Category: KB

MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Swift Nears End of Stage 1 Presale With AI-Driven Yield Protocol and Governance Model
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LUXEMBOURG, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Swift (BTC3), the developer of a new blockchain protocol combining programmable yield mechanics with AI-driven governance, today announced the upcoming conclusion of Stage 1 of its BTC3 token presale. With just two days remaining before Stage 2 begins, the project reports a significant increase in interest from early-stage participants.

The BTC3 protocol is designed to address limitations in scalability, yield accessibility, and governance faced by earlier-generation blockchains. Its hybrid architecture incorporates AI-assisted voting systems, privacy-preserving smart contracts, and a Proof-of-Yield (PoY) model that allows users to access staking rewards immediately upon the conclusion of each presale stage.

Stage 1 Presale Highlights
- Presale Stage 1 ends July 26, 2025
- Current Price: $1.00
- Stage 2 Price: $2.00
- Projected Launch Price: $15.00
- Stage 1 APY: 143% via Proof-of-Yield mechanism
- Presale concludes: September 18, 2025
Unlike traditional presales that require users to wait for protocol access, Bitcoin Swift activates its PoY system in real-time. This feature allows token holders to receive programmable staking rewards that are distributed automatically based on smart contract logic.

Core Technology Features
- Proof-of-Yield (PoY): A staking framework that calculates real-time APY based on network activity
- AI Governance: Proposal evaluation through AI agents prior to DAO voting
- Sustainability Tracking: Environmental metrics integrated via federated oracles
- Privacy & Identity: zk-SNARK encryption and DID-based voting infrastructure
- Compliance-Ready Architecture: Designed with data privacy and user protections in mind
“Bitcoin Swift was built to offer a more intelligent and dynamic blockchain layer, starting with immediate utility at the presale level,” said a representative from the Bitcoin Swift team. “We believe that programmable rewards and AI-based governance models will play a key role in the next evolution of decentralized finance.”

What Influencers Are Saying

The buzz around BTC3 has been steadily rising across crypto communities. Influencers like Crypto Vlog, Token Empire, and Crypto Show have released detailed reviews breaking down why Bitcoin Swift’s architecture is more than just hype. Many highlight its compliance-readiness and AI-led innovation as major selling points for 2025.

Even broader coverage by creators like Crypto League and Crypto Nitro emphasizes how the protocol’s emphasis on sustainability and privacy could set a new standard for blockchain finance.

Looking Ahead

Following the conclusion of Stage 1, Bitcoin Swift will transition to Stage 2 of the presale at a new token price of $2.00. The final public sale will conclude on September 18, 2025, followed by the activation of full governance and on-chain protocol utilities. BTC3 will be deployed with Solana-compatible infrastructure to support high throughput and low transaction fees.

For more information about the BTC3 presale or the Bitcoin Swift protocol, please visit: https://bitcoinswift.com

Contact:
Luc Schaus
support@bitcoinswift.com

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

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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c4db1a26-86a9-4888-866a-926035fd9a27

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The MIL Network –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: MIG Capital leads CHF 7.75 million seed financing for ASTRA Therapeutics
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- MIG Capital, through its MIG Fonds, is investing 3 million Swiss Francs (CHF) in the Swiss start-up which designs precision drugs against eukaryotic pathogens.
- Digitalis Ventures co-leads the round with additional investment from Borealis Ventures, Kickfund and Venture Kick.
- Eukaryotic pathogens cause illness and death in animals, humans, and crops.
MUNICH, Germany, and VILLIGEN, Switzerland, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MIG Capital AG, one of Germany’s leading venture capital firms, announced today that it is heading a seed financing of CHF 7.75 million for ASTRA Therapeutics with U.S. venture capital firm Digitalis Ventures as co-lead and Borealis Ventures, Kickfund and Venture Kick also participating in the round. MIG Fonds 17 and 18 have allocated CHF 3 million for the Swiss start-up, based at the Park InnovAARE innovation campus in Villigen, Switzerland.

Founded in 2022, ASTRA Therapeutics AG designs and develops novel parasitic agents (parasiticides) that control parasites by inhibiting cell division in parasites while sparing hosts. The company generates species-specific drug leads targeting tubulin, known as Parabulins^®, through its proprietary drug development platform ParaX^®.

Parabulins^® are novel drugs (New Molecular Entities, NME) targeting important indications in the veterinary market. ASTRA’s pipeline includes over 15 patentable chemical classes featuring nanomolar-potent candidates for common parasites such as coccidia in farm animals and heartworm in dogs and cats. Initial in vivo proof of concept for multiple NMEs has been demonstrated.

Natacha Gaillard, PhD, Founder and Co-CEO of ASTRA Therapeutics, said: “The animal health market is facing an ever-increasing need for novel anti-parasite drugs to combat the growing threat of drug resistance, ensure the health and welfare of our pets, and maintain healthy and efficient food production.”

Ashwani Sharma, PhD, also Founder and Co-CEO of ASTRA Therapeutics, added: “Our platform is designed to exploit structural differences between essential proteins in parasites and the host animals, enabling creation of new drugs that should be both effective and safe.”

The global parasiticide market is worth over 10 billion US dollars and is growing at a CAGR of 5.6%¹. At the same time, established products are facing patent expiry, while increasing resistance is causing a dramatic need for new drugs – in some regions, up to 98% of heartworm cases are already resistant to standard therapies.

ASTRA is strategically positioned to capture this opportunity: the company develops novel, patentable drugs that are highly potent and resistance-breaking. Target revenues are over 800 million US dollars per year for coccidiosis and 2.4 billion US-dollars per year for worm control – in the veterinary sector alone.

“We see tremendous commercial potential for new drugs that control worms including heartworm in dogs and cats, and coccidiosis in poultry and swine production,” said Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner at MIG Capital. “With renowned structural biologists Dr. Natacha Gaillard and Dr. Ashwani Sharma in the lead and strong support from a team of market and business developers experienced in drug discovery, licensing and biotech financing, this is the right company to achieve success.”

The new investment expands MIG Capital’s approach to engaging in the rapidly growing veterinary medicine market. In 2024, the VC investor already acquired a stake in HawkCell, a French start-up developing MRI and CT imaging for use in animals. ASTRA Therapeutics is MIG Capital’s first investment in Switzerland and its second new investment this year.

_______________
1 Stonehaven Cozmix Group, Animal Health Industry: Reflections on the Past Decade and Visions for the Future Report 2025. (Published at AHNTI Conference London 2025) [see page 23]

About Astra Therapeutics

ASTRA Therapeutics is a Swiss biotechnology company based in Villigen (CH) that designs novel precision drugs against eukaryotic pathogens based on its proprietary ParaX^® platform. The company’s goal is to develop drugs that selectively target parasites while sparing hosts. ASTRA Therapeutics addresses medical and veterinary challenges characterized by increasing drug resistance, expiring patents, and a growing global parasiticide market.

For more information, please visit www.astratherapeutics.com.

About MIG Capital

MIG Capital is one of the leading German VC investors. Through its MIG funds, MIG invests in young deep tech and life sciences companies in German-speaking Europe and beyond. To date, the company has invested over €770 million in approx. 60 start-ups. MIG portfolio companies develop innovations in areas including biopharmaceuticals, energy and environmental technologies, advanced computing, digitalization / IoT, medical technology, and digital health. The MIG investment portfolio currently consists of more than 30 companies.

MIG’s investment team is made up of a dedicated group of engineers, scientists, physicians and entrepreneurs who use analytical and creative processes to assess the risks and opportunities of business models and technologies. Their reputation, experience and network provide excellent access to companies, institutions and decision-makers to support the growth of their portfolio companies.

In recent years, MIG Capital has realized more than ten successful portfolio company sales, including Siltectra (to Infineon) and Hemovent (to MicroPort). It has placed several companies on the stock exchange including BRAIN, NFON, BioNTech, and Immatics.

For further information, please visit: www.mig.ag, www.mig-fonds.de. LinkedIn: MIG Capital

Contact

MIG Capital
Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner
+49-89-94382680
ak@mig.ag

Media Inquiries

MC Services
Dr. Cora Kaiser, Catherine Featherston, Dr. Johanna Kobler
+49-89-210228-0
migag@mc-services.eu

The MIL Network –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Rhombus Expands AI-Powered Operational Analytics by Launching Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rhombus, a leader in cloud-managed physical security solutions, today announced the expansion of its AI-powered Operational Analytics capabilities with two powerful new features: Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting. These solutions give organizations real-time spatial intelligence tools to improve how they manage traffic flow, space utilization, and staffing. Both work with existing Rhombus camera infrastructure and can be centrally managed from the Rhombus console.

Rhombus continues to expand video intelligence beyond traditional surveillance by unlocking AI-fueled insights that help businesses solve everyday operational challenges. With these new features, security footage instantly becomes a live source of business intelligence to give teams a clear understanding of precisely how spaces are used and how to improve them.

“Video systems have long been siloed for security use only,” said Brandon Salzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Rhombus. “But with the right AI and powerful analytics, those same systems can also power real-time operational intelligence that helps businesses grow. Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting are great new examples of how we’re unlocking broader value from existing security camera infrastructure.”

Line Crossing

Line Crossing lets organizations define custom boundaries within camera views to monitor the directional traffic of how and when people or vehicles cross from one area to another. These insights are critical for identifying peak usage patterns and making layout or schedule changes that improve flow and efficiency. From retail store entrances to manufacturing loading docks, Line Crossing provides actionable data through clear, intuitive reporting.

“We built Line Crossing to answer a simple question: how are people actually using your space?” said Rickey Cox, VP of Product at Rhombus. “We can surface directional insights that help organizations fine-tune everything from where to place employees to broader site design changes, without relying on guesswork.”

Occupancy Counting

Occupancy Counting provides ongoing estimates of how many people are in a given area by using AI models. The solution eliminates the need for manual headcounts or check-in systems, enabling teams to manage capacity and identify underused areas. These insights help organizations respond to fluctuations in foot traffic, optimize space layout, and better align staffing with actual demand.

Solutions Built for Real-World Use Cases

Both Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting are designed to support a wide range of operational needs across industries. For example:
- In retail environments, traffic flow data can inform smarter product placement and optimize underperforming departments.
- In manufacturing settings, tracking vendor deliveries can reduce congestion at loading docks.
- At fitness centers, occupancy visibility enables better fitness class and staff planning while minimizing safety hazards.
Rhombus’ Vision for Smarter Security, Smarter Operations

The expansion of the Operational Analytics suite underscores Rhombus’ broader commitment to making its video intelligence solutions continually smarter, faster, and more adaptive. From real-time alerts to natural language video search, Rhombus uses AI to eliminate otherwise tedious manual efforts, accelerate investigations, and proactively detect threats. At the same time, the platform helps teams improve safety, increase efficiency, and make better decisions across their operations. By combining AI-enabled video analytics, audio detection, and IoT sensor data, Rhombus delivers a unified solution that adapts to each customer’s needs, supports evolving workflows, and helps organizations get more value from their existing security infrastructure.

Seamless Integration with the Rhombus Platform

Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting work with Rhombus’ dome, bullet, and multisensor camera series, and are available with no additional hardware or complex setup. Teams can access trends and reports through the same intuitive cloud-managed platform they already use, or pull data into their systems via Rhombus’ open APIs.

Availability

Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting are now available in limited release to customers with a Rhombus Enterprise license. Organizations interested in exploring the unique advantages of Rhombus’ Operational Analytics can book a demo: https://www.rhombus.com/live-demo/

About Rhombus

Rhombus is an open, cloud-managed physical security platform that brings security cameras, access control, sensors, alarm monitoring, and integrations together under a single pane of glass. Thousands of organizations trust Rhombus to drive operational excellence, improve safety, and streamline workflows through a comprehensive suite of smart security solutions and 50+ integrations with leading business systems. Rhombus is backed by NightDragon, Bluestone Equity Partners, Cota Capital, Caden Capital, Tru Arrow Partners, and Uncorrelated Ventures, and is on a mission to make the world safer with a smart, powerful physical security platform that is built to protect and designed to adapt.

Visit www.rhombus.com to book a demo.

Contact
Kyle Peterson / Clement | Peterson
kyle@clementpeterson.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7015666-d6fb-468a-8a5e-7c950800f6f6

The MIL Network –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: ADB President Calls for Increased Innovation Investment at STS Forum

Source: Asia Development Bank

ADB President Masato Kanda urged increased investment in science, technology, and innovation to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in Southeast Asia during his keynote address at the 9th Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum ASEAN–Japan Conference in Jakarta.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and SOM Leader for East Asian Cooperation of China

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and SOM Leader for East Asian Cooperation of China, in Beijing. The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange views on the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in various areas, including the preparations for the upcoming 28th ASEAN-China Summit in October 2025. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of common interest and concern.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and SOM Leader for East Asian Cooperation of China appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa visits BMW Group

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 24, 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this morning attend a showcase of the successful implementation of the latest investment for production of the new BMW X3 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle at the automaker’s plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria.

President Ramaphosa will deliver remarks at the end of his tour of the plant, where he will be accompanied only by BMW representatives.

Themed “BMW Group South Africa: Leading Today, Enabling Tomorrow”, the event marking the start of the new vehicle will highlight the firm’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s economic vitality and advancing industrial innovation.

“The event will showcase the active partnership between industry and government – a collaboration essential for driving innovation, catalysing job creation, and propelling sustainable growth within South Africa’s automotive sector.

“It also demonstrates the BMW Group’s dedication to leading today through operational excellence and enabling tomorrow by strategically investing in the nation’s future,” the Presidency said of Thursday’s visit.

The new BMW X3 has been declared South Africa’s Car of the Year for 2025.

The BMW Group announced further investment in its plant operations in Rosslyn during the President’s Investment Conference held on 13 April 2023, as a commitment to South Africa.

BMW has a long history in the country, and its footprint has grown significantly over time. Its investment at the Rosslyn plant located in Gauteng dates back five decades.

The plant operations are also a significant anchor and justification for the continued operations of BMW in South Africa, including the National Sales Company, BMW Financial Services, and BMW IT Development Hub.

BMW and its supply chain sustain tens of thousands of livelihoods directly and indirectly as a result of BMW Group activities in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: National Treasury reports malware intrusion on IRM website

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 24, 2025

National Treasury has isolated servers that were compromised by a malware intrusion on its Infrastructure Reporting Model (IRM) website, the online infrastructure reporting and monitoring system.

Treasury will assess the IRM servers for the magnitude of the compromise and to ensure the security of its systems.

“Considering recent media reports since Sunday regarding security incidents affecting Microsoft platforms in the United States, National Treasury has requested Microsoft’s assistance in identifying and addressing any potential vulnerabilities within its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) environment.

“Despite these events, National Treasury’s systems and websites continue to operate normally without any disruption.

“National Treasury’s ICT department processes over 200 000 emails each day and facilitates more than 400 000 user connections through their websites daily.

“On average, the National Treasury ICT team successfully detects and blocks approximately 5 800 security threats directed at National Treasury systems every day, showcasing the department’s commitment to maintaining a secure digital environment,” National Treasury said on Wednesday.

These threats encompass a range of malicious activities, including phishing attempts, malware infections, and spam attacks. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China, EU should uphold openness and cooperation, properly manage differences, Xi says

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

Xi calls on China, EU to provide more stability, certainty for world through steady, sound bilateral relations

Xinhua | July 24, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and the European Union (EU) to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are here for the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties, and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Xi said China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in history.

He said over the past 50 years, China and the EU have achieved fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation, delivering mutual success and worldwide benefits, and an important understanding and insight is that the two sides should respect each other, seek commonality while reserving differences, uphold openness and cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit.

These are also important principles and the right direction for China-EU relations in the future, Xi said. Faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and a changing and turbulent world, Chinese and EU leaders should once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and make the right strategic choices that will meet people’s expectations and stand the scrutiny of history, he added.

Xi underscored the importance for China and the EU, both constructive forces for multilateralism and openness and cooperation, to strengthen communication, enhance trust and deepen cooperation in a more challenging and complex international situation, in order to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Both as “big guys” in the international community, China and the EU should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction, and work together to usher it into an even brighter next 50 years, he said.

MIL OSI China News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China releases new e-bike safety standards enforcement guidelines

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

BEIJING, July 24 — China has issued a set of guidelines ensuring the effective implementation of new mandatory national safety standards for electric bicycles (e-bikes), in an effort to improve regulation of this sector.

The document, released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Public Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Fire and Rescue Administration, outlines comprehensive measures which apply across the industry chain.

There will be stricter oversight ranging from manufacturing to sales and registration, as well as the replacement of outdated vehicles, according to the guidelines.

This move comes amid growing safety concerns over substandard e-bikes and unauthorized modifications, stoked by incidents involving e-bike fires and traffic accidents in recent years — which were often linked to illegal retrofitting that can make e-bikes exceed speed limits.

To address these risks, China has already launched campaigns targeting safety hazards, while the new national standards will take effect on September 1.

Preliminary results have indicated positive progress. In the first half of 2025, the country recorded 7,048 e-bike-related fire incidents, a 44.7-percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

According to the MIIT, these guidelines aim to help manufacturers deliver compliant products to the market more quickly and accelerate the phasing out of non-conforming inventory. Efforts, notably, will be made to reinforce quality supervision endeavors and crack down on the production of non-compliant vehicles and illegal retrofitting.

Meanwhile, China will continue to offer subsidies aimed at encouraging consumers to replace outdated e-bikes. So far this year, nearly 9.06 million new e-bikes have been sold nationwide via the government trade-in program.

MIL OSI China News –

July 24, 2025
Supreme Court stays Bombay HC verdict acquitting 12 accused in 2006 Mumbai train blasts case

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday stayed a Bombay High Court judgment that acquitted 12 men convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, after the Maharashtra government argued that the ruling could undermine ongoing cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The court made it clear that its order would not affect the release of the 12 men, all of whom had already been freed following their acquittal.

A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh also issued notices to all 12 acquitted individuals and sought their responses to the state’s appeal.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra government, told the court that the state was not seeking to reverse the release of the accused but was concerned about the broader implications of the High Court’s findings. Accepting the argument, the bench said the Bombay High Court’s ruling would not carry precedential value until further orders.

The High Court, in its judgment delivered on July 21, had overturned the 2015 convictions of the 12 men by a special MCOCA court. Five of the accused had been sentenced to death and the rest to life imprisonment. The court found that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt, describing the investigation as flawed and marred by procedural lapses.

Additionally, the court found serious issues with the reliability of eyewitness accounts.

On July 11, 2006, seven bombs exploded in packed Mumbai local trains, bringing the city to a standstill within 11 minutes.

The coordinated terror attack left 189 dead and over 800 injured.

July 24, 2025
Parliament Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid sloganeering by Opposition

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The fourth day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament saw continued disruption, with the Lok Sabha adjourned until 2 pm on Thursday following protests by Opposition members over the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

As the House convened at 11 am, Opposition MPs raised slogans and staged a noisy protest, demanding a debate on the Election Commission’s SIR initiative.

Speaker Om Birla repeatedly appealed for order, but the protests continued, forcing him to suspend proceedings early.

This marks the fourth consecutive day of disruptions in Parliament, with the Opposition pressing for discussions not only on the Bihar voter verification drive but also on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

Before the adjournment, Birla urged Opposition members to maintain decorum, saying the conduct in the House was falling short of expectations.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the protest at Makar Dwar. Priyanka was seen holding a placard that read, “Democracy in Danger.”

Opposition leaders have alleged that the SIR exercise unfairly targets marginalised groups and migrant populations, calling it an attempt at “institutional voter cleansing.” Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion under Rule 56, describing the EC’s move as “unconstitutional” and an attack on the fundamental right to vote.

Outside Parliament, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh echoed these concerns, claiming that residents from Bihar and Purvanchal living in Delhi are being harassed and disenfranchised.

On Wednesday, both Houses of Parliament had been adjourned multiple times before being suspended for the day.

(With inputs from IANS)

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Celebrating youth and Ugandan cinema with a double premiere

Source: APO

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The youth-focused “Opportunities are Here” project premiered season two of its reality TV show, alongside the thriller, “You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye”

The TV reality series follows the personal and professional journeys of young creatives as they learn, collaborate and navigate the high-pressure demands of film production. The series captures the reality of building a career in Uganda’s film sector, from brainstorming and budgeting to late-night edits and final screening.

With mentors including actor and broadcaster Gaetano Kaggwa, filmmaker and scriptwriter Nana Kagga, actress and writer Cleopatra Koheirwe, and actor Michael Wawuyo Jr., the series is airing on NTV every Thursday at 8:30 pm.

Supported by the Geneva-based UN small business agency, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the European Union (EU), “Opportunities are Here” season two builds on the momentum of its acclaimed first season, which featured creative minds from across the continent, including Nollywood star Dakore Egbuson-Akande and Ugandan actors Gaetano Kaggwa, Nana Kagga and Cleopatra Koheirwe.

H.E. Jan Sadek, the European Union Ambassador to Uganda, expressed his admiration for the work achieved through the programme, saying, “We see huge potential in Uganda’s creative industries. Projects like OAH (Opportunities are Here) are a chance to build skills, connect with others, and get your work seen. Young Ugandan creatives should not be afraid to aim for international platforms. Their unique perspective is what the world is looking for.”

Since its inception, the “Opportunities are Here” project has reached over seven million people through media and campaigns, with over 11,140 creatives trained. This has further resulted in 13,595+ jobs created, with 135+ youth-led productions completed.

Chief of “Youth, Women and Vulnerable Communities” at ITC, Raimund Moser says: “Over the last three years, we’ve seen that with the right skills, mentorship and platforms, youth can lead the way in redefining African cinema. This is not just about storytelling—it’s about job creation and raising the visibility of creative services as a sector with great growth potential.”

The premiere night also featured a new film, “You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye”, a psychological thriller featuring Hellen Lukoma, Mbabazi Catherine Uwera, Fidel Sankara, Allan Kutos Katongole and Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi, among other Ugandan actors.

The film was written, co-directed and produced by seven young filmmakers who participated in seasons one and two. The team includes Kahbuya Vanessa (Kvan), Kavuma Vieri, Nodryn Evanci Kabuye, Elly E. Debuni, Illungole Emmanuel, Nsiima Chloe and Manirahari Colline.

This project brought together writers, actors and producers to create their first commercially viable film using a team-based approach, mirroring real-life production, guided by industry professionals, including Joel Tugaineyo (co-producer), Drake Steven Makanga (director), Loukman Ali (creative director) and Alex Ireeta (director of photography), among others.

In close collaboration with international film distributors, it was decided the film would be a thriller, a genre with high commercial potential. The filmmakers have been screening the movie in cinemas throughout Uganda in the past several weeks.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) hands over supplies to Al Sabbah Children Hospital, South Sudan’s only children hospital

Source: APO

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Al Sabbah children hospital is the only tertiary referral children’s hospital in South Sudan with a stabilization center receiving children with severe acute malnutrition from all parts of the country. This translates into the high demand for medical supplies and equipment for the hospital to be able to tend to the one thousand children coming to the center each month.

Despite the stretch, Al Sabbah children hospital runs with slightly over 100 health workers and still manages to provide clinical training to students from both public and private institutions. The nutrition team of the World Health Organization (WHO) in South Sudan has been a longstanding partner and advocate for the hospital to benefit from technical and logistical support in critical areas.

Dr Joseph Elias, the acting Executive Director of Al Sabbah is appreciative of WHO’s support: “We know that the patients exceed the hospital’s capacity which affects the access to timely and quality healthcare. Having partners such as WHO supporting Al Sabbah children hospital is a godsend for both the health workers and the families.” said Dr Elias.

On 21 July, WHO handed over pediatric beds, mattresses, oxygen concentrators, spare parts, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) kits and pulse oximeters to the management of Al Sabbah children hospital. The medical supplies and equipment were procured with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The handover was an emotional moment for the personnel who often have more patients than beds and less supplies than they need to treat them.

Betty Achan has been a nutritionist at Al Sabbah children hospital stabilization center for over a decade: “Look at this beautiful ward. These beds were really needed. Receiving them from WHO was a relief. We have so many children, and it is heartbreaking to tell a family that you have nowhere to put their sick child. Please go be our ambassadors and advocate more. We need more over everything because the demand is so high.” Said Betty.

South Sudan faces many challenges, particularly in the health sector, and children are among the most vulnerable. Based on the hospital’s monthly pediatric death audits, 50% of deaths occurring at Al Sabbah are recorded at the stabilization center. Over the first quarter of 2025, mortality rates at the center range between 14% and 19%. The main causes of the alarming rates being Malaria, Pneumonia, Sepsis and Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) which is particularly dangerous for children due to their smaller and developing bodies making them more susceptible to infections.

The supplies from WHO are intended to strengthen the stabilization center and hospital’s capacity to respond to the needs of children who walk through Al Sabbah’s doors.

Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative in South Sudan assured the hospital of continued support: “These supplies are for the children. They are for the mothers who sit anxiously at their bedside. They are for the doctors and nurses who work tirelessly. And they are for a future where every child in South Sudan has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.”

Supporting Al Sabbah children hospital is part of WHO’s broader commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child health in South Sudan as well as the country’s health priorities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: East African Community (EAC) Secretary General concludes official visit to Uganda with ket strategic engagements

Source: APO

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The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Hon. Veronica Nduva, concluded a three-day official visit to the Republic of Uganda, marked by high-level engagements aimed at strengthening regional integration and enhancing cooperation.

During the visit, the Secretary General, paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House in Entebbe. The two discussed key regional integration priorities, including the need for deeper cooperation among EAC Partner States.

President Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to the EAC integration agenda and emphasised the importance of intra-regional trade and shared infrastructure in achieving economic prosperity across the bloc.

At a different occasion, the Secretary General officiated the closing ceremony of the EAC Capacity Building Program for Women and Youth in Fisheries, a regional initiative designed to empower women and youth with skills, knowledge, and resources to participate more effectively in the fisheries value-chain. The event highlighted the EAC’s commitment to inclusive economic development, particularly in supporting marginalised groups through sustainable fisheries.

“This program is a demonstration of our resolve to empower women and youth, who form the backbone of our region’s socio-economic development. Investing in them means investing in the future of our communities,” Hon. Nduva remarked during the ceremony.

During the visit, the Secretary General also visited the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) headquarters in Jinja, Uganda. She was briefed on ongoing projects aimed at supporting sustainable fisheries management, research, and cross-border collaboration in Lake Victoria.

Hon. Nduva emphasized the importance of science-based policy development, environmental sustainability, and the role of LVFO in driving the EAC’s Blue Economy strategy.

“The LVFO remains a critical institution for sustainable fisheries management in the region. It is imperative that we continue to support its work to ensure food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem preservation,” Hon. Nduva said, underscoring the EAC’s commitment to promoting sustainable fisheries and environmental conservation in the Lake Victoria Basin.

The Secretary General’s visit to the Republic of Uganda served to reaffirm the EAC Secretariat’s support for Partner States in their efforts to realise the goals of the EAC Treaty, particularly in the areas of economic development, environmental sustainability, and regional cooperation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).

MIL OSI Africa –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Eswatini: How cash and voucher assistance is empowering women to rebuild after calamity
Source: APO

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In the southern African nation of Eswatini, cash and voucher assistance is making a real difference in people’s lives, particularly those most vulnerable after crisis. ‘It’s not just about fairness—it’s about effectiveness.’

Even before the floods, life for Banele Mamba was hard enough. But then the floodwaters came and the 31-year-old mother of five had to cope with extensive damage to her family’s home.

“Water would seep in through the house,” she says. “I was so worried—especially because I live with chronic illness. I didn’t want the children to get sick from flu, cholera or other diseases.”

Banele Mamba was able to fix some of those leaks, make other critical repairs and restock her pantry with support that came in the form of cash and voucher assistance provided by the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society.

The Red Cross here has been working in partnership with the IFRC Pretoria Delegation, as part of the EU-funded Pilot Programmatic Partnership (ECHO PPP), to deliver cash and vouchers to people impacted by recent floods.

Unlike other forms of relief aid such as food or household supplies, cash transfer and vouchers give people such as Banele the power to decide what her families need most following times of crisis.

Delivered through mobile money transfers, both the cash and voucher components are redeemed in cash form. This approach empowers families while also supporting the local economy through increased purchasing at community shops and markets.

For Banele Mamba, the flexibility of cash support made a world of difference. She used part of the funds to seal parts of the leaking roof and reinforce the walls to prevent water from seeping in during heavy rains.

She also used the cash to buy essential food items and toiletries—products that she previously struggled to afford consistently. In months when the household budget was tight, she was therefore able to avoid borrowing from local money lenders.

“We believe that people affected by crises are the best placed to decide their needs,” says Tebukhosi Dlamini, Safe and Inclusive Programming Officer at Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society.

While the EU provided funding, the IFRC contributed technical guidance and policy review support to the Eswatini National Society during the planning and implementation of the programme. In doing so, the IFRC Pretoria delegation applied a protection- and gender-sensitive lens across all stages of the programmatic partnership.

“By applying protection and gender-sensitive principles, we ensure that women like Banele are not only included but prioritized in the selection processes,” Dlamini added.

Putting inclusion into practice

Women-headed households, survivors of gender-based violence, caregivers of orphaned children, and other at-risk groups were given high priority, recognizing people in these situations often face greater risks and barriers to recovery.

“Focusing on women and other vulnerable groups is not just about fairness—it’s about effectiveness,” says Boitumelo Phihlela, who works as focal person for protection, gender and inclusion, as well as community engagement and accountability, for the IFRC’s Pretoria Delegation.

“When we prioritize those most at risk, we strengthen the entire community’s resilience. Women, in particular, play a vital role in family and community wellbeing, so supporting them directly creates a ripple effect of positive change.

“This approach also ensures that protection and dignity are central to our response, which is key to building trust and long-term recovery.”

The process is guided by inclusive criteria co-developed with the communities, which then participates in applying these standards to all aspects of the initiative.

Continued learning and improvement: Key lessons learned

The cash and voucher assistance programme in Eswatini fits in with larger efforts to continually improve the way the IFRC works with, supports and accompanies communities following crisis.

The IFRC Pretoria Delegation and its partners, for example, also use this inclusive mindset – along with cash and voucher assistance – to strengthen long-term resilience local farmers in four other countries in southern Africa (Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia).

The support also comes in the form of seeds and other agricultural inputs—ensuring communities are not only surviving today but are better prepared for the future.

Here are a few of the key takeaways from the IFRC Pretoria delegation’s three-year Programmatic Partnership collaboration.
- Embed protection, gender and inclusion principles throughout all stages of programme design and implementation —ensuring that the unique needs, risks, and capacities of different groups, particularly women, children, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations, are considered and addressed.
- Prioritize proactive, inclusive community engagement where feedback mechanisms are not only established but also trusted and accessible to all segments of the population.
- Strengthen the feedback loop by ensuring community input is used to inform and adjust programming. The use of community feedback is needed to shape programming decisions which helps build trust and ensures greater accountability to target populations. In one farming community, for example, people noted that the seeds initially provided were not suited to their local soil and climate conditions, which affected crop growth. Upon hearing this, the Red Cross programme adapted by sourcing and distributing more appropriate seed varieties, improving harvest outcomes and reinforcing the community’s trust that their feedback leads to real changes.
“It’s not enough to have feedback systems—we must make them visible, trusted, and use them to shape decisions,” said the IFRC’s Phihlela. “That’s how we build real accountability.”

Read more about cash and voucher assistance at the IFRC

Learn more about the Programmatic Partnership

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

MIL OSI Africa –
July 24, 2025
Russia, Ukraine discuss more POW swaps; no deal on ceasefire or leaders’ meeting

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Russia and Ukraine discussed further prisoner swaps on Wednesday at a brief session of peace talks in Istanbul, but the sides remained far apart on ceasefire terms and a possible meeting of their leaders.

“We have progress on the humanitarian track, with no progress on a cessation of hostilities,” Ukraine’s chief delegate Rustem Umerov said after talks that lasted just 40 minutes.

He said Ukraine had proposed a meeting before the end of August between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added: “By agreeing to this proposal, Russia can clearly demonstrate its constructive approach.”

Russia’s chief delegate Vladimir Medinsky said the point of a leaders’ meeting should be to sign an agreement, not to “discuss everything from scratch”.

He renewed Moscow’s call for a series of short ceasefires of 24-48 hours to enable the retrieval of bodies. Ukraine says it wants an immediate and much longer ceasefire.

The talks took place just over a week after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened heavy new sanctions on Russia and countries that buy its exports unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.

There was no sign of any progress towards that goal, although both sides said there was discussion of further humanitarian exchanges following a series of prisoner swaps, the latest of which took place on Wednesday.

Medinsky said the negotiators agreed to exchange at least 1,200 more prisoners of war from each side, and Russia had offered to hand over another 3,000 Ukrainian bodies.

He said Moscow was working through a list of 339 names of Ukrainian children that Kyiv accuses it of abducting. Russia denies that charge and says it has offered protection to children separated from their parents during the war.

“Some of the children have already been returned back to Ukraine. Work is under way on the rest. If their legal parents, close relatives, representatives are found, these children will immediately return home,” Medinsky said.

Umerov said Kyiv was expecting “further progress” on POWs, adding: “We continue to insist on the release of civilians, including children.” Ukrainian authorities say at least 19,000 children have been forcibly deported.

SHORTEST TALKS YET

Before the talks, the Kremlin had played down expectations, describing the two sides’ positions as diametrically opposed and saying no one should expect miracles.

At 40 minutes, the meeting was even shorter than the two sides’ previous encounters on May 16 and June 2, which lasted a combined total of under three hours.

Oleksandr Bevz, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said Kyiv had proposed a Putin-Zelenskiy meeting in August because that would fall within the deadline set by Trump for a deal.

Putin turned down a previous challenge from Zelenskiy to meet in person and has said he does not see him as a legitimate leader because Ukraine, which is under martial law, did not hold new elections when Zelenskiy’s five-year mandate expired last year.

Trump has patched up relations with Zelenskiy after a public row with him at the White House in February, and has lately expressed growing frustration with Putin.

Three sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters last week that Putin, unfazed by Trump’s ultimatum, would keep fighting in Ukraine until the West engaged on his terms for peace, and that his territorial demands may widen as Russian forces advance.

(Reuters)

July 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. Announces Q2-25 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Q2-25 Revenue and Net Income of € 148.1 Million and € 32.1 Million, Respectively

H1-25 Revenue and Net Income of € 292.2 Million and € 63.6 Million, Respectively

DUIVEN, the Netherlands, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (the “Company” or “Besi”) (Euronext Amsterdam: BESI; OTC markets: BESIY), a leading manufacturer of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry, today announced its results for the second quarter and first half year ended June 30, 2025.

Key Highlights Q2-25

Revenue of € 148.1 million grew 2.8% vs. Q1-25 and was within prior guidance due primarily to higher die attach shipments for mainstream computing applications. Revenue decreased 2.1% vs. Q2-24 principally due to weakness in mobile end markets partially offset by growth in hybrid bonding shipments
Orders of € 128.0 million decreased 3.0% vs. Q1-25 due primarily due to ongoing weakness in mainstream computing and mobile applications partially offset by significant new orders for TCB Next systems. Orders declined 30.9% vs. Q2-24 due primarily to lower orders for hybrid bonding and mobile applications
Gross margin of 63.3% decreased by 0.3 points vs. Q1-25 and by 1.7 points vs. Q2-24 due to a less favorable product mix and adverse forex effects from a decline in the USD versus the euro
Net income of € 32.1 million increased 1.9% vs. Q1-25. Versus Q2-24, net income decreased 23.4% due principally to lower revenue and gross margins, increased R&D spending and higher interest expense related to the Senior Note offering in July 2024. Q2-25 net margin decreased to 21.6% vs. 21.9% in Q1-25 and 27.7% in Q2-24
Cash and deposits of € 490.2 million at June 30, 2025 increased by 90.6% vs. June 30, 2024 due to the Senior Note offering in July 2024

Key Highlights H1-25

Revenue of € 292.2 million decreased 1.8% vs. H1-24 principally due to ongoing weakness in mainstream assembly markets, particularly for mobile and automotive applications, partially offset by increased shipments of hybrid bonding systems
Orders of € 259.9 million were down 17.0% vs. H1-24 primarily due to lower bookings for hybrid bonding systems and for mobile applications, partially offset by increased die attach orders by Asian subcontractors for AI related computing applications and new orders for Besi’s TCB Next system
Gross margin of 63.4% decreased by 2.7 points versus H1-24 primarily due to a less favorable product mix and adverse forex effects
Net income of € 63.6 million decreased € 12.3 million, or 16.2%, vs. H1-24 primarily due to lower revenue and gross margin and higher interest expense. Similarly, Besi’s net margin decreased to 21.7% versus 25.5% in H1-24

Q3-25 Outlook

Revenue is expected to decline 5-15% vs. the € 148.1 million reported in Q2-25
Orders are expected to increase significantly vs. Q2-25 primarily due to increased demand for hybrid bonding systems and die attach systems for AI-related 2.5D computing applications
Gross margin is expected to range between 60-62% and decrease vs. the 63.3% realized in Q2-25 primarily due to adverse forex effects from a significantly lower USD versus the euro
Operating expenses are expected to be flat +/- 5% vs. € 50.2 million in Q2-25

(€ millions, except EPS)	Q2- 2025	Q1- 2025	Δ	Q2- 2024	Δ	HY1- 2025	HY1- 2024	Δ
Revenue	148.1	144.1	+2.8%	151.2	-2.1%	292.2	297.5	-1.8%
Orders	128.0	131.9	-3.0%	185.2	-30.9%	259.9	313.0	-17.0%
Gross Margin	63.3%	63.6%	-0.3	65.0%	-1.7	63.4%	66.1%	-2.7
Operating Income	43.5	39.3	+10.7%	49.3	-11.8%	82.8	90.0	-8.0%
Net Income	32.1	31.5	+1.9%	41.9	-23.4%	63.6	75.9	-16.2%
Net Margin	21.6%	21.9%	-0.3	27.7%	-6.1	21.7%	25.5%	-3.8
EPS (basic)	0.40	0.40	–	0.53	-24.5%	0.80	0.97	-17.5%
EPS (diluted)	0.40	0.40	–	0.53	-24.5%	0.80	0.97	-17.5%
Net Cash and Deposits	-36.0*	159.4	-122.6%	74.4*	-148.4%	-36.0*	74.4*	-148.4%

* Reflects cash dividend payments of € 172.8 million and € 171.5 million in Q2-25 and Q2-24, respectively.

Richard W. Blickman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Besi, commented:
“Besi reported Q2-25 revenue, operating income and net income of € 148.1 million, € 43.5 million and € 32.1 million, respectively. Revenue and operating results were at the midpoint of prior guidance in a mainstream assembly equipment market still affected by soft demand for mobile and automotive applications. Market development in Q2-25 was also affected by increased customer caution due to global trade tensions. Q2-25 revenue and operating income grew sequentially by 2.8% and 10.7%, respectively, as we saw an increase in shipments to Asian subcontractors for AI-related datacenter applications combined with a 4.3% decrease in sequential operating expenses. Orders for the quarter decreased 3.0% versus Q1-25 as weakness in mainstream computing and mobile applications was partially offset by new orders for Besi’s TCB Next system.

For the first half year, revenue of € 292.2 million decreased 1.8% versus H1-24 reflecting broader assembly market trends as weakness in mobile and, to a lesser extent, automotive end markets was significantly offset by growth in hybrid bonding revenue which more than doubled versus H1-24. Orders decreased by 17.0% due to the timing of customer orders for hybrid bonding systems and a lack of new product introductions in high-end smartphones. H1-25 operating and net income decreased by 8.0% and 16.2%, respectively, versus H1-24 primarily due to lower revenue and a 2.7-point reduction in gross margin from a less favorable product mix, adverse net forex effects from the decline of the USD versus the euro and increased interest expense related to Besi’s Senior Note issuance in July 2024. Liquidity remained strong with cash and deposits of € 490.2 million at June 30, 2025 increasing by 90.6% vs. June 30, 2024 due to the Senior Note offering in July 2024.

We believe the outlook for Besi’s business in H2-25 has improved in recent weeks based on customer feedback and order trends subsequent to quarter end. Expanded capex budgets for AI infrastructure have been confirmed by each of the leading industry players in recent quarters with new use cases emerging in cloud and edge computing along with co-packaged optics. Advanced packaging is one of the key ways to achieve AI system differentiation, develop innovative consumer edge AI devices and provide the most energy-efficient data center performance. Advanced packaging demand for AI applications remains strong given new device introductions expected in 2026-2028. We believe we are well positioned in the fastest-growing advanced packaging market segments including data centers, photonics, AI-enhanced PCs and mobile devices and EVs/autonomous driving.

As such, orders for our hybrid bonding systems are expected to increase significantly in H2-25 versus both H1-25 and H2-24 in both advanced logic and HBM4 memory applications as customers advance their technology roadmaps for new product introductions in 2026 and 2027. Customer interest in our TCB Next system for both memory and logic applications has also expanded significantly. TCB Next cycle times have improved with shipments anticipated in Q4-25 from orders received in Q2-25. We also anticipate increased orders for 2.5D advanced packaging systems for AI-related datacenter applications from both global IDMs and Asian subcontractors. In addition, there are early signs of a recovery in our mainstream assembly markets principally related to increased demand by Asian subcontractors for high-end mobile applications and high-performance computing applications for consumer markets.

For Q3-25, we anticipate that revenue will decline by approximately 5-15% versus Q2-25. However, orders for Q3-25 are expected to increase significantly on a sequential basis due to increased demand for hybrid bonding and 2.5D advanced packaging applications. Besi’s gross margin is anticipated to decline to a range of 60-62% in Q3-25 due to the adverse impact of a 12.8% decline in the value of the USD versus the euro in the first half of 2025. Operating expenses in Q3-25 are expected to be flat plus or minus 5% versus Q2-25 despite increased R&D spending.”

Share Repurchase Activity
During the quarter, Besi spent € 20.7 million to repurchase approximately 196,000 of its ordinary shares at an average price of € 105.80 per share. As of June 30, 2025, € 72.2 million of the current € 100 million share repurchase authorization has been used to repurchase approximately 644,000 ordinary shares at an average price of € 111.96 per share. As of June 30, 2025, Besi held approximately 2.0 million shares in treasury, equivalent to 2.5% of shares outstanding.

Investor and media conference call A conference call and webcast for investors and media will be held today at 4:00 pm CET (10:00 am EDT). To register for the conference call and/or to access the audio webcast and webinar slides, please visit www.besi.com.
Important Dates • Publication Q3/Nine-month results • Publication Q4/Full year results	October 23, 2025 February 2026

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union. Reference is made to the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as included in our 2024 Annual Report, which is available on www.besi.com.

Contacts:
Richard W. Blickman, President & CEO
Andrea Kopp-Battaglia, Senior Vice President Finance
Claudia Vissers, Executive Secretary/IR coordinator
Edmond Franco, VP Corporate Development/US IR coordinator
Michael Sullivan, Investor Relations
Tel. (31) 26 319 4500
investor.relations@besi.com

About Besi
Besi is a leading manufacturer of assembly equipment supplying a broad portfolio of advanced packaging solutions to the semiconductor and electronics industries. We offer customers high levels of accuracy, reliability and throughput at a lower cost of ownership with a principal focus on wafer level and substrate assembly solutions. Customers are primarily leading semiconductor manufacturers, foundries, assembly subcontractors and electronics and industrial companies. Besi’s ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (symbol: BESI). Its Level 1 ADRs are listed on the OTC markets (symbol: BESIY) and its headquarters are located in Duiven, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit our website at www.besi.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements about management’s future expectations, plans and prospects of our business that constitute forward-looking statements, which are found in various places throughout the press release, including, but not limited to, statements relating to expectations of orders, net sales, product shipments, expenses, timing of purchases of assembly equipment by customers, gross margins, operating results and capital expenditures. The use of words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “can”, “intend”, “believes”, “may”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “forecast”, “will”, “would”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The financial guidance set forth under the heading “Outlook” contains such forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our judgments and expectations concerning the development of our business, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, including any inability to maintain continued demand for our products; failure of anticipated orders to materialize or postponement or cancellation of orders, generally without charges; the volatility in the demand for semiconductors and our products and services; the extent and duration of the COVID-19 and other global pandemics and the associated adverse impacts on the global economy, financial markets, global supply chains and our operations as well as those of our customers and suppliers; failure to develop new and enhanced products and introduce them at competitive price levels; failure to adequately decrease costs and expenses as revenues decline; loss of significant customers, including through industry consolidation or the emergence of industry alliances; lengthening of the sales cycle; acts of terrorism and violence; disruption or failure of our information technology systems; consolidation activity and industry alliances in the semiconductor industry that may result in further increased customer concentration, inability to forecast demand and inventory levels for our products; the integrity of product pricing and protection of our intellectual property in foreign jurisdictions; risks, such as changes in trade regulations, conflict minerals regulations, currency fluctuations, political instability and war, associated with substantial foreign customers, suppliers and foreign manufacturing operations, particularly to the extent occurring in the Asia Pacific region where we have a substantial portion of our production facilities; potential instability in foreign capital markets; the risk of failure to successfully manage our diverse operations; any inability to attract and retain skilled personnel, including as a result of restrictions on immigration, travel or the availability of visas for skilled technology workers.

In addition, the United States and other countries have recently levied tariffs and taxes on certain goods and could significantly increase or impose new tariffs on a broad array of goods. They have imposed, and may continue to impose, new trade restrictions and export regulations. Increased or new tariffs and additional taxes, including any retaliatory measures, trade restrictions and export regulations, could negatively impact end-user demand and customer investment in semiconductor equipment, increase Besi’s supply chain complexity and manufacturing costs, decrease margins, reduce the competitiveness of our products or restrict our ability to sell products, provide services or purchase necessary equipment and supplies. Any or all of the foregoing factor could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, investors should consider those additional risk factors set forth in Besi’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other key factors that could adversely affect our businesses and financial performance contained in our filings and reports, including our statutory consolidated statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or alter our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(€ thousands, except share and per share data)	Three Months Ended June 30, (unaudited)		Six Months Ended June 30, (unaudited)
	2025	2024	2025	2024

Revenue	148,101	151,176	292,246	297,490
Cost of sales	54,410	52,908	106,833	100,951

Gross profit	93,691	98,268	185,413	196,539

Selling, general and administrative expenses	30,629	30,514	63,587	70,155
Research and development expenses	19,571	18,503	39,073	36,422

Total operating expenses	50,200	49,017	102,660	106,577

Operating income	43,491	49,251	82,753	89,962

Financial expense, net	5,693	1,045	8,652	1,634

Income before taxes	37,798	48,206	74,101	88,328

Income tax expense	5,748	6,261	10,545	12,404

Net income	32,050	41,945	63,556	75,924

Net income per share – basic	0.40	0.53	0.80	0.97
Net income per share – diluted	0.40	0.53	0.80	0.97
Number of shares used in computing per share amounts: – basic – diluted ¹	79,184,703 81,288,679	79,281,533 81,941,471	79,206,267 81,405,308	78,231,430 82,023,808

______________________
¹⁾ The calculation of diluted income per share assumes the exercise of equity settled share based payments and the conversion of all Convertible Notes outstanding

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(€ thousands)	June 30, 2025 (unaudited)	March 31, 2025 (unaudited)	December 31, 2024 (audited)
ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents	330,170	405,736	342,319
Deposits	160,000	280,000	330,000
Trade receivables	178,615	170,440	181,862
Inventories	96,977	103,836	103,285
Other current assets	53,821	46,099	40,927

Total current assets	819,583	1,006,111	998,393

Property, plant and equipment	51,089	42,868	44,773
Right of use assets	13,799	15,161	15,726
Goodwill	44,857	45,610	46,010
Other intangible assets	103,933	98,622	96,677
Investment property	5,206	–	–
Deferred tax assets	27,494	29,240	31,567
Other non-current assets	1,303	1,347	1,330

Total non-current assets	247,681	232,848	236,083

Total assets	1,067,264	1,238,959	1,234,476


Bank overdraft	–	840	776
Current portion of long-term debt	–	–	2,042
Trade payables	47,458	46,598	52,630
Other current liabilities	95,530	111,170	111,531

Total current liabilities	142,988	158,608	166,979

Long-term debt	526,184	525,493	525,653
Lease liabilities	10,873	11,770	12,350
Deferred tax liabilities	10,523	10,416	10,320
Other non-current liabilities	19,915	19,328	17,910

Total non-current liabilities	567,495	567,007	566,233

Total equity	356,781	513,344	501,264

Total liabilities and equity	1,067,264	1,238,959	1,234,476

Consolidated Cash Flow Statements

(€ thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30, (unaudited)		Six Months Ended June 30, (unaudited)
	2025	2024	2025	2024

Cash flows from operating activities:

Income before income tax	37,798	48,206	74,101	88,328

Depreciation and amortization	7,458	6,980	14,765	13,793
Share based payment expense	4,342	6,916	8,783	23,816
Financial expense, net	5,694	1,045	8,653	1,634

Changes in working capital	(11,032)	(46,694)	(13,145)	(49,945)
Interest (paid) received	3,726	3,893	839	5,062
Income tax paid	(21,988)	(15,428)	(23,563)	(17,517)

Net cash provided by operating activities	25,998	4,918	70,433	65,171

Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(11,764)	(3,216)	(13,497)	(8,866)
Capitalized development expenses	(7,320)	(4,912)	(14,057)	(9,575)
Acquisition of investment property	(5,206)	–	(5,206)	–
Repayments of (investments in) deposits	120,000	85,000	170,000	95,000

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	95,710	76,872	137,240	76,559

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments of) bank lines of credit	(840)	–	(776)	–
Proceeds from (payments of) debt	(2,042)	–	(2,042)	–
Payments of lease liabilities	(1,111)	(1,063)	(2,225)	(2,106)
Purchase of treasury shares	(20,721)	(14,810)	(42,785)	(29,589)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(172,811)	(171,534)	(172,811)	(171,534)

Net cash used in financing activities	(197,525)	(187,407)	(220,639)	(203,229)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(75,817)	(105,617)	(12,966)	(61,499)
Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	251	798	817	256
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	405,736	232,053	342,319	188,477

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	330,170	127,234	330,170	127,234

Supplemental Information (unaudited) (€ millions, unless stated otherwise)

REVENUE	Q2-2025			Q1-2025			Q4-2024			Q3-2024			Q2-2024			Q1-2024

Per geography:
China	37.5		25%	40.5		28%	42.8		28%	45.5		29%	57.5		38%	58.5		40%
Asia Pacific (excl. China)	66.1		45%	56.3		39%	53.5		35%	51.6		33%	54.1		36%	43.6		30%
EU / USA / Other	44.5		30%	47.3		33%	57.1		37%	59.5		38%	39.6		26%	44.2		30%

Total	148.1		100%	144.1		100%	153.4		100%	156.6		100%	151.2		100%	146.3		100%

ORDERS	Q2-2025			Q1-2025			Q4-2024			Q3-2024			Q2-2024			Q1-2024

Per geography:
China	44.4		35%	39.7		30%	40.4		33%	45.4		30%	43.3		23%	51.1		40%
Asia Pacific (excl. China)	60.7		47%	51.7		39%	38.8		32%	69.3		46%	72.0		39%	45.0		35%
EU / USA / Other	22.9		18%	40.5		31%	42.7		35%	37.1		24%	69.9		38%	31.6		25%

Total	128.0		100%	131.9		100%	121.9		100%	151.8		100%	185.2		100%	127.7		100%

Per customer type:
IDM	71.9		56%	48.1		36%	61.2		50%	84.5		56%	122.4		66%	53.5		42%
Foundries/Subcontractors	56.1		44%	83.8		64%	60.7		50%	67.3		44%	62.8		34%	74.2		58%

Total	128.0		100%	131.9		100%	121.9		100%	151.8		100%	185.2		100%	127.7		100%

HEADCOUNT	June 30, 2025			Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Sep 30, 2024			Jun 30, 2024			Mar 31, 2024

Fixed staff (FTE)	1,831		88%	1,820		88%	1,812		93%	1,807		87%	1,783		86%	1,760		88%
Temporary staff (FTE)	239		12%	251		12%	134		7%	271		13%	279		14%	236		12%

Total	2,070		100%	2,071		100%	1,946		100%	2,078		100%	2,062		100%	1,996		100%

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA	Q2-2025			Q1-2025			Q4-2024			Q3-2024			Q2-2024			Q1-2024

Gross profit	93.7		63.3%	91.7		63.6%	98.2		64.0%	101.2		64.7%	98.3		65.0%	98.3		67.2%


Selling, general and admin expenses:
As reported	30.6		20.7%	33.0		22.9%	28.6		18.6%	27.3		17.4%	30.5		20.2%	39.6		27.1%
Share-based compensation expense	(4.3	)	-2.9%	(4.4	)	-3.1%	(2.9	)	-1.8%	(3.4	)	-2.1%	(6.9	)	-4.6%	(16.9	)	-11.6%

SG&A expenses as adjusted	26.3		17.8%	28.6		19.8%	25.7		16.8%	23.9		15.3%	23.6		15.6%	22.7		15.5%


Research and development expenses:
As reported	19.6		13.2%	19.5		13.5%	19.0		12.4%	18.9		12.1%	18.5		12.2%	17.9		12.2%
Capitalization of R&D charges	7.3		4.9%	6.7		4.6%	5.4		3.5%	4.4		2.8%	4.9		3.2%	4.7		3.2%
Amortization of intangibles	(3.9	)	-2.6%	(3.7	)	-2.5%	(3.9	)	-2.5%	(3.9	)	-2.5%	(3.6	)	-2.3%	(3.6	)	-2.4%

R&D expenses as adjusted	23.0		15.5%	22.5		15.6%	20.5		13.4%	19.4		12.4%	19.8		13.1%	19.0		13.0%


Financial expense (income), net:
Interest income	(3.4	)		(5.0	)		(5.1	)		(5.2	)		(3.0	)		(4.0	)
Interest expense	6.4			6.3			6.1			5.7			2.1			2.8
Net cost of hedging	2.3			1.8			2.0			1.9			1.4			1.6
Foreign exchange effects, net	0.4			(0.1	)		0.9			(0.8	)		0.5			0.2

Total	5.7			3.0			3.9			1.6			1.0			0.6


Operating income (as % of net sales)	43.5		29.4%	39.3		27.2%	50.6		33.0%	55.1		35.2%	49.3		32.6%	40.7		27.8%

EBITDA (as % of net sales)	50.9		34.4%	46.6		32.3%	58.0		37.8%	62.4		39.8%	56.2		37.2%	47.5		32.5%

Net income (as % of net sales)	32.1		21.6%	31.5		21.9%	59.3		38.6%	46.8		29.9%	41.9		27.7%	34.0		23.2%

Effective tax rate	15.2%			13.2%			-27.0%			12.6%			13.0%			15.3%


Income per share
Basic	0.40			0.40			0.75			0.59			0.53			0.44
Diluted	0.40			0.40			0.74			0.59			0.53			0.44

Average shares outstanding (basic)	79,184,703			79,228,071			79,402,192			79,630,787			79,281,533			77,181,326

Shares repurchased
Amount	20.7			22.1			22.4			27.8			14.8			14.8
Number of shares	195,647			186,869			198,450			230,807			105,042			101,049


Gross cash	490.2			685.7			672.3			637.4			257.2			447.1

Net cash	(36.0	)		159.4			143.8			110.7			74.4			180.9

The MIL Network –

July 24, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Defence Medical Services senior appointments announced
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

New Defence Medical Services senior appointments announced

His Majesty the King has approved three new senior appointments in the Defence Medical Services.
Brigadier Phil Carter KHP OStJ. MOD Crown Copyright

His Majesty the King has approved the following three senior appointments in the Defence Medical Services (DMS):

Brigadier Phil Carter KHP OStJ as the next Surgeon General (SG), in the rank of Major General, from August 2025

Brigadier Antony Finn as the next Director Medical Personnel and Training in the rank of Major General, from November 2025

Air Commodore Darren Ellison KHP as the next Director Defence Healthcare in the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, from June 2026

All three have had long and distinguished careers delivering health care to the Armed Forces as part of the Defence Medical Services.

Brigadier Carter has undertaken a variety of deployments throughout his career, including to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leon. In 2008, he was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Clinical Unit. He later became Commander Medical HQ in the British Army’s 1(UK) Division and Commander Defence Primary Healthcare, before being appointed Head of Army Health in 2024.

As Surgeon General, Brigadier Phil Carter will be responsible for:

providing specialist health and medical support advice to the Military Strategic Headquarters on behalf of the Director General of the Defence Medical Services.

Force Design within the Defence Medical Services, ensuring the readiness of the medical capability supporting the Armed Forces

directing medical research, medical innovation, and continuous quality improvement in Defence

coordinating our international technical engagement with medical partners across NATO and the UK’s broader alliances

Brigadier Phil Carter said:

At a time of reform across Defence, to be entrusted with the making sure that our armed forces deployed on operations have the medical support they need is a significant responsibility. I am looking forward to the challenge and enormously grateful that I will be working with such a dedicated and innovative specialist team.

Brigadier Antony Finn. MOD Crown Copyright

Brigadier Antony Finn qualified as a General Practitioner in 2003. Following deployments to Afghanistan, Kenya and Iraq, in July 2010 he assumed command of 1 Medical Regiment and deployed to Afghanistan as Commanding Officer of the Close Support Medical Regiment. In 2012 he was promoted to Colonel as Assistant Director of Medical Operational Capability, before promoting to Brigadier in March 2019 as Commander 2nd Medical Brigade. From 2021-24 he was Head of Army Healthcare, and since August 2024 has been Commander of the Joint Hospital Group.

As part of his role as Director Medical Personnel and Training, Brigadier Antony Finn will be responsible for:

leading strategic medical workforce planning for DMS, including training and placement, to support to support Strategic Command (soon to be Cyber & Specialist Operations Command) and wider Defence’s people plan people plan and operational needs

overseeing the development and delivery of high-quality individual training, to all entitled personnel involved in medical support to Defence

delivering an optimally prepared and suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) medical workforce through the provision of high-quality placements within both the NHS and other providers

Brigadier Finn, said:

I am deeply honoured to be selected to be the next Director of Medical Personnel and Training. The Strategic Defence Review offers unprecedented opportunities for the Defence Medical Services and our partners. I look forward to exploiting these for the benefit of our patients, the medical workforce, Defence and beyond.

Air Commodore Darren Ellison KHP. MOD Crown Copyright

Air Commodore Ellison joined the RAF in 1999 as a medical cadet and has undertaken a variety of roles including deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Wing Commander he was appointed as Officer Commanding Tactical Medical Wing in 2018, and then as Group Captain he served as Regional Clinical Director, Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) Northern Ireland Wales and West. In 2022 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, and then promoted to Air Commodore in Summer 2023 when he became Head Healthcare and Strategic Plans in HQ Defence Medical Services before being appointed Head of the Royal Air Force Medical Services and Head Health (RAF) in November 2024.

As part of his role as Director Defence Healthcare, Air Commodore Ellison will be responsible for:

directing, overseeing and commissioning both primary and secondary military healthcare services in support of Defence outputs

directing, managing and delivering primary healthcare and dentistry service delivery in the UK and all overseas bases

maximising the medical employability and deployability of Armed Forces personnel across Defence

Air Commodore Darren Ellison said:

It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as the next Director Healthcare for the Defence Medical Services. I look forward to working with both the whole DMS team, and colleagues across the Military Commands, to shape and deliver a service that ensures our patients continue to receive the highest standard of safe, effective healthcare they rightly deserve, and we provide the critically enabling healthcare outputs that meet the current and future needs of Defence.

Congratulating all three on their appointments, General Sir Jim Hockenhull, Commander Strategic Command (soon to be Cyber & Specialist Operations Command) said:

I am delighted to see these three promotions within the Defence Medical Services. Brigadier Philip Carter’s appointment as the next Surgeon General, on appointment to Major General, Brigadier Antony Finn’s appointment as the next Director Medical Personnel and Training, on appointment to Major General and Air Commodore Darren Ellison’s appointment as the next Director Defence Healthcare, on appointment to Air Vice-Marshal. These selections will enable all to provide considerable support within DMS’s transformation journey and the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), I look forward to working with them and congratulate them on their promotion.

Director General of the Defence Medical Services, Air Marshal Clare Walton added:

I am delighted to see the announcement of these three crucial appointments. Brigadier Phil Carter, Brigadier Tony Finn and Air Commodore Darren Ellison all have extensive experience gained from multiple roles in the Defence Medical Services and are exceptionally well-placed to take on these critical positions. At a time of global volatility, their leadership will be pivotal in driving the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) forward to implementation, shaping the medical capabilities of the future, and embedding the One Medical Mindset, ensuring that Armed Forces personnel remain fit to fight and are fully supported in their recovery to fitness.

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Published 24 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Workshops and a tour of the plant: how the Summer School of Engineering and Economics 2025 is going

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On July 22, a busy lecture day was held for the participants of the Summer Engineering and Economics School – 2025. Young scientists from the GGNTU named after academician M.D. Millionshchikov – a partner of the State University of Management in the project of the Advanced Engineering School “RosGeoTech” – held 2 master classes.

Assistant of the Department of Automation of Technological Processes and Production of the Institute of Power Engineering Ayub Sadulaev spoke about smart control of the water level as part of the development of a laboratory complex based on OWEN. The audience learned details about the development device: levels of automated control systems, increasing efficiency through automation of processes, features of the control system and the use of the laboratory complex in real conditions.

Assistant of the Department of Technological Machines and Equipment of the Institute of Oil and Gas Yusup Taramov presented the engineering solutions of the university, created on the basis of the engineering development center of GGNTU, and highlighted their role in the scientific and technical process. The speaker noted that the Engineering Development Center solves real engineering problems and trains a new generation of engineers in the areas of the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and unmanned aircraft systems. Yusup Taramov also spoke about examples of successful projects implemented by students and the experience of cooperation with local enterprises.

The staff of the Engineering Project Management Center and the Reverse Engineering Laboratory of the State University of Management conducted practical training for students as part of the activities of the State University of Management Student Design Bureau “Innovative Solutions”.

During the practical lesson “Car Structure”, which was conducted by the Laboratory specialist Denis Yudin, the participants not only understood the design of modern cars, but also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of different types of basic car components by design.

Vladimir Kutkov and Nikita Akinshin, specialists from the Engineering Project Management Center, spoke about the history of the development of unmanned aircraft systems, the most popular and universal designs of modern drones, the features of intelligent systems, and the autonomy of UAS during the practical course “Device of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.”

On July 23, participants of the Summer Engineering and Economics School 2025 visited the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant (JSC DMZ), which is part of JSC Transmashholding.

The guests were greeted by the plant’s CEO Vladimir Chekalin and HR and Transformation Director Yulia Smirnova, who spoke about the development of the enterprise, its products and the current state of production. In 2025, the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant celebrates its 90th anniversary since its foundation. Today, DMZ is the leading enterprise for the production of electric trains in Russia. The plant produces EP2DM DC electric trains and EP3D AC electric trains. The trains manufactured by the enterprise are successfully operated in all climatic zones of the Russian Federation, as well as in the CIS countries.

At the Exhibition Center, the excursion participants learned about the history of the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant, seeing documents, awards, photographs of events, employees, veterans of JSC DMZ, models of electric trains and narrow-gauge rolling stock. A unique exhibit of the museum is an interactive miniature railway, reflecting the geography of the operation of DMZ electric trains. It recreates natural landscapes and exact copies of railway stations in the regions where electric trains manufactured at the plant run – Moscow Region, the Far East, Armenia and Kazakhstan. The model presents real regions of operation and rolling stock, which is used in these areas.

Young scientists visited production shops: mechanical assembly, electrical installation, welding, wagon assembly, repair and others. In addition to the production of wagons and electric trains, the plant carries out major repairs of passenger rolling stock, manufactures wheel sets for metro cars, electric trains and rail buses.

Excursions to production facilities are traditionally an integral part of the program of the engineering and economics school. A visit to the Demikhovsky Machine-Building Plant, organized with the support and participation of the TMH Corporate University, allowed young scientists to see the work of an enterprise in the real sector of the economy, immerse themselves in the production environment and get acquainted with modern technologies and processes.

The opening of the “Summer Engineering and Economics School – 2025” was reported in this article.

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 –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Afghan government approves six projects worth nearly $12 million

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

KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua) — The National Procurement Commission of the Afghan Interim Government has approved six new development projects worth 828 million Afghanis (about 12 million U.S. dollars), an official statement to this effect was released on Tuesday.

The decision was made at a meeting of the commission chaired by Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. During the meeting, a total of 28 proposed projects were considered, six of which were approved.

According to the statement, plans include repairing several roads in Kabul and completing work in the field of electricity supply and distribution in various provinces.

The government expects these projects to create jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, contributing to both economic growth and infrastructure development in Afghanistan. –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 –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Defiance Launches JPX: The First 2X Leveraged ETF on JPM (JP Morgan)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Defiance ETFs, a leader in thematic and leveraged exchange-traded funds, today announced the launch of a new innovative ETF: the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long JPM ETF (Ticker: JPX). JPX provides investors with amplified 2X daily exposure to the performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), empowering retail investors to capitalize on high-growth opportunities in the financial services without the need for a margin account.

JPX seeks to deliver daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 200% of the daily performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a global financial powerhouse known for its leadership in banking, asset management, and investment services. JPX utilizes derivatives such as swaps and options to achieve its leveraged objectives, offering precise exposure to these dynamic companies.

“JPX represents Defiance’s continued commitment to pioneering leveraged ETFs that give investors amplified access to transformative companies,” said Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance ETFs. “JPMorgan’s dominance in financial innovation makes JPX a timely addition to our lineup, allowing active investors to pursue high-growth strategies in resilient sectors.”

Why JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a cornerstone of the global economy, with a market-leading position in consumer banking, corporate & investment banking, and asset & wealth management. As digital transformation accelerates in finance, JPM continues to innovate with fintech integrations, blockchain applications, and sustainable investing initiatives, positioning it for sustained growth amid economic shifts.

An investment in JPX is not an investment in JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund will lose money if the Underlying Security’s performance is flat, and it is possible that the Fund will lose money even if the Underlying Security’s performance increases over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day.

About Defiance
Founded in 2018, Defiance is at the forefront of ETF innovation. Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. Our first-mover leveraged single-stock ETFs empower investors to take amplified positions in high-growth companies, providing precise leverage exposure without the need to open a margin account.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectuses can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Fund’s investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC (“Tidal” or the “Adviser”).

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the funds may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk.

There is no guarantee that the Fund’s investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment.

JPM Risks. The Funds invest in swap contracts and options that are based on the share prices of JPM. This subjects the Funds to the risk that the respective share prices decrease. If the share price of JPM decreases, the Funds will likely lose value and, as a result, the Funds may suffer significant losses. Therefore, as a result of the Funds’ exposure to the values of JPM, the Funds may also be subject to the following risks:

Underlying Securities Trading Risk. The trading prices of JPM may be highly volatile and could continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors.

Underlying Securities Performance Risk. JPM may fail to meet publicly announced guidelines or other expectations about its business, which could cause its share price to decline.

Financial Services Industry Risk (JPX). The financial services industry can be significantly affected by regulatory changes, economic conditions, interest rate fluctuations, and competitive pressures.

Derivatives Risks. The Funds’ derivative investments carry risks such as an imperfect match between the derivative’s performance and its underlying assets, and the potential for loss of principal, which can exceed the initial investment.

Swap Agreements. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Leverage Risk. As part of the Funds’ principal investment strategy, the Funds will make investments in swap contracts and options. These derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure to the Underlying Securities, as well as the potential for greater loss.

Compounding Risk. The Funds have a single day investment objective, and performance for any other period is the result of compounding daily returns for each trading day. The effects of compounding will likely cause the performance of a Fund to be either greater than or less than the Underlying Security’s performance times the stated multiple in the Fund’s investment objective, before accounting for fees and fund expenses.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Funds’ expenses and reduce performance. Frequent trading may also cause adverse tax consequences for investors in the Funds due to an increase in short-term capital gains.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Funds are non-diversified, they may invest a greater percentage of their assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if they were diversified funds.

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk of the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security, may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole. Additionally, the Fund will seek to employ its investment strategy as it relates to the underlying issuer regardless of whether there are significant corporate actions such as restructurings, enforcement activity, or acquisitions or periods adverse market, economic, or other conditions and will not seek to take temporary defensive positions during such periods.

New Fund Risk. As newly formed funds, they have no operating history, providing a limited basis for investors to assess performance or management.

Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

David Hanono, info@defianceetfs.com, 833.333.9383

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6fcf824-f9fc-4d50-a76d-7c63a7166247

The MIL Network –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Defiance Launches JPX: The First 2X Leveraged ETF on JPM (JP Morgan)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Defiance ETFs, a leader in thematic and leveraged exchange-traded funds, today announced the launch of a new innovative ETF: the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long JPM ETF (Ticker: JPX). JPX provides investors with amplified 2X daily exposure to the performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), empowering retail investors to capitalize on high-growth opportunities in the financial services without the need for a margin account.

JPX seeks to deliver daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 200% of the daily performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co., a global financial powerhouse known for its leadership in banking, asset management, and investment services. JPX utilizes derivatives such as swaps and options to achieve its leveraged objectives, offering precise exposure to these dynamic companies.

“JPX represents Defiance’s continued commitment to pioneering leveraged ETFs that give investors amplified access to transformative companies,” said Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance ETFs. “JPMorgan’s dominance in financial innovation makes JPX a timely addition to our lineup, allowing active investors to pursue high-growth strategies in resilient sectors.”

Why JPMorgan Chase & Co.?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a cornerstone of the global economy, with a market-leading position in consumer banking, corporate & investment banking, and asset & wealth management. As digital transformation accelerates in finance, JPM continues to innovate with fintech integrations, blockchain applications, and sustainable investing initiatives, positioning it for sustained growth amid economic shifts.

An investment in JPX is not an investment in JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund will lose money if the Underlying Security’s performance is flat, and it is possible that the Fund will lose money even if the Underlying Security’s performance increases over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day.

About Defiance
Founded in 2018, Defiance is at the forefront of ETF innovation. Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. Our first-mover leveraged single-stock ETFs empower investors to take amplified positions in high-growth companies, providing precise leverage exposure without the need to open a margin account.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectuses can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Fund’s investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC (“Tidal” or the “Adviser”).

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the funds may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk.

There is no guarantee that the Fund’s investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment.

JPM Risks. The Funds invest in swap contracts and options that are based on the share prices of JPM. This subjects the Funds to the risk that the respective share prices decrease. If the share price of JPM decreases, the Funds will likely lose value and, as a result, the Funds may suffer significant losses. Therefore, as a result of the Funds’ exposure to the values of JPM, the Funds may also be subject to the following risks:

Underlying Securities Trading Risk. The trading prices of JPM may be highly volatile and could continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors.

Underlying Securities Performance Risk. JPM may fail to meet publicly announced guidelines or other expectations about its business, which could cause its share price to decline.

Financial Services Industry Risk (JPX). The financial services industry can be significantly affected by regulatory changes, economic conditions, interest rate fluctuations, and competitive pressures.

Derivatives Risks. The Funds’ derivative investments carry risks such as an imperfect match between the derivative’s performance and its underlying assets, and the potential for loss of principal, which can exceed the initial investment.

Swap Agreements. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Leverage Risk. As part of the Funds’ principal investment strategy, the Funds will make investments in swap contracts and options. These derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure to the Underlying Securities, as well as the potential for greater loss.

Compounding Risk. The Funds have a single day investment objective, and performance for any other period is the result of compounding daily returns for each trading day. The effects of compounding will likely cause the performance of a Fund to be either greater than or less than the Underlying Security’s performance times the stated multiple in the Fund’s investment objective, before accounting for fees and fund expenses.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Funds’ expenses and reduce performance. Frequent trading may also cause adverse tax consequences for investors in the Funds due to an increase in short-term capital gains.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Funds are non-diversified, they may invest a greater percentage of their assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if they were diversified funds.

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk of the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security, may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole. Additionally, the Fund will seek to employ its investment strategy as it relates to the underlying issuer regardless of whether there are significant corporate actions such as restructurings, enforcement activity, or acquisitions or periods adverse market, economic, or other conditions and will not seek to take temporary defensive positions during such periods.

New Fund Risk. As newly formed funds, they have no operating history, providing a limited basis for investors to assess performance or management.

Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

David Hanono, info@defianceetfs.com, 833.333.9383

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6fcf824-f9fc-4d50-a76d-7c63a7166247

The MIL Network –

July 24, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Israel waging ‘horror show’ starvation campaign in Gaza, says UN chief

This is Democracy Now!. I’m Amy Goodman.

More than 100 humanitarian groups are demanding action to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning mass starvation is spreading across the Palestinian territory.

The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, warn, “illnesses like acute watery diarrhea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration.”

Their warning came as the Palestinian Ministry of Health said the number of starvation-related deaths has climbed to at least 111 people.

This is Ghada al-Fayoumi, a displaced Palestinian mother of seven in Gaza City.

GHADA AL-FAYOUMI: “[translated] My children wake up sick every day. What do I do? I get saline solution for them. What can I do?

“There’s no food, no bread, no drinks, no rice, no sugar, no cooking oil, no bulgur, nothing. There is no kind of any food available to us at all.”

AMY GOODMAN: Thousands of antiwar protesters marched on Tuesday in Tel Aviv outside Israel’s military headquarters, demanding an end to Israel’s assault and a lifting of the Gaza siege. This is Israeli peace activist Alon-Lee Green with the group Standing Together.

ALON-LEE GREEN: “We are marching now in Tel Aviv, holding bags of flour and the pictures of these children that have been starved to death by our government and our army.

“We demand to stop the starvation in Gaza. We demand to stop the annihilation of Gaza. We demand to stop the daily killing of children and innocent people in Gaza.

“This cannot go on. We are Israelis, and this does not serve us. This only serves the Messianic people that lead us.”

AMY GOODMAN: This comes as the World Health Organisation has released a video showing the Israeli military attacking WHO facilities in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. A WHO spokesperson condemned the attack, called for the immediate release of a staff member abducted by Israeli forces.

TARIK JAŠAREVIĆ: “Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint.

“Two WHO staff and two family members were detained.”

AMY GOODMAN: Meanwhile, health officials in Gaza say Israeli attacks over the past day killed more than 70 people, including five more people seeking food at militarised aid sites. Amid growing outrage worldwide, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday the situation in Gaza right now is a “horror show”.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES: “We need look no further than the horror show in Gaza, with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times.

“Malnourishment is soaring. Starvation is knocking on every door.”

AMY GOODMAN: For more, we’re joined by Michael Fakhri, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. He is a professor of law at University of Oregon, where he leads the Food Resiliency Project.

[embedded content]
Israel waging ‘fastest starvation campaign’ in modern history Video: Democracy Now!

Dr Michael Fakhri, welcome back to Democracy Now! If you can respond to what’s happening right now, the images of dying infants starving to death, the numbers now at over 100, people dropping in the streets, reporters saying they can’t go on?

Agence France-Presse’s union talked about they have had reporters killed in conflict, they have had reporters disappeared, injured, but they have not had this situation before with their reporters starving to death.

DR MICHAEL FAKHRI: Amy, the word “horror” — I mean, we’re running out of words of what to say. And the reason it’s horrific is it was preventable. We saw this coming. We’ve seen this coming for 20 months.

Israel announced its starvation campaign back in October 2023. And then again, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on March 1 that nothing was to enter Gaza. And that’s what happened for 78 days. No food, no water, no fuel, no medicine entered Gaza.

And then they built these militarised aid sites that are used to humiliate, weaken and kill the Palestinians. So, what makes this horrific is it has been preventable, it was predictable. And again, this is the fastest famine we’ve seen, the fastest starvation campaign we’ve seen in modern history.

AMY GOODMAN: So, can you talk about what needs to be done at this point and the responsibility of the occupying power? Israel is occupying Gaza right now. What it means to have to protect the population it occupies?

DR FAKHRI: The International Court of Justice outlined Israel’s duties in its decisions over the last year. So, what Israel has an obligation to do is, first, end its illegal occupation immediately. This came from the court itself.

Second, it must allow humanitarian relief to enter with no restrictions. And this hasn’t been happening. So, usually, we would turn to the Security Council to authorise peacekeepers or something similar to assist.

But predictably, again, the United States keeps vetoing anything to do with a ceasefire. When the Security Council is in a deadlock because of a veto, the General Assembly, the UN General Assembly, has the authority to call for peacekeepers to accompany humanitarian convoys to enter into Gaza and to end Israel’s starvation campaign against the Palestinian people.

AMY GOODMAN: People actually protested outside the house of UN Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday. People protested all over the world yesterday against the Palestinians being starved and bombed to death. Those in front of the UN Secretary-General’s house said they don’t dispute that he has raised this issue almost every day, but they say he can do more.

Finally, Michael Fakhri, what does the UN need to do — the US, Israel, the world?

DR FAKHRI: So, as I mentioned, first and foremost, they can authorise peacekeepers to enter to stop the starvation. But, second, they need to create consequences.

The world has a duty to prevent this starvation. The world has a duty to prevent and end this genocide. And as a result, then, what the world can do is impose sanctions.

And again, this is supported by the International Court of Justice. The world needs to impose wide-scale sanctions against the state of Israel to force it to end the starvation and genocide of civilians, of Palestinian civilians in Gaza today.

AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you so much for being with us, Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, speaking to us from Eugene, Oregon.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 24, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra

Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has fleshed out the central bank’s thinking behind its surprise decision to keep interest rates on hold this month.

In a speech today to the Anika Foundation, Bullock said there has been:

meaningful progress in bringing inflation down.

But the Reserve Bank is waiting for confirmation that underlying inflation has actually moved back towards the mid-point of its 2% to 3% target band:

We still think it will show inflation declining slowly towards 2.5%, but we are looking for data to support this expectation.

The governor was pleased to see the progress on inflation did not come at the cost of jobs growth. Employment has remained around an all-time high as a proportion of the population. Comparable countries have not managed as well as this.

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates twice this year, and said policy is leaning towards further cuts by the end of the year.

The dual mandate

The Reserve Bank’s 2-3% inflation target is well known. But it is not the sole focus of policymakers. The bank actually has a dual mandate of inflation and employment, which was the topic of Bullock’s annual speech to Sydney’s financial community.

The Reserve Bank Act charges the bank’s monetary policy board with setting monetary policy:

in a way that, in the Board’s opinion, best contributes to:

(i) price stability in Australia; and

(ii) the maintenance of full employment in Australia.

Full employment has been enshrined in legislation as a goal of the central bank since the 1940s.

Last week, the monthly employment report unexpectedly showed a jump in unemployment to 4.3% in June after five months as 4.1% as more people looked for work.

In her speech, Bullock said while some of the coverage suggested the increase was a shock, the employment figures over the whole of the June quarter were in line with the bank’s forecasts.

She did not think it would have meant a different decision at the last board meeting if it had been known then.

Are the twin goals in conflict or complementary?

Some other central banks, such as the US Federal Reserve, also have dual mandates.

In the long run, there is no conflict between these goals. In the governor’s words:

Low and stable inflation – or price stability – is a prerequisite for strong and sustainable employment growth because it creates favourable conditions for households and businesses to plan, invest and create jobs without having to worry about inflation.

Even in the short run, the two goals often involve no conflict. When the economy is overheating, inflation is high and unemployment low, so it is clear interest rates should be raised. During a recession, inflation is low and unemployment high, so it is clear interest rates should be lowered.

But there are times when the implications from the two goals clash. A surge in oil prices, for example, could lead to both higher inflation (suggesting interest rates should be raised) and weaker economic activity (suggesting interest rates should be lowered).

The governor said the bank’s response may depend on the likely longevity of such a shock:

If a supply disruption is temporary and modest, monetary policy should mostly ‘look through’ it. Raising interest rates makes little sense if inflation is expected to ease once temporary supply disruptions are resolved – it would only weaken the job market.

By contrast, when a supply shock is likely to have a longer lasting effect on the economy and inflation there may be stronger grounds for monetary policy to respond.

The outlook

In its latest published forecasts, in May, the bank said that if, as markets expected, it lowers its cash rate target to 3.4% by the end of the year, then unemployment would rise marginally, to 4.3%, while its preferred measure of underlying inflation drops to 2.6%.

The Reserve Bank will release its updated forecasts after its next policy meeting on August 12, when it is also expected to cut interest rates.

Better monthly inflation data on the way

The Reserve Bank governor has made clear she regards the quarterly inflation series as a better guide than the current monthly series. At her May press conference she said:

We get four readings on inflation a year.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has announced it is upgrading the monthly consumer price index (CPI) with effect from the October 2025 reading. It will then have the same coverage as the current quarterly CPI. But it will still be a more volatile measure than the quarterly.

The bank will go through a learning experience becoming familiar with the new monthly series.

Read more:
Australia’s inflation rate is to go monthly. Be careful what you wish for

John Hawkins was formerly a senior economist at the Reserve Bank.

– ref. Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track – https://theconversation.com/reserve-bank-says-unemployment-rise-was-not-a-shock-inflation-on-track-261759

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 24, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The Murray–Darling Basin Plan Evaluation is out. The next step is to fix the land, not just the flows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Stewardson, CEO One Basin CRC, The University of Melbourne

Yarramalong Weir is one of many barriers to the passage of fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Geoff Reid, One Basin CRC

A report card into the A$13 billion Murray–Darling Basin Plan has found much work is needed to ensure the ecology of Australia’s largest river system is properly restored.

The assessment, by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, is the most comprehensive to date.

The authority says the river system is doing better now than it would have without the plan, which aims to ensure sustainable water use for the environment, communities and industries. But it found there is more to be done.

We are water, economics and environmental researchers with many years of experience working in the Murray-Darling Basin. We agree more work is needed, but with a more local focus, to restore the basin to health.

This requires more than just more water for the environment. Coordinated local efforts to restore rivers and the surrounding land are desperately needed. There’s so much more to the river system than just the water it contains.

Preparing for the 2026 Basin Plan Review (Murray–Darling Basin Authority)

What’s the plan?

The Murray-Darling Basin is Australia’s food bowl. But for too long, the health of environment was in decline – rivers were sick and wildlife was suffering. The river stopped flowing naturally to the sea because too much water was being taken from it.

Poor land management has also degraded the river system over time. Floodplain vegetation has been damaged, the river channel has been re-engineered, and pest plants and animals have been introduced.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan was established in 2012. It aimed to recover water for the environment and safeguard the long-term health of the river system, while continuing to support productive agriculture and communities. It demanded more water for the environment and then described how this water would be delivered, in the form of targeted “environmental flows”.

Since 2012, the allocation of water to various uses has gradually changed. So far, 2,069 billion litres (gigalitres) of surface water has been recovered for the environment. Combined with other earlier water recovery, a total of about 28% of water previously diverted for agriculture, towns and industry is now being used by the environment instead.

A mixed report card

The evaluation released today is the first step towards a complete review of the plan next year. The 2026 review will make recommendations to Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt. It will then be up to him to decide whether any changes are needed.

It is a mixed report card. Ecological decline has been successfully halted at many sites. But sustained restoration of ecosystems across the basin is yet to be achieved, and native fish populations are in poor condition across 19 of the basin’s 23 catchments.

Climate change is putting increasing pressure on water resources. More intense and frequent extreme climate events and an average 20–30% less streamflow (up to 50% in some rivers) are expected by mid-century.

The evaluation also called for better policy and program design. Specifically, flexible programs have proven more effective than prescriptive, highly regulated programs.

Finally, the report also highlights that the cost of water reform is increasing.

Direct buybacks of water licences, mostly from irrigators, account for around two-thirds of the water recovered for the environment under the basin plan. Buybacks are the simplest and most cost-effective way to recover water but are controversial because of concerns about social and economic impacts.

Much of the remaining water has been recovered through investment in more efficient water supply infrastructure, with water savings reserved for environmental use.

The authority suggests different approaches will be needed for additional water recovery.

Having plenty of native vegetation on river banks is important for river health.
Geoff Reid, One Basin CRC

Healthy rivers need more than water

For the past two decades, measures to restore the Murray-Darling Basin have focused largely on water recovery. But research suggests attention now needs to be paid to other, more local actions.

In March, one author of this article – Samantha Capon – identified nine priority actions to restore Australia’s inland river and groundwater ecosystems at local levels. They included:
- revegetating land alongside waterways
- retiring some farmland
- modifying barriers to fish movements
- installing modern fish screens on irrigation pumps.
The study estimated such actions would cost around A$2.9 billion a year, if completed over the next 30 years.

Works to restore vegetation or other environmental conditions at these critical habitats will only occur with landholders, as well as Traditional Owners.

That’s because most of the basin’s wetlands and floodplain areas are on private property, including in irrigation districts.

Irrigator involvement is needed to place fish screens on private irrigation pumps or retire farmland. There is a growing interest and some early experience in using private irrigation channels to deliver environmental water. This also requires local partnerships.

The basin plan should include targets for environmental outcomes, not just water recovery. This will allow the benefits from local restoration measures and environmental flows to be included when tracking the plan.

Such ecosystem accounting tools already exist. Research is urgently needed to make these tools both locally relevant and suitable for the basin plan.

Time for a local approach

To date, water for the environment under the basin plan has been recovered largely through centralised government-led programs. Decisions around the delivery of environmental flows are also largely in the hands of government agencies.

But other local restoration actions are also needed.

A business-as-usual approach would leave responsible agencies struggling to complete these vital local measures with limited funding, resources and accountability.

Michael Stewardson is a member of the Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Science, which advises the Murray Darling Basin Authority,, although he is not representing the views of this committee in this article. The committee is established under Section 203 of the Water Act 2007.
Michael Stewardson is the CEO of the One Basin CRC, which is jointly funded under the commonwealth Cooperative Research Centre Program and by its partners listed here: https://onebasin.com.au/
These partners include: state and federal government agencies including the Murray Darling Basin Authority; irrigation infrastructure operators (government owned and non-government), natural resource management agencies (government and non-government); agriculture businesses, industry organisation and R&D organisations; local government organisations; consulting companies in the water sector; technology companies; education and training organisations; and research organisation. Partners contribute to the One Basin CRC in the form of in-kind and cash contributions. The One Basin CRC is also funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office under its FlowMER program. The views in this article do not necessarily represent the views of these partner and funding organisations.
Michael Stewardson has previously received research funding from the Australian Research Council and both state and federal government agencies.

Neville Crossman is a Program Leader for Adaptation and Innovation in the One Basin CRC. He is a past employee of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2018-2024). He has worked closely with a range of State and federal government agencies and many researchers, industry and community members in the Murray-Darling Basin throughout his career.

Samantha Capon receives funding from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), NSW DCCEEW, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. She is a member of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Advisory Committee for Social, Economic and Environmental Science (ACSEES), but is not representing the view of this committee in this article. Samantha has worked closely with NRM agencies, a range of State and federal government agencies and many researchers, industry and community members in the Murray-Darling Basin throughout her career.

Seth Westra is the Research Director for the One Basin CRC. He receives funding from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), NSW DCCEEW and the South Australian Department for Environment and Water (DEW). Seth is Research Director of the One Basin Cooperative Research Centre, Director of the Systems Cooperative, and has worked closely with NRM agencies, a range of State and federal government agencies and many researchers, industry and community members in the Murray-Darling Basin throughout his career.

– ref. The Murray–Darling Basin Plan Evaluation is out. The next step is to fix the land, not just the flows – https://theconversation.com/the-murray-darling-basin-plan-evaluation-is-out-the-next-step-is-to-fix-the-land-not-just-the-flows-261840
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
July 24, 2025
EU’s von der Leyen says China ties are at ‘inflection point’ at tense summit

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for an “essential” rebalancing of trade ties with China during a tense summit on Thursday with President Xi Jinping, saying ties stood at an “inflection point”, according to a pool report.

Expectations were low for the summit marking 50 years of diplomatic ties after weeks of escalating tension and wrangling over its format, with the duration abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing’s request.

Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met Xi at the start of an event set to be dominated by thorny issues ranging from trade frictions to the Ukraine war.

“As our cooperation has deepened, so have imbalances. We have reached an inflection point,” von der Leyen told Xi during the meeting in the Great Hall of the People.

She was referring to the EU’s trade deficit with China, which ballooned to a historic 305.8 billion euros ($360 billion) last year.

“Rebalancing of our bilateral relation is essential … It is vital for China and Europe to acknowledge our respective concerns and come forward with real solutions.”

However, Xi urged the EU to “make correct strategic choices” during the meeting, state broadcaster CCTV said, in a veiled criticism of Brussels’ hawkish stance on China.

“The more severe and complex the international situation, the more China and the EU must strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation,” Xi told von der Leyen and Costa, it said.

“Chinese and European leaders should … make correct strategic choices that meet the expectations of the people.”

The weeks before the summit were dominated by tit-for-tat trade disputes and hawkish European rhetoric, such as a July 8 accusation by von der Leyen that China was flooding global markets as a result of its overcapacity and “enabling Russia’s war economy”.

Shortly before the summit, however, von der Leyen struck a more conciliatory tone, describing it as an opportunity to “both advance and rebalance our relationship” in a post on X on Thursday.

“I’m convinced there can be a mutually beneficial cooperation,” von der Leyen added.

The two EU officials are set to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang later. Both sides are hoping to reach a modest joint statement on climate, currently one of the only bright spots in EU-China cooperation.

State news agency Xinhua also appeared to downplay Beijing’s rivalry with the 27-member bloc, saying China was a “critical partner” for Europe, with a range of shared interests.

“China is a critical partner to Europe, not a systemic rival,” it said in a commentary.

The two shared interests in trade, climate, and global governance, it said, adding, “These areas of common ground should not be eclipsed by isolated points of friction.”

The EU defines China as a “partner, competitor and systemic rival”, which frames its strategic approach to China policy.

At the summit, European leaders are also expected to raise topics such as electric vehicles and Chinese industrial overcapacity.

China launched rare earth export controls in April that disrupted supply chains worldwide, leading to temporary stoppages in European automotive production lines the following month.

But its exports of rare earth magnets to the EU surged in June by 245% from May, to stand at 1,364 metric tons, though that was still 35% lower than the year-earlier figure, customs data showed.

The EU is likely to seal a trade deal with the United States for a broad tariff of 15% on its exports after intense negotiations, avoiding a harsher 30% figure threatened by President Donald Trump.

(Reuters)

July 24, 2025
Israeli strike kills hungry Gaza family in their sleep

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Al-Shaer family went to bed hungry at their home in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike killed them in their sleep.

The family – freelance journalist Wala al-Jaabari, her husband and their five children – were among more than 100 people killed in 24 hours of Israeli strikes or gunfire, according to health officials.

Their corpses lay in white shrouds outside their bombed home on Wednesday with their names scribbled in pen. Blood seeped through the shrouds as they lay there, staining them red.

“This is my cousin. He was 10. We dug them out of the rubble,” Amr al-Shaer, holding one of the bodies after retrieving it.

Iman al-Shaer, another relative who lives nearby, said the family hadn’t eaten anything before the bombs came down. “The children slept without food,” he said.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike at the family’s home, but said its air force had struck 120 targets throughout Gaza in the past day, including “terrorist cells, military structures, tunnels, booby-trapped structures, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites”.

Relatives said some neighbours were spared only because they had been out searching for food at the time of the strike.

Ten more Palestinians died overnight from starvation, the Gaza health ministry said, bringing the total number of people who have starved to death to 111, most of them in recent weeks as a wave of hunger crashes on the Palestinian enclave.

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday 21 children under the age of five were among those who died of malnutrition so far this year. It said it had been unable to deliver any food for nearly 80 days between March and May and that a resumption of food deliveries was still far below what is needed.

In a statement on Wednesday, 111 organisations, including Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Refugees International, said mass starvation was spreading even as tons of food, clean water and medical supplies sit untouched just outside Gaza, where aid groups are blocked from accessing them.

Israel, which cut off all supplies to Gaza from the start of March and reopened it with new restrictions in May, says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being diverted by militants. It says it has let enough food into Gaza during the war and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza’s 2.2 million people.

Israel has also accused the United Nations of failing to act in a timely fashion, saying 700 truckloads of aid are idling inside Gaza. “It is time for them to pick it up and stop blaming Israel for the bottlenecks which are occurring,” Israeli government spokesman David Mercer said on Wednesday.

The United Nations and aid groups trying to deliver food to Gaza say Israel, which controls everything that comes in and out, is choking delivery, and Israeli troops have shot hundreds of Palestinians dead close to aid collection points since May.

“We have a minimum set of requirements to be able to operate inside Gaza,” Ross Smith, the director of emergencies at the U.N. World Food Programme, told Reuters. “One of the most important things I want to emphasize is that we need to have no armed actors near our distribution points, near our convoys.”

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council on Wednesday that Israel will now grant only one-month visas to international staff from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

FALTERING PEACE TALKS

The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for nearly two years since Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages from southern Israel in the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

Israel has since killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, decimated Hamas as a military force, reduced most of the territory to ruins and forced nearly the entire population to flee their homes multiple times.

U.S. Middle East peace envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to hold new ceasefire talks, travelling to Europe this week for meetings on the Gaza war and a range of other issues, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

A Palestinian official close to the Gaza ceasefire talks and the mediation efforts told Reuters on Wednesday that Hamas had handed its response on the ceasefire proposal to mediators, declining to elaborate further.

Talks on a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which would include the release of more of the 50 hostages still being held in Gaza, are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt with Washington’s backing.

Successive rounds of negotiations have achieved no breakthrough since the collapse of a ceasefire in March.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog told soldiers during a visit to Gaza on Wednesday that “intensive negotiations” about returning the hostages held there were underway and he hoped that they would soon “hear good news”, according to a statement.

A senior Palestinian official earlier told Reuters Hamas might give mediators a response to the latest proposals in Doha later on Wednesday, on the condition that amendments be made to two major sticking points: details on an Israeli military withdrawal, and on how to distribute aid during a truce.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet includes far-right parties that oppose any agreement that ends without the total destruction of Hamas.

“The second I spot weakness in the prime minister and if I come to think, heaven forbid, that this is about to end with us surrendering instead of with Hamas’s absolute surrender, I won’t remain (in the government) for even a single day,” Finance Minister Belalel Smotrich told Army Radio.

(Reuters)

July 24, 2025
Thailand F-16 jet deployed against Cambodian forces as border clash escalates

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

A Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed targets in Cambodia on Thursday, both sides said, as weeks of tension over a border dispute escalated into clashes that have killed at least two civilians.

Of the six F-16 fighter jets that Thailand readied to deploy along the disputed border, one of the aircraft fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, the Thai army said. Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on Thursday.

“We have used air power against military targets as planned,” Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Thailand also closed its border with Cambodia.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said the jets dropped two bombs on a road, and that it “strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia”.

The skirmishes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok, after a second Thai soldier in the space of a week lost a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently in the disputed area.

Thai residents in the Surin border province fled to shelters built of concrete and fortified with sandbags and car tires as the two countries exchanged fire.

“How many rounds have been fired? It’s countless,” an unidentified woman told the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS) while hiding in the shelter with gunfire and explosions heard intermittently in the background.

For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817 km (508 miles) land border, which has led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011.

Tensions were reignited in May following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis and now has triggered armed clashes.

LANDMINES

The clashes began early on Thursday near the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple along the eastern border between Cambodia and Thailand, around 360 km from the Thai capital Bangkok.

“Artillery shell fell on people’s homes,” Sutthirot Charoenthanasak, district chief of Kabcheing in Surin province, told Reuters, describing the firing by the Cambodian side.

“Two people have died,” he said, adding that district authorities had evacuated 40,000 civilians from 86 villages near the border to safer locations.

Thailand’s military said Cambodia deployed a surveillance drone before sending troops with heavy weapons to an area near the temple.

Cambodian troops opened fire and two Thai soldiers were wounded, a Thai army spokesperson said, adding Cambodia had used multiple weapons, including rocket launchers.

A spokesperson for Cambodia’s defence ministry, however, said there had been an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops and Cambodian forces had responded in self-defence.

Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the situation was delicate.

“We have to be careful,” he told reporters. “We will follow international law.”

An attempt by Thai premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra to resolve the recent tensions via a call with Cambodia’s influential former Prime Minister Hun Sen, the contents of which were leaked, kicked off a political storm in Thailand, leading to her suspension by a court.

Hun Sen said in a Facebook post that two Cambodian provinces had come under shelling from the Thai military.

Thailand this week accused Cambodia of placing landmines in a disputed area that injured three soldiers. Phnom Penh denied the claim and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered a mine left behind from decades of war.

Cambodia has many landmines left over from its civil war decades ago, numbering in the millions according to de-mining groups.

But Thailand maintains landmines have been placed at the border area recently, which Cambodia has described as baseless allegations.

(Reuters)

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Toobit Launches Flagship International Futures Tournament (TIFT) with 3,000,000 USDT Prize Pool
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toobit, the award-winning global cryptocurrency exchange, today announces the official launch of its highly anticipated Toobit International Futures Tournament (TIFT). Featuring a massive 3,000,000 USDT in total prizes, TIFT is set to be one of the most exhilarating trading competitions of the year, inviting top-tier traders from across the globe to put their strategies to the test and claim their share of the monumental prize pool.

Traders can register now to take advantage of exclusive early bird incentives. Participants who register early will receive a 10 USDT sign-up bonus from a 20,000 USDT prize pool. An additional 20 USDT bonus is available for early registrants who achieve a futures trading volume exceeding 30,000 USDT during the tournament, drawn from a 30,000 USDT pool. These bonuses are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

TIFT offers a dynamic competition structure designed to ignite the competitive spirit in every trader, featuring intense team and individual challenges. Beyond the lucrative prizes, TIFT offers an unparalleled platform for traders to benchmark their skills, learn from top performers, and elevate their trading strategies in a high-stakes, real-time environment.

Here’s what TIFT has in store:

Team Expedition

Unite with a squad and strategize for a share of the 1,500,000 USDT prize pool. Rewards are distributed among Captains and top-performing team members.

Solo Summit

Climb the leaderboard and conquer the 600,000 USDT prize pool by outperforming the competition based on trading volume.

Climber’s Cache

Participate in daily draws to win from a 790,000 USDT pool of bonuses, including USDT, DOGE, TON, and exclusive Toobit merchandise.

Early Bird & Team Captain Incentives

Get in early and lead the charge. An additional 100,000 USDT is allocated for early registrants and Team Captains.

“We’re thrilled to kick off the Toobit International Futures Tournament,” said Mike Williams, Chief Communication Officer at Toobit. “This competition offers an incredible opportunity for traders to showcase their skills and earn rewards. TIFT is all about fostering a vibrant, competitive, and engaging environment, empowering our community with diverse ways to participate and win. We’re excited to witness the strategies unfold and celebrate the achievements of our participants.”

Key dates to remember:
- Early Bird Registration: July 23, 2025, 10:00 UTC – July 30, 2025, 10:00 UTC
- Team Creation Period: July 23, 2025, 10:00 UTC – August 1, 2025, 23:59 UTC
- User Registration Period: July 23, 2025, 10:00 UTC – August 25, 2025, 10:00 UTC
- Team/Solo Competition Period: August 4, 2025, 00:00 UTC – August 25, 2025, 10:00 UTC
- Climber’s Cache Draw Period: July 23, 2025, 10:00 UTC – August 25, 2025, 10:00 UTC
Register on the TIFT page. For complete rules and prize details, visit the Toobit announcement page.

About Toobit

Toobit is where the future of crypto trading unfolds—an award-winning cryptocurrency derivatives exchange built for those who thrive exploring new frontiers. With deep liquidity and cutting-edge technology, Toobit empowers traders worldwide to navigate the digital asset markets with confidence. We offer a fair, secure, seamless, and transparent trading experience, ensuring every trade is an opportunity to discover what’s next.

For more information about Toobit, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Instagram

Contact: Davin C.
Email: market@toobit.com
Website: www.toobit.com

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

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4fa03ae1-03ce-4b08-9d58-abb5c6697641

The MIL Network –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Xi calls on China, EU to provide more stability, certainty for world through steady, sound bilateral relations

Source: China State Council Information Office

Xi calls on China, EU to provide more stability, certainty for world through steady, sound bilateral relations

Xinhua | July 24, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and the European Union (EU) to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are here for the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties, and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Xi said China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in history.

He said over the past 50 years, China and the EU have achieved fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation, delivering mutual success and worldwide benefits, and an important understanding and insight is that the two sides should respect each other, seek commonality while reserving differences, uphold openness and cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit.

These are also important principles and the right direction for China-EU relations in the future, Xi said. Faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and a changing and turbulent world, Chinese and EU leaders should once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and make the right strategic choices that will meet people’s expectations and stand the scrutiny of history, he added.

Xi underscored the importance for China and the EU, both constructive forces for multilateralism and openness and cooperation, to strengthen communication, enhance trust and deepen cooperation in a more challenging and complex international situation, in order to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Both as “big guys” in the international community, China and the EU should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction, and work together to usher it into an even brighter next 50 years, he said.

MIL OSI China News –

July 24, 2025

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