NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Global: Grover Norquist’s lasting influence on the GOP and US economic policy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gibbs Knotts, Professor of Political Science, Coastal Carolina University

    Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, speaks on Capitol Hill on Nov. 7, 2017. Alex Wong/Getty Images

    In the “one, big, beautiful bill,” President Donald Trump has called for substantial decreases in federal domestic spending. However, a schism emerged between Republican lawmakers during the budget debates in Congress.

    Some Republicans in blue states called for a tax increase for the wealthiest Americans, prompting longtime anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist to call the increase an “incredibly destructive idea economically, and very foolish politically.”

    As he has done since the 1980s, Norquist demonstrated his influence over the GOP. Since Trump’s second inauguration, he has appeared in several high-profile news stories about the budget, including a Washington Post article where he said, “Tax cuts are income to Americans and a loss to the bureaucracy.”

    Ultimately, the tax increase was defeated, and the Trump budget proposal passed the House on May 22, 2025.

    Norquist praised the leadership from Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, saying taxpayers owe them “bigly for managing a narrow Republican House Majority that was united and committed to reducing taxes on the American people.”

    As scholars of U.S. politics, we examined Norquist’s emergence, traced debates about the scope and size of the American government and assessed Norquist’s relevance in the Donald Trump era, where he continues to wield considerable sway in the Republican Party.

    The conscience of a conservative

    In 1960, a slim, 123-page book changed the trajectory of American conservative thought.

    “The Conscience of a Conservative,” written by Barry Goldwater, laid out the premise that an expansive federal bureaucracy was the root evil of government.

    Four years later, Ronald Reagan launched his political career with a speech supporting Goldwater. His words echoed Goldwater: “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size … a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.”

    Reagan ended the speech by noting, “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.” Goldwater wouldn’t manifest that destiny, but Reagan, 16 years later, took this vision of fiscal conservatism to the White House.

    By the 1980s, Goldwater’s limited government creed had become part of Republican dogma. Government wasn’t just bloated, according to Reagan. It was, as he noted, the problem. The Reagan presidency ushered in the doctrine of supply-side economics, which rests on the premise that tax cuts are key to stimulating economic growth.

    Norquist’s emergence

    Into this landscape stepped a young Norquist.

    He had cut his teeth at the National Taxpayer’s Union, a fiscally conservative taxpayer advocacy group. Then, in 1981, he became the executive director of the College Republican National Committee.

    In the first issue of CR Report, a college Republican newsletter, Norquist’s position as executive director was announced, and he provided a list of suggested readings. Among the titles he recommended were Goldwater’s “Conscience,” Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Freedom” and Friedrich Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom.”

    In 1985, Norquist founded Americans for Tax Reform to support his tax reduction efforts. As Norquist noted, “The tax issue is one thing everyone agrees on.”

    He and his organization effectively institutionalized a permanent tax revolt in Congress supported by his “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” a promise made starting in 1986 to oppose all efforts to increase marginal tax rates or reduce deductions or credits.

    The pledge became a litmus test for fiscally conservative GOP candidates and cemented the party’s anti-tax stance.

    Feeling this pressure, GOP nominee George H.W. Bush delivered his famous line, “read my lips, no new taxes,” at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Those six words were repeatedly used by primary challenger Pat Buchanan and Bush’s opponent in the general election, Bill Clinton, to raise questions about Bush’s honesty – since he made a pledge that he was unable to keep.

    Newt Gingrich, speaker of the House of Representatives, holds up a copy of the ‘Contract With America’ during a speech on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in April 1995.
    Richard Ellis/AFP via Getty Images

    With Clinton in the White House in 1994, Norquist helped House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich write the “Contract with America” to legislate fiscal conservatism. Weaponizing government shutdowns and setting a more confrontational tone, congressional Republicans successfully rolled back welfare programs, reduced the size of government and cut taxes.

    In 1995, they came two votes shy in the Senate of approving an amendment to the Constitution that would have required the federal budget to be balanced – with no borrowing – every year.

    Anti-tax conservatism in the 21st century

    In 2001, Norquist told a reporter at The Nation: “My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”

    This objective would have to wait during the George W. Bush presidency. Resulting in part from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration saw dramatic expansions of federal power and spending in homeland security, defense and Medicare, as well as a large increase in the budget deficit.

    The tea party movement, a fiscally conservative political group, was formed in response to these Bush-era increases and two signature programs of the Barack Obama administration: the massive stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and his signature health care reform, the Affordable Care Act.

    Norquist reveled in renewed attention to tax policies and the size of government, urging readers of The Guardian to “join the Tea Party movement.”

    Norquist’s continuing legacy

    For more than four decades, Norquist has been a relentless advocate for fiscal conservatism. He is the living embodiment of an ideological thread that stretches from Goldwater to Reagan to Gingrich to current GOP leadership.

    Grover Norquist waits for the arrival of President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House on March 21, 2019.
    AP Photo/Evan Vucci

    The ongoing debates about the Trump budget are just the latest example of Norquist’s influence. He continues to play an active role in debates about the federal budget and still has considerable sway with Republicans.

    However, Norquist’s uncompromising stance on taxes has coincided with increases in federal spending, surging budget deficits and increased national debt.

    That additional debt is accumulating because many Republicans have adopted his anti-tax position while simultaneously increasing defense budgets, maintaining or expanding entitlement spending and lowering taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

    Nevertheless, Norquist continues to be the fiscal conscience of the Republican Party. Politicians come and go. Powerful ideas, and those who champion them, endure.

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

    – ref. Grover Norquist’s lasting influence on the GOP and US economic policy – https://theconversation.com/grover-norquists-lasting-influence-on-the-gop-and-us-economic-policy-256978

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory F. Treverton, Professor of Practice in International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    Iranians protest the U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Tehran on June 22, 2025. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran dramatically marks the now nearly half-century of hostility between the United States and Iran, which began in 1979 with Iran’s takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the taking of 52 diplomatic hostages.

    It remains uncertain whether the Iran-Israel ceasefire will hold, given President Donald Trump’s seemingly impulsive policy decisions and an Israeli leader who critics say pursues war to stay in power.

    Additional unpredictability can be seen in a weakened Iran government that is unpopular with its own people but must also bet that standing up to the U.S. and Israel will induce its people to rally around the flag, even if they don’t like who holds that flag.

    As a U.S. international relations scholar, I think whatever comes next will be well informed by what has already happened in U.S.-Iran history. That includes an offer from Trump – who considers himself the consummate negotiator – to Iran to return to the negotiating table.

    The shah’s last visit to Washington

    The opening bracket in modern U.S.-Iran relations was the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,“ whom a CIA covert action had restored to leadership a quarter-century earlier.

    As a young National Security Council staffer, I stood on the South Lawn of the White House as the shah’s helicopter landed in 1977 for a state visit to his close ally, the United States.

    The episode was perhaps a metaphor for the two countries’ relationship. I stood next to a colleague who had written for President Jimmy Carter remarks that included fulsome praise of the shah, but his crack to me was: “You’ll recognize the shah. He’s the one with blood under his fingernails.” Beneath a formal alliance, there was a good deal of cynicism on the U.S. part about the shah’s repressive regime and use of secret police to suppress opposition.

    Pro- and anti-shah protesters were demonstrating at the bottom of the Ellipse, the park south of the White House grounds. The U.S. Park Police, understandably but unwisely, sought to separate them with tear gas, which then wafted over the proceedings on the South Lawn.

    The Shah of Iran wipes tear gas from his eyes as President Jimmy Carter speaks on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 15, 1977.
    AP Photo

    The impact of the hostage crisis

    It’s impossible to overstate the effect of the 1979 hostage crisis, when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding 62 American hostages for 444 days.

    The Carter administration negotiated the Algiers Accords, which led to the release of the hostages in January 1981. There have been persistent accounts, none ever fully validated, that the incoming Reagan administration dealt with Iran to delay the release until after the new president’s inauguration.

    The crisis not only cost Carter his job, but it also cast an enduring shadow over the U.S.-Iran relationship, compounding Americans’ difficulty in understanding a regime that was not only theocratic but Muslim.

    The 1980s witnessed a whipsaw of relations.

    From 1980 to 1988, as Iran and Iraq fought a bloody war to a stalemate, the U.S. saw the power of both countries contained, but it did provide intelligence and logistical support to Iraq.

    Then came the Iran-Contra Affair of 1985 to 1987. It was the Reagan administration’s most serious scandal, in which White House officials illegally sold sanctioned arms to Iran and secretly diverted the proceeds to the Nicaraguan Contras. In a moment straight out of comic opera, National Security Council aides brought a goodwill chocolate cake to Tehran during a secret diplomatic mission in May 1986.

    Unidentified U.S. hostages arrive on Jan. 21, 1981, at Rhein-Main U.S. Air Force base in Frankfurt, West Germany, one day after their release from Iran.
    AP Photo

    In 1988, a U.S. ship struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. retaliated by destroying oil platforms and damaging Iranian ships in “Operation Praying Mantis,” and tragically – and mistakenly – shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians.

    The 1990s and 2000s again displayed the limits of the relationship.

    In 1995, President Bill Clinton imposed an oil and trade embargo against Iran, and Congress passed the Iran–Libya Sanctions Act in 1996, which imposed economic sanctions on companies doing business with Iran and Libya.

    In 1998, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called for a “dialogue of civilizations,” prompting cautious U.S. signals of engagement.

    Then, in 2002, President George W. Bush labeled Iran part of the “axis of evil,” a sharp rhetorical escalation. For its part, Iran alleged U.S. drone incursions and covert operations. Limited diplomatic back channels emerged, but to no outcome.

    In 2009, President Barack Obama reached out to Tehran amid post-election unrest in Iran, but two years later Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil shipments to the West.

    In 2015, the two countries were party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with Iran agreeing to limit its nuclear program under international oversight.

    Two years later, though, President Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed sweeping sanctions in a “maximum pressure” campaign.

    In 2019 and 2020, a series of tit-for-tat escalations culminated in the Jan. 3, 2020, U.S. drone strike that assassinated senior Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. bases in the region.

    U.S. sanctions continued in the Biden administration as Iran pursued deeper ties with Russia, China and nonstate proxies, especially Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

    What lessons?

    What can be learned from this tangled history?

    First, that negotiations are possible between the two countries, but they are neither easy nor likely to produce more than limited outcomes. Indeed, high-level indirect talks mediated by Oman began in April 2025, though they were in suspension when the U.S. bombers struck.

    Second, despite the Iran regime’s unpopularity, regime change in Iran is unlikely. Assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khameini would likely abet the “rally ‘round the flag” effect, as did the assassination of Soleimani.

    Third, Iran has been careful in its responses even to Israeli aggression but especially in engaging the U.S. in military conflict, a caution the American B-2 bombings on June 21 can only underscore.

    Iran had to retaliate, so the attack on the U.S. base in Qatar came as no surprise. But Iran was careful in retaliating, even notifying the U.S. in advance.

    The dropping of U.S. bombs, followed by Iran’s careful retaliation, was the opportunity for Trump to make an offer Iran couldn’t refuse.

    Gregory F. Treverton 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. What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history – https://theconversation.com/what-happens-next-in-us-iran-relations-will-be-informed-by-the-two-countries-shared-history-259607

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How do scientists calculate the probability that an asteroid could hit Earth?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Toshi Hirabayashi, Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

    NASA’s Webb telescope captured a photo of the asteroid 2024 YR4 from afar. European Space Agency via AP

    I was preparing for my early morning class back in January 2025 when I received a notice regarding an asteroid called 2024 YR4. It said the probability it could hit Earth was unusually high.

    As defending Earth from unexpected intruders such as asteroids is part of my expertise, I immediately started receiving questions from my students and colleagues about what was happening.

    When scientists spot an asteroid whose trajectory might take it close to Earth, they monitor it frequently and calculate the probability that it might collide with our planet. As they receive more observational data, they get a better picture of what could happen.

    Just having more data points early doesn’t make scientists’ predictions better. They need to keep following the asteroid as it moves through space to better understand its trajectory.

    Reflecting on the incident a few months later, I wondered whether there might have been a better way for scientists to communicate about the risk with the public. We got accurate information, but as the questions I heard indicated, it wasn’t always enough to understand what it actually means.

    Numbers change every day

    The 2024 YR24 asteroid has a diameter of about 196 feet (60 meters) – equivalent to approximately a 15-story building in length.

    At the time of the announcement in January, the asteroid’s impact probability was reported to exceed 1%. The impact probability describes how likely a hazardous asteroid is to hit Earth. For example, if the impact probability is 1%, it means that in 1 of 100 cases, it hits Earth. One in 100 is kind of rare, but still too close for comfort if you’re talking about the odds of a collision that could devastate Earth.

    Over time, though, further observations and analyses revealed an almost-zero chance of this asteroid colliding with Earth.

    After the initial notice in January, the impact probability continuously increased up to 3.1% on Feb. 18, but dropped to 1.5% on Feb. 19. Then, the impact probability continuously went down, until it hit 0.004% on Feb. 24. As of June 15, it now has an impact probability of less than 0.0000081%.

    The orbit of 2024 YR4 will take it close to Earth, but scientists have found the chance of a collision to be exceedingly low.
    NASA/JPL

    But while the probability of hitting Earth went down, the probability of the asteroid hitting the Moon started increasing. It went up to 1.7% on Feb. 24. As of April 2, it is 3.8%.

    If it hits the Moon, some ejected materials from this collision could reach the Earth. However, these materials would burn away when they enter the Earth’s thick atmosphere.

    Impact probability

    To see whether an approaching object could hit Earth, researchers find out what an asteroid’s orbit looks like using a technique called astrometry. This technique can accurately determine an object’s orbit, down to only a few kilometers of uncertainty. But astrometry needs accurate observational data taken for a long time.

    If an asteroid might get close to Earth, astronomers take observational data to better track the object’s path and eliminate uncertainty.

    Any uncertainty in the calculation of the object’s orbit causes variations in the predicted solution. Instead of one precise orbit, the calculation usually gives scientists a cloud of its possible orbits. The ellipse enclosing these locations is called an error ellipse.

    The impact probability describes how many orbital predictions in this ellipse hit the Earth.

    Without enough observational data, the orbital uncertainty is high, so the ellipse tends to be large. In a large ellipse, there’s a higher chance that the ellipse “accidentally” includes Earth – even if the center is off the planet. So, even if an asteroid ultimately won’t hit Earth, its error ellipse might still include the planet before scientists collect enough data to narrow down the uncertainty.

    As the level of uncertainty goes down, the ellipse shrinks. So, when Earth is inside a small error ellipse, the impact probability may become higher than when it’s inside a large error ellipse. Once the error ellipse shrinks enough that it no longer includes Earth, the impact probability goes down significantly. That’s what happened to 2024 YR4.

    As the error ellipse shrinks, the chance of the asteroid hitting Earth either goes down or goes way up, if it ends up overlapping with the Earth.
    Toshi Hirabayashi

    The impact probability is a single, practical value offering meaningful insight into an impact threat. However, just using the impact probability without any context may not provide meaningful guidelines to the public, as we saw with 2024 YR4.

    Holding on and waiting for more data to refine a collision prediction, or introducing new metrics for assessing impacts on Earth, are alternative courses of action to provide people with better guidelines for future threats before adding confusion and fear.

    I have been studying planetary defense, particularly being part of past, ongoing, and future small body missions. I was part of the NASA/DART mission. I am currently part of the NASA/Lucy mission and the ESA/Hera mission. I am also on the Hayabusa2# team, led by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as part of an international collaboration. I have no affiliation with JAXA.

    – ref. How do scientists calculate the probability that an asteroid could hit Earth? – https://theconversation.com/how-do-scientists-calculate-the-probability-that-an-asteroid-could-hit-earth-249834

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Boakai Declares Thursday, June 26, As “International Drugs Day”


    Download logo

    The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has by Proclamation declared Thursday, June 26, 2025, as “International Drugs Day” and is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. The Proclamation calls on all citizens; government ministries and agencies as well as international organizations concerned to join the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in executing appropriate programs befitting the occasion. According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and its illicit trafficking will be observed under the global theme:  “The Evidence is clear, invest in Prevention. Slogan. Break the Circle. Stop Organized Crime”. Drug abuse and its illicit trafficking have posed major problems to the human race and millions of people worldwide continue to be affected directly and indirectly.

     The Proclamation is in consonance with an Act of National Legislature which was adopted in 1999, creating the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with the authority to combat the importation, illicit trafficking and use of dangerous drugs. The observance of the day is intended to create awareness of the devastating effects of illicit drugs on individuals and families and to mobilize communities and other stakeholders against the use of such substances. On December 7, 1987, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 42/112, which set aside the 26th day of June of each year as International Day Against Illicit Trafficking of Drugs and other Substances of Abuse to be celebrated worldwide. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Liberia Observes International Women in Diplomacy Day


    Download logo

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with UN Women Liberia, proudly commemorated International Women in Diplomacy Day at the historic Cecil C. Dennis Jr. Auditorium, bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in diplomacy and foreign service. This year’s observance was held under Liberia’s national theme, “Accelerate Action,” underscoring the urgent need to fast-track efforts toward achieving gender equality and empowering women globally. The event provided a platform to honor trailblazing women, reflect on progress, and renew commitments to advancing women’s roles in international relations and decision-making spaces. In a message delivered on behalf of H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Cllr. Deweh E. Gray paid tribute to iconic Liberian women who have shaped the nation’s diplomatic and governance landscape. Among those honored were Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female president; Angie Brooks Randolph, the first African woman to preside over the United Nations General Assembly; and Nobel Peace Laureate Madam Leymah R. Gbowee, all recognized as pioneers and beacons of peace, leadership, and gender inclusion.

    Cllr. Gray highlighted key national initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s participation in diplomacy and peacebuilding, including the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She emphasized that Liberian women are not only contributors to peace processes but are increasingly leading them affirming the country’s growing commitment to gender-responsive governance. She reflected on Liberia’s historic role as a champion of African sovereignty and global diplomacy, recalling the country’s early establishment of diplomatic relations with major powers as part of its longstanding advocacy for African self-determination. “Liberia has always been a symbol of hope and agency on the international stage,” she noted, urging continued leadership by women in diplomacy to shape a more inclusive and equitable world.

    The Deputy Minister challenged women across all sectors to unite across borders, cultures, and professions to create a future where women can dream, achieve, and lead. She called for collective action to advance gender-sensitive policies and to mentor and support emerging generations of women leaders. The event featured a high-level panel discussion under the theme, “From Resolution to Reality,” during which seasoned diplomats and emerging professionals shared their personal journeys, experiences, challenges, and successes in diplomatic service. The dialogue offered valuable insights into translating international commitments on gender equality into tangible outcomes. The celebration drew participants from across the Liberian government, civil society, academia, diplomatic missions, and international development partners demonstrating strong, multi-sectoral support for advancing the role of women in diplomacy. As Liberia continues to build on its legacy of women’s leadership, the 2025 International Women in Diplomacy celebration served as a resounding reminder of the nation’s unwavering commitment to gender equality, empowerment, and inclusive global governance.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: eQUB brings Ethiopia’s traditional saving system into the digital age


    Download logo

    Fintech company eQUB is digitizing Ethiopia’s traditional savings culture through its mobile app. With support from the NTF V Tech project in Ethiopia, the business is bringing a trusted community system online to improve financial access, transparency and inclusion.

    In Ethiopia, informal saving groups known as ‘equb’ have long helped people access money when formal credit options are limited. It’s a system built on trust, and used by friends, neighbours, and families who pool funds and take turns receiving the total contribution. Now, that familiar tradition is being transformed into a digital platform with global potential.

    With support from the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) Programme at the International Trade Centre (ITC), Ethiopian fintech company eQUB has developed an app that digitises this centuries-old savings model. Users can create and join groups online, manage contributions, automate payments and record-keeping, and access features such as digital withdrawals and customer support.

    Where the idea came from

    In 2018, eQUB co-founder and CEO Alexander Abay Hizikias struggled to access funding for his business. ‘Banks want collateral that most early-stage entrepreneurs don’t have, and microfinance loans are expensive,’ he says. ‘I ended up joining a traditional equb to get the money I needed, and it made me realize this system could work better if it was digital.’

    After nearly two years of development, eQUB was officially registered in 2020. The first version of the app was based on assumptions, but user feedback quickly showed the team what needed to change. That led to a much-improved second version, shaped by real user input and behaviour.

    The eQUB App is now available in English and four local languages. It offers two main options. In private groups, people who already know each other can manage their equb through the app, using features like automatic record-keeping and secure payments. In public groups, individuals can join others with similar savings goals. The app helps match members and handles the draw system fairly.

    Backed by global support and exposure

    eQUB’s growth has picked up speed since joining the NTF V Ethiopia Tech project. The programme has provided technical training, mentoring, and financial support to help the company take part in international trade shows and startup events.

    Since then, the number of users has grown from 25,000 to over 110,000. Monthly savings through the platform now exceed eight figures in Ethiopian birr, and eQUB is on track to surpass 100 million birr ($720,000) in total savings processed by 2026.

    eQUB gained further recognition at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and 4YFN (Four Years From Now) in Barcelona, two of the world’s leading platforms for mobile innovation and startups, where it won the Best FinTech Pitch award in 2024. 

    The company also topped the FinTech category at AfricArena Johannesburg, standing out among strong competitors from across the African continent. These wins attracted interest from global investors, some of whom have since visited eQUB’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.

    At the AfricArise Scale Programme, which included mentorship from experienced founders, cloud infrastructure specialists, and finance professionals, eQUB won $50,000 in Amazon Web Services credits at events in Johannesburg and London. These resources have helped reduce the costs of scaling the platform’s technical infrastructure.

    Local impact, global relevance

    The company has already identified similar saving systems in other African countries that follow the same model, such as ‘susu’ in Ghana, ‘esusu’ in Nigeria and ‘stokvels’ in South Africa. 

    ‘People in these countries are already familiar with community savings,’ says Hizikias. ‘Instead of introducing unfamiliar digital banking products, we’re building on what people already trust and making it more secure and trackable.’

    To support this, the eQUB App is developing a credit scoring system based on users’ savings and payout history. ‘Right now, if someone has participated in an equb for 10 years, they have no proof of financial reliability. Our platform creates a digital trail that could help them access formal credit down the line,’ he says.

    Hizikias also has advice for other fintech founders. ‘Before you raise money, prove your product works. Start small, find early users, and focus on solving real problems. Then use international platforms to test your idea against global standards. That’s where you’ll really learn and grow.’

    As eQUB enters its next phase of growth, the company is actively raising its first seed funding round, which it aims to close by the end of 2025. With a growing user base, international recognition, and deep cultural relevance, eQUB is showing how local innovation, when supported and scaled well, can compete and succeed globally.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Correctional Services Committee Wants More Inmates to Participate in Production Workshops


    Download logo

    The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has noted with concern the number of inmates participating in rehabilitation programmes and has urged the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to encourage greater participation, as this will benefit both offenders and the department.

    Committee Chairperson Ms Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng said the committee yesterday received a briefing from the DCS on rehabilitation and reintegration programmes: the effectiveness of educational, vocational and therapeutic programmes, including success rates of inmate reintegration into society and reduction in recidivism, especially among the youth.

    Ms Ramolobeng said: “A greater number of inmates participating in such programmes in the workshops or agricultural means skills are developed, assisting offenders when they are released from correctional facilities that makes social reintegration smoother. At the same time, it will save the department money as they aim to move toward self-sustainability.”

    She said the committee noted that the Eastern Cape region, for example, has 14 077 sentenced offenders, but only 91 participate in production workshops and 651 participate in agriculture production, resulting in only 742 offenders active in skills development out of a total population.

    Also of concern is the number of hours inmates currently work. The presentation highlighted that offenders work less than five hours per day. This raises concern, especially considering plans by the DCS to become self-sufficient in terms of food for offenders and revenue generation through production workshops. “So, the issue is clearly two-fold. Encouraging offenders to participate in production workshops ensures skills transfer and development, as well as ensuring that the department cuts cost on items that can be insourced through offender labour,” Ms Ramolobeng said.

    It is also concerning that that the DCS has no post establishment for bakers in the bakeries. “This is surprising since bread is the most consumed food in our centres. We also need to increase the number of bakeries currently. We must ensure we are self-reliant,” said the Chairperson.

    Ms Ramolobeng further stated that the presentation only highlighted post establishments for psychologists, social workers, educationists and spiritual care workers but not for other important professions such as artisans. In a presentation to the committee earlier this year, the DCS reported that there were 17 vacancies for psychologists and currently there are 26 vacancies. This means an additional nine posts became vacant since then. “We have been assured that some of these posts are receiving urgent attention. We can expect appointments within the next six months. They will also provide us with their recruitment plan. We assured the department we will closely monitor this commitment to see if materialises,” she emphasised.

    The committee also commended the DCS for Sunday’s unannounced raid at Odi Correctional Centre in Pretoria. “We note the contraband that were confiscated. We note that disciplinary processes are being followed where officials were implicated. Furthermore, we call for further charges to be added for those inmates that were caught in possession of contraband. This initiative is a commendable step and should be continued, especially in problematic facilities,” the Chairperson said.

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Electricity use for commercial computing could surpass space cooling, ventilation

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    June 25, 2025

    In our Annual Energy Outlook 2025 (AEO2025) Reference case, we project the electricity consumed for commercial computing will increase faster than any other end use in buildings. Computing accounted for an estimated 8% of commercial sector electricity consumption in 2024 and grows to 20% by 2050. Ultimately, more electricity could be consumed by computing than for any other end use in the commercial sector, including lighting, space cooling, and ventilation.

    We expect commercial computing growth will outpace computing efficiency improvements which, in the past, have moderated the growth in electricity consumption associated with computers. Commercial computing electricity demand growth is significant enough in our projections to contribute to a reversal in the trend in declining commercial electricity intensity, as measured in kilowatthours consumed per square foot. Many of our assumptions about future energy consumption are based on average energy consumption per unit of commercial floorspace.

    Computing includes energy consumption from data center servers, desktop and laptop computers, and monitors in commercial spaces. Data center computing is significantly more energy intensive than computing in general. By 2050, as much as 7% of all U.S. commercial floorspace requires additional energy to meet data center demand across most building types.

    Because data centers generate heat and require more air exchange, the increase in data center computing also requires more commercial ventilation and space cooling. These uses are sensitive to assumptions about population migration and the weather. Without computing demand, ventilation and space cooling would still grow but at slower rates.

    Much of what we know about how U.S. commercial buildings use energy is informed by our Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS). Data center equipment is found in both standalone data center buildings and in on-premises data center rooms that are part of most building types. The latest CBECS shows that data center rooms were most prevalent in healthcare and large office buildings.

    In our AEO2025 projections, much of the growth in data centers is in office buildings and in the other building category, which includes standalone data centers. In our Reference case, we make no additional assumptions about revolutionary technologies such as the accelerating expansion of highly energy-intensive artificial intelligence (AI) or, conversely, initiatives that may moderate the energy consumption of data centers generally or AI specifically.

    Our projections are benchmarked to sectoral consumption data and forecasts from our State Energy Data System, Monthly Energy Review, and Short-Term Energy Outlook. Since these consumption measures include all commercial sector activity, including energy use for AI, cryptocurrency mining, and data centers, the energy consumption associated with these uses is implicitly represented in our AEO projections.

    Principal contributor: Courtney Sourmehi

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Convicted of Carjacking Resulting in Death

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On Friday, June 20, 2025, a federal jury convicted Joseph Payne-Pabón for carjacking resulting in death of an 82-year-old woman on January 7, 2020, in the municipality of San Juan.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2020, Joseph Payne-Pabón, a 34-year-old homeless man, entered the home of Eulalia Combas Sancho during the blackout resulting from the earthquakes, violently killed her and took her Hyundai Sonata. The evidence showed that Mr. Payne Pabón used a cement block to hit the victim in the back of the head causing a fracture to her skull and trauma to her brain that resulted in her death. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025, at 10:30 am before United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón.

    “This verdict is a direct result of the tireless efforts and outstanding work of agents and officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and federal prosecutors and professional staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “I commend their exceptional efforts and dedication from the beginning of the investigation of the carjacking and murder of the victim to the guilty verdict at trial.”

    “This verdict reflects our community’s intolerance for senseless acts of violence, and our commitment to bring violent offenders who endanger innocent persons to justice,” said Gordon Mallory, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division. “In partnership with the US Attorney’s Office in San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Mr. Payne-Pabón is being held accountable for his violent, and life-altering actions.  It is our hope that this conviction can bring some closure to the victim’s family.”

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and César Rivera-Díaz prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted felon sentenced to over five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico County man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 15, 2024, Henrico County Police responded to a report of gunshots at an apartment complex where Michael Anthony Nolan, 35, had been arguing with his ex-girlfriend. On arriving, officers observed Nolan, who was intoxicated, standing in the apartment complex’s parking lot next to the driver-side door of a vehicle inside which officers observed a handgun on the floorboard.

    In 2010, Nolan was convicted of robbing and attempting to rob pizza delivery drivers with a knife, and subsequently found guilty of two felony probation violations. As a previously convicted felon, Nolan cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-179.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 63 Months for Unlawful Firearm Possession

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Willie Green, age 42, of Albany, was sentenced on Monday to 63 months in prison following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

    In previously pleading guilty, Green admitted that on January 1, 2022, he possessed a loaded pistol in Albany. A prior felony conviction prohibited him from possessing the pistol. Green has an extensive criminal history that includes a 2024 murder conviction, which was secured by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. The sentence in this case will run consecutive to the 25 years-to-life term he is serving on his state murder conviction.

    United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Willie Green cannot serve enough prison time for the crimes he’s committed. He should never get out, and if he is granted parole by New York State, he will be immediately taken to federal prison to start serving his term of imprisonment in this case. Albany is safer if this murderer stays locked up for good.”

    ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “This sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders accountable—especially those who continue to possess firearms despite felony convictions. This individual not only admitted to carrying a loaded firearm illegally, but he is also serving a 25-to-life sentence for murder. His actions represent the very threat to public safety that ATF and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to prevent. Thank you to our partners at Albany PD and U.S. Attorney’s Office NDNY for their efforts.”

    Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin when Green is released from federal prison.

    ATF investigated this case with the assistance of the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Metafoodx Unveils AI Temperature Monitoring to Keep Food Out of the Danger Zone — and the Trash

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Metafoodx, the AI food operations company, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking temperature intelligence technology, designed to detect, forecast and prevent food safety failures before they occur. The new innovation delivers real-time temperature monitoring and predictive alerts, empowering kitchens to stop waste and improve compliance at scale.

    Every year, millions of pounds of food are discarded, not because they’re expired, but because they quietly slip into the FDA-defined temperature “danger zone” (between 41°F and 135°F) during service. In one institutional kitchen alone, Metafoodx discovered that over 56% of food items scanned during peak service hours were unsafe for consumption.

    “Food waste is often a direct result of food safety failures,” said Fengmin Gong, CEO and co-founder of Metafoodx. “Our AI solution gives kitchens the power to stop temperature-related waste before it happens so they can keep food safe for longer periods of time and serve more of it.”

    Unlike traditional spot-check thermometers, Metafoodx’s patented scanner captures surface temperature and a 3D profile of food items to estimate internal temperature without invasive probes. Dual scans taken before and after service allow the AI to track how temperature changes over time, or kitchens can set timer-based rules to ensure safety compliance. Over time, the AI learns from each kitchen’s unique layout, menu and equipment to deliver site-specific recommendations and optimizations.

    This intelligence helps kitchens:

    • Reduce temperature-related food waste by 20%–30%
    • Boost food safety compliance with real-time alerts
    • Eliminate the need for manual thermometer checks
    • Enhance guest satisfaction by maintaining consistent quality
    • Increase safe food holding times by up to 40 minutes

    Metafoodx has deployed AI Temperature Monitoring across commercial kitchens at Pomona College, University of Guelph and others, and is already driving measurable results.

    To learn more about meeting food safety standards with Metafoodx, read the white paper Too Hot to Fail.

    About Metafoodx
    Metafoodx is a patented, AI-powered food operations platform that helps commercial kitchens reduce waste, optimize production and drive sustainability through real-time data and automation. Trusted by leading universities and food service providers, Metafoodx delivers measurable impact, including up to a 50% reduction in food waste and a 200% ROI within weeks of deployment. Metafoodx is a 2025 Kitchen Innovations Award winner, recognized by the National Restaurant Association for advancing efficiency and productivity in food operations.

    Visit metafoodx.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

    Media Contact
    Liesse Jayalath
    metafoodx@lookleftmarketing.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b26d1249-a8d2-4499-834f-3e6a7ad1efe3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Metafoodx Unveils AI Temperature Monitoring to Keep Food Out of the Danger Zone — and the Trash

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Metafoodx, the AI food operations company, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking temperature intelligence technology, designed to detect, forecast and prevent food safety failures before they occur. The new innovation delivers real-time temperature monitoring and predictive alerts, empowering kitchens to stop waste and improve compliance at scale.

    Every year, millions of pounds of food are discarded, not because they’re expired, but because they quietly slip into the FDA-defined temperature “danger zone” (between 41°F and 135°F) during service. In one institutional kitchen alone, Metafoodx discovered that over 56% of food items scanned during peak service hours were unsafe for consumption.

    “Food waste is often a direct result of food safety failures,” said Fengmin Gong, CEO and co-founder of Metafoodx. “Our AI solution gives kitchens the power to stop temperature-related waste before it happens so they can keep food safe for longer periods of time and serve more of it.”

    Unlike traditional spot-check thermometers, Metafoodx’s patented scanner captures surface temperature and a 3D profile of food items to estimate internal temperature without invasive probes. Dual scans taken before and after service allow the AI to track how temperature changes over time, or kitchens can set timer-based rules to ensure safety compliance. Over time, the AI learns from each kitchen’s unique layout, menu and equipment to deliver site-specific recommendations and optimizations.

    This intelligence helps kitchens:

    • Reduce temperature-related food waste by 20%–30%
    • Boost food safety compliance with real-time alerts
    • Eliminate the need for manual thermometer checks
    • Enhance guest satisfaction by maintaining consistent quality
    • Increase safe food holding times by up to 40 minutes

    Metafoodx has deployed AI Temperature Monitoring across commercial kitchens at Pomona College, University of Guelph and others, and is already driving measurable results.

    To learn more about meeting food safety standards with Metafoodx, read the white paper Too Hot to Fail.

    About Metafoodx
    Metafoodx is a patented, AI-powered food operations platform that helps commercial kitchens reduce waste, optimize production and drive sustainability through real-time data and automation. Trusted by leading universities and food service providers, Metafoodx delivers measurable impact, including up to a 50% reduction in food waste and a 200% ROI within weeks of deployment. Metafoodx is a 2025 Kitchen Innovations Award winner, recognized by the National Restaurant Association for advancing efficiency and productivity in food operations.

    Visit metafoodx.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

    Media Contact
    Liesse Jayalath
    metafoodx@lookleftmarketing.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b26d1249-a8d2-4499-834f-3e6a7ad1efe3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ignis Energy Announces Final Close of $13.6M Series A Round To Advance Global Geothermal Exploration Portfolio

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ignis H2 Energy Inc. (“Ignis Energy”), a geothermal exploration and development company, today announced the final close of its Series A funding round, securing $13.6 million from a global consortium of investors. This milestone builds on the initial close announced in February, which was led by sustainable energy investor alfa8 and included drilling contractor Nabors Industries, climate technology investor The Twynam Group, GEOLOG, and several private investors and family offices.

    Ignis Energy is building a globally diversified, risk-balanced geothermal portfolio focused on near-term viability and long-term growth. The company specializes in locating, de-risking, and delivering commercially viable geothermal power. The capital secured in this round enables key projects to reach technical maturity and prepare for capital-intensive development phases.

    “In a market chasing breakthrough headlines, Ignis Energy brings the spotlight back to the geology,” said Richard Calleri, CEO, Ignis Energy. “Without proven heat in the ground, there’s nothing to scale. Ignis finds it, proves it, and produces it.”

    “Ignis has demonstrated strong execution on its strategy and is already moving rapidly onto the next milestones,” said Guillermo Sierra, VP, Strategic Initiatives, Nabors Industries. “Their commercial focus and speed stand out, and we look forward to continued collaboration on near-term projects and beyond.”

    Building a Global, Fit-for-Resource Geothermal Platform

    Leveraging decades of oil and gas expertise, Ignis applies proven technologies and exploration workflows to de-risk geothermal projects across high-enthalpy regions. Rather than betting on a single breakthrough, Ignis uses a ‘fit-for-resource’ strategy—tailoring each project to the best commercial technology for its reservoir and market. This includes conventional hydrothermal systems as well as emerging approaches like Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS), where appropriate.

    Platform Momentum & Outlook

    Ignis is rapidly advancing high-priority assets in Türkiye and the U.S.:

    • Türkiye: In Eastern Anatolia, Ignis drilled its first temperature gradient well in Q4 2024, confirming reservoir temperatures and artesian flow. Two deep wells will follow this summer to fully de-risk the Kaynarpınar field and position it as Ignis’ first commercial project—and a model for underexplored geothermal basins.
    • Western U.S.: Ignis is advancing surface exploration across five Nevada and one Utah lease, supported by its proprietary AI targeting engine. Drilling in Nevada is expected in 2026, with development of a data center-aligned power plant targeted for 2027.
    • Alaska: The Alaska Railbelt grid—supplying two-thirds of the state’s population—faces urgent pressure to replace aging gas-fired capacity and reduce high electricity prices. GeoAlaska, Ignis’ regional partner, plans to drill its first well by mid-2026, backed by three Letters of Intent from major offtakers in the utility, mining, and data center sectors.

    “Our vision is pragmatic and region-first,” said Marcus Oesterberg, COO, Ignis Energy. “We don’t chase speculative breakthroughs—we match the right technology to the right resource and build local momentum. Ignis is a geothermal opportunity engine, unlocking real heat under real projects.”

    AI-Driven Exploration for a Cleaner Future

    Ignis applies AI not as a gimmick, but as a precision tool. Its hybrid system—combining machine learning and computer vision—has already improved lease targeting and accelerated early-stage decision-making. This allows Ignis to move confidently and cost-effectively into underexplored geothermal basins.

    About Ignis Energy

    Ignis Energy develops commercially viable geothermal projects in the U.S., Türkiye, Indonesia, and Italy. Its region-first, technology-flexible model enables early de-risking and smarter development. The company is targeting 1 GW of producible geothermal reserves by 2030. https://ignisenergy.com/

    About alfa8
    alfa8 is an entrepreneurial family office that backs builders and technologies driving the energy transition, with a passion for geothermal energy. https://alfa8.co/

    About Nabors Industries
    Nabors Industries is a global drilling and energy technology leader advancing low-carbon solutions, including geothermal. https://www.nabors.com/

    About Twynam
    Twynam is a climate-focused investment firm supporting bold, scalable technologies for deep decarbonization. https://www.twynam.com/

    About GEOLOG
    GEOLOG delivers advanced formation evaluation and real-time geoscience services for energy operators worldwide.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/358150ec-2d98-480e-a9d8-c3360087b896

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: InformData Launches Monitoring Product Suite, Providing Real-Time Access to Verifiable People Data

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • The solutions provide always-on visibility into emerging risk, enabling companies across industries to identify and implement solutions before problems arise.
    • InformData provides coverage across 97% of the U.S. population and 92% of court records.
    • The launch of the product suite echoes InformData’s mission to turn data into trust and enable businesses to make timely, informed and confident decisions.

    KENNESAW, Ga., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — InformData, a trusted leader in delivering verifiable people data for businesses, announced the launch of its Monitoring product suite, designed to give organizations real-time visibility into potential workforce risks. The offerings provide businesses with earlier alerts, broader coverage, and a cost-effective, modern alternative to monitoring behaviors related to risk.

    InformData’s monitoring solutions cover 97% of the U.S. population and 92% of US courts, providing employers, insurers and compliance leaders with consistent and timely insights, and the ability to act on risk as it arises. By closing long-standing visibility gaps in traditional point-in-time background checks and motor vehicle records (MVRs), the platform reduces employer liability by instantly flagging incidents as soon as court filings appear or arrests occur.

    “In today’s environment, risk doesn’t wait, and neither should the systems designed to detect it,” said Andrew Feigenson, CEO of InformData. “We developed these solutions to help our partners move to a world of continuous, contextual intelligence. Our platform gives businesses–from CRAs to gig economy companies and healthcare providers–the clarity and transparency needed to act decisively and responsibly in fast-moving environments.”

    Key features include:

    • Real-time alerts and court-sourced updates, refreshed every 60 seconds
    • Behavioral insights categorized by role, geography, and department
    • Identity confidence scores to assess match accuracy for each case
    • Earlier visibility into violations, as well as insight into driving-related violations that don’t appear on standard MVRs
    • Seamless integration with HRIS, ATS, and compliance systems

    Monitoring Solutions Applications
    The initial monitoring solutions include criminal and driver monitoring, which enable employers to identify potential risks before they arise. For industries such as logistics, healthcare and commercial insurance, InformData’s always-on behavioral risk monitoring model enables employers to intervene early, and focus on implementing solutions such as training opportunities, reassignments, or deeper reviews.

    InformData’s driver monitoring solution addresses the growing need for an alternative to traditional MVR monitoring and point-in-time screening methods. Companies are now able to tailor HR, trust and safety, and compliance processes based on their specific industry and business needs, and ultimately gain more visibility and a deeper and more holistic understanding of driver behavior.

    “Our partnership with InformData enables our clients to have a clear pulse on driver related incidents in real-time, which is essential in ensuring safety within the transportation industry,” said Yervand Akopyan, CTO of New Era Titans. “By creating a compliant and affordable monitoring workflow, we’re ensuring that businesses can make informed decisions, reduce risk, and keep their employees safe.”

    InformData’s Monitoring products are now available through the company’s Connect platform. Learn more or request a demo here.

    About InformData
    InformData is a trusted provider of verifiable people data, providing businesses seamless access to the insights they need to build secure, trust-filled environments. By leveraging deep data connections, InformData delivers comprehensive identity, credential, behavioral and affiliation data across both domestic and global markets. With accurate, actionable intelligence, businesses can make confident decisions, strengthen compliance, and foster meaningful relationships throughout their ecosystems.

    Media Contact:
    Kite Hill for InformData
    informdata@kitehillpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lucidworks Study: 83% of Ecommerce AI Leaders Report “Major” or “Extreme” Concern; Bot Shows Only 35% of Companies Meet Minimum Requirements for Agentic AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lucidworks, the leading AI-powered search and product discovery provider, released its third annual Generative AI Global Benchmark Study today. For the first time, the study includes data from Lucidworks’ proprietary agentic AI “Guydbot,” which autonomously explored and evaluated the digital experiences of more than 1,100 companies across 48 industry segments.

    Combining Guydbot’s findings with survey data, the report paints a picture of widespread anxiety around AI initiatives, which are failing to fully materialize because many companies still don’t have the required capabilities in place. Guydbot data reveals that 65% of companies do not have a solid foundation to build meaningful AI into their platforms.

    “If you think of Agentic AI – AI that performs tasks – as a car, then you can imagine Generative AI as the engine, and data as the fuel. Our report finds that too many ecommerce companies are trying to build Formula One racers around go-kart engines – and they might not even have enough gas to fill their tanks,” explained Mike Sinoway, CEO of Lucidworks.

    In the 2025 survey of more than 1,600 CEOs, CTOs, and other AI strategy decision-makers, 83% reported feeling “Major” or “Extreme” concern over their AI progress. In contrast, 10.2% reported similar anxieties in Lucidworks’ 2023 study – an 8X jump in just two years.

    “To put it another way: companies have been trying to run before they can walk because of top-down pressure. Now panic is setting in,” Sinoway added. “Many are reluctant to admit how far behind they really are, but we have the receipts to prove it thanks to Guydbot.”

    Guydbot autonomously evaluated over 1,100 companies by interacting directly with their digital experiences, as any human visitor could do, but at scale. On each site, it verified the presence and effectiveness of 24 capabilities including AI Summarization, Guided Selling, Interactive Q&A, and Dynamic Personalization. The assessment found that 71% of companies have adopted some Generative AI capabilities. However, only 6% have managed to fully deploy an Agentic AI solution.

    “With Guydbot, we’re able to see who’s actually implemented AI – not just who says they have,” said Guy Sperry, CTO of Lucidworks and the creator (and namesake) of Guydbot. “Our annual surveys have been helpful, but until now, we’ve had to take executives at their word. Guydbot lets us verify what’s real.”

    The report also introduces the “Capability Cohorts” framework, breaking organizations into four categories based on ecommerce and AI progress. Guydbot found that 35% of the companies evaluated fell into the “Achievers” category – those that have “built solid ecommerce foundations while also making progress on Generative AI.”

    The remaining 65% were made up of “Builders” (14%) – ”Strong in essential capabilities but limited AI implementation,” “Climbers” (10%) – “Making AI progress but still have gaps in ecommerce essential capabilities,” and “Spectators” (41%) – those that are just getting started and have room for growth across all capabilities. The study reveals stark implementation gaps that directly impact business performance.

    “Agentic AI functionality is the future, but fundamental ecommerce capabilities are essential to delivering the greatest performance boost. Those gaps must be closed,” added Sinoway. “Many companies have massive potential for progress in just delivering the basics. Hopefully, they can leverage the funding for AI to simultaneously invest in the fundamentals.”

    Based on the Capability Cohorts framework, the study includes industry-specific analyses across retail, manufacturing, software, pharmaceuticals, and travel sectors, ranking AI performers within these industries. Many top-ranked companies come as expected: Tesla and Amazon lead in “Automotive” and “Department Stores & Mass Merchants,” respectively. But there are some surprises: 122-year-old motorcycle brand Harley Davidson, and Qurate—best known for its start as ‘QVC’ on cable television—come in at #3 in these categories.

    Other key findings include:

    • Agentic AI Adoption Low: Only 6% of companies have implemented more than 1 Agentic AI solution, and most of those are all in the technology industry sector.
    • Conversion Gap Widens: Companies with balanced implementation of essential and advanced capabilities outperform those with limited implementation by up to 62% in potential conversion rates.
    • ROI Concerns Skyrocket: AI deployment cost concerns have increased 18X since 2023, data security has tripled, and anxiety about response accuracy has grown 8X.
    • Language Fundamentals Overlooked: Only 37.5% of companies support multiple languages, the most overlooked essential capability, despite serving global markets.

    The report features industry rankings of the biggest consumer and B2B brands on the planet, all assessed by Guydbot. These include: 3M, AirBnB, Aldo Shoes, Amazon, Callaway Golf, Carnival Corporation, Citizen Watch, Coach, Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Days Inn, DS Services, etsy, Fossil Group, Gap, General Mills, Harley Davidson, Hasbro, Hershey Company, JCrew, Keurig Dr Pepper, Kimberly-Clark, Mars, Mattress Firm, Michael Kors, Pottery Barn, Procter & Gamble, Qurate Retail Group (QVC/HSN), Ralph Lauren, Raymour & Flanigan, Sherwin-Williams, Skechers, Tesla, The Home Depot, Timberland, Trek Bicycle, Ugg, Victoria’s Secret, Walmart, Wayfair, and zappos, among more than 1,000 others.

    The full report is available for download here. For more information about Lucidworks’ AI solutions, visit Lucidworks.com.

    About Lucidworks
    Lucidworks transforms complex data into actionable insights through AI-powered search and product discovery solutions. Clients achieve 391% ROI and are 2.5x more likely to deploy AI initiatives successfully. Global leaders like Lenovo, Morgan Stanley, and American Express rely on Lucidworks to power digital experiences that drive business results. Learn more at Lucidworks.com.

    Contact: pr@lucidworks.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trident and Democratic Republic of Congo Sign Final Digital Identity Partnership and Launch Nationwide “DRCPass” Deployment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE and KINSHASA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd. (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a Singapore-based catalyst for digital transformation and Web 3.0 activation, today announced that it has signed the definitive public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC” or “Republic”). The contract paves the way for nationwide deployment of “DRCPass,” the Republic’s robust national digital identification system, to be rolled out in phases with an accompanying public-education campaign.

    The agreement represents the capstone of the collaboration framework established in December 2024 between Trident and the Office of the President, forming the cornerstone of the DRC’s e-government and digital-identity initiative. Under the accord, Trident is the Republic’s exclusive provider of electronic Know Your Customer (“e-KYC”) services, delivering the Web 3.0-based national digital identity.

    Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Trident, and H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the signing event.

    e-KYC technology streamlines identity verification for organizations while enhancing security. Trident’s deployment will focus on four core use cases:

    1.  SIM-card registration: biometric-blockchain binding of the SIM to a verified citizen record, eradicating “ghost” lines and cutting operator-fraud losses and regulatory fines in real time.

    2.  Seamless access to e-government and business portals: with single-sign-on (SSO), Congolese can access and conduct transactions easily with public and private institutions through one log-in.

    3.  Digital payments enablement: one-click e-KYC that auto-scores risk and unlocks instant credit, driving formal financial access beyond the siloed, branch-first systems in use today.

    4.  Digital Citizen Identity: centralized and secure identity record that complements physical IDs, giving Congolese a verifiable digital credential for public and private-sector transactions.

    After registering for their national ID, citizens will be able to download the “Tridentity” mobile application and enroll their DRCPass, which uses secure single-sign-on (SSO) to access authorized applications and websites.

    “Over the past several months our teams have worked hand-in-hand with the DRC government to prepare for this moment. We commend the Republic’s leadership for embracing a digital future and look forward to supporting a nationwide rollout that others in Africa will surely emulate,” said Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trident.

    “Today marks more than the signing of a partnership contract with Trident Digital Tech; it marks a defining chapter in the digital rebirth of our nation. By launching the national digital identification system, we lay a cornerstone for a Democratic Republic of Congo that is digitally sovereign, financially inclusive, and resilient to tomorrow’s challenges. As we begin phased deployment of DRCPass, we are not merely adopting innovation; we are shaping the future of governance in Africa,” said H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs of the DRC.

    According to GSMA Intelligence, the DRC has more than 80 million mobile subscribers and an expanding base of banked citizens populations that will directly benefit from secure e-KYC services.

    About Trident
    Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident’s mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the national digital identification system and the e-KYC process will not materialize as contemplated under the PPP agreement. A number of factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the risk and uncertainties as to the timing of the implementation of the agreement; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships; adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; and actions by third parties, including government agencies; the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Robin Yang, Partner – ICR LLC
    investor@tridentity.me | +1 (212) 321-0602

    Media Relations
    Brad Burgess, SVP – ICR LLC
    brad.burgess@icrinc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8672d8e2-07e1-4248-9dc8-3cae467061a5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trident and Democratic Republic of Congo Sign Final Digital Identity Partnership and Launch Nationwide “DRCPass” Deployment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE and KINSHASA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd. (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a Singapore-based catalyst for digital transformation and Web 3.0 activation, today announced that it has signed the definitive public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC” or “Republic”). The contract paves the way for nationwide deployment of “DRCPass,” the Republic’s robust national digital identification system, to be rolled out in phases with an accompanying public-education campaign.

    The agreement represents the capstone of the collaboration framework established in December 2024 between Trident and the Office of the President, forming the cornerstone of the DRC’s e-government and digital-identity initiative. Under the accord, Trident is the Republic’s exclusive provider of electronic Know Your Customer (“e-KYC”) services, delivering the Web 3.0-based national digital identity.

    Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Trident, and H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the signing event.

    e-KYC technology streamlines identity verification for organizations while enhancing security. Trident’s deployment will focus on four core use cases:

    1.  SIM-card registration: biometric-blockchain binding of the SIM to a verified citizen record, eradicating “ghost” lines and cutting operator-fraud losses and regulatory fines in real time.

    2.  Seamless access to e-government and business portals: with single-sign-on (SSO), Congolese can access and conduct transactions easily with public and private institutions through one log-in.

    3.  Digital payments enablement: one-click e-KYC that auto-scores risk and unlocks instant credit, driving formal financial access beyond the siloed, branch-first systems in use today.

    4.  Digital Citizen Identity: centralized and secure identity record that complements physical IDs, giving Congolese a verifiable digital credential for public and private-sector transactions.

    After registering for their national ID, citizens will be able to download the “Tridentity” mobile application and enroll their DRCPass, which uses secure single-sign-on (SSO) to access authorized applications and websites.

    “Over the past several months our teams have worked hand-in-hand with the DRC government to prepare for this moment. We commend the Republic’s leadership for embracing a digital future and look forward to supporting a nationwide rollout that others in Africa will surely emulate,” said Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trident.

    “Today marks more than the signing of a partnership contract with Trident Digital Tech; it marks a defining chapter in the digital rebirth of our nation. By launching the national digital identification system, we lay a cornerstone for a Democratic Republic of Congo that is digitally sovereign, financially inclusive, and resilient to tomorrow’s challenges. As we begin phased deployment of DRCPass, we are not merely adopting innovation; we are shaping the future of governance in Africa,” said H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs of the DRC.

    According to GSMA Intelligence, the DRC has more than 80 million mobile subscribers and an expanding base of banked citizens populations that will directly benefit from secure e-KYC services.

    About Trident
    Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident’s mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the national digital identification system and the e-KYC process will not materialize as contemplated under the PPP agreement. A number of factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the risk and uncertainties as to the timing of the implementation of the agreement; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships; adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; and actions by third parties, including government agencies; the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Robin Yang, Partner – ICR LLC
    investor@tridentity.me | +1 (212) 321-0602

    Media Relations
    Brad Burgess, SVP – ICR LLC
    brad.burgess@icrinc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8672d8e2-07e1-4248-9dc8-3cae467061a5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DIAGNOS Welcomes Veteran Optometrist Dr. Barry A. Ginsberg to its Scientific Advisory Board for the United States

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROSSARD, Quebec, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diagnos Inc. (“DIAGNOS” or the “Corporation”) (TSX Venture: ADK, OTCQB: DGNOF, FWB: 4D4A), a pioneer in early detection of critical health issues using advanced technology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), is thrilled to announce that Dr. Barry A. Ginsberg, O.D. has joined the Corporation’s Advisory Board.

    Mr. Weiner will team up with Dr. Tomas J. Philipson, former vice chairman and acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers and Mr. Ed Weiner, a seasoned entrepreneur, to provide valuable insights to DIAGNOS about the US optical market.

    Dr. Ginsberg brings more than three decades of practice across corporate, retail and private-practice settings, giving him a ground-level view of how new technologies gain traction in high-volume optometry environments. He has repeatedly identified and launched innovative products and services that increased revenue per visit and improved patient retention for leading optical chains. This commercial experience, combined with his expertise in advanced contact-lens fitting and ocular-disease management, will help DIAGNOS refine its go-to-market strategy and demonstrate the tangible ROI of AI-driven screening to investors and practitioners alike.

    Dr. Ginsberg earned a B.A. in Chemistry with a minor in Economics from Yeshiva University, followed by a B.S. and Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. His training included an externship at the Feinbloom Low Vision Center in Philadelphia, where he focused on age-related macular degeneration, and another at the Goldschleger Eye Institute in Tel Hashomer Hospital, Israel, where he concentrated on glaucoma and other ocular diseases.

    President and CEO André Larente noted that Dr. Ginsberg’s “ability to translate clinical value into business outcomes makes him an ideal partner as we expand CARA into the wider optical marketplace.” Mr. Larente added, “DIAGNOS has built an AI platform to analyze retina images, these images are taken by thousands of optometrists worldwide. According to recent VisionWatch data, the US saw approximately 111 million routine eye exams and 60 million medical eye exams in 2020. DIAGNOS, along with its partners can address this growing market”.

    DIAGNOS recently opened its US office in south Florida to support its US prospects and clients.

    About DIAGNOS
    DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical eye-related health problems. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence, DIAGNOS aims to provide more information to healthcare clinicians to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes on a global scale.

    Additional information is available at www.diagnos.com and www.sedarplus.com.

    This news release contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements. DIAGNOS disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sprout Social Wins Top Industry Awards for Product Excellence, Customer Satisfaction and Global Impact

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Sprout earns 164 leader badges in G2’s 2025 Summer Reports across all business segments and regions while ranking #1 in 33 reports including the Enterprise Grid® Report for Social Media Suites and the Grid® Report for Social Customer Service
    • Sprout earns #1 in 17 region-specific G2 reports, including the Enterprise EMEA Regional Grid® Report for Social Customer Service and the Southeast Asia Regional Grid® Report for Social Media Suites
    • TrustRadius recognizes Sprout with eight awards in the 2025 Top Rated Awards across categories including Social Media Marketing, Social Media Customer Service and Competitive Intelligence

    CHICAGO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sprout Social (Nasdaq: SPT), an industry-leading provider of cloud-based social media management software, has been recognized in G2’s 2025 Summer Reports with 164 leader badges across all business segments—from small business to mid-market and enterprise—and spanning every global region including EMEA, APAC, and the Middle East.

    Sprout Social ranked #1 in 33 individual G2 reports, including the Enterprise Grid® Report for Social Media Suites, the Enterprise Results Index for Social Media Analytics, and the Grid® Report for Social Customer Service. Demonstrating its continued international growth and customer impact, Sprout also earned the top spot in 17 region-specific reports, such as the Enterprise EMEA Regional Grid® Report for Social Customer Service and the Southeast Asia Regional Grid® Report for Social Media Suites.

    Sprout Social was also honored in the TrustRadius 2025 Top Rated Awards, recognized in eight categories: Social Media Customer Service, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Analytics, Social Media Monitoring, Competitive Intelligence, Audience Intelligence, Social Media Management andOnline Reputation Management.

    “These recognitions from G2 and TrustRadius are a testament to the meaningful results our customers are achieving with Sprout,” said Scott Morris, CMO of Sprout Social. “As the global leader in our space, we continue to invest in AI and product innovation focused on helping brands unlock the full power of social to drive smarter decisions, deeper engagement and lasting business impact.”

    The company’s strong performance in these awards follow a wave of product innovations and advanced AI capabilities across Sprout’s platform, including recent launches within Care by Sprout Social and Sprout Social Influencer Marketing. The company recently celebrated 15 years of helping brands harness the ever-evolving power of social to build stronger connections and drive business-wide impact. Sprout Social earned its place on these lists because of customer feedback, including:

    “Sprout Social has become an essential part of our marketing toolkit. The reporting features are especially strong—clear, customizable, and easy to share with stakeholders. We also rely heavily on the listening tools, which help us stay ahead of conversations and understand our audience more deeply. The interface is intuitive, and the collaboration features help our team stay aligned.”

    “I use Sprout all day every day and love having everything in one platform – scheduling, analytics, advocacy, monitoring, and more. A lot of social media professionals wear many hats and Sprout gives you a space to manage it all.”

    “Our executive team has recently been asking for more detailed data on our digital marketing efforts, especially social media. Sprout Social has been a lifesaver, providing easy access to clear, actionable data that simplifies showcasing the ROI and impact of social media to executives. It’s made navigating these conversations far more efficient and impactful!”

    “I am a big fan of the collaboration Sprout offers. From the Smart inbox to the publishing calendar, my team is able to seamlessly work together to create, manage, and respond to social content. It’s easy to bring our customer service and social teams together.”

    For more information about Sprout Social and its award-winning platform, visit www.sproutsocial.com.

    Social Media Profiles:
    www.x.com/SproutSocial
    www.x.com/SproutSocialIR
    www.facebook.com/SproutSocialInc
    www.linkedin.com/company/sprout-social-inc-/
    www.instagram.com/sproutsocial

    Contact
    Media:
    Kaitlyn Gronek
    Email: pr@sproutsocial.com
    Phone: (773) 904-9674

    Investors:
    Lexi Johnson
    Email: lexi.johnson@sproutsocial.com
    Phone: (312) 528-9166

    About Sprout Social

    Sprout Social is a global leader in social media management and analytics software, built on the belief that All Business is Social℠. Sprout’s intuitive platform puts powerful social data into the hands of approximately 30,000 brands so they can deliver smarter, faster business impact. Named the #1 Best Software Product by G2’s 2024 Best Software Award, Sprout offers comprehensive publishing and engagement functionality, customer care, influencer marketing, advocacy, and AI-powered business intelligence. Sprout’s software operates across all major social media networks and digital platforms. For more information about Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT), visit sproutsocial.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Moody’s fully acquires ICR Chile, solidifying its leading position in key Latin American markets

    Source: Moody’s

    Headline: Moody’s fully acquires ICR Chile, solidifying its leading position in key Latin American markets

    Moody’s fully acquires ICR Chile, solidifying its leading position in key Latin American markets

    NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) announced today that it has fully acquired ICR Chile (ICR), a leading provider of domestic credit ratings in Chile. The transaction follows Moody’s 2019 acquisition of a minority stake in ICR and will further strengthen its presence in Latin America’s domestic credit markets.

    Following the transaction, ICR will continue issuing domestic ratings in Chile under its own rating process and methodologies. In the following months, ICR will be fully integrated into Moody’s Local, a group of leading credit rating agencies in Latin America.

    “Today’s acquisition builds on our successful partnership with ICR and underscores our commitment to Chile’s growing debt capital market,” said Martin Fernandez-Romero, Managing Director of Moody’s Local. “Bringing ICR into Moody’s Local will enhance our ability to provide high quality credit ratings, research, and analytical services to market participants, while contributing to greater transparency in Latin America.”

    Founded in 2005, ICR is renowned for its high-quality analyses and the expertise of its analytical teams. It provides ratings across a diverse range of sectors, including corporates, financial institutions, insurers, structured finance vehicles, funds, and project finance. Since Moody’s initial investment, ICR has gained market growth, driven by its in-depth credit analyses and the expansion of its coverage within Chile’s domestic ratings market.

    The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and it will not have a material impact on Moody’s 2025 financial results.

    About Moody’s Local
     Moody’s Local is a group of domestic rating agencies covering 13 Latin America’s domestic financial markets. Moody’s Local provides domestic credit ratings, research and risk analyses to market professionals with methodologies and seasoned analysts that capture the unique risks and dynamics of each market. Learn more at moodyslocal.com.

    About Moody’s Corporation
     In a world shaped by increasingly interconnected risks, Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) data, insights, and innovative technologies help customers develop a holistic view of their world and unlock opportunities. With a rich history of experience in global markets and a diverse workforce of approximately 16,000 across more than 40 countries, Moody’s gives customers the comprehensive perspective needed to act with confidence and thrive. Learn more at moodys.com.

    “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

    Certain statements included in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for Moody’s business and operations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements involve estimates, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information in this document are made as of the date hereof, and Moody’s undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Moody’s is identifying certain factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the uncertain effects of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting international trade and economic policy, including changes and volatility in tariffs and trade policies and retaliatory actions, on credit markets, customers and customer retention, and demand for our products and services; the impact of general economic conditions (including significant government debt and deficit levels, and inflation or recessions and related monetary policy actions by governments in response thereto) on worldwide credit markets and on economic activity, including on the level of merger and acquisition activity, and their effects on the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; the uncertain effects of U.S. and foreign government initiatives and monetary policy to respond to the current economic climate, including instability of financial institutions, credit quality concerns, and other potential impacts of volatility in financial and credit markets; the impact of geopolitical events and actions, such as the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and military conflict in the Middle East, and of tensions and disputes in political and global relations, on volatility in world financial markets, on general economic conditions and GDP in the U.S. and worldwide and on Moody’s own operations and personnel; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including regulation, increased utilization of technologies that have the potential to intensify competition and accelerate disruption and disintermediation in the financial services industry, as well as the number of issuances of securities without ratings or securities which are rated or evaluated by non-traditional parties; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the impact of MIS’s withdrawal of its credit ratings on countries or entities within countries and of Moody’s no longer conducting commercial operations in countries where political instability warrants such actions; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction or development of competing and/or emerging technologies and products; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and local legislation and regulations; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the EU; exposure to litigation related to our rating opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries to which Moody’s may be subject from time to time; provisions in U.S. legislation modifying the pleading standards and EU regulations modifying the liability standards applicable to CRAs in a manner adverse to CRAs; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for regulatory purposes; uncertainty regarding the future relationship between the U.S. and China; the possible loss of key employees and the impact of the global labor environment; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the timing and effectiveness of our restructuring programs; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the outcome of any review by tax authorities of Moody’s global tax planning initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if Moody’s fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which Moody’s operates, including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws, anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations and the ability of Moody’s to successfully integrate acquired businesses; the level of future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions, corporate or government entities. These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements are described in greater detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Moody’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in other filings made by the Company from time to time with the SEC or in materials incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict new factors, nor can the Company assess the potential effect of any new factors on it. Forward-looking and other statements in this document may also address our corporate responsibility progress, plans, and goals (including sustainability and environmental matters), and the inclusion of such statements is not an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future.

    Source: Moody’s Corporation Investor Relations

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Apostolos Voulgarakis, AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate Director, Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment & Climate Change, Technical University of Crete

    Understanding how wildfires influence our planet’s climate is a daunting challenge. Although fire occurs nearly everywhere on Earth and has always been present, it is still one of the least understood components of the Earth system. Recently, unprecedented fire activity has been observed in boreal (northern) and Arctic regions, which has drawn the scientific community’s attention to areas whose role in the future of our planet remains a mystery. Climate change likely has a major role in this alarming trend. However, high-latitude wildfires are not just a symptom of climate change; they are an accelerating force that could shape the future of our climate in ways that we are currently incapable of predicting.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    The rising threat of northern fires

    As global temperatures rise, wildfires are advancing further north and reaching into the Arctic. Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Scandinavia and even Greenland, all in northern high-latitude regions, have recently experienced some of the most intense and prolonged wildfire seasons on record. With climate change occurring more rapidly in these areas, the future of northern fires appears even grimmer.

    Apart from typical forest fires that consume surface vegetation, many high-latitude fires burn through peat, the dense, carbon-rich layers of partially decayed organic material. Despite covering only 3% of the terrestrial surface, peatlands are one of the world’s most important carbon storage environments, containing around 25% of the carbon existing in the Earth’s soils.

    Climate warming, which is even faster at high northern latitudes due to polar amplification – the phenomenon of greater climate change near the poles compared to the rest of the hemisphere or globe – is increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to fire, with potentially severe implications for the global climate. When peatlands ignite, they release massive amounts of “fossil carbon” that have been locked away for centuries or even millennia. The largest and most persistent fires on Earth, peat fires can smoulder for extended periods, are difficult to extinguish and can continue burning underground throughout the winter, only to reignite on the surface in spring. They have recently been described as “zombie” fires.

    Warmer and drier conditions driven by climate change, apart from making boreal forests more flammable, are expected to intensify and increase the frequency of peat fires, potentially transforming peatlands from carbon sinks into net sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Such a shift could trigger a feedback loop, meaning that a warming climate will cause more carbon emissions, which in turn will accelerate climate change.

    Air pollution and weather patterns

    Wildfires release large quantities of smoke particles (aerosols) into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to both local and widespread air quality degradation. These particles are harmful to human health and can cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, while prolonged exposure may lead to smoke-induced stress, hospitalizations and increased mortality. Wildfires can also cause mental health strains associated with evacuations, loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.



    À lire aussi :
    Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs

    Beyond their long-term effects on climate, wildfire emissions can also influence weather patterns in more short-term ways via their impacts on atmospheric pollution levels. Smoke particles interact with sunlight and cloud formation processes, subsequently affecting temperatures, wind patterns and rainfall.

    For example, our recent study on the large-scale atmospheric impacts of the 2023 Canadian wildfires, which we presented at the European Geosciences Union general assembly this spring, demonstrated that wildfire aerosols led to a surface air temperature decrease that expanded to the entire northern hemisphere. The cooling was particularly pronounced over Canada (up to -5.5°C in August), where the emissions were located, but was also significant over remote areas such as Eastern Europe and even Siberia (up to around -2.5°C in July). The average hemispheric temperature anomaly we calculated (close to -1°C) highlights the potential for large regional emissions from wildfires to perturb weather conditions for weeks across a whole hemisphere, with profound implications for forecasting. Unreliable weather forecasts can disrupt daily activities and pose risks to public safety, especially during extreme events such as heatwaves or storms. They also have serious consequences for industries such as farming, fishing and transport, where planning depends heavily on accurate, timely predictions.

    Peat fires and the climate puzzle

    While incorporating peatland fire feedbacks into Earth System Models (ESMs) is essential for accurate climate projections, most existing models lack a representation of peat fires. Understanding the smouldering behaviour of organic soils when they burn, their ignition probability, and how these processes can be represented at a global scale is of utmost importance. Recent research efforts are focusing on bridging this knowledge gap. For example, at the Technical University of Crete, we are collaborating with the Hazelab research group at Imperial College London and the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society to perform field research and cutting-edge experiments) on peat smouldering, with the aim of shedding light on the complex mechanisms of peat fires.

    Integrating these lab results into ESMs will enable game-changing fire emission modelling, which holds potential for groundbreaking outcomes when it comes to our skill level for predicting the future of the Earth’s climate. By quantifying how the present-day atmosphere is influenced by fire emissions from boreal forests and peatlands, we can enhance the quality of projections of global temperature rise. This integration will also sharpen forecasts of regional climate impacts driven by fire-related aerosols, such as changes in rainfall patterns or accelerated Arctic ice melt.

    Tackling the challenge of northern fires

    Undoubtedly, we have entered an era of more frequent megafires – wildfires of extreme size, intensity, duration or impacts – with catastrophic consequences. Recent megafire events at boreal and Arctic regions unveil the dramatic change in wildfire patterns in northern high latitudes, which is a matter that demands urgent attention and action.

    As the planet continues to warm, high-latitude fires are expected to help shape the future of our planet. Massive wildfire events, such as those in Canada in 2023, not only burned millions of hectares but also forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Unprecedented amounts of smoke blanketed parts of North America in hazardous air, prompting school closures and health warnings, and obliging citizens to remain indoors for days. Events like this reflect a growing trend. They underscore why advancing research to better understand and predict the dynamics of northern peat and forest fires, and to mitigate their climate impacts, is not only a scientific imperative but also a moral responsibility.

    Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.

    Dimitra Tarasi has received funding from the AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate, the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society and the A.G. Leventis Foundation Educational Grants.

    Apostolos Voulgarakis ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate – https://theconversation.com/how-high-latitude-peat-and-forest-fires-could-shape-the-future-of-earths-climate-258721

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Apostolos Voulgarakis, AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate Director, Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment & Climate Change, Technical University of Crete

    Understanding how wildfires influence our planet’s climate is a daunting challenge. Although fire occurs nearly everywhere on Earth and has always been present, it is still one of the least understood components of the Earth system. Recently, unprecedented fire activity has been observed in boreal (northern) and Arctic regions, which has drawn the scientific community’s attention to areas whose role in the future of our planet remains a mystery. Climate change likely has a major role in this alarming trend. However, high-latitude wildfires are not just a symptom of climate change; they are an accelerating force that could shape the future of our climate in ways that we are currently incapable of predicting.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    The rising threat of northern fires

    As global temperatures rise, wildfires are advancing further north and reaching into the Arctic. Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Scandinavia and even Greenland, all in northern high-latitude regions, have recently experienced some of the most intense and prolonged wildfire seasons on record. With climate change occurring more rapidly in these areas, the future of northern fires appears even grimmer.

    Apart from typical forest fires that consume surface vegetation, many high-latitude fires burn through peat, the dense, carbon-rich layers of partially decayed organic material. Despite covering only 3% of the terrestrial surface, peatlands are one of the world’s most important carbon storage environments, containing around 25% of the carbon existing in the Earth’s soils.

    Climate warming, which is even faster at high northern latitudes due to polar amplification – the phenomenon of greater climate change near the poles compared to the rest of the hemisphere or globe – is increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to fire, with potentially severe implications for the global climate. When peatlands ignite, they release massive amounts of “fossil carbon” that have been locked away for centuries or even millennia. The largest and most persistent fires on Earth, peat fires can smoulder for extended periods, are difficult to extinguish and can continue burning underground throughout the winter, only to reignite on the surface in spring. They have recently been described as “zombie” fires.

    Warmer and drier conditions driven by climate change, apart from making boreal forests more flammable, are expected to intensify and increase the frequency of peat fires, potentially transforming peatlands from carbon sinks into net sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Such a shift could trigger a feedback loop, meaning that a warming climate will cause more carbon emissions, which in turn will accelerate climate change.

    Air pollution and weather patterns

    Wildfires release large quantities of smoke particles (aerosols) into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to both local and widespread air quality degradation. These particles are harmful to human health and can cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, while prolonged exposure may lead to smoke-induced stress, hospitalizations and increased mortality. Wildfires can also cause mental health strains associated with evacuations, loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.



    À lire aussi :
    Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs

    Beyond their long-term effects on climate, wildfire emissions can also influence weather patterns in more short-term ways via their impacts on atmospheric pollution levels. Smoke particles interact with sunlight and cloud formation processes, subsequently affecting temperatures, wind patterns and rainfall.

    For example, our recent study on the large-scale atmospheric impacts of the 2023 Canadian wildfires, which we presented at the European Geosciences Union general assembly this spring, demonstrated that wildfire aerosols led to a surface air temperature decrease that expanded to the entire northern hemisphere. The cooling was particularly pronounced over Canada (up to -5.5°C in August), where the emissions were located, but was also significant over remote areas such as Eastern Europe and even Siberia (up to around -2.5°C in July). The average hemispheric temperature anomaly we calculated (close to -1°C) highlights the potential for large regional emissions from wildfires to perturb weather conditions for weeks across a whole hemisphere, with profound implications for forecasting. Unreliable weather forecasts can disrupt daily activities and pose risks to public safety, especially during extreme events such as heatwaves or storms. They also have serious consequences for industries such as farming, fishing and transport, where planning depends heavily on accurate, timely predictions.

    Peat fires and the climate puzzle

    While incorporating peatland fire feedbacks into Earth System Models (ESMs) is essential for accurate climate projections, most existing models lack a representation of peat fires. Understanding the smouldering behaviour of organic soils when they burn, their ignition probability, and how these processes can be represented at a global scale is of utmost importance. Recent research efforts are focusing on bridging this knowledge gap. For example, at the Technical University of Crete, we are collaborating with the Hazelab research group at Imperial College London and the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society to perform field research and cutting-edge experiments) on peat smouldering, with the aim of shedding light on the complex mechanisms of peat fires.

    Integrating these lab results into ESMs will enable game-changing fire emission modelling, which holds potential for groundbreaking outcomes when it comes to our skill level for predicting the future of the Earth’s climate. By quantifying how the present-day atmosphere is influenced by fire emissions from boreal forests and peatlands, we can enhance the quality of projections of global temperature rise. This integration will also sharpen forecasts of regional climate impacts driven by fire-related aerosols, such as changes in rainfall patterns or accelerated Arctic ice melt.

    Tackling the challenge of northern fires

    Undoubtedly, we have entered an era of more frequent megafires – wildfires of extreme size, intensity, duration or impacts – with catastrophic consequences. Recent megafire events at boreal and Arctic regions unveil the dramatic change in wildfire patterns in northern high latitudes, which is a matter that demands urgent attention and action.

    As the planet continues to warm, high-latitude fires are expected to help shape the future of our planet. Massive wildfire events, such as those in Canada in 2023, not only burned millions of hectares but also forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Unprecedented amounts of smoke blanketed parts of North America in hazardous air, prompting school closures and health warnings, and obliging citizens to remain indoors for days. Events like this reflect a growing trend. They underscore why advancing research to better understand and predict the dynamics of northern peat and forest fires, and to mitigate their climate impacts, is not only a scientific imperative but also a moral responsibility.

    Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.

    Dimitra Tarasi has received funding from the AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate, the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society and the A.G. Leventis Foundation Educational Grants.

    Apostolos Voulgarakis ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate – https://theconversation.com/how-high-latitude-peat-and-forest-fires-could-shape-the-future-of-earths-climate-258721

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: eThekwini Municipality cracks down on diesel theft

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    eThekwini Municipality cracks down on diesel theft

    The eThekwini Municipality has called on residents to report any instances of fraud and corruption following the arrest of a man implicated in a diesel theft syndicate targeting the city’s fuel supply system.

    According to the municipality, the suspect, who posed as a municipal employee, was apprehended while filling diesel at a petrol station used by the city’s fleet.

    This followed a tip-off to the Municipal City Fleet Directorate, which reported suspicious activity involving certain vehicles refuelling excessively, with some more than 10 times a day.

    A preliminary investigation conducted by the City Integrity and Investigations Directorate revealed that a municipal fuel master card, issued by the Water and Sanitation Directorate, was being fraudulently used by privately owned vehicles.

    According to the municipality, the fuel master being used was for a vehicle that has been stationary for a long time and marked for disposal.

    “The suspect had duplicated the number plate and branding on the side of the car doors to make it look similar to other municipal cars. in this instance, municipal employees were working with external people to conduct fraud and corruption.

    “The culprit had four vehicles fitted with a 750-litre fuel tank at the base of each single cab van. The diesel was stored in these tanks and resold. Each vehicle generated about R78 000 a day,” Director of the City Integrity and Investigations Directorate, Jimmy Ngcobo said.

    Ngcobo said the suspect, who did rounds everyday filling diesel at over 15 petrol stations around the city, was caught red-handed with assistance from the Metro Police and private company, Reaction Unit South Africa.

    At the time of the arrest, the suspect, who was wearing a municipal uniform admitted that he does not work for the city but employed by a private individual and earned R2000 a day.

    The suspect has since appeared in court on charges of fraud and corruption. The case was remanded to August 2025.

    “This is organised crime and should be dealt with seriously. The municipality has suffered a great financial loss, which is why we are calling on various stakeholders to report fraud and corruption when they see it happening,” Ngcobo said.

    The public can report fraud and corruption by calling 0800 20 20 20 or send an email to ombuds@durban.gov.za – SAnews.gov.za
     

    GabiK

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SNP happy to give public money to Israel’s weapons manufacturers

    Source: Scottish Greens

    25 Jun 2025 External Affairs

    More in External Affairs

    Scottish Enterprise are set to continue funding arms companies linked to Israel and Saudi Arabia such as Leonardo, Raytheon and BAE Systems. The move has been condemned by the Scottish Greens as “shameful”.

    Companies receiving funds through Scottish Enterprise are meant to be subject to a human rights due diligence check, but no company has ever failed these checks.

    A new report in The Ferret has highlighted that despite a genocide taking place in Gaza, only four human rights checks were carried out on arms companies between January 2022 and April 2025, all of which have passed.

    The Scottish Greens used a parliamentary debate in February to force the Scottish Government into undertaking a review of these human rights checks to ensure that Scotland is meeting its international obligations.

    The review has concluded that despite funding the manufacturer of parts for F-35s and other military technology, Scottish Enterprise have never funded munitions – completely missing the point of the review.

    Since the review began in February over 10,000 people have been murdered in Palestine.

    Reacting to the review, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Lorna Slater MSP said:

    “I am honestly shocked at this outcome, the SNP have been right to call out Westminster’s disgraceful complicity in Israel’s war crimes but when it came to taking action here in Scotland the SNP have shamefully chosen the future of war profiteers over the lives of innocent Palestinians.

    “Not a single penny of public money should be spent on funding arms companies that are profiting from war crimes and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

    “This decision shows that the SNP not only know about their funding of Israel’s arms dealers, but they are happy to green light future deals!

    “The SNP have been happy to talk the talk when it comes to rightly condemning Labour’s bloody hands in this conflict, but when it really counted they’ve done nothing but try to sweep their continued funding of these arms dealers under the rug.

    “We cannot sit back and continue to allow Scottish tax payers money to be spent on funding war profiteers. Scottish Greens will continue our fight to end Scotland’s complicity in Israel’s genocide.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first students of the Kazakhstan branch of the North-West Polytechnic University have completed their master’s degree

    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, June 25 (Xinhua) — The first students of the Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) have successfully completed their master’s degree program, according to a statement on the official website of the university.

    The graduation ceremony took place recently at SZPU. The event was conducted by the head of the Kazakh department of the university, Kun Jie.

    Vice-Rector of SZPU Yue Xiaokui warmly congratulated the eight Kazakhstanis on the successful completion of their studies and called on them to show courage in overcoming various difficulties in a promising scientific career.

    The Kazakh branch of SZPU plans to intensify cooperation in order to set an example of cooperation between the two countries in the field of higher education, he said.

    In October 2023, eight Kazakhstani students received admission letters and became the first master’s students of the Kazakhstan branch of SZPU. Eight months later, they moved from Almaty to Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, northwest China, and continued their studies at the Institutes of Electronic Information, Computer Science, and Materials Science of SZPU.

    With the help of their academic supervisors, at the end of June last year they successfully substantiated their choice of the topic for their diploma thesis and in June of this year they defended their final theses and received their academic degrees.

    Let us recall that in May 2023, within the framework of the China-Central Asia summit, an agreement was signed between SZPU and the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi /KazNU/ to open a Kazakhstan branch of SZUIU. Already in October of the same year, the branch accepted the first batch of students.

    Earlier this year, an agreement was signed between SZIU and KazNU to establish the China-Kazakhstan Elite Engineering Institute in Almaty. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center has welcomed its first baby in 2025

    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

    CHENGDU, June 25 (Xinhua) — The first giant panda cub in 2025 was born at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

    The cub was born on June 21 at 11:50 p.m. by a female panda named “Linlan” as a result of a successful natural mating with a male named “Yasin” that took place in early March.

    “Despite the fact that 7-year-old Linglan is a first-time mother, she copes with her role perfectly: skillfully carrying the bear cub in her teeth, protecting it and licking it,” said deputy head of the base Wu Honglin.

    Base staff continue to closely monitor the health of “Linlan” and the baby.

    Since the 1980s, the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center has made the most active efforts to solve the problems that most hinder the captive breeding of this rare animal. As a result, the number of giant pandas kept at the center has increased from 6 in 1983 to more than 380 today. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China launches 300 billion yuan medium-term lending facility

    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, June 25 (Xinhua) — The People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) on Wednesday launched a 300 billion yuan (about 41.86 billion U.S. dollars) medium-term lending facility (MLF) to maintain sufficient liquidity in the banking system.

    According to the regulator, the one-year transaction was carried out on a fixed-quantity basis and interest-rate trading.

    With 182 billion yuan of MLF maturing this month, net inflows through the facility in June were only 118 billion yuan.

    Earlier this month, the PBOC also conducted two direct reverse repos, which brought in a total of 200 billion yuan of net liquidity, bringing the total medium-term net liquidity injections for June to 318 billion yuan.

    Analysts note that as government bond issuance accelerates, sustained liquidity support plays a key role in reducing funding volatility and strengthening market expectations. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada joins new NATO Defence Investment Pledge

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The world is increasingly dangerous and divided, with the rules-based international system under unprecedented pressure and global conflict becoming more frequent and volatile. To meet this moment, Canada and its Allies are building their defence capabilities to strengthen our collective security.

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that Canada and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies have agreed to a new Defence Investment Pledge of investing 5 per cent of annual GDP by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective security. The commitment aligns with Canada’s own strategic defence and security goals.

    As part of this 5 per cent pledge, Canada will invest 3.5 per cent of GDP for core military capabilities, expanding on our recent investments. That means further investments in our Canadian Armed Forces, modernizing our military equipment and technology, building up Canada’s defence industries, and diversifying our defence partnerships. An additional 1.5 per cent of GDP will be dedicated to investments in critical defence and security-related expenditure, such as new airports, ports, telecommunication, emergency preparedness systems, and other dual-use investments which serve defence as well as civilian readiness. Importantly, the progress of this pledge will be reviewed in 2029 to ensure Allies’ expenditures align with the global security landscape.

    At the Summit, Canada and its Allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and the leaders agreed on the imperative for a just and lasting peace. Canada’s contributions to Ukraine’s defence and its defence industries, including Canada’s $2 billion in military assistance announced last week at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, are included in our NATO contributions, as the security of Ukraine is critical to our collective security.

    Quotes

    “The world is increasingly dangerous and divided. Canada must strengthen our defence to better protect our sovereignty, our interests, and our Allies. These investments won’t just build our military capacity – they will build our industries and create good, high-paying jobs at home. If we want a more secure world, we need a stronger Canada.”

    “Canada is a proud founding member of the Alliance. In an increasingly unstable and unpredictable world, we are making the critical investments needed to keep Canadians safe, support our Armed Forces, and strengthen our role in Europe and on the world stage. The renewed Defence Investment Pledge to invest 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 reaffirms Canada’s strong commitment to our security, to our sovereignty, and to NATO.”

    Related Product

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Green maritime fuel supply chain set

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan today attended the Mainland-Hong Kong Green Energy Matchmaking Event, which aims to provide a collaborative platform for relevant suppliers and companies with demand, to catalyse a comprehensive green maritime fuel supply chain and trade.

    The event was organised by the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and co-organised by the Transport & Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province.

    It was held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen today. 

    More than 200 representatives from various enterprises gathered to exchange views and discuss collaborations in relation to fuel off-take and to sign relevant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

    Speaking at the Hong Kong venue, Ms Chan said Hong Kong and the Mainland have strong complementarity in the development of green maritime fuels.

    “The Mainland’s core strength lies in the production of green fuels, while Hong Kong, as the southern gate of Mainland China and an international financial, trading and maritime centre, is not only home to a large number of international shipping enterprises, but also enjoys advantages such as free flow of capital, a financial and legal system that is in line with the rest of the world, and a trade settlement mechanism that allows immediate payment settlements.”

    She added that Hong Kong is the top bunkering centre in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the second largest in the whole of China and ranks seventh globally.

    “By adopting the ‘north-to-south sales’ model, under which the high-quality green maritime fuels produced on the Mainland can be exported to the world through Hong Kong’s international trading gateway, we will open up new ‘blue ocean’ opportunities for enterprises from the two places.”

    The transport chief also pointed out the event materialised the target of the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in November last year, which said the Government will develop Hong Kong into the preferred green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in the region. 

    Furthermore, Ms Chan witnessed the signing of MoUs between the TLB and various parties to collaborate on promoting the development of green maritime fuel-related businesses and establishing a market for the trade of green maritime fuels.

    Meanwhile, Commissioner for Maritime & Port Development Amy Chan attended the event at the Shenzhen venue, where she announced that the Marine Department will gazette the Code of Practice for Methanol Bunkering within this month, and launch the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –