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  • MIL-OSI Africa: Building local value through skills development at the Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF) Forum 2025


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    The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through its Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF) and with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), convened the LKDF Forum 2025 under the theme “Skills Development and Local Value Addition: Ensuring Sustainable Growth in Global Supply Chains.” The Forum took place both online and in-person at the World of Volvo in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

    Achieving sustainable, ethical supply chains requires transforming industrial processes, business relations, and workforce skills, with local value addition key to reducing dependency on external inputs and boosting resilience. For emerging markets, building local capabilities diversifies economies and creates jobs; for multinationals, localizing supply chains offers market growth, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance. UNIDO’s Director General Gerd Müller opened the event by calling for greater investment in skills for responsible, future-oriented supply chains, declaring “To build competitive and resilient supply chains with more local value addition, more high value manufacturing and services, more market access, [and] more prosperity, skills development is absolutely key.” 

    Maria Tegborg, Acting Head of the Global Department of Sida, echoed this message, underscoring the role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in bridging skills gaps and improving economic outcomes, stating “we must continue to invest in skills development to ensure that supply chains operate responsibly.”

    The Forum highlighted how localizing skills and competencies across value chains—particularly in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and industrial processing—is key to enabling multinational corporations and developing countries to thrive.   

    UNIDO’s Virpi Stucki stressed the need for systemic approaches to workforce development, explaining that strong policy frameworks and transparent supply chains must support sustainable value addition. “When combined with strong policy direction and stakeholder engagement along the way, developing the labour force can be a continuing input into national benefit,” she noted.    

    Anchoring programs in local priorities and ambitions was also a recurring theme. Enabel’s Charlotte Vanstallen stressed, “It all starts, I think, with the local objective and the local focus and the [local] ambition… it cannot be mentioned enough.” Participants agreed that without a strong local perspective, initiatives risk being ineffective or unsustainable. Early engagement of local stakeholders and tailoring programs to community needs make efforts more demand-driven, effective, scalable, and foster stronger ownership and lasting impact. 

    The discussion recognized  the importance of soft skills, sustainability literacy, ESG compliance, and attention to the informal economy, which still represents the majority of employment in many parts of the world. In this context, Caterina Occhio, Economic Inclusion and ESG Advisor at UNIDO, emphasized the power of social procurement models to professionalize informal labour, raise compliance standards, and promote living wages—contributing to what she described as a “culture shift” for sustainable sourcing. 

    The Forum underscored the need for strong cross-sectoral partnerships to close the skills gap across supply chains. UNIDO’s Public-Private Development Partnerships (PPDP) were highlighted as an effective model for aligning vocational training and education with industry demands. By leveraging the strengths of both sectors, these partnerships foster targeted training programs that integrate technical skills with sustainability practices.   

    The Forum welcomed 37 in-person participants and 231 online attendees,  from public and private sectors, civil society, academia, and international organizations. Among the distinguished participants were representatives from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the European Commission, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Volvo Group, Siemens Healthineers, Enabel, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Festo Didactic, and numerous Swedish and international companies representing a wide range of global value chains.   

    The first day of LKDF Forum 2025 concluded with a strong call to action: align national industrial policies with education and training reforms, strengthen cooperation at regional and global levels, and place local communities at the centre of development strategies. Participants were united in the view that sustainable industrialization will depend on holistic, inclusive, and partnership-based approaches to skills development and value addition.   

    The second day of the LKDF Forum 2025 featured a co-creation workshop facilitated by UNIDO’s LKDF team in partnership with the Volvo Group. Participants from public, private, and development sectors engaged in strategic discussions aimed at fostering actionable, cross-sector collaboration to strengthen skills ecosystems. This interactive session enabled meaningful exchanges and connections among attendees, laying the groundwork for future partnerships across industries and generating thirteen new PPDP project ideas. The day continued with a guided visit to the Volvo Trucks Experience Facility, where participants learned about Volvo’s history, explored the latest innovations in truck manufacturing, and even had the opportunity to test drive several vehicles. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: EU and WFP enhance self-reliance and food security for refugees and host communities in Uganda

    Source: World Food Programme

    KAMPALA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of EUR 5 million from the European Union (EU) to support income-generating activities to enhance self-reliance and food security for refugees and host communities in Uganda.

    Uganda hosts 1.9 million refugees and asylum seekers, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. The Government of Uganda’s national refugee policy allows refugees to work and move freely, but economic opportunities remain scarce in and around refugee settlements, meaning that humanitarian and development assistance are a lifeline for refugee families as they seek to build a self-reliant life in safety.

    “Empowering refugees in Uganda to become self-reliant has never been more important,” said Genevieve Chicoine, WFP’s Acting Country Director in Uganda. “This vital contribution from the European Union will enable WFP to support thousands of refugees and host communities with the skills they need to earn a living and put food on the table.”

    WFP supports 660,000 refugees in Uganda with cash transfers and in-kind food assistance, as well as programmes to increase self-reliance and improve the nutrition of mothers and their children. 

    This contribution from the EU will support the food security for 12,600 refugees in the Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements and 5,400 host community members. It includes training on best farming practices like regenerative agriculture, financial literacy skills for business management and resource growth, and nutrition assistance for pregnant and breastfeeding women. 

    “This partnership reflects a shift from delivering aid to delivering opportunity,” said Guillaume Chartrain, European Union Deputy Head of Delegation to Uganda. “Refugees and host communities are gaining the tools they need to shape their own futures. By investing in people’s skills and potential, we are supporting more stable, self-reliant communities—and that benefits everyone.” 

    This initiative is part of the European Union’s Action for Protection, Assistance and Durable Solutions for Displaced Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa (EUPADS), supporting efforts to address the root causes of displacement while reinforcing national policies for displaced people living in countries like Uganda.

    WFP’s food assistance programmes in Uganda are facing critical funding shortfalls. In May, the agency was forced to halt food assistance for nearly one million refugees and reduce food rations for others to an unprecedented low of 22 percent. 

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    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    The partnership between Uganda and the European Union is broad and is guided by mutual political, trade and development interests. The European Union is a key development partner of Uganda, supporting programmes that focus on green transition, the growth of sustainable and inclusive jobs and investment, as well as a stronger democratic governance that promotes social inclusion and human rights. The European Union together with its Member States is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid, including in Uganda. 

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media @wfp_uganda @wfp_africa @EUinUG

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 2 July 2025 Accelerating cervical cancer elimination through HPV Vaccination in Nepal

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Nepal, with an estimated 4 women dying each day. Yet, these deaths are preventable. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a proven, safe and effective intervention to protect women and girls.

    To advance this life-saving effort, on World Cancer Day, 4 February 2025, Nepal took a monumental step toward cervical cancer elimination by launching a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign. This initiative aligns with Nepal’s commitment to the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, which aims to vaccinate 90% of girls by age 15.

    Nepal’s journey began nearly a decade ago with an HPV demonstration project in Chitwan and Kaski districts. The experience provided valuable insights into effectively delivering vaccines to adolescent girls.

    Girls showing their vaccination cards after receiving the HPV vaccine during a campaign in the Himalayan district of Mustang. Photo credit: ©WHO Nepal

    Accelerating change using the Delivery for Impact (DFI) approach

    In 2023, the WHO country office in Nepal became one of the early adopters of WHO’s Delivery for Impact approach, aimed at driving progress on priority health outcomes, including mobilizing action towards eliminating cervical cancer. The country team embarked on a Delivery Sprint, a time-bound, cohort-based initiative designed to accelerate measurable impact in health priority areas. Over 100 days, a multidisciplinary team within WHO Nepal, including experts in vaccination, noncommunicable diseases, health systems strengthening and planning – used the DFI approach to identify bottlenecks, set measurable targets and coordinate action. The impact cycle (Fig. 1) provided a clear framework to advance implementation.

    Figure 1: Impact cycle; Source: Implementation playbook, deliverying impact for health (adapted from the ‘Evidence Ecosystem for Impact Framework’ in Evidence, policy, impact: WHO guide for evidence-informed decision-making (2021).

    A comprehensive situational analysis and stakeholder engagement process led to the development of a robust Theory of Change, defining short- medium-, and long-term outcomes via identified solutions and WHO’s actions.

    Dr Binod Prasad Gupta, the focal point for the delivery sprint, explained how the Theory of Change served as the foundation to translate ambition into action.

    “The Theory of Change served as our strategic compass. It helped to bring national stakeholders together around a common goal and map the steps needed, from addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring supply chain readiness, from community trust-building to last-mile delivery – we turned a national plan into life-saving vaccinations for 1.4 million girls. By identifying key challenges and bottlenecks, it turned big ideas into real, coordinated action. That’s how the Delivery for Impact made a difference on the ground.”

    Dr Binod Prasad Gupta, WCO Nepal Focal Point, Delivery for Impact, 100 days of the Delivery Sprint

    GOAL: Cervical Cancer Eliminated in Nepal
    • Human resources (staff, resource persons/experts, trainers)
    • Funds (capacity development activities, guidelines/SOPs/strategies development, workshops)
    • Technical support (National, Regional and Global)
    • Advocacy, policy dialogue, resource mobilization
    • Strong organizations norms, collaboration & commitments
    • HPV vaccine introduction in the National Immunization program of Nepal
    • Development of proposals, policies and guidelines
    • Conduct capacity building training and orientation to health workers
    • Enhance R&D to document impact of HPV vaccine effectiveness in the country
    • Advocacy and mobilization of champions to raise awareness
    • Collaboration and partnership among stakeholders at all levels of resource mobilization, service execution and monitoring
    • HPV vaccine introduced in the EPI program of Nepal
    • National & sub-national guidelines/SOPs/standard/plans/mechanisms developed and implemented
    • Champions mobilized for raising awareness
    • Short-term outcome: 90% of the girls by aged 10–14 years vaccinated with HPV vaccine within 2 years of its introduction
    • Long-term outcome: Decreased morbidity and mortality attributed to cervical cancer

    In the process, the team committed to vaccinating 90% of the target group within two years, aiming to reduce cervical cancer-related morbidity and mortality over time.

    Achieving Remarkable Results

    From 4 to 18 February 2025, the HPV vaccination campaign targeted 1.56 million schoolgirls from grades 6 to 10, and out-of-school girls aged 10 to 14 years. Within two weeks, more than 1.46 million girls were vaccinated, covering an impressive 94% of the target group, surpassing the initial two-year target of 90%. WHO continues to work with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to reach the remaining 6%.

    “Vaccinating 1.4 million girls in just two weeks is a powerful testament to the Ministry of Health and Population’s leadership and commitment. This milestone reflects how the delivery action plan drives results through strong coordination and political will,”said Dr Balwinder Singh, Team Lead, Immunization Preventable Diseases (IPD) programme at WHO Nepal.

    This achievement builds on years of collaboration between WHO, the MoHP and development partners. Since the 2016/2017 HPV demonstration programme, WHO has been a dependable partner – supporting advocacy, planning, implementation, monitoring, and partner coordination, including applying for Gavi funding to ensure the successful national rollout of HPV vaccines.

    “WHO commends the Government of Nepal for this landmark achievement and remains committed to supporting sustained efforts in vaccination, screening, and treatment to eliminate cervical cancer.”

    Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal.

    Sustaining change

    WHO will continue working with the Government of Nepal to foster a culture of impact by regularly monitoring progress, documenting lessons and making timely adjustments. These efforts aim to sustain momentum and achieve the long-term goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Nepal.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: How CPC is shaping China’s modernization roadmap through five-year plans

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

    As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates the 104th anniversary of its founding this week, the Party’s signature five-year plans continue to serve as a roadmap for China’s modernization drive.

    This year, China is set to complete its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and is formulating the blueprint for the next one, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s long-term strategy for national rejuvenation.

    From transforming an agrarian society into the world’s second-largest economy to charting a path toward becoming a great modern socialist country in all respects by mid-century, these plans reflect the CPC’s enduring commitment to long-term strategic vision and collective prosperity.

    Through this cyclical yet ever-evolving roadmap, China sets strategic goals, defines government priorities, regulates business operations, and mobilizes national resources — all in pursuit of its overarching objective of building a modern socialist nation.

    The country’s first plan in 1953 marked its initial push toward industrialization with the establishment of the nation’s first major steel and automobile plants. Fast-forward to the 13th (2016-2020), and it saw the completion of the world’s largest high-speed rail network.

    “Five-year plans are to China’s development what construction drawings are to building a house,” said Ran Hao, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. “It tells the government and society which ‘floor’ to focus on and which ‘road’ to build over the next five years, helping avoid a piecemeal approach.”

    A framework, not a dogma 

    Although China’s five-year plans include quantitative targets, such as the GDP growth goal, first introduced in the seventh five-year plan, it does not mean the CPC is running a centralized planned economy.

    “It’s not about the government dictating everything; rather, the plans set the direction and priorities,” Ran said.

    Since 2006, targets have been divided into two types: binding targets, which reflect government commitments, such as reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP, and anticipatory targets, which represent desired outcomes like GDP growth, to be pursued primarily through market mechanisms.

    In a break from tradition, the 14th Five-Year Plan did not set a quantitative target for GDP growth; instead, it described expected growth in broader terms, in part to emphasize quality over speed.

    “Five-year plans are suited to the Chinese mentality and the Chinese idea of thinking long-term,” said British scholar Martin Jacques. For millennia, Confucian classics have taught that those who plan ahead are more likely to succeed.

    China’s five-year plans set clear goals but give regions the leeway needed to tailor their own pathways. National plans are broad frameworks that guide local governments in creating their own action plans, explained Yin Jun, a researcher with the Peking University.

    At present, the CPC is drafting proposals for the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

    Observers said the upcoming plan will emphasize a future-oriented approach to global challenges, foster new quality productive forces, and strengthen the social safety net to improve public well-being.

    Planning with collective efforts 

    Given their far-reaching impact, China’s five-year plans are developed over several years, and informed by research, expert reviews, inter-agency coordination and public consultation. For example, work on the current 14th Five-Year Plan began as early as 2018.

    While drafting the five-year plan, the CPC highly values public inputs, which reflect society’s needs and help foster consensus. In 2020, for the first time, public advice was collected online, with suggestions like mutual-aid elderly care included in the final plan.

    Over three months that year, seven symposiums were held with the Party’s leader meeting with entrepreneurs, experts, local officials, and representatives from the grassroots level to listen to their suggestions.

    The combination of top-level planning with public participation continued this year. In May, major media platforms invited public feedback, and netizens proposed improvements such as enhancing rural express delivery infrastructure and installing elevators in older communities, among other ideas.

    An old saying from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” offers insight into the success of China’s five-year plans: Triumph comes when the leaders and the people share the same goal.

    Impact beyond borders 

    China’s five-year plans not only guide national development but also offer opportunities for global investors.

    Madiyar Tukpatov, chairman of a public transport company in Astana, Kazakhstan, visited China earlier this year to research electric buses. His company began using Chinese electric buses in 2020 and plans to further integrate Chinese EV technology into Astana’s transport system.

    New energy vehicles (NEVs) have been developed as a strategic industry over several five-year plans. Their production and sales each exceeded 12.8 million units in 2024, maintaining China’s position as the global leader in this sector for 10 consecutive years. Chinese NEVs can be found in over 70 countries and regions.

    Benjamin Mgana, chief editor of foreign news at The Guardian newspaper in Tanzania, praised China’s approach to planning, saying it demonstrates that developing countries can create workable strategies based on their own realities, rather than copying Western models.

    Inspired by China’s success, a growing number of countries have adopted their own medium- to long-term strategies. Poland, Ethiopia and Tanzania have sought support from Chinese institutions to assist in their planning process.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How has U.S. energy use changed since 1776?

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    July 2, 2025

    In 2024, the United States consumed about 94 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy, a 1% increase from 2023, according to our Monthly Energy Review. Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for 82% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2024. Nonfossil fuel energy—from renewables and nuclear energy—accounted for the other 18%. Petroleum remained the most-consumed fuel in the United States, as it has been for the past 75 years, and nuclear energy consumption exceeded coal consumption for the first time ever.

    When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, wood, a renewable energy source, was the largest source of energy in the United States. Used for heating, cooking, and lighting, wood remained the largest U.S. energy source until the late 1800s, when coal consumption became more common. Wood energy is still consumed, mainly by industrial lumber and paper plants that burn excess wood waste to generate electricity.

    Coal was the largest source of U.S. energy for about 65 years, from 1885 until 1950. Early uses of coal included many purposes that are no longer common, such as in stoves for home heating and in engines for trains and ships. Since the 1960s, nearly all coal consumed in the United States has been for electricity generation.

    Petroleum has been the most-consumed source of energy in the United States since 1950. Petroleum products such as motor gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and propane are commonly used across all sectors of the U.S. economy, from transportation to industrial chemicals and plastics.

    Natural gas is the second-largest source of U.S. energy consumption, as it has been most years since it surpassed coal in 1958. Natural gas was once considered a waste byproduct of crude oil production but now has become a common energy source for heating and electricity generation.

    Early use of water to power grist, lumber, and other milling operations is not well quantified and not included in our data, but such mills were common throughout early U.S. history. The first industrial use of hydropower to generate electricity in the United States was to power lamps at a chair factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1880. The world’s first hydroelectric power plant to sell electricity to the public opened on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1882.

    Other forms of renewable energy did not become significant contributors to U.S. energy production until more recently. In 2016, biofuels—including the fuel ethanol mixed in motor gasoline—became the most-consumed U.S. renewable energy source.

    Electricity generation from some zero-carbon sources, such as wind and solar, has increased rapidly in recent years, while generation from others, such as hydropower and nuclear, has remained relatively flat. In 2022, U.S. energy consumption from renewable sources surpassed nuclear energy for the first time since 1984, and in 2023, renewables surpassed coal for the first time since around the early 1880s. The United States now consumes more energy from wind and solar sources individually than from hydropower.

    To compare different forms of energy, we convert to common units of heat, called British thermal units. Appendix A of our Monthly Energy Review has the conversion factors that we use for each energy source, and Appendix E explains how we convert noncombustible renewable energy sources.

    Principal contributor: Mickey Francis

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Distraction-Free Schools Website Launches

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today launched a website that provides resources for New York school districts as they prepare to implement bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones for the coming school year. The website, linked here, includes a policy FAQ, toolkit and examples that school districts can use to design their distraction-free policy, which must be published by August 1 as noted under State law. Many districts across the state have already developed and finalized distraction-free policies that benefit students, teachers, and parents — and by highlighting these new resources, Governor Hochul continues the State’s ongoing efforts to support all schools throughout the summer, in time for the 2025-26 school year.

    “School districts across New York are already showing us that bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions help deliver the best possible learning environments for our kids,” Governor Hochul said. “As we prepare for the coming school year, my team is continuing to provide the necessary resources and tools to ensure school districts finalize and publish their distraction-free policy by the August 1 deadline.”

    This new requirement will take place in the 2025-26 School Year and applies to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Under this law, all school districts must publish their distraction-free policy by August 1, so it is visible to the district’s community of students, parents and other key stakeholders.

    Governor Hochul’s cellphone policy creates a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York including:

    • Prohibits unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods
    • Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students
    • Secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free
    • Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary
    • Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy
    • Prevents inequitable discipline

    Governor Hochul’s policy clarifies that students will have authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.

    Additionally, the Governor’s policy includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes, or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies.

    State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for providing financial and implementation resources to school districts as they draft their individual cellphone policies. We know how detrimental cellphone use is to students’ mental health, academic success, social interaction, and emotional stress. The Legislature has been a partner in these efforts, and as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am confident these changes will make a meaningful change in the lives of our students, school staff, and our communities. I appreciate the Governor’s commitment to supporting our school districts, parents and children as they implement this new law, and I look forward to hearing from school districts and students about the results of these new policies.”

    Governor Hochul pursued this initiative after engaging in a statewide listening tour with teachers, parents, and students. Her report “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools” underscores the following:

    • Smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity
    • Phone-free environments do not compromise student safety
    • Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers
    • Open communication and direct guidance for all stakeholders is key for successful implementation
    • Schools must address any parent concerns about staying in contact with their children during the day
    • An effective distraction-free policy must focus on the entire school day, rather than solely on time in the classroom
    • Schools can strengthen their distraction-free environment by connecting more students with in-person engagement like clubs, sports, arts and other programming

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Surveillance & Monitoring Expected to be Largest Revenue Opportunity for Drone as a Service (DaaS) Market Through 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The drone surveying market is expected to continue to sustain and continue to gain momentum due to increasing demand for aerial intelligence and high-precision mapping across major sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction, and environmental monitoring. A report from Fact.MR analysis indicates that the industry will be valued at USD 1.97 billion in 2025 and will grow to USD 11.49 billion by 2035, at a strong CAGR of 19.3% during the period. The report said: “Technological improvements in LiDAR, thermal imaging, and real-time stream of data over the past three years have dramatically improved safety and efficiency in drone surveying. Drones are increasingly being employed by governments and institutions for commercial use as they are safe, accurate, and cost-effective. Fact.MR believes that support from the authorities, especially in Europe and North America, is fueling commercial usage with better codes in the law. The increasing demand for high-precision geospatial intelligence is one of the key drivers of the adoption of drone surveying. Fact.MR research is of the view that the mining, agriculture, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors increasingly depend on drones to maximize planning, minimize human risk, and digitize high-resolution terrain information with cost-efficient scalability across vast and inaccessible areas. The enormous digital revolution in the industrial sectors continues to accelerate demand. Combining drones with AI analytics, GIS platforms, and cloud systems enables real-time processing and decision-making. Fact. MR believes that the combination of drone technology with automation and IoT is revolutionizing conventional surveying processes into dynamic data-driven ecosystems.”   Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).

    Fact.MR continued: “The drone surveying industry is segmented by survey type into land survey, property survey, rail survey, and infrastructure survey. By end-use industry, it is categorized into energy, construction, transportation & warehouse, agriculture, mining, oil & gas extraction, public administration, and real estate & industrial plant. Regionally, the industry spans North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. IT concluded: “During the period 2025 to 2035, the infrastructure survey will be the most remunerative survey type segment, driven by the worldwide boom in urbanization, smart city programs, and projects for modernizing public infrastructure. Due to this increasing dependence and favorable regulatory changes across UAV use in civil infrastructure, the infrastructure survey segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2025 to 2035, ahead of the industry average of 19.3%.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone as a Service (DaaS) to California with Offer to Acquire an Engineering and Surveying Firm, Tapping into Precision Agriculture and Viticulture Market – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), and enterprise SaaS, has signed an offer to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm with a well established history of operations. This marks ZenaTech’s first proposed transaction in the US West Coast or Southwest region, creating a strategic entry point into California ─ a high-value market for drone-based precision agriculture due to a massive agriculture economy, crop diversity, labor and water challenges, and an openness to innovation.

    With a commercial, construction and sustainability solution customer base and a deep regional presence, the proposed acquisition positions ZenaTech to scale its Drone as a Service or DaaS survey operations. It also provides significant opportunity to expand into California’s wine and agriculture sectors using advanced drone capabilities including aerial imaging, precision spraying, irrigation analytics, and wildfire detection and monitoring in high-risk areas.

    “This proposed acquisition is more than just our first Southwest region location — it’s a strategic foothold into a high-value, high-growth state for precision agriculture,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “The firm is a natural fit to help execute our growth strategy for crop health monitoring and precision spraying to serve viticulture, large estates, and commercial farming operations across California.”

    With the global agricultural drone market projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for precision technologies in farming, California stands out as a key growth region as well as being home to nearly 90% of all US vineyard acreage. Considering California’s mounting climate and agricultural challenges, ZenaTech’s AI-powered autonomous drone solutions offer timely, scalable innovation that serves the needs of commercial enterprises, cooperatives, agriculture consultants, and public sector stakeholders.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service (DaaS) business model offers both business and government customers reduced costs and convenience to utilize drones to streamline legacy processes and manual tasks such as inspections, surveying, maintenance, precision agriculture and inventory management ─ there is no need to purchase drone hardware and software, find a drone pilot, manage maintenance and operation, or acquire regulatory approvals. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and utilizes ZenaDrone’s multifunction AI autonomous drones.

    The company has closed six acquisitions across the US to date as part of its DaaS business model and strategy and has announced it plans to complete approximately 20 more in the next 12 months. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced that its subsidiary, American Robotics Inc., has entered into a strategic partnership with Mistral Inc. (“Mistral”), a Maryland-based business development and defense contracting firm. The agreement focuses on joint marketing, sales, and integration of the Optimus drone system and Iron Drone Raider into the United States defense and homeland security markets.

    Under the agreement, Mistral will support American Robotics’ business development by opening sales channels through its well-established relationships with U.S. governmental buyers, including federal, state, local law enforcement, military, and homeland security entities. The initial term of the agreement is three years, with an automatic renewal option and a structured success fee model based on realized sales.

    “This collaboration with Mistral accelerates and strengthens our commercial strategy in the U.S., enhancing our ability to deliver mission-ready autonomous systems to the homeland security and defense sectors,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings. “We are witnessing increased demand for advanced aerial intelligence and counter-drone solutions, and Mistral’s deep relationships, experience, and operational know-how make them an ideal partner to scale our footprint in this critical market.”

    Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB)‘s Trimble Stratus – With Trimble Stratus Software, one can use drone data to map, measure, and manage worksite and assets. Connect the right information to the right people at the right time.

    Survey Frequently and Faster – Get accurate, up-to-date topographic surveys whenever you need without having to bring in a survey crew – Avoid information bottlenecks by getting answers to questions yourself with an intuitive, web-based tool – Survey inaccessible or hazardous areas safely using a drone.

    NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) – Nvidia AI Technology Added to Vision for Autonomous Drones – Generative AI modules aim to upgrade Foresight’s vision systems with additional computing power – Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated Nvidia’s Jetson Orin generative AI computing modules into its 3D-perception system.

    Foresight is using Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson AGX Orin modules to improve the capabilities of its perception systems deployed in various use cases, with a major focus on autonomous drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    The Jetson modules, which are used in generative AI, computer vision and advanced robotics, upgrade Foresight’s vision system with the computing power needed for autonomous drones and UAVs, according to Foresight.

    Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon’s drones deliver items in 60 minutes or less—here’s how we simplified the process. – Prime Air built an easy-to-use customer experience to make ordering and receiving a wide selection of items via drone delivery faster than ever. It’s never been easier to receive a drone delivery from Amazon if you live in one of the locations where we currently offer it. From tapping the “place your order” button to seeing the item delivered, the entire process takes 60 minutes or less. So, if you realize you need more sunscreen or forgot you needed more batteries, but don’t have time to make a trip to the store, Amazon has you covered.

    It all starts at Amazon.com or in the Amazon Shopping app. Customers can choose more than 60,000 items for drone delivery as our selection continues to grow. Recently, we received FAA approval to deliver several new categories of items, including devices like Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy cellphones, Apple AirTags, Apple AirPods, Ring doorbells, and Alpha Grillers Instant Read Food Thermometers. All you need to do is select the drone delivery option when you check out if you’re in an eligible area and the item in your cart is 5 pounds or less.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Surveillance & Monitoring Expected to be Largest Revenue Opportunity for Drone as a Service (DaaS) Market Through 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The drone surveying market is expected to continue to sustain and continue to gain momentum due to increasing demand for aerial intelligence and high-precision mapping across major sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction, and environmental monitoring. A report from Fact.MR analysis indicates that the industry will be valued at USD 1.97 billion in 2025 and will grow to USD 11.49 billion by 2035, at a strong CAGR of 19.3% during the period. The report said: “Technological improvements in LiDAR, thermal imaging, and real-time stream of data over the past three years have dramatically improved safety and efficiency in drone surveying. Drones are increasingly being employed by governments and institutions for commercial use as they are safe, accurate, and cost-effective. Fact.MR believes that support from the authorities, especially in Europe and North America, is fueling commercial usage with better codes in the law. The increasing demand for high-precision geospatial intelligence is one of the key drivers of the adoption of drone surveying. Fact.MR research is of the view that the mining, agriculture, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors increasingly depend on drones to maximize planning, minimize human risk, and digitize high-resolution terrain information with cost-efficient scalability across vast and inaccessible areas. The enormous digital revolution in the industrial sectors continues to accelerate demand. Combining drones with AI analytics, GIS platforms, and cloud systems enables real-time processing and decision-making. Fact. MR believes that the combination of drone technology with automation and IoT is revolutionizing conventional surveying processes into dynamic data-driven ecosystems.”   Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).

    Fact.MR continued: “The drone surveying industry is segmented by survey type into land survey, property survey, rail survey, and infrastructure survey. By end-use industry, it is categorized into energy, construction, transportation & warehouse, agriculture, mining, oil & gas extraction, public administration, and real estate & industrial plant. Regionally, the industry spans North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. IT concluded: “During the period 2025 to 2035, the infrastructure survey will be the most remunerative survey type segment, driven by the worldwide boom in urbanization, smart city programs, and projects for modernizing public infrastructure. Due to this increasing dependence and favorable regulatory changes across UAV use in civil infrastructure, the infrastructure survey segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2025 to 2035, ahead of the industry average of 19.3%.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone as a Service (DaaS) to California with Offer to Acquire an Engineering and Surveying Firm, Tapping into Precision Agriculture and Viticulture Market – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), and enterprise SaaS, has signed an offer to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm with a well established history of operations. This marks ZenaTech’s first proposed transaction in the US West Coast or Southwest region, creating a strategic entry point into California ─ a high-value market for drone-based precision agriculture due to a massive agriculture economy, crop diversity, labor and water challenges, and an openness to innovation.

    With a commercial, construction and sustainability solution customer base and a deep regional presence, the proposed acquisition positions ZenaTech to scale its Drone as a Service or DaaS survey operations. It also provides significant opportunity to expand into California’s wine and agriculture sectors using advanced drone capabilities including aerial imaging, precision spraying, irrigation analytics, and wildfire detection and monitoring in high-risk areas.

    “This proposed acquisition is more than just our first Southwest region location — it’s a strategic foothold into a high-value, high-growth state for precision agriculture,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “The firm is a natural fit to help execute our growth strategy for crop health monitoring and precision spraying to serve viticulture, large estates, and commercial farming operations across California.”

    With the global agricultural drone market projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for precision technologies in farming, California stands out as a key growth region as well as being home to nearly 90% of all US vineyard acreage. Considering California’s mounting climate and agricultural challenges, ZenaTech’s AI-powered autonomous drone solutions offer timely, scalable innovation that serves the needs of commercial enterprises, cooperatives, agriculture consultants, and public sector stakeholders.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service (DaaS) business model offers both business and government customers reduced costs and convenience to utilize drones to streamline legacy processes and manual tasks such as inspections, surveying, maintenance, precision agriculture and inventory management ─ there is no need to purchase drone hardware and software, find a drone pilot, manage maintenance and operation, or acquire regulatory approvals. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and utilizes ZenaDrone’s multifunction AI autonomous drones.

    The company has closed six acquisitions across the US to date as part of its DaaS business model and strategy and has announced it plans to complete approximately 20 more in the next 12 months. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced that its subsidiary, American Robotics Inc., has entered into a strategic partnership with Mistral Inc. (“Mistral”), a Maryland-based business development and defense contracting firm. The agreement focuses on joint marketing, sales, and integration of the Optimus drone system and Iron Drone Raider into the United States defense and homeland security markets.

    Under the agreement, Mistral will support American Robotics’ business development by opening sales channels through its well-established relationships with U.S. governmental buyers, including federal, state, local law enforcement, military, and homeland security entities. The initial term of the agreement is three years, with an automatic renewal option and a structured success fee model based on realized sales.

    “This collaboration with Mistral accelerates and strengthens our commercial strategy in the U.S., enhancing our ability to deliver mission-ready autonomous systems to the homeland security and defense sectors,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings. “We are witnessing increased demand for advanced aerial intelligence and counter-drone solutions, and Mistral’s deep relationships, experience, and operational know-how make them an ideal partner to scale our footprint in this critical market.”

    Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB)‘s Trimble Stratus – With Trimble Stratus Software, one can use drone data to map, measure, and manage worksite and assets. Connect the right information to the right people at the right time.

    Survey Frequently and Faster – Get accurate, up-to-date topographic surveys whenever you need without having to bring in a survey crew – Avoid information bottlenecks by getting answers to questions yourself with an intuitive, web-based tool – Survey inaccessible or hazardous areas safely using a drone.

    NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) – Nvidia AI Technology Added to Vision for Autonomous Drones – Generative AI modules aim to upgrade Foresight’s vision systems with additional computing power – Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated Nvidia’s Jetson Orin generative AI computing modules into its 3D-perception system.

    Foresight is using Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson AGX Orin modules to improve the capabilities of its perception systems deployed in various use cases, with a major focus on autonomous drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    The Jetson modules, which are used in generative AI, computer vision and advanced robotics, upgrade Foresight’s vision system with the computing power needed for autonomous drones and UAVs, according to Foresight.

    Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon’s drones deliver items in 60 minutes or less—here’s how we simplified the process. – Prime Air built an easy-to-use customer experience to make ordering and receiving a wide selection of items via drone delivery faster than ever. It’s never been easier to receive a drone delivery from Amazon if you live in one of the locations where we currently offer it. From tapping the “place your order” button to seeing the item delivered, the entire process takes 60 minutes or less. So, if you realize you need more sunscreen or forgot you needed more batteries, but don’t have time to make a trip to the store, Amazon has you covered.

    It all starts at Amazon.com or in the Amazon Shopping app. Customers can choose more than 60,000 items for drone delivery as our selection continues to grow. Recently, we received FAA approval to deliver several new categories of items, including devices like Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy cellphones, Apple AirTags, Apple AirPods, Ring doorbells, and Alpha Grillers Instant Read Food Thermometers. All you need to do is select the drone delivery option when you check out if you’re in an eligible area and the item in your cart is 5 pounds or less.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Rate’s Jennifer Beeston Named 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leading fintech company, today announced that Jennifer Beeston, EVP of National Sales, has been named a 2025 Woman of Influence by HousingWire. Now in its 16th year, the Women of Influence program honors 100 women across mortgage, real estate, and fintech who are making a measurable impact on their organizations and the broader housing economy.

    “The Women of Influence award highlights the leaders whose work is actively shaping the future of housing, something HousingWire has been committed to recognizing since the program launched 16 years ago,” said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. “HousingWire Women of Influence honorees are leading meaningful progress across the housing economy, with influence spanning mortgage, real estate, and the entire homeownership experience. They’re driving real results at some of the industry’s most impactful organizations.”

    A mortgage loan officer for 18 years, Beeston consistently ranks among the top purchase loan officers in the country. She is the first woman to be named the #1 VA loan originator by Scotsman Guide and currently holds the top spot for VA purchase loan originations nationwide for the second consecutive year.

    Beeston is passionate about financial education. “Every American should understand the basics of finance, including how to buy a house. Homeownership is the cornerstone of wealth creation in America. I educate people on YouTube so that anyone with an interest has access to easy-to-understand information that can help them achieve their financial goals.”

    Media frequently seeks her out for her insights at the intersection of financial education and innovation, including the entry of cryptocurrency into the mortgage lending conversation. On the topic, Beeston notes:

    “As the financial landscape evolves, it’s important for lending to keep pace. Allowing borrowers to count cryptocurrency toward their reserve requirements is a smart, forward-looking move, as long as it’s done responsibly. Many financially savvy clients are building wealth in digital assets, and they shouldn’t have to liquidate just to qualify for a home. We need to meet people where they are while maintaining sensible guardrails.” For more on this topic from Beeston, please listen to this recent interview with Host Josh Lipton on Yahoo Finance.

    As she serves customers nationwide, she combines Rate technology and diverse loan programs with a mission-driven approach. Her platform has earned the trust of over 100,000 YouTube subscribers and garnered national recognition as a trusted expert from prominent outlets, including NewsNation, Yahoo Finance, Fox, Newsweek, and Fortune.

    “Jennifer is the definition of a mission-driven leader,” said Shant Banosian, President of Rate. “She brings passion, intelligence, and heart to everything she does, and the impact she’s made on our business, our team, and the industry at large is nothing short of extraordinary. We’re incredibly proud to see her recognized by HousingWire as a Woman of Influence.”

    In addition to being a top producer, Beeston is the creator of NoStressVA.com, a free online course designed to help veterans and industry professionals better understand and navigate the VA home loan benefit. Her advocacy work combats misinformation and empowers borrowers to make informed decisions—an approach that aligns closely with Rate’s commitment to transparency and consumer-first lending.

    She is also the author of Brainhacked: How Big Tech Trains You to Spend and How to Fight Back, a guide to staying true to your financial goals in the modern era of “click, click, buy.”

    Beeston is a mentor and cultural force within Rate. Her consumer advocacy has generated meaningful brand equity, and inspired colleagues across the organization. Through her voice, content, and leadership, she has become one of the most trusted names in lending.

    “It’s an honor to be named among this year’s Women of Influence,” said Beeston. “The mortgage industry is transforming at a record pace. From new and exciting developments in AI to potential crypto integration, conscious and thoughtful leadership is crucial in ensuring we act in the best interest of our clients and enhance their experience and options for homeownership. This group represents some of the most inspiring, forward-thinking leaders in housing today. I’m proud to stand alongside those who are reimagining how we serve Americans, build trust, and expand access to homeownership. Together, we’re helping shape a more transparent future for the industry.”

    HousingWire’s editorial team selected winners and a panel of industry professionals based on their professional accomplishments, industry contributions, community involvement, and overall influence. The 2025 list reflects the depth and diversity of talent that will lead housing into the future.

    To view the complete list of this year’s honorees, see here: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/announcing-the-2025-women-of-influence/

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans, refinances, and home equity loans. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Recent honors and awards include: a Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 by Fortune; Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for First-Time Homebuyers by Forbes; a Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for FHA Loans, Home Equity Loans, and Lower Credit Scores by NerdWallet; Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for Digital Experience and Down Payment Assistance by Motley Fool; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years.

    Visit rate.com for more information.

    About HousingWire

    HousingWire is an information services company that provides unique data and research, respected business journalism and must-attend events for housing leaders to use to advance their understanding and business outcomes. Our vision is a world in which housing leaders have a complete view of the housing market, and a broad community of peers with whom they can connect. We are committed to delivering the data, analytics, media, and events that advance this vision.

    Because housing is too important for narrow perspectives and missed connections. Informed housing leaders are better housing leaders. A connected housing industry is a better housing industry. And the full picture always reveals new opportunities.

    Explore more at www.housingwire.com.

    Media Contact(s)

    For Rate:

    press@rate.com

    For HousingWire:

    Lesley Collins
    lesley@hwmedia.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8646a05d-31e9-4ce4-82b1-cbd3b5d4c94a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Rate’s Jennifer Beeston Named 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leading fintech company, today announced that Jennifer Beeston, EVP of National Sales, has been named a 2025 Woman of Influence by HousingWire. Now in its 16th year, the Women of Influence program honors 100 women across mortgage, real estate, and fintech who are making a measurable impact on their organizations and the broader housing economy.

    “The Women of Influence award highlights the leaders whose work is actively shaping the future of housing, something HousingWire has been committed to recognizing since the program launched 16 years ago,” said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. “HousingWire Women of Influence honorees are leading meaningful progress across the housing economy, with influence spanning mortgage, real estate, and the entire homeownership experience. They’re driving real results at some of the industry’s most impactful organizations.”

    A mortgage loan officer for 18 years, Beeston consistently ranks among the top purchase loan officers in the country. She is the first woman to be named the #1 VA loan originator by Scotsman Guide and currently holds the top spot for VA purchase loan originations nationwide for the second consecutive year.

    Beeston is passionate about financial education. “Every American should understand the basics of finance, including how to buy a house. Homeownership is the cornerstone of wealth creation in America. I educate people on YouTube so that anyone with an interest has access to easy-to-understand information that can help them achieve their financial goals.”

    Media frequently seeks her out for her insights at the intersection of financial education and innovation, including the entry of cryptocurrency into the mortgage lending conversation. On the topic, Beeston notes:

    “As the financial landscape evolves, it’s important for lending to keep pace. Allowing borrowers to count cryptocurrency toward their reserve requirements is a smart, forward-looking move, as long as it’s done responsibly. Many financially savvy clients are building wealth in digital assets, and they shouldn’t have to liquidate just to qualify for a home. We need to meet people where they are while maintaining sensible guardrails.” For more on this topic from Beeston, please listen to this recent interview with Host Josh Lipton on Yahoo Finance.

    As she serves customers nationwide, she combines Rate technology and diverse loan programs with a mission-driven approach. Her platform has earned the trust of over 100,000 YouTube subscribers and garnered national recognition as a trusted expert from prominent outlets, including NewsNation, Yahoo Finance, Fox, Newsweek, and Fortune.

    “Jennifer is the definition of a mission-driven leader,” said Shant Banosian, President of Rate. “She brings passion, intelligence, and heart to everything she does, and the impact she’s made on our business, our team, and the industry at large is nothing short of extraordinary. We’re incredibly proud to see her recognized by HousingWire as a Woman of Influence.”

    In addition to being a top producer, Beeston is the creator of NoStressVA.com, a free online course designed to help veterans and industry professionals better understand and navigate the VA home loan benefit. Her advocacy work combats misinformation and empowers borrowers to make informed decisions—an approach that aligns closely with Rate’s commitment to transparency and consumer-first lending.

    She is also the author of Brainhacked: How Big Tech Trains You to Spend and How to Fight Back, a guide to staying true to your financial goals in the modern era of “click, click, buy.”

    Beeston is a mentor and cultural force within Rate. Her consumer advocacy has generated meaningful brand equity, and inspired colleagues across the organization. Through her voice, content, and leadership, she has become one of the most trusted names in lending.

    “It’s an honor to be named among this year’s Women of Influence,” said Beeston. “The mortgage industry is transforming at a record pace. From new and exciting developments in AI to potential crypto integration, conscious and thoughtful leadership is crucial in ensuring we act in the best interest of our clients and enhance their experience and options for homeownership. This group represents some of the most inspiring, forward-thinking leaders in housing today. I’m proud to stand alongside those who are reimagining how we serve Americans, build trust, and expand access to homeownership. Together, we’re helping shape a more transparent future for the industry.”

    HousingWire’s editorial team selected winners and a panel of industry professionals based on their professional accomplishments, industry contributions, community involvement, and overall influence. The 2025 list reflects the depth and diversity of talent that will lead housing into the future.

    To view the complete list of this year’s honorees, see here: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/announcing-the-2025-women-of-influence/

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans, refinances, and home equity loans. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Recent honors and awards include: a Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 by Fortune; Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for First-Time Homebuyers by Forbes; a Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for FHA Loans, Home Equity Loans, and Lower Credit Scores by NerdWallet; Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for Digital Experience and Down Payment Assistance by Motley Fool; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years.

    Visit rate.com for more information.

    About HousingWire

    HousingWire is an information services company that provides unique data and research, respected business journalism and must-attend events for housing leaders to use to advance their understanding and business outcomes. Our vision is a world in which housing leaders have a complete view of the housing market, and a broad community of peers with whom they can connect. We are committed to delivering the data, analytics, media, and events that advance this vision.

    Because housing is too important for narrow perspectives and missed connections. Informed housing leaders are better housing leaders. A connected housing industry is a better housing industry. And the full picture always reveals new opportunities.

    Explore more at www.housingwire.com.

    Media Contact(s)

    For Rate:

    press@rate.com

    For HousingWire:

    Lesley Collins
    lesley@hwmedia.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8646a05d-31e9-4ce4-82b1-cbd3b5d4c94a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortinet to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    News Summary
    Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, announced that it will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, August 6, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time).

    Fortinet’s financial results conference call will be broadcast live in listen-only mode on the company’s investor relations website at http://investor.fortinet.com. While not required, it is recommended that you join at least 10 minutes prior to the event start.

    The CEO and CFO’s prepared remarks, supplemental slides and a call replay will be accessible from the Quarterly Earnings page on the Investor Relations page of Fortinet’s website at https://investor.fortinet.com/quarterly-earnings.

    About Fortinet (www.fortinet.com)
    Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTS”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs. 

    FTNT-F
    Copyright © 2025 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAgent, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAgent, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiCNP, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCSPM, FortiCWP, FortiDAST, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiDLP, FortiEdge, FortiEDR, FortiEndpoint FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFlex FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPAM, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPoint, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiScanner, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSEC, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSRA, FortiStack, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM, FortiXDR and Lacework FortiCNAPP. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

    Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortinet to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    News Summary
    Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, announced that it will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, August 6, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time).

    Fortinet’s financial results conference call will be broadcast live in listen-only mode on the company’s investor relations website at http://investor.fortinet.com. While not required, it is recommended that you join at least 10 minutes prior to the event start.

    The CEO and CFO’s prepared remarks, supplemental slides and a call replay will be accessible from the Quarterly Earnings page on the Investor Relations page of Fortinet’s website at https://investor.fortinet.com/quarterly-earnings.

    About Fortinet (www.fortinet.com)
    Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTS”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs. 

    FTNT-F
    Copyright © 2025 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAgent, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAgent, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiCNP, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCSPM, FortiCWP, FortiDAST, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiDLP, FortiEdge, FortiEDR, FortiEndpoint FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFlex FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPAM, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPoint, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiScanner, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSEC, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSRA, FortiStack, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM, FortiXDR and Lacework FortiCNAPP. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

    Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: IoTeX announces AI Expansion as the open ecosystem for Physical Intelligence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IoTeX, the decentralized network bridging the physical and digital worlds, today announced a significant expansion into artificial intelligence. This vision introduces a unified ecosystem for Physical AI, a new category of intelligence powered by real-world data from machines, devices, and decentralized infrastructure.

    The physical world is AI’s next frontier

    As AI systems transition from digital environments into real-world applications, their effectiveness hinges on access to live, trustworthy data from their physical surroundings. While today’s AI models boast impressive capabilities, they operate in abstraction—unable to reliably perceive or react to real-time changes in the world.

    “IoTeX enables a new class of AI that’s grounded in reality,” said Raullen Chai, Co-Founder and CEO of IoTeX. “Real-world data is the missing link in today’s AI stack. Our expansion unlocks a continuously evolving layer of intelligence, open to anyone who wants to contribute, build, or deploy.”

    By creating a shared infrastructure where machines and AI agents can coordinate via verified, real-time data, IoTeX transforms decentralized networks into a foundation for truly responsive, real-world AI systems.

    Building the open ecosystem for physical intelligence

    Since its founding in 2017, IoTeX has pioneered technologies to bridge physical devices with blockchain networks. These include on-chain machine registration, real-world verification via zero-knowledge proofs, and the advancement of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs). The company has long held the belief that machines, not just humans, would become core participants in Web3 ecosystems.

    This latest AI expansion marks the next evolution of that vision: linking the growing demand from AI developers for real-time, verifiable data with the global supply of connected devices and DePIN participants already living on IoTeX.

    IoTeX’s AI infrastructure is powered by four key components:

    • IoTeX Layer 1 Blockchain: Secure, fast coordination across physical networks.
    • ioID Protocol: A decentralized identity layer for authenticating machines and agents.
    • Quicksilver: A novel AI framework that transforms raw machine signals into structured, real-time data AI can reason over.
    • IOTX Token: The backbone of economic alignment, used for governance, incentives, and ecosystem utility.

    These building blocks converge in a new technical primitive at the center of IoTeX’s AI architecture: Realms.

    Realms: Living, evolving knowledge bases for real-world intelligence

    At the core of IoTeX’s AI expansion is the introduction of Realms– the evolving domain-specific knowledge bases of real-time, real world data that continuously synthesize insights from machines, people, and sensors to generate actionable intelligence in sectors like mobility, health, energy, and robotics.

    Realms serve two primary purposes:

    1. Delivering real-time situational awareness for AI agents.
    2. Providing dynamic environments for training the next generation of Physical AI models.

    Each Realm enables coordination among data producers, machine networks, and AI developers. As new data flows into a Realm from connected devices and DePIN nodes, its intelligence becomes more precise, adaptive, and valuable. In turn, Realms evolve into living knowledge bases that scale with participation.

    “We’re building dynamic economies of intelligence,” said Jing Sun, Co-Founder of IoTeX. “These aren’t static datasets. They’re active environments where machines, people, and AI collaborate to generate continuously evolving knowledge.”

    Together, these Realms form a global constellation of verified environments where physical intelligence becomes a scalable and monetizable resource and commodity for real-world AI applications.

    Collective intelligence in action

    With the introduction of Realms and Quicksilver, AI agents can now access live, authenticated data on demand, enabling safer decisions, more accurate predictions, and deeper alignment with physical outcomes. This brings AI out of isolation and into interactive, real-time engagement with the world.

    The expansion represents a pivotal milestone for IoTeX. It unites years of foundational work in trusted machine networks, decentralized identity, and tokenized coordination into a comprehensive platform purpose-built for AI.

    This is the world’s first open ecosystem for Physical Intelligence, where machines, data, and intelligent systems collaborate in real time to serve human needs.

    What’s next

    IoTeX’s Open Ecosystem will enable everyday people to become a stakeholder in the Physical AI revolution. IoTeX will soon release a full vision paper detailing the technical architecture, governance design, and roadmap behind Realms, Quicksilver, and the broader Physical Intelligence Ecosystem.

    With this launch, IoTeX positions itself at the forefront of real-world AI infrastructure, championing a future where intelligence is no longer abstract, but grounded in the environments it serves.

    To learn more, visit iotex.io or follow @iotex_io on Twitter.

    About IoTeX

    Founded in 2017, IoTeX is a pioneering blockchain platform building an open ecosystem for physical intelligence. Our mission is to transform data from physical machine networks into collective intelligence, powering the next generation of AI. IoTeX provides cutting-edge infrastructure for bridging the physical and digital worlds, empowering builders with decentralized identity (DID) for machines, zero-knowledge proofs for data verification, smart contracts for orchestration, and an AI data interaction framework. With an ecosystem of over 100 DePINs, IoTeX is expanding into Physical AI, combining real-world machine data with human insights to create new intelligence for the AI industry. From transportation and energy to healthcare and robotics, IoTeX is creating a foundation layer for AI to perceive, understand, and navigate the real world.

    Media Contact
    Jing Sun
    jing@iotex.io

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7994a59-d5cb-45ff-a36a-0236a7c075a7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: IoTeX announces AI Expansion as the open ecosystem for Physical Intelligence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IoTeX, the decentralized network bridging the physical and digital worlds, today announced a significant expansion into artificial intelligence. This vision introduces a unified ecosystem for Physical AI, a new category of intelligence powered by real-world data from machines, devices, and decentralized infrastructure.

    The physical world is AI’s next frontier

    As AI systems transition from digital environments into real-world applications, their effectiveness hinges on access to live, trustworthy data from their physical surroundings. While today’s AI models boast impressive capabilities, they operate in abstraction—unable to reliably perceive or react to real-time changes in the world.

    “IoTeX enables a new class of AI that’s grounded in reality,” said Raullen Chai, Co-Founder and CEO of IoTeX. “Real-world data is the missing link in today’s AI stack. Our expansion unlocks a continuously evolving layer of intelligence, open to anyone who wants to contribute, build, or deploy.”

    By creating a shared infrastructure where machines and AI agents can coordinate via verified, real-time data, IoTeX transforms decentralized networks into a foundation for truly responsive, real-world AI systems.

    Building the open ecosystem for physical intelligence

    Since its founding in 2017, IoTeX has pioneered technologies to bridge physical devices with blockchain networks. These include on-chain machine registration, real-world verification via zero-knowledge proofs, and the advancement of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs). The company has long held the belief that machines, not just humans, would become core participants in Web3 ecosystems.

    This latest AI expansion marks the next evolution of that vision: linking the growing demand from AI developers for real-time, verifiable data with the global supply of connected devices and DePIN participants already living on IoTeX.

    IoTeX’s AI infrastructure is powered by four key components:

    • IoTeX Layer 1 Blockchain: Secure, fast coordination across physical networks.
    • ioID Protocol: A decentralized identity layer for authenticating machines and agents.
    • Quicksilver: A novel AI framework that transforms raw machine signals into structured, real-time data AI can reason over.
    • IOTX Token: The backbone of economic alignment, used for governance, incentives, and ecosystem utility.

    These building blocks converge in a new technical primitive at the center of IoTeX’s AI architecture: Realms.

    Realms: Living, evolving knowledge bases for real-world intelligence

    At the core of IoTeX’s AI expansion is the introduction of Realms– the evolving domain-specific knowledge bases of real-time, real world data that continuously synthesize insights from machines, people, and sensors to generate actionable intelligence in sectors like mobility, health, energy, and robotics.

    Realms serve two primary purposes:

    1. Delivering real-time situational awareness for AI agents.
    2. Providing dynamic environments for training the next generation of Physical AI models.

    Each Realm enables coordination among data producers, machine networks, and AI developers. As new data flows into a Realm from connected devices and DePIN nodes, its intelligence becomes more precise, adaptive, and valuable. In turn, Realms evolve into living knowledge bases that scale with participation.

    “We’re building dynamic economies of intelligence,” said Jing Sun, Co-Founder of IoTeX. “These aren’t static datasets. They’re active environments where machines, people, and AI collaborate to generate continuously evolving knowledge.”

    Together, these Realms form a global constellation of verified environments where physical intelligence becomes a scalable and monetizable resource and commodity for real-world AI applications.

    Collective intelligence in action

    With the introduction of Realms and Quicksilver, AI agents can now access live, authenticated data on demand, enabling safer decisions, more accurate predictions, and deeper alignment with physical outcomes. This brings AI out of isolation and into interactive, real-time engagement with the world.

    The expansion represents a pivotal milestone for IoTeX. It unites years of foundational work in trusted machine networks, decentralized identity, and tokenized coordination into a comprehensive platform purpose-built for AI.

    This is the world’s first open ecosystem for Physical Intelligence, where machines, data, and intelligent systems collaborate in real time to serve human needs.

    What’s next

    IoTeX’s Open Ecosystem will enable everyday people to become a stakeholder in the Physical AI revolution. IoTeX will soon release a full vision paper detailing the technical architecture, governance design, and roadmap behind Realms, Quicksilver, and the broader Physical Intelligence Ecosystem.

    With this launch, IoTeX positions itself at the forefront of real-world AI infrastructure, championing a future where intelligence is no longer abstract, but grounded in the environments it serves.

    To learn more, visit iotex.io or follow @iotex_io on Twitter.

    About IoTeX

    Founded in 2017, IoTeX is a pioneering blockchain platform building an open ecosystem for physical intelligence. Our mission is to transform data from physical machine networks into collective intelligence, powering the next generation of AI. IoTeX provides cutting-edge infrastructure for bridging the physical and digital worlds, empowering builders with decentralized identity (DID) for machines, zero-knowledge proofs for data verification, smart contracts for orchestration, and an AI data interaction framework. With an ecosystem of over 100 DePINs, IoTeX is expanding into Physical AI, combining real-world machine data with human insights to create new intelligence for the AI industry. From transportation and energy to healthcare and robotics, IoTeX is creating a foundation layer for AI to perceive, understand, and navigate the real world.

    Media Contact
    Jing Sun
    jing@iotex.io

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7994a59-d5cb-45ff-a36a-0236a7c075a7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Former SWAT Leader and National Educator Joins WrapTactics™ to Launch Digital Pre-Escalation Training

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrap Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WRAP) (“Wrap” or, the “Company”), a global leader in pre-escalation and non-lethal public safety solutions, today announces the appointment of Todd Larson, EdD., MSL, FABC, as Strategic Advisor of the Company. Dr. Larson will guide the development of WrapTactics™, Wrap’s advanced learning management system focused on elevating police training through integrated mindset conditioning, emotional regulation and tactical problem-solving.

    Dr. Larson brings over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, public safety innovation and education. His decorated 22-year tenure with the Scottsdale Police Department included leadership roles in Special Investigations, Violent Crimes, and more than a decade with the SWAT team as operator, sniper and team leader. Complementing his field experience, Dr. Larson has taught at the University of Phoenix, Northern Arizona University, and delivered leadership, ethics and emotional intelligence training nationwide to thousands of officers.

    “Dr. Larson’s commitment to innovation, leadership and his extensive law enforcement experience makes him an invaluable addition to our core advisory team,” said Scot Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Wrap. “His expertise is expected to ensure our learning system is grounded in reality, guided by science and focused on safer outcomes for all.”

    As Wrap builds a scalable and practical training platform in public safety, Dr. Larson will lead efforts to embed scenario-based modules rooted in real-world encounters, emphasizing three critical components of effective policing:

    • Mindset framing to foster clarity under pressure within the pre-escalation period;
    • Emotion regulation to de-escalate before force becomes necessary; and
    • Tactical precision to resolve situations safely and effectively.

    “I am honored to support Wrap’s mission to improve officer readiness through innovation,” said Dr. Larson. “WrapTactics™ isn’t just about tools—it’s about transforming the way officers think, respond and lead in every interaction.”

    Larson holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and a master’s degree in leadership with an emphasis in Crisis Management and Disaster Preparedness from Grand Canyon University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University. He also works as a consultant with a large Arizona based healthcare system focused on Innovation and Network Operations, is a published author and a nationally known speaker.

    To learn more about WrapTactics™ and Dr. Larson’s role in redefining modern police training, visit [www.wrap.com].

    About Wrap Technologies, Inc.

    Wrap Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRAP) a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, delivering cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern day challenges facing public safety organizations.

    Wrap’s BolaWrap® 150 solution leads the world in pre-escalation and beyond, providing law enforcement with a safer choice for nearly every phase of a critical incident.

    This innovative, patented device deploys a multi-sensory, cognitive disruption that leverages sight, sound and sensation to expand the pre-escalation period and give officers the advantage and critical time to manage non-compliant subjects before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap® 150 is a not pain-based- compliance. It does not shoot, strike, shock, or incapacitate—instead, it helps officers strategically operate pre-escalation on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by over 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and in 60 countries, BolaWrap® is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.

    Wrap Reality® VR is a fully immersive training simulator to enhance decision-making under pressure.

    As a comprehensive public safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, Wrap Reality® equips officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, leading to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.

    WrapVision is an all-new body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency.

    Designed for efficiency, security, and transparency to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, WrapVision captures, stores and helps manage digital evidence, with operational security, regulatory compliance and superior video picture quality and field of view.

    The WrapVision camera, powered by IONODES boasts cloud integration and adheres to Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance requirements and GSA schedule contracts requirements. Crucially, unlike many competitor devices manufactured overseas in foreign, non-compliant, and possibly hostile regions, WrapVision is built in North America, promoting unparalleled data integrity and reducing critical concerns over unauthorized access or foreign surveillance risks.

    Trademark Information

    Trademark Information Wrap, the Wrap logo, BolaWrap®, Wrap Reality® and Wrap Training Academy are trademarks of Wrap Technologies, Inc., some of which are registered in the U.S. and abroad. All other trade names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective holders.

    Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should”, “believe”, “target”, “project”, “goals”, “estimate”, “potential”, “predict”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “intend”, and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the Company’s expectations related to the appointment of the new Chief Financial Officer, the expected benefits of the acquisition of W1 Global, LLC, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s listing standards; the Company’s ability to successfully implement training programs for the use of its products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce products for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop sales for its products; the market acceptance of existing and future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation and sales cycle for the Company’s product solutions; product defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries; risks of government regulations; the business impact of health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the impact resulting from geopolitical conflicts and any resulting sanctions; the ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the United States; the ability to obtain patents and defend intellectual property against competitors; the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    (800) 583-2652
    ir@wrap.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6444767d-f765-42a5-873b-4d2990983561

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NBPE – Total voting rights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NB Private Equity Partners Limited Total Voting Rights

    St Peter Port, Guernsey 2 July 2025

    NB Private Equity Partners Limited (“NBPE” or the “Company”) Total Voting Rights

    Total Voting Rights

    In accordance with DTR 5.6.1R, NB Private Equity Partners Limited (“NBPE” or the “Company”) notifies the market of the following:

    Class of Share Number in issue as at 30 June 2025 Voting Entitlement pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation Number held in Treasury as at 30 June 2025 Voting Rights as at 30 June 2025
    Class A Ordinary 48,648,618 May attend and vote at general meetings 3,150,408 45,498,210
    Class A Shareholders have the right to receive notice of general meetings of the Company and shall have the right to attend and vote at all general meetings.
    B Shares 10,000 Except in certain circumstances, do not carry voting rights 0 0
    Class B Shareholders do not have the right to receive notice of or have the right to attend and vote at any general meetings. However, there are limited circumstances where the Company shall not act, without the prior approval of the Class B Shareholders by ordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Class B Shareholders. Separately, the Directors shall, at appropriate times carry out the FPI Test and, if they determine that the US Shareholding Percentage had exceeded the FPI Specified Percentage as at such FPI Calculation Date, with effect from the date on which the Directors make such determination, the Class B Shares in issue shall, with respect to any Director Resolution, carry a positive number of voting rights as per the calculation referenced in the Articles.
    Total Voting Rights       45,498,210

    For further information, please contact:

    NBPE Investor Relations        +44 20 3214 9002
    Luke Mason        NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com

    Kaso Legg Communications        +44 (0)20 3882 6644

    Charles Gorman        nbpe@kl-communications.com
    Luke Dampier
    Charlotte Francis

    About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
    NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

    LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

    About Neuberger Berman

    Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $515 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of March 31, 2025.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trading standards warn of unsafe counterfeit Labubu toys

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Trading standards officers are today warning consumers and businesses following the seizure of counterfeit and potentially dangerous versions of the collectible Labubu doll toys from shops in Aberdeen.

    The Labubu brand toys were examined and identified to have loose parts which could pose a choking hazard to young children and do not have the required safety labelling including a supplier in the UK or EU.

    Trading standards manager Graeme Paton said: “Following the discovery of counterfeit toys, we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant.

    “These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous.

    “Counterfeit toys can potentially pose significant dangers to young children such as chemical exposure and choking hazards. These products routinely lack proper safety testing and we encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they’ve purchased to get in touch with us via Consumer Advice Scotland.”

    The council’s trading standards team, which seized the counterfeit Labubu toys from four premises across the city, is constantly on the lookout for products which contravene safety legislation. In the case of these counterfeit toys, they could pose serious dangers for children.

    Trading standards provides the following advice to consumers to ensure they purchase safe products:

    •    Check the toys packaging carefully. There should be a CE or UKCA mark and the name and address of the supplier in the UK or EU to show that the product complies with safety regulations. Most toys will have warnings and instructions to ensure their safe use; 
    •    Only buy from reputable sellers. This makes it easier to return goods if a problem develops;
    •    Consider the price. Be suspicious if it’s a lot cheaper than you would expect.

    Consumers can contact Consumer Advice Scotland on 0808 164 6000 and traders can contact Trading Standards at tradingstandards@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

    Labubu is a brand of monster elves created by designer Kasing Lung and marketed by Chinese retailer Pop Mart. Labubu is also the name of the main character in the series of toys.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM District 160 Washington State Multicare Healthcare Professionals Begin Five-Day Strike for Safe Staffing, Fairness

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Healthcare workers at Multicare Emergency – Parkland in Tacoma, Washington began a five day strike at midnight on June 30. The workers on shift at that hour proudly walked out of the facility as other workers and IAM representatives cheered outside the gates of the facility.

    Staff at Multicare Parkland emergency clinic go on strike over stalled contract negotiations King 5 News

    The strike is over repeated illegal actions, including bad faith bargaining and retaliation against unionized employees, which has resulted in 14 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charges of unfair labor practices at the facility, Good Samaritan Hospital of Washington state. The facility is an Off-Campus Emergency Department (OCED) operated by Emerus, a Dallas-based equity firm.

    “MultiCare has intentionally made negotiations difficult from day one. The first ULP was filed immediately after certification because we were and continue to be denied basic access to our membership at the facility,” said IAM Western Territory International Representative Brandon Hemming, the group’s lead negotiator. “I’ve negotiated for over a decade, and I’ve never sat across the table from someone with such blatant disregard and a real aversion for reaching a fair agreement.”

    Workers at the Parkland facility—known widely as the busiest OCED location within MultiCare—face unique challenges, handling significant trauma patient volumes without direct hospital support.

    Healthcare workers start strike in Parkland, WA Q15 News

    “Safe staffing is crucial to proper patient care, and that is a major concern for us,” said Michelle Zaun, an Emergency Service Technician at Parkland Multicare. “The company’s actions have contributed to significant staff attrition, dropping from 120 employees at certification to around 75 today, because people just can’t take it anymore.  And [the company] openly told us they are spending $300,000 on replacement employees for this week alone.”

    IAM Western Territory General Vice President, Robert “Bobby” Martinez said, “We are witnessing the solidarity that it takes to make meaningful change. These members have endured enough disrespect by the company and it is time for it to end. We stand strong with our brothers, sisters, and siblings to back them as they fight for what is right in this first contract”.

    Workers will man picket lines in front of the facility in two shifts for the rest of this week.  They intend to return to work on the coming holiday weekend, knowing that critical emergency health incidents normally rise during that period. 

    Image Gallery

    The post IAM District 160 Washington State Multicare Healthcare Professionals Begin Five-Day Strike for Safe Staffing, Fairness appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Suburban Chicago Businessman Convicted for Role in Bank Fraud and PPP Fraud Schemes

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted an Illinois businessman yesterday for his role in schemes to fraudulently obtain over $55 million in commercial loans and lines of credit and for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rahul Shah, 56, of Evanston, the owner and operator of several information technology companies in the Chicago area, fraudulently obtained funds from loans and lines of credit for which he was not eligible from federally insured financial institutions and later defaulted on at least one such line of credit and one such loan. Shah submitted to federally insured financial institutions falsified bank statements that fraudulently inflated deposits, falsified balance sheets that overstated revenues, and fabricated audited financial statements with forged signatures. Shah also engaged in monetary transactions with proceeds from the bank fraud.

    Shah also submitted to a federally insured bank an application for a $441,138 loan guaranteed by the SBA that significantly overstated the payroll expenses of a company he controlled. In support of the loan application, he submitted to the lender several fraudulent IRS documents, which falsely represented that the company made payments to multiple individuals who had not received such payments. He also used stolen identities to carry out the fraud, using the names and taxpayer identification numbers of individuals that he knew had not received payments from the company in the PPP loan applications.

    In addition, Shah signed and caused to be submitted to the lender what purported to be IRS Forms 941 representing his company’s quarterly payroll expenses for 2019. A comparison between the documents submitted to the lender and the company’s IRS and state tax filings revealed that Shah’s company reported significantly lower payroll expenses to the tax authorities.

    Shah was convicted of seven counts of bank fraud, five counts of making false statements to a financial institution, two counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13. Shah faces up to 30 years in prison on each count of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution, up to 10 years in prison on each count of money laundering, and up to two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Brady Ipock of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Chicago Field Office and SBA OIG Chicago Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant Chief Patrick Mott and Trial Attorney Lindsey Carson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmina Vajzovic for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Federal Probation Officer Sentenced for Child Exploitation Charges

    Source: US FBI

    Oxford, MS – A former federal probation officer was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse materials.

    Lonnie Everill pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography on January 14, 2025.

    According to court documents, Lonnie Everill, 46 years old, of Water Valley, Mississippi, was initially investigated after engaging in chats with another social media user regarding their sexual interest in children. When investigators reviewed the contents of the account attributable to Everill, they found images and videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual conduct. Over the course of four (4) months, Everill had sent and received a number of images and videos of child sexual abuse material, as well as selfies and images of local minors not engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

    During his time as a probation officer, Everill had structured his career to focus on the rehabilitation and supervision of sexual offenders. Everill was employed in Utah, California, South Carolina, and Mississippi. 

    U.S. District Judge Dan Jordan sentenced Everill to 120 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court held him accountable for over 1,400 images. Everill was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims in the images he possessed and an additional assessment of $10,000. He will also have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet and will be ordered to register as a sex offender. The court noted that many of the images and videos he possessed were of very young children and toddlers being raped.

    “Everill’s betrayal of trust has been truly staggering,” stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “His criminal conduct affected victims, the community, and undermined the credibility of the great federal probation officers in this district. I truly appreciate the exceptional prosecution led by AUSA Parker King and FBI Supervisory Agent Ryan Berthay that uncovered his crimes and brought him to justice.”

    “The conduct of this former law enforcement officer was beyond shocking and a gross betrayal of public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “When someone in a position of authority commits such a revolting crime, the damage extends beyond the youthful victims; it shakes the very foundation of our communities’ trust. No matter their badge or title, the FBI will always aggressively pursue those that prey on our children.”

    This case was investigated by the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of the Project Safe Childhood nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Suburban Chicago Businessman Convicted for Role in Bank Fraud and PPP Fraud Schemes

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A federal jury convicted an Illinois businessman yesterday for his role in schemes to fraudulently obtain over $55 million in commercial loans and lines of credit and for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rahul Shah, 56, of Evanston, the owner and operator of several information technology companies in the Chicago area, fraudulently obtained funds from loans and lines of credit for which he was not eligible from federally insured financial institutions and later defaulted on at least one such line of credit and one such loan. Shah submitted to federally insured financial institutions falsified bank statements that fraudulently inflated deposits, falsified balance sheets that overstated revenues, and fabricated audited financial statements with forged signatures. Shah also engaged in monetary transactions with proceeds from the bank fraud.

    Shah also submitted to a federally insured bank an application for a $441,138 loan guaranteed by the SBA that significantly overstated the payroll expenses of a company he controlled. In support of the loan application, he submitted to the lender several fraudulent IRS documents, which falsely represented that the company made payments to multiple individuals who had not received such payments. He also used stolen identities to carry out the fraud, using the names and taxpayer identification numbers of individuals that he knew had not received payments from the company in the PPP loan applications.

    In addition, Shah signed and caused to be submitted to the lender what purported to be IRS Forms 941 representing his company’s quarterly payroll expenses for 2019. A comparison between the documents submitted to the lender and the company’s IRS and state tax filings revealed that Shah’s company reported significantly lower payroll expenses to the tax authorities.

    Shah was convicted of seven counts of bank fraud, five counts of making false statements to a financial institution, two counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13. Shah faces up to 30 years in prison on each count of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution, up to 10 years in prison on each count of money laundering, and up to two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Brady Ipock of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) Chicago Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Chicago Field Office and SBA OIG Chicago Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant Chief Patrick Mott and Trial Attorney Lindsey Carson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmina Vajzovic for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Sixth Street Completes Acquisition of Enstar

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAMILTON, Bermuda, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enstar Group Limited (“Enstar”) (Nasdaq: ESGR) today announced the closing of its acquisition by investment vehicles managed by affiliates of Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm, for $338.00 in cash per ordinary share, representing a total equity value of $5.1 billion. Liberty Strategic Capital, J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC, and other institutional investors also participated in the transaction.

    “This is a major moment for Enstar as we begin our next chapter as a private company,” said Enstar’s Chief Executive Officer Dominic Silvester. “Together with Sixth Street, we will build on our position as a leading global (re)insurance group, delivering innovative solutions to our partners and maintaining our competitive advantage. I’d like to thank our employees, past and present, whose contributions have been instrumental to achieving this milestone.”

    “Enstar is a compelling company with a robust business model and an exceptional management team,” said Michael Muscolino, Co-Founder and Partner at Sixth Street. “We are thrilled to reach this milestone and look forward to partnering with Dominic and the rest of the Enstar team to help them execute on their existing strategy.”

    In connection with the closing of the transaction, Enstar notified The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“NASDAQ”) that Enstar intends to voluntarily withdraw its depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a 7.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Share, Series D, par value $1.00 per share, and its depositary shares, each representing a 7.00% Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Share, Series E, par value $1.00 per share (collectively, the “depositary shares”) from listing on NASDAQ and registration pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Enstar expects to file a Form 25 Notification of Delisting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on or about July 14, 2025, relating to delisting and deregistering of the depositary shares. Enstar has not arranged, and does not intend to arrange, for listing and/or registration of the depositary shares on another national securities exchange or for quotation of the depositary shares in a quotation medium.

    The transaction was announced on July 29, 2024, and approved by Enstar shareholders at the Company’s Special General Meeting of Shareholders on November 6, 2024. With the completion of the acquisition, Enstar’s ordinary shares will no longer be listed publicly, and Enstar will continue operations as a privately held, standalone company. The Company will continue to operate under the Enstar name.

    Advisors

    Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to Enstar and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Hogan Lovells US LLP acted as legal advisors. Ardea Partners LP, Barclays PLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisors to Sixth Street and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acted as legal advisors.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This communication contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that include words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “may,” “will” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise. These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Enstar and its management team. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those related to the satisfaction of any post-closing regulatory requirements.

    Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, in addition to those identified above, include: (i) the risk that an active trading market for the newly preferred shares that our holders of the depositary shares representing Enstar Preferred Shares received in the transaction does not exist and may not develop; (ii) those risks and uncertainties set forth under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Enstar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports filed by Enstar with the SEC from time to time, which are available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov; and (iii) those risks described in the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) filed with the SEC on October 11, 2024 and available from the sources indicated below.

    These risks, as well as other risks associated with the transaction, are more fully discussed in the Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on October 11, 2024, in connection with the transaction. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Enstar undertakes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statements or publicly announce any updates or revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, except as required by law. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. You should specifically consider the factors identified in this communication that could cause actual results to differ. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect Enstar.

    About Enstar

    Enstar is a global insurance group that offers innovative capital release solutions through its network of group companies in Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, and other international locations. A market leader in completing legacy acquisitions, Enstar has acquired more than 120 companies and portfolios since its formation in 2001. For further information about Enstar, see www.enstargroup.com.

    About Sixth Street

    Sixth Street is a global investment firm with over $115 billion in assets under management and committed capital. The firm uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities, and “One Team” culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. Founded in 2009, Sixth Street has more than 650 team members including over 280 investment professionals around the world. For more information, visit www.sixthstreet.com, and follow Sixth Street on LinkedIn.

    Contact:

    For Enstar:
    For Investors: Matthew Kirk (investor.relations@enstargroup.com)
    For Media: Jenna Kerr (communications@enstargroup.com)

    For Sixth Street:
    media@sixthstreet.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Philadelphia’s $2B affordable housing plan relies heavily on municipal bonds, which can come with hidden costs for taxpayers

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jade Craig, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Mississippi

    The Parker administration says it will issue $800 million in bonds over the next four years to fund affordable housing. Jeff Fusco/The Conversation, CC BY-NC-SA

    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy initiative, which was included in the city budget passed June 12, 2025, is an ambitious effort to address the city’s affordable housing challenges.

    Parker has promised to create or preserve 30,000 affordable housing units throughout the city, at a cost of roughly US$2 billion.

    To help fund the plan, the Parker administration says it will issue $800 million in housing bonds over the next three years.

    In an April 2025 report on the housing plan, the Parker administration admits that, in light of declining federal investment in affordable housing, proceeds from municipal bonds issued by the local government “have taken on an outsized role” in Philadelphia’s housing programs.

    Often, only city treasurers and the finance committees of city councils pay attention to the details behind these municipal bonds.

    As a law professor who studies the social impact of municipal bonds, I believe it’s important that city residents understand how these bonds work as well.

    While municipal bonds are integral to the city’s effort to increase access to affordable and market-rate housing, they can include hidden costs and requirements that raise prices in ways that make city services unaffordable for lower-income residents.

    The Parker administration has vowed to create or preserve 30,000 affordable housing units in Philly through new construction, rehabilitation and expanded rental assistance.
    Jeff Fusco/The Conversation, CC BY-SA

    How municipal bonds work

    Most people are aware that companies sell shares on the stock market to raise capital. State and local governments do the same thing in the form of municipal bonds, which help them raise money to cover their expenses and to finance infrastructure projects.

    These bonds are a form of debt. Investors can purchase an interest in the bond and, in exchange, the local government promises to pay the money back with interest in a specified time period. The money from investors functions like a loan to the government.

    Municipal bonds are often used so that one generation of taxpayers is not having to bear the full cost of a project that will benefit multiple generations of residents. The cost of building a bridge, for example, which will be in use for decades, can be spread out over 30 years so that residents pay back the loan slowly over time rather than saddle residents with huge tax increases one year to cover the cost.

    However, the cost of borrowing pushes up the cost of projects by adding interest payments the same way a mortgage adds to the overall cost of buying a house. Overall, the market and state and local governments have historically viewed this cost as a worthy trade-off.

    Some municipal bonds have limits

    The Parker administration has several options when it comes to raising capital on the municipal market.

    The most common method is through general obligation bonds, which are backed by the city’s authority to impose and collect taxes. Bondholders rely on the city’s “full faith and credit” to assure them that if the city has difficulty paying back the debt, the city will raise taxes on residents to secure the payment.

    The city plans to use general obligation bonds to help fund its affordable housing plan, but there are limits on how much it can borrow this way. The state constitution limits Philadelphia’s ability to incur debt to a total of 13.5% of the value of its assessed taxable real estate, based on an average of this amount for the preceding 10 years.

    Philadelphia is more affordable than several other big U.S. cities, according to a 2020 report from the Pew Charitable Trusts, but it has a high poverty rate.
    Jeff Fusco/The Conversation, CC BY-SA

    Philly has another option

    The city, however, also has the authority to take on another form of debt: revenue bonds. Revenue bonds rely on specific sources of revenue instead of the government’s taxing power. Jurisdictions issue revenue bonds to fund particular projects or services – usually ones that generate income from fees paid by users.

    For example, a publicly owned water utility or electric company relies on water and sewage fees or electricity rates and charges to pay back their revenue bonds. Likewise, a transportation authority will rely on tolls to pay back revenue bonds issued to build a toll road, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

    Under state law, revenue bonds are “non-debt debts.” They are not debts owed by the city, because the city has not promised to repay the debt through the use of its own taxing powers. Instead, the people who pay the fees to use the service are paying back the debt.

    Since states began to place stricter limits on debt in the wake of the Great Depression in the 1930s, cities across the U.S. have increasingly used revenue bonds to get around state debt limits and still fund valuable public services, including affordable housing projects.

    When another government entity – rather than the city – issues the bond, and the city pays them a service fee for doing so, it’s a form of what’s called conduit debt. That obligation to pay the service fee to the other government entity is the conduit debt that the city pays out of its general fund.

    In Philadelphia, conduit debt includes revenue bonds issued by the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development and Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

    From fiscal years 2012 to 2021, the city’s outstanding debt from general obligation bonds paid for out of its general fund was between $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion per year. However, the city’s conduit debt outstripped that number every year, ranging from $1.8 billion to nearly $2.3 billion. In more recent years, conduit debt has been less than the city’s debt from general obligation bonds.

    The city keeps conduit debt on its books – and is obligated to pay it back – even though it comes from bonds issued by the development authorities, because these debts loop back to the city. In the bonds issued by these agencies, the city actually becomes like a client of the agency. The city is typically obligated to pay the agency service fees as part of a contractual obligation that cannot be canceled.

    The revenue on which the development agencies’ bonds rely, the money from which bondholders expect to be paid back, does not come from fees that residents pay out of their own pocket – for example through ticket sales from a sports stadium built with revenue bonds. The money instead comes out of the city’s treasury.

    A loophole to affordable housing

    Essentially this is a loophole for the city to bypass debt limits set for Philadelphia in the state constitution. Sometimes creativity in government requires using loopholes to get the job done – to get to yes instead of a stalemate.

    Consider this analogy. Say your sister takes out a bank loan to buy a car for you because your credit limit is maxed out. She is relying on you to pay her back, and she uses your payment to pay the bank. But if you don’t pay her back, she’s not responsible by law for paying the bank herself. So, it’s your debt, but she is the conduit.

    If the city holds itself accountable, it can use conduit debt responsibly to make affordable housing construction a reality.

    The mayor’s office did not respond to my questions about whether they plan to use conduit debt issued by a development authority, whether that conduit debt would include service fees, and what funds would be used to pay those fees.

    In its quest to increase access to affordable housing, the Parker administration should, in my view, be mindful of limiting the service fees it agrees to pay – which have no legally prescribed limits – and also account for where it will find income to cover these costs. For example, will it come from the sale of city-owned land? Fees charged to developers? Or some other source?

    Otherwise, taxpayers may be left to foot a bill that is essentially unlimited.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

    – ref. Philadelphia’s $2B affordable housing plan relies heavily on municipal bonds, which can come with hidden costs for taxpayers – https://theconversation.com/philadelphias-2b-affordable-housing-plan-relies-heavily-on-municipal-bonds-which-can-come-with-hidden-costs-for-taxpayers-253522

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s first diesel ship fueled with environmentally friendly methanol

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) — China’s first batch of green methanol made from municipal waste was loaded onto a conventional diesel ship at Yangpu Port in south China’s island province of Hainan on Wednesday, marking a milestone in the domestic green shipping industry.

    “Green” methanol is produced by China BlueChemical Ltd. /China BlueChem/, a company of China National Offshore Oil Corporation /CNOOC/. It is produced using biogas obtained from the fermentation of municipal kitchen waste, animal manure and other waste as a feedstock.

    Using 200 tons of green methanol as fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 325 tons, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestration effect of planting more than 19,000 trees.

    This successful green methanol refuelling marks an important step in China’s shipping industry’s transition from traditional to green energy, said Wu Hongsheng, head of China BlueChem’s green methanol working group. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 IAM Transportation Conference Shows Power of IAM Union, Global Solidarity

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen delivers a video wrap-up report on the recent transportation conference, highlighting its success and the significant participation of delegates. 

    He emphasizes that attendees were highly productive, establishing an aggressive but necessary agenda and clear future direction for the organization. 

    The conference also featured a diverse array of international labor leaders, including representatives from Israel, the Caribbean, Japan, and Canada, alongside prominent figures like Stephen Cotton of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), representing 16 million global workers.

    AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, representing 15 million U.S. workers, also spoke. Johnsen expresses his excitement for the future, noting the collective power of IAM Union solidarity from the clear direction established at the event.

    The post 2025 IAM Transportation Conference Shows Power of IAM Union, Global Solidarity appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Summer Heat Safety Advice From Your Union

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Extreme temperatures put workers in danger. IAM Union wants to remind all workers that employers have an obligation to protect workers against illness and injury from high temperatures in the workplace, whether inside or outdoors.

    Employers must protect workers by reducing and eliminating hazards that expose workers to heat illness or injury.

    Know Your Rights!

    Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. In regard to extreme heat at work, you have the right to:

    • Speak up about hazards without fear of retaliation. For information about whistleblower protections, visit www.whistleblowers.gov.
    • Request an OSHA inspection and speak to OSHA inspectors.
    • Report an injury or illness, and review and get copies of your medical records from your employer.

    Tips for preventing heat illness

    Heat-related illnesses can be prevented.

    • Hydrate before, during and after work. Drink 1 cup of cool water every 20 minutes even if you aren’t thirsty. For longer jobs, drinks with electrolytes are best. Avoid energy drinks and alcohol.
    • Find shade or a cool area for rest breaks that allow your body to recover.
    • Dress for the heat. A hat and light-colored, loose-fitting (where allowed), breathable clothing are ideal.
    • If wearing a face covering, change it if it becomes wet or soiled. Check on others verbally often.
    • Not everyone tolerates heat the same way. Understand personal risk factors.
    • Understanding engineering controls, work practices, and PPE.

    For information on heat illness prevention, please go to OSHA’s website.

    IAM Director of Safety and Health Michael Oathout wants workers to know that they have protections and should report violations of their health and safety rights to OSHA.

    “Employers are obligated to provide safe work environments,” said Oathout. “We want to remind workers, especially those in high-risk industries, that working in extremely high temperatures can be deadly. We don’t want workers to be scared of taking care of themselves and protecting themselves.”

    Please stay safe and protect yourself if you are at risk from heat at work.

    The post Summer Heat Safety Advice From Your Union appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Enovix Corporation Announces Share Repurchase Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enovix Corporation (“Enovix”) (Nasdaq: ENVX), a global high-performance battery company, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the company may repurchase up to $60 million of its outstanding common stock.

    The repurchase program is designed to provide Enovix with greater flexibility in managing its capital structure, including the ability to respond to market volatility and return value to shareholders. The company may repurchase shares from time to time in open-market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, or by other means, in accordance with applicable securities laws and subject to market conditions and other factors.

    “This repurchase program reflects our confidence in the company’s long-term fundamentals and the strength of our 100% silicon-anode battery technology,” said Ryan Benton, Chief Financial Officer of Enovix. “It also underscores our commitment to delivering long-term shareholder value.”

    The timing and amount of any repurchases will be determined at the company’s discretion and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time. The repurchase program does not obligate Enovix to acquire any specific number of shares. The buyback authorization is effective beginning June 30, 2025, and any unused capacity will expire on December 31, 2026.

    About Enovix Corporation

    Enovix is a leader in advancing lithium-ion battery technology with its proprietary cell architecture designed to deliver higher energy density and improved safety. The Company’s breakthrough silicon-anode batteries are engineered to power a wide range of devices from wearable electronics and mobile communications to industrial and electric vehicle applications. Enovix’s technology enables longer battery life and faster charging, supporting the growing global demand for high-performance energy storage. Enovix holds a robust portfolio of issued and pending patents covering its core battery design, manufacturing process, and system integration innovations. For more information, visit https://www.enovix.com.

    Forward‐Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance and can be identified by words such as anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, might, plan, possible, potential, predict, should, would and similar expressions that convey uncertainty about future events or outcomes. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, references to long-term potential, the success of our silicon anode battery technology, manufacturing scale up timelines, and the ability to commercialize Enovix technology. Actual results and outcomes could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties and other potential factors set forth in our filings with the SEC, including in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents that we have filed, or that we will file, with the SEC. For a full discussion of these risks, please refer to Enovix’s filings with the SEC, including its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, available at https://ir.enovix.com and www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements made by us in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. We disclaim any obligations to update or alter these forward-looking statements in the future, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contacts:

    Investors
    Robert Lahey
    ir@enovix.com

    Media Contact:
    Bateman Agency for Enovix
    Kaelyn Attridge
    enovix@bateman.agency

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Drone as a Service (DaaS) Market is Booming Expected to Reach $179 Billion By 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture will increasingly involve a sophisticated interplay of robots, drones, remote sensors, and computer imaging. A report from MarketsAndMarkets said: “The overall drones as a service market will reach $179.3 billion by 2030. Surveillance and monitoring will be the largest revenue opportunity through 2030 High potential industry verticals include construction, insurance, aerospace and real estate Surveillance and mapping remain largest opportunities with maintenance and inspection rapidly gaining ground as high ROI solutions and Developing countries are fastest growing for many solutions due largely to substantial cost avoidance for expensive professional services.” It continued: “The fundamental principle underpinning cloud computing is the decentralization of computational resources. It posits that the physical infrastructure required for processing data and running applications no longer necessitates a local presence within a customer’s own facilities. Furthermore, the precise geographical location of these computing resources becomes largely immaterial to the end-user. Imagine, if you will, computational power existing almost ubiquitously, like a utility that can be tapped into whenever and wherever the need arises. This abstract notion of computing residing “in the ether” highlights the on-demand and location-independent nature of the cloud.” Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Deere & Company (NYSE: DE), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS).

    MarketsAndMarkets added: “This shift in paradigm has yielded significant advantages. Firstly, it has dramatically improved the utilization of computing assets. Instead of individual organizations maintaining underutilized servers and infrastructure, cloud providers can aggregate demand from numerous customers, leading to far greater efficiency. The evolution of cloud computing has fostered the “as a service” delivery model. This framework provides computational capabilities – be it processing power, storage, or specialized software – as a service that can be accessed over a network, typically the internet. This “as a service” approach has proven to be an exceptionally adaptable and scalable method for organizations to introduce and expand their computational capabilities without the upfront investment and management overhead associated with traditional IT infrastructure. This transformative “as a service” paradigm is now profoundly impacting the field of robotics. It is paving the way for “automation as a service”, where robotic capabilities are offered as a readily available service rather than requiring the outright purchase and maintenance of physical robots. This shift unlocks new possibilities for businesses that may have previously found robotics cost-prohibitive or lacked the in-house expertise to deploy and manage them effectively.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone as a Service (DaaS) to California with Offer to Acquire an Engineering and Surveying Firm, Tapping into Precision Agriculture and Viticulture Market – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), and enterprise SaaS, has signed an offer to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm with a well established history of operations. This marks ZenaTech’s first proposed transaction in the US West Coast or Southwest region, creating a strategic entry point into California ─ a high-value market for drone-based precision agriculture due to a massive agriculture economy, crop diversity, labor and water challenges, and an openness to innovation.

    With a commercial, construction and sustainability solution customer base and a deep regional presence, the proposed acquisition positions ZenaTech to scale its Drone as a Service or DaaS survey operations. It also provides significant opportunity to expand into California’s wine and agriculture sectors using advanced drone capabilities including aerial imaging, precision spraying, irrigation analytics, and wildfire detection and monitoring in high-risk areas.

    “This proposed acquisition is more than just our first Southwest region location — it’s a strategic foothold into a high-value, high-growth state for precision agriculture,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “The firm is a natural fit to help execute our growth strategy for crop health monitoring and precision spraying to serve viticulture, large estates, and commercial farming operations across California.”

    With the global agricultural drone market projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for precision technologies in farming, California stands out as a key growth region as well as being home to nearly 90% of all US vineyard acreage. Considering California’s mounting climate and agricultural challenges, ZenaTech’s AI-powered autonomous drone solutions offer timely, scalable innovation that serves the needs of commercial enterprises, cooperatives, agriculture consultants, and public sector stakeholders.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service (DaaS) business model offers both business and government customers reduced costs and convenience to utilize drones to streamline legacy processes and manual tasks such as inspections, surveying, maintenance, precision agriculture and inventory management ─ there is no need to purchase drone hardware and software, find a drone pilot, manage maintenance and operation, or acquire regulatory approvals. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and utilizes ZenaDrone’s multifunction AI autonomous drones.

    The company has closed six acquisitions across the US to date as part of its DaaS business model and strategy and has announced it plans to complete approximately 20 more in the next 12 months. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) recently announced it has purchased Sentera, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based agriculture startup that uses smart imagery technology to monitor crop health via drone cameras.

    The acquisition, announced May 23, allows the John Deere tractor maker to integrate Sentera’s technologies into its digital farm management system to help farmers make more data-backed decisions. Drones equipped with Sentera’s cameras can fly over fields at high speeds and take high-resolution images that are then processed to generate digital maps that locate harmful weeds and pests, assess crop health and identify any disease pressures, according to Deere.

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, recently announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Reignwood Aviation Group. Leveraging their respective strengths, the two parties will collaborate under China’s national strategy for developing the low-altitude economy, guided by the principles of technology empowerment, scenario-driven innovation, and global expansion. Together, they aim to set a global standard for integrating traditional general aviation with next-generation electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft.

    According to the agreement, Reignwood Aviation Group plans to deploy eVTOLs at scale, prioritizing at its operational hubs in key cultural and tourism destinations. The partnership will begin with consumer-facing applications such as low-altitude tourism and related ground services. Over time, the cooperation will further expand to UAM field to build a three-dimensional urban transportation network. In the long term, the two parties aim to expand to more scenarios and low-altitude services including passenger transportation, aerial logistics, emergency response, etc.

    AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, recently announced it has entered into a set of agreements with Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (“TAFE”). The agreements resolve all outstanding disputes and other matters related to the commercial relationship between AGCO and TAFE as well as TAFE’s shareholding in AGCO, ownership and use of the Massey Ferguson brand in India and certain other countries, and other key governance issues between the parties.

    The agreements will become effective upon the completion by AGCO and TAFE of certain governmental and other processes in India relating to the repurchase of the shares held by AGCO in TAFE.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), a leading provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, recently announced the sale of two additional eBee X drones to South Korea, expanding the country’s installed base of AgEagle’s eBee drones to more than 100 units. This milestone strengthens AgEagle’s strategic partnership with South Korea and reinforces its position as a leader in the Asia-Pacific drone market.

    The eBee X, AgEagle’s flagship fixed-wing mapping drone, is engineered for high-precision geospatial data collection and is ideally suited for applications including surveying, mapping, and photogrammetry. This latest sale builds on a well-established fleet, further strengthening AgEagle’s reputation as a trusted provider of cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems.AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “Achieving our 100th eBee drone sale in South Korea represents a key growth milestone. It reflects the growing global demand for our advanced aerial solutions and validates the strength of our platform across a range of industries and geographies. As adoption accelerates in international markets like South Korea, we remain focused on scaling operations, deepening customer relationships, and delivering high-performance drone systems that meet evolving mission needs. This progress directly supports our commitment to building sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”

    About FN Media Group:
    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Namibia Gears Up for Energy Transformation – Deputy Prime Minister (PM) to Speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025

    African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies welcomes Natangwe Paulus Ithete, Namibia’s newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industrialization, Mines and Energy, as a featured speaker at this year’s edition, taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. Minister Ithete’s confirmation comes at a defining moment for Namibia’s energy sector, as the country accelerates large-scale investments in hydrocarbons, renewables and industrial infrastructure.

    Appointed in March 2025 as part of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s new administration, Minister Ithete steps into his role amid a surge of high-impact activity across Namibia’s energy landscape. The country has captured international attention following a string of offshore oil discoveries by Shell, TotalEnergies and Galp, positioning Namibia as one of the world’s most promising new petroleum frontiers. Since Minister Ithete took office, momentum has only accelerated: TotalEnergies is expected to submit a development plan for its giant Venus discovery by July 2025, targeting a final investment decision next year for what could become Namibia’s first major offshore oil development. Galp confirmed a significant light oil find at its Mopane-3X well in February, while Rhino Resources struck oil at the Capricornus-1X well in April. Chevron is advancing plans to drill a new exploration well in the Walvis Basin, and Namibia is expanding licensing opportunities through its open-door system introduced last year. These developments are backed by government efforts to streamline fiscal terms, de-risk investment and solidify Namibia’s position as one of the most dynamic and closely watched frontiers in global oil and gas.

    In parallel, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up renewable energy and positioning Namibia as a green hydrogen hub for the region. The $10-billion Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project, which aims to produce green ammonia for export from the Tsau //Khaeb National Park, is progressing steadily, backed by international partners including the EU and Germany. Namibia’s renewables strategy has also attracted global developers to solar and wind projects across the country, contributing to regional energy security and industrial expansion.

    Minister Ithete has moved swiftly to align policy with these opportunities. In his first few months in office, he outlined the government’s intention to streamline regulatory processes, accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen fiscal and legal frameworks for investment. Speaking at the Namibia International Energy Conference in April, he emphasized the importance of building an enabling environment for energy companies, while ensuring that Namibians benefit meaningfully from the country’s natural resource wealth.

    These priorities are reinforced by Namibia’s broader industrialization agenda. In May, Minister Ithete introduced a NAD 637.5 million budget to support industrial growth and renewable energy expansion. The funding targets the development of value-added industries, energy infrastructure and technical capacity across key sectors, forming part of a longer-term strategy to move beyond resource extraction and into domestic processing and export-led industrialization.

    “Namibia’s transformation from a frontier market to a serious energy and industrial contender has been nothing short of remarkable,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The appointment of Minister Natangwe Ithete reflects a strong political commitment to getting the fundamentals right – from regulatory clarity to infrastructure and local content. His leadership brings new energy to Namibia’s vision for growth, and we look forward to welcoming him at AEW 2025.”

    With a growing number of bilateral and commercial partnerships underway – including recent cooperation talks with China on energy and industrial development – Namibia is rapidly emerging as one of Africa’s most dynamic energy investment destinations. The country is pursuing a holistic approach that leverages its oil and gas potential, renewable resources and strategic geographic location to become a regional supply hub and industrial center.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    About AEW: Invest in African Energies:
    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Committee Condemns Killing of Ekurhuleni Metro’s Forensic Audit Chief


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    The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has learned with shock about the brutal assassination of Mr Mpho Mafole, the City of Ekurhuleni’s group divisional head of corporate and forensic audits.

    According to media reports, the 47-year-old was gunned down on Monday while driving along the R23 in Esselen Park. Police reportedly discovered Mr Mafole’s body inside his vehicle, riddled with gunshot wounds.

    Mr Mafole, who was appointed to the position only three months ago, brought with him an impressive track record of public service, including 14 years in the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa. He was tasked with uncovering financial irregularities and promoting transparency in the City of Ekurhuleni, one of the country’s largest municipalities.

    Committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize said the nature of Mr Mafole’s work underscored the often-dangerous responsibilities undertaken by those at the forefront of rooting out corruption in our public institutions. “The committee condemns this cowardly and violent act as this not only threatens the lives of dedicated public servants but also seeks to intimidate and hinder efforts to build clean and accountable governance, particularly in our municipalities where systemic failures persist,” said the Chairperson.

    Dr Mkhize said this tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers and anti-corruption officials. “Reforms to safeguard those who speak out and act against corruption must urgently be expedited.” He said municipalities, and the rest of government, must uphold the highest standards of financial oversight and integrity.

    The Chairperson also noted that this tragedy comes as the committee prepares for the start of extensive oversight visits across provinces to demand accountability from municipalities following the latest dismal municipal audit outcomes. “The committee will continue to exercise its oversight mandate, working with all spheres of government to ensure that those who risk their lives in service of public accountability are protected and that the rot that enables criminality is eradicated,” he said.

    “The committee extends its heartfelt condolences to Mr Mafole’s family, colleagues, and loved ones during this difficult time. We urge law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –