NewzIntel.com

Category: Taxation

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 Panel to Assess Onshore, Shallow Water Prospects in Angola

    Source: APO

    Angola – one of Africa’s leading deepwater producers – is making a strong play for onshore exploration, leveraging its multi-year licensing strategy and flexible investment structures to entice new players to invest in onshore projects. On the back of a licensing round which concluded in 2024, the country is witnessing a surge of investment onshore, unlocking new opportunities for production growth as Angola strives to sustain output above one million barrels per day.

    A panel discussion during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference will examine the impact ongoing onshore and shallow water projects will have on Angola’s production portfolio. Titled The Role of Onshore and Shallow Water Operations in Maintaining Production, the session will feature companies active in the onshore market and will delve into the strategic significance of onshore assets in maintaining output and maximizing resources in Angola. Speakers include Ricardo Van-Deste, CEO, Sonangol E&P; Edson dos Santos, CEO, Etu Energias; George Toriola, Chief Strategy Officer, FIRST E&P; Gianni Martins, General Manager, Alfort Petroleum; and Scott Gilbert, CEO, Corcel.

    The 2024/2025 period has seen robust growth across Angola’s onshore market as companies invest in drilling and data acquisition in pursuit of new discoveries. In May 2025, Etu Energias signed a Risk Service Contract for Block CON 4 in the onshore Congo basin, granting the company operatorship with 67.5%. The agreement covers a 25-year operating license, with five years allocated for exploration and 20 years for production. The agreement follows two separate deals signed by Corcel in May 2025 for the accelerated development of Block KON 16 in the Kwanza basin. The agreements saw Corcel enhance its stake in the block to 71/5% through transactions signed with Intank Global DMCC and Sintana. Proceeds from the transactions will support de-risking and exploration activities planned for 2026. Corcel completed the data acquisition phase of KON 16 in 2024. Alfort Petroleum is also pursuing onshore exploration, following its qualification as an operator under the country’s 2023 licensing round. The company operates Block KON 8 and is currently interpreting seismic data at the block.

    Meanwhile, while FIRST E&P is not yet active in Angola, other Nigerian players have recently expanded into the country, showcasing the potential for Nigerian players in Angola’s onshore market. Notably, Nigeria’s Walcot Group signed a production sharing contract in April 2025 for three onshore blocks in Angola. These include a 100% equity interest and operatorship of Block KON 1; a 100% equity interest and operatorship of Block CON 3; and a 10% non-operating interest in Block KON 13. Oando Energy Resources – another Nigerian firm – entered the Angolan market in January 2025, gaining operatorship of Block KON 13. The block has two exploration wells previously drilled, with oil and gas identified across various depths. Effimax and Sonangol represent partners on the block.

    Recent onshore investments are largely due to Angola’s 2023 licensing round, which featured 12 blocks for exploration in the Lower Congo and Kwanza basins. Nine companies qualified as operators while five qualified as non-operators. Since the conclusion of the round, the country’s upstream regulatory the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency has since received proposals from three international companies for nine blocks that were not awarded during the 2023 tender. This underscores the level of interest in Angola’s onshore acreage, laying a strong foundation for future discoveries.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Independence Attorney Sentenced for Tax Evasion

    Source: US FBI

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., attorney has been sentenced to federal prison for evading payment of $794,540 in income taxes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray today.

    John C. Carnes, 70, pleaded guilty to tax evasion on Nov. 25, 2024, and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs.  Carnes was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $794,540.

    According to court documents, Carnes admitted that he willfully attempted to evade paying his personal income taxes for tax years 2012 through 2018. Carnes kept his income in his attorney trust accounts, then withdrew cash from his attorney trust accounts to pay for personal and business expenses. An attorney trust account is a bank account in which a lawyer has a fiduciary duty to hold property of clients or third persons, including prospective clients. It is for funds that are in a lawyer’s possession in connection with representation, separate from the lawyer’s own property.

    Carnes had two trust fund accounts. He withdrew $444,527 in cash from one account from 2016 through 2019, and he withdrew $144,364 from the second account from 2013 through 2015. Carnes used the cash to gamble and pay personal expenses.

    Carnes deposited $232,000 in fees received for services provided in the sale of the former Rockwood Golf Course property in November 2017 and the Missouri City Power Plant project, and other income, into his attorney trust accounts.

    The total tax loss to the IRS for tax years 2012 through 2018, because of Carnes’s tax evasion, totaled $618,949. In addition, relevant conduct consists of unpaid federal income tax for the tax years 1990-1993, 1996-2003, and 2005, totaling $175,590. The total relevant conduct is $238,513, resulting in a total tax loss of $794,540.

    From 2009 to 2020, the IRS continuously engaged in various forms of investigative and enforcement activity regarding Carnes’s outstanding tax liabilities.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV and Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace: Ramaphosa, G20 must end financial apartheid with tax on super-rich

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Durban, South Africa, 16 July 2025 – Greenpeace Africa has demanded G20 host and South African President Ramaphosa push ahead on accelerating efforts to impose a wealth tax on the world’s billionaires and to support the UN Tax Convention for new and fair global tax rules. 

    Greenpeace Africa activists hung a giant banner with a photo of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa reading ‘End Financial Apartheid #TaxTheSuperRich’, ahead of the G20’s 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Durban. Greenpeace is demanding the G20 host push ahead on accelerating efforts to impose a wealth tax on the world’s billionaires and to support the UN Tax Convention for new and fair global tax rules. © Chanho Kondolo / Greenpeace

    Ahead of the G20’s 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting, Greenpeace Africa activists dropped a 15 metre long x 2 metre high banner from a highway bridge near King Shaka International Airport with a photo of Cyril Ramaphosa and a message that said: ‘End Financial Apartheid. Tax The Super Rich’. 

    Cynthia Moyo, Lead Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa, said: “It’s outrageous that billionaires keep getting richer off a broken global tax system while millions across Africa and the world are pushed deeper into poverty and climate chaos. This is financial apartheid. South Africa understands the cost of injustice. Just as Mandela led the fight against political apartheid, President Ramaphosa now has a chance to lead the G20 in dismantling financial apartheid by taxing the super-rich and backing the UN Tax Convention. This is a fight for justice, dignity, and a future where wealth serves people, not the powerful few.”

    The action comes after an announcement at the UN Financing for Development conference that Spain, Brazil and South Africa are launching an initiative to tax the super-rich and the recent BRICS statement in support of the UN Tax Convention.[1] [2] [3]

    Fred Njehu, Global Political Lead of the Fair Share campaign, Greenpeace Africa, said: “We are on the cusp of momentous change. There is growing public and political momentum for taxing the super-rich and new global tax rules that work for all to achieve social and climate justice.

    “This is a historic opportunity for President Ramaphosa, who must seize this chance to lead the G20 in an economic direction that will serve not only the people of South Africa and the continent, but the majority world, by redistributing funds to tackle the social, environmental and climate polycrisis.

    “We ask G20 countries to support and engage constructively in the UN Tax Convention process as a global multilateral platform that will shape and determine the future of taxation, one rooted in transparency, accountability, equity and justice.”

    Globally, billionaire wealth grew three times faster in 2024 than in 2023.[4] In Africa, the four richest people have more wealth than half of the region’s 750 million people combined. Since 2020, the average income of the richest 1% in Africa has increased five times faster than that of the bottom 50%.[5]

    ENDS

    Photos and Videos can be downloaded via Greenpeace Media Library

    NOTES

    [1] At the recently concluded 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, South Africa had joined the ranks of Spain and Brazil in forming a coalition of willing countries to work on taxing the super-rich and to support fair taxation at the upcoming UN Tax Convention negotiations. Greenpeace’s press release 

    [2] BRICS leaders’ endorsement of the UN framework for international tax cooperation. 

    [3] New global tax rules in an UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation are being negotiated, from now until 2027. It is a historic opportunity to redistribute power and wealth, and foster tax transparency and accountability. It aims to take control of global tax rules from the rich OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries to place it in the hands of the 193 member states of the United Nations. 

    [4] Oxfam report: Takers not Makers: The unjust poverty and unearned wealth of colonialism

    [5] Oxfam report: Africa’s Inequality Crisis and the Rise of the Super-Rich

    CONTACTS

    Ferdinand Omondi, Communications and Storytelling Manager, Greenpeace Africa, +254 722 505 233 , fomondi@admin

    Ibrahima Ka Ndoye, International Communications Coordinator, Greenpeace Africa, +221778437172, indoye@admin

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Legislative amendments on mandatory installation of Journey Recording Systems and provision of electronic payment means on taxis to be gazetted on Friday

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Government will gazette the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 and the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 this Friday (July 18). The Amendment Regulations seek to mandate the installation of Journey Recording Systems (JRS) on all taxis and require all taxi drivers to allow taxi fares to be paid by electronic payment means (e-payment means), with a view to enhancing the overall taxi service quality with technology and meeting public’s demand. 

    A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “The JRS should be capable of making video recordings with audio inside a taxi compartment (in-vehicle recordings) as well as making video recordings of the clear front and rear views outside the taxi. It should also capture data concerning the location of the taxi via a global navigation satellite system and be properly sealed and examined. We believe that these functions will help deter taxi drivers’ malpractices, enhance driving safety of taxis and safeguard the interest of drivers and passengers in the event of disputes.”

    To assist the trade in preparing for the new requirements relating to the JRS, the Transport Department (TD) will inform the trade of the relevant requirements through various channels, such as the TD’s website, the regular publication of the Taxi Newsletter, publicity leaflets and regular meetings with the taxi trade, in the second half of this year. The TD will also carry out works relating to the authorisation of suppliers starting from the fourth quarter of this year, so that the trade may start installing the JRSs inside taxi compartments in 2026. Upon completion of such installation on all taxis, the JRSs will be ready to come into operation and will have to be connected to the centralised Information System of the TD.

    To protect the privacy of passengers and drivers, the recordings and data captured by the JRS should be encrypted. Only under specified purpose(s) (e.g. investigating any conduct that may constitute a traffic-related contravention under any law of Hong Kong), law enforcement agencies, the Commissioner for Transport and authorised persons can retrieve or access the in-vehicle recordings.  

    “In addition, since many taxis now still accept cash only which has caused great inconvenience to passengers (especially tourists), our Amendment Regulation will require all taxi drivers to allow fares to be paid by e-payment means. To help drivers to prepare for the new requirement before it comes into effect, the TD will actively co-ordinate with various e-payment platforms in arranging workshops or briefings to assist drivers in learning how to collect fares through e-payment means. This requirement will come into operation on April 1, 2026,” the spokesperson added.

    The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Transport and the Transport Advisory Committee were briefed respectively on the proposals in December 2024 and Members were supportive of the proposals. The Amendment Regulations will be tabled at the LegCo on July 23, 2025 for negative vetting.

    Details of the proposals and the commencement of the provisions relating to the JRS and e-payment means are set out in the LegCo brief issued by the Government today (July 16).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Small Business Earnings Climb Ahead of July Fed Meeting, Despite Shaky Sentiment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Biz2Credit’s monthly Small Business Earnings Report found that average monthly earnings increased to $62,300 in June 2025, up markedly from May. This continues a positive run for earnings, nearly doubling since the beginning of the year.

    Key Findings for June 2025:

    • Average Monthly Earnings: $62,300. (May 2025: $49,300 – an increase of $13,000)
    • Average Monthly Revenue: $614,200. (May 2025: $547,600 – an increase of $66,600)
    • Average Monthly Expenses: $551,900. (May 2025: $498,300 – an increase of $53,600)

    Takeaways:

    Small businesses have faced immense headwinds in 2025, yet continue to produce growing earnings. In the first half of 2025, small business earnings have risen 75% as inflation remains tempered under 3% this year. Expenses ticked upward as small businesses continue to feel the brunt of tariffs on imports and various input goods, but significant price hikes for consumers haven’t manifested yet.

    Small business owners remain cautiously hopeful for the remainder of the year as tax reform is complete. “Taxes have remained a large pain point for small business operators, but now they should expect more stability and predictability after the Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law earlier this month,” said Rohit Arora, CEO and co-founder of Biz2Credit.

    Small business owners are also looking forward to potential interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in the second half of 2025. Recent market data points towards a possible rate cut, the first since 2024, which would potentially drive down the cost of borrowing for business owners.

    Summary

    The Biz2Credit Small Business Earnings Report summarizes primary data of companies that applied for funding each month. It assesses the financial health of small businesses by analyzing primary data provided directly by small to midsized firms in the U.S. as part of the application process on Biz2Credit’s award-winning digital funding platform. The report provides one of the most up-to-date readings on the financial health of small businesses currently available. Click here to review the Small Business Earnings Report.

    Methodology

    Biz2Credit examines a number of small business financial metrics in the Small Business Earnings Report, including annual revenue, operating expenses, age of business, credit score, approval rate, and funding rate. Data is drawn from over 100,000 completed financing applications submitted to Biz2Credit’s online small business funding platform between Jan. 2022 and June 2025.

    About Biz2Credit

    Founded in 2007, Biz2Credit has helped thousands of companies access more than in small business financing. Biz2Credit is headquartered in New York City, employs over 800 people with over half in product, data science, and engineering roles. Using data analytics and predictive modeling, Biz2Credit seeks to enhance the accuracy and transparency of business credit decisions, fueling long-term economic development. Visit www.biz2credit.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

    Media Contact: Tracy Rubin, (818) 585-4736, tracy@jcmg.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Matador Technologies Inc. Board Approves Long-Term Bitcoin Treasury Acquisition Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Key Highlights

    • Strategic objective: develop a strategy to grow Matador’s Bitcoin treasury to position the Company to be a significant corporate BTC holder.
    • Treasury product flywheel: balance sheet growth is reinvested into BTC-denominated product revenues.
    • Financing readiness: Matador has filed a preliminary short-form base shelf prospectus to provide capital-raising flexibility over the next 25 months.
    • Disciplined execution: All initiatives remain subject to market conditions, financing availability, and any additional regulatory or board approvals.

    TORONTO, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matador Technologies Inc. (TSXV:MATA, OTCQB:MATAF, FSE:IU3) (“Matador” or the “Company”) announces that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has recently approved the initiation of a treasury plan to pursue the accumulation of up to 6,000 Bitcoin on or before 2027. The Board also ratified an interim objective of 1,000 BTC on or before 2026. Matador currently holds 77.4 BTC and BTC equivalents and has a long-term objective to hold 1% of Bitcoin’s supply and be a top 20 corporate holder globally.

    BTC Holdings and Strategic Objectives

    Matador currently holds 77.4 BTC and BTC equivalents, and is currently considering various financing alternatives to acquire additional Bitcoin, with indicative targets of acquiring up to 1,000 BTC on or before 2026 and 6,000 BTC on or before 2027. These targets are indicative only and should not be construed as financial projections.

    Based on certain illustrative assumptions, if the full CAD $900 million available under the base shelf prospectus were used to acquire Bitcoin, and assuming an average purchase price of CAD $151,659 per BTC (based on the average daily closing price over the past two weeks as of July 13, 2025), this would represent approximately 5,934 BTC. When added to the Company’s existing holdings of approximately 77 BTC, this would total approximately 6,011 BTC, which aligns with the Company’s 2027 target. These assumptions are for illustrative purposes only.

    Acquisition of any additional Bitcoin by the Company is subject to various factors, including financing availability, prevailing market conditions, and any required regulatory consents. The cost of acquiring Bitcoin will depend on prevailing market conditions and may vary materially. The Company will assess all acquisitions based on price, timing, and capital impact. Matador will evaluate funding options based on prevailing market conditions and investor appetite, with a focus on maximizing Bitcoin per Share (“BPS”) while maintaining a strong capital structure. No assurance can be given that any financing alternative will be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all.

    Funding Strategy

    To execute the plan, Matador may employ:

    • At-the-market (ATM) equity offerings;
    • Convertible or structured financings;
    • Divestiture of non-core assets;
    • BTC-backed credit facilities; and
    • Strategic acquisitions or partnerships that aim to boost BPS.

    To support its objectives, Matador has filed a preliminary short-form base shelf prospectus (“Shelf Prospectus”) for CAD $900M with the securities regulatory authorities in the Provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, on July 11, 2025, which remains subject to review by applicable securities regulators. Subject to regulatory approval, if approved, the final version of the Shelf Prospectus will permit the Company to issue equity, debt or units from time to time over a 25-month period, providing flexibility to align capital raising with market windows.

    “Our business is structured around Bitcoin as a core asset,” said Deven Soni, CEO of Matador Technologies. “This approach extends beyond treasury management to include infrastructure and operational components aligned with the Bitcoin ecosystem. Execution is subject to financing, market conditions and regulatory approval.”

    “Holding Bitcoin as a treasury asset allows us to align with a fixed-supply, globally accessible monetary network,” said Mark Moss, Chief Visionary Officer of Matador Technologies. “Our future plans to accumulate Bitcoin are designed to establish long-term stability on our balance sheet while reducing exposure to inflationary risk. Execution is subject to financing, market conditions and regulatory approval.”

    A New Era of Bitcoin-Backed Business

    Matador’s strategy is built on a compounding flywheel that integrates treasury allocation, financial innovation, and real-world product development:

    1. Strategically Accumulate Bitcoin: acquire Bitcoin in a shareholder-friendly manner with the goal of maximizing BPS.
    2. Generate Treasury Yield: implement advanced treasury strategies designed to monetize Bitcoin’s volatility, including BTC Volatility Capture Yield Mining and synthetic Bitcoin mining.
    3. Build Real-World Applications: launch Bitcoin-native financial products, through its proprietary Digital Asset Platform that digitizes assets on the Bitcoin Blockchain. These products aim to generate revenue in Bitcoin, directly increasing the Company’s BPS.
    4. Support the Ecosystem: partner with builders and developers across the Bitcoin ecosystem, including Layer 2 protocols, Bitcoin-native DeFi, and custody or infrastructure platforms, to accelerate innovation and adoption.
    5. Advance the Global Bitcoin Treasury Model: beginning with our minority investment in HODL Systems (India) announced on May 29, 2025, while actively evaluating additional jurisdictions where Bitcoin treasury adoption is accelerating. Inspired by the observed case studies of international public companies holding Bitcoin as a treasury reserve, Matador believes India offers a conducive market for BTC treasury adoption.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Media Contact:
    Sunny Ray
    President
    Email: sunny@matador.network

    Phone: 647-496-6282

    About Matador Technologies Inc.

    Matador Technologies Inc. (TSXV:MATA, OTCQB:MATAF, FSE:IU3) is a publicly traded Bitcoin ecosystem company focused on holding Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset and building products to enhance the Bitcoin network. Matador’s strategy combines strategic Bitcoin accumulation, Bitcoin-native product development, and participation in digital asset infrastructure, with a focus on driving long-term shareholder value while maintaining capital efficiency.

    Matador has recently proposed to expand its global footprint by entering into an agreement to invest in HODL Systems, one of India’s first digital asset treasury companies, securing up to a 24% ownership stake. This investment strengthens Matador’s position as a leading Bitcoin treasury company and underscores its commitment to the worldwide adoption of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

    With a Bitcoin-first strategy, and a clear focus on innovation, Matador is shaping the future of financial infrastructure on Bitcoin.

    Visit us online at https://www.matador.network/.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

    Forward-Looking Statements – Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the implementation of the Company’s treasury management strategy, receipt of regulatory approvals, anticipated growth in Net Asset Value and/or BPS, the ability of the Company to meet its indicative Bitcoin accumulation targets as currently proposed or at all, availability of financing on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, and the operation of its platform as currently proposed or at all. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including with respect to the potential acquisition of Bitcoin and/or US dollars, availability of financing and regulatory approvals, whether a final Shelf Prospectus will be filed as currently proposed or at all, the terms and conditions of any future financings by the Company, the pricing of acquisitions, the long term value of Bitcoin, the success of the Company’s platform as currently proposed or at all, the impact of the value of Bitcoin and any of Matador’s initiatives on shareholder value and the timing of future operations. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6cb0a194-96d6-4a88-8885-49434e91c3a5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Matador Technologies Inc. Board Approves Long-Term Bitcoin Treasury Acquisition Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Key Highlights

    • Strategic objective: develop a strategy to grow Matador’s Bitcoin treasury to position the Company to be a significant corporate BTC holder.
    • Treasury product flywheel: balance sheet growth is reinvested into BTC-denominated product revenues.
    • Financing readiness: Matador has filed a preliminary short-form base shelf prospectus to provide capital-raising flexibility over the next 25 months.
    • Disciplined execution: All initiatives remain subject to market conditions, financing availability, and any additional regulatory or board approvals.

    TORONTO, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matador Technologies Inc. (TSXV:MATA, OTCQB:MATAF, FSE:IU3) (“Matador” or the “Company”) announces that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has recently approved the initiation of a treasury plan to pursue the accumulation of up to 6,000 Bitcoin on or before 2027. The Board also ratified an interim objective of 1,000 BTC on or before 2026. Matador currently holds 77.4 BTC and BTC equivalents and has a long-term objective to hold 1% of Bitcoin’s supply and be a top 20 corporate holder globally.

    BTC Holdings and Strategic Objectives

    Matador currently holds 77.4 BTC and BTC equivalents, and is currently considering various financing alternatives to acquire additional Bitcoin, with indicative targets of acquiring up to 1,000 BTC on or before 2026 and 6,000 BTC on or before 2027. These targets are indicative only and should not be construed as financial projections.

    Based on certain illustrative assumptions, if the full CAD $900 million available under the base shelf prospectus were used to acquire Bitcoin, and assuming an average purchase price of CAD $151,659 per BTC (based on the average daily closing price over the past two weeks as of July 13, 2025), this would represent approximately 5,934 BTC. When added to the Company’s existing holdings of approximately 77 BTC, this would total approximately 6,011 BTC, which aligns with the Company’s 2027 target. These assumptions are for illustrative purposes only.

    Acquisition of any additional Bitcoin by the Company is subject to various factors, including financing availability, prevailing market conditions, and any required regulatory consents. The cost of acquiring Bitcoin will depend on prevailing market conditions and may vary materially. The Company will assess all acquisitions based on price, timing, and capital impact. Matador will evaluate funding options based on prevailing market conditions and investor appetite, with a focus on maximizing Bitcoin per Share (“BPS”) while maintaining a strong capital structure. No assurance can be given that any financing alternative will be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all.

    Funding Strategy

    To execute the plan, Matador may employ:

    • At-the-market (ATM) equity offerings;
    • Convertible or structured financings;
    • Divestiture of non-core assets;
    • BTC-backed credit facilities; and
    • Strategic acquisitions or partnerships that aim to boost BPS.

    To support its objectives, Matador has filed a preliminary short-form base shelf prospectus (“Shelf Prospectus”) for CAD $900M with the securities regulatory authorities in the Provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, on July 11, 2025, which remains subject to review by applicable securities regulators. Subject to regulatory approval, if approved, the final version of the Shelf Prospectus will permit the Company to issue equity, debt or units from time to time over a 25-month period, providing flexibility to align capital raising with market windows.

    “Our business is structured around Bitcoin as a core asset,” said Deven Soni, CEO of Matador Technologies. “This approach extends beyond treasury management to include infrastructure and operational components aligned with the Bitcoin ecosystem. Execution is subject to financing, market conditions and regulatory approval.”

    “Holding Bitcoin as a treasury asset allows us to align with a fixed-supply, globally accessible monetary network,” said Mark Moss, Chief Visionary Officer of Matador Technologies. “Our future plans to accumulate Bitcoin are designed to establish long-term stability on our balance sheet while reducing exposure to inflationary risk. Execution is subject to financing, market conditions and regulatory approval.”

    A New Era of Bitcoin-Backed Business

    Matador’s strategy is built on a compounding flywheel that integrates treasury allocation, financial innovation, and real-world product development:

    1. Strategically Accumulate Bitcoin: acquire Bitcoin in a shareholder-friendly manner with the goal of maximizing BPS.
    2. Generate Treasury Yield: implement advanced treasury strategies designed to monetize Bitcoin’s volatility, including BTC Volatility Capture Yield Mining and synthetic Bitcoin mining.
    3. Build Real-World Applications: launch Bitcoin-native financial products, through its proprietary Digital Asset Platform that digitizes assets on the Bitcoin Blockchain. These products aim to generate revenue in Bitcoin, directly increasing the Company’s BPS.
    4. Support the Ecosystem: partner with builders and developers across the Bitcoin ecosystem, including Layer 2 protocols, Bitcoin-native DeFi, and custody or infrastructure platforms, to accelerate innovation and adoption.
    5. Advance the Global Bitcoin Treasury Model: beginning with our minority investment in HODL Systems (India) announced on May 29, 2025, while actively evaluating additional jurisdictions where Bitcoin treasury adoption is accelerating. Inspired by the observed case studies of international public companies holding Bitcoin as a treasury reserve, Matador believes India offers a conducive market for BTC treasury adoption.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Media Contact:
    Sunny Ray
    President
    Email: sunny@matador.network

    Phone: 647-496-6282

    About Matador Technologies Inc.

    Matador Technologies Inc. (TSXV:MATA, OTCQB:MATAF, FSE:IU3) is a publicly traded Bitcoin ecosystem company focused on holding Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset and building products to enhance the Bitcoin network. Matador’s strategy combines strategic Bitcoin accumulation, Bitcoin-native product development, and participation in digital asset infrastructure, with a focus on driving long-term shareholder value while maintaining capital efficiency.

    Matador has recently proposed to expand its global footprint by entering into an agreement to invest in HODL Systems, one of India’s first digital asset treasury companies, securing up to a 24% ownership stake. This investment strengthens Matador’s position as a leading Bitcoin treasury company and underscores its commitment to the worldwide adoption of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

    With a Bitcoin-first strategy, and a clear focus on innovation, Matador is shaping the future of financial infrastructure on Bitcoin.

    Visit us online at https://www.matador.network/.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

    Forward-Looking Statements – Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the implementation of the Company’s treasury management strategy, receipt of regulatory approvals, anticipated growth in Net Asset Value and/or BPS, the ability of the Company to meet its indicative Bitcoin accumulation targets as currently proposed or at all, availability of financing on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, and the operation of its platform as currently proposed or at all. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including with respect to the potential acquisition of Bitcoin and/or US dollars, availability of financing and regulatory approvals, whether a final Shelf Prospectus will be filed as currently proposed or at all, the terms and conditions of any future financings by the Company, the pricing of acquisitions, the long term value of Bitcoin, the success of the Company’s platform as currently proposed or at all, the impact of the value of Bitcoin and any of Matador’s initiatives on shareholder value and the timing of future operations. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6cb0a194-96d6-4a88-8885-49434e91c3a5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: PS Turnbull to Make a Forestry Announcement

    Source: Government of Canada News

    WHITBY — Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), will make a forestry announcement on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Media availability will follow. 

    Date: July 17, 2025

    Time: 1 p.m. ET  

    All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK House Price Index for May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK House Price Index for May 2025

    The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock.com

    The May data shows:

    • on average, house prices have risen 1.1% since April 2025
    • there has been an annual price rise of 3.9% which makes the average property in the UK valued at £269,000

    England

    In England the May data shows, on average, house prices rose by 1.3% since April 2025. The annual price rise of 3.4% takes the average property value to £290,000.

    • Yorkshire and the Humber  experienced the most significant monthly increase with a movement of 2.4%
    • London saw the biggest monthly price fall, with a reduction of -1.4%
    • The North East experienced the greatest annual price rise, up by 6.3%
    • The South West saw the lowest annual price growth, with a rise of 1.9%

    The regional data for England indicates that:

    Price change by region for England

    Region Average price May 2025 Annual change % since May 2024 Monthly change % since Apr 2025
    East Midlands £242,000 5 1.9
    East of England £340,000 4.2 2
    London £566,000 2.2 -1.4
    North East £159,000 6.3 2.2
    North West £209,000 3.3 2
    South East £381,000 2.1 0.4
    South West £304,000 1.9 1.5
    West Midlands £244,000 3.5 2.2
    Yorkshire and the Humber £204,000 5.1 2.4

    Repossession sales by volume for England

    The lowest number of repossession sales in March 2025 was in the East of England.

    The highest number of repossession sales in March 2025 was in the North East and North West.

    Repossession sales March 2025
    East Midlands 5
    East of England 2
    London 12
    North East 20
    North West 20
    South East 17
    South West 6
    West Midlands 6
    Yorkshire and the Humber 8
    England 96

    Average price by property type for England

    Property type May 2025 May  2024 Difference %
    Detached £473,000 £451,000 4.8
    Semi-detached £285,000 £273,000 4.3
    Terraced £239,000 £232,000 3.1
    Flat/maisonette £226,000 £225,000 0.7
    All £290,000 £281,000 3.4

    Funding and buyer status for England

    Transaction type Average price May 2025 Annual price change % since May 2024 Monthly price change % since April 2025
    Cash £276,000 2.5 1.4
    Mortgage £296,000 3.8 1.3
    First-time buyer £243,000 3.2 1.6
    Former owner occupier £353,000 3.6 1

    Building status for England

    Building status* Average price March 2025 Annual price change % since March 2024 Monthly price change % since February 2025
    New build £463,000 31.6 3.2
    Existing resold property £290,000 5.8 1.4

    *Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

    London

    London shows, on average, house prices decreased by 1.4% since April 2025. House prices have shown an annual price increase of 2.2% meaning the average price of a property is £566,000.

    Average price by property type for London

    Property type May 2025 May 2024 Difference %
    Detached £1,156,000 £1,106,000 4.5
    Semi-detached £716,000 £682,000 5
    Terraced £633,000 £615,000 3
    Flat/maisonette £453,000 £451,000 0.6
    All £566,000 £554,000 2.2

    Funding and buyer status for London

    Transaction type Average price May 2025 Annual price change % since May 2024 Monthly price change % since April 2025
    Cash £614,000 2.3 -1.9
    Mortgage £555,000 2.1 -1.2
    First-time buyer £483,000 1.5 -0.8
    Former owner occupier £708,000 3.3 -2.3

    Building status for London

    Building status* Average price March 2025 Annual price change % since March 2024 Monthly price change % since February 2025
    New build £620,000 23.8 3.3
    Existing resold property £552,000 0.4 -1.2

    *Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

    Wales

     Wales shows, on average, house prices rose by 0.5% since April 2025. An annual price increase of 5.1% takes the average property value to £210,000.

    There were 5 repossession sales for Wales in March 2025.

    Average price by property type for Wales

    Property type May 2025 May 2024 Difference %
    Detached £330,000 £312,000 5.7
    Semi-detached £209,000 £198,000 5.7
    Terraced £166,000 £158,000 5
    Flat/maisonette £130,000 £128,000 1.9
    All £210,000 £199,000 5.1

    Funding and buyer status for Wales

    Transaction type Average price May 2025% Annual price change % since May 2024 Monthly price change % since April 2025
    Cash £208,000 4.2 0.9
    Mortgage £210,000 5.6 0.3
    First-time buyer £180,000 5.3 0.5
    Former owner occupier £251,000 5 0.4

    Building status for Wales

    Building status* Average price March 2025 Annual price change % since March 2024 Monthly price change % since February 2025
    New build £385,000 26.5 1.4
    Existing resold property £206,000 3.4 1

    *Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

    UK house prices

    UK house prices rose by 3.9% in the year to May 2025, up from the revised estimate of 3.6% in the 12 months to April 2025. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK increased by 1.1% between April 2025 and May 2025, compared with a increase 0.8% from the same period 12 months ago (April 24 and May 2024).

    The UK Property Transactions Statistics showed that in May 2025, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the estimated number of transactions of residential properties with a value of £40,000 or greater was 81,000. This is 11.8% lower than a year ago (May 2025). Between April 2025 and May 2025, UK transactions decreased by 25.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

    House price monthly increase was highest in Yorkshire and the Humber where prices increased by 2.4% in the year to May 2025. The highest annual growth was in the the North East, where prices increased by 6.3% in the year to May 2025.

    See the economic statement.

    The UK HPI is based on completed housing transactions. Typically, a house purchase can take 6 to 8 weeks to reach completion. As with other indicators in the housing market, which typically fluctuate from month to month, it is important not to put too much weight on one month’s set of house price data.

    Access the full UK HPI

    Background

    1. We publish the UK House Price Index (HPI) on the second or third Wednesday of each month with Northern Ireland figures updated quarterly. We will publish the June 2025 UK HPI at 9:30am on Wednesday 20 August 2025. See calendar of release dates.
    2. We have made some changes to improve the accuracy of the UK HPI. We are not publishing average price and percentage change for new builds and existing resold property as done previously because there are not currently enough new build transactions to provide a reliable result. This means that in this month’s UK HPI reports, new builds and existing resold property are reported in line with the sales volumes currently available.
    3. The UK HPI revision period has been extended to 13 months, following a review of the revision policy (see calculating the UK HPI section 4.4). This ensures the data used is more comprehensive.
    4. Sales volume data is available by property status (new build and existing property) and funding status (cash and mortgage) in our downloadable data tables. Transactions that require us to create a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and require more time to process. Read revisions to the UK HPI data.
    5. Revision tables are available for England and Wales within the downloadable data in CSV format. See about the UK HPI for more information.
    6. HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Valuation Office Agency supply data for the UK HPI.
    7. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency calculate the UK HPI. It applies a hedonic regression model that uses the various sources of data on property price, including HM Land Registry’s Price Paid Dataset, and attributes to produce estimates of the change in house prices each month. Find out more about the methodology used from the ONS and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.
    8. We take the UK Property Transaction statistics  from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monthly estimates of the number of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. The number of property transactions in the UK is highly seasonal, with more activity in the summer months and less in the winter. This regular annual pattern can sometimes mask the underlying movements and trends in the data series. HMRC presents the UK aggregate transaction figures on a seasonally adjusted basis. We make adjustments for both the time of year and the construction of the calendar, including corrections for the position of Easter and the number of trading days in a particular month.
    9. UK HPI seasonally adjusted series are calculated at regional and national levels only. See data tables.
    10. The first estimate for new build average price (April 2016 report) was based on a small sample which can cause volatility. A three-month moving average has been applied to the latest estimate to remove some of this volatility.
    11. The UK HPI reflects the final transaction price for sales of residential property. Using the geometric mean, it covers purchases at market value for owner-occupation and buy-to-let, excluding those purchases not at market value (such as re-mortgages), where the ‘price’ represents a valuation.
    12. HM Land Registry provides information on residential property transactions for England and Wales, collected as part of the official registration process for properties that are sold for full market value.
    13. The HM Land Registry dataset contains the sale price of the property, the date when the sale was completed, full address details, the type of property (detached, semi-detached, terraced or flat), if it is a newly built property or an established residential building and a variable to indicate if the property has been purchased as a financed transaction (using a mortgage) or as a non-financed transaction (cash purchase).
    14. Repossession sales data is based on the number of transactions lodged with HM Land Registry by lenders exercising their power of sale.
    15. For England, we show repossession sales volume recorded by government office region. For Wales, we provide repossession sales volume for the number of repossession sales.
    16. Repossession sales data is available from April 2016 in CSV format. Find out more information about repossession sales.
    17. We publish CSV files of the raw and cleansed aggregated data every month for England, Scotland and Wales. We publish Northern Ireland data on a quarterly basis. They are available for free use and re-use under the Open Government Licence.
    18. HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. Its vision is: “A world-leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future.”
    19. HM Land Registry’s purpose is: “We protect your land ownership and provide services and data that underpin an efficient and informed property market.”
    20. HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion, enabling over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property across England and Wales. The Land Register contains more than 26.5 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 89% of the land mass of England and Wales.
    21. For further information about HM Land Registry visit www.gov.uk/land-registry.
    22. Follow us on @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn and Facebook

    Contact

    Press Office

    Trafalgar House
    1 Bedford Park
    Croydon
    CR0 2AQ

    Email HMLRPressOffice@landregistry.gov.uk

    Phone (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm) 0300 006 3365

    Mobile (5:30pm to 8:30am weekdays, all weekend and public holidays) 07864 689 344

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Mobile Mining Meets Bitcoin, PFMCrypto Brings BTC Cloud Mining to Mobile Devices

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

    Explore the PFMCrypto website or download the app today.

    BTC Cloud Mining Is Here—Simple, Smart, and Rewarding:

    Traditionally known as the world’s first and most decentralized digital asset, Bitcoin now enters a new chapter with PFMCrypto’s latest innovation: easy-to-use cloud mining. Users can mine BTC directly or leverage PFMCrypto’s intelligent AI engine to automatically switch between the most profitable assets—including ETH, XRP, DOGE, USDC, and more—for optimized returns. All earnings are paid out daily in your chosen cryptocurrency, providing reliable income regardless of market fluctuations.

    Designed for both everyday users and professional investors, this platform empowers users to generate consistent crypto earnings from anywhere, at any time.

    Key Features of PFMCrypto’s BTC Cloud Mining Contracts:

    –  Full BTC Integration: Deposit, purchase, mine, and withdraw BTC directly within the platform.

    –  Multi-Coin Mining Support: Mine and receive earnings in ETH, XRP, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, and BCH.

    –  AI Revenue Optimization: Proprietary algorithms automatically allocate mining power to the top-performing assets to maximize returns.

    –  100% Remote Access: No mining equipment needed—fully accessible via the PFMCrypto mobile app or browser.

    –  Capital Protection: All contracts include full principal return upon maturity, reducing risk while growing crypto assets.

    Mining Contracts for Every Budget and Strategy:

    PFMCrypto offers a broad range of mining contracts that support BTC-based deposits and withdrawals. Each contract is crafted for flexibility, predictable income, and effective risk management:

    $10 Contract – 1 Day – Earn $0.66 (Free with signup bonus)

    $100 Contract – 2 Days – Earn $3.00 daily + $2 reward

    $500 Contract – 5 Days – Earn $6.15 daily

    $5,000 Contract – 30 Days – Earn $78.50 daily

    $20,000 Contract – 45 Days – Earn $380.00 daily

    Whether you’re testing the waters or building a long-term portfolio, PFMCrypto provides low-risk, high-transparency contracts that deliver stable daily income in BTC.

    Click here to explore more BTC cloud contracts.

    Why PFMCrypto’s BTC Mining Stands Out?

    –  Accessible to Everyone: No mining rigs, no setup, no complexity—just tap and earn.

    –  BTC-Native Integration: Deposit, mine, and withdraw BTC in one seamless ecosystem.

    –  Stable Returns, Smart Allocation: An AI-powered engine dynamically adjusts mining strategies to maximize rewards and ensure daily income across all supported coins.

    –  Multi-Asset Flexibility: Mine BTC directly or diversify earnings into other top digital assets—all with one contract.

    –  Instant Setup, Global Access: Mine from anywhere using your phone or browser—securely and remotely.

    Get Started Today in 3 Easy Steps:

    1.  Sign Up – Create your account and receive a $10 welcome bonus

    2.  Choose a Plan – Select a short- or long-term contract (1–60 days available)

    3.  Start Earning – Track daily profits and withdraw in the token of your choice

    Start mining BTC now at: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    Or download the PFMCrypto mobile app (available for iOS & Android).

    BTC Mining for a Digital Future:

    Since 2018, PFMCrypto has helped millions of users around the world generate passive crypto income through secure, smart, cloud-based mining. With the introduction of BTC mining, the platform offers the ideal combination of institutional-grade infrastructure and retail accessibility. Now, users can choose to earn directly in BTC or diversify into major digital assets—all within a secure, fully remote environment.

    “Bitcoin has always been secure, decentralized, and globally trusted,” said a PFMCrypto spokesperson. “Now, it’s also mineable—securely, remotely, and profitably. We’ve eliminated the barriers so anyone can participate in Bitcoin’s future growth.”

    Markets may shift—but daily mining income can remain steady.

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free and low-cost things to do in Leeds over the summer holidays

    Source: City of Leeds

    Summer Reading Challenge at Leeds Libraries
    The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge has begun and is a free holiday activity for children aged 4 to 11. It’s all about reading for fun, aiming to improve children’s reading skills and confidence. Children can read anything they like and collect free rewards for their reading, including a bookmark, pop badge and wooden medal. This year’s theme is Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors and will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.
    Monday 7 July to Friday 22 August, various library locations, cost: free

    Butterfly Fever at Tropical World
    As part of the Big Butterfly Count 2025 enjoy a special weekend of activities on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July, inside the zoo and at the Wildflower Meadows in Roundhay Park (weather permitting). The Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire team will be on site with lots of information on these fascinating creatures. Pick up your free copy of the Butterfly ID chart and head down to the Wildflower Meadow to record the number and type of butterflies you spot in a 15-minute slot – don’t forget to submit your sightings!
    Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 July, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Big Butterfly Count at Tropical World

    A Lotherton Summer Holiday
    Enjoy all things summer at Lotherton this school holiday. With six weeks of summer fun, including a whole host of children’s entertainment, activities, and a family trail.
    Saturday 19 July to Sunday 31 August, cost: included in admission (some activities at additional cost)
    Find out more: A Lotherton Summer Holiday

    Summer Fun at Temple Newsam Home Farm
    Visit the farm’s adorable animals, rare breed livestock, and take in the stunning landscape of the Temple Newsam Estate. Families can make and take home their own special crafts, explore the exciting interactive trail, it’s fun for all the family. Don’t forget your camera, as there are plenty of photo opportunities!
    Saturday 19 July to Monday 25 August, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Summer Fun at Temple Newsam Home Farm

    Summer of Fun at Kirkgate Market
    Head to Kirkgate Market throughout the summer holidays for a range of family friendly activities, including arts and crafts, shows, circus school, bumper cars, interactive games, a climbing wall, and roller skating.
    Monday 21 July to Saturday 30 August, cost: free
    Find out more: Summer of Fun at Kirkgate Market

    Deer Tractor Tours at Lotherton
    Experience Lotherton’s herd of red deer up close as you are taken on a tour of the Deer Park in the Lotherton tractor trailer. Learn all about this magnificent species – Britain’s biggest native mammal – and discover the estate from a different viewpoint.
    Monday 21 July to Monday 25 August, cost: £7.50 per person + admission
    Find out more: Deer Tractor Tours at Lotherton

    Stories in the Streets at Abbey House Museum
    Stories from our Story Time exhibition have spilled out into the Victorian Streets! You can find Mrs Tiggywinkle doing her washing, the Hungry Caterpillar munching his way through the grocer’s shop and seagulls eating the Lighthouse Keeper’s lunch. Come along to spot the stories plus a range of trails and crafts to join in for the whole family to work together. Drop-in during normal opening hours. Don’t forget to check out our Story Time exhibition while you’re here, all about children’s books through the ages!
    Wednesday 23 July to Sunday 31 August, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Stories in the Streets at Abbey House Museum

    Breeze in the Park
    Breeze in the Park is back for 2025! Enjoy interactive play, arts and crafts, games, sports, food and, of course, Breeze’s famous collection of classic inflatables. Coming to a park near you throughout summer.
    Wednesday 23 July to Thursday 21 August, cost: £1 per child. Optional additional activities and food at additional cost. Inflatable fast track and various discounts available with a £5 Breeze Pass.
    Find out more: Breeze in the Park

    Story Garden – Code and Create at Leeds libraries
    To celebrate this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme, make your own Story Gardens in lots of exciting ways. Join our library team to code robot bees and programme moisture sensors to keep plants hydrated! A free family-friendly event recommended for children aged 7+. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
    Thursday 24 July to Thursday 21 August, various library locations, cost: free
    Find out more: Story Garden – Code and Create at Leeds Libraries

    A Magical Miffy Summer at Leeds City Museum
    Hop down to Leeds City Museum over the summer holidays to experience Miffy summer fun! Take part in sing-along storytimes, make Miffy-inspired wands, experience dazzling magic shows, and design interactive artwork at electric paint and animation workshops. There will also be a pop-up sensory room filled with dark tents, light-up toys, squishy floor tiles, dens and a bubble tube.
    Thursday 24 July to Wednesday 27 August, various times (booking required for some activities – please see website for more details), cost: give what you can
    Find out more: A Magical Miffy Summer at Leeds City Museum

    Steam Toys & Meccano Show at Leeds Industrial Museum
    Marvel at the displays of working steam toys and Meccano from local collectors at this fun and friendly event. Enjoy this annual event from the Friends of Pudsey Roller as enthusiasts and collectors bring in their steam toys and Meccano to share with visitors. There will also be a pop-up cafe selling delicious treats and raising funds for the Pudsey Roller.
    Sunday 27 July, 12pm to 4pm, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Steam Toys & Meccano Show at Leeds Industrial Museum

    Pot a Plant at Temple Newsam
    Head to the Walled Garden, where a friendly team will help you to pot up a stunning Coleus plant from the estate’s national collection to take home! Coleus are known for their striking, multicoloured foliage, and can thrive in both sun and shade, making them a versatile choice for any growing space.
    Wednesday 30 July, 1pm to 3pm, cost: £3 per plant (booking essential)
    Find out more: Pot a Plant at Temple Newsam

    Tooth and Claw Workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre
    Discover the animal skulls in the Natural Science collection and learn about how some have adapted teeth and claws to find food. Get up close and personal to the claws and teeth in our collection! Why are they that big? Why are they that sharp?! Join us for a family workshop and tour of our amazing collection store.
    Wednesday 30 July, 10am to 12pm, cost: give what you can
    Find out more: Tooth and Claw Workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre

    Mystery Matinees at Leeds Industrial Museum
    Enjoy a family film in the museum’s cosy, 1920s-style Palace Picture House. Please note, the museum is closed on Mondays.
    Tuesday 5 August to Sunday 31 August, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Mystery Matinees at Leeds Industrial Museum

    Crafty in the Cloister at Kirkstall Abbey
    Take part in craft activities in the heart of the Abbey – the cloister. Every Thursday afternoon there will be new craft and colouring activities, reflecting on the nature in the abbey. The Cloister is the central courtyard in the abbey that served as a quiet area, surrounded by covered walkways to minimise noise and disruption. A quiet and meditative space for the Cistercian monks.
    Thursday 7, 14, 21, 28 August, 2pm to 4pm, cost: give what you can
    Find out more: Crafty in the Cloister at Kirkstall Abbey

    Fladam presents…Green Fingers at Leeds libraries
    It’s Green Fingers’ first day at school, and so far nobody has spotted his bright green hands. But then… GOO! GUNK! GLOOP! What a mess! Why are they suddenly misbehaving? It doesn’t help that heinous headmaster Mr Marigold despises anything dirty… but is something magical going on? Maybe the answers can be found in the mysterious school garden? A family-friendly show recommended for children aged 3+. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
    Tuesday 12 August to Thursday 21 August, various library locations, cost: give what you can
    Find out more: Fladam presents…Green Fingers at Leeds libraries

    Taxidermied! Workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre

    Join a Natural Science curator to look at how animals are taxidermied and preserved, and get up close to our animal collections. How are our animal collections preserved? Learn about taxidermy and the preservation of animals, and how they can contribute to the understanding of animals. After a tour in our store, we’ll be creating a shoebox scene of your own to take home.
    Wednesday 13 August, 10am to 12pm, cost: give what you can
    Find out more: Taxidermied! Workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre

    Pattern Making Poetry at Leeds Art Gallery
    Creative family fun session with artist Kalisha Piper Cheddie. Use drawing and collage to make patterns on long pieces of paper that will be hung on the large walls in Central Court on the first floor of the gallery. While you’re there, take some time to find out more about Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s favourite music and poetry that inspired her exhibition, To Improvise a Mountain: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Curates. Drop-in, no need to book.
    Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 August, 11am to 3pm, cost: give what you can
    Find out more: Pattern Making Poetry at Leeds Art Gallery

    The Child Friendly Leeds 12 wishes represent the voices of 80,000 children and young people in Leeds. Working towards these wishes makes Leeds a better city for children to grow up in. This article is in support of Child Friendly Leeds Wish 7: Children and young people know about different things to do and places to go across the city. They enjoy different cultural experiences including art, music, sport and film. Read the full wish and find out more: https://wearechildfriendlyleeds.com/wish-7-things-to-do/ Child Friendly Leeds also have a great guide full of even more things to do in Leeds over summer. Take a look at their summer activities guide here.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Richemont posts solid start to the year for its first quarter ended 30 June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR

    16 JULY 2025

    RICHEMONT POSTS SOLID START TO THE YEAR FOR ITS FIRST QUARTER ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

      
    Highlights for the quarter ended 30 June 2025

    • Group sales at € 5.4 billion, up by 6% at constant exchange rates and by 3% at actual exchange rates in a volatile macroeconomic and geopolitical context
    • Continued strength at Jewellery Maisons, up by 11% at constant exchange rates; softer sequential rate of decline at Specialist Watchmakers, down by 7%; ‘Other’, including Fashion & Accessories Maisons, at -1%
    • Double-digit growth in Europe, the Americas and Middle East & Africa; stable sales in Asia Pacific at constant exchange rates; Japan down on high comparatives in prior-year period
    • Consistent growth across all distribution channels, led by Jewellery Maisons
    • Robust net cash position at € 7.4 billion, after cash transferred to YNAP upon closing of the sales transaction with LuxExperience 
    April-June   2025 2024 Movement at:
        €m €m constant rates actual rates
    By region Europe 1 295 1 171 +11% +11%
      Asia Pacific 1 731 1 809 – -4%
      Americas  1 335 1 215 +17% +10%
      Japan  527 603 -15% -13%
      Middle East & Africa  524 470 +17% +11%
               
    By distribution channel Retail 3 734 3 631 +6% +3%
      Online retail  323 315 +6% +3%
      Wholesale and royalty income  1 355 1 322 +6% +2%
               
    By business area Jewellery Maisons 3 914 3 656 +11% +7%
      Specialist Watchmakers 824 911 -7% -10%
      Other 674 701 -1% -4%
    Total   5 412 5 268 +6% +3%

    Review of trading in the three-month period ended 30 June 2025 versus the prior-year period, at constant exchange rates

    Any long form references to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan within this company announcement are Hong Kong SAR, China; Macau SAR, China; and Taiwan, China respectively.

    At constant exchange rates, Group sales in the quarter ended 30 June 2025 rose by 6% in a volatile global macroeconomic and geopolitical context.

    The growth was led by double digit increases in Europe, the Americas and Middle East & Africa, more than offsetting Japan’s sales decline against high prior-year comparatives; sales in the Asia Pacific region remained stable. In Europe, sales grew by 11%, driven by robust demand from local clients and overall positive tourist spend, supported by successful high jewellery events. Almost all main markets in the region saw an increase in sales this quarter, with notable performances in Italy and Germany. In the Americas, sales growth remained strong at +17%, driven by supportive local demand across all business areas and markets. Sales in the Middle East & Africa region rose by 17%, led by the United Arab Emirates market as well as higher tourist spend. In Japan, sales declined by 15% against a demanding +59% comparative in the prior-year period, with a strengthening Yen strongly reducing tourist spend, most notably from Chinese clientele, whilst local demand remained positive. Asia Pacific sales were stable overall versus the prior-year period, as a 7% decline in China, Hong Kong and Macau combined was fully compensated by robust growth in almost all other Asian markets. Of note, sales in Australia and South Korea were up double digits.

    Growth was consistent across all distribution channels, each up by 6%, led by Jewellery Maisons. Retail sales accounted for 69% of Group sales, with growth across all regions excluding Japan. Wholesale sales growth was driven by solid increases in the Americas, Europe and Middle East & Africa. Online retail sales showed robust growth across almost all regions.

    The Group’s four Jewellery Maisons – Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier – recorded an 11% rise in sales, marking a third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, supported by both jewellery and watch product lines. All regions posted growth, except Japan that faced a very high comparative in the prior-year period. Specialist Watchmakers sales were 7% lower than the prior-year period, largely reflecting declines in sales in China, Hong Kong and Macau combined as well as in Japan, partly offset by double-digit growth in the Americas. The Group’s Other business area, which includes Fashion & Accessories Maisons, declined by 1% compared to the prior-year period. Notable highlights included continued solid momentum at Peter Millar and Alaïa, an encouraging performance at Chloé and robust growth at Watchfinder & Co.

    The Group’s net cash position at 30 June 2025 stood at € 7.4 billion (2024: € 7.3 billion) after accounting for the € 426 million cash-out upon completion of the sale of YNAP to Mytheresa on 23 April 2025.

    Corporate calendar

    The annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 September 2025 in Geneva. The interim results for the current financial year will be announced on Friday 14 November 2025. The Group’s corporate calendar is available on https://www.richemont.com/investors/corporate-calendar/.

    About Richemont
    At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity. Richemont’s ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term.

    Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaïa, Chloé, Delvaux, dunhill, G/FORE, Gianvito Rossi, Montblanc, Peter Millar, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. Find out more at https://www.richemont.com/ .

    Richemont ‘A’ shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (‘SMI’) of leading stocks. The ‘A’ shares are also traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Richemont’s secondary listing.


    Investor/analyst and media enquiries

    Alessandra Girolami, Group Investor Relations Director

    James Fraser, Investor Relations Executive

    Investors/analysts enquiries: +41 22 721 30 03; investor.relations@cfrinfo.net 

    Media enquiries: +41 22 721 35 07; pressoffice@cfrinfo.net; richemont@teneo.com 

    Disclaimer

    The financial information contained in this announcement is unaudited.

    This document contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Richemont’s forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s business and performance, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results. Our retail stores are heavily dependent on the ability and desire of consumers to travel and shop and a decline in consumers traffic could have a negative effect on our comparable store sales and/or average sales per square foot and store profitability resulting in impairment charges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Reduced travel resulting from economic conditions, retail store closure orders of civil authorities, travel restrictions, travel concerns and other circumstances, including disease epidemics and other health-related concerns, could have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if such events impact our customers’ desire to travel to our retail stores. International conflicts or wars, including resulting sanctions and restrictions on importation and exportation of finished products and/or raw materials, whether self-imposed or imposed by international countries, non-state entities or others, may also impact these forward-looking statements. If international tariffs are imposed or increased, materials and goods that Richemont imports may face higher prices, which could lead to reduced margins or increased prices that could cause decreased consumer demand. As with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Group’s control. Richemont does not undertake to update, nor does it have any obligation to provide updates of, or to revise, any forward-looking statements.

    © Richemont 2025

    This announcement does not contain full details and should not be used as a basis for any investment decision in relation to the Company’s shares. Please find the full announcement available in PDF below:

    Richemont FY26 – Q1 Sales PDF EN

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Facilitating re-domiciliation of non-Hong Kong-registered enterprises to Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Edmund Wong and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 16):
     
    Question:
     
         The Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024, which was passed on May 14 this year, seeks to introduce a company re-domiciliation regime (the Regime) that enables overseas-registered enterprises to transfer their domicile to Hong Kong without having to undergo winding-up procedures in their original domicile while preserving their legal identities. The Amendment Ordinance took effect on May 23 this year, and the Regime opened for applications on the same day. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of enquiries and applications received by the authorities from overseas enterprises regarding the Regime between May 23 and June 30 this year; the following information on such overseas enterprises applying for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong: (i) nature of business, (ii) company assets and scale, and (iii) original domicile;
     
    (2) whether it has estimated the average processing time from receipt of an application for re-domiciliation from an overseas enterprise to formal approval of the enterprise to establish a presence in Hong Kong (i.e. the successful transfer of its domicile to Hong Kong);
     
    (3) whether any overseas enterprises have successfully established a presence in Hong Kong through the Regime to date; if so, of the number of such enterprises, the nature of their business, their company assets and scale, as well as their original domicile; and
     
    (4) whether it will formulate a promotional plan to promote the Regime through Invest Hong Kong and overseas economic and trade offices to attract more overseas enterprises to apply for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong; if so, of the details of the plan (including the resources involved); if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The company re-domiciliation regime commenced on May 23, 2025. A company incorporated outside Hong Kong may apply to the Companies Registry (CR) for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong. The regime reduces the need to go through complicated and costly judicial procedures, and enables a re-domiciled company to maintain its legal identity as a body corporate, thereby ensuring business continuity. An applicant for company re-domiciliation is required to fulfil requirements concerning company background, integrity, member and creditor protection, solvency, etc.
     
         My consolidated reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
     
         After the implementation of the re-domiciliation regime, two international insurance groups immediately announced their plans to re-domicile to Hong Kong, which is the best testament to the regime’s effectiveness in enhancing companies’ operational efficiency. As at July 11, 2025, the CR received 265 enquiries relating to re-domiciliation. The total number of visits and downloads at the thematic section of the CR’s website exceeded 22 000 and 42 000 respectively, reflecting the positive market response to the new company re-domiciliation regime in Hong Kong. As it takes time for companies planning to re-domicile to Hong Kong to prepare the application documents, and to fulfil the requirements of their place of incorporation and other relevant jurisdictions for the proposed re-domiciliation, the CR has not yet received any formal application for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong from non-Hong Kong enterprises. At the same time, some financial institutions and enterprises have contacted the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and expressed that they are preparing to apply for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong. According to the enquiries received by the CR, most of the companies interested in re-domiciliation are from offshore economies such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
     
         The FSTB, the CR and financial regulators will actively provide appropriate support to applicants to assist with their re-domiciliation. Under normal circumstances, the CR will complete the approval process within two weeks after an applicant has submitted all the required documents and information. On the day of issuance of a certificate of re-domiciliation, the applicant becomes a re-domiciled company and is regarded as a Hong Kong-incorporated company from the same date. The re-domiciled company is then required to complete the deregistration procedures at its place of incorporation within 120 days. The re-domiciled company may make an application to the CR to extend the 120-day period subject to any conditions the Registrar of Companies considers appropriate.
     
         The CR has set up a thematic section on its website, containing the Guide on Company Re-domiciliation, application form and frequently asked questions. The FSTB, in conjunction with the CR and the Inland Revenue Department, has proactively reached out to professional organisations and chambers of commerce, and organised briefings to introduce the content, application details and taxation arrangements of the company re-domiciliation regime. We will continue to work with Invest Hong Kong, the Economic and Trade Offices and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited to conduct external publicity and promotion with a view to attracting major Hong Kong-listed companies and other companies registered outside Hong Kong to make good use of the company re-domiciliation regime, and to maximising the regime’s benefits of attracting more companies, capital and talents to Hong Kong, thereby contributing to the development of the local economy. The publicity work is currently undertaken by the FSTB and the relevant departments respectively with their existing staff establishment.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley Mourns Death of Haverhill Man, Champions Bills to Support People in Mental Health Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    People’s Response Act and Mental Health Justice Act Take a Public Health Approach to Public Safety

    Press Conference Video

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), issued the following statement on the death of Haverhill resident Francis Gigliotti after an encounter with police this weekend. Earlier today, Congresswoman Pressley joined Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), colleagues, and advocates to launch the Community Safety Agenda, an evidence-informed approach to public safety that prioritizes care, connection, and prevention over punishment, control, and isolation. Included in the agenda are two bills championed by Rep. Pressley, the People’s Response Act and Mental Health Justice Act, that take a public health approach to public safety and support individuals in mental health crisis.

    “My heart breaks for Francis Gigliotti, his loved ones, and everyone in the Haverhill community impacted by his tragic loss. What we’ve learned so far is that Francis was experiencing a mental health crisis and should have been met with care and compassion. I join my colleagues at the federal, state, and local levels calling for a swift and thorough investigation into what happened and what protocols were or were not followed.

    “For too long, our approach to public safety has centered criminalization, resulting in a shameful mass incarceration crisis and harm. Tragedies like this one are a painful reminder of why we need policies like our Mental Health Justice Act and People’s Response Act—which would help save lives by centering de-escalation, mental health interventions, and a public health approach to public safety.

    “Unfortunately, we’ll never be able to deliver justice for Francis Gigliotti—for in a just world, Francis would be alive today, at home with his fiancée and family—but we can and must provide accountability and policy change. I look forward to seeing a transparent and independent investigation led by District Attorney Tucker so the community writ-large can get the answers and healing they deserve.”

    The People’s Response Act is groundbreaking legislation that would advance an inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach to public safety by creating a public safety division within the United States Department of Human Health and Services (JHHS) and launching a federal first responders unit to support states and local governments with emergency health crises. The bill would promote alternative approaches to public safety, including coordination of research and policies that are being implemented across HHS and other agencies to center health-based and non-carceral responses throughout the federal government.

    The Mental Health Justice Act would reduce violence against individuals with mental illness and disabilities by helping states, tribes, and localities establish mental health responder units to support individuals in crisis, instead of police. The bill would create a grant program that allows states, tribes, and localities to hire, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond to mental health emergencies when 911, 988, or another emergency hotline is called; empower the Civil Rights Division at DOJ and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at HHS to provide technical assistance to grant recipients; require a study on the effectiveness of the grant program; and establish best practices for mental health professionals responding to mental health emergencies.

    The Community Safety Agenda is supported by over 100 civil rights, public health, racial justice, housing, violence prevention, and economic justice groups and prioritizes policies that invest in people and communities, not police and prisons, to keep people safe.

    Joining Reps. Pressley and Lee in launching the agenda are Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-04), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Lucy McBath (GA-06), along with Thea Sebastian, Executive Director for The Futures Institute; Liz Komar, Sentencing Reform Counsel for The Sentencing Project; Kevin Beckford, PhD, Senior Associate for the Pretrial Justice Institute; Nick Wilson, Senior Director of Gun Violence Prevention for American Progress; Beatriz Beckford, National Director of Youth and Family for MomsRising; Michael Huggins, Deputy Senior Director for Color of Change.

    Video of their press conference unveiling the agenda is available here.

    The People’s Response Act and Mental Health Justice Act are informed by Congresswoman Pressley’s People’s Justice Guarantee, her comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system. She has introduced over a dozen pieces of precise legislation informed by the People’s Justice Guarantee to fundamentally redefine what justice looks like in America.

    • In June 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)unveiled the Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy (Housing FIRST) Act, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley reintroduced her Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated. It was originally introduced in March 2020 and reintroduced in February 2021 as part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Package—a suite of 12 bills aimed at addressing the Black maternal health crisis.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus, requested the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to research post-traumatic prison disorder and share findings related to prevention and treatment for people returning from behind the wall.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) re-introduced their Ending Qualified Immunity Act, legislation that would eliminate the unjust and court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity and restore the ability for people to obtain relief when state and local officials, including police officers, violate their legal and constitutionally secured rights. Rep. Pressley originally introduced the bill in June 2020 with Rep. Justin Amash (L-MI) and reintroduced it with Sen. Markey in March 2021.
    • On April 6, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Hank Johnson led 25 of their colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to address racial disparities in traffic enforcement.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley, in partnership with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), re-introduced the Ending PUSHOUT Act, their legislation to end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools. It was originally introduced in December 2019 and reintroduced in March 2021.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) and 27 Members of Congress, alongside more than 300 advocacy organizations and community leaders, reintroduced the New Way Forward Act, a landmark piece of legislation that addresses some of the most harmful provisions of immigration law that drive racist enforcement practices, expanded incarceration in immigration detention centers, and unjust deportations. It was originally introduced in December 2019 by Reps. Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Karen Bass (CA-37) and was reintroduced in January 2021.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues re-introduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act to stop federal entities’ use of facial recognition tools and prohibit federal support for state and local law enforcement entities that use biometric technology. They reintroduced the bill in June 2021.
    • In December 2022, the House passed Congresswoman Pressley’s amendment to strengthen maternal health care for people who are incarcerated.
    • In December 2021, Rep. Pressley unveiled the Fair and Independent Experts in Clemency (FIX Clemency) Act, historic legislation to transform our nation’s clemency system and address the mass incarceration crisis.
    • In March 2021, Rep. Pressley sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to consider H. Res. 266, the People’s Justice Guarantee, as a framework for embedding justice in our criminal legal system and building integrity in the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
    • In February 2021, October 2020, Congresswoman Pressley reintroduced the Mental Health Justice Act with Reps. Katie Porter (CA-45), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), to support the creation of mental health first responder units that would be deployed in lieu of law enforcement when 911 is called due to a mental health crisis. The lawmakers originally introduced the legislation in October 2020.
    • In January 2021, she reintroduced the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021 with Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level, and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. The lawmakers originally introduced the bill in July 2019.
    • In August 2020, she introduced the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and others, requires federal, state, and local prisons and jails to collect and publicly report COVID-19 data. The legislation was reintroduced in 2021.
    • In July 2020, she introduced the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act with Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), to prohibit federal funds to support the increased presence of police in K-12 schools and supports school districts that invests in counselors.
    • In June 2020, she introduced the Dismantle Mass Incarceration for Public Health Act with Reps. Tlaib (MI-13) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) to require decarceration to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and jails.
    • In June 2020, she introduced the Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ed Markey (D-MA), to hold police officers criminally liable for denying care to those in medical distress.
    • In May 2020, she introduced a resolution with Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Karen Bass (CA-37) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) to condemn any and all acts of police brutality, racial profiling, and militarization and over-policing of Black and brown communities.  
    • In July 2019, she introduced the No Biometric Barriers Housing Act with Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) that would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology. 
    • In June 2019, in conjunction with Gun Violence Awareness Month and the 5th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, she introduced a resolution to honor survivors of homicide victims by establishing National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 07.15.2025 ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Secures Historic School Choice Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, National Review spotlighted Senator Cruz’s leadership in securing two landmark school choice provisions in the One Big, Beautiful Bill, which together make the bill the most significant federal school choice legislation ever signed into law. One measure expands previous language drafted and written into law by Sen. Cruz in 2017, and dramatically expands the ability of parents to use 529 accounts for their children’s education. The other measure allows eligible taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit for contributions up to $1,700 per year to scholarship-granting nonprofits.

    From National Review: Inside Ted Cruz’s Reconciliation Fight for School-Choice Tax Credits
    In the lead-up to the July 4 holiday, Ted Cruz found himself in a rare position for a sitting U.S. senator: Arguing his case directly to the Senate parliamentarian. A school-choice provision Cruz proposed was on the verge of being cut from this year’s reconciliation package.
    Up until that point the Texas senator had been a reliable “yes” vote on reconciliation. But he made clear to Senate Majority Leader John Thune that if the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) was removed from the package, he would “burn the whole bill down.”
    After a mad dash of rewrites, Cruz and his legislative team secured the passage of the national school-choice provision — a legislative victory he described to National Review in a wide-ranging interview as one of the most consequential, legacy-defining additions to Congress’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
    The ECCA will allow eligible taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit for contributions up to $1,700 per year to scholarship-granting nonprofits. Following parliamentarian pushback on the original legislative language that applied the tax credit to all fifty states, the final version of the bill lifts the cap on tax credits but allows states to opt out of the scholarship program.
    …
    But Cruz’s team worked into the bill an important distinction: states can opt out of receiving scholarships from the nonprofits, but they can’t opt out of the tax credit, which Republicans made a permanent part of the tax code in this year’s reconciliation legislation.
    …
    Until this year’s bill, Cruz’s biggest school-choice legislative achievement was the amendment he authored and passed through Congress’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendment allowed parents to pay for K–12 education expenses up to $10,000 per year by expanding Section 529 college-savings plans, and was at the time the most “far-reaching” piece of federal legislation on school choice, Cruz said.
    …
    Once the bill hit the Senate, Cruz had two goals for the school-choice provision: Keep it in the package, and make it more consequential.
    Read more here.
    BACKGROUND
    Sen. Cruz is the leading voice in the Senate on school choice and for parental rights in education.

    Sen. Cruz introduced the Student Empowerment Act to enhance 529 College Savings Plans to help public, private, religious, and homeschool students and families and the Universal School Choice Act to allow for up to $10 billion annually in dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits for individuals and businesses that contribute to nonprofit scholarship granting organizations supporting students’ educational opportunities.

    Sen. Cruz authored and passed into law the Student Opportunity Amendment as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This amendment expanded 529 College Savings Plans to include K-12 elementary and secondary school tuition for public, private, and religious schools. It was at the time the most far-reaching federal school choice legislation ever passed.

    Sen. Cruz filed the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act in 2019, 2021 and 2023. The bill creates a federal tax credit for taxpayers who donate to scholarship organizations supporting post-secondary workforce education, including trade schools and apprenticeship programs, and K-12 education.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: GST on container deposit scheme refunds

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    What is a material recovery facility operator

    A material recovery facility operator:

    • processes mixed recyclables collected from homes and businesses for reuse or recycling
    • may participate in a container deposit scheme as part of their business and obtain refunds on eligible beverage containers they recycle or send for recycling.

    Each container deposit scheme is unique and may vary depending on specific state or territory arrangements.

    Determining if GST applies

    If you’re a material recovery facility operator, you should determine if you’re making taxable supplies when you receive refunds under a container deposit scheme. GST is payable on taxable supplies.

    You will be liable for GST if you provide something of value in exchange for receiving refunds under the scheme. Generally, you provide something of value through the recycling activities you perform as part of your participation in the scheme in exchange for the refund. Examples of where something of value is provided in exchange for the refund include:

    • agreeing to recycle eligible containers under a particular scheme
    • recycling eligible containers in compliance with a particular scheme.

    For more information see:

    You are required to pay GST on taxable supplies you make under a container deposit scheme.

    We encourage you to consider the GST implications of your participation in a scheme and approach us for help early if you are uncertain whether GST applies.

    We are aware that some material recovery facility operators have adopted a position that no GST is payable in these situations and have sought to claim GST refunds from us. Any material recovery facility operator in this situation should engage with us by requesting an early engagement discussion. You should also consider the rules which restrict the ability to claim a GST refund. For more information see Incorrectly charged GST.

    If you need further help to understand your GST obligations under container deposit schemes, you can apply for a private ruling. You will need to include all relevant information in your application in relation to the scheme and any specific arrangements you have entered into in order for us to assist you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SUNDAY SHOWS: Send the One Big Beautiful Bill to President Trump’s Desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    This morning, Members of Congress joined President Donald J. Trump on the Sunday shows to discuss the overwhelmingly positive impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill — which will deliver unprecedented tax relief, generational welfare reform, and historic spending cuts for the American people.
    Here’s what you missed:
    President Trump on Sunday Morning Futures
    “We’re cutting $1.7 trillion … We’re going to have growth like we’ve never seen before.” (Watch)
    “It takes care of the border. There’s also No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Social Security, No Tax on Overtime.” (Watch)
    Senator Markwayne Mullin on Meet the Press
    “This cuts spending. It’s the largest deficit cut by any Congress ever in history. It makes tax cuts permanent — which, instead of taxes going up January 1 by $4 trillion, it actually restores the tax cuts and the average household of four is going to bring home pay over $10,000 more a year.” (Watch)
    “What we’re doing is cutting the waste, fraud, and abuse out of the Medicaid system and make sure it’s for the people that it was originally intended for.” (Watch)
    Senator Jim Banks on Fox News Sunday
    “This is the biggest spending cut in American history — a $1.6 trillion spending cut, getting rid of the Green New Deal scams from the Biden Administration, and it’s the biggest tax cut in American history for working class families.” (Watch)
    “Everyone in my family is blue collar, working class. They’re all going to get socked by another $2,000, on average, every year. They already tell me they can’t keep up right now, and the Democrats want them to pay more in taxes? … Democrats are focused on screwing the working class with higher taxes … President Trump and Republicans are serious about cutting taxes on the people who need it the most.” (Watch)
    Senator Katie Britt on State of the Union
    “We’re going to make sure that hardworking people can keep more of their money. We’re going to make sure that we have secure borders — not just now, but for generations to come. We’re going to make sure that we have a strong national defense so that our warfighter is the best trained, equipped, and ready across the planet. We’re going to unleash American energy … We want to make sure that these programs are available for the people who need them and we want to make sure that people who are working know that we see them and that they have a great opportunity to achieve the American Dream — and that’s what this bill does.” (Watch)
    “The reforms in this bill are necessary and we’re going to deliver actual solutions to the American people … This bill does No Tax on Tips, it does No Tax on Overtime. Real, hardworking Americans are going to see results from this.” (Watch)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: And the Emmy goes to….California!

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 15, 2025

    What you need to know: Productions filmed in California are raking in the nominations in this year’s Emmy bids. 

    SACRAMENTO –  Today, the nominees for the 77th Emmy Awards were announced, with California-based television productions securing at least 104 nominations across all categories. With today’s announcement, the Golden State continues to prove that it is the premier place to work, create and tell stories that reach across the world.

    Here are the 14 California-based productions that were nominated for an Emmy in a key category (listed in order of total nominations):

    1. “The Studio”, Apple TV+

    Courtesy of Apple TV+

    Total nominations: 23, including:

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Seth Rogen, Best Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Kathryn Hahn, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Catherine O’Hara, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Ike Barinholtz, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    2. “Hacks”, HBO Max

    Courtesy of HBO Max

    Total nominations: 14, including

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Jean Smart, Best Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Hannah Einbinder, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    3. “The Pitt”*, HBO Max

    Courtesy of Warner Bros.

    Total nominations: 13, including:

    • Best Drama Series
    • Noah Wyle, Best Actor in a Drama Series
    • Katherine LaNasa, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    4. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, Netflix

    Courtesy of Miles Cris/Netflix

    Total nominations: 11, including:

    • Best Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Cooper Koch, Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Chloë Sevigny, Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Javier Bardem, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    5. “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, MTV

    Courtesy of MTV/World of Wonder

    Total nominations: 8, including

    • Best Reality Competition

    6. “Shrinking”, Apple TV+

    Courtesy of Apple TV+

    Total nominations: 7, including:

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Jason Segel, Best Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Jessica Williams, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Harrison Ford, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Michael Urie, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    7. “Abbott Elementary”, ABC

    Courtesy of ABC

    Total nominations: 6, including

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Quinta Brunson, Best Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Janelle Hames, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    8. “The Oscars”, ABC

    Courtesy of ABC

    Total nominations: 6, including

    • Best Variety Special

    9. “Paradise”*, Hulu

    Courtesy of Ser Baffo/Disney

    Total nominations: 4, including

    • Best Drama Series
    • Sterling K. Brown, Best Actor in a Drama Series
    • Julianne Nicholson, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    • James Marsden, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    10. “Presumed Innocent”*, Apple TV+

    Courtesy of Apple TV+

    Total nominations: 4, including

    • Jake Gyllenhaal, Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Ruth Negga, Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Bill Camp, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Peter Sarsgaard, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    11. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, ABC

    Courtesy of ABC

    Total nominations: 3, including

    • Best Talk Series

    12. “Nobody Wants This”, Netflix

    Courtesy of Stefania Rosini/Netflix 

    Total nominations: 3, including

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Kristen Bell, Best Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Adam Brody, Best Actor in a Comedy Series

    13. “Matlock”*, CBS

    Courtesy of CBS

    Total nominations: 1

    • Kathy Bates, Best Actress in a Drama Series

    14. “The Residence”*, Netflix

    Courtesy of Erin Simkin/Netflix

    Total nominations: 1

    • Uzo Aduba, Best Actress in a Comedy Series

    The 77th Emmy Awards will take place on September 14th at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles’ L.A. Live.

    *Denotes inclusion in California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program. For the full list of productions that are a part of the program, see here.

    Lights, camera, jobs

    Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom joined labor representatives, entertainment leaders and state officials to mark the official expansion of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program—solidifying the Golden State’s status as the global epicenter of film and television production. The move more than doubled the program’s annual funding—from $330 million to $750 million—and introduced key updates to keep production, below-the-line jobs, and investment rooted in California.

    The expanded program – now one of the largest capped film incentives in the nation – maintains California’s competitive edge in the creative economy while continuing to prioritize workforce diversity provisions, more funding for the Career Pathways Training Program, and the nation’s first Safety on Production Pilot Program.

    The California Film Commission has already integrated the expanded funding and refundable credit mechanism into its immediately upcoming application cycles, the next of which is scheduled for August 25–27, 2025 for independent and non-independent films.

    Recent news

    Jul 15, 2025

    News What you need to know: The LA Rises public outreach campaign will connect and support Angelenos impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires with resources for long-term recovery and rebuilding. LOS ANGELES – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of a…

    Jul 15, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Despite a concerted misinformation campaign driven by Republicans – from the President to state lawmakers – to create confusion around gas prices in California, prices actually remain lower now than they were one week ago, one month ago and one year…

    Jul 15, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is advancing California’s efficiency strategy by connecting state agencies with tech executives to identify new opportunities for efficiency, engagement, and effectiveness throughout the state government to improve services…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: And the Emmy goes to….California!

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 15, 2025

    What you need to know: Productions filmed in California are raking in the nominations in this year’s Emmy bids. 

    SACRAMENTO –  Today, the nominees for the 77th Emmy Awards were announced, with California-based television productions securing at least 104 nominations across all categories. With today’s announcement, the Golden State continues to prove that it is the premier place to work, create and tell stories that reach across the world.

    Here are the 14 California-based productions that were nominated for an Emmy in a key category (listed in order of total nominations):

    1. “The Studio”, Apple TV+

    Courtesy of Apple TV+

    Total nominations: 23, including:

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Seth Rogen, Best Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Kathryn Hahn, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Catherine O’Hara, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Ike Barinholtz, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    2. “Hacks”, HBO Max

    Courtesy of HBO Max

    Total nominations: 14, including

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Jean Smart, Best Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Hannah Einbinder, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    3. “The Pitt”*, HBO Max

    Courtesy of Warner Bros.

    Total nominations: 13, including:

    • Best Drama Series
    • Noah Wyle, Best Actor in a Drama Series
    • Katherine LaNasa, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    4. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, Netflix

    Courtesy of Miles Cris/Netflix

    Total nominations: 11, including:

    • Best Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Cooper Koch, Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Chloë Sevigny, Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Javier Bardem, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    5. “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, MTV

    Courtesy of MTV/World of Wonder

    Total nominations: 8, including

    • Best Reality Competition

    6. “Shrinking”, Apple TV+

    Courtesy of Apple TV+

    Total nominations: 7, including:

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Jason Segel, Best Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Jessica Williams, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Harrison Ford, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Michael Urie, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    7. “Abbott Elementary”, ABC

    Courtesy of ABC

    Total nominations: 6, including

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Quinta Brunson, Best Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Janelle Hames, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    8. “The Oscars”, ABC

    Courtesy of ABC

    Total nominations: 6, including

    • Best Variety Special

    9. “Paradise”*, Hulu

    Courtesy of Ser Baffo/Disney

    Total nominations: 4, including

    • Best Drama Series
    • Sterling K. Brown, Best Actor in a Drama Series
    • Julianne Nicholson, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    • James Marsden, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    10. “Presumed Innocent”*, Apple TV+

    Courtesy of Apple TV+

    Total nominations: 4, including

    • Jake Gyllenhaal, Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Ruth Negga, Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Bill Camp, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
    • Peter Sarsgaard, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    11. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, ABC

    Courtesy of ABC

    Total nominations: 3, including

    • Best Talk Series

    12. “Nobody Wants This”, Netflix

    Courtesy of Stefania Rosini/Netflix 

    Total nominations: 3, including

    • Best Comedy Series
    • Kristen Bell, Best Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Adam Brody, Best Actor in a Comedy Series

    13. “Matlock”*, CBS

    Courtesy of CBS

    Total nominations: 1

    • Kathy Bates, Best Actress in a Drama Series

    14. “The Residence”*, Netflix

    Courtesy of Erin Simkin/Netflix

    Total nominations: 1

    • Uzo Aduba, Best Actress in a Comedy Series

    The 77th Emmy Awards will take place on September 14th at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles’ L.A. Live.

    *Denotes inclusion in California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program. For the full list of productions that are a part of the program, see here.

    Lights, camera, jobs

    Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom joined labor representatives, entertainment leaders and state officials to mark the official expansion of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program—solidifying the Golden State’s status as the global epicenter of film and television production. The move more than doubled the program’s annual funding—from $330 million to $750 million—and introduced key updates to keep production, below-the-line jobs, and investment rooted in California.

    The expanded program – now one of the largest capped film incentives in the nation – maintains California’s competitive edge in the creative economy while continuing to prioritize workforce diversity provisions, more funding for the Career Pathways Training Program, and the nation’s first Safety on Production Pilot Program.

    The California Film Commission has already integrated the expanded funding and refundable credit mechanism into its immediately upcoming application cycles, the next of which is scheduled for August 25–27, 2025 for independent and non-independent films.

    Recent news

    Jul 15, 2025

    News What you need to know: The LA Rises public outreach campaign will connect and support Angelenos impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires with resources for long-term recovery and rebuilding. LOS ANGELES – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of a…

    Jul 15, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Despite a concerted misinformation campaign driven by Republicans – from the President to state lawmakers – to create confusion around gas prices in California, prices actually remain lower now than they were one week ago, one month ago and one year…

    Jul 15, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is advancing California’s efficiency strategy by connecting state agencies with tech executives to identify new opportunities for efficiency, engagement, and effectiveness throughout the state government to improve services…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Wyden, Baldwin Tell Social Security: Stop Lying to Stroke Trump’s Ego

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    July 15, 2025

    Senate Democrats Call on SSA Commissioner Bisignano to Retract False Claims About Social Security Taxes That Could Confuse, Hurt Seniors

    “Rather than focusing on improving customer service, you are using your position as Commissioner to stroke Donald Trump’s ego and peddle lies on his behalf.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) led eight Senate Democrats in demanding that the Social Security Administration (SSA) stop peddling lies about the Republican budget bill using the agency’s email platform, which reaches tens of millions of Americans. 

    “We are appalled that the agency distributed misleading and blatantly inaccurate information regarding tax changes affecting older Americans, transforming the agency into a partisan megaphone for Donald Trump while sowing confusion and distrust in Social Security among Americans,” wrote the senators.

    On July 3, SSA issued a press release and sent a mass email to all “mySocial Security” account users falsely announcing that the Republican budget bill would cut taxes on Social Security benefits for 90% of beneficiaries — in addition to providing older Americans with a tax deduction. But the Republican bill does not amend, reduce, or eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits. While the bill provides a temporary deduction for some older Americans, fewer than half of Americans will benefit from this deduction — very much shy of the 90% of Americans that SSA claims. The bill also does not include any provisions to change the tax filing requirements for Social Security recipients. 

    Days later, the SSA quietly updated its press release to correct the false claim, but it did not send a follow-up email to the millions of users who received the initial email.

    Commissioner Bisignano’s lies on behalf of Trump could mislead millions of American seniors who depend on Social Security benefits. The initial email may leave recipients expecting both a deduction and a tax break and could result in millions of Americans’ falsely believing they don’t have to file taxes on Social Security. Inaccurate information could lead to Americans making benefit claims against their best interests or even missing payments on taxes they owe.

    Commissioner Bisignano has abandoned his promise to the Finance Committee and to the American people that, under his leadership, SSA would not become a partisan agency subject to the whims of Trump. 

    “We urge you to retract SSA’s July 3 statement and issue a correction — on SSA’s website and via email for ‘my Social Security’ account users — clarifying the federal tax treatment of Social Security benefits,” concluded the senators. 

    Other senators signing on to the letter include Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).

    Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers Launch Joint Venture to Build Next-Gen 1.35 GW Hyperscale Data Center Campus in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PITTSBURGH, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pennsylvania Data Center Partners, a leader in data center development within the Commonwealth, together with PowerHouse Data Centers, the fifth largest data center developer in the United States, announced plans for their first joint venture: a $15 billion project with three hyperscale data center campuses in Central Pennsylvania. The new AI data hub, Pennsylvania Digital I (PAX) will deliver 1.35 GW of capacity with expandability up to 1.8 GW, comprising scale and speed for AI data center development.

    The project was announced today before President Donald Trump and distinguished global leaders in energy and artificial intelligence, international investors, representatives from labor and trades, as well as Pennsylvania officials at the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit hosted by Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) at Carnegie Mellon University.

    The master plan for PAX includes the construction of three data center campuses with each campus featuring six buildings and a dedicated 450 MW substation. PAX will have access to 17 metropolitan fiber networks, including direct peering with Ashburn, Virginia.

    “This venture between Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers is groundbreaking for AI infrastructure,” said Senator Dave McCormick. “It’s a bold and meaningful investment that puts Pennsylvania at the heart of America’s emerging AI tech economy.”

    The project is anticipated to deliver significant economic benefits for the local community, including generating more than $65 million in direct tax revenue with allocations of $45 + million to the Cumberland Valley School District, $10 + million to Middlesex Township, and $10 + million to Cumberland County. Furthermore, the development is expected to create high-skilled employment positions spanning areas such as construction, project management, engineering, and electrical work.

    “This landmark deal with PowerHouse represents a pivotal step for our expansion across Pennsylvania—a state uniquely positioned for data center development thanks to our state and local leaders willing to tap its abundant natural power resources. We’re proud to help lead the charge in building the infrastructure that will define the next era of AI and technological innovation,” said Pennsylvania Data Center Partners CEO Igal J. Feibush.

    “Pennsylvania is important as a growing AI data center market for the Nation and our Pennsylvania Digital I (PAX) project is in the very heart of the state with its access to not only Ashburn, but all of the most important markets in the Eastern United States,” said Doug Fleit, CEO and Co-founder of PowerHouse Data Centers. “This campus is built for speed, engineered for growth, and located where the next wave of infrastructure will take shape for our customers.”

    As part of this transformative project, PPL Electric Utilities will connect the campuses to their transmission system, ensuring the reliable delivery of power to the data center campuses and the surrounding community.

    “PPL Electric Utilities’ investments in its transmission system position us to support economic growth and reliably serve all customers. We’re ready to serve new customers when they’re ready to interconnect,” said Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities. “Our commitment to innovation and grid reliability aligns seamlessly with the vision for this project and the emergence of Central Pennsylvania as a technology hub. We’re excited to be part of Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers’ investment in the state and look forward to the positive effects it can have for our customers and the local economy.”

    The new data center campus is generating significant interest among hyperscalers.

    Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers are committed to building lasting relationships with the local community. Both organizations are actively engaging with area nonprofits, investing in STEM education, and providing resources to support charitable initiatives across the region. “Our shared vision goes beyond infrastructure—it’s about strengthening the fabric of the communities where we operate,” added Feibush.

    Project Highlights:

    • Footprint: Approximately 700-acre site with three campuses with 450 MW each.
    • Utility Capacity: 1.35 GW with scalable growth up to 1.8 GW.
    • Near-Term Power Delivery: 300 MW by 2Q 2027.
    • Tax Incentives: Pennsylvania’s data center tax exemption provides 100% abatement of sales and use taxes on equipment and electricity for up to 15 years.
    • Robust Fiber Infrastructure: Direct peering to Ashburn, VA and connectivity to 17 metro fiber providers.
    • Strategic Location: Carlisle is in the heart of the Northeast’s emerging AI corridor, with the scale, power and location hyperscale clients are demanding.
    • Aesthetic Design: PowerHouse Data Centers is a leader in thoughtful and aesthetic architectural for data center development.

    Further project updates will be shared as development progresses.

    About Pennsylvania Data Center Partners
    Pennsylvania Data Center Partners is a developer and owner of hyperscale data centers throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through our land acquisition, power, procurement and speed-to-market development process, we build next generation hyperscale data center campuses that meet the demand for massive computing resources which train and deploy complex generative AI models. Our ready-to-scale, strategically located sites ensure hyperscalers, investors and communities all benefit from the ensuing world-class digital infrastructure. For more information, visit PADataCenters.com.

    About PowerHouse Data Centers
    PowerHouse Data Centers, wholly owned and operated by American Real Estate Partners (AREP), is a pioneering developer and owner of next-generation data centers, providing sophisticated real estate solutions for hyperscalers that meet their market, data, utility, and space demands. PowerHouse is an established leader in world-class data center development, with 86 data centers underway or in planning, representing over 24 million square feet and 6 GW in seven major Tier I and Tier II markets. PowerHouse’s full suite of development services integrates asset strategy, fast-track approvals, infrastructure, on-site power procurement, and sustainable building practices into every project. Visit our newsroom for more information, and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X.

    Media Contacts:

    Pennsylvania Data Center Partners
    Tisha Kresler
    Pennsylvania Data Center Partners
    tisha@padatacenters.com
    917-270-0079

    PowerHouse Data Centers
    Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA)
    jsa_arep@jsa.net
    +1 866.695.3629 ext. 11

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed166acf-7b8f-4df7-a407-582b31d094fd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Price Soars: DRML Miner Unveils $10 Bonus and Predictable Returns for All

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin is once again capturing global attention. Its recent price rally has shattered key resistance levels, drawing investors and newcomers alike back to the crypto space. As momentum builds, many are searching for practical ways to tap into this booming market.

    Mining remains a cornerstone of crypto profit strategies. Yet, traditional mining comes with steep costs, technical setups, and constant maintenance. That’s why DRML Miner is rewriting the rules — offering a modern, accessible way for anyone to start earning from cryptocurrency.

    DRML Miner: Cloud Mining Made Effortless

    DRML Miner delivers a streamlined mining experience through secure cloud-based solutions. Forget about buying pricey rigs or managing noisy, power-hungry hardware at home. Instead, you get direct access to high-performance mining facilities, all managed by experts.

    The platform is built for simplicity. Registration takes only moments, and you’re guided every step of the way. Whether you’re a crypto novice or an experienced investor looking to diversify, DRML Miner removes the technical barriers that once kept people out.

    Instant $10 Sign-Up Bonus to Kickstart Earnings

    To help newcomers dive right in, DRML Miner offers a $10 registration bonus. This means you can start mining without dipping into your own funds. It’s a strategic, zero-risk introduction to earning passive crypto income.

    From day one, your account starts generating returns. You can explore the platform, see your earnings grow, and then decide how much more you’d like to invest.

    Guaranteed Fixed Daily Returns — No Surprises

    The crypto market is famous for volatility. Prices can swing wildly overnight. That’s why DRML Miner stands out by offering fixed daily returns. Instead of watching your profits fluctuate, you can count on a predictable payout.

    Their mining contracts lay everything out clearly. You know your rate of return, your duration, and exactly when to expect payments. It’s a transparent approach that helps you plan ahead with confidence.

    Low-Cost Entry With Big Upside Potential

    DRML Miner offers flexible plans tailored to every budget. You can start small — especially with your free $10 bonus — and reinvest profits as you go. As your comfort grows, scaling up becomes easy.

    The platform also features an attractive referral program. Share your link with friends or followers and earn a percentage of their mining income. It’s a smart way to boost your profits without extra spending.

    Unmatched Security and Total Transparency

    When dealing with crypto, security isn’t optional — it’s critical. DRML Miner employs robust encryption, secure wallet protocols, and two-factor authentication to protect your assets and personal data.

    The platform also prides itself on full transparency. A user-friendly dashboard lets you track your mining performance and earnings in real time. You’re always in the know.

    Why Right Now Is the Best Time to Start Mining

    With Bitcoin surging and wider adoption taking hold, the current market creates an exceptional window of opportunity. Mining lets you capture value directly from blockchain operations, not just by holding coins.

    DRML Miner makes it simple to participate in this growth story without technical hassles or big upfront investments. It’s an ideal gateway for anyone eager to profit from Bitcoin’s upward trajectory.

    How to Start Mining With DRML Miner in Minutes

    Launching your mining journey is straightforward:

    1.     Go to https://drmlminers.com
    2.     Create a free account in less than a minute
    3.     Claim your $10 welcome bonus immediately
    4.     Choose the mining contract that fits your goals
    5.     Watch your daily earnings roll in — reliably and securely

    No hardware to manage, no maintenance worries. Just simple, steady returns.

    The Bottom Line: Secure Your Share of the Crypto Boom

    As Bitcoin continues to climb, mining stands out as one of the smartest ways to capitalize on its momentum. DRML Miner bridges the gap between complex mining systems and everyday investors by offering a seamless, transparent platform.

    With instant bonuses, fixed returns, and powerful security, DRML Miner is perfectly positioned to help you earn confidently in today’s market. Don’t wait for the next price surge to pass you by.

    Visit our official website: https://drmlminers.com
    Email Address: info@drmlminer.com

    Get ahead of the curve. Profit like a pro. And enjoy peace of mind knowing your mining is handled by experts.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and may result in loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Price Soars: DRML Miner Unveils $10 Bonus and Predictable Returns for All

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin is once again capturing global attention. Its recent price rally has shattered key resistance levels, drawing investors and newcomers alike back to the crypto space. As momentum builds, many are searching for practical ways to tap into this booming market.

    Mining remains a cornerstone of crypto profit strategies. Yet, traditional mining comes with steep costs, technical setups, and constant maintenance. That’s why DRML Miner is rewriting the rules — offering a modern, accessible way for anyone to start earning from cryptocurrency.

    DRML Miner: Cloud Mining Made Effortless

    DRML Miner delivers a streamlined mining experience through secure cloud-based solutions. Forget about buying pricey rigs or managing noisy, power-hungry hardware at home. Instead, you get direct access to high-performance mining facilities, all managed by experts.

    The platform is built for simplicity. Registration takes only moments, and you’re guided every step of the way. Whether you’re a crypto novice or an experienced investor looking to diversify, DRML Miner removes the technical barriers that once kept people out.

    Instant $10 Sign-Up Bonus to Kickstart Earnings

    To help newcomers dive right in, DRML Miner offers a $10 registration bonus. This means you can start mining without dipping into your own funds. It’s a strategic, zero-risk introduction to earning passive crypto income.

    From day one, your account starts generating returns. You can explore the platform, see your earnings grow, and then decide how much more you’d like to invest.

    Guaranteed Fixed Daily Returns — No Surprises

    The crypto market is famous for volatility. Prices can swing wildly overnight. That’s why DRML Miner stands out by offering fixed daily returns. Instead of watching your profits fluctuate, you can count on a predictable payout.

    Their mining contracts lay everything out clearly. You know your rate of return, your duration, and exactly when to expect payments. It’s a transparent approach that helps you plan ahead with confidence.

    Low-Cost Entry With Big Upside Potential

    DRML Miner offers flexible plans tailored to every budget. You can start small — especially with your free $10 bonus — and reinvest profits as you go. As your comfort grows, scaling up becomes easy.

    The platform also features an attractive referral program. Share your link with friends or followers and earn a percentage of their mining income. It’s a smart way to boost your profits without extra spending.

    Unmatched Security and Total Transparency

    When dealing with crypto, security isn’t optional — it’s critical. DRML Miner employs robust encryption, secure wallet protocols, and two-factor authentication to protect your assets and personal data.

    The platform also prides itself on full transparency. A user-friendly dashboard lets you track your mining performance and earnings in real time. You’re always in the know.

    Why Right Now Is the Best Time to Start Mining

    With Bitcoin surging and wider adoption taking hold, the current market creates an exceptional window of opportunity. Mining lets you capture value directly from blockchain operations, not just by holding coins.

    DRML Miner makes it simple to participate in this growth story without technical hassles or big upfront investments. It’s an ideal gateway for anyone eager to profit from Bitcoin’s upward trajectory.

    How to Start Mining With DRML Miner in Minutes

    Launching your mining journey is straightforward:

    1.     Go to https://drmlminers.com
    2.     Create a free account in less than a minute
    3.     Claim your $10 welcome bonus immediately
    4.     Choose the mining contract that fits your goals
    5.     Watch your daily earnings roll in — reliably and securely

    No hardware to manage, no maintenance worries. Just simple, steady returns.

    The Bottom Line: Secure Your Share of the Crypto Boom

    As Bitcoin continues to climb, mining stands out as one of the smartest ways to capitalize on its momentum. DRML Miner bridges the gap between complex mining systems and everyday investors by offering a seamless, transparent platform.

    With instant bonuses, fixed returns, and powerful security, DRML Miner is perfectly positioned to help you earn confidently in today’s market. Don’t wait for the next price surge to pass you by.

    Visit our official website: https://drmlminers.com
    Email Address: info@drmlminer.com

    Get ahead of the curve. Profit like a pro. And enjoy peace of mind knowing your mining is handled by experts.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and may result in loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s census is getting a stress test – keeping it going is good for everyone

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Allen, Demographer, POLIS Centre for Social Policy Research, Australian National University

    GoldPanter/Shutterstock

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics will roll out a large-scale census test next month.

    About 60,000 households will take part across the country to stress test the bureau’s collection processes and IT systems, ahead of next year’s full scale census. The survey questions change little, if at all, between the dry run and the census proper.

    The population count will offer Australians an opportunity to reflect on who we are and the stories we share.

    It comes at a time when traditional censuses are coming under threat worldwide.

    Dying days of census

    Census plays a significant part of the story of humanity. Jesus was born in a stable because a census ordered by Caesar Augusta had brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.

    They have changed down the centuries. But some things remain the same: the data collected is crucial for taxation, political representation and socio-economic indicators.

    But national head counts are costly and cause enormous headaches for governments.

    Vintage census television ad.

    In other countries, censuses are being killed off, replaced with information compiled by other means, such as administrative government data and population surveys. Think of the overseas versions of Medicare, Centrelink and the Tax Office.

    National statistical offices in the United Kingdom and New Zealand have both flagged the end of traditional censuses

    The UK Office of National Statistics had been preparing for census replacement since 2011, only backtracking after a public backlash.

    Devastating under-enumeration of Maori New Zealanders in 2013 and 2018 meant administrative data was needed to supplement the 2023 NZ census. National data agency, Stats NZ, has now called it quits on traditional census altogether.

    Funding cuts in Canada saw dual short- and long-form questionnaires which resulted in the partial collection of crucial socio-economic data akin to a sample survey. Statistics Canada now uses administrative and survey data to help meet its official statistics program.

    Do we still need the census?

    Replacing the census was floated a decade ago when dwindling government funding saw the Australian Bureau of Statistics struggling to “keep the lights on”.

    Worried after 2016’s “censusfail”, the agency sought to ensure legislatively required data could be achieved even in the absence of a census. The bureau collected population and housing data using experimental administrative data, proving a national census isn’t necessarily needed for population estimates.

    Costs associated with running a five-yearly head count and the decline in the social licence to collect such data are routinely used as justifications for replacing the census. Why conduct a wartime-like undertaking when you don’t have to?

    The threat to the traditional census comes as no surprise to data scientists. Data is now ubiquitous, covering nearly every aspect of our lives – loyalty rewards, public transport cards and even frequent flyer points.

    But there’s so much heavy lifting only a census can do and it’s crucial to helping Australia understand its diverse population.

    More than just numbers

    Data helps contextualise our lives.

    Data made me feel less alone as a young person. I could see I wasn’t the only person doing it tough. Poverty wasn’t my fault, rather a wider structural problem politicians and policymakers failed to understand.

    Being missed by the 1996 census as a homeless teen drives me to ensure Australia’s national census snapshot reflects the needs of the country.

    Data holds powerful truths and has the capability to heal through information. Who we are, how and where we live, our commonalities and differences, and what might come next.

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics is finding increasingly creative ways to communicate and bring Australians along for the ride.

    Its outreach through social media makes data more accessible and fun.

    The paraphernalia promoting previous censuses make it clear how much the agency is invested in ensuring complete coverage of all people. A significant departure from the stuffy practices of national statistical offices overseas.

    Small solar powered census-at-school calculators have been given to pupils to help increase awareness among linguistically diverse communities. This is recognition children complete the census questionnaire in some families.

    Desks of cards gifted to homeless people sleeping rough attests to the bureau’s dedication to ensuring all people are counted, no matter where or how they live

    Behind The News’s take on the census.

    More inclusive family photograph

    But it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

    Last year’s unprecedented government interference in the independent conduct of the bureau resulted in proposed questions on sexuality and gender diversity being dumped from the 2026 census.

    Scheduled testing was cancelled and related printed materials were likely pulped.

    A public outcry forced a government back down with the sorry saga clearly demonstrating a myriad of critical data cannot be collected by other means.

    The upcoming census family photograph will be more inclusive – Australians will have the opportunity to have their gender identity and sexual orientation reflected in the tally.

    Family ancestry information will be broadened, and the questionnaire itself will better reflect Australian households overall.

    The alternative to a census is a private, behind-closed-doors collation of personal information by government.

    The good news is Australia’s census is alive and well and keeping up with the times.

    Liz Allen worked as a graduate at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2006. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council for work examining grandparenting in Australia. Liz is a member of the National Foundation of Australian Women Social Policy Committee.

    – ref. Australia’s census is getting a stress test – keeping it going is good for everyone – https://theconversation.com/australias-census-is-getting-a-stress-test-keeping-it-going-is-good-for-everyone-261077

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: OmegaPro Founder and Promoter Charged for Running Global $650 Million Foreign Exchange and Crypto Investment Scam

    Source: US FBI

    An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million.

    According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

    “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.” 

    “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.”

    “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.”

    “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin – stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren’t just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who’ve been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice.”

    “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.”

    Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange (forex) trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency.

    According to court documents, Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.

    Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses.

    The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme.

    Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The FBI, IRS-CI, and HSI New York are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit, HSI Bangkok, HSI Bogota, HSI Frankfurt, HSI Istanbul, HSI London, HSI Miami, HSI New Delhi, HSI The Hague, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI.

    Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Gottfried for the District of Puerto Rico and on detail to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you were potentially victimized by OmegaPro or have information relevant to this investigation, please visit the FBI’s Victim Witness website at forms.fbi.gov/victims/omegaprovictims or contact OmegaProVictims@fbi.gov.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to End Medicaid Payments for Illegal Aliens Immediately

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

     

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    July 14th, 2025

    Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

    Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced the Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act, legislation to immediately end states’ practice of exploiting federal tax dollars to provide health benefits for illegal aliens. This legislation would also remove Medicaid eligibility for the influx of parolees admitted in the U.S. by former President Biden and Vice President Harris, effective immediately. Under the Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act, the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) rate granted under Obamacare expansion would end for any state that provides Medicaid benefits to illegal aliens, forcing them to revert to the traditional cost-sharing rate. 

    Several states are still cashing in on Obamacare’s generous 90% federal Medicaid match while covering illegal aliens. This bill would close that loophole by revoking enhanced federal funding for any state that continues to cover those individuals on Medicaid.

    “The One Big Not-So-Beautiful Bill has been signed into law, but there’s a ridiculous delay until October 2026 before certain noncitizens are finally removed from Medicaid,” said Dr. Paul. “That’s unacceptable. Taxpayers should not pay for the healthcare of those people who are in the country illegally or not eligible for Medicaid.”

    A House companion bill is being introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL).

    “Medicaid should only be for American citizens, not those who intentionally break our laws. Several states are abusing loopholes in federal tax law to waste money on healthcare handouts for illegal aliens. Rewarding criminals with benefits paid for by law-abiding Americans is unfair, expensive, and flat-out wrong. That is why Senator Paul and I are fighting to keep Medicaid for Americans only,” said Representative Greg Steube (R-FL).

    Dr. Paul’s bill steps in to correct that mistake and make the policy effective immediately and end the generous federal subsidies for states supporting illegal immigrants.

    Read the bill HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to End Medicaid Payments for Illegal Aliens Immediately

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

     

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    July 14th, 2025

    Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

    Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced the Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act, legislation to immediately end states’ practice of exploiting federal tax dollars to provide health benefits for illegal aliens. This legislation would also remove Medicaid eligibility for the influx of parolees admitted in the U.S. by former President Biden and Vice President Harris, effective immediately. Under the Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act, the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) rate granted under Obamacare expansion would end for any state that provides Medicaid benefits to illegal aliens, forcing them to revert to the traditional cost-sharing rate. 

    Several states are still cashing in on Obamacare’s generous 90% federal Medicaid match while covering illegal aliens. This bill would close that loophole by revoking enhanced federal funding for any state that continues to cover those individuals on Medicaid.

    “The One Big Not-So-Beautiful Bill has been signed into law, but there’s a ridiculous delay until October 2026 before certain noncitizens are finally removed from Medicaid,” said Dr. Paul. “That’s unacceptable. Taxpayers should not pay for the healthcare of those people who are in the country illegally or not eligible for Medicaid.”

    A House companion bill is being introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL).

    “Medicaid should only be for American citizens, not those who intentionally break our laws. Several states are abusing loopholes in federal tax law to waste money on healthcare handouts for illegal aliens. Rewarding criminals with benefits paid for by law-abiding Americans is unfair, expensive, and flat-out wrong. That is why Senator Paul and I are fighting to keep Medicaid for Americans only,” said Representative Greg Steube (R-FL).

    Dr. Paul’s bill steps in to correct that mistake and make the policy effective immediately and end the generous federal subsidies for states supporting illegal immigrants.

    Read the bill HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Costa Rica Resident Sentenced for Orchestrating Multimillion-Dollar International Telemarketing Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A Costa Rica resident was sentenced today to more than 15 years in prison for carrying out a years-long telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims in the United States from a call center in Costa Rica.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Roger, 41, of Costa Rica, led a fraudulent telemarketing scheme in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as U.S. government officials, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly, that they stood to receive a significant financial reward, the victims were told that they needed to make a series of up-front payments before collecting their supposed prize. Co-conspirators used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, including Voice Over Internet Protocol technology, which made it appear as though they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other locations in the United States. Roger recruited and taught others how to mislead victims on the phone and convince them to send money from the United States to Costa Rica for non-existent prizes. The evidence at trial showed that Roger and his co-conspirators stole over $4 million from their hundreds of victims.

    In September 2024, Roger was convicted at trial of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering, and two counts of international money laundering. At sentencing, Roger was ordered to pay more than $3.3 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $4.2 million.

    Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina; Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Detroit Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The USPIS, IRS-CI, and FBI investigated the case.  

    Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Amanda Lingwood of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Costa Rica to secure the arrest and February 2023 extradition of Roger.

    If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: MOBIA named an Eaton Partner Awards Winner

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MOBIA Technology Innovations, a leading Canadian business transformation partner, proudly announced that it has been named an Eaton Partner Awards Winner for 2024. MOBIA’s commitment to delivering unequalled value to its customers with innovative technology solutions that enable successful business transformation solidified the company’s place among Eaton’s top partners in Canada.

    Supporting customers across telecommunications, financial services, retail, utilities, healthcare, and many other industries, MOBIA executes technology transformations that reimagine the way medium to large enterprises operate in today’s ever-changing markets. Over the years, the company has collaborated with Eaton on many of these initiatives, confident that Eaton’s innovative technology offers the most reliable and secure power solutions for data centers and other critical enterprise infrastructure. “Working with Eaton to tailor solutions that power infrastructure and hardware for our customers has allowed us to deliver unmatched performance and peace of mind,” said Chris Peerless, Vice President at MOBIA. “As we continue to work together on these initiatives, we look forward to growing and strengthening our partnership.”

    The Eaton Partner Awards recognizes channel partners who have shown strong growth and commitment to superior customer service over the last year. “MOBIA consistently embodied Eaton partner values throughout 2024, delivering outstanding service and solutions to customers,” said Jodi Bonham, IT Channel Manager at Eaton. “We are excited to see what the future of our growing partnership holds and look forward to continuing to do great work together in 2025 and beyond.”

    As the partnership between MOBIA and Eaton continues to evolve, MOBIA customers will benefit from more of Eaton’s innovation, including:

    • Cybersecurity – First to market with a cyber secure network card, Eaton continues to expand its cybersecurity capabilities with the new Network-M3 card.
    • Brightlayer Data Center Suite – Offering a portfolio of digital solutions that enable enterprise customers to manage an increasingly complex ecosystem of IT and operational technology assets, Brightlayer seamlessly integrates with Eaton’s secure hardware.
    • Power management for AI – As more customers embrace and adopt AI, their power requirements will change. Eaton’s scalable and secure power management and connectivity solutions are the perfect fit for new AI deployments.

    To learn more about MOBIA contact LJ Hambly at laura.hambly@mobia.io.

    ABOUT MOBIA
    MOBIA is a leading expert in business transformation and innovative enterprise technology systems. With hundreds of customers across North America, MOBIA partners with organizations of all sizes, across all verticals to transform the way they work. Focused on people, processes, technology, and culture, MOBIA helps businesses reach their full potential. MOBIA is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and Canada’s Top Growing Companies. To learn more, visit Mobia.io

    ABOUT EATON
    Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and doing what’s best for our stakeholders and all of society.
    Founded in 1911, Eaton is marking its 100th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We reported revenues of $20.8 billion in 2022 and serve customers in more than 170 countries.

    For more information, visit www.eaton.com Follow us on https://www.linkedin.com/company/eaton

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: July Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.

    The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

    Kennedy Antonio Ramirez Acosta. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Ramirez Acosta, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-239

    Ventura Rivera Arteaga; Ruben Amadow Meza Medina. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 & 4); Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (Count 3); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 5 & 6). Rivera Arteaga, 40, a Mexican national, and Meza Medina, 20, a Mexican national, are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl. They are separately charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and maintaining two separate residences for fentanyl distribution. Additionally, Rivera Arteaga is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2024. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-229

    Elijah Lee Chandler, Jr.  Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Chandler, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and with possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-231

    Douglas Eugene Chaney.Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Chaney, 50, of Tulsa, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from April to May 2025. The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-230

    Daniel Contreras-Martinez.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Contreras-Martinez, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2008. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-244

    Ramey Joe-Don Dill. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Dill, 38, of Ochelata, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender in May 2025. The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-232

    Luis Flores-Rodriguez.Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Flores-Rodriguez, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-245

    Franklin Francisco Gioani-Arubio. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gioani-Arubio, 31, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2017. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-246

    Jarod Wade Jenkins. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jenkins, 26, of Hominy, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-247

    Thomas William Martin.Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Martin, 42, of Mannford, is charged with coercing a minor child to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. He is additionally charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The FBI, the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Heign and Ashley Robert are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-233

    Felecia Martinez. Attempted Bulk Cash Smuggling Out of the United States. Martinez, 40, of Tulsa and a member of the Potawatomi Nation Tribe, is charged with concealing $32,950 in cash and attempting to transport it to Mexico. At the time of the offense, Martinez was on pre-trial release in the Northern District of Oklahoma related to a case charging her with drug conspiracy, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the U.S. Probation Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Department of Homeland Security Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team, and the Laredo Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McConney and Matthew Cyran are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-234

    Sebastain Quino-Velasco. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Quino-Velasco, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2010. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-248

    Rebecca Dawn Quintero Torres. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony. Quintero-Torres, 50, of Tulsa, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in June 2025. She is further charged with using the United Parcel Service and knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-240

    Dominic Rocky Torres. Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery; Hobbs Act Robbery; Aiding and Abetting Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Use of Minor in Crime of Violence (superseding). Torres, 22, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with conspiring with others and aiding and abetting others to obstruct commerce by robbery. Further, he knowingly aided and abetted in brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Lastly, Torres intentionally used a minor child to commit a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd and Jessica Wright are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-112

    Luciano Vasquez, Jr. Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Varquez, 58, of Sand Springs, is charged with conspiring with others to launder more than $16 million, including depositing two fraudulent United States Treasury tax refund checks totaling more than $727,800. The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-242

    John Edgar Williams, IV; Jeremy Mindez Ruff; Savannah D’naisha May Gage; Nevaeh Charise Cox; Trinity Rinique Goudeau; Shavari Shantell Melton; Vanessa Lashay Bell; Ashley Elaine Charles. Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking (Count 1); Transporting an Individual for Prostitution (Counts 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13); Interstate Travel to Aid Racketeering (Count 4); Distribution of Child Pornography (Count 5); Sex Trafficking (Counts 6 & 12); Sex Trafficking a Minor (Counts 8, 11, and 14) (superseding). Williams, 38, Gage, 25, Cox, 39, Goudeau, 24, Melton, 20, Bell, 20, Charles, 37, of Tulsa, and Ruff, 39, of Dallas, Texas, are charged with conspiring with each other to recruit, entice, and harbor a person by threats of force to engage in a commercial sex act for payment. Williams, Gage, Ruff, and Goudeau are charged separately for transporting people to engage in prostitution and other sexual activities. Williams, Ruff, Gage, Cox, Goudeau, Melton, and Charles are further charged with using interstate and foreign commerce to promote and manage a business enterprise involving prostitution. Ruff, Cox, Gage, Goudeau, and Melton are charged with recruiting and enticing minor children, between 14 and 18 years old, to engage in sexually explicit acts. Additionally, Williams, Gage, and Goudeau are charged with benefiting financially from recruiting, harboring, and providing transportation to an individual to engage in commercial sex acts. Lastly, Cox is further charged with knowingly distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The Tulsa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore, John Brasher, and John W. Dowdell are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-197

    Allan Ray Wright; Jamie Lynn Wright. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Allan Wright, 30, and Jamie Wright, 32, of Tulsa are charged with attempting to coerce a minor child they believed to be under 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit activity. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Owasso Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Ashley Robert are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-241

    MIL Security OSI –