subscription business and our ability to unlock additional revenue opportunities through strategic agreements and licensing agreements.”

    General and Administrative Expenses

      For the year ended
    March 31,
    in USD millions 2025 2024
         
    Employee benefits  4.8  5.0
    IT development and maintenance support 1.5 2.1
    Audit fees 0.4 0.6
    Professional fees 2.1 0.5
    Travel and entertainment 0.4 0.5
    Share based payments 0.4 –
    Amortization and depreciation 0.1 0.1
    Other 0.6 0.5
      10.3 9.3
         

    For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.0 million to $10.3 million, compared to $9.3 million in the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily driven by higher professional fees associated with the Company’s IPO and a share-based payment expense related to preferred shares issued under an anti-dilution clause triggered by a capital raise completed in May 2024. These higher costs were partially offset by reductions in employee benefits, IT development and maintenance support, while continuing to deliver on our product roadmap, and audit fees.

    Employee benefits decreased by $0.2 million which was the result of reduced costs associated with the fair value of employee share options granted to employees of $0.5 million and a partially offsetting increase in salaries of $0.3 million. Headcount at March 31, 2025 was 32 and included 23 employees and 9 contractors compared to a headcount of 29 at March 31, 2024, which included 22 employees and 7 contractors.

    Balance Sheet Highlights

    At March 31, 2025, net assets of $4.6 million represented a transformation and significant improvement from net liabilities of $23.0 million at March 31, 2024. The improvement was driven by the capitalization of shareholder loans and advances, convertible loan notes and redeemable preferred shares. The capitalization events were triggered by the IPO.  

    The Company’s cash position of $3.1 million at March 31, 2025, is also higher than the $0.1 million of cash reported at March 31, 2024.

    The balance sheet at March 31, 2025, held no interest-bearing debt instruments.

    “The strengthening of our balance sheet following our IPO marks an important milestone for the company,” concluded Mr. Blick. “This enhanced financial position gives us the flexibility to invest in growth, pursue strategic initiatives, and deliver sustainable value to our shareholders. We remain committed to disciplined capital management as we expand our operations, strengthen key partnerships, and execute on our long-term vision to drive innovation and create a lasting impact in our industry.”

    About Diginex
    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. 

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 19 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and ISSB (IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk

         
    DIGINEX LIMITED
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    For the years ended 31 March 2024 and 2025
         
      Year ended Year ended
      31 March 2025 31 March 2024
      USD USD
    Revenue 2,040,602 1,299,538
    General and administrative expenses (10,344,514) (9,363,345)
    OPERATING LOSS (8,303,912) (8,063,807)
    Other income, gains or (losses) 3,501,200 3,753,988
    Finance cost, net (410,167) (552,651)
    LOSS BEFORE TAX (5,212,879) (4,862,470)
    Income tax expense – (8,917)
    LOSS FOR THE YEAR (5,212,879) (4,871,387)
    OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)    
    Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:    
    Exchange gain (loss) on translation of foreign operations 30 (7,684)
    TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE YEAR (5,212,849) (4,879,071)
         
    LOSS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO
    THE ORDINARY EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY    		    
    Basic loss per share (0.33) (0.51)
         
    Diluted loss per share (0.53) (0.75)
         
    DIGINEX LIMITED
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
    At 31 March 2024 and 2025
         
      At
    31 March 2025    		 At
    31 March 2024
      USD USD
    ASSETS    
    Right-of-use assets 225,672 357,202
    Rental deposit 45,463 35,431
    Plant and equipment – –
    Total non-current assets 271,135 392,633
    Trade receivables, net 1,394,545 182,334
    Contract assets 750 69,354
    Other receivables, deposit and prepayment 1,066,191 253,476
    Restricted bank balance 399,400 –
    Cash and cash equivalents 3,111,141 76,620
    Total current assets 5,972,027 581,784
    LIABILITIES    
    Trade payables (200,660) (788,798)
    Other payables and accruals (706,874) (596,870)
    Tax payables – (8,917)
    Deferred revenues (505,424) (322,826)
    Due to a related company (34,579) (34,579)
    Due to immediate holding company – (5,345,929)
    Loans from immediate holding company – (1,930,993)
    Loan from a related company – (1,140,931)
    Lease liabilities, current (126,808) (122,076)
    Convertible loan notes, current – (3,975,534)
    Total current liabilities (1,574,345) (14,267,453)
    Lease liabilities, net of current portion (110,867) (243,280)
    Preferred shares – (9,359,000)
    Convertible loan notes, net of current portion – (114,808)
    Total non-current liabilities (110,867) (9,717,088)
    Net current assets (liabilities) 4,397,682 (13,685,669)
    Net assets (liabilities) 4,557,950 (23,010,124)
    EQUITY (DEFICIT)    
    Share Capital 1,150 477
    Share Premium 25,689,436 –
    Capital reserve 5,126,150 3,752,192
    Warrant reserve 79,263,200 –
    Exchange reserve (1,651) (1,681)
    Share option reserve 1,076,345 2,409,689
    Accumulated losses (106,596,680) (29,170,801)
    Total equity (deficit) 4,557,950 (23,010,124)
         
    DIGINEX LIMITED
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    For the years ended 31 March 2024 and 2025
         
      Year ended Year ended
      31 March 2025 31 March 2024
      USD USD
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
    Loss before taxation (5,212,879) (4,862,470)
    Adjustments for:    
    Amortization – right-of-use assets 125,575 99,580
    Depreciation – property, plant and equipment – 3,696
    Impairment losses (reversed) recognized in respect of trade receivables (2,844) (400)
    Bad debt written off 12,064 21,522
    Write-off of due from related company – 81,347
    Finance costs 410,167 552,651
    Share option awards 859,685 1,352,835
    Share-based payments expenses on anti-dilution issuance of preferred shares 369,648 –
    IPO expenses charged to P&L 1,659,081 –
    Net fair value loss of convertible loan notes 639,000 374,000
    Net fair value loss of preferred shares (4,117,648) (4,101,000)
    Operating cash flows before movements in working capital (5,258,151) (6,478,239)
    Movements in working capital    
    Trade receivables (1,221,431) 86,332
    Other receivables, deposit and prepayment (955,348) (210,936)
    Contract assets 68,604 (42,365)
    Due from a related company – (39,815
    Trade and other payables (478,610) 841,155
    Deferred revenue 182,598 (12,840)
    Amount due to immediate holding company – –
    Cash generated from operations (7,662,338) (5,856,708)
    Income tax paid (8,917) –
    Net cash used in operating activities (7,671,255) (5,856,708)
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
    Payment to rental deposit (10,032) –
    Cash used in investing activities (10,032) –
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
    Issue of shares under global offerings 10,608,750 –
    Payment of transaction costs of issue of new shares (2,948,791) –
    Loans from immediate holding company 3,410,461 564,483
    Advances from immediate holding company 713,719 5,345,423
    Proceeds from shares issued 50 –
    Proceeds from issuance of convertible loan notes – 100,000
    Loan from a related company – –
    Repayment of due to immediate holding company – –
    Repayment of lease liabilities (138,962) (109,754)
    Placement of restricted bank balance (399,400) –
    Repayment of loan from immediate holding company (530,019) (1,150,000)
    Net cash generated from financing activities 10,715,808 4,750,152
    NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 3,034,521 (1,106,556)
    Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 76,620 1,183,176
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR 3,111,141 76,620
         

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited Announces 57% Increase in Revenues and Transformed Balance Sheet for Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

    Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2025 Full-Year Highlights:

    • Revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, increased 57% to $2.0 million driven primarily by an increase in software subscriptions and license fees.
    • Net loss for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, of $5.2 million, an increase of $0.3 million compared to the net loss of $4.9 million recorded in the prior year.
    • Transformed balance sheet with net assets of $4.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to net liabilities of $23.0 million at March 31, 2024.
    • Completed Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) in January 2025.

    Post Year End Strategic Highlights

    • Signed a memorandum of understanding on June 5, 2025 to acquire Resulticks Group Companies Pte Limited (“Resulticks”), subject to definitive agreements, in a transaction valued at approximately US$2 billion, to be primarily settled in Diginex ordinary shares. This combination leverages Resulticks’ real-time audience engagement, agentic AI framework, and global reach to drive sustainability, compliance, customer relationships, and collective growth.
    • Executed a memorandum of understanding on May 23, 2025, to acquire Matter DK ApS (“Matter”), subject to definitive agreements, for approximately US$13 million in an all-share deal. Management believes the acquisition of Matter will strengthen the Company’s sustainability data coverage, ESG analytics offerings, as well as its automated data collection capabilities.

    Management Commentary

    “The year ended March 31, 2025 was a transformative period for the Company, marked by the successful completion of our IPO in January 2025, a 57% increase in revenues and strategic agreements signed during the fiscal year to boost future revenues and client acquisition with leading professional firms such as Russell Bedford International and Baker Tilly Singapore. During the year, we also enhanced our product offerings with the introduction of AI-powered compliance solutions, delivering features such as multi-variant drafting, automated risk reduction, future-proofing for evolving regulations, and improved scalability for users of our Sustainability SaaS reporting platform, diginexESG,” said Mark Blick, Chief Executive Officer of Diginex Limited. “We achieved overall revenue growth, driven in part, by a significant licensing agreement and ongoing demand for our core ESG reporting and supply chain risk management products. At the same time, we deliberately shifted resources to accelerate the development of diginexESG and diginexLUMEN, which positions us well for long-term growth and recurring revenues at the expense of revenues from one-off mandates via customization projects.”

    “We also maintained a disciplined approach to cost management. While general and administrative expenses increased year on year, this was primarily due to IPO related professional fees and the fair value adjustment related to the issuance of preferred shares under an anti-dilution clause following an $8 million capital raise in May 2024. We did, however, achieve cost reductions in employee benefits, IT development and maintenance costs, while continuing to deliver on our product road map, and other discretionary spending. These actions demonstrate our commitment to building a sustainable business model and cost structure that supports future profitability while continuing to fund strategic priorities.”

    “We’re also excited to have signed a memorandum of understanding on March 17, 2025, to pursue a dual listing of our ordinary shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange,” said Mr. Blick. “This planned listing is intended to increase exposure of Diginex to regional and international investors, strengthen our relationships in the Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) region, and support Abu Dhabi’s strategic focus on sustainable finance. We believe this step aligns with our long-term commitment to expand our global presence.” The memorandum of understanding also contemplates a planned capital raise of up to USD$250 million focused on large institutional investors based in the GCC and a strategic alliance to support business growth in Abu Dhabi and the surrounding GCC region.”

    “Importantly, we are advancing our strategy to strengthen and diversify our technology and data capabilities through targeted acquisitions,” continued Mr. Blick. “Following the close of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, we signed two memoranda of understanding to acquire Resulticks and Matter, subject to definitive agreements. These transactions, if completed, would meaningfully expand our AI-driven data management and sustainability analytics capabilities globally, supporting our vision of delivering integrated, high-value solutions to clients worldwide. While both agreements remain subject to due diligence, negotiation and finalizing definitive terms, they demonstrate our commitment to disciplined, strategic growth through carefully selected acquisitions. We see powerful synergies with Resulticks in targeted sustainability marketing at scale, bringing in Matter’s sustainability data for company benchmarking and supply chain due diligence through diginexLUMEN, and the provision of AI enabled sustainability reporting capabilities with diginexESG.”

    “Looking ahead, we have reason for optimism as our Company is on the leading edge of fundamental changes in the data industry that will drive future growth. We remain committed to investing across the Diginex platforms, enhancing our global market presence both organically and through acquisitions, and managing our operations with discipline to deliver long-term value to our shareholders,” Mr. Blick stated.

    Revenues

      For the year ended
    March 31,
    in USD millions 2025 2024
         
    Subscription and license fees 1.3 0.4
    Advisory fees 0.3 0.2
    Customization fees 0.4 0.7
    Total  2.0  1.3
         

    For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, total revenue increased by $0.7 million to $2.0 million, compared to $1.3 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to a $0.9 million license fee from the granting of a non-exclusive right to distribute a white-label version of diginexESG. Excluding this transaction, revenue from software subscriptions and licenses remained stable at $0.4 million for the year. Subscription and license fees are generated from sales of diginexESG and diginexLUMEN.

    Revenue from advisory fees increased modestly to $0.3 million, reflecting an improvement of $0.1 million compared to the prior year. Advisory services includes projects such as developing ESG strategies, conducting ESG materiality assessments or conducting training sessions on a range of ESG topics.

    The increase in total revenue was partially offset by a decline in revenue from customization projects, which decreased by $0.3 million to $0.4 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. This reduction was an expected outcome of the Company’s strategic decision to allocate more resources to the development and expansion of diginexESG and diginexLUMEN, leading to a temporary reduction in the acceptance of customization projects.

    “We are focused on building long-term, sustainable growth across all of our service lines,” said Mr. Blick. “This year’s results highlight the strength of our core subscription business and our ability to unlock additional revenue opportunities through strategic agreements and licensing agreements.”

    General and Administrative Expenses

      For the year ended
    March 31,
    in USD millions 2025 2024
         
    Employee benefits  4.8  5.0
    IT development and maintenance support 1.5 2.1
    Audit fees 0.4 0.6
    Professional fees 2.1 0.5
    Travel and entertainment 0.4 0.5
    Share based payments 0.4 –
    Amortization and depreciation 0.1 0.1
    Other 0.6 0.5
      10.3 9.3
         

    For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.0 million to $10.3 million, compared to $9.3 million in the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily driven by higher professional fees associated with the Company’s IPO and a share-based payment expense related to preferred shares issued under an anti-dilution clause triggered by a capital raise completed in May 2024. These higher costs were partially offset by reductions in employee benefits, IT development and maintenance support, while continuing to deliver on our product roadmap, and audit fees.

    Employee benefits decreased by $0.2 million which was the result of reduced costs associated with the fair value of employee share options granted to employees of $0.5 million and a partially offsetting increase in salaries of $0.3 million. Headcount at March 31, 2025 was 32 and included 23 employees and 9 contractors compared to a headcount of 29 at March 31, 2024, which included 22 employees and 7 contractors.

    Balance Sheet Highlights

    At March 31, 2025, net assets of $4.6 million represented a transformation and significant improvement from net liabilities of $23.0 million at March 31, 2024. The improvement was driven by the capitalization of shareholder loans and advances, convertible loan notes and redeemable preferred shares. The capitalization events were triggered by the IPO.  

    The Company’s cash position of $3.1 million at March 31, 2025, is also higher than the $0.1 million of cash reported at March 31, 2024.

    The balance sheet at March 31, 2025, held no interest-bearing debt instruments.

    “The strengthening of our balance sheet following our IPO marks an important milestone for the company,” concluded Mr. Blick. “This enhanced financial position gives us the flexibility to invest in growth, pursue strategic initiatives, and deliver sustainable value to our shareholders. We remain committed to disciplined capital management as we expand our operations, strengthen key partnerships, and execute on our long-term vision to drive innovation and create a lasting impact in our industry.”

    About Diginex
    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. 

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 19 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and ISSB (IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk

         
    DIGINEX LIMITED
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
    For the years ended 31 March 2024 and 2025
         
      Year ended Year ended
      31 March 2025 31 March 2024
      USD USD
    Revenue 2,040,602 1,299,538
    General and administrative expenses (10,344,514) (9,363,345)
    OPERATING LOSS (8,303,912) (8,063,807)
    Other income, gains or (losses) 3,501,200 3,753,988
    Finance cost, net (410,167) (552,651)
    LOSS BEFORE TAX (5,212,879) (4,862,470)
    Income tax expense – (8,917)
    LOSS FOR THE YEAR (5,212,879) (4,871,387)
    OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)    
    Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:    
    Exchange gain (loss) on translation of foreign operations 30 (7,684)
    TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE YEAR (5,212,849) (4,879,071)
         
    LOSS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO
    THE ORDINARY EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY    		    
    Basic loss per share (0.33) (0.51)
         
    Diluted loss per share (0.53) (0.75)
         
    DIGINEX LIMITED
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
    At 31 March 2024 and 2025
         
      At
    31 March 2025    		 At
    31 March 2024
      USD USD
    ASSETS    
    Right-of-use assets 225,672 357,202
    Rental deposit 45,463 35,431
    Plant and equipment – –
    Total non-current assets 271,135 392,633
    Trade receivables, net 1,394,545 182,334
    Contract assets 750 69,354
    Other receivables, deposit and prepayment 1,066,191 253,476
    Restricted bank balance 399,400 –
    Cash and cash equivalents 3,111,141 76,620
    Total current assets 5,972,027 581,784
    LIABILITIES    
    Trade payables (200,660) (788,798)
    Other payables and accruals (706,874) (596,870)
    Tax payables – (8,917)
    Deferred revenues (505,424) (322,826)
    Due to a related company (34,579) (34,579)
    Due to immediate holding company – (5,345,929)
    Loans from immediate holding company – (1,930,993)
    Loan from a related company – (1,140,931)
    Lease liabilities, current (126,808) (122,076)
    Convertible loan notes, current – (3,975,534)
    Total current liabilities (1,574,345) (14,267,453)
    Lease liabilities, net of current portion (110,867) (243,280)
    Preferred shares – (9,359,000)
    Convertible loan notes, net of current portion – (114,808)
    Total non-current liabilities (110,867) (9,717,088)
    Net current assets (liabilities) 4,397,682 (13,685,669)
    Net assets (liabilities) 4,557,950 (23,010,124)
    EQUITY (DEFICIT)    
    Share Capital 1,150 477
    Share Premium 25,689,436 –
    Capital reserve 5,126,150 3,752,192
    Warrant reserve 79,263,200 –
    Exchange reserve (1,651) (1,681)
    Share option reserve 1,076,345 2,409,689
    Accumulated losses (106,596,680) (29,170,801)
    Total equity (deficit) 4,557,950 (23,010,124)
         
    DIGINEX LIMITED
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    For the years ended 31 March 2024 and 2025
         
      Year ended Year ended
      31 March 2025 31 March 2024
      USD USD
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
    Loss before taxation (5,212,879) (4,862,470)
    Adjustments for:    
    Amortization – right-of-use assets 125,575 99,580
    Depreciation – property, plant and equipment – 3,696
    Impairment losses (reversed) recognized in respect of trade receivables (2,844) (400)
    Bad debt written off 12,064 21,522
    Write-off of due from related company – 81,347
    Finance costs 410,167 552,651
    Share option awards 859,685 1,352,835
    Share-based payments expenses on anti-dilution issuance of preferred shares 369,648 –
    IPO expenses charged to P&L 1,659,081 –
    Net fair value loss of convertible loan notes 639,000 374,000
    Net fair value loss of preferred shares (4,117,648) (4,101,000)
    Operating cash flows before movements in working capital (5,258,151) (6,478,239)
    Movements in working capital    
    Trade receivables (1,221,431) 86,332
    Other receivables, deposit and prepayment (955,348) (210,936)
    Contract assets 68,604 (42,365)
    Due from a related company – (39,815
    Trade and other payables (478,610) 841,155
    Deferred revenue 182,598 (12,840)
    Amount due to immediate holding company – –
    Cash generated from operations (7,662,338) (5,856,708)
    Income tax paid (8,917) –
    Net cash used in operating activities (7,671,255) (5,856,708)
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
    Payment to rental deposit (10,032) –
    Cash used in investing activities (10,032) –
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
    Issue of shares under global offerings 10,608,750 –
    Payment of transaction costs of issue of new shares (2,948,791) –
    Loans from immediate holding company 3,410,461 564,483
    Advances from immediate holding company 713,719 5,345,423
    Proceeds from shares issued 50 –
    Proceeds from issuance of convertible loan notes – 100,000
    Loan from a related company – –
    Repayment of due to immediate holding company – –
    Repayment of lease liabilities (138,962) (109,754)
    Placement of restricted bank balance (399,400) –
    Repayment of loan from immediate holding company (530,019) (1,150,000)
    Net cash generated from financing activities 10,715,808 4,750,152
    NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 3,034,521 (1,106,556)
    Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 76,620 1,183,176
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR 3,111,141 76,620
         

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump to Offer Federal Support in Wake of Texas Disaster

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined President Donald J. Trump in Kerr County, Texas to offer federal disaster relief after storms devastated the region. Alongside Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and members of Congress, Loeffler met with local leaders and received updates from state emergency management officials.

    “The tragic loss of life in Texas Hill Country is truly heartbreaking – but the strength and the support of this community is clear,” said Administrator Loeffler. “Our commitment extends far beyond today’s visit, and this Administration is mobilizing every available resource to aid in recovery. As President Trump said, the full force of the federal government is behind Texas – including the SBA, where we are already offering disaster loans and on-the-ground support for residents and small businesses. Our prayers remain with the people of Texas, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them on the road to recovery.”

    As the agency announced earlier this week, SBA disaster relief is now available for Texas small businesses, residents, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding in seven counties. The disaster declaration covers the primary Texas county of Kerr which is eligible for both physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the SBA. Small businesses and most PNP organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kimble, and Real.

    Currently, the SBA has more than 70 staffers on the ground in Texas to assist with disaster recovery. The agency has also opened its first Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Kerr County, where individuals may come to receive hands-on assistance with disaster loan applications:

    SBA Business Recovery Center

    The YES Center at First Presbyterian Church

    823 North Street

    Kerrville, TX 87028

    Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CT

    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

    Texans affected by the flooding are encouraged to visit www.sba.gov/texas-floods or call SBA’s customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 to learn more about available aid.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump to Offer Federal Support in Wake of Texas Disaster

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined President Donald J. Trump in Kerr County, Texas to offer federal disaster relief after storms devastated the region. Alongside Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and members of Congress, Loeffler met with local leaders and received updates from state emergency management officials.

    “The tragic loss of life in Texas Hill Country is truly heartbreaking – but the strength and the support of this community is clear,” said Administrator Loeffler. “Our commitment extends far beyond today’s visit, and this Administration is mobilizing every available resource to aid in recovery. As President Trump said, the full force of the federal government is behind Texas – including the SBA, where we are already offering disaster loans and on-the-ground support for residents and small businesses. Our prayers remain with the people of Texas, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them on the road to recovery.”

    As the agency announced earlier this week, SBA disaster relief is now available for Texas small businesses, residents, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding in seven counties. The disaster declaration covers the primary Texas county of Kerr which is eligible for both physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the SBA. Small businesses and most PNP organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kimble, and Real.

    Currently, the SBA has more than 70 staffers on the ground in Texas to assist with disaster recovery. The agency has also opened its first Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Kerr County, where individuals may come to receive hands-on assistance with disaster loan applications:

    SBA Business Recovery Center

    The YES Center at First Presbyterian Church

    823 North Street

    Kerrville, TX 87028

    Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CT

    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

    Texans affected by the flooding are encouraged to visit www.sba.gov/texas-floods or call SBA’s customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 to learn more about available aid.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump to Offer Federal Support in Wake of Texas Disaster

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined President Donald J. Trump in Kerr County, Texas to offer federal disaster relief after storms devastated the region. Alongside Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and members of Congress, Loeffler met with local leaders and received updates from state emergency management officials.

    “The tragic loss of life in Texas Hill Country is truly heartbreaking – but the strength and the support of this community is clear,” said Administrator Loeffler. “Our commitment extends far beyond today’s visit, and this Administration is mobilizing every available resource to aid in recovery. As President Trump said, the full force of the federal government is behind Texas – including the SBA, where we are already offering disaster loans and on-the-ground support for residents and small businesses. Our prayers remain with the people of Texas, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them on the road to recovery.”

    As the agency announced earlier this week, SBA disaster relief is now available for Texas small businesses, residents, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding in seven counties. The disaster declaration covers the primary Texas county of Kerr which is eligible for both physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the SBA. Small businesses and most PNP organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kimble, and Real.

    Currently, the SBA has more than 70 staffers on the ground in Texas to assist with disaster recovery. The agency has also opened its first Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Kerr County, where individuals may come to receive hands-on assistance with disaster loan applications:

    SBA Business Recovery Center

    The YES Center at First Presbyterian Church

    823 North Street

    Kerrville, TX 87028

    Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CT

    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

    Texans affected by the flooding are encouraged to visit www.sba.gov/texas-floods or call SBA’s customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 to learn more about available aid.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Loeffler Joins President Trump to Offer Federal Support in Wake of Texas Disaster

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined President Donald J. Trump in Kerr County, Texas to offer federal disaster relief after storms devastated the region. Alongside Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and members of Congress, Loeffler met with local leaders and received updates from state emergency management officials.

    “The tragic loss of life in Texas Hill Country is truly heartbreaking – but the strength and the support of this community is clear,” said Administrator Loeffler. “Our commitment extends far beyond today’s visit, and this Administration is mobilizing every available resource to aid in recovery. As President Trump said, the full force of the federal government is behind Texas – including the SBA, where we are already offering disaster loans and on-the-ground support for residents and small businesses. Our prayers remain with the people of Texas, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them on the road to recovery.”

    As the agency announced earlier this week, SBA disaster relief is now available for Texas small businesses, residents, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding in seven counties. The disaster declaration covers the primary Texas county of Kerr which is eligible for both physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the SBA. Small businesses and most PNP organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kimble, and Real.

    Currently, the SBA has more than 70 staffers on the ground in Texas to assist with disaster recovery. The agency has also opened its first Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Kerr County, where individuals may come to receive hands-on assistance with disaster loan applications:

    SBA Business Recovery Center

    The YES Center at First Presbyterian Church

    823 North Street

    Kerrville, TX 87028

    Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CT

    Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

    Texans affected by the flooding are encouraged to visit www.sba.gov/texas-floods or call SBA’s customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 to learn more about available aid.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Michigan Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Frost and Freeze

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Michigan of the Aug. 11 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by frost and freeze occurring on Jan. 15-March 21, 2024.  

    The disaster declaration covers the Michigan counties of Berrien, Cass, Van Buren as well as Indiana counties of LaPorte and St. Joseph.  

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is Aug. 11, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Michigan Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought and Excessive Heat

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Michigan of the Aug. 11 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought and excessive heat occurring July 28, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Michigan counties of Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osconda, Otsego and Presque Isle.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is Aug 11, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: This Week in DOD: Department Unleashes Drone Development; USDA, DOD Partner on Security; U.S. Hosts Israel for Bilateral Talks

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    This week in the Defense Department, plans to support the American drone industry are underway, the National Farm Security Action Plan will safeguard farmlands and land around military bases, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Pentagon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Michigan Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Excessive Rain and Flash Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Michigan of the Aug. 11 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by excessive rain and flash flooding occurring on July 9-10, 2024.  

    The disaster declaration covers the Michigan counties of Genesee, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair and Tuscola.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is Aug. 11, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Felon from Donora Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Donora, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 9, 2025, to fentanyl and cocaine trafficking and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Tre Robert Goins, 31, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti to possession with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Goins will proceed to trial in August 2025 on an additional federal charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on May 24, 2024, Goins fled from a traffic stop initiated by the City of Duquesne Police Department. Goins led law enforcement on a high-speed chase and crashed his vehicle, at which time, police recovered fentanyl, cocaine, and a loaded firearm, which had been reported stolen, from Goins’ car. Goins has multiple prior felony convictions for firearms. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
    Pending sentencing, Goins will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, City of Clairton and Duquesne police departments, and Elizabeth Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Goins.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –