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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Africa: First Arab scholarship launched to support students at Tsinghua University in China

    • The Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program will support up to 15 students every year for five years through Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes at Tsinghua University in China.
    • The Scholar’s Program is available to students from Arab League countries.
    • The scholarship strengthens ties between the Arab States and China, giving students access to one of the most prestigious universities in China.

    Distinguished ambassadors, dignitaries, and academic leaders gathered on Thursday, 26th June, at Tsinghua University in China (www.Tsinghua.edu.cn) to mark the official launch of the Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, a landmark initiative to empower students from Arab League countries through world-class education while fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration.  

    This year, the Scholars Program will support six students from Arab League nations who are pursuing postgraduate courses at the historic university. This program is understood to be the first scholarship established at Tsinghua University specifically for students from Arab nations and aims to strengthen Sino-Arab relations.

    Tsinghua University is a top-ranked Chinese university with a strong reputation in technology and engineering, often compared to MIT. Established in 1911, Tsinghua University has 20 colleges and 90 undergraduate programs, enabling it to offer a wide array of academic disciplines. Tsinghua alumni have made significant contributions to the economic, cultural, and technological development of China and also represent many of the nation’s political elite.

    Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital, said: “For more than a thousand years, the Arab region and China have been bound by a vibrant exchange of goods, knowledge, and cultural dialogue. By enabling exceptional Arab students to study at Tsinghua, China’s pinnacle of academic excellence, we aim to develop leaders who will carry forward this agelong spirit of curiosity and collaboration, ensuring that the Arab-China relationship evolves as a beacon of cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.”

    Professor Yang Bin, Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua University Council, expressed the university’s sincere gratitude for Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem’s generous donation. He noted that in recent years, Tsinghua has implemented a series of strategic initiatives to enhance its global impact, with particular emphasis on deepening engagement and cooperation with Arab League member states, which has significantly advanced cultural exchanges between both sides. The newly established Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, funded by Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem’s donation, will support six incoming full-time master’s students from Arab League countries. Professor Yang emphasized that this initiative will not only motivate recipients to pursue academic excellence but also serve as an important milestone in strengthening the friendship between Tsinghua and the Arab world. It vividly embodies the shared values of openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and the pursuit of common progress across cultures and borders.

    The Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program will begin this academic year (2025-2026).

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF).

    Media contact:
    Leila Ben Hassen
    leila@Bluejaycommunication.com

    Hashtags:
    #Education #Scholarship #ArabScholarsProgram #Philantropy #TUEF

    About Hazem Ben-Gacem:
    Hazem Ben-Gacem is the Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital. Until September 2024, he was co-Chief Executive Officer at Investcorp, the Middle East’s largest non-sovereign private equity firm, chairing most of its private equity and infrastructure investment committees and overseeing all Investcorp’s activities in the Middle East, South East Asia, Japan, and China. Prior to that, Hazem led Investcorp’s European private equity and its global technology investment businesses. During his 30-year tenure, Hazem directly led over 40 private equity investments across most world regions. Hazem began his career in New York as a member of the M&A team at Credit Suisse First Boston.

    Hazem has previously been a donor for different scholarship programs with Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Oxford University.

    Hazem serves on the Executive Boards of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and St Anthony’s College at Oxford University, and the Dean’s Council of the Harvard Medical School. In 2017, he founded the Harvard Office in Tunisia, the first formal presence for Harvard in the Arab world.

    For more information, please visit www.BlueFiveCapital.com

    About Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF):
    Founded in 1994, it is the first university education foundation established in China following the reform and opening up of China. The objective of TUEF is to foster the development of education in China, improve educational quality and academic research, advocate the culture and vision of Tsinghua University, and strive for philanthropic support from domestic and international organizations and individuals.

    TUEF actively raises social resources, constantly optimizes project management, and steadily promotes the preservation and appreciation of value in efforts to help Tsinghua University move towards the goal of becoming a globally leading university. TUEF fully leverages the advantages of scientific and technological talents in Tsinghua University, supports public welfare services, and boosts social progress and human welfare through the development of education.

    For more information, please visit www.Tsinghua.edu.cn

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SARS publishes revenue collection performance data

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    SARS publishes revenue collection performance data

    The National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have published data on the cash collected from debt owed to SARS as indicated in the May 2025 Budget Overview.

    The data will be published monthly going forward and builds on the annual reporting of these indicators in the SARS annual reports.
    “The initial indicators to be published include that of the SARS debt book (receivables due to SARS) and that of the SARS credit book (payables due to taxpayers), as well as the cash collected from debt owed to SARS. Historical data by month will be provided according to key tax types.

    “SARS will receive an additional allocation of R7.5 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and part of this allocation will be used to increase debt collections by an additional R20 billion to R50 billion per year,” National Treasury said on Monday.

    The published data includes the expected monthly profile of cash collected from debt to raise an additional R35 billion, as mentioned in the Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance on 21 May 2025.

    “The publishing of this data will provide the public with greater insight into the revenue collection performance of SARS and will support improved fiscal planning and management,” National Treasury said. –SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Doddridge, Senior Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania

    An icebreaker approaches Denman Glacier in March, when there was 70% less Antarctic sea ice than usual. Pete Harmsen AAD

    On her first dedicated scientific voyage to Antarctica in March, the Australian icebreaker RSV Nuyina found the area sea-ice free. Scientists were able to reach places never sampled before.

    Over the past four summers, Antarctic sea ice extent has hit new lows.

    I’m part of a large group of scientists who set out to explore the consequences of summer sea ice loss after the record lows of 2022 and 2023. Together we rounded up the latest publications, then gathered new evidence using satellites, computer modelling, and robotic ocean sampling devices. Today we can finally reveal what we found.

    It’s bad news on many levels, because Antarctic sea ice is vital for the world’s climate and ecosystems. But we need to get a grip on what’s happening – and use this concerning data to prompt faster action on climate change.

    Sea ice around Antarctica waxes and wanes with the seasons, growing in the cold months and melting in warm ones. But this rhythmic cycle is changing.

    What we did and what we found

    Our team used a huge range of approaches to study the consequences of sea ice loss.

    We used satellites to understand sea ice loss over summer, measuring everything from ice thickness and extent to the length of time each year when sea ice is absent.

    Satellite data was also used to calculate how much of the Antarctic coast was exposed to open ocean waves. We were then able to quantify the relationship between sea ice loss and iceberg calving.

    Data from free-drifting ocean robots was used to understand how sea ice loss affects the tiny plants that support the marine food web.

    Every other kind of available data was then harnessed to explore the full impact of sea ice changes on ecosystems.

    Voyage reports from international colleagues came in handy when studying how sea ice loss affected Antarctic resupply missions.

    We also used computer models to simulate the impact of dramatic summer sea ice loss on the ocean.

    In summary, our extensive research reveals four key consequences of summer sea ice loss in Antarctica.

    1. Ocean warming is compounding

    Bright white sea ice reflects about 90% of the incoming energy from sunlight, while the darker ocean absorbs about 90%. So if there’s less summer sea ice, the ocean absorbs much more heat.

    This means the ocean surface warms more in an extreme low sea ice year, such as 2016 – when everything changed.

    Until recently, the Southern Ocean would reset over winter. If there was a summer with low sea ice cover, the ocean would warm a bit. But over winter, the extra heat would shift into the atmosphere.

    That’s not working anymore. We know this from measuring sea surface temperatures, but we have also confirmed this relationship using computer models.

    What’s happening instead is when summer sea ice is very low, as in 2016, it triggers ocean warming that persists. It takes about three years for the system to fully recover. But recovery is becoming less and less likely, given warming is building from year to year.

    Comparing an average sea ice summer (a) to an extreme low sea ice summer (b) in which there is less sea ice for wildlife and more sunlight is absorbed by the ocean. The ice shelf is more exposed to ocean waves, calving more icebergs. The ocean is also less productive and tourist vessels can make a closer approach.
    Doddridge, E., W., et al. (2025) PNAS Nexus., CC BY-NC-ND

    2. More icebergs are forming

    Sea ice protects Antarctica’s coast from ocean waves.

    On average, about a third of the continent’s coastline is exposed over summer. But this is changing. In 2022 and 2023, more than half of the Antarctic coast was exposed.

    Our research shows more icebergs break away from Antarctic ice sheets in years with less sea ice. During an average summer, about 100 icebergs break away. Summers with low sea ice produce about twice as many icebergs.

    Antarctic ice sheets without sea ice are more exposed to waves.
    Pete Harmsen AAD

    3. Wildlife squeezed off the ice

    Many species of seals and penguins rely on sea ice, especially for breeding and moulting.

    Entire colonies of emperor penguins experienced “catastrophic breeding failure” in 2022, when sea ice melted before chicks were ready to go to sea.

    After giving birth, crabeater seals need large, stable sea ice platforms for 2–3 weeks until their pups are weaned. The ice provides shelter and protection from predators. Less summer sea-ice cover makes large platforms harder to find.

    Many seal and penguin species also take refuge on the sea ice when moulting. These species must avoid the icy water while their new feathers or fur grows, or risk dying of hypothermia.

    4. Logistical challenges at the end of the world

    Low summer sea ice makes it harder for people working in Antarctica. Shrinking summer sea ice will narrow the time window during which Antarctic bases can be resupplied over the ice. These bases may soon need to be resupplied from different locations, or using more difficult methods such as small boats.

    Supply ships typically unload their cargo directly onto the sea ice, but that may have to change.
    Jared McGhie, Australian Antarctic Division

    No longer safe

    Anarctic sea ice began to change rapidly in 2015 and 2016. Since then it has remained well below the long-term average.

    The dataset we use relies on measurements from US Department of Defense satellites. Late last month, the department announced it would no longer provide this data to the scientific community. While this has since been delayed to July 31, significant uncertainty remains.

    One of the biggest challenges in climate science is gathering and maintaining consistent long-term datasets. Without these, we don’t accurately know how much our climate is changing. Observing the entire Earth is hard enough when we all work together. It’s going to be almost impossible if we don’t share our data.

    Antarctic sea ice extent anomalies (the difference between the long-term average and the measurement) for the entire satellite record since the late 1970s.
    Edward Doddridge, using data from the US NSIDC Sea Ice Index, version 3., CC BY

    Recent low sea ice summers present a scientific challenge. The system is currently changing faster than our scientific community can study it.

    But vanishing sea ice also presents a challenge to society. The only way to prevent even more drastic changes in the future is to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions.

    Edward Doddridge receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us – https://theconversation.com/antarctic-summer-sea-ice-is-at-record-lows-heres-how-it-will-harm-the-planet-and-us-256104

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Doddridge, Senior Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania

    An icebreaker approaches Denman Glacier in March, when there was 70% less Antarctic sea ice than usual. Pete Harmsen AAD

    On her first dedicated scientific voyage to Antarctica in March, the Australian icebreaker RSV Nuyina found the area sea-ice free. Scientists were able to reach places never sampled before.

    Over the past four summers, Antarctic sea ice extent has hit new lows.

    I’m part of a large group of scientists who set out to explore the consequences of summer sea ice loss after the record lows of 2022 and 2023. Together we rounded up the latest publications, then gathered new evidence using satellites, computer modelling, and robotic ocean sampling devices. Today we can finally reveal what we found.

    It’s bad news on many levels, because Antarctic sea ice is vital for the world’s climate and ecosystems. But we need to get a grip on what’s happening – and use this concerning data to prompt faster action on climate change.

    Sea ice around Antarctica waxes and wanes with the seasons, growing in the cold months and melting in warm ones. But this rhythmic cycle is changing.

    What we did and what we found

    Our team used a huge range of approaches to study the consequences of sea ice loss.

    We used satellites to understand sea ice loss over summer, measuring everything from ice thickness and extent to the length of time each year when sea ice is absent.

    Satellite data was also used to calculate how much of the Antarctic coast was exposed to open ocean waves. We were then able to quantify the relationship between sea ice loss and iceberg calving.

    Data from free-drifting ocean robots was used to understand how sea ice loss affects the tiny plants that support the marine food web.

    Every other kind of available data was then harnessed to explore the full impact of sea ice changes on ecosystems.

    Voyage reports from international colleagues came in handy when studying how sea ice loss affected Antarctic resupply missions.

    We also used computer models to simulate the impact of dramatic summer sea ice loss on the ocean.

    In summary, our extensive research reveals four key consequences of summer sea ice loss in Antarctica.

    1. Ocean warming is compounding

    Bright white sea ice reflects about 90% of the incoming energy from sunlight, while the darker ocean absorbs about 90%. So if there’s less summer sea ice, the ocean absorbs much more heat.

    This means the ocean surface warms more in an extreme low sea ice year, such as 2016 – when everything changed.

    Until recently, the Southern Ocean would reset over winter. If there was a summer with low sea ice cover, the ocean would warm a bit. But over winter, the extra heat would shift into the atmosphere.

    That’s not working anymore. We know this from measuring sea surface temperatures, but we have also confirmed this relationship using computer models.

    What’s happening instead is when summer sea ice is very low, as in 2016, it triggers ocean warming that persists. It takes about three years for the system to fully recover. But recovery is becoming less and less likely, given warming is building from year to year.

    Comparing an average sea ice summer (a) to an extreme low sea ice summer (b) in which there is less sea ice for wildlife and more sunlight is absorbed by the ocean. The ice shelf is more exposed to ocean waves, calving more icebergs. The ocean is also less productive and tourist vessels can make a closer approach.
    Doddridge, E., W., et al. (2025) PNAS Nexus., CC BY-NC-ND

    2. More icebergs are forming

    Sea ice protects Antarctica’s coast from ocean waves.

    On average, about a third of the continent’s coastline is exposed over summer. But this is changing. In 2022 and 2023, more than half of the Antarctic coast was exposed.

    Our research shows more icebergs break away from Antarctic ice sheets in years with less sea ice. During an average summer, about 100 icebergs break away. Summers with low sea ice produce about twice as many icebergs.

    Antarctic ice sheets without sea ice are more exposed to waves.
    Pete Harmsen AAD

    3. Wildlife squeezed off the ice

    Many species of seals and penguins rely on sea ice, especially for breeding and moulting.

    Entire colonies of emperor penguins experienced “catastrophic breeding failure” in 2022, when sea ice melted before chicks were ready to go to sea.

    After giving birth, crabeater seals need large, stable sea ice platforms for 2–3 weeks until their pups are weaned. The ice provides shelter and protection from predators. Less summer sea-ice cover makes large platforms harder to find.

    Many seal and penguin species also take refuge on the sea ice when moulting. These species must avoid the icy water while their new feathers or fur grows, or risk dying of hypothermia.

    4. Logistical challenges at the end of the world

    Low summer sea ice makes it harder for people working in Antarctica. Shrinking summer sea ice will narrow the time window during which Antarctic bases can be resupplied over the ice. These bases may soon need to be resupplied from different locations, or using more difficult methods such as small boats.

    Supply ships typically unload their cargo directly onto the sea ice, but that may have to change.
    Jared McGhie, Australian Antarctic Division

    No longer safe

    Anarctic sea ice began to change rapidly in 2015 and 2016. Since then it has remained well below the long-term average.

    The dataset we use relies on measurements from US Department of Defense satellites. Late last month, the department announced it would no longer provide this data to the scientific community. While this has since been delayed to July 31, significant uncertainty remains.

    One of the biggest challenges in climate science is gathering and maintaining consistent long-term datasets. Without these, we don’t accurately know how much our climate is changing. Observing the entire Earth is hard enough when we all work together. It’s going to be almost impossible if we don’t share our data.

    Antarctic sea ice extent anomalies (the difference between the long-term average and the measurement) for the entire satellite record since the late 1970s.
    Edward Doddridge, using data from the US NSIDC Sea Ice Index, version 3., CC BY

    Recent low sea ice summers present a scientific challenge. The system is currently changing faster than our scientific community can study it.

    But vanishing sea ice also presents a challenge to society. The only way to prevent even more drastic changes in the future is to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions.

    Edward Doddridge receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us – https://theconversation.com/antarctic-summer-sea-ice-is-at-record-lows-heres-how-it-will-harm-the-planet-and-us-256104

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK The work of the Secretary of State for Defence – Defence Committee

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    The Defence Committee will hold an evidence session on the work of the Secretary of State for Defence at 2pm, on Wednesday 2 July.  

    The session will cover a wide range of topics. Members are likely to discuss the latest developments in the conflict in the Middle East. The security breach at RAF Brize Norton and the importance of homeland defence are likely to be covered in the session.

    Other topics include the Strategic Defence Review, defence spending commitments, and the current situation in Ukraine.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo7iH77cBIk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Peter Kyle’s speech at CityWeek 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Peter Kyle’s speech at CityWeek 2025

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, delivered a speech at the CityWeek 2025 on Tuesday 1 July 2025.

    Last week, I represented the British government on a trip to Singapore.

    I was there to celebrate 60 years of partnership between our 2 countries.

    And drum up investment into British technology.

    It was my first time in Singapore.

    And it struck me that it’s a place that has mastered the art of reinvention.

    From traditional fishing village to global financial centre.

    Small trading post to one of the most competitive economies in the world.

    An economy that, like ours, knows that the key to staying competitive is being squarely focussed on the future.

    It’s a similar idea that brings us together today.

    Because this is a sector that’s also defined by an ability to reinvent itself.

    Where centuries-old banks have had to rip up the playbook.

    To compete with nimble, digital-first firms.

    And where new technologies have made the way you work unrecognisable from how it once was.

    One of my first proper jobs was in a finance team.

    It was 1989, and I worked in the purchase ledger at The Body Shop – a hero of the British high street at the time.

    I matched goods that came in with invoices.

    And inputted all of that into an arcane mainframe computer.

    I’m sure quite a few of you will remember those days.

    And the change after change you’ve seen your institutions through since.

    Because before PIN codes, there was paper.

    Before blockchain, there were books of accounts that landed with a thud on the desk.

    Before cashless, there was ‘Cashier number 3 please’.

    These are changes that financial services firms have not just weathered, but pioneered.

    To keep this sector as the engine of economic growth it truly is.

    And to keep creating products that improve the lives of working people.

    Over the past few years, another change has rippled through the sector:

    AI has reshaped what’s possible.

    And there’s not a sector of our economy it will leave untouched.

    There’s a simple difference between this change and those that came before:

    Sheer speed.

    In past waves of transformation, industry and the state alike could afford to dip a toe in.

    To spend a few years seeing how the water feels.

    This time, we need to jump.

    Since joining government, I’ve been clear that the UK will not be swept along as others lead the AI revolution.

    We’ll shape that revolution here.

    6 months ago, we launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

    Setting out how the UK will seize the massive potential for economic growth that AI offers us.

    Growth that’s at the heart of our Plan for Change.

    Since that launch, we’ve opened up applications for areas in the UK to become AI Growth Zones – hotspots of AI infrastructure and investment.

    And had over 200 responses.

    The full weight of government is behind the plan.

    With the Chancellor announcing £2 billion to deliver it, as part of the Spending Review.

    And a Modern Industrial Strategy that doubles down on our commitment to AI…

    …as one of the 6 frontier technologies our digital and tech sector plan focusses on.

    Crucial to that plan is adoption.

    Because talking about the power of AI to grow the economy is all well and good.

    But unless companies use it, that growth only exists in theory.

    Not in practice.

    Financial services is at the front of the pack here.

    Around 3 quarters of firms surveyed by the Bank of England the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) already use AI.

    That’s the 3rd highest rate of adoption across the economy.

    That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

    The UK led the world in open banking.

    We led the world in near-instant digital payments.

    And our reputation in fintech is second-to-none.

    The most valuable private tech company in Europe is Revolut, a British fintech.

    Our fintech crown is one I’m infinitely proud of.

    If we’re to hold on to it, you need a government that continues to back you.

    That doesn’t just call for you to keep exploring new technologies.

    But actively enables you to do it.

    When I talk to firms about adoption, they tell me about 2 barriers more than any other.

    A lack of skills.

    And finding their way through a web of complex regulation.

    On skills, we’re partnering with 11 major tech companies to train 7.5 million workers in the UK with essential AI skills by the end of this decade.

    So that a lack of expertise will never put a ceiling on what you can do.

    Regulation shouldn’t be that ceiling, either.

    In her Mansion House speech last year, the Chancellor set out a vision:

    For a regulatory environment that cares about managing the burden we put on businesses.

    Since then, she’s launched a radical action plan on regulation to kickstart growth.

    My part in that is making sure we ease the burden on businesses when it comes to adopting emerging tech.

    About 9 months ago, I launched the Regulatory Innovation Office.

    A dedicated unit to curb red tape.

    And get game-changing tech into the public’s hands quickly and safely.

    It’s already delivered results.

    Apian, a British start-up founded by NHS doctors, is now freed up to use drones to take blood samples from Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge, over to a lab in St. Thomas’ for testing.

    Before the NHS had the okay to work with them, those samples were carted over in vans.

    The journey took around half an hour.

    More if they were snarled up in traffic.

    After support from Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), each delivery now takes just 2 minutes.

    Beds are freed up faster.

    NHS waiting lists go down.

    And a crucial difference is made for patients where every second counts.

    Thanks to RIO’s close work with regulators, companies have made advances like these in fields like space or engineering biology, too.

    But I want more sectors to benefit from the breath of fresh air it offers.

    Instead of being stifled by a blanket of bureaucracy.

    So, today, I can announce that RIO is joining forces with digital regulators.

    To consolidate a labyrinth of regulation, and make it easier for innovators to bring AI products to market quickly and easily.

    This marks a significant boost for fintechs.

    Right now, your efforts to use emerging tech can get mired in a lack of clarity.

    Because there’s no single port of call on what you can do with AI.

    You’re left going from regulator to regulator, picking your way through different sets of rules.

    For start-ups and scale-ups without big legal teams, that’s nigh-on impossible to navigate.

    And for bigger banks and firms, it’s days of productivity sunk.

    Now, RIO is teaming up to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF).

    To bring all of that guidance together into a one-stop shop.

    A digital library that lets you quickly search for answers.

    These are changes that firms of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of.

    Up-and-coming fintechs to household-name banks will go from idea to impact faster:

    Using AI to spot credit card fraud hours before humans can alone.

    To get instant answers to your customers.

    To analyse stocks, so people can get more out of their investments.

    We’re clearing the path for you to harness AI to stay ahead of the game.

    And to make people’s lives fundamentally better.

    Because I know this is a sector that will keep reinventing itself.

    Just as I know that AI will continue to bring profound, positive change to the UK.

    With the right backing on adoption…

    Access to skills…

    And clarity on regulation…

    We’ll make sure that this isn’t just a change that fintechs and banks are part of.

    But a change that you lead.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jobs boost as UK and Kenya bolster economic and security partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Jobs boost as UK and Kenya bolster economic and security partnership

    The UK and Kenya have agreed new deals to bolster the economic and security partnership between the two countries.

    • Trade and investment deals agreed during the visit will contribute over £1bn to the UK economy and create UK jobs in engineering, defence industries, technical and advisory services, and financial services 
    • The UK and Kenya will also increase collaboration to tackle organised crime, human trafficking and illicit finance through the UK-Kenya Security Compact 
    • The UK and Kenya will commit to a new Strategic Partnership as Kenyan President Ruto visits London

    The UK and Kenya will commit to working together to drive economic growth, protect climate and nature, foster collaboration in science and technology and strengthen regional security. 

    During a visit to the UK by the President of Kenya, a pipeline of trade and investment deals worth over £1bn to the UK economy were agreed which will deliver on this government’s commitment to boost jobs and prosperity back in the UK, as part of the government’s Plan for Change. 

    This includes the launch of a tender for a major urban redevelopment project in Nairobi which has been inspired by the regeneration of London’s Kings Cross.

    The Nairobi Railway City project has already provided opportunities to UK businesses with British architecture firm Atkins UK chosen to design the central rail station and public square.

    The Government of Kenya is exploring funding the project through finance mobilised by the UK’s Export Credit Agency, UK Export Finance, which will create UK jobs in engineering, technical and legal services. 

    Both countries also agreed stronger cooperation to disrupt the air, land and sea routes used by organised crime groups to prevent illegal migrants transiting through Kenya in attempts to reach Libya and other countries before travelling on to Europe. Four of the top ten countries for Small Boat arrivals in the UK are near neighbours of Kenya (Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia).

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

    Through our shared history and values the UK and Kenya have always had a close connection.

    Now we are building a shared future; a modern, innovative and respectful partnership which is delivering real benefits – boosting growth and creating jobs for both Kenyans and the British people. We’re going far, together.

    The UK and Kenya have also committed to increased defence and counter terrorism collaboration, including joint training and the creation of a new counter insurgency, terrorism and stability operations centre.

    Defence sales worth over £70m were agreed during the visit supporting manufacturing jobs in County Durham, Northamptonshire and Surrey. Kenya hosts the UK’s most significant military footprint in Africa, including a facility that trains 3,000 UK troops a year. 

    The UK’s world leading financial services sector will also benefit; Lloyd’s of London will announce today that they will be joining the Nairobi International Finance Centre, which will deepen the partnership between two leading financial centres providing access to up to £500m of insurance market potential in Kenya and the East Africa region. 

    The two countries also committed to explore the potential of a bilateral digital trade agreement. Dubbed ‘Silicon Savannah’, the value of Kenya’s tech sector is projected to reach £11.5bn by 2032.

    A digital trade agreement will open up opportunities in the sector for UK Plc.

    Notes to Editors 

    • The projects quoted are examples of a pipeline of projects that both governments will be working towards.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Multi-stakeholder Round Table 3: Revitalizing International Development Cooperation

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The Conference holds its third multi-stakeholder round table this afternoon on “Revitalizing international development cooperation”.

    Pedro Sánchez, President of Spain, will make opening remarks.

    Co-Chaired by KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, and Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Vice-Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, it will feature a special address by Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, and a keynote address by Ho Duc Phoc, Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam.

    Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will moderate the discussion.

    Panelists will include:  Jozef Síkela, Commissioner of International Partnership of the European Commission; Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland; Henry-Claude Oyima, Minister of State, Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Debt of Gabon; and Maropene Ramokgopa, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of South Africa. 

    Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank, and Liqun Jin, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, will be the discussants.

    …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education Release Report Proposing Initial Solutions to Child Care Crisis

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education Release Report Proposing Initial Solutions to Child Care Crisis

    Governor Stein’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education Release Report Proposing Initial Solutions to Child Care Crisis
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin released its interim report outlining six recommendations to make high-quality child care more accessible, affordable, and sustainable in North Carolina.

    “Investing in child care benefits everyone. When children grow up in a supportive and nurturing environment, it sets them on the trajectory to thrive as adults,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We must come together to make child care more accessible and affordable so that we can secure a brighter future for North Carolina’s children.” 

    “North Carolina families are struggling to find quality child care while centers are closing their doors, making it harder for children to get the education they need and for parents to go to work without worry,” said Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt. “This Task Force has brought together industry leaders and community partners to find real solutions. While our work will continue, I believe this report lays out a path forward to make child care more accessible and affordable.”

    “Child care is a business issue, a talent issue, and a health issue that must be addressed to maintain our competitiveness and to increase statewide prosperity,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Public-private solutions, like Commerce’s Child Care Business Liaison position, supported by the NC Department of Health and Human Services and Invest Early NC, are a critical piece of this puzzle and increase capacity for identifying collaborative solutions to addressing the multifaceted child care challenges in North Carolina.”

    “Child care is the most important issue facing young families. In reality, many families start tackling this issue before conception,” said Senator Jim Burgin. “This task force has looked at all aspects of child care and early education and explored many possible solutions. I am grateful for Lt. Gov. Hunt and the task force as they work to support the well-being of the children of North Carolina. I would also like to thank Gov. Stein for placing importance on this topic.”

    North Carolina’s child care system faces significant challenges associated with recruitment and retention of early childhood education professionals, and in turn availability and affordability of care. The average cost of infant care in North Carolina is more expensive than the cost of in-state college tuition. As such, many parents with young children are making difficult decisions to leave the workforce due to lack of care, costing the state over $5.65 billion in additional economic output in 2023.

    The interim report outlines findings and six recommendations developed by Task Force members to explore the key factors impacting North Carolina’s child care landscape. 

    TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

    1. Set a statewide child care subsidy reimbursement rate floor
    2. Develop approaches to offer non-salary benefits for child care professionals
    3. Explore partnerships with the UNC system, community colleges, and K-12 schools to increase access to child care for public employees and students at public institutions
    4. Explore subsidized or free child care for child care teachers
    5. Link existing workforce compensation and support programs for early childhood professionals
    6. Explore the creation of a child care endowment

    A brief summary of each recommendation can be found below. 

    Set a Statewide Child Care Subsidy Reimbursement Rate Floor

    Child care subsidies reimburse child care providers for services they deliver to low-income families, helping low-income parents stay in the workforce, and strengthening our economy. A statewide floor for child care subsidy reimbursement rates would set a minimum subsidy rate in North Carolina, ensuring child care programs across all 100 counties receive a minimum child care subsidy reimbursement to help sustain child care programs that are currently struggling to break even. 

    Develop Approaches to Offer Non-Salary Benefits for Child Care Professionals 

    Many child care providers are unable to offer non-salary benefits, such as health insurance or retirement, which makes it challenging to recruit and retain early childhood education professionals. The Task Force will explore whether early childhood professionals could be made eligible for non-salary benefits, such as the North Carolina State Health Plan, or offered other non-salary benefits like paid leave, loan forgiveness, and mental health support.  

    Explore Partnerships with UNC System, Community Colleges and K-12 School Systems to Increase Access to Child Care for Public Employees and Students 

    The Task Force will explore options for increasing access to child care for public employees, including supporting subsidized child care for public sector employees. These partnerships could increase access to child care and support training for prospective child care employees by setting up child care centers on school and community college campuses. 

    Explore Subsidized or Free Child Care for Early Childhood Educators 

    Child care as an employer benefit is a significant talent recruitment and retention tool across industries and could be particularly valuable to help grow and sustain the child care workforce. The Task Force will explore how child care workers could be made eligible for child care subsidies.

    Link Existing Workforce Compensation and Support Programs for Early Childhood Professionals 

    The Task Force will explore how current workforce training and compensation support programs for early childhood education professionals could be improved by expanding them statewide and linking programs sequentially along a career pathway. North Carolina currently has several programs aimed at improving recruitment and retention, including the Child Care WAGE$ Program, the Teach North Carolina Early Childhood Scholarship Program, the Building Bright Futures program, Child Care Academies, and the Family Child Care Home Pilot Program. 

    Explore the Creation of a Child Care Endowment 

    A child care endowment leverages public and/or private dollars to set up an investment fund, the annual interest of which can be used for state child care needs. The Task Force will explore how a child care endowment could help address the current child care crisis in North Carolina by providing an ongoing source of supplemental child care funding for the state and maximizing child care funding through investment from private companies, philanthropy, and communities in partnership with the state.

    In coming months, the Task Force will dive deeper into the recommendations outlined in this report, and work groups will examine additional challenges, opportunities, and innovations affecting our state’s child care and early education landscape. The Task Force will also produce an additional report and set of recommendations to submit to Governor Stein by the end of December 2025. 

    Members of the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education include:

    • Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt, State of North Carolina, Co-Chair
    • Senator Jim Burgin, NC General Assembly, Co-Chair
    • Senator Jay Chaudhuri, NC General Assembly
    • Ashton Clemmons, Associate Vice President of P12 Strategy & Policy, University of North Carolina System
    • Representative Sarah Crawford, NC General Assembly
    • Amy Cubbage, President, NC Partnership for Children
    • Senator Ralph Hise, NC General Assembly
    • Lori Jones-Ruff, Regional Programs Manager, Southwestern Child Development Commission, Inc.
    • Michelle Logan, Vice President & General Manager of Drug Product, North America, Thermo Fisher
    • Amar Majmundar, Policy Director, NC Office of State Human Resources
    • Beth Messersmith, NC Senior Director, Moms Rising
    • Dr. Mary Olvera, State Director of Teacher Education, Public Services, and Perkins Special Populations, NC Community College System
    • Ellen Pancoast, Vice President of People Operations, Cone Health
    • Susan Gale Perry, Chief Executive Officer, Child Care Aware of America
    • Rhonda Rivers, Chair, NC Child Care Commission
    • Dan Rockaway, President, NC Licensed Child Care Association
    • Gary Salamido, President & CEO, NC Chamber
    • Meka Sales, Director of Special Initiatives, The Duke Endowment
    • Erica Palmer Smith, Executive Director, NC Child
    • Theresa Stacker, Executive Director, NC Early Childhood Foundation
    • Noelle Talley, Deputy Secretary for Advocacy, NC Department of Administration
    • Dan Tetreault, Assistant Director of Early Learning, NC Department of Public Instruction
    • Representative David Willis, NC General Assembly
    • Mary Elizabeth Wilson, Chief of Staff & General Counsel, NC Department of Commerce
    • Candace Witherspoon, Director, Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services

    Read Governor Stein’s executive order establishing the Task Force on Child Care and Early Education here.

    Read the Task Force’s full report here.

    Learn more about the Task Force here.

    Jul 1, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces new Violent Crimes Case Reduction Unit gets its first trial convictionRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s new Violent Crimes Case Reduction Unit (VCCRU) got its first in-trial conviction last week after only six months in court and the adoption of over 180 violent crime cases. The team has closed or issued bench warrants in over 10% of the cases. 

    On Thursday, June 26th, a jury in Sumter convicted Jason Barnes, 43, of Sumter, of shooting and killing Richard “Ricky” Preusser, 51. Barnes was staying in a home owned by Preusser, which is where the murder occurred on August 19, 2022. Barnes had brought the revolver he used in the murder from the West Coast just two weeks earlier. The mobile phone found by a canine officer in the woods when Barnes was located was processed by the Sumter County Police Department. This phone contained information that gave insight into the defendant’s thoughts and concerns, especially in retrieving the murder weapon before it could be located by law enforcement.

    Judge Ferrell Cothran sentenced Barnes to 38 years in prison for the murder and five years for the weapons charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

    Attorney General Wilson formed the VCCRU last year to assist solicitors’ offices that have significant backlogs of violent crimes to prosecute.

    “These first pleas and trials are the beginning of what will be many cases our Violent Crimes Case Reduction Unit will close to bring justice to crime victims in South Carolina,” Attorney General Wilson said.

    The case was investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Special Investigators Rebecca Sessions and Cameron Warren of the Attorney General’s Office.

    VCCRU prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Angela Tanner, was the primary attorney on the case, and VCCRU Assistant Attorney General Chris Scalzo assisted her in the courtroom. A special thank you to the VCCRU team, paralegals Glenda Amick and Margaret Osburn, law clerk Emily Culbreath, victim advocate Glynna Fogle, Assistant Attorney General Monty Bell, and Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Heather S. Weiss for the teamwork on this trial and throughout the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Odysight.AI (Nasdaq: ODYS) Added to the Russell Microcap® Index

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Omer, Israel, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.AI Inc. (Nasdaq: ODYS), a pioneering developer of AI systems for Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM), was added to the Russell Microcap® Index, effective after the U.S. market opened on June 30 as part of the 2025 Russell indexes reconstitution.

    The annual Russell U.S. Indexes reconstitution captures the 4,000 largest US stocks as of Wednesday, April 30th, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the Russell Microcap® Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

    “Inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index highlights the momentum we have built since our Nasdaq listing in February” commented Einav Brenner, CFO. “We believe this recognition enhances our visibility with institutional investors and underscores confidence in our long-term growth strategy. As we scale, we remain focused on delivering innovation, value, and sustained performance for our stakeholders.”

    Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Russell’s U.S. indexes serve as the benchmark for about $10.6 trillion in assets as of the close of June 2024. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, the global index provider.

    About Odysight.AI

    Odysight.AI is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.AI leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.AI’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.AI’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.Odysight.AI or follow us on X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.

    About FTSE Russell, an LSEG Business

    FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $18.1 trillion is benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. Leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks choose FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

    FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. 

    For more information on the Russell Microcap® Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.AI technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.AI’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact of Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.AI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2025 and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.AI undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

    Company Contact:
    Einav Brenner, CFO
    info@odysight.ai

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: eXp Realty Names Lofty Preferred Solution Provider in New CRM of Choice Program 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Award-winning real estate technology innovator Lofty today announced the company has been selected as a preferred solution provider in eXP Realty’s new CRM of Choice program. The initiative provides agents day one access to the leading tech platforms in the industry, designed to automate time consuming processes, boost agent productivity and accelerate business growth. A recognized tech innovator, Lofty was chosen for its powerful AI capabilities and proven success in helping other fast-growing brokerages support the entire real estate process — from search to settlement. To learn more about how Lofty can help your brokerage accelerate business growth, visit HERE. 

    • Lofty Wins Company of the Year in Real Estate in 2025 American Business Awards. Read more HERE. 
    • Lofty Named to HousingWire 100 for Sixth Consecutive Year. Read more HERE.

    As the most agent-centric brokerage on the planet, eXp Realty is committed to empowering their global community of agents with the cutting-edge tools they need to succeed. Meanwhile, today’s career-oriented, tech savvy agents have come to expect seamless access to an innovative platform, knowing the indisputable value of technology to augment their own hard work. eXp’s bold new CRM of Choice program, unveiled today, makes it even easier to deliver on this expectation and put the power of freedom, flexibility and control directly into the hands of agents. Designed for solo agents or teams, CRM of Choice empowers real estate professionals to select the system that best aligns with their unique workflow, business structure and goals, underpinned by customized onboarding and training and included within the existing monthly tech package.

    eXp selected Lofty as a preferred solution provider based on the platform’s robust AI capabilities and forward-thinking approach to product development, confident in the company’s ability to consistently deliver the tools agents need to compete in a modern world. Interested agents can join a deep-dive session on Lofty every Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET. Learn more HERE.

    “We are thrilled to be named a preferred solution provider in eXP Realty’s new CRM of Choice program,” said Brian Hoialmen, Chief Strategy Officer, Lofty. “Built for the way agents work, our AI-powered platform has consistently proven to not only save time and increase efficiencies but serve as a true assistant to agents in their day-to-day work. We look forward to the opportunity to support even more hard-working real estate professionals through this innovative new program.” 

    Lofty’s Enterprise platform was custom built to support the unique and complex needs of all brokerages and is a lynchpin to recruiting and retaining powerhouse agents. An easy to use and intuitive platform, Lofty boasts a 60%+ agent adoption rate, more than double the industry average, and has proven to convert 48% more leads on average than competitors. Featuring a wide range of AI capabilities to help agents quickly and effectively navigate the platform, build strategic marketing and social media content, promote listings, manage leads and more, Lofty empowers agents to instead focus their valued time on building customer relationships. An award-winning tech innovator, Lofty also delivers new features monthly, ensuring agents feel confident they have access to all the modern tools they need to win.

    “Choosing the right CRM is essential to building a scalable real estate business,” said Kendall Bonner, Vice President, Industry Relations and Strategic Partnerships, eXp Realty. “Lofty’s sleek interface and smart automation tools help agents streamline their marketing and manage their pipeline with confidence and clarity.”

    To learn more about how Lofty’s unmatched AI capabilities can help your business grow, visit lofty.com/ai/overview.  

    About Lofty Inc.
    Lofty Inc. (formerly Chime Technologies) provides an AI-powered platform that helps real estate professionals increase their productivity and accelerate business growth. Featuring award-winning technology, the Lofty platform is designed to optimize every step of the real estate journey, from search to settlement. By leveraging one unified hub, customers can automate marketing programs, streamline the sales process, and maximize collaboration between agents, empowering them to spend more time building relationships and their business. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Lofty provides proven solutions for brokers, teams, and the enterprise. For more information, visit lofty.com.

    Media Contact:
    Sarah Murray
    Attune Communications
    sarah@attunecommunications.com

    About eXp World Holdings, Inc.
    eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPI) (the “Company”) is the holding company for eXp Realty® and SUCCESS® Enterprises. eXp Realty is the largest independent real estate brokerage in the world, with nearly 81,000 agents across 27 countries. As a cloud-based, agent-centric brokerage, eXp Realty provides real estate agents industry-leading commission splits, revenue share, equity ownership opportunities, and a global network that empowers agents to build thriving businesses. For more information about eXp World Holdings, Inc., visit: expworldholdings.com. 

    SUCCESS® Enterprises, anchored by SUCCESS® magazine, has been a trusted name in personal and professional development since 1897. As part of the eXp ecosystem, it offers agents access to valuable resources to enhance their skills, grow their businesses, and achieve long-term success. For more information about SUCCESS, visit success.com.

    Media Relations Contact:
    eXp World Holdings, Inc.
    mediarelations@expworldholdings.com

    Investor Relations
    Denise Garcia
    investors@expworldholdings.com

    Safe Harbor Statement
    The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on eXp World Holdings, Inc.’s (the “Company”) management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the Company’s technology offerings and their availability and value to agents and brokers. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update them. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in forward-looking statements include changes in technology platform offerings and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eee9cd8c-6d59-40de-8539-347dbe3cd1d6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SIMPPLE Ltd. Announces Results of AGM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Singapore, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIMPPLE Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPPL) (“SIMPPLE” or “the Company”), a leading technology provider and innovator in the facilities management (FM) sector, today announced that the proposed resolutions submitted for shareholder approval have been duly adopted at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (“AGM”) held on June 30, 2025, at 9:00am Eastern Time.

    Results of the Annual General Meeting

    Shareholders of SIMPPLE approved all proposals submitted by the Board of Directors, including the following:

    • The confirmation of Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024;
    • The appointment of Audit Alliance LLP as the independent auditor of the Company until the next AGM and the fixing of their remuneration to be delegated to the Board of Directors of the Company;
    • All nominated Board of Directors, including Mr. Lee Soon Sze Kelvin as Chairman, were re-elected for a one-year term ending at the conclusion of the 2026 AGM.

    About SIMPPLE LTD.

    Headquartered in Singapore, SIMPPLE LTD. is an advanced technology solution provider in the emerging PropTech space, focused on helping facilities owners and managers manage facilities autonomously. Founded in 2016, the Company has a strong foothold in the Singapore facilities management market, serving over 60 clients in both the public and private sectors and extending out of Singapore into Australia and the Middle East. The Company has developed its proprietary SIMPPLE Ecosystem, to create an automated workforce management tool for building maintenance, surveillance and cleaning comprised of a mix of software and hardware solutions such as robotics (both cleaning and security) and Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) devices. 

    For more information on SIMPPLE, please visit: https://www.simpple.ai

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.

    Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Evolution Petroleum Announces Positive Results from Joint Interest Audit of Barnett Operator and Provides Update on Chaveroo Wells

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE American: EPM) (“Evolution” or the “Company”) today announced the initial results of its joint interest audit of its Barnett Shale properties and is providing an update on its latest Chaveroo drilling results.

    Joint Interest Audit Results

    In fiscal year 2024, Evolution exercised its right to perform a joint interest audit of expenses charged from Diversified Energy Company (“Diversified”), the largest operator of its Barnett Shale properties, for the calendar years 2022–2023. This is being completed with the assistance of its joint venture auditors, BRI Consulting Group, Inc., a Houston based consulting company servicing the energy industry.

    Calendar year 2022 represented the first full year that Diversified operated the Barnett Shale properties for Evolution. The initial findings produced several areas where it appeared Evolution had been over-charged and, so far, Evolution and Diversified have discovered approximately $1.8 million owed to Evolution relating to the September 2021 through December 2023 time period. This amount will be recognized as a reduction to lease operating expenses and accounts payable in the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results. Evolution plans to continue with its rights under the joint operating agreement to audit future periods.

    Kelly Loyd, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Approximately one year ago, Evolution exercised its right to conduct a thorough audit of joint interest costs passed along to us over the last several years on our Barnett Shale properties. This initial audit was conducted for the 2022-2023 time period and we have preliminarily agreed on a subset of discrepancies, totaling an approximate $1.8 million in expenses that are owed back to Evolution. These reduced expenses will directly increase our fiscal year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA and will positively impact our earnings. There may be additional benefits to us from the period under audit as we continue to review the initial findings. Further, we do expect to see additional benefits to the Company as it relates to January 1, 2024 and beyond from subsequent audits and updates to billing practices as a result of the current audit findings. We want to thank Diversified for their cooperation and partnership throughout this audit process.”

    Chaveroo New Drill Wells Update
    Mark Bunch, Chief Operating Officer, commented, “As stated in our Fiscal third quarter earnings release, we are pleased to provide additional data on our most recent four wells at Chaveroo. We previously reported that these wells were completed on schedule and under budget. At that time, with only 10 days of production, the wells were significantly exceeding our expectations. I am pleased to report that with more than 50 days of production data, the wells continue to significantly outperform our type curves.”

    About Evolution Petroleum
    Evolution Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company focused on maximizing total shareholder returns through the ownership of and investment in onshore oil and natural gas properties in the U.S. The Company aims to build and maintain a diversified portfolio of long-life oil and natural gas properties through acquisitions, selective development opportunities, production enhancements, and other exploitation efforts. Visit www.evolutionpetroleum.com for more information.

    Cautionary Statement
    All forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding the Company’s current and future expectations, potential results, and plans and objectives involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties. Statements herein using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “plans,” “outlook,” “should,” “will,” and words of similar meaning are forward-looking statements. Although the Company’s expectations are based on business, engineering, geological, financial, and operating assumptions that it believes to be reasonable, many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from its expectations. The Company gives no assurance that its goals will be achieved. These factors and others are detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

    Contact
    Investor Relations
    (713) 935-0122
    ir@evolutionpetroleum.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beeline Strengthens Balance Sheet in June with $6.5M Capital Raise and Major Debt Reduction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PROVIDENCE, R.I., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — Beeline Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLNE), the fast-growing digital mortgage platform redefining the path to homeownership, today announced it has raised $6.5 million in fresh capital the last week of June through a combination of its At-The-Market (ATM) and equity line of credit (ELOC) programs during the final week of June.

    In parallel, the company aggressively reduced its debt by a total of $5.3 million during the first half of 2025—$1.3 million in Q1 and $4.0 million in Q2—bringing total debt owed to third parties down to just $2.3 million (not including its subsidiary’s mortgage warehousing line).  The company ended the quarter with over $6 million in cash.

    “These moves mark a defining moment for Beeline,” said Nick Liuzza, CEO of Beeline. “We’ve faced a tough macro environment over the last few years, but we stayed disciplined, focused, and innovative. Now, with interest rates expected to trend lower, we’re in our strongest financial position ever—bolstered by new equity offerings and the momentum building within our SaaS arm, Beeline Labs.”

    As of March 31, 2025, the company reported approximately $40 million in shareholders’ equity.

    “We’re currently trading at just 30% of book value,” added Chris Moe, CFO of Beeline. “At some point, the market will reflect the fundamentals. But for now, our priority remains executing on the business—becoming debt-free and achieving positive cash flow.”

    With inflation cooling and the Federal Reserve signaling potential rate cuts as early as Q3—fueled by political pressure and economic indicators—Beeline sees significant upside in both its mortgage origination engine and scalable SaaS infrastructure.

    About Beeline Financial Holdings, Inc.

    Beeline Financial Holdings, Inc. is a trailblazing mortgage fintech transforming the way people access property financing. Through its fully digital, AI-powered platform, Beeline delivers a faster, smarter path to home loans—whether for primary residences or investment properties. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Beeline is reshaping mortgage origination with speed, simplicity, and transparency at its core. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Beeline Holdings and also operates Beeline Labs, its innovation arm focused on next-generation lending solutions.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the lowering of interest rates, the potential for both of  the company’s real estate business lines, and the market reflecting the company’s fundamentals . Forward-looking statements are prefaced by words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “intend,” “seem,” “potential,” “appear,” “continue,” “future,” believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, the possibility that estimates, projections and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based prove to be incorrect, including the continued strength of the U.S. economy, reduced inflation rates, the future of U.S. tariff policy, and the success of the company’s home equity program.  See also the Risk Factors contained in our Form 10-K filed April 15, 2025 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this presentation speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Investor Relations – Contact

    investors@makeabeeline.com

    Media – Contact

    press@makeabeeline.com

    Wire Service Contact:
    IBN
    Austin, Texas
    www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    512.354.7000 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Snail Games Expands Indie Portfolio with the Launch of Robots at Midnight and Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CULVER CITY, Calif., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail Games” or the “Company”), a leading global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, announced the launch of two new indie titles, Robots at Midnight and Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship, in the month of June. These releases mark a strategic expansion into distinct game and player demographics, showcasing Snail’s ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation across its global portfolio.

    Robots at Midnight, developed by Toronto based studio Finish Line Games, represents Snail Games’ strategic entry into a younger segment of the gaming market. Designed as an accessible, entry-level Souls-like game, it introduces the genre’s core mechanics in a more user-friendly format, lowering the barrier to entry for wider appeal. The game specifically targets the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha players who are just beginning to engage with more complex gameplay experiences. Backed in part by Canada Media Fund, the game is led by studio co-founder Daniel Posner, whose background in education and interactive media bridges entertainment and learning. To celebrate the launch of Robots at Midnight and the 2.1M+ viewer minutes watched on Twitch, the team is hosting a community event where players can win DIY robot kits encouraging real world creativity inspired by in-game exploration. For Snail Games, its investment in games like Robots at Midnight is a long-term strategy to captivate the next generation of gamers and creators. With Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date, early engagement aims to build brand loyalty and position the Company to meet the future demands of an evolving global market.

    Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship, developed by Zing Games, comes from a seasoned studio with a track record of success; its previous titles, including the predecessor Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes, have collectively surpassed 10 million downloads. The latest installment in the Zombie Rollerz franchise blends fast-paced roguelite mechanics with tower defense survival strategy to deliver a highly replayable, content-rich experience. With a positive Steam rating at launch and a distinctive visual style that appeals to casual and core gamers alike, Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship demonstrates the strength of Zing Games’ IP and Snail’s ability to identify and scale high-performing indie titles.

    Together, Robots at Midnight and Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship exemplifies Snail Games’ strategic focus on widening its portfolio and deepening market penetration across multiple player segments. By introducing accessible gameplay in an underserved genre to engage Gen Alpha players and scaling emerging IPs, Snail is actively expanding its presence across diverse markets. These launches reflect a deliberate approach to portfolio diversification – one that balances genre innovation, long-term revenue opportunities, and global audience growth as Snail continues to evolve and embrace the next-generation of interactive entertainment.

    For creators interested in covering Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship or Robots at Midnight please reach out to creatordirect@noiz.gg.

    About Snail, Inc.
    Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. For more information, please visit: https://snail.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “continue,” “estimate” and “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) Snail showcasing its ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation across its global portfolio, (ii) Snail’s long-term investment in the next generation of gamers and creators, (iii) Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date and (iv) Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed by the Company with the SEC on March 26, 2025 and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

    Investor Contact:
    John Yi and Steven Shinmachi
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    SNAL@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Siebert Financial Joins Russell 2000 Index, Strengthens Growth Strategy with Tech Investments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK and MIAMI, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Siebert Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: SIEB) today announced its inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index, effective after the U.S. market closed on June 27, 2025, following the annual Russell U.S. Indexes reconstitution.

    The milestone aligns with Siebert’s aggressive push into technology and financial innovation. In June, the company launched an at-the-market (ATM) offering of up to $50 million to support strategic initiatives, including AI, digital assets, and potential acquisitions. In the same month, Siebert deepened its tech strategy through a key investment in FusionIQ, enabling modular, digital wealth solutions for its advisors and clients.

    John J. Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer of Siebert Financial Corp., said: “Inclusion in the Russell 2000 reflects our ongoing strategic transformation. We’re deploying new capital, investing in AI and digital assets, and forming lasting partnerships to achieve this goal. Siebert is constantly evolving to be ready for what’s next.”

    Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. According to data as of the end of June 2024, about $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell US indexes, which belong to FTSE Russell, the global index provider.

    About Siebert Financial Corp.
    Siebert is a diversified financial services company and has been a member of the NYSE since 1967, when Muriel Siebert became the first woman to own a seat on the NYSE and the first to head one of its member firms.

    Siebert operates through its subsidiaries Muriel Siebert & Co., LLC, Siebert AdvisorNXT, LLC, Park Wilshire Companies, Inc., RISE Financial Services, LLC, Siebert Technologies, LLC, StockCross Digital Solutions, Ltd, and Gebbia Media LLC. Through these entities, Siebert provides a full range of brokerage and financial advisory services, including securities brokerage, investment advisory and insurance offerings, securities lending, and corporate stock plan administration solutions, in addition to entertainment and media productions. For over 55 years, Siebert has been a company that values its clients, shareholders, and employees. More information is available at www.siebert.com.

    About FTSE Russell
    FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $18.1 trillion is benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. Leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks choose FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance and embraces the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and customer partnerships as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering.

    For more information, visit FTSE Russell.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “intend” and similar words or expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.

    These forward-looking statements, which reflect beliefs, objectives, and expectations as of the date hereof, are based on the best judgment of the management of Siebert. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, including, without limitation, the following: economic, social and political conditions, global economic downturns resulting from extraordinary events; securities industry risks; interest rate risks; liquidity risks; credit risk with clients and counterparties; risk of liability for errors in clearing functions; systemic risk; systems failures, delays and capacity constraints; network security risks; competition; reliance on external service providers; new laws and regulations affecting Siebert’s business; net capital requirements; extensive regulation, regulatory uncertainties and legal matters; failure to maintain relationships with employees, customers, business partners or governmental entities; the inability to achieve synergies or to implement integration plans; and other consequences associated with risks and uncertainties detailed in Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors of Siebert’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and Siebert’s filings with the SEC.

    Siebert cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and new factors may emerge, or changes to the foregoing factors may occur that could impact its business. Siebert undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required by the federal securities laws.

    Media Contact:
    Deborah Kostroun, Zito Partners
    deborah@zitopartners.com
    +1 (201) 403-8185

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vimeo Appoints Rose Frawley as Chief People Officer to Drive Global Talent Strategy and Culture

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vimeo, Inc. (NASDAQ: VMEO), the largest and most trusted private video network in the world, today announced the recent appointment of Rose Frawley as its Chief People Officer (CPO). Frawley leads the company’s global talent strategy and organizational development. Her commitment to Vimeo’s people-first strategy and culture reflects the company’s momentum in attracting top-tier talent. At the helm of Vimeo’s human resources operations, Frawley is focused on cultivating a culture of trust, engagement, and connection to Vimeo’s mission, empowering employees to reach their full potential and build exceptional video experiences for users.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Rose as our Chief People Officer,” said Philip Moyer, CEO of Vimeo. “Rose brings an amazing track record of building great talent, teams and culture. Her leadership will be essential to our mission to make Vimeo the most trusted private video platform in the world and the best place for video talent to work.”

    Frawley has over 20 years of human resources experience, specializing in building high-performing People functions within leading technology and data companies. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer at YipitData and Vivvix, where she led global teams, scaled talent development, and aligned People functions with business objectives. Prior to YipitData and Vivvix, she was VP & HR Global Business Partner Team Lead at Datto and SVP ofHR and Global Business Partner Lead at FactSet.

    “I’m incredibly honored to join Vimeo at such a pivotal moment for video communications platforms and be a part of a team as passionate about driving success as I am,” said Frawley. “Creativity is critical to who we are at Vimeo, and I’m excited to maintain and protect the culture and values that have long served the company. As Vimeo continues to grow, we’ll continue to meet employees where they are and ensure they feel heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.”

    About Vimeo
    Vimeo (NASDAQ: VMEO) is the world’s most innovative video experience platform. We enable anyone to create high-quality video experiences to better connect and bring ideas to life. We proudly serve our community of millions of users – from creative storytellers to globally distributed teams at the world’s largest companies – whose videos receive billions of views each month. Learn more at www.vimeo.com.

    Contact: Frank Filiatrault / frank.filiatrault@vimeo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OSS Announces New $5 Million Order from the U.S. Navy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ESCONDIDO, Calif., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS or the Company) (Nasdaq: OSS), a leader in rugged Enterprise Class compute for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and sensor processing at the edge, today announced a new $5 million contract from the U.S. Navy to support the P-8A Poseidon Reconnaissance Aircraft. OSS expects the order to contribute to its revenue throughout 2025.

    Under the terms of the contract, OSS will deliver 61 military-spec data storage units to the U.S. Navy. These units are designed and manufactured by OSS and incorporate hot-swappable canisters of high-capacity NVMe flash storage. The design enables rapid removal and replacement for secure data offload and analysis in demanding airborne environments.

    “We are excited to announce OSS’s latest award from the U.S. Navy to support the P-8A Poseidon platform,” stated OSS President and CEO, Mike Knowles. “Our success on the P-8A program reinforces the value of our growth strategy as we pursue additional multiyear platform opportunities across defense and commercial markets. To date, OSS has received over $45 million in total contracted revenue to support this mission-critical aircraft. This continued investment is a testament to our rugged, enterprise-class capabilities and the vital role OSS plays in enabling C5ISR operations on advanced airborne platforms. The $5 million contract also strengthens our confidence in our ability to achieve our 2025 annual guidance.”

    The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft used for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. OSS’s storage solutions play a key role in enabling secure, high-speed data capture and transfer necessary for the aircraft’s advanced sensor suite.

    About One Stop Systems
    One Stop Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSS) is a leader in AI enabled solutions for the demanding ‘edge’. OSS designs and manufactures Enterprise Class compute and storage products that enable rugged AI, sensor fusion and autonomous capabilities without compromise. These hardware and software platforms bring the latest data center performance to harsh and challenging applications, whether they are on land, sea or in the air.

    OSS products include ruggedized servers, compute accelerators, flash storage arrays, and storage acceleration software. These specialized compact products are used across multiple industries and applications, including autonomous trucking and farming, as well as aircraft, drones, ships and vehicles within the defense industry.

    OSS solutions address the entire AI workflow, from high-speed data acquisition to deep learning, training and large-scale inference, and have delivered many industry firsts for industrial OEM and government customers.

    As the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion-dollar edge computing market, AI enabled solutions require-and OSS delivers-the highest level of performance in the most challenging environments without compromise.

    OSS products are available directly or through global distributors. For more information, go to www.onestopsystems.com. You can also follow OSS on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    One Stop Systems cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by One Stop Systems or its partners that any of our plans or expectations will be achieved. Factors that may contribute to our plans or expectations not being achieved include but are not limited to the potential and/or the results of program awards and renewals with the U.S. Department of Defense and defense contractors, any actual revenue derived from the U.S. Navy order, the future adoption of technologies or applications that may compete with One Stop Systems’, and the expansion of the Company’s offerings and/or relationship with different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and/or other geopolitical or economic instabilities. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    Media Contacts:
    Robert Kalebaugh
    One Stop Systems, Inc.
    Tel (858) 518-6154
    Email contact

    Investor Relations:
    Andrew Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    Tel (216) 464-6400
    Email contact

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: eToro Secures $250 Million Revolving Credit Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eToro Group Ltd. (“eToro”, or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ETOR), the trading and investing platform, today announced the closing of a new three year $250 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“the Facility”).

    The Facility provides eToro with greater financial flexibility to execute its long-term strategic growth objectives. The credit line remains undrawn at closing. eToro enters into the agreement with no outstanding debt and a strong liquidity position, including more than $736 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2025.

    “This facility provides eToro with enhanced financial flexibility to support our long-term strategic growth initiatives. It further solidifies our robust liquidity profile and ensures we are well-positioned to execute on our plans for continued growth and expansion,” said Meron Shani, CFO, eToro.

    eToro entered into the Facility arranged by Citi, Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and UBS.

    Contact
    Media Relations – pr@etoro.com
    Investor Relations – investors@etoro.com

    About eToro
    eToro is the trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have 40 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we’ve created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledge and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media center here for our latest news.

    Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding eToro’s financial outlook and market positioning. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as “outlook,” “guidance,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “plan,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond eToro’s control. eToro’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to market volatility and erratic market movements; failure to retain existing users or adding new users; extreme competition; changes in regulatory and legal framework under which eToro operates; regulatory inquiries and investigations; eToro’s estimates of its financial performance; interest rate fluctuations; the evolving cryptoasset market, including the regulations thereof; conditions related to eToro’s operations in Israel, including the ongoing war; risks related to data security and privacy and use of OSS; risks related to AI; changes in general economic or political conditions; changes to accounting principles and guidelines; the ability to maintain the listing of eToro’s securities on Nasdaq; unexpected costs or expenses; and other factors described in “Risk Factors” in eToro’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 24, 2025, as amended, and declared effective by the SEC on May 13, 2025. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent filings that eToro makes with the SEC from time to time.

    Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent eToro’s views as of the date of this press release. eToro anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. eToro undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing eToro’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

    Source: eToro Group Ltd.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wearable Devices to Showcase Mudra Link, Its Established AI-Based Neural Wristband for Smart Glasses, at XR Fair Tokyo 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    YOKNEAM ILLIT, ISRAEL, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wearable Devices Ltd. (Nasdaq: WLDS, WLDSW) (“Wearable Devices” or the “Company”), a technology growth company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered touchless sensing wearable devices, today announced that it will exhibit at the Fifth XR Fair Tokyo (XR Fair Tokyo), to be held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention and exhibition center in Tokyo, Japan, from Wednesday, July 2, 2025 through Friday July 4, 2025, at booth number 21-78 in XR Fair at West Hall 3.

    XR Fair Tokyo is a leading B2B exhibition dedicated to technologies and solutions in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality, and the broader metaverse ecosystem. As extended reality (XR) becomes a cornerstone of digital transformation, the event serves as a premier platform for companies to showcase cutting-edge innovations across industries including entertainment, manufacturing, marketing, education, and more.

    The Company’s Mudra Link is a neural input wristband, which began shipping earlier this year, enabling hands-free, gesture-based control of digital devices using neural signals. The Mudra Link works seamlessly across platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and is natively compatible with leading AR glasses such as Xreal, Rokid, RayNeo, Virtue, and TCL, and can be paired with the Apple Vision Pro. Recognized with a CES 2025 Innovation Award, Mudra Link has received strong media praise for its intuitive interface, low-latency performance, and ability to bridge neural input with spatial computing.

    Wearable Devices offers its technology across two distinct markets: Mudra Link and Mudra Band for B2C consumers, enabling intuitive, touchless control of Bluetooth HID-compatible platforms and the Apple Eco-System; and the Mudra Development Kit for B2B enterprises, allowing companies to integrate neural gesture control into their own products and applications, supporting custom interaction experiences across AR, XR, and smart environments.

    “Gestures like tap, pinch, and wrist flick are becoming the most natural way to control smart glasses and face-worn devices,” said Shmuel Barel, Chief Marketing Officer of Wearable Devices. “Wrist-based gesture control is quickly becoming a standard, and Wearable Devices has led this shift with years of innovation and real-world deployment. Japan’s early adoption of cutting-edge tech in both consumer and enterprise markets makes XR Fair Tokyo the perfect stage to showcase how Mudra enables seamless, hands-free interaction across AR use cases.”

    To schedule a meeting with the Company during XR Fair Tokyo at the Tokyo Big Sight, please visit, please visit https://tinyurl.com/mv422y23

    About Wearable Devices Ltd.

    Wearable Devices Ltd. is a pioneering growth company revolutionizing human-computer interaction through its AI-powered neural input technology for both consumer and business markets. Leveraging proprietary sensors, software, and advanced AI algorithms, the Company’s innovative products, including the Mudra Band for iOS and Mudra Link for Android, enable seamless, touch-free interaction by transforming subtle finger and wrist movements into intuitive controls. These groundbreaking solutions enhance gaming, and the rapidly expanding AR/VR/XR landscapes. The Company offers a dual-channel business model: direct-to-consumer sales and enterprise licensing. Its flagship Mudra Band integrates functional and stylish design with cutting-edge AI to empower consumers, while its enterprise solutions provide businesses with the tools to deliver immersive and interactive experiences. By setting the input standard for the XR market, Wearable Devices is redefining user experiences and driving innovation in one of the fastest-growing tech sectors. Wearable Devices’ ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Nasdaq under the symbols “WLDS” and “WLDSW,” respectively.

    Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss the benefits and advantages of our devices and technology. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the trading of our ordinary shares or warrants and the development of a liquid trading market; our ability to successfully market our products and services; the acceptance of our products and services by customers; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on March 20, 2025 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Michal Efraty

    IR@wearabledevices.co.il

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sagtec Global (NASDAQ: SAGT) Accelerates Middle East Expansion with US$10 Million Smart Hospitality Tech Deal in UAE

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customizable enterprise software solutions, today announced the signing of a US$10 million smart hospitality technology agreement with SMD Tech – FZCO, a UAE-based digital infrastructure firm. This major win represents a pivotal step in Sagtec’s expansion strategy across the Middle East and its entry into the high-growth hotel automation segment.

    Under the terms of the deal, Sagtec will develop and manage a next-generation Hotel Self Check-In/Out System across premium hospitality properties in the UAE. The project includes software licensing, systems integration, data analytics, and long-term service and maintenance, delivering an end-to-end solution that supports the region’s push toward smart tourism and contactless guest experiences.

    Contract Breakdown:

    • US$4 million – Licensing and custom software development
    • US$3 million – Five-year service and maintenance agreement
    • US$3 million – Five-year data hosting and analytics contract

    Over 60% of The Contract Value Represents Multi-Year Recurring Revenue Streams

    This latest development builds upon Sagtec’s May 2025 announcement of a US$30 million revenue pipeline stemming from the exclusive distribution of its Speed+ Smart Ordering System. The UAE partnership diversifies Sagtec’s SaaS verticals beyond Food & Beverage into the rapidly growing hospitality tech domain.

    “This strategic collaboration with SMD Tech not only affirms confidence in Sagtec’s innovation capabilities but also unlocks new market opportunities in one of the fastest-growing tourism economies in the world,” said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec. “As the hospitality industry undergoes digital transformation, our tailored solutions are set to redefine how hotels operate and engage guests.”

    Sagtec’s comprehensive solution suite will include:

    • Integrated hotel check-in/out automation
    • Unified integration platform for backend operations
    • Automated room key card dispensing systems
    • CRM and POS modules optimized for hotel environments
    • Custom-built self check-in kiosks
    • Self Check-In Machine Operational Readiness Platform (ORP)

    Capitalizing on UAE’s Smart Hospitality Growth

    The UAE’s hospitality sector is undergoing a major digital transformation, fueled by government smart city initiatives, a post-pandemic travel rebound, and growing demand for seamless guest experiences. According to IMARC Group, the UAE hospitality market is expected to reach US$37.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2025 onwards.

    Sagtec’s latest offering is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, addressing operational efficiency and customer experience simultaneously—key priorities for premium hospitality operators in the region.

    About Sagtec Global Limited

    Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd.

    For more information on the Company, please log on to https://www.sagtec-global.com/.

    About SMD Tech – FZCO

    SMD Tech – FZCO is a technology-focused enterprise based in the United Arab Emirates, specializing in digital infrastructure, IoT solutions, and enterprise transformation. With a mission to empower businesses through innovative software and hardware integration, SMD Tech delivers cutting-edge solutions tailored to the region’s fast-evolving digital ecosystem. The company is committed to driving operational excellence and future-ready growth for its clients.

    Contact Information:

    Sagtec Global Limited Contact:
    Ng Chen Lok
    Chairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: +6011-6217 3661
    Email: info@sagtec-global.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nimanode Skyrockets past Crypto Presales, Eyes 30X Growth as it Edges Closer to Launch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, United Kingdom, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the XRP ecosystem gains momentum, Nimanode Token Presale is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about innovative DeFi projects on XRP Blockchain, recently surpassing an impressive milestone of 20,000 XRP raised.

    Nimanode Presale ends in a few hours, and XRP Whales and Early investors are now scooping up $NMA at its cheapest price possible before it lists on XRP DEX on a 25% higher price just at the conclusion of the presale.

    Analysts have predicted $NMA could deliver high returns as we prepare for an alt season once it debuts on major decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

    Nimanode Presale

    Why Are Investors Going Full Port on Nimanode?

    Nimanode isn’t just another project, but bridging a gap in the rising demand for infrastructure that blends automation, AI, and blockchain. Reimagining the future of work by creating AI agents that do all our blockchain work.

    From the desk of the development team at Nimanode, the platform is specifically built to introduce AI Agents to the XRP Blockchain, bringing automation on Blockchain live through delivering an Agentic workforce handling various tasks autonomously. Its cutting-edge technology is set to deliver AI Agents with the various features but not limited to

    Zero-Code Agent Builder

    Autonomous Agents Execution

    Agent Marketplace

    XRPL Integration

    The $NMA token itself is meticulously designed to deliver substantial value and exclusive benefits, Deploying and upgrading agents, Sale of agents via the marketplace, Staking to earn protocol rewards and also participating in decentralized governance of the Nimanode Ecosystem

    Less Than 10 Hours Left, DEX Listing at 25% Higher Prices

    With only a few hours remaining until the presale window closes, the urgency to secure $NMA tokens has intensified.

    Demand for the NMA token has also surged as tokens are set to be listed at an upward 25% price from presale prices at top XRPL exchanges like Magnetic, so instant returns for early investors are expected.

    This creates an immediate profit opportunity, incentivizing investors to act now rather than wait and potentially miss out on significant short-term returns.

    $NMA

    How to Join the Nimanode Presale

    The clock is ticking on the Nimanode Presale Page

    Participation is very straightforward

    1. Buy XRP from reputable exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit
    2. Send them to an XRP Compatible Wallet (Xaman recommended) to hold your purchased XRP.
    3. Go to Nimanode’s presale page, copy the deposit address, and send your XRP to it.
    4. Receive your tokens via airdrop 24 hours after the presale concludes.

    Don’t Miss Out – Secure Your Spot Now!

    With an amazing target of over 20,000 XRP raised, breaking milestone after milestone, time is running out for early backers to get involved in one of the most promising DeFi projects built on XRPL poised to be the DeFi breakout of the year.

    Nimanode isn’t just creating another DeFi app, Chatbot, or AI demo. It’s building a protocol layer where artificial intelligence doesn’t just support the blockchain, but lives on it.

    Join the presale now and position yourself at the forefront of XRP’s next big altcoin success story.

    Connect with Nimanode

    Website: https://nimanode.com

    Twitter/X: https://x.com/nimanodeai

    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

    Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2aec7a09-bb59-4d17-9714-8651dfc9392b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Funds Complete Acquisitions of International Game Technology’s Gaming & Digital Business and Everi; Combined Enterprise to Operate as IGT

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced the completion of the previously announced acquisitions of International Game Technology PLC’s (doing business as “Brightstar Lottery”) Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. (“Everi”) by a holding company owned by funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the “Apollo Funds”). The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $6.3 billion, brings together complementary businesses to form a privately held global leader in gaming, digital and financial technology solutions.

    The two companies will be integrated into a combined enterprise in the coming months. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the combined enterprise will operate under the IGT name, while retaining the Everi brand in select markets and product lines. IGT will be organized into three business units: Gaming, Digital and FinTech, creating a customer-first enterprise supported by a people-first culture that values talent, collaboration and innovation.

    “This is a defining moment for our industry,” said Nick Khin, Interim CEO of IGT. “By uniting two leading organizations, we are building an enterprise with the scale, talent and technology to lead the future of gaming. With Apollo’s support, we are very well-positioned to deliver exceptional content across land-based and digital experiences, along with integrated financial solutions and casino management that enhance the player journey and drive value for our customers. I’m honored to be part of this exciting chapter and to help shape the future of IGT.”

    As previously announced, Hector Fernandez is expected to assume the role of CEO of IGT in the fourth quarter of 2025, following the expiration of a customary non-compete period. Until then, Mr. Khin will lead the organization and transition into the role of CEO of IGT’s Gaming business unit upon Mr. Fernandez’s arrival.

    “Bringing together highly complementary businesses creates a more competitive, agile and well-capitalized platform built for long-term growth,” said Daniel Cohen, Partner at Apollo. “We are confident that IGT is well positioned to deliver differentiated content and capabilities that better serve customers across the globe. We look forward to working closely with Hector, Nick and the rest of the talented IGT team to lead the industry forward.”

    Effective today, Everi common stock has been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Everi stockholders are receiving $14.25 per share in cash, and International Game Technology PLC is receiving $4.05 billion of gross cash proceeds.

    Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds.

    About IGT

    IGT is a leading global provider of gaming, digital and financial technology solutions, formed through the combination of International Game Technology PLC’s Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. IGT’s offering spans gaming machines, game content and systems, iGaming, sports betting, cash access, loyalty and player engagement solutions, enabling it to deliver integrated, customer-centric experiences across land-based and digital environments. Organized into Gaming, Digital and FinTech business units, IGT drives innovation, efficiency and value for casino, digital and hospitality operators worldwide. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas.

    About Apollo

    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “will,” and “would” and the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. In addition, all statements regarding IGT’s business following its acquisition by the Apollo Funds are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions; the ability to retain and hire key personnel; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the acquisitions; risks related to competition in the gaming and lottery industries; dependence on significant licensing arrangements, customers, or other third parties; economic changes in global markets, such as currency exchange, inflation and interest rates, and recession; government policies (including policy changes affecting the gaming industry, taxation, trade, tariffs, immigration, customs, and border actions) and other external factors that IGT cannot control; regulation and litigation matters relating to the acquisitions; unanticipated adverse effects or liabilities from business divestitures; risks related to intellectual property, privacy matters, and cyber security (including losses and other consequences from failures, breaches, attacks, or disclosures involving information technology infrastructure and data); other business effects (including the effects of industry, market, economic, political, or regulatory conditions); and other risks and uncertainties. Neither IGT nor the Apollo Funds intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.

    Contacts

    For IGT
    Phil O’Shaughnessy
    VP Global Communications, Government Relations & Sustainability
    Toll free in U.S./Canada +1 (844) IGT-7452; outside U.S./Canada +1 (401) 392-7452
    Phil.oshaughnessy@igt.com

    For Apollo
    Noah Gunn
    Global Head of Investor Relations
    (212) 822-0540
    IR@apollo.com

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    (212) 822-0491
    Communications@apollo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Valerie M. Fridland, Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno

    ‘I’ll have a coke – no, not Coca-Cola, Sprite.’ Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    With burgers sizzling and classic rock thumping, many Americans revel in summer cookouts – at least until that wayward cousin asks for a “pop” in soda country, or even worse, a “coke” when they actually want a Sprite.

    Few American linguistic debates have bubbled quite as long and effervescently as the one over whether a generic soft drink should be called a soda, pop or coke.

    The word you use generally boils down to where you’re from: Midwesterners enjoy a good pop, while soda is tops in the North and far West. Southerners, long the cultural mavericks, don’t bat an eyelash asking for coke – lowercase – before homing in on exactly the type they want: Perhaps a root beer or a Coke, uppercase.

    As a linguist who studies American dialects, I’m less interested in this regional divide and far more fascinated by the unexpected history behind how a fizzy “health” drink from the early 1800s spawned the modern soft drink’s many names and iterations.

    Bubbles, anyone?

    Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s.

    An 1878 engraving of a soda fountain.
    Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

    The process of carbonating water was first discovered in the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, this carbonated water had become popular as a health drink and was often referred to as “soda water.” The word “soda” likely came from “sodium,” since these drinks often contained salts, which were then believed to have healing properties.

    Given its alleged curative effects for health issues such as indigestion, pharmacists sold soda water at soda fountains, innovative devices that created carbonated water to be sold by the glass. A chemistry professor, Benjamin Stillman, set up the first such device in a drugstore in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1806. Its eventual success inspired a boom of soda fountains in drugstores and health spas.

    By the mid-1800s, pharmacists were creating unique root-, fruit- and herb-infused concoctions, such as sassafras-based root beer, at their soda fountains, often marketing them as cures for everything from fatigue to foul moods.

    These flavored, sweetened versions gave rise to the linking of the word “soda” with a sweetened carbonated beverage, as opposed to simple, carbonated water.

    Seltzer – today’s popular term for such sparkling water – was around, too. But it was used only for the naturally carbonated mineral water from the German town Nieder-Selters. Unlike Perrier, sourced similarly from a specific spring in France, seltzer made the leap to becoming a generic term for fizzy water.

    Many late-19th-century and early 20th-century drugstores contained soda fountains – a nod to the original belief that the sugary, bubbly drink possessed medicinal qualities.
    Hall of Electrical History Foundation/Corbis via Getty Images

    Regional naming patterns

    So how did “soda” come to be called so many different things in different places?

    It all stems from a mix of economic enterprise and linguistic ingenuity.

    The popularity of “soda” in the Northeast likely reflects the soda fountain’s longer history in the region. Since a lot of Americans living in the Northeast migrated to California in the mid-to-late 1800s, the name likely traveled west with them.

    As for the Midwestern preference for “pop” – well, the earliest American use of the term to refer to a sparkling beverage appeared in the 1840s in the name of a flavored version called “ginger pop.” Such ginger-flavored pop, though, was around in Britain by 1816, since a Newcastle songbook is where you can first see it used in text. The “pop” seems to be onomatopoeic for the noise made when the cork was released from the bottle before drinking.

    A jingle for Faygo touts the company’s ‘red pop.’

    Linguists don’t fully know why “pop” became so popular in the Midwest. But one theory links it to a Michigan bottling company, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works – today known as Faygo Beverages – that used “pop” in the name of the sodas they marketed and sold. Another theory suggests that because bottles were more common in the region, soda drinkers were more likely to hear the “pop” sound than in the Northeast, where soda fountains reigned.

    As for using coke generically, the first Coca-Cola was served in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta and the founder of the company. In the 1900s, the Coca-Cola company tried to stamp out the use of “Coke” for “Coca-Cola.” But that ship had already sailed. Since Coca-Cola originated and was overwhelmingly popular in the South, its generic use grew out of the fact that people almost always asked for “Coke.”

    No alcohol means not ‘hard’ but ‘soft.’
    Nostalgic Collections/eBay

    As with Jell-O, Kleenex, Band-Aids and seltzer, it became a generic term.

    What’s soft about it?

    Speaking of soft drinks, what’s up with that term?

    It was originally used to distinguish all nonalcoholic drinks from “hard drinks,” or beverages containing spirits.

    Interestingly, the original Coca-Cola formula included wine – resembling a type of alcoholic “health” drink popular overseas, Vin Mariani. But Pemberton went on to develop a “soft” version a few years later to be sold as a medicinal drink.

    Due to the growing popularity of soda water concoctions, eventually “soft drink” came to mean only such sweetened carbonated beverages, a linguistic testament to America’s enduring love affair with sugar and bubbles.

    With the average American guzzling almost 40 gallons per year, you can call it whatever you what. Just don’t call it healthy.

    Valerie M. Fridland does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate – https://theconversation.com/pop-soda-or-coke-the-fizzy-history-behind-americas-favorite-linguistic-debate-259114

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Petrol prices set to increase from Wednesday

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has announced that all grades of petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin are expected to increase from Wednesday, 2 July 2025, when the latest monthly price adjustments take effect.

    The retail price for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is expected to decrease across the country, except in the Western Cape.

    The new fuel price adjustments are as follows: 

    • Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): 55c increase.
    • Petrol 95 (ULP &LRP): 52c increase.
    • Diesel (0.05% sulphur): 82c increase.
    • Diesel (0.005% sulphur): 84c increase.
    • Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): 67c increase.
    • Single Maximum National Retail Price for illuminating paraffin: 89c increase.
    • Maximum Retail Price of LPG: 57c decrease countrywide, excluding Western Cape where it’ll increase by R1.90 per kg.

    The department attributed the increases to a number of factors, including the recent increase in Brent Crude oil prices.

    “The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 63.95 US Dollars (USD) to 69.36 USD during the period under review. The main contributing factor is the recent geopolitical tension in the Middle East, between Israel and Iran, which raised fears of potential crude oil supply disruptions.

    “The average international petroleum product prices followed the increasing trend of crude oil prices. This led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 68.45 cents per litre (c/l), 100.48 c/l and 83.20 c/l respectively. The prices of Propane and Butane decreased slightly during the period under review,” the DMPR said.

    Furthermore, a Supply Cost Recovery on Maximum Refinery Gate Price (MRGP) for LPGas that is imported through the Port of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape province, has been approved.

    “The Minister has approved a 14% increase in Supply Cost Recovery on the MRGP of LPGas that is imported through the Port of Saldanha Bay (Western Cape) as an interim measure, for a period of 24 months. 

    “Accordingly, the interim MRGP in Western Cape will be R15.22 per metric ton (845.018 c/l), excluding VAT, for the period from the 2nd of July 2025 to the 5th of August 2025. Therefore, the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of LPGas in Western Cape will be R36.08 effective from the 2nd of July 2025,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In LGBTQ+ storybook case, Supreme Court handed a win to parental rights, raising tough questions for educators

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

    The parents who brought the case had requested that their children be excused when books with LGBTQ+ characters were used in class. SDI Productions/E+ via Getty Images

    The Supreme Court tends to save its blockbuster orders for the last day of the term – and 2025 was no exception.

    Among the important decisions handed down June 27, 2025, was Mahmoud v. Taylor – a case of particular interest to me, because I teach education law. Mahmoud, I believe, may become one of the court’s most consequential rulings on parental rights.

    An interfaith coalition of Muslim, Orthodox Christian and Catholic parents in Montgomery County, Maryland – including Tamer Mahmoud, for whom the case is named – questioned the school board’s refusal to allow them to opt their young children out of lessons using picture books with LGBTQ+ characters. Ruling in favor of the parents, the court found that the board violated their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion by requiring their children to sit through lessons with materials inconsistent with their faiths.

    Case history

    The parents in Mahmoud challenged the use of certain storybooks that the board had approved for use in preschool and elementary school. “Pride Puppy!” for example – a book the schools later removed – portrays a family whose pet gets lost at a LGBTQ+ Pride parade, with each page devoted to a letter of the alphabet. The book’s “search and find” list of words directs readers to look for terms in the pictures, including “(drag) queen” and “king,” “leather” and “lip ring.” Other materials included stories about same-sex marriage, a transgender child, and nonbinary bathroom signs.

    Initially, school administrators agreed to allow opt-outs for students whose parents objected to the materials. A day later, however, educators changed their minds. School officials cited concerns about absenteeism, the feasibility of accommodating opt-out requests, and a desire to avoid stigmatizing LGBTQ+ students or families.

    In August 2023, a federal trial court rejected the parents’ claim that officials had violated their fundamental due process right to direct the care, custody and education of their children. The following year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit affirmed in favor of the board, finding that officials did not violate the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religious beliefs, as protected by the First Amendment.

    A group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, protest the lack of opt-outs on July 20, 2023.
    Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    On appeal, a 6-3 Supreme Court reversed in favor of the parents. Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the court’s opinion, was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, plus Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

    Supreme Court

    In brief, the court held that by denying the parental requests to opt their children out of instruction inconsistent with their beliefs, school officials violated their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.

    Alito largely grounded the court’s rationale in a dispute from 1925, Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, and even more heavily on 1972’s Wisconsin v. Yoder. Both cases recognize the primacy of parental rights to direct the education of their children. According to Pierce’s famous dictum, “the child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.”

    In Yoder, Amish parents – an Anabaptist Christian community that avoids using many modern technologies – objected to sending their children to school after eighth grade because this would have violated their religious beliefs. The justices unanimously agreed with the parents that their children received all of the education they needed in their communities. The justices added that requiring the children to attend high school would have violated the parents’ rights to direct their children’s religious upbringing.

    Accordingly, the court acknowledged that the parental right “to guide the religious future and education of their children” was “established beyond debate.”

    Similarly, in Mahmoud the court declared that “the Board’s introduction of the ‘LGBTQ+-inclusive’ storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt-outs, places an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.”

    Thomas agreed fully with the court, yet wrote a separate concurrence, which emphasized “an important implication of this decision for schools across the country.” Citing Yoder, Thomas contended that rather than support inclusion, the board’s policy “imposes conformity with a view that undermines parents’ religious beliefs, and thus interferes with the parents’ right to ‘direct the religious upbringing of their children.’”

    Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, feared “the result will be chaos for this Nation’s public schools. Requiring schools to provide advance notice and the chance to opt out of every lesson plan or story time that might implicate a parent’s religious beliefs will impose impossible administrative burdens on schools.”

    Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor on April 22, 2025.
    Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images

    She maintained that “simply being exposed to beliefs contrary to your own” does not violate a person’s free exercise rights. Insulating children from different ideas, she wrote, denies them of an experience that is crucial for democracy: “practice living in our multicultural society.”

    Implications

    After the decision was handed down, Montgomery County’s Board of Education issued a statement promising to “analyze the Supreme Court decision and develop next steps in alignment with today’s decision, and as importantly, our values.”

    Mahmoud raises challenging questions about the scope or reach of how far parents can question curricular content.

    On the one hand, parents should not be able to micromanage curricular content via the “heckler’s veto,” because this can lead to larger issues. Moreover, while Mahmoud concerns religious rights, what happens if parents question teachings based on another type of sincerely held belief – discussing war if they are pacifist, for example, or capitalism if they are socialists? While Mahmoud dealt with free-exercise rights, it may open the door to other types of First Amendment challenges from parents wishing to exempt their children from lessons.

    On the other hand, Mahmoud highlights the need to take legitimate parental concerns into consideration. While educators typically control instruction, how can they be respectful of parents’ rights as primary caregivers of their children when conflicts arise?

    Mahmoud may go a long way in defining parents’ free-exercise rights in public schools. Still, such disputes are likely far from over in America’s increasingly diverse religious culture.

    Charles J. Russo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. In LGBTQ+ storybook case, Supreme Court handed a win to parental rights, raising tough questions for educators – https://theconversation.com/in-lgbtq-storybook-case-supreme-court-handed-a-win-to-parental-rights-raising-tough-questions-for-educators-260064

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mike Shriberg, Professor of Practice & Engagement, School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan

    Invasive Asian carp are spreading up the Mississippi River system and already clog the Illinois River. AP Photo/John Flesher

    In his second term, President Donald Trump has not taken many actions that draw near-universal praise from across the political spectrum. But there is at least one of these political anomalies, and it illustrates the broad appeal of environmental protection and conservation projects – particularly when it concerns an ecosystem of vital importance to millions of Americans.

    In May 2025, Trump issued a presidential memorandum supporting the construction of a physical barrier that is key to keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. These fish have made their way up the Mississippi River system and could have dire ecological consequences if they enter the Great Lakes.

    It was not a given that Trump would back this project, which had long been supported by environmental and conservation organizations. But two very different strategies from two Democratic governors – both potential presidential candidates in 2028 – reflected the importance of the Great Lakes to America.

    As a water policy and politics scholar focused on the Great Lakes, I see this development not only as an environmental and conservation milestone, but also a potential pathway for more political unity in the U.S.

    A feared invasion

    Perhaps nothing alarms Great Lakes ecologists more than the potential for invasive carp from Asia to establish a breeding population in the Great Lakes. These fish were intentionally introduced in the U.S. Southeast by private fish farm and wastewater treatment operators as a means to control algae in aquaculture and sewage treatment ponds. Sometime in the 1990s, the fish escaped from those ponds and moved rapidly up the Mississippi River system, including into the Illinois River, which connects to the Great Lakes.

    Sometimes said to “breed like mosquitoes and eat like hogs,” these fish can consume up to 40% of their body weight each day, outcompeting many native species and literally sucking up other species and food sources.

    Studies of Lake Erie, for example, predict that if the carp enter and thrive, they could make up approximately one-third of the fish biomass of the entire lake within 20 years, replacing popular sportfishing species such as walleye and other ecologically and economically important species.

    Invasive carp are generally not eaten in the U.S. and are not desirable for sportfishing. In fact, silver carp have a propensity to jump up to 10 feet out of the water when startled by a boat motor. That can make parts of the Illinois River, which is packed with the invasive fish, almost impossible to fish or even maneuver a boat.

    Look out! Silver carp fly out of the water, obstructing boats and hitting people trying to enjoy a river in Indiana.

    The Brandon Road Lock and Dam solution

    Originally, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River were not connected to each other. But in 1900, the city of Chicago connected them to avoid sending its sewage into Lake Michigan, from which the city draws its drinking water.

    The most complete way to block the carp from invading the Great Lakes would be to undo that connection – but that would recreate sewage and flooding issues for Chicago, or require other expensive infrastructure upgrades. The more practical, short-term alternative is to modify the historic Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois, by adding several obstacles that together would block the carp from swimming farther upriver toward the Great Lakes.

    The barrier, estimated to cost US$1.15 billion, was authorized by Congress in 2020 and 2022 after many years of intense planning and negotiations. For the first phase of construction, the project received $226 million in federal money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to complement $114 million in state funding – $64 million from Michigan and $50 million from Illinois.

    On the first day of Trump’s second term, however, he paused a wide swath of federal funding, including funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And that’s when two different political strategies emerged.

    A brief documentary explains the construction of a connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin.

    Pritzker vs. Whitmer vs. Trump

    Illinois, a state that has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992, has the most financially at stake in the Brandon Road project because the project requires the state to acquire land and operate the barrier. When Trump issued his order, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, postponed the purchase of a key piece of land, blaming the “Trump Administration’s lack of clarity and commitment” to the project. Pritzker essentially dared Trump to be the reason for the collapse of the Great Lakes ecosystem and fisheries.

    Another Democrat, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a swing state with the most at stake economically and ecologically if these carp species enter the Great Lakes, took a very different approach. She went to the White House to talk with Trump about invasive carp and other issues. She defended her nonconfrontational approach to critics, though she also hid her face from cameras when Trump surprised her with an Oval Office press conference. When Trump visited Michigan, she stood beside him as they praised each other.

    When Trump released the federal funding in early May, Pritzker kept up his adversarial language, saying he was “glad that the Trump administration heard our calls … and decided to finally meet their obligation.” Whitmer stayed more conciliatory, calling the funding decision a “huge win that will protect our Great Lakes and secure our economy.” She said she was “grateful to the president for his commitment.”

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets President Donald Trump as he arrives in her state in late April 2025.
    AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    Why unity on carp?

    Whether coordinated or not, the net result of Pritzker’s and Whitmer’s actions drew praise from both sides of the aisle but was little noticed nationally.

    Trump’s support for the project was a rare moment of political unity and an extremely unusual example of leading Democrats being on the same page as Trump. I attribute this surprising outcome to two key factors.

    First, the Great Lakes region holds disproportionate power in presidential elections. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have backed the eventual winner in every presidential race for the past 20 years. This swing state power has been used by advocates and state political leaders to drive funding for Great Lakes protection for many years.

    Second, Great Lakes are the uniting force in the region. According to polling from the International Joint Commission, the binational body charged with overseeing waterways that cross the U.S.-Canada border, there is “nearly unanimous support (96%) for the importance of government investment in Great Lakes protections” from residents of the region.

    There aren’t any other issues with such high voter resonance, so politicians want to be sure Great Lakes voters are happy. For example, Vice President JD Vance has been particularly vocal about the Great Lakes. And Great Lakes restoration funding was one of the few things in the presidential budget that Democrats and Republicans agreed on.

    Both Pritzker and Whitmer likely had state-based and national motivations in mind and big aspirations at stake.

    Their combined effort has put the project back on track: As of May 12, 2025, Pritzker authorized Illinois to sign the land-purchase agreement he had paused back in February.

    And perhaps the governors have identified a new area for unity in a divided United States: Conservation and environmental issues have broad public support, particularly when they involve iconic natural resources, shared values and popular outdoor pursuits such as fishing and boating. Even when political strategies diverge, the results can bring bipartisan satisfaction.

    Mike Shriberg was previously the Great Lakes Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation, which entailed being a co-chair (and, for part of the time, Director) of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

    – ref. Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics – https://theconversation.com/invasive-carp-threaten-the-great-lakes-and-reveal-a-surprising-twist-in-national-politics-257707

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Hlabisa extends deadline for submissions of Review of Local Government White Paper inputs

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has announced an extension for submissions on the discussion document concerning the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government (WPLG). 

    The new deadline for submissions is now set for 31 July 2025, an extension from the original deadline of 30 June 2025.

    “This decision follows heightened interest from stakeholders across the country and numerous requests for additional time to prepare and submit inputs. 

    “The ministry recognises the importance of inclusive participation in shaping a responsive and effective system of local governance and thus welcomes the active engagement from all sectors of society,” CoGTA said in a statement. 

    The department said the extension provides an opportunity for broader consultation and deeper reflection. 

    “We encourage all interested individuals and organisations to take full advantage of the additional time to submit their views. 

    “Your contributions are essential to strengthening the future of local government in South Africa.” 

    In April, Hlabisa officially published a discussion document on the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. 

    READ | Hlabisa to lead discussions with business on review of White Paper on Local Government

    According to the department, the review aims to inspire fresh thinking, facilitate honest reflection, and promote decisive action toward establishing a local government system that effectively serves the people of South Africa.

    Adopted in 1998, the White Paper served as a foundational blueprint for building democratic local governance in South Africa.

    However, the department believes there is growing recognition that the current model is no longer adequate to meet the evolving developmental and service delivery needs of communities.

    In addition, according to the department, persistent governance, financial, structural, and administrative challenges have undermined the ability of municipalities to deliver effectively on their mandates.

    Submissions may be sent via email to: WPLG26@cogta.gov.za; RichardP@cogta.gov.za or MaphutiL@cogta.gov.za. 

    Submissions may also be delivered by post to:

    The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
    Attention: Mr Thabiso Richard Plank (Project Manager: WPLG26 Policy Review), Private Bag X802, Pretoria, 0001

    Or delivered by hand to: 

    The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
    Attention: Mr Thabiso Richard Plank (Project Manager: WPLG26 Policy Review)
    87 Hamilton Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0001

    For further information, please visit the official COGTA website:
    https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/wplg-page/. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 1 in 4 Americans reject evolution, a century after the Scopes monkey trial spotlighted the clash between science and religion

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William Trollinger, Professor of History, University of Dayton

    The 1925 Scopes trial, in which a Dayton, Tennessee, teacher was charged with violating state law by teaching biological evolution, was one of the earliest and most iconic conflicts in America’s ongoing culture war.

    Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species,” published in 1859, and subsequent scientific research made the case that humans and other animals evolved from earlier species over millions of years. Many late-19th-century American Protestants had little problem accommodating Darwin’s ideas – which became mainstream biology – with their religious commitments.

    But that was not the case with all Christians, especially conservative evangelicals, who held that the Bible is inerrant – without error – and factually accurate in all that it has to say, including when it speaks on history and science.

    The Scopes trial occurred July 10-21, 1925. Between 150 and 200 reporters swooped into the small town. Broadcast on Chicago’s WGN, it was the first trial to be aired live over radio in the United States.

    One hundred years after the trial, and as we have documented in our scholarly work, the culture war over evolution and creationism remains strong – and yet, when it comes to creationism, much has also changed.

    The trial

    In May 1919, over 6,000 conservative Protestants gathered in Philadelphia to create, under the leadership of Baptist firebrand William Bell Riley, the World’s Christian Fundamentals Association, or WCFA.

    Holding to biblical inerrancy, these “fundamentalists” believed in the creation account detailed in chapter 1 of Genesis, in which God brought all life into being in six days. But most of these fundamentalists also accepted mainstream geology, which held that the Earth was millions of years old. Squaring a literal understanding of Genesis with an old Earth, they embraced either the “day-age theory” – that each Genesis day was actually a long period of time – or the “gap theory,” in which there was a huge gap of time before the six 24-hour days of creation.

    This nascent fundamentalist movement initiated a campaign to pressure state legislatures to prohibit public schools from teaching evolution. One of these states was Tennessee, which in 1925 passed the Butler Act. This law made it illegal for public schoolteachers “to teach any theory that denies the story of divine creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.”

    The American Civil Liberties Union persuaded John Thomas Scopes, a young science teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, to challenge the law in court. The WCFA sprang into action, successfully persuading William Jennings Bryan – populist politician and outspoken fundamentalist – to assist the prosecution. In response, the ACLU hired famous attorney Clarence Darrow to serve on the defense team.

    A huge crowd attending the Scopes trial.
    Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images

    When the trial started, Dayton civic leaders were thrilled with the opportunity to boost their town. Outside the courtroom there was a carnivalesque atmosphere, with musicians, preachers, concession stands and even monkeys.

    Inside the courtroom, the trial became a verbal duel between Bryan and Darrow regarding science and religion. But as the judge narrowed the proceedings to whether or not Scopes violated the law – a point that the defense readily admitted – it seemed clear that Scopes would be found guilty. Many of the reporters thus went home.

    But the trial’s most memorable episode was yet to come. On July 20, Darrow successfully provoked Bryan to take the witness stand as a Bible expert. Due to the huge crowd and suffocating heat, the judge moved the trial outdoors.

    The 3,000 or so spectators witnessed Darrow’s interrogation of Bryan, which was primarily intended to make Bryan and fundamentalism appear foolish and ignorant. Most significant, Darrow’s questions revealed that, despite Bryan’s’ assertion that he read the Bible literally, Bryan actually understood the six days of Genesis not as 24-hour days, but as six long and indeterminate periods of time.

    American lawyer and politician William Jennings Bryan during the Scopes trial in Dayton, Tenn.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Image

    The very next day, the jury found Scopes guilty and fined him US$100. Riley and the fundamentalists cheered the verdict as a triumph for the Bible and morality.

    The fundamentalists and ‘The Genesis Flood’

    But very soon that sense of triumph faded, partly because of news stories that portrayed fundamentalists as ignorant rural bigots. In one such example, a prominent journalist, H. L. Mencken, wrote in a Baltimore Sun column that the Scopes trial “serves notice on the country that Neanderthal man is organizing in these forlorn backwaters of the land.”

    The media ridicule encouraged many scholars and journalists to conclude that creationism and fundamentalism would soon disappear from American culture. But that prediction did not come to pass.

    Instead, fundamentalists, including WCFA leader Riley, seemed all the more determined to redouble their efforts at the grassroots level.

    But as Darrow’s interrogation of Bryan made obvious, it was not easy to square a literal reading of the Bible – including the six-day creation outlined in Genesis – with a scientific belief in an old Earth. What fundamentalists needed was a science that supported the idea of a young Earth.

    In their 1961 book, “The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications, fundamentalists John Whitcomb, a theologian, and Henry Morris, a hydraulic engineer, provided just such a scientific explanation. Making use, without attribution, of the writings of Seventh-day Adventist geologist George McCready Price, Whitcomb and Morris made the case that Noah’s global flood lasted one year and created the geological strata and mountain ranges that made the Earth seem ancient.

    “The Genesis Flood” and its version of flood geology remains ubiquitous among fundamentalists and other conservative Protestants.

    Young Earth creationism

    Today, opinion polls reveal that roughly one-quarter of all Americans are adherents of this newer strand of creationism, which rejects both mainstream geology as well as mainstream biology.

    Replica of Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter, near Williamstown, Ky.
    Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    This popular embrace of young Earth creationism also explains the success of Answers in Genesis – AiG – which is the world’s largest creationist organization, with a website that attracts millions of visitors every year.

    AiG’s tourist sites – the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, and the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky – have attracted millions of visitors since their opening in 2007 and 2016. Additional AiG sites are planned for Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

    Presented as a replica of Noah’s Ark, the Ark Encounter is a gigantic structure – 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, 51 feet high. It includes representations of animal cages as well as plush living quarters for the eight human beings who, according to Genesis chapters 6-8, survived the global flood. Hundreds of placards in the Ark make the case for a young Earth and a global flood that created the geological strata and formations we see today.

    Ark Encounter has been the beneficiary of millions of dollars from state and local governments.

    Besides AiG tourist sites, there is also an ever-expanding network of fundamentalist schools and homeschools that present young Earth creationism as true science. These schools use textbooks from publishers such as Abeka Books, Accelerated Christian Education and Bob Jones University Press.

    The Scopes trial involved what could and could not be taught in public schools regarding creation and evolution. Today, this discussion also involves private schools, given that there are now at least 15 states that have universal private school choice programs, in which families can use taxpayer-funded education money to pay for private schooling and homeschooling.

    In 1921, William Bell Riley admonished his opponents that they should “cease from shoveling in dirt on living men,” for the fundamentalists “refuse to be buried.” A century later, the funeral for fundamentalism and creationism seems a long way off.

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

    – ref. 1 in 4 Americans reject evolution, a century after the Scopes monkey trial spotlighted the clash between science and religion – https://theconversation.com/1-in-4-americans-reject-evolution-a-century-after-the-scopes-monkey-trial-spotlighted-the-clash-between-science-and-religion-258163

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –