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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau advances investigation of Amazon’s Marketplace Fair Pricing Policy

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 8, 2025 – GATINEAU (Québec), Competition Bureau

    The Competition Bureau has obtained a court order to advance its investigation into Amazon’s conduct on its online Canadian marketplace, Amazon.ca, to determine if the company is engaging in conduct that may be an abuse of dominance under the Competition Act.

    The Bureau is investigating the Amazon Marketplace Fair Pricing Policy. The policy allows Amazon to penalize sellers for certain conduct, including if they set a price for a product on Amazon.ca that is significantly higher than recent prices offered on Amazon or elsewhere. The Bureau is seeking to determine whether the purpose or effect of the policy is to:

    • allow Amazon to charge higher fees to sellers than it otherwise would, and whether this in turn causes sellers to charge higher retail prices to customers;
    • prevent the entry or expansion of existing or potential rivals by preventing sellers from offering lower prices elsewhere than they do on Amazon; or
    • lessen price competition among online marketplaces or retail channels.

    The Bureau has obtained a court order from the Federal Court that requires Amazon to produce records and information relevant to the investigation.

    There is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Rule of Law is Key to Capitalism − Eroding it is Bad News for American Business

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Something dangerous is happening to the U.S. economy, and it’s not inflation or trade wars. Chaotic deregulation and the selective enforcement of laws have upended markets and investor confidence. At one point, the threat of tariffs and resulting chaos evaporated US$4 trillion in value in the U.S. stock market. This approach isn’t helping the economy, and there are troubling signs it will hurt both the U.S. and the global economy in the short and long term.

    The rule of law – the idea that legal rules apply to everyone equally, regardless of wealth or political connections − is essential for a thriving economy. Yet globally the respect for the rule of law is slipping, and the U.S. is slipping with it. According to annual rankings from the World Justice Project, the rule of law has declined in more than half of all countries for seven years in a row. The rule of law in the U.S., the most economically powerful nation in the world, is now weaker than the rule of law in Uruguay, Singapore, Latvia and over 20 other countries.

    When regulation is unnecessarily burdensome for business, government should lighten the load. However, arbitrary and frenzied deregulation does not free corporations to earn higher profits. As a business school professor with an MBA who has taught business law for over 25 years, and the author of a recently published book about the importance of legal knowledge to business, I can affirm that the opposite is true. Chaotic deregulation doesn’t drive growth. It only fuels risk.

    Chaos undermines investment, talent and trust

    Legal uncertainty has become a serious drag on American competitiveness.

    A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that public policy risks — such as unexpected changes in taxes, regulation and enforcement — ranked among the top challenges businesses face, alongside more familiar business threats such as competition or economic volatility. Companies that can’t predict how the law might change are forced to plan for the worst. That means holding back on long-term investment, slowing innovation and raising prices to cover new risks.

    When the government enforces rules arbitrarily, it also undermines property rights.

    For example, if a country enters into a major trade agreement and then goes ahead and violates it, that threatens the property rights of the companies that relied on the agreement to conduct business. If the government can seize assets without due process, those assets lose their stability and value. And if that treatment depends on whether a company is in the government’s political favor, it’s not just bad economics − it’s a red flag for investors.

    When government doesn’t enforce rules fairly, it also threatens people’s freedom to enter into contracts.

    Consider presidential orders that threaten the clients of law firms that have challenged the administration with cancellation of their government contracts. The threat alone jeopardizes the value of those agreements.

    If businesses can’t trust public contracts to be respected, they’ll be less likely to work with the government in the first place. This deprives the government, and ultimately the American people, of receiving the best value for their tax dollars in critical areas such as transportation, technology and national defense.

    Regulatory chaos also allows corruption to spread.

    For example, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits businesses from bribing foreign government officials, has leveled the playing field for firms and enabled the best American companies to succeed on their merits. Before the law was enacted in 1977, some American companies felt pressured to pay bribes to compete. “Pausing” enforcement of the law, as the current presidential administration has done, increases the cost of doing business and encourages a wild west economy where chaos thrives.

    When corruption grows, stable and democratic governments weaken, opportunities for terrorism increase and corruption-fueled authoritarian regimes, which oppose the interests of the U.S., thrive. Halting the enforcement of an anti-bribery law, even for a limited time, is an issue of national security.

    Legal uncertainty fuels brain drain

    Chaotic enforcement of the law also corrodes labor markets.

    American companies require a strong pool of talented professionals to fuel their financial success. When legal rights are enforced arbitrarily or unjustly, the very best talent that American companies need may leave the country.

    The science brain drain is already happening. American scientists have submitted 32% more applications for jobs abroad compared with last year. Nonscientists are leaving too. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has witnessed a 50% increase in Americans taking steps to obtain an Irish passport. Employers in the U.K. saw a spike in job applications from the United States.

    Business from other countries will gladly accept American talent as they compete against American companies. During the Third Reich, Nazi Germany lost its best and brightest to other countries, including America. Now the reverse is happening, as highly talented Americans leave to work for firms in other nations.

    Threats of arbitrary legal actions also drive away democratic allies and their prosperous populations that purchase American-made goods and services. For example, arbitrarily threatening to punish or even annex a closely allied nation does not endear its citizens to that government or the businesses it represents. So it’s no surprise that Canadians are now boycotting American goods and services. This is devastating businesses in American border towns and hurts the economy nationwide.

    Similarly, the Canadian government has responded to whipsawing U.S. tariff announcements with counter-tariffs, which will slice the profits of American exporters. Close American allies and trading partners such as Japan, the U.K. and the European Union are also signaling their own willingness to impose retaliatory tariffs, increasing the costs of operations to American business even more.

    Modern capitalism depends on smart regulation to thrive. Smart regulation is not an obstacle to capitalism. Smart regulation is what makes American capitalism possible. Smart regulation is what makes American freedom possible.

    Clear and consistently applied legal rules allow businesses to aggressively compete, carefully plan, and generate profits. An arbitrary rule of law deprives business of the true power of capitalism – the ability to promote economic growth, spur innovation and improve the overall living standards of a free society. Americans deserve no less, and it is up to government to make that happen for everyone.

    Originally published in The Conversation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Rule of Law is Key to Capitalism − Eroding it is Bad News for American Business

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Something dangerous is happening to the U.S. economy, and it’s not inflation or trade wars. Chaotic deregulation and the selective enforcement of laws have upended markets and investor confidence. At one point, the threat of tariffs and resulting chaos evaporated US$4 trillion in value in the U.S. stock market. This approach isn’t helping the economy, and there are troubling signs it will hurt both the U.S. and the global economy in the short and long term.

    The rule of law – the idea that legal rules apply to everyone equally, regardless of wealth or political connections − is essential for a thriving economy. Yet globally the respect for the rule of law is slipping, and the U.S. is slipping with it. According to annual rankings from the World Justice Project, the rule of law has declined in more than half of all countries for seven years in a row. The rule of law in the U.S., the most economically powerful nation in the world, is now weaker than the rule of law in Uruguay, Singapore, Latvia and over 20 other countries.

    When regulation is unnecessarily burdensome for business, government should lighten the load. However, arbitrary and frenzied deregulation does not free corporations to earn higher profits. As a business school professor with an MBA who has taught business law for over 25 years, and the author of a recently published book about the importance of legal knowledge to business, I can affirm that the opposite is true. Chaotic deregulation doesn’t drive growth. It only fuels risk.

    Chaos undermines investment, talent and trust

    Legal uncertainty has become a serious drag on American competitiveness.

    A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that public policy risks — such as unexpected changes in taxes, regulation and enforcement — ranked among the top challenges businesses face, alongside more familiar business threats such as competition or economic volatility. Companies that can’t predict how the law might change are forced to plan for the worst. That means holding back on long-term investment, slowing innovation and raising prices to cover new risks.

    When the government enforces rules arbitrarily, it also undermines property rights.

    For example, if a country enters into a major trade agreement and then goes ahead and violates it, that threatens the property rights of the companies that relied on the agreement to conduct business. If the government can seize assets without due process, those assets lose their stability and value. And if that treatment depends on whether a company is in the government’s political favor, it’s not just bad economics − it’s a red flag for investors.

    When government doesn’t enforce rules fairly, it also threatens people’s freedom to enter into contracts.

    Consider presidential orders that threaten the clients of law firms that have challenged the administration with cancellation of their government contracts. The threat alone jeopardizes the value of those agreements.

    If businesses can’t trust public contracts to be respected, they’ll be less likely to work with the government in the first place. This deprives the government, and ultimately the American people, of receiving the best value for their tax dollars in critical areas such as transportation, technology and national defense.

    Regulatory chaos also allows corruption to spread.

    For example, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits businesses from bribing foreign government officials, has leveled the playing field for firms and enabled the best American companies to succeed on their merits. Before the law was enacted in 1977, some American companies felt pressured to pay bribes to compete. “Pausing” enforcement of the law, as the current presidential administration has done, increases the cost of doing business and encourages a wild west economy where chaos thrives.

    When corruption grows, stable and democratic governments weaken, opportunities for terrorism increase and corruption-fueled authoritarian regimes, which oppose the interests of the U.S., thrive. Halting the enforcement of an anti-bribery law, even for a limited time, is an issue of national security.

    Legal uncertainty fuels brain drain

    Chaotic enforcement of the law also corrodes labor markets.

    American companies require a strong pool of talented professionals to fuel their financial success. When legal rights are enforced arbitrarily or unjustly, the very best talent that American companies need may leave the country.

    The science brain drain is already happening. American scientists have submitted 32% more applications for jobs abroad compared with last year. Nonscientists are leaving too. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has witnessed a 50% increase in Americans taking steps to obtain an Irish passport. Employers in the U.K. saw a spike in job applications from the United States.

    Business from other countries will gladly accept American talent as they compete against American companies. During the Third Reich, Nazi Germany lost its best and brightest to other countries, including America. Now the reverse is happening, as highly talented Americans leave to work for firms in other nations.

    Threats of arbitrary legal actions also drive away democratic allies and their prosperous populations that purchase American-made goods and services. For example, arbitrarily threatening to punish or even annex a closely allied nation does not endear its citizens to that government or the businesses it represents. So it’s no surprise that Canadians are now boycotting American goods and services. This is devastating businesses in American border towns and hurts the economy nationwide.

    Similarly, the Canadian government has responded to whipsawing U.S. tariff announcements with counter-tariffs, which will slice the profits of American exporters. Close American allies and trading partners such as Japan, the U.K. and the European Union are also signaling their own willingness to impose retaliatory tariffs, increasing the costs of operations to American business even more.

    Modern capitalism depends on smart regulation to thrive. Smart regulation is not an obstacle to capitalism. Smart regulation is what makes American capitalism possible. Smart regulation is what makes American freedom possible.

    Clear and consistently applied legal rules allow businesses to aggressively compete, carefully plan, and generate profits. An arbitrary rule of law deprives business of the true power of capitalism – the ability to promote economic growth, spur innovation and improve the overall living standards of a free society. Americans deserve no less, and it is up to government to make that happen for everyone.

    Originally published in The Conversation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Researchers Are at the Forefront of Using AI for Weather Forecasting

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Weather forecasting is not easy. The truth is that predicting future weather conditions over broad, or even narrow, swathes of Earth’s surface comes down to complex microphysical processes, and as College of Engineering Associate Professor and UConn Atmospheric and Air Quality Modeling Group Leader Marina Astitha puts it, nature is chaotic.

    Astitha and her research group are at the forefront of exploring ways to improve weather prediction using AI and machine learning to enhance existing physics-based models. They developed new methods for the prediction of snowfall accumulation and wind gusts associated with extreme weather events in three recent papers in the Journal of Hydrology, Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems, and another in the Journal of Hydrology.

    Postdoctoral researcher Ummul Khaira Ph.D. ’24 led the snowfall prediction work during her time as a Ph.D student. Ph.D candidate Israt Jahan is passionate about building models that improve predictions of damaging wind gusts from storms.

    The researchers met with UConn Today to discuss the importance and everyday applications of enhanced forecasting capabilities using these new technologies.

    Are there forecasting challenges that are unique to the Northeast?

    Astitha: There are characteristics about the Northeast that make it particularly difficult to make weather predictions for. This is especially true for winter weather because we have Nor’easters that can come from either the center of the country or from the Gulf. Some move slowly, and they are highly predictable. Some can be what we call a bomb cyclone, where they rush up here and dump a lot of snow in a small amount of time.

    For weather forecasting, we traditionally use numerical weather prediction models that are based on physics principles and have seen large improvements over the last 20-30 years. We have been running our own weather forecasting system at UConn since 2014, based on physical models. However, numerical weather prediction comes with its own challenges due to uncertainty in parameterizations that are necessary when no physical laws are known for a specific process.

    For windstorms, wind gusts specifically are a complicated variable. It’s wind, but the way we observe it and the way we model it is different.

    Can you explain more about the physics used in numerical weather prediction models?

    Astitha: Precipitation is a microscale process.  As air rises and cools, clouds form, and within those clouds, tiny cloud droplets develop through complex microphysical interactions. Over time, some of these droplets grow large enough to become raindrops or snowflakes. Once they reach a critical size, gravity causes them to fall to the ground as precipitation. This entire process is governed by microphysical processes.

    We try to predict such microphysical processes embedded in numerical weather models by solving many equations and parameterizations. These models describe our atmosphere as a 3D grid, dividing it into discrete boxes where we solve equations based on first principles (motion, thermodynamics, and more).  This approach poses a major challenge: even with increased resolution, each grid cell often represents a large volume of air, typically one to four square kilometers. Despite efforts to refine the grid, these cells still encompass vast areas, limiting the model’s ability to resolve smaller-scale processes.

    Numerical prediction is what got me here. 20 years ago, I could run a code to numerically solve physics equations of the atmosphere, and then I could tell approximately what the weather would be like the next day. That, to me, was mind-blowing!

    Once you run one deterministic model, you get one answer that the temperature is going to be, say 75 degrees tomorrow in Storrs. That’s one potential realization of the future. Models like that are not capable of giving us an exact answer, because nature is chaotic. I’ve always had the mindset of looking at multiple models to have an idea of that uncertainty and variability, and if 10 different realizations give you 74, 75, or 76 degrees, you know you’re close.

    Khaira: Few things are more humbling than a snowfall that defies prediction. My work lies in embracing that uncertainty in the chaos and building models not to promise perfection, but to offer communities and decision makers a clearer window into what might lie ahead.

    How is your recent research helping with the challenges of numerical weather prediction?

    Astitha: Imagine a Nor’easter coming our way during wintertime; they come with a lot of snow and wind. We work with the Eversource Energy Center and we’re interested not only on the scientific advancement, but also the impact and accuracy in predicting when and where that storm is going to happen in Connecticut. Weather prediction accuracy influences the estimation of impacts; for example, power outages. We might underestimate or overestimate the impact by a lot. That makes winter storms of particular interest because of the impact they have on our society, our transportation networks, and electrical power distribution networks.

    Five years ago, we decided to test whether a machine learning framework could help with wind gust and snowfall prediction. It comes with its own challenges and uncertainties, but we quickly saw that there is a lot of promise for these tools to correct errors and do better than what numerical weather prediction can do and at a fraction of the time. Machine learning and AI can help improve the analysis of wind gusts and snowfall, but these systems are not perfect either. We want to be able to better predict storms over Connecticut and the Northeast US, which is why we started this exploration with ML/AI, even though most of the research out there about how to implement AI in weather prediction is either at the global scale or much coarser resolution, but we’re getting there.

    Can you talk about the everyday impact of the research?

    Astitha: An example is when the trees are full of leaves like they are in late spring and summer, and a storm comes in with a lot of rain and intense wind. Whole trees can come down and topple the power lines, which causes many disruptions around the state.

    Our close collaboration with the Eversource Energy Center involves our immediate collaborators taking this weather prediction information and operationally predicting power outages for Connecticut and other service territories. That information can go to the utility managers, so they can prepare two to three days in advance, indicating a direct link from science and engineering to the application and to the manager.

    I understand people’s frustrations and the need for answers about weather forecasts and impacts of storms. You want to know if your family is going to be safe and if you should or should not be out during particular times of the day. We’re doing this research to improve the reliability and accuracy of weather forecasting, so communities and stakeholders are aware of what’s happening when the storm hits their area and can take appropriate actions.

    Jahan: It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work has the potential to improve early warnings and give communities more time to prepare. By combining AI and uncertainty analysis, we’re not just making gust predictions more accurate – we are helping decision-makers plan with greater confidence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Researchers Are at the Forefront of Using AI for Weather Forecasting

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Weather forecasting is not easy. The truth is that predicting future weather conditions over broad, or even narrow, swathes of Earth’s surface comes down to complex microphysical processes, and as College of Engineering Associate Professor and UConn Atmospheric and Air Quality Modeling Group Leader Marina Astitha puts it, nature is chaotic.

    Astitha and her research group are at the forefront of exploring ways to improve weather prediction using AI and machine learning to enhance existing physics-based models. They developed new methods for the prediction of snowfall accumulation and wind gusts associated with extreme weather events in three recent papers in the Journal of Hydrology, Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems, and another in the Journal of Hydrology.

    Postdoctoral researcher Ummul Khaira Ph.D. ’24 led the snowfall prediction work during her time as a Ph.D student. Ph.D candidate Israt Jahan is passionate about building models that improve predictions of damaging wind gusts from storms.

    The researchers met with UConn Today to discuss the importance and everyday applications of enhanced forecasting capabilities using these new technologies.

    Are there forecasting challenges that are unique to the Northeast?

    Astitha: There are characteristics about the Northeast that make it particularly difficult to make weather predictions for. This is especially true for winter weather because we have Nor’easters that can come from either the center of the country or from the Gulf. Some move slowly, and they are highly predictable. Some can be what we call a bomb cyclone, where they rush up here and dump a lot of snow in a small amount of time.

    For weather forecasting, we traditionally use numerical weather prediction models that are based on physics principles and have seen large improvements over the last 20-30 years. We have been running our own weather forecasting system at UConn since 2014, based on physical models. However, numerical weather prediction comes with its own challenges due to uncertainty in parameterizations that are necessary when no physical laws are known for a specific process.

    For windstorms, wind gusts specifically are a complicated variable. It’s wind, but the way we observe it and the way we model it is different.

    Can you explain more about the physics used in numerical weather prediction models?

    Astitha: Precipitation is a microscale process.  As air rises and cools, clouds form, and within those clouds, tiny cloud droplets develop through complex microphysical interactions. Over time, some of these droplets grow large enough to become raindrops or snowflakes. Once they reach a critical size, gravity causes them to fall to the ground as precipitation. This entire process is governed by microphysical processes.

    We try to predict such microphysical processes embedded in numerical weather models by solving many equations and parameterizations. These models describe our atmosphere as a 3D grid, dividing it into discrete boxes where we solve equations based on first principles (motion, thermodynamics, and more).  This approach poses a major challenge: even with increased resolution, each grid cell often represents a large volume of air, typically one to four square kilometers. Despite efforts to refine the grid, these cells still encompass vast areas, limiting the model’s ability to resolve smaller-scale processes.

    Numerical prediction is what got me here. 20 years ago, I could run a code to numerically solve physics equations of the atmosphere, and then I could tell approximately what the weather would be like the next day. That, to me, was mind-blowing!

    Once you run one deterministic model, you get one answer that the temperature is going to be, say 75 degrees tomorrow in Storrs. That’s one potential realization of the future. Models like that are not capable of giving us an exact answer, because nature is chaotic. I’ve always had the mindset of looking at multiple models to have an idea of that uncertainty and variability, and if 10 different realizations give you 74, 75, or 76 degrees, you know you’re close.

    Khaira: Few things are more humbling than a snowfall that defies prediction. My work lies in embracing that uncertainty in the chaos and building models not to promise perfection, but to offer communities and decision makers a clearer window into what might lie ahead.

    How is your recent research helping with the challenges of numerical weather prediction?

    Astitha: Imagine a Nor’easter coming our way during wintertime; they come with a lot of snow and wind. We work with the Eversource Energy Center and we’re interested not only on the scientific advancement, but also the impact and accuracy in predicting when and where that storm is going to happen in Connecticut. Weather prediction accuracy influences the estimation of impacts; for example, power outages. We might underestimate or overestimate the impact by a lot. That makes winter storms of particular interest because of the impact they have on our society, our transportation networks, and electrical power distribution networks.

    Five years ago, we decided to test whether a machine learning framework could help with wind gust and snowfall prediction. It comes with its own challenges and uncertainties, but we quickly saw that there is a lot of promise for these tools to correct errors and do better than what numerical weather prediction can do and at a fraction of the time. Machine learning and AI can help improve the analysis of wind gusts and snowfall, but these systems are not perfect either. We want to be able to better predict storms over Connecticut and the Northeast US, which is why we started this exploration with ML/AI, even though most of the research out there about how to implement AI in weather prediction is either at the global scale or much coarser resolution, but we’re getting there.

    Can you talk about the everyday impact of the research?

    Astitha: An example is when the trees are full of leaves like they are in late spring and summer, and a storm comes in with a lot of rain and intense wind. Whole trees can come down and topple the power lines, which causes many disruptions around the state.

    Our close collaboration with the Eversource Energy Center involves our immediate collaborators taking this weather prediction information and operationally predicting power outages for Connecticut and other service territories. That information can go to the utility managers, so they can prepare two to three days in advance, indicating a direct link from science and engineering to the application and to the manager.

    I understand people’s frustrations and the need for answers about weather forecasts and impacts of storms. You want to know if your family is going to be safe and if you should or should not be out during particular times of the day. We’re doing this research to improve the reliability and accuracy of weather forecasting, so communities and stakeholders are aware of what’s happening when the storm hits their area and can take appropriate actions.

    Jahan: It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work has the potential to improve early warnings and give communities more time to prepare. By combining AI and uncertainty analysis, we’re not just making gust predictions more accurate – we are helping decision-makers plan with greater confidence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Costs and Benefits of Year-Round Schooling

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Editor’s Note: Kristin Simmers prepared the following research brief (unabridged version) with the Center for Education Policy Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (CEPARE). The full brief examines year-round education for districts exploring its adoption. Below is an executive summary.

    Year-round education (YRE) redistributes the traditional 180-day school calendar by incorporating shorter, more frequent breaks. Proponents argue that YRE can reduce learning loss, alleviate school overcrowding, and address educational inequities. However, findings on its effectiveness are varied, and evidence suggests outcomes may be influenced by the specific model and implementation context. This brief examines the academic, operational, and financial implications of YRE and key considerations for districts exploring its adoption.

    YRE can be implemented as a single-track or multi-track system. In a single-track model, all students follow the same year-round calendar with scheduled intersession breaks, which can be used for remediation and enrichment. Research suggests these programs may help mitigate some learning loss, particularly for disadvantaged students, though the overall academic impact is modest and inconsistent. For example, a Virginia study found that while Black and Hispanic students in YRE schools showed greater gains in state test scores than their peers in traditional calendar schools, participation in intersession programs varied greatly, and there was no significant academic impact on the general student population (Brown et al., 2012). These findings suggest that the observed academic gains among certain student groups in YRE schools may be influenced more by the additional instruction provided during intersession than by the year-round calendar itself.

    Multi-track YRE, designed primarily to ease overcrowding, staggers student attendance schedules and generally increases school capacity by 20-33% without building new facilities. While this model offers operational and financial benefits, research indicates little to no academic advantage in model adoption, and some students in lower-resourced tracks may even experience negative academic outcomes. For example, a California study found slight declines in reading and math scores among students in multi-track YRE schools, particularly in the first few years of implementation (Graves, 2011). Additionally, Wake County, North Carolina, which rapidly implemented multi-track YRE to address overcrowding, saw no overall academic gains but did succeed in reducing school population pressures (Graves et al., 2013). However, the YRE transition faced legal challenges from parents who opposed mandatory enrollment in multi-track YRE systems (McMullen & Rouse, 2012), and the district now actively includes parents in their school assignment process (Wake County Public School System, n.d.).

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation. &#8212 Kristin Simmers

    Implementing YRE requires careful consideration of financial, logistical, and community factors. Single-track YRE may increase costs due to intersession programming, staffing, and year-round operations, while multi-track models require complex scheduling and transportation coordination. Family schedules, childcare availability, and extracurricular activities must also be considered. Additionally, teacher workload and retention remain key concerns, as anecdotal reports on YRE’s impact on teacher stress are inconsistent.

    Case studies from Greenwood, South Carolina, and Wake County highlight the role of local context. Greenwood 50 adopted single-track YRE in 2021 to improve low test scores and found that attendance at intersession remediation programs surpassed that of traditional summer school remediation. While test scores improved, other factors, such as smaller class sizes, may have contributed to these outcomes (Gregory & Turcotte, 2022).

    For districts considering YRE, successful implementation may include:

    • Defining objectives about whether YRE implementation will address overcrowding, improve academic outcomes, or both
    • Engaging educators, families, and stakeholders throughout the decision-making process
    • Ensuring equitable access to remediation and enrichment
    • Securing funding for intersession programs when appropriate
    • Considering a phased approach or pilot program before full-scale adoption

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation.

    CEPARE produces high-quality research, evaluation, and policy analysis that informs leaders and policymakers on a range of pressing issues, with a particular focus on enhancing social justice and equity across p-20 educational settings in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more about CEPARE, or access the PDF version of this rapid research brief (including all references and appendices), at cepare.uconn.edu. 

    Kristin Simmers is a Ph.D. candidate in the Learning Sciences program at UConn’s Neag School of Education. She has over 16 years of international teaching experience and holds an MS in elementary education, MS Ed. in curriculum and instruction, and graduate certificates in special education and English as a second language.  Her research explores teachers’ understanding of the brain and learning, emphasizing the connection between education research and classroom practice. She promotes a transdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and health to enrich educational research. Through her various professional roles, she works to bridge the gap between research and practice, fostering meaningful collaboration across disciplines.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Costs and Benefits of Year-Round Schooling

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Editor’s Note: Kristin Simmers prepared the following research brief (unabridged version) with the Center for Education Policy Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (CEPARE). The full brief examines year-round education for districts exploring its adoption. Below is an executive summary.

    Year-round education (YRE) redistributes the traditional 180-day school calendar by incorporating shorter, more frequent breaks. Proponents argue that YRE can reduce learning loss, alleviate school overcrowding, and address educational inequities. However, findings on its effectiveness are varied, and evidence suggests outcomes may be influenced by the specific model and implementation context. This brief examines the academic, operational, and financial implications of YRE and key considerations for districts exploring its adoption.

    YRE can be implemented as a single-track or multi-track system. In a single-track model, all students follow the same year-round calendar with scheduled intersession breaks, which can be used for remediation and enrichment. Research suggests these programs may help mitigate some learning loss, particularly for disadvantaged students, though the overall academic impact is modest and inconsistent. For example, a Virginia study found that while Black and Hispanic students in YRE schools showed greater gains in state test scores than their peers in traditional calendar schools, participation in intersession programs varied greatly, and there was no significant academic impact on the general student population (Brown et al., 2012). These findings suggest that the observed academic gains among certain student groups in YRE schools may be influenced more by the additional instruction provided during intersession than by the year-round calendar itself.

    Multi-track YRE, designed primarily to ease overcrowding, staggers student attendance schedules and generally increases school capacity by 20-33% without building new facilities. While this model offers operational and financial benefits, research indicates little to no academic advantage in model adoption, and some students in lower-resourced tracks may even experience negative academic outcomes. For example, a California study found slight declines in reading and math scores among students in multi-track YRE schools, particularly in the first few years of implementation (Graves, 2011). Additionally, Wake County, North Carolina, which rapidly implemented multi-track YRE to address overcrowding, saw no overall academic gains but did succeed in reducing school population pressures (Graves et al., 2013). However, the YRE transition faced legal challenges from parents who opposed mandatory enrollment in multi-track YRE systems (McMullen & Rouse, 2012), and the district now actively includes parents in their school assignment process (Wake County Public School System, n.d.).

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation. &#8212 Kristin Simmers

    Implementing YRE requires careful consideration of financial, logistical, and community factors. Single-track YRE may increase costs due to intersession programming, staffing, and year-round operations, while multi-track models require complex scheduling and transportation coordination. Family schedules, childcare availability, and extracurricular activities must also be considered. Additionally, teacher workload and retention remain key concerns, as anecdotal reports on YRE’s impact on teacher stress are inconsistent.

    Case studies from Greenwood, South Carolina, and Wake County highlight the role of local context. Greenwood 50 adopted single-track YRE in 2021 to improve low test scores and found that attendance at intersession remediation programs surpassed that of traditional summer school remediation. While test scores improved, other factors, such as smaller class sizes, may have contributed to these outcomes (Gregory & Turcotte, 2022).

    For districts considering YRE, successful implementation may include:

    • Defining objectives about whether YRE implementation will address overcrowding, improve academic outcomes, or both
    • Engaging educators, families, and stakeholders throughout the decision-making process
    • Ensuring equitable access to remediation and enrichment
    • Securing funding for intersession programs when appropriate
    • Considering a phased approach or pilot program before full-scale adoption

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation.

    CEPARE produces high-quality research, evaluation, and policy analysis that informs leaders and policymakers on a range of pressing issues, with a particular focus on enhancing social justice and equity across p-20 educational settings in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more about CEPARE, or access the PDF version of this rapid research brief (including all references and appendices), at cepare.uconn.edu. 

    Kristin Simmers is a Ph.D. candidate in the Learning Sciences program at UConn’s Neag School of Education. She has over 16 years of international teaching experience and holds an MS in elementary education, MS Ed. in curriculum and instruction, and graduate certificates in special education and English as a second language.  Her research explores teachers’ understanding of the brain and learning, emphasizing the connection between education research and classroom practice. She promotes a transdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and health to enrich educational research. Through her various professional roles, she works to bridge the gap between research and practice, fostering meaningful collaboration across disciplines.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EBA launches consultation on its draft Guidelines on third-party risk management with regard to non-ICT related services

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) today launched a public consultation on the draft Guidelines on the sound management of third-party risk. The draft Guidelines focus on third-party arrangements in relation to non-ICT related services provided by third-party service providers and their subcontractors with a particular focus on the provision of critical or important functions. These Guidelines revise and update the previous EBA Guidelines on outsourcing, published in 2019, in line with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The consultation runs until 8 October 2025.

    The draft Guidelines specify the steps to be taken by financial entities for the life cycle of third-party arrangements (i.e. risk assessment, due diligence, contractual phase, sub-contracting, monitoring, exit strategies and termination processes) to ensure consistency with the requirements under the DORA framework to the extent possible. The draft Guidelines provide specific criteria for the application of the proportionality principle.

    In addition, the draft Guidelines ensure consistency with the DORA register by allowing financial institutions to store consistent information for both ICT and non-ICT services, including the possibility of using one single register. Taking into account the application of proportionality, the level of information to be documented has been limited to reduce the burden on both financial entities and competent authorities.

    To ensure a smooth and efficient transition, financial entities falling under the scope of the updated Guidelines have a transitional period of two years to review and amend their existing third-party arrangements (TPA) and to update the register for non-ICT TPA.

    Consultation process

    Comments to the consultation paper can be sent by clicking on the “send your comments” button on the EBA’s consultation page. The deadline for the submission of comments is 8 October 2025.

    The EBA will hold a virtual public hearing on 5 September from 09:00 to 13:00 – Paris time. The EBA invites interested stakeholders to register using this link by 1 September (16:00 CEST). The dial-in details will be communicated to those who have registered for the meeting.

    All contributions received will be published following the end of the consultation, unless requested otherwise.

    Legal basis

    The draft Guidelines have been developed in accordance with Article 74 of Directive 2013/36/EU which mandates the EBA to further harmonise institutions’ governance arrangements, processes and mechanisms across the EU. Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366/EU (PSD2), Article 26 of Directive 2019/2034/EU (IFD), Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2014/65 (MiFID II), Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCAR) and Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 have also been taken into account.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Lucinity Achieves Microsoft Certified Software for Financial AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REYKJAVIK, Iceland, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lucinity, a leading provider of anti-financial crime software, announced today that its platform is now officially recognized as Microsoft Certified Software for Financial AI. This certification confirms that Lucinity meets Microsoft’s rigorous requirements for technical quality, security, and interoperability within the Azure ecosystem.

    The Microsoft certification process evaluated Lucinity’s architecture, security model, and interoperability. Lucinity’s infrastructure follows Azure’s best practices, ensuring that customer data is always accessed and processed through secure, access-controlled pathways. Interoperability with Microsoft environments enables institutions to easily connect existing systems and tools—such data sources or analytics platforms—with Lucinity’s software, removing integration barriers and accelerating time to value.

    “This certification reflects our commitment to helping financial institutions fight financial crime with trusted, innovative AI,” said Guðmundur Kristjánsson (GK), founder and CEO of Lucinity. “Built on Microsoft Azure, our platform has been tested, certified, and proven to meet the high standards expected by the world’s leading banks. This certification gives our customers confidence that Lucinity is secure, scalable, and ready to integrate seamlessly into their existing infrastructure.”

    Lucinity provides a complete FinCrime operating system that combines intelligent automation with core compliance capabilities. The platform includes Case Manager for unified alert and investigation workflows, Transaction Monitoring with configurable scenario detection, Customer 360 for enriched intelligence, Regulatory Reporting for efficient SAR filing, and the Luci AI Agent.

    The Luci AI Agent leverages Azure’s advanced Large Language Models in a multi-LLM framework to deliver explainable, audit-ready automation. Its AI skills—such as case summarization, money flow analysis, and adverse media search—can be easily configured via the no-code Luci Studio. These capabilities are also accessible through the Luci AI Agent plugin, which brings AI directly into familiar enterprise tools like Excel, CRM systems, and case managers without the need for complex integrations. Together, these components provide a seamless, scalable infrastructure for fighting financial crime with speed, accuracy, and confidence.

    Lucinity is also available through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, allowing financial institutions to purchase and deploy the platform using existing cloud commitments while streamlining procurement. A recent deployment through the Marketplace with a global financial services provider—specializing in cross-border payments for millions of businesses—demonstrates Lucinity’s enterprise-ready architecture.

    With this certification, Lucinity reinforces its position as a trusted partner for financial institutions seeking intelligent, interoperable, and secure AI solutions for fighting financial crime.

    About Lucinity

    Lucinity is a Reykjavík-based software company founded in 2018. It helps banks, fintechs, and payment companies fight financial crime with greater speed and efficiency. Lucinity’s FinCrime operating system includes Case Manager, Customer 360, Transaction Monitoring, Regulatory Reporting, and the AI Agent Luci—working together to reduce investigation time from hours to minutes.

    The platform is user-friendly, configurable, and self-serve, helping compliance teams improve productivity, cut costs, and make auditable, explainable decisions. Lucinity’s customers include Visa, Trustly, Tandem Bank, Finshark, and Arion Bank. Lucinity also invests in AI innovation through Lucinity Labs, which holds patents in federated learning and PII encryption.

    Contact
    celina@lucinity.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Solaris Advances Toward Market Launch with Strategic Exchange and Rollback Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S), a next-generation blockchain project focused on speed, decentralization, and mobile accessibility, has announced its confirmed listing on global cryptocurrency exchange LBank. To mark this milestone, the project has launched a limited-time rollback event, temporarily reducing the token price to $5, significantly below its final listing price of $20.

    As digital asset adoption continues to accelerate globally, Bitcoin Solaris is gaining traction for its performance-driven architecture and mobile-first approach. With its dual-consensus framework and high-speed transaction capabilities, BTC-S is positioning itself as a user-centric platform designed to support the next wave of scalable blockchain innovation.

    Bitcoin Solaris: The Tech and the Mission

    Bitcoin Solaris positions itself as a forward-compatible evolution of Bitcoin’s original principles. It introduces a powerful dual-consensus structure combining Proof-of-Work and delegated proof-of-stake, delivering decentralized security and lightning-speed transaction finality. While Bitcoin takes minutes to settle, BTC-S hits confirmation in just 2 seconds with over 10,000 TPS achieved in testing. That’s not a theory; it’s already running.

    Its architecture is built on two layers:

    • The Base Layer, secured by traditional mining for decentralization.
    • The Solaris Layer, optimized with fast block production and validator rotation.

    This design ensures resilience during high load periods and keeps energy use 99.95 percent lower than Bitcoin.

    Additional highlights:

    • Cross-chain bridge infrastructure in development.
    • Smart contract compatibility enabling future DeFi tools.
    • Adaptive mobile mining logic integrated into the upcoming Solaris Nova app.

    These are not buzzwords. They are features shaping a scalable, user-first financial layer that aims to outperform legacy networks.

    Mobile Mining: Wealth in Your Pocket

    What makes Bitcoin Solaris radically different is how it brings mining to the people. With the upcoming Solaris Nova app, users will be able to mine directly from their smartphones using optimized, battery-safe processes. You can track your projected profits through the Solaris mining calculator and see how much power you’re stacking without expensive hardware.

    This concept changes the game:

    • No rigs required.
    • No massive electricity bills.
    • No technical knowledge barrier.

    It opens up digital wealth building to over 3 billion smartphone users.

    Community, Validation, and Real Influencer Buzz

    With more than 13,900 unique users already involved and over $6.3 million raised, Bitcoin Solaris is proving it isn’t just hype. Detailed reviews from major influencers add to the excitement:

    • Token Galaxy breaks down how BTC-S delivers utility that aligns with mobile-first scalability.
    • Crypto Show dives into the performance benchmarks and community potential.

    There’s also growing buzz on social platforms like Telegram and X, where early adopters are rallying around the project. And let’s not forget the security angle. Bitcoin Solaris is fully audited by Cyberscope and Freshcoins, delivering peace of mind to even the most cautious investors.

    Say Goodbye to Slow Chains BTC-S Moves at 10,000 TPS

    The Presale: Rollback, Rewards, and Rare Timing

    BTC-S is currently in phase 11 of its presale at a price of $11 per token, with a confirmed launch price of $20. That’s a 150 percent return for those who act now. But what’s driving the real excitement is the new Rollback Event. For a limited time only, Bitcoin Solaris has slashed the price down to $5, creating what many are calling the final entry opportunity before the big run.

    This isn’t marketing fluff. The numbers are there:

    To receive your tokens on launch day, Bitcoin Solaris recommends using Trust Wallet or Metamask for seamless delivery.

    It’s also worth noting that this might be the shortest explosive presale we’ve seen in the 2024-2025 cycle.

    A Strategic Future with Flexible Architecture

    Bitcoin Solaris isn’t just racing for attention. It’s building a long-term foundation with cutting-edge mechanics that include:

    • Validator rotation for enhanced decentralization.
    • 2-second finality combined with smart contract triggers.
    • Cross-chain bridges enabling asset transfers across ecosystems.

    With bitcoinsolaris.com becoming a hub for updates and new development rollouts, BTC-S is rapidly positioning itself as more than just a coin. It’s a decentralized operating layer built for today’s pace.

    Final Verdict

    The market is shifting. The real innovation is happening with projects like Bitcoin Solaris. With fast finality, real-world mobile mining, and a limited-time rollback opportunity, BTC-S is capturing both the technical edge and community momentum.

    Early investors are not just betting on a coin. They’re backing a smarter system designed for performance, accessibility, and long-term growth. While others speculate on the next bull cycle, Bitcoin Solaris is building it.

    For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:
    Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
     Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
     X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

    Media Contact:
    Xander Levine
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: Available upon request

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

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5f00294-eeff-472b-a624-c3c4c3ab577d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/68c308e9-82fe-477c-bcd8-4da7f147da55

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3158611-efd9-40d4-82ba-255efbc58e2b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c80667e-f243-4b18-ab06-fd66527085ed

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. Announces Dates for Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company” or “ARI”) (NYSE:ARI), today announced the Company will hold a conference call to review its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company’s second quarter 2025 financial results will be released after the market closes on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. During the conference call, Company officers will review second quarter 2025 performance, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer period.

    To register for the call, please use the following link:

    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BId90d356a730f472ab59dd717370b3c5f

    After you register, you will receive a dial-in number and unique pin. The Company will also post a link in the Stockholders’ section on ARI’s website for a live webcast. For those unable to listen to the live call or webcast, there will be a webcast replay link posted in the Stockholders’ section on ARI’s website approximately two hours after the call.

    About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
    Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: ARI) is a real estate investment trust that primarily originates, acquires, invests in and manages performing commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. The Company is externally managed and advised by ACREFI Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc., a high-growth, global alternative asset manager with approximately $785 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2025.

    Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at www.apollocref.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company’s control. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When used in this release, the words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, plan, continue, intend, should, may or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: higher interest rates and inflation; market trends in the Company’s industry, real estate values, the debt securities markets or the general economy; the timing and amounts of expected future fundings of unfunded commitments; the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; the Company’s ability to deploy the proceeds of its capital raises or acquire its target assets; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements, and other risks, uncertainties and factors are based on the Company’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    CONTACT: Hilary Ginsberg
      Investor Relations
      (212) 822-0767

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. Announces Dates for Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company” or “ARI”) (NYSE:ARI), today announced the Company will hold a conference call to review its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company’s second quarter 2025 financial results will be released after the market closes on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. During the conference call, Company officers will review second quarter 2025 performance, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer period.

    To register for the call, please use the following link:

    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BId90d356a730f472ab59dd717370b3c5f

    After you register, you will receive a dial-in number and unique pin. The Company will also post a link in the Stockholders’ section on ARI’s website for a live webcast. For those unable to listen to the live call or webcast, there will be a webcast replay link posted in the Stockholders’ section on ARI’s website approximately two hours after the call.

    About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
    Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: ARI) is a real estate investment trust that primarily originates, acquires, invests in and manages performing commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. The Company is externally managed and advised by ACREFI Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc., a high-growth, global alternative asset manager with approximately $785 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2025.

    Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at www.apollocref.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company’s control. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When used in this release, the words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, plan, continue, intend, should, may or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: higher interest rates and inflation; market trends in the Company’s industry, real estate values, the debt securities markets or the general economy; the timing and amounts of expected future fundings of unfunded commitments; the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; the Company’s ability to deploy the proceeds of its capital raises or acquire its target assets; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements, and other risks, uncertainties and factors are based on the Company’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    CONTACT: Hilary Ginsberg
      Investor Relations
      (212) 822-0767

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nano Labs Announces Strategic Partnership with Orbiter Finance to Launch Compliant Stablecoin Cross-Chain Solution NBNB.io

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nano Labs Ltd (Nasdaq: NA) (“we,” the “Company” or “Nano Labs”), a leading Web 3.0 infrastructure and product solution provider in China, today announced a strategic partnership with Layer 2 cross-chain bridge protocol Orbiter Finance to jointly develop a compliant stablecoin distribution and exchange service across multiple networks. The service will support various compliant stablecoins, including those pegged to USD, HKD, offshore RMB.

    Leveraging Orbiter Finance’s multi-chain support capabilities alongside Nano Labs’ expertise in Web3.0, the new solution aims to provide users with low-cost, compliant cross-chain transfers and mainstream token exchanges. The initial product is expected to launch in Q4 2025, with the tentative domain name NBNB.io.

    Built on a secure and efficient cross-chain infrastructure for stablecoins, this collaboration is designed to promote the widespread adoption of compliant stablecoins across both DeFi and traditional finance sectors.

    Looking ahead, both parties plan to expand support for additional blockchains and drive adoption in institutional-grade applications.

    About Orbiter Finance

    Orbiter Finance is a leading Layer 2 cross-chain bridge protocol that has processed over USD 23 billion in transaction volume to date.

    About Nano Labs Ltd

    Nano Labs Ltd is a leading Web 3.0 infrastructure and product solution provider in China. Nano Labs is committed to the development of high throughput computing (“HTC”) chips and high performance computing (“HPC”) chips. Nano Labs has built a comprehensive flow processing unit (“FPU”) architecture which offers solution that integrates the features of both HTC and HPC. In addition, Nano Labs has actively positioned itself in the digital assets space, adopting BNB as its primary reserve asset. It has accumulated nearly US$160 million in mainstream digital currencies including BNB and BTC, and established an integrated platform covering multiple business verticals, including HTC solutions and HPC solutions*. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: ir.nano.cn.

    *  According to an industry report prepared by Frost & Sullivan.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s plan to appeal the Staff’s determination, which can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

    For investor inquiries, please contact:

    Nano Labs Ltd
    ir@nano.cn

    Ascent Investor Relations LLC
    Tina Xiao
    Phone: +1-646-932-7242
    Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WILLPORT Holdings, Inc. Opens Investment Opportunity to Support the 2026 Beta Launch of WILLPORTtrust

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Diego, CA, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WILLPORT Holdings, Inc., a digital estate planning technology company, is now offering securities under Regulation Crowdfunding through StartEngine Primary, LLC. This offering gives the public a chance to invest in the continued development of WILLPORTtrust, a secure digital platform aimed at transforming how families plan, manage, and personalize their legacies using blockchain and AI.

    The Offering

    This Regulation Crowdfunding offering is conducted through StartEngine Primary, LLC, a registered funding portal and member of FINRA/SIPC. Investment details and required disclosures are available on the campaign page at https://www.startengine.com/offering/willport-trust.

    About WILLPORTtrust

    Set for beta launch in 2026, WILLPORTtrust is being developed in collaboration with some of the industry’s leading Trust Lawyers and Estate Planning Experts. The platform is designed to simplify and secure the creation and execution of estate plans for families including those previously underserved by the Trust and Estate Industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOJxe4RoD_w

    Key features include:

    Time-Based Wealth Transfers – Distribute assets over time rather than in lump sums

    Legacy Messaging – Attach a voice or video message to your inheritance delivery, sent directly to the beneficiary. 

    Digital Executor Assignment – Delegate key estate responsibilities with precision

    TRUSTlocker Vault – Encrypted storage for documents such as wills, directives, and digital credentials

    Safe Key Protocol – Secure release of documents triggered by verified life events

    WILLPORTtrust seeks to modernize estate planning by offering a user-friendly experience that protects both assets and the emotional bonds behind them. The product’s success depends on a range of factors, including market reception, continued development progress, and regulatory compliance.

    To learn more or become an investor in WILLPORTtrust’s mission to democratize digital estate planning, visit https://www.startengine.com/offering/willport-trust.

    THIS REG CF OFFERING IS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH STARTENGINE PRIMARY, LLC, MEMBER FINRA/SIPC. THIS INVESTMENT IS SPECULATIVE, ILLIQUID, AND INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF YOUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT.

    For more information, please contact:
    WILLPORT Holdings, Inc.
    1645 Village Center Circle, Suite 200
    Las Vegas, Nevada, 89134
    Tel: 855-945-5778
    service@willport.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cloudbrink Named a Leader and Fast Mover in the GigaOm Radar for Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cloudbrink, a leader in high-performance secure connectivity, today announced that respected industry analyst firm GigaOm has positioned Cloudbrink Personal SASE as a Leader and Fast Mover in the Innovation/Platform Play quadrant of the ZTNA Radar chart. According to the report, “Cloudbrink excels in supporting distributed workforces with latency-sensitive applications through its unique acceleration capabilities that enhance performance while maintaining security.”

    “Cloudbrink’s location so close to the center in the GigaOm Radar is a testimony to the work we’ve put in listening to customers and translating their needs into our solution,” said Prakash Mana, CEO of Cloudbrink. “We’re energized by the reception the product has gotten in awards, analyst reports, and above all, by our customers. ZTNA needs to take into account network demands as well as user performance requirements. We will continue to innovate to be at the forefront of its evolution.”

    Cloudbrink scored well on a number of decision criteria in the GigaOm report, including “exceptional” ratings for Session Monitoring, and Unmanaged Device Support, and “superior” for Legacy Application Support.

    In the Business Criteria section, Cloudbrink was top ranked, tied for the highest score. The report rated Cloudbrink “exceptional” for both cost and ease of use, and said, “As a 100% cloud-native SaaS solution, Cloudbrink enables rapid onboarding in minutes through its web-based management portal, with horizontal scaling capabilities to maintain performance as an organization grows. The solution demonstrates flexibility by supporting all popular use cases while delivering insights beyond typical offerings through additional high-fidelity telemetry, making it particularly suitable for latency-sensitive applications where other ZTNA solutions may struggle.”

    The report also praised Cloudbrink’s support for distributed offices across the globe. The report states, “International organizations benefit from CloudBrink’s comprehensive unmanaged device support that applies zero-trust controls while enabling secure access from various endpoints. Manufacturing industries appreciate the solution’s protocol-agnostic approach to legacy application support that maintains performance optimization regardless of application age. The extensive session monitoring provides organizations with detailed visibility into user experience metrics, connection quality, and application performance, making it valuable for businesses requiring both security and optimal application delivery across global operations.”

    The GigaOm Radar report examined 28 ZTNA solutions and compared offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria).

    Consistent Accolades for Cloudbrink Innovation

    Cloudbrink’s prominent position in the GigaOm Radar for ZTNA comes on the heels of several awards the company has recently received. In April Cloudbrink was awarded Most Innovative Secure Remote Access in the Cyber Defense Awards, at the RSA conference. Cloudbrink was also named Remote Work Tech Innovation of the Year in the RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards in June. Both awards selected Cloudbrink from thousands of nominations.

    About Cloudbrink
    Cloudbrink delivers a high-performance secure connectivity solution that significantly enhances productivity for the work-from-anywhere generation. The Personal SASE service (which includes high-performance ZTNA) offers up to a 30-fold increase in network performance and ensures a secure, seamless, in-office experience for employees, no matter where they are. With a focus on speed, simplicity, security, and savings, Cloudbrink streamlines management and support while providing edge-native zero-trust access for users and devices for simplified operations, reduced complexity, and fewer support calls. For more information go to www.cloudbrink.com.

    Media contact:
    Chris Fucanan
    AquaLab PR for Cloudbrink
    chris@aqualabpr.com
    916-345-3475

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cloudbrink Named a Leader and Fast Mover in the GigaOm Radar for Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cloudbrink, a leader in high-performance secure connectivity, today announced that respected industry analyst firm GigaOm has positioned Cloudbrink Personal SASE as a Leader and Fast Mover in the Innovation/Platform Play quadrant of the ZTNA Radar chart. According to the report, “Cloudbrink excels in supporting distributed workforces with latency-sensitive applications through its unique acceleration capabilities that enhance performance while maintaining security.”

    “Cloudbrink’s location so close to the center in the GigaOm Radar is a testimony to the work we’ve put in listening to customers and translating their needs into our solution,” said Prakash Mana, CEO of Cloudbrink. “We’re energized by the reception the product has gotten in awards, analyst reports, and above all, by our customers. ZTNA needs to take into account network demands as well as user performance requirements. We will continue to innovate to be at the forefront of its evolution.”

    Cloudbrink scored well on a number of decision criteria in the GigaOm report, including “exceptional” ratings for Session Monitoring, and Unmanaged Device Support, and “superior” for Legacy Application Support.

    In the Business Criteria section, Cloudbrink was top ranked, tied for the highest score. The report rated Cloudbrink “exceptional” for both cost and ease of use, and said, “As a 100% cloud-native SaaS solution, Cloudbrink enables rapid onboarding in minutes through its web-based management portal, with horizontal scaling capabilities to maintain performance as an organization grows. The solution demonstrates flexibility by supporting all popular use cases while delivering insights beyond typical offerings through additional high-fidelity telemetry, making it particularly suitable for latency-sensitive applications where other ZTNA solutions may struggle.”

    The report also praised Cloudbrink’s support for distributed offices across the globe. The report states, “International organizations benefit from CloudBrink’s comprehensive unmanaged device support that applies zero-trust controls while enabling secure access from various endpoints. Manufacturing industries appreciate the solution’s protocol-agnostic approach to legacy application support that maintains performance optimization regardless of application age. The extensive session monitoring provides organizations with detailed visibility into user experience metrics, connection quality, and application performance, making it valuable for businesses requiring both security and optimal application delivery across global operations.”

    The GigaOm Radar report examined 28 ZTNA solutions and compared offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria).

    Consistent Accolades for Cloudbrink Innovation

    Cloudbrink’s prominent position in the GigaOm Radar for ZTNA comes on the heels of several awards the company has recently received. In April Cloudbrink was awarded Most Innovative Secure Remote Access in the Cyber Defense Awards, at the RSA conference. Cloudbrink was also named Remote Work Tech Innovation of the Year in the RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards in June. Both awards selected Cloudbrink from thousands of nominations.

    About Cloudbrink
    Cloudbrink delivers a high-performance secure connectivity solution that significantly enhances productivity for the work-from-anywhere generation. The Personal SASE service (which includes high-performance ZTNA) offers up to a 30-fold increase in network performance and ensures a secure, seamless, in-office experience for employees, no matter where they are. With a focus on speed, simplicity, security, and savings, Cloudbrink streamlines management and support while providing edge-native zero-trust access for users and devices for simplified operations, reduced complexity, and fewer support calls. For more information go to www.cloudbrink.com.

    Media contact:
    Chris Fucanan
    AquaLab PR for Cloudbrink
    chris@aqualabpr.com
    916-345-3475

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Silicon Motion Announces Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAIPEI, Taiwan and MILPITAS, Calif., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NasdaqGS: SIMO) (“Silicon Motion” or the “Company”), a global leader in NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices, plans to release its second quarter 2025 financial results after the market closes on July 30, 2025 and will host a conference call on July 31 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants must pre-register using the link below to participate in the live call.  

    CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS:

    Participants must register in advance to join the conference call using the link provided below. Conference access information (including dial-in information and a unique access PIN) will be provided in the email received upon registration.

    Participant Online Registration:
    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI9e8eb8a4d35743cfa957757c6a1207e2

    This call will be webcast on the Company’s website at www.siliconmotion.com.

    ABOUT SILICON MOTION:

    We are the global leader in supplying NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices. We supply more SSD controllers than any other company in the world for servers, PCs and other client devices and are the leading merchant supplier of eMMC and UFS embedded storage controllers used in smartphones, IoT devices and other applications. We also supply customized high-performance hyperscale data center and specialized industrial and automotive SSD solutions.  Our customers include most of the NAND flash vendors, storage device module makers and leading OEMs. For further information on Silicon Motion, visit us at www.siliconmotion.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although such statements are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on them. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual market trends or our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the unpredictable volume and timing of customer orders, which are not fixed by contract but vary on a purchase order basis; the loss of one or more key customers or the significant reduction, postponement, rescheduling or cancellation of orders from one or more customers; general economic conditions or conditions in the semiconductor or consumer electronics markets; the impact of inflation on our business and customer’s businesses and any effect this has on economic activity in the markets in which we operate; the functionalities and performance of our information technology (“IT”) systems, which are subject to cybersecurity threats and which support our critical operational activities, and any breaches of our IT systems or those of our customers, suppliers, partners and providers of third-party licensed technology; the effects on our business and our customer’s business taking into account the ongoing U.S.-China tariffs and trade disputes; the uncertainties associated with any future global or regional pandemic; the continuing tensions between Taiwan and China, including enhanced military activities; decreases in the overall average selling prices of our products; changes in the relative sales mix of our products; changes in our cost of finished goods; supply chain disruptions that have affected us and our industry as well as other industries on a global basis; the payment, or non-payment, of cash dividends in the future at the discretion of our board of directors and any announced planned increases in such dividends; changes in our cost of finished goods; the availability, pricing, and timeliness of delivery of other components and raw materials used in the products we sell given the current raw material supply shortages being experienced in our industry; our customers’ sales outlook, purchasing patterns, and inventory adjustments based on consumer demands and general economic conditions; any potential impairment charges that may be incurred related to businesses previously acquired or divested in the future; our ability to successfully develop, introduce, and sell new or enhanced products in a timely manner; and the timing of new product announcements or introductions by us or by our competitors. For additional discussion of these risks and uncertainties and other factors, please see the documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2025. Other than as required under the securities laws, we do not intend, and do not undertake any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release.

    Investor Contacts:        

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Upexi, Inc. June 2025 Monthly Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAMPA, Fla., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPXI), a brand owner specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products with diversification into the cryptocurrency space, today released its June 2025 monthly update.

    “June was a particularly active and successful month,” stated Upexi CEO Allan Marshall. “We increased our SOL balance during June by 8%, demonstrating continued growth while also continuing to earn an 8% staking yield. And we delivered on key initiatives, gaining listed options on Nasdaq, announcing our intention to tokenize our equity via Superstate, and joining Webull’s Corporate Connect Service platform. Looking ahead, we are laser-focused on increasing Upexi’s visibility and raising capital in an accretive fashion for the benefit of shareholders.”

    Below are a few highlights from June.

    Treasury Update as of June 30, 2025

    • Treasury: Upexi held 735,692 SOL, up 8.2% from the previously disclosed 679,677 SOL as of May 28.
    • Net Asset Value: Using the June 30 price of $154.74 per SOLi, the 735,692 SOL are valued at $113.8 million.
    • SOL per Share: Using 38.2 million shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025, approximately 0.0192 SOL per common share, or $2.97 per common share.
    • Staking: Substantially all the treasury SOL are being staked, earning a ~8% yield.
    • Locked SOL: Approximately 58% of the portfolio was locked SOL when purchased at a mid-teens discount to the SOL spot price and provides for built-in gains for shareholders.

    Business Initiatives

    Upexi Events / Multimedia Recap

    Solana Monthly Recap

    • Network Performance: Solana recorded strong growth and market share numbers across most major metrics, including daily active addresses and application revenue, detailed more in the chart below.
    • Firedancer Progress: Jump Crypto’s high-performance client Firedancer launched a delegation program for its hybrid Frankendancer client, which has already amassed 8% of total Solana stake.
    • Institutional Adoption: French bank Societe Generale announced plans to launch a stablecoin on Ethereum and Solana, fintech giant Fiserv revealed a forthcoming Solana stablecoin launch, Moody’s Ratings tested tokenized securities credit ratings, and Solana Policy Institute submitted compliant tokenized securities frameworks to the US SEC.
    • Solana ETF Progress: Prospective spot SOL ETF issuers submitted updated S-1 filings and Rex-Osprey revealed the upcoming launch of its Solana staking ETF, which occurred after month end.
    • Application News: RWA firm Backed launched tokenized equities, decentralized vehicle data platform DIMO expanded to Japan, decentralized science startup CUDIS announced its upcoming CUDIS token on Solana, DEX aggregator Jupiter paused DAO voting, memecoin launchpad pump.fun outlined a $1b fundraise, and memecoin Bonk launched web3 game Bonk Arena.
    • Price: SOL entered June at $157 and finished the month nearly unchanged at $155. Using daily close prices, Solana bottomed at $132 on June 22nd and peaked at $165 on June 10th.
    Solana Major Metrics, June 2025
      June 2025 YoY Growth Market Share
    Daily Active Addresses, m 4.8 200% 38%
    Daily Transactions, $b 3.0 67% 70%
    Dex Volumes, $b 182 347% 28%
    Fees, $m 31 -43% 23%
    Application Revenue, $m 147 33% 42%

    Sources: Artemis, Blockworks. Note: Market share calculated using Ethereum, Avalanche C-Chain, Sui, Solana, Base, Polygon POS, BNB Chain, Tron, and Cardano.

    About Upexi, Inc.
    Upexi is a brand owner specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products. The Company has entered the cryptocurrency industry and cash management of assets through a cryptocurrency portfolio. For more information on Upexi’s treasury strategy and future developments, visit www.upexi.com.

    Follow Upexi on X – https://twitter.com/upexitreasury
    Follow CEO, Allan Marshall, on X – https://x.com/marshall_a22015
    Follow CSO, Brian Rudick, on X – https://x.com/thetinyant

    Forward Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. For example, the Company is using forward looking statements when it discusses the anticipated use of proceeds. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with business strategy, potential acquisitions, revenue guidance, product development, integration, and synergies of acquiring companies and personnel. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward- looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Company Contact
    Brian Rudick, Chief Strategy Officer
    Email: brian.rudick@upexi.com
    Phone: (216) 347-0473

    Media Contact
    Gasthalter & Co.
    Upexi@gasthalter.com

    Investor Relations Contact
    KCSA Strategic Communications
    Valter Pinto, Managing Director
    (212) 896-1254
    Upexi@KCSA.com

    ___________________________
    i Closing price of SOL as quoted on coinmarketcap.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: RTI and Kinova Partner to Integrate Intelligent Connectivity into Medical Robotics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the software framework company for physical AI systems, today announced its partnership with Kinova, a global leader in professional and medical robotics. This collaboration will provide seamless integration of advanced robotic technologies with data-centric connectivity to simplify and accelerate product lifecycles, reduce program risk, and redefine what is possible in a new era of physical AI in advanced systems such as surgical robotics.

    Building on the extensive experience of both companies in robotics and intelligent and distributed systems, the integration of RTI Connext® with Kinova simplifies and accelerates the design of next-generation platforms. This collaboration enables the integration of robotics into a larger digital ecosystem that integrates visualization, AI, sensing, with real-time data interoperability. Recently both RTI and Kinova were announced as participants in NVIDIA’s Isaac for Healthcare program.

    This collaboration will be on display during a joint remote teleoperation demo in booth #065 at the Surgical Robotics Society Annual Meeting in Strasbourg, France from July 16-20, 2025. Developed in collaboration with MedAcuity, the demo allows attendees to use a haptic controller to manipulate a Kinova robotic arm located 3,000 miles away.

    “This partnership reinforces our mission to accelerate the development of innovative, high-performance medical robotic systems,” said François Boucher, Vice President of Business Development at Kinova. “By combining Kinova’s expertise in surgical-grade robotics with RTI’s real-time connectivity framework, we’re enabling our customers to bring next-generation solutions to market faster and with greater confidence.”

    “Our customers are solving the incredibly complex technical challenges that live at the intersection of robotics, connectivity, and AI,” said Bob Leigh, Senior Director of Commercial Markets at RTI. “This collaboration gives them the infrastructure to focus on innovation—whether that’s enabling teleoperation, improving operational precision, or accelerating integration across diverse hardware and software environments.”

    To learn more about RTI for advanced robotics, please visit our site.

    About Kinova
    Kinova accelerates the journey to market for medical robotics companies by offering both off-the-shelf and tailored solutions for the development and production of medical-grade robotic systems. Through state-of-the-art medical arms, actuators, tool drives, and expert product development services, Kinova enables its customers to enhance their value proposition and bring innovative, high-quality solutions to life. Learn more at www.kinovarobotics.com.

    About RTI
    RTI is the software framework company for physical AI systems, with a mission to run a smarter world. RTI Connext® provides the data architecture for over 2,000 designs in Aerospace and Defense, Medtech, Automotive, and Robotics – running in more than $1T of total deployed systems worldwide. Only RTI combines decades of technical expertise with industry-leading software and tools to develop smarter systems, faster. Learn more at www.rti.com.

    Media Contacts:
    Tiffany Yang
    Public Relations, RTI

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LM Funding America Announces June 2025 Production and Operational Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    – Bitcoin treasury as of June 30, 2025 valued at $16.7 million or $3.25 per share1

    TAMPA, Fla., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LM Funding America, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMFA) (“LM Funding” or the “Company”), a Bitcoin mining and technology-based specialty finance company, today announced its preliminary, unaudited Bitcoin mining and operational update for the month ended June 30, 2025.

    Metric May 2025 June 2025
    – Bitcoin2    
    – Mined, net 6.3 5.5
    – Sold – (5.0)
    – Purchased – –
    – Service Fee – –
    – Bitcoin HODL 155.0 155.5
    – Machines2    
    – Operational 4,320 4,320
    – Storage 1,297 1,218
    – Total Machines 5,617 5,538
    – Hashrate (EH/s2)    
    – Oklahoma 0.48 0.48
    – Hosted – –
    – Energized 0.48 0.48
    – Storage 0.13 0.12
    – Total 0.61 0.60

    Bruce Rodgers, Chairman and CEO of LM Funding, commented, “The reduction in Bitcoin mined in June is the result of our strategic curtailment approach during peak summer months. High temperatures in Oklahoma triggered financial incentives to curtail mining operations leading us to prioritize energy sales over Bitcoin production. Estimated curtailment and energy sales for June 2025 were approximately $55,000 or approximately $216,000 for the second quarter of 2025.”

    The Company estimates that the value of its 155.5 Bitcoin holdings on June 30, 2025, was approximately $16.7 million or $3.251 per share, based on a Bitcoin price of approximately $107,170 as of June 30, 2025, compared to a stock share price of $2.86 as of June 30, 2025.

    About LM Funding America
    LM Funding America, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMFA), operates as a Bitcoin mining and specialty finance company. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Tampa, Florida. For more information, please visit https://www.lmfunding.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” and “project” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks of operating in the cryptocurrency mining business, our limited operating history in the cryptocurrency mining business and our ability to grow that business, the capacity of our Bitcoin mining machines and our related ability to purchase power at reasonable prices, our ability to identify and acquire additional mining sites, the ability to finance our site acquisitions and cryptocurrency mining operations, our ability to acquire new accounts in our specialty finance business at appropriate prices, changes in governmental regulations that affect our ability to collected sufficient amounts on defaulted consumer receivables, changes in the credit or capital markets, changes in interest rates, and negative press regarding the debt collection industry. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact: 

    Investor Relations 
    Orange Group 
    Yujia Zhai 
    LMFundingIR@orangegroupadvisors.com 

    1Bitcoin treasury calculated using 155.5 Bitcoin held as of 6/30/25 and Bitcoin price of approximately $107,170 as of 6/30/25. Bitcoin per share calculated using 5,133,412 shares outstanding as of 3/31/25 from SEC Form 10-Q filed May 15, 2025
    2Unaudited

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Caliber Promotes Greg James to Chief Operating Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Caliber (NASDAQ: CWD), a real estate investor, developer, and manager, announced today that Greg James has been promoted to the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Greg joined Caliber in October 2024 as COO & Head of Hotel Asset Management and replaced Ignacio Martinez on July 7, 2025.

    “We thank Ignacio for his service. He joined Caliber at a time when building and scaling our business systems was critical,” said Chris Loeffler, CEO and Co-Founder of Caliber, “As we have made significant achievements in these areas, Caliber is now promoting Greg James from COO of Caliber Hospitality Trust & Head of Hotel Asset Management to Caliber’s new COO. In this expanded role, Greg brings a strong real estate focus on all aspects of Caliber’s acquisitions, development, and asset management services, applying his prior knowledge of running a hotel investment portfolio of over 100 assets valued at $3.5 billion across 26 states. This realignment takes full advantage of our talent, which is aligned with Caliber’s objective of the efficient use of capital and generating positive adjusted EBITDA.”

    “I am honored to step into the role of Chief Operating Officer at Caliber during such an exciting time of growth,” said Greg James Caliber’s new COO, “With Caliber’s strong foundation and talented team, I’m looking forward to building on our momentum, streamlining operations, expanding our hospitality platform, and delivering exceptional value to our investors and communities.”

    Mr. James brings over 34 years of experience in hotel operations and asset management. Prior to Caliber, he spent nearly two decades at Summit Hotel Properties [NYSE: INN], where he served as Senior Vice President of Operations overseeing revenue strategy, asset management, data analytics, PIP execution, acquisitions and dispositions, and day-to-day hotel operations. He began his career in 1991 with Marriott International, rising through the ranks and managing hotel operations at more than a dozen properties from coast to coast. Mr. James has a BA from Arizona State University.

    About Caliber (CaliberCos Inc.)

    With over $2.9 billion in Managed Assets, Caliber’s 16-year track record of managing and developing real estate is built on a singular goal: to make money in all market conditions, specializing in hospitality, multi-family residential, and multi-tenant industrial. Our growth is fueled by performance and a key competitive advantage: we invest in projects, strategies, and geographies that global real estate institutions often overlook. Integral to this advantage is our in-house shared services group, which gives Caliber greater control over our real estate and enhanced visibility into future investment opportunities. There are multiple ways to participate in Caliber’s success: invest in Nasdaq-listed CaliberCos Inc. and/or invest directly in our Private Funds.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the final prospectus related to the Company’s public offering filed with the SEC and other reports filed with the SEC thereafter. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    CONTACTS:
    Caliber Investor Relations:
    Ilya Grozovsky
    +1 480-214-1915
    Ilya@CaliberCo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Save the Date: King of the Afterparty, Dave Cantin Group, Announces the 2026 NADA Party as a “Celebration for the Industry”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The King of the Afterparty is back and going bigger than ever before. Dave Cantin Group (DCG), a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory company to retail automotive groups and their owners, has set Thursday, February 5th, as the date for its 2026 NADA Afterparty, promising a legendary event.

    DCG has taken over the world-famous LIV Nightclub at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Las Vegas. The private, invite-only event will be a celebration for the industry, with 1,500 guests attending from across all facets of automotive. “The automotive industry is the most dynamic and resilient industry in the world,” commented Dave Cantin Group CEO Dave Cantin. “This year, we wanted to be more inclusive and provide a place for everyone to come celebrate 2025 while we look forward to what’s ahead in 2026.”

    This year’s entertainment is still under wraps, but Dave Cantin Group will be announcing a complete lineup of talent that will perform throughout the night, including a surprise performance. For years, DCG has reigned supreme as the undisputed King of the Afterparty at NADA, the annual National Automobile Dealers Association conference, featuring speakers and acts including Almost Queen, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Grant Cardone and Third Eye Blind.

    “Each year, we challenge ourselves to raise the bar, and this year, we’re going to be delivering something truly unforgettable,” DCG President Brian Gordon said. “February 5th at LIV will be more than a party; it will be a platform for the industry’s most influential people to come together and celebrate our incredible industry.”

    There’s the industry’s largest conference…and then there’s the unforgettable DCG Afterparty. Known for curating the most exclusive experience of NADA, DCG’s Afterparty is where influence meets entertainment on an invite-only experience for those shaping the future of automotive retail.

    Event Details:

    • Date: Thursday, February 5th, 2026 – Private Invite Only
    • Time: 9:00 PM – Late (early morning)
    • Venue: LIV Las Vegas Nightclub at the Fontainebleau Hotel

    Past Afterparty Highlights:

    • 2025: A mind-blowing performance by Third Eye Blind at NADA New Orleans, rated “10 out of 10, the best of NADA” by ASOTU, the go-to voice covering everything that happens on (and off) the NADA main stage.
    • 2023: VIP dinner and candid fireside chat with boxing legend Mike Tyson at NADA Dallas. Attendees called it “one of the most unexpected and unforgettable experiences in NADA history.”
    • 2022: Dubbed “The Undisputed Kings of the Afterparty” by Automotive News

    Don’t miss your chance to be part of the hottest night in the industry.

    To inquire about your exclusive table or be added to the VIP waitlist, contact your DCG advisor or email Dave Cantin Group at specialevents@davecantingroup.com.

    About Dave Cantin Group

    The Dave Cantin Group is a leading automotive M&A advisory company specializing in acquisitions, divestitures, intelligence, and other advisory services. The company is the M&A services provider of choice for North America’s top automotive dealership groups, advising on approximately 40 transactions annually. DCG is differentiated by its advisory approach, long-term lens on client relationships, and commitment to market intelligence tools that inform DCG and client strategies. In 2023, DCG became the only retail automotive M&A company with a significant strategic investor, welcoming Kaltroco to the DCG family.

    Through its M&A intelligence division, DCG produces automotive content and delivers relevant, timely marketing intelligence, including the automotive industry Market Outlook Report (MOR). Together with CBT News, DCG produces the Inside M&A studio show and podcast to share stories, news and trends impacting the retail automotive industry. DCG’s proprietary AI-enabled software, Jump IQ, anchors its advisory services that support retail automotive dealers in developing informed M&A strategies and making smarter M&A decisions.

    The company’s nonprofit initiative, DCG Giving, funds child and adolescent cancer research and treatment in communities nationwide and other worthy charitable initiatives. DCG team members regularly feature on the industry speaking circuit and are often cited by top national and global news outlets. For more information, please visit davecantingroup.com.

    Media Contact:
    Katie Merx
    katiemerx@gmail.com
    +1 313.510.5090

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8336e4d6-be0b-415d-a2c2-f0938b5a993a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: HBT Financial, Inc. to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on July 21, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BLOOMINGTON, Ill., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBT) (the “Company” or “HBT Financial”), the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, today announced that it will issue its second quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Monday, July 21, 2025. A copy of the press release announcing the second quarter 2025 financial results and an investor presentation will be made available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com.

    About HBT Financial, Inc.

    HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and has banking roots that can be traced back to 1920. HBT Financial provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to consumers, businesses, and municipal entities throughout Illinois and eastern Iowa through 66 full-service branches. As of March 31, 2025, HBT Financial had total assets of $5.1 billion, total loans of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.4 billion.

    CONTACT:
    Peter Chapman
    HBTIR@hbtbank.com
    (309) 664-4556

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ascent Solar Technologies Reflects on H1 2025 Achievements and Milestones, Looks Ahead to Executing Upon H2 2025 Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THORNTON, Colo., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ascent Solar Technologies (“Ascent” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ASTI), the leading U.S. innovator in the design and manufacturing of featherweight, flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, today commented on its commercial progress and solar material development in the first half of 2025, as the Company looks ahead to continued growth and advancement in the second half of the year.

    “At the outset of the year, we sought to enter into a series of new private partnerships, further improve upon our technology’s efficiency, and focus our efforts and offerings on the space market,” said Paul Warley, Chief Executive Officer of Ascent Solar Technologies. “At the midpoint of the year, we are thrilled to be able to say that we have already reached those goals and look forward to further improving upon them, while also reaching new milestones and achievements throughout the remainder of the year.”

    Key Company milestones and achievements from the first half of 2025 include:

    Ascent’s leadership plans to build upon these achievements throughout the remainder of the year through:

    • Securing additional supply agreements with space partners and customers
    • The co-development and release of full plug and fly solutions with integrated structure power solutions
    • Advancing the development of space optimized encapsulation strategies for use in VLEO, LEO, and GEO with higher education, agency and private entity partnerships
    • The attendance of future events to connect with key industry leaders, existing partners, and potential customers

    Ascent’s leadership team looks forward to continued success through the remainder of 2025 and is eager to update its stockholder community with exciting Company announcements and milestones as they come to fruition. Anyone interested in learning more about the Company, its mission and technology, or anything else, is encouraged to visit https://www.ascentsolar.com.

    About Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.

    Backed by 40 years of R&D, 15 years of manufacturing experience, numerous awards, and a comprehensive IP and patent portfolio, Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative, high-performance, flexible thin-film solar panels for use in environments where mass, performance, reliability, and resilience matter. Ascent’s photovoltaic (PV) modules have been deployed on space missions, multiple airborne vehicles, agrivoltaic installations, in industrial/commercial construction as well as an extensive range of consumer goods, revolutionizing the use cases and environments for solar power. Ascent Solar’s research and development center and 5-MW nameplate production facility is in Thornton, Colorado. To learn more, visit https://www.ascentsolar.com.

    Media Contact

    Spencer Herrmann
    FischTank PR
    ascent@fischtankpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Coralogix Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Advance AI-Powered Observability and Security

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Coralogix, a leading full-stack observability platform provider, today announced a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Through this collaboration, Coralogix and AWS will create and deliver innovative, scalable solutions that leverage Amazon Bedrock to offer comprehensive and advanced monitoring.

    Most observability platforms continue to rely on static rules and basic machine learning models for anomaly detection, which can limit their ability to respond to complex and evolving system behaviors. By integrating Amazon Bedrock, Coralogix sets a new standard for observability, leveraging advanced AI capabilities to transform the way anomalies are detected and addressed. This integration allows for a more proactive, automated, and intuitive approach, enabling faster insights, reducing downtime, and improving overall system reliability. With Coralogix and Amazon Bedrock, teams can focus on innovation while trusting their observability solutions to stay ahead of potential issues.

    This strategic collaboration allows AWS and Coralogix to focus on the future with cutting edge solutions, including a fully integrated solution for AWS WAF and Amazon CloudFront. This integration offers native AWS visibility into potential threats by processing massive volumes of WAF, edge and real user monitoring data. The results of this collaboration are already bringing immense value to AWS customers by providing a more comprehensive and cost-effective solution for combined AWS WAF and CloudFront monitoring.

    Coralogix’s in-stream analytics and native integration with AWS WAF and Amazon CloudFront empower organizations to proactively, accurately and immediately identify security threats coming from the edge, without exceeding observability budgets.

    As a trusted AWS partner, Coralogix has achieved multiple AWS competencies, showcasing its deep specialization, technical expertise, and proven track record of customer success. The current AWS competencies, launches and awards held by Coralogix include:

    • DevOps ISV Competency 
    • Level 1 MSSP ISV Competency
    • AWS WAF Ready Products Specialization
    • Amazon Linux Ready Software Products Specialization
    • 2023 AWS Rising Star Partner Award of the Year – Israel 

    Coralogix empowers organizations to confidently achieve their digital transformation goals by providing visibility into AWS-hosted, on-premises, and hybrid environments at every stage of the cloud migration process. By leveraging native AWS services such as Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Data Firehose and AWS Lambda, Coralogix offers a fast, scalable, and cost-effective solution for monitoring and analyzing data. With the ability to pull metrics and tags from over 100 AWS services, Coralogix delivers a comprehensive view of an organization’s entire infrastructure, ensuring seamless observability and enhanced operational efficiency.

    Ariel Assaraf, CEO of Coralogix, commented, “We are thrilled to work with AWS in providing customers with the most advanced, out-of-the-box observability and security monitoring for Amazon CloudFront and AWS WAF. Not only can AWS customers affordably monitor far more edge data than before, but they can also confidently identify real threats in seconds and automate remediation using Coralogix’s full-stack observability and advanced alerting solutions. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering top-tier observability for cloud environments that is both effective and affordable.”

    Razorpay’s CTO, Murali Brahmadesam, a joint AWS and Coralogix customer, shared that “Razorpay offers a highly available and secure payment gateway for businesses, ensuring smooth and reliable transactions. By leveraging Coralogix’s seamless integration with AWS WAF, Razorpay enhances its ability to detect and mitigate potential security threats, providing businesses with a robust and trustworthy payment solution.”

    According to Allison Johnson, Senior Manager, Tech Partners – Americas at AWS, “AWS and Coralogix share a unified mission: empowering organizations to make strategic decisions today that drive tomorrow’s innovation. Our collaboration is dedicated to guiding customers through every stage of their cloud journey, addressing immediate infrastructure demands while paving the way for future technologies like AI. By integrating the Coralogix platform with the unmatched scale and support from AWS, we deliver a powerful solution that simplifies application modernization, ensures smooth cloud migrations, and accelerates AI adoption. This collaboration equips organizations to navigate the complexities of digital transformation with greater efficiency, helping them stay agile and competitive in an ever-evolving, tech-driven world.”

    Learn more about Coralogix’s complementary solution for AWS WAF and CloudFront.

    About Coralogix
    Coralogix is a full-stack observability platform that enables businesses to monitor and manage data in real time, providing instant insights without the need for indexing. The platform supports Log Analytics, application performance monitoring (APM), security information and event management (SIEM), real user monitoring (RUM), and infrastructure monitoring, offering complete visibility into AI performance, security, and governance in a single solution. Coralogix offers a simple pricing model based on data volume, along with world-class support that ensures rapid response times and swift resolutions. To learn more, visit www.coralogix.com.

    PR Contact
    Mark Prindle
    Fusion PR
    mark.prindle@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Announces Conference Call to Review Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today that it will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its second quarter 2025 financial results for the period ended June 30, 2025. The live webcast can be accessed on the Enphase Energy Investor Relations website at investor.enphase.com, and a recorded version of the call will also be available there approximately one hour after the call.

    What: Enphase Energy’s Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Earnings Conference Call and Webcast
       
    Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
       
    Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
       
    Live Call: 833.634.5018
       
    International: +1.412.902.4214
       
    Replay: United States: 877.344.7529
      International: +1.412.317.0088
      Canada: 855.669.9658
      Replay access code: 6021998
       

    About Enphase Energy, Inc.

    Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power — and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 81.5 million microinverters, and approximately 4.8 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

    ©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Contact:

    Zach Freedman
    Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    ir@enphaseenergy.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermex Launches a new Remittance-as-a-Service (RaaS) Platform to Help Businesses Simplify Cross-Border Payments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI) (“Intermex” or the “Company”), a leading money remittance provider to Latin America and the Caribbean, today announced the launch of its fully redesigned Remittance-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform. The upgraded service gives businesses a straightforward way to embed fast, secure cross-border money transfers into their own customer experiences.

    A growing number of companies – from innovative U.S. fintechs to well-established payment providers – are already harnessing Intermex’s Remittance-as-a-Service platform to unlock new cross-border revenue streams.

    Through Intermex’s RaaS platform, companies can introduce their own branded person-to-person and business-to-person payment services to eligible markets including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador, as well as select countries in Southeast Asia, the European Union, and Africa.

    “Businesses want to innovate and expand quickly, but hurdles like technology development, licensing, and regulatory compliance often slow them down,” said Marcelo Theodoro, Chief Digital, Product & Marketing Officer at Intermex. “Our RaaS platform helps remove those barriers, giving partners a turnkey solution built on decades of experience and one of the strongest payout networks in Latin America.”

    The enhanced platform offers a customizable system that lets businesses create branded customer experiences across WhatsApp, mobile apps, and the web. The service is supported by appropriate licensing across U.S. jurisdictions, incorporating required know your customers and anti-money laundry compliance measures. Companies gain access to one of the largest payout networks in Latin America, supporting cash pickups, home deliveries, and direct bank deposits. The solution also provides integrated payment services, merchant account management, chargeback support, and advanced anti-fraud tools. Additionally, partners benefit from 24/7 bilingual customer support, business insights, and ongoing strategic guidance.

    “Our partners don’t have to build everything from scratch,” Theodoro added. “Through a simple API, we provide the infrastructure, licenses, payout networks, and even the support teams they need. Whether you’re a fintech, an employer, or a loyalty platform, we’re ready to help businesses move money across borders.”

    Companies interested in partnering with Intermex can learn more at www.intermexonline.com/partner-with-us#/.

    About Intermex
    Founded in 1994, Intermex applies proprietary technology to facilitate money transfers from select locations including the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany to more than 60 countries, where available and subject to applicable regulations. The company facilitates digital money movement through its website and mobile app, as well as through a vast network of retail agents and company-operated stores. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Intermex also operates international offices in Puebla, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; London, England; and Madrid, Spain. Learn more at www.intermexonline.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Alex Sadowski
    Investor Relations Coordinator
    ir@intermexusa.com
    305-671-8000

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sergei Guriev, Dean of London Business School, Joins the Group of Thirty

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WASHINGTON and LONDON, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — London Business School is pleased to announce that Professor Sergei Guriev, the School’s Dean, has joined The Group of Thirty (G30).

    Sergei Guriev brings a unique breadth of expertise, in areas ranging from corporate governance and contract theory to political economics, labor mobility, and the economics of development and transition. He is currently Dean of London Business School, Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research, Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France, and a Global Member of the Trilateral Commission. Guriev previously served as Professor of Economics and Provost at Sciences Po, Paris and Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He was earlier Rector of the New Economic School in Moscow from 2004-2013, and served on various Russian councils including the Commission on Open Government.

    The Group of Thirty, founded in 1978, is an independent global body comprised of economic and financial leaders from the public and private sectors and academia. It aims to deepen understanding of economic and financial issues, and of the international repercussions of decisions taken in the public and private sectors. Members participate in the Group in their personal capacities, not on behalf of any organization, public or private, to which they may be affiliated. A full list of current G30 members is available at http://group30.org/members.

    Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Chair of the Board of Trustees, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Sergei into the Group of Thirty. He brings an outstanding record in academia, unique insights on economies at various stages of advancement, and political economy. He will be a valuable addition to our debates.”

    Raghuram Rajan, Chair of the G30, said: “I look forward to Sergei’s contributions to the Group’s meetings and work program. His background and research on geo-politics and corruption, as well as his exemplary contributions to public service, will no doubt expand the Group’s discussions as we navigate an increasingly polarized and volatile world.”

    Sergei Guriev stated: “I thank Tharman, Raghu, and the G30 for the offer of membership. I’m honored to be part of the Group and look forward to actively contributing in the years to come on shared priorities and concerns.”

    For media enquiries, contact Christopher Moseley on +44 7511 577803 / email cmoseley@london.edu.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fe8db0e-0fd1-45e6-a6af-90881cafeeb3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NXP Semiconductors Announces Conference Call to Review Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today announced it will release financial results for the second quarter 2025 after the close of normal trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on Monday, July 21, 2025. The company will host a conference call with the financial community on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

    Earnings Conference Call Details 
    Interested parties may pre-register for the webcast or obtain a user-specific access code to join the live conference call.

    A replay of the call will be available via webcast for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call.

    About NXP Semiconductors 

    NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) is the trusted partner for innovative solutions in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communications infrastructure markets. NXP’s “Brighter Together” approach combines leading-edge technology with pioneering people to develop system solutions that make the connected world better, safer, and more secure. The company has operations in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of $12.61 billion in 2024. Find out more at www.nxp.com.

    NXP-CORP 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Academic slams NZ government over ‘compromised’ foreign policy

    Asia Pacific Report

    A prominent academic has criticised the New Zealand coalition government for compromising the country’s traditional commitment to upholding an international rules-based order due to a “desire not to offend” the Trump administration.

    Professor Robert Patman, an inaugural sesquicentennial distinguished chair and a specialist in international relations at the University of Otago, has argued in a contributed article to The Spinoff that while distant in geographic terms, “brutal violence in Gaza, the West Bank and Iran marks the latest stage in the unravelling of an international rules-based order on which New Zealand depends for its prosperity and security”.

    Dr Patman wrote that New Zealand’s founding document, the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, emphasised partnership and cooperation at home, and, after 1945, helped inspire a New Zealand worldview enshrined in institutions such as the United Nations and norms such as multilateralism.

    Professor Robert Patman . . . “Even more striking was the government’s silence on President Trump’s proposal to own Gaza with a view to evicting two million Palestinian residents.” Image: University of Otago

    “In the wake of Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, the National-led coalition government has in principle emphasised its support for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the occupied territories of East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank,” he wrote.

    However, Dr Patman said, in practice this New Zealand stance had not translated into firm diplomatic opposition to the Netanyahu government’s quest to control Gaza and annex the West Bank.

    “Nor has it been a condemnation of the Trump administration for prioritising its support for Israel’s security goals over international law,” he said.

    Foreign minister Winston Peters had described the situation in Gaza as “simply intolerable” but the National-led coalition had little specific to say as the Netanyahu government “resumed its cruel blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza in March and restarted military operations there”.

    Silence on Trump’s ‘Gaza ownership’
    “Even more striking was the government’s silence on President Trump’s proposal to own Gaza with a view to evicting two million Palestinian residents from the territory and the US-Israeli venture to start the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in late May in a move which sidelined the UN in aid distribution and has led to the killing of more than 600 Palestinians while seeking food aid,” Dr Patman said.

    While New Zealand, along with the UK, Australia, Canada and Norway, had imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar ben Gvir, in June for “inciting extremist violence” against Palestinians — a move that was criticised by the Trump administration — it was arguably a case of very little very late.

    “The Hamas terror attacks on October 7 killed around 1200 Israelis, but the Netanyahu government’s retaliation by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) against Hamas has resulted in the deaths of more than 56,000 Palestinians — nearly 70 percent of whom were women or children — in Gaza.

    Over the same period, more than 1000 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank as Israel accelerated its programme of illegal settlements there.

    ‘Strangely ambivalent’
    In addition, the responses of the New Zealand government to “pre-emptive attacks” by Israel (13-25 June) and Trump’s United States (June 22) against Iran to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities were strangely ambivalent.

    Despite indications from US intelligence and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran had not produced nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Peters had said New Zealand was not prepared to take a position on that issue.

    Confronted with Trump’s “might is right” approach, the National-led coalition faced stark choices, Dr Patman said.

    The New Zealand government could continue to fudge fundamental moral and legal issues in the Middle East and risk complicity in the further weakening of an international rules-based order it purportedly supports, “or it can get off the fence, stand up for the country’s values, and insist that respect for international law must be observed in the region and elsewhere without exception”.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –