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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China clarifies rules for tax breaks on reinvested dividends for foreign investors

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) — China’s General Administration of Taxation (GATT) has released detailed rules for foreign investors to claim tax breaks on reinvested dividends, providing operational guidance on the preferential tax treatment under the newly unveiled policy measures.

    In June this year, the Ministry of Finance, the State Tax Administration and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China announced that they would provide foreign investors with a 10 percent corporate income tax rebate on direct domestic investment financed by dividends from profits of enterprises resident in the People’s Republic of China.

    The benefit, which will be in effect from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028, will allow unused tax credits to be carried forward to a later date and allow lower rates to be applied under applicable tax treaties.

    According to a notice issued by the State Tax Service on Thursday, profits used to make additional contributions to subscribed authorized capital or to increase paid-in capital or capital reserves qualify as reinvestment.

    The agency’s notice also explains the scope of this tax incentive, including the definition of the time period for reinvestment, the method for calculating the tax credit amount, and the procedures for foreign investors to receive tax incentives.

    Notably, China offers tax incentives to encourage overseas investment. In 2024, the preferential policy of temporarily exempting foreign investors from paying taxes on certain types of profits led to a rapid increase in foreign reinvestment in China, according to previously published data from the State Tax Inspectorate of China. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Emancipation Day 2025 Commemorated

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Nova Scotia will mark Emancipation Day today, August 1, recognizing Britain’s abolition of slavery across its empire in 1834.

    Emancipation Day acknowledges the history and ongoing impacts of the transatlantic slave trade on people of African descent and African Nova Scotians.

    “Emancipation Day is a time to remember, reflect and recommit,” said Premier Tim Houston. “It reminds us of the resilience of people of African descent and African Nova Scotians and challenges us to strengthen inclusion, justice and equity across our province.”

    This year’s theme is Harbouring Freedom: Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.

    A series of events will recognize Emancipation Day. A flag raising at Province House at 9 a.m. and a reception on the Halifax waterfront at 11 a.m. will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@bcc_ns. There will also be community gatherings throughout the province. Details and a full schedule are available at: https://emancipationdayns.ca/.

    Quotes:

    “On the Halifax waterfront, the Atlantic once carried enslaved African people to our shores and later carried 1,200 Black Loyalists seeking freedom in Sierra Leone. Those waters held pain and injustice, but also resilience and hope. Emancipation Day reminds us that we must confront racism and continue the work of building a more just future.”
    — Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

    Quick Facts:

    • Nova Scotia designated August 1 as Emancipation Day on April 13, 2021
    • the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 took effect in 1834 and freed about 800,000 enslaved people of African descent throughout the British colonies
    • during the time of enslavement, more than 15 million African women, men and children were victims of the transatlantic slave trade
    • the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed on August 23, recognizing the 1791 uprisings in Haiti and the Dominican Republic that led to liberation from European colonizers
    • in 2022, the Jamaican Maroons in Nova Scotia were designated as being of national historic significance under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration, with a plaque unveiled at the Halifax Citadel

    Additional Resources:

    News release – Legislation Recognizes Emancipation Day in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20210413007

    Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia: https://bccns.com

    African Nova Scotian Affairs – Commemorating Emancipation Day: https://ansa.novascotia.ca/content/commemorating-emancipation-day

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Prime Minister Carney on Canada-U.S. trade

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    “President Trump has announced that the United States will increase its tariffs to 35% on those Canadian exports that are not covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA. While the Canadian government is disappointed by this action, we remain committed to CUSMA, which is the world’s second-largest free trade agreement by trading volume.

    The U.S. application of CUSMA means that the U.S. average tariff rate on Canadian goods remains one of its lowest for all of its trading partners. Other sectors of our economy – including lumber, steel, aluminum, and automobiles – are, however, heavily impacted by U.S. duties and tariffs. For such sectors, the Canadian government will act to protect Canadian jobs, invest in our industrial competitiveness, buy Canadian, and diversify our export markets.

    The United States has justified its most recent trade action on the basis of the cross-border flow of fentanyl, despite the fact that Canada accounts for only 1% of U.S. fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes. Canada’s government is making historic investments in border security to arrest drug traffickers, take down transnational gangs, and end migrant smuggling. These include thousands of new law enforcement and border security officers, aerial surveillance, intelligence and security operations, and the strongest border legislation in our history. We will continue working with the United States to stop the scourge of fentanyl and save lives in both our countries.

    While we will continue to negotiate with the United States on our trading relationship, the Canadian government is laser focused on what we can control: building Canada strong. The federal government, provinces, and territories are working together to cut down trade barriers to build one Canadian economy. We are developing a series of major nation-building projects with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners. Together, these initiatives have the potential to catalyse over half a trillion dollars of new investments in Canada.

    Canadians will be our own best customer, creating more well-paying careers at home, as we strengthen and diversify our trading partnerships throughout the world. We can give ourselves more than any foreign government can ever take away by building with Canadian workers and by using Canadian resources to benefit all Canadians.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    August 5, 2025

  • Toxic metals found in Himalayan clouds, pose health risk: study

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A new scientific study has found that clouds drifting over the Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats are carrying toxic heavy metals, posing potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks, especially to children.

    The study, conducted by the Bose Institute—an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST),  Ministry of Science & Technology , Government of India—found that clouds over the Eastern Himalayas contain 1.5 times higher pollution levels than those over the Western Ghats. This is largely due to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic and industrial activity in the foothill regions, the report noted.

    The research team, led by Dr. Sanat Kumar Das, Associate Professor at Bose Institute, detected harmful concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in non-precipitating clouds during the onset of the monsoon season. These clouds were found to be a major medium of long-range transport of pollutants from the lowlands to high-altitude regions.

    “The inhalation of cloud water laced with dissolved heavy metals is a significant exposure pathway, particularly in the Eastern Himalayas. This poses high health risks, especially among children, who are 30% more vulnerable than adults,” said Dr. Das.

    Published in the journal Environmental Advances, the study used statistical models to assess health risks through multiple exposure routes, including inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. It found that the presence of carcinogenic metals like dissolved chromium in the cloud water notably raises the likelihood of developing cancer and other health issues.

    Despite the concerning findings, researchers noted that Indian clouds remain relatively less polluted compared to countries like China, Pakistan, Italy, and the United States. However, they cautioned that rising pollution levels and the lack of prior data on metal contamination in monsoon clouds make this an emerging public health concern.

    The study challenges long-held assumptions about the purity of mountain rainwater and opens a new avenue for atmospheric and health-related research in the region.

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Portsmouth celebrates World Breastfeeding Week in purple

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth will join the global celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 2025 by lighting up the Spinnaker Tower in purple on Friday 1 August, and hosting a picnic for families in Victoria Park on Tuesday 5 August, 10am-12pm to highlight the city’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding families.

    World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign held every year from 1-7 August to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of community support. This year’s theme focuses on inclusive, welcoming environments for breastfeeding and Portsmouth is leading the way with its Portsmouth Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme. The initiative encourages local businesses, community venues, and public spaces to actively support and welcome breastfeeding families, making it easier for parents to feed their babies with confidence.

    Any venue open to the public can sign up to the Portsmouth Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme and it is free to join. Venues simply complete a short checklist and will receive window stickers to display to show families that they are welcome to breastfeed whilst spending time in the venue.

    Families in Portsmouth have access to a wide range of breastfeeding and infant feeding support. Early guidance is provided by midwives and health visitors. There is also a specialist infant feeding team if further support is needed, and this can include 1:1 phone consultations, home visits, clinic appointments, and workshops and groups. Free drop-in sessions are also run by The Breastfeeding Network both in person and online. You can search for local support here: https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drop-in-centres-map/

    Laura Dearling, Infant Feeding Lead for Portsmouth at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said:

    “The Portsmouth Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme is a fantastic opportunity to support the work we do and normalise breastfeeding by making families feel welcome in their communities.

    Our team is also here to support with any infant feeding queries – from breastfeeding challenges and positioning to tongue tie and assessments through phone, video, home visits, or at Portsmouth’s Family Hubs.”

    Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at Portsmouth City Council, said:

    “The key to improving breastfeeding rates is having specialist support available and helping mums feel comfortable to breastfeed in public, so I’m pleased this is something we are striving towards in Portsmouth.

    These activities, including lighting up the Spinnaker Tower, show our city’s commitment to inclusion, health, and community.”

    How you can get involved:

    • Join the World Breastfeeding Week picnic – Bring a blanket and meet other families at Victoria Park, Portsmouth, on Tuesday 5 August, 10am-12pm. Enjoy a relaxed, friendly space. Everyone is welcome.
    • Share your photos of the Spinnaker Tower lit up purple – On Friday 1 August, tag The Breastfeeding Network Portsmouth in your photos to help spread the message.
    • Sign up to the Portsmouth Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme – If you run or work at a public venue, you can help make Portsmouth more breastfeeding-friendly. To find out more, contact: portsmouthwelcomes@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.

    For more information about support around feeding your baby, go to: www.portsmouthfamilyhubs.co.uk/infantfeeding

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [NCC GROUP PLC – 31 07 2025] – (CGAML)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 NCC GROUP PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 31 JULY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 1p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 9,750,000 3.0953    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 9,750,000 3.0953    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    1p ORDINARY SALE 400,000 150.75p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 01 AUGUST 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Shoreditch becomes new al fresco dining hotspot thanks to Mayor of London’s new Summer Streets scheme

    Source: Mayor of London

    • Redchurch Street and Rivington Street in Shoreditch host weekend al fresco dining thanks to funding from the Mayor
    • Sadiq’s Summer Streets Fund is helping four boroughs to create al fresco dining and drinking hotspots across the capital, ahead of further action to boost London’s nightlife
    • Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber OBE, visits local businesses who are benefitting from the new Summer Streets scheme

    For the first time ever, independent bars and restaurants on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street in Shoreditch will be offering al fresco dining and drinking, thanks to funding from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

    Londoners and visitors will be able to enjoy outside dinner and drinks every Friday and Saturday from tonight until the end of the year, with the roads closed to traffic from 6pm to midnight.

    The new outdoor eating and drinking area in Hackney is one of four new schemes that the Mayor is funding across the capital through his £300,000 Summer Streets Fund. The funding is part of Sadiq’s commitment to increase outdoor dining and extend opening hours to offer more choice to Londoners and help support businesses. This is ahead of the

    Mayor being granted new licensing powers from the Government to help boost the capital’s nightlife.

    In Shoreditch, a wide range of businesses are taking part in the new al fresco dining. Londoners and visitors can enjoy a variety of cuisines from around the world from:

    Other sites being supported by the Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund include schemes across Lambeth, Waltham Forest and Westminster. In Leyton, Francis Road is extending car free hours, with outdoor dining in Leyton Midland Road. In Brixton, there are more car free days on Atlantic Road and “Brixton Summer Zone”, with outdoor seating and live performances to be officially launched later this month. Soon bars and restaurants on St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End will also be able to provide open air dining and drinking.

    Creating new al fresco dining spots is one of many initiatives by the Mayor to support London’s hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors. For example, he has also created an independent Nightlife Taskforce to help boost the capital’s life at night. These industries are critical to the success of the capital, as well as growth nationally, generating more than £46 billion every year* and accounting for one in 10 jobs in London. In the last year, the number of late-night hospitality sites in London has grown faster than anywhere else in the country.

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted to be able to support bars and restaurants in Shoreditch to offer al fresco dining from today. Through my Summer Streets Fund we are helping to put outdoor dining back on the menu, supporting businesses and helping Londoners and visitors to make the most of the summer. I’m determined to do all I can to support London’s fantastic restaurants, cafes and bars, and these schemes are just the beginning of what’s to come as we continue to work with partners across the capital to revitalise our nightlife and build a better London for everyone.”

    Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business, said: “The Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund was designed to empower local businesses, stimulate enterprise and provide exciting opportunities for Londoners and visitors. It’s just one of the ways we are helping to boost London’s night time economy, and it’s great to see this new scheme bringing outdoor dining to Shoreditch tonight.”

    Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, said: “We are thrilled that Hackney has been chosen by the Mayor of London to participate in the Summer Streets al fresco dining scheme, which I believe will significantly boost our world-renowned nightlife. By pedestrianising Rivington Street and Redchurch Street on Friday and Saturday nights, we can offer more space for residents and visitors, in particular families, to enjoy some of the fantastic venues and food Shoreditch has to offer, with increased outdoor seating. I am excited to support this scheme as I believe it will be great for businesses and residents.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Surges to 7.2% Global Derivatives Market Share, Ranks Top 3 Highlights Bitcoin.com Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, today co-releases with Bitcoin.com an educational flagship titled “Crypto Derivatives 101 – Market Breakdown: Who’s Winning the Race?” designed to help newcomers navigate the fast-growing derivatives market, the guide also highlights Bitget’s leadership as its market share doubles to 7.2% in 2025, up from 4.6% year‑to‑date.

    As detailed in the newly released report, Bitget has emerged as the third-largest derivatives exchange globally by trading volume. In April 2025 alone, the platform processed $92 billion in futures volume. Bitget’s market share rose from 4.6% at the beginning of the year to 7.2%, placing it just behind Binance and OKX. While Binance continues to lead with a 38% share, Bitget’s rapid ascent reflects both strong retail engagement and increasing institutional preference, particularly for ETH-based derivatives, where Bitget has surpassed Binance in liquidity within key trading ranges.

    “We believe educational access is foundational,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “Crypto derivatives have often been misunderstood or seen as overly complex, especially by new users. With this guide, we aim to change that. We want to make sure that both retail and institutional users feel empowered to understand, navigate, and leverage the powerful tools available to them. Bitget is proud to be leading this industry with a user-first approach, backed by AI-powered tools, liquidity innovations, and a commitment to transparency and accessibility.”

    The Crypto Derivatives 101 report serves as a practical, beginner-friendly guide to understanding how derivatives work and why they matter in today’s markets. It breaks down core instruments such as futures, options, and perpetual swaps, while explaining how these tools are used for hedging, speculation, and arbitrage.

    A standout feature of the report is a comprehensive comparison of centralized (CEX) and decentralized (DEX) perpetual markets, weighing factors like liquidity, slippage, fees, execution speed, and custody. Bitget, Binance, and OKX are shown to lead in areas like liquidity depth and institutional readiness, while platforms like GMX and Hyperliquid offer unmatched transparency and self-custody for DeFi-native users.

    The report also includes real-world trading scenarios that help readers understand which platform type is better suited to their goals. For example, a retail trader managing small-cap positions may benefit from Bitget’s intuitive UI, low fees, and fiat on-ramps. In contrast, DeFi-native users seeking anonymity and composability may prefer permissionless DEXs. Institutions executing large block trades are shown to favor CEXs like Bitget for better capital efficiency, risk management tools, and regulatory compliance. These case studies ground the content in real-world decision-making and make the guide actionable for new users.

    “The crypto industry has come a long way in terms of legitimacy, but education remains a key barrier,” said Eli Bordun, Partnership Director of Bitcoin.com. “This report breaks down step-by-step how the modern crypto markets function. Derivatives are often seen as tools for professionals — but they’re increasingly relevant for everyday users, DAOs, and even traditional financial players exploring the space. By working with Bitget to produce this report, we aim to demystify these instruments and support safe, informed participation in the market.”

    The report also highlights emerging trends set to shape the next era of crypto derivatives. One key theme is the rise of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), which are increasingly being integrated into derivatives products and yield strategies. Another is the expansion of AI-powered trading platforms, which are revolutionizing how both retail and institutional users manage portfolios, select strategies, and mitigate risk. Regulatory clarity is also improving, with frameworks like the EU’s MiCA and Singapore’s MAS paving the way for responsible innovation.

    Finally, the report explores the evolution of CeDeFi (Centralized-Decentralized Finance) models, where platforms like Bitget offer the best of both worlds: secure custody and intuitive UX alongside permissionless asset access and DeFi integration.

    With this report, Bitget and Bitcoin.com reaffirm their shared commitment to building a more inclusive crypto trading environment. As derivatives become increasingly central to digital finance, Bitget is positioned not only as a market leader — but as a bridge between the next generation of users and the tools that will define their financial future.

    For more information, please see the full report here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.
    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6595d449-33e8-478f-a5d3-67dc9f840558

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Surges to 7.2% Global Derivatives Market Share, Ranks Top 3 Highlights Bitcoin.com Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, today co-releases with Bitcoin.com an educational flagship titled “Crypto Derivatives 101 – Market Breakdown: Who’s Winning the Race?” designed to help newcomers navigate the fast-growing derivatives market, the guide also highlights Bitget’s leadership as its market share doubles to 7.2% in 2025, up from 4.6% year‑to‑date.

    As detailed in the newly released report, Bitget has emerged as the third-largest derivatives exchange globally by trading volume. In April 2025 alone, the platform processed $92 billion in futures volume. Bitget’s market share rose from 4.6% at the beginning of the year to 7.2%, placing it just behind Binance and OKX. While Binance continues to lead with a 38% share, Bitget’s rapid ascent reflects both strong retail engagement and increasing institutional preference, particularly for ETH-based derivatives, where Bitget has surpassed Binance in liquidity within key trading ranges.

    “We believe educational access is foundational,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “Crypto derivatives have often been misunderstood or seen as overly complex, especially by new users. With this guide, we aim to change that. We want to make sure that both retail and institutional users feel empowered to understand, navigate, and leverage the powerful tools available to them. Bitget is proud to be leading this industry with a user-first approach, backed by AI-powered tools, liquidity innovations, and a commitment to transparency and accessibility.”

    The Crypto Derivatives 101 report serves as a practical, beginner-friendly guide to understanding how derivatives work and why they matter in today’s markets. It breaks down core instruments such as futures, options, and perpetual swaps, while explaining how these tools are used for hedging, speculation, and arbitrage.

    A standout feature of the report is a comprehensive comparison of centralized (CEX) and decentralized (DEX) perpetual markets, weighing factors like liquidity, slippage, fees, execution speed, and custody. Bitget, Binance, and OKX are shown to lead in areas like liquidity depth and institutional readiness, while platforms like GMX and Hyperliquid offer unmatched transparency and self-custody for DeFi-native users.

    The report also includes real-world trading scenarios that help readers understand which platform type is better suited to their goals. For example, a retail trader managing small-cap positions may benefit from Bitget’s intuitive UI, low fees, and fiat on-ramps. In contrast, DeFi-native users seeking anonymity and composability may prefer permissionless DEXs. Institutions executing large block trades are shown to favor CEXs like Bitget for better capital efficiency, risk management tools, and regulatory compliance. These case studies ground the content in real-world decision-making and make the guide actionable for new users.

    “The crypto industry has come a long way in terms of legitimacy, but education remains a key barrier,” said Eli Bordun, Partnership Director of Bitcoin.com. “This report breaks down step-by-step how the modern crypto markets function. Derivatives are often seen as tools for professionals — but they’re increasingly relevant for everyday users, DAOs, and even traditional financial players exploring the space. By working with Bitget to produce this report, we aim to demystify these instruments and support safe, informed participation in the market.”

    The report also highlights emerging trends set to shape the next era of crypto derivatives. One key theme is the rise of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), which are increasingly being integrated into derivatives products and yield strategies. Another is the expansion of AI-powered trading platforms, which are revolutionizing how both retail and institutional users manage portfolios, select strategies, and mitigate risk. Regulatory clarity is also improving, with frameworks like the EU’s MiCA and Singapore’s MAS paving the way for responsible innovation.

    Finally, the report explores the evolution of CeDeFi (Centralized-Decentralized Finance) models, where platforms like Bitget offer the best of both worlds: secure custody and intuitive UX alongside permissionless asset access and DeFi integration.

    With this report, Bitget and Bitcoin.com reaffirm their shared commitment to building a more inclusive crypto trading environment. As derivatives become increasingly central to digital finance, Bitget is positioned not only as a market leader — but as a bridge between the next generation of users and the tools that will define their financial future.

    For more information, please see the full report here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.
    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6595d449-33e8-478f-a5d3-67dc9f840558

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Oxford Square Capital Corp. Prices Public Offering of $65 Million 7.75% Notes Due 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWICH, Conn., Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Square Capital Corp. (NasdaqGS: OXSQ) (NasdaqGS: OXSQG) (NasdaqGS: OXSQZ) (the “Company”) today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of $65 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.75% unsecured notes due 2030. The notes will mature on July 31, 2030, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Company’s option on or after July 31, 2027. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.75% per year payable quarterly on January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31 of each year, commencing October 31, 2025.

    The offering is expected to close on August 7, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $9.75 million in aggregate principal amount of notes. The notes are expected to be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and to trade thereon within 30 days of the original issue date under the trading symbol “OXSQH”.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay indebtedness, acquire investments in accordance with our investment objective and strategies described in this prospectus supplement and for general corporate purposes.

    Lucid Capital Markets, LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Clear Street LLC, InspereX LLC, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. are acting as lead managers for the offering.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in this offering or any other securities nor will there be any sale of these securities or any other securities referred to in this press release in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

    A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is on file with and has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained, when available, from the following investment banks: Lucid Capital Markets, LLC at 570 Lexington Ave, 40th Floor, New York, NY 10022, at telephone number (646) 362-0256, or via email at: Prospectus@lucidcm.com; and Piper Sandler & Co., 350 North 5th Street, Suite 1300, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at prospectus@psc.com. The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated July 31, 2025, and accompanying prospectus, dated September 26, 2022, each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contain a description of these matters and other important information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of the Company before investing.

    About Oxford Square Capital Corp.
    Oxford Square Capital Corp. is a publicly-traded business development company principally investing in syndicated bank loans and, to a lesser extent, debt and equity tranches of collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) vehicles. CLO investments may also include warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the basis of a CLO vehicle.

    Forward Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors are identified from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.

    Contact:
    Bruce Rubin
    203-983-5280

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Oxford Square Capital Corp. Prices Public Offering of $65 Million 7.75% Notes Due 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWICH, Conn., Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Square Capital Corp. (NasdaqGS: OXSQ) (NasdaqGS: OXSQG) (NasdaqGS: OXSQZ) (the “Company”) today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of $65 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.75% unsecured notes due 2030. The notes will mature on July 31, 2030, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Company’s option on or after July 31, 2027. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.75% per year payable quarterly on January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31 of each year, commencing October 31, 2025.

    The offering is expected to close on August 7, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $9.75 million in aggregate principal amount of notes. The notes are expected to be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and to trade thereon within 30 days of the original issue date under the trading symbol “OXSQH”.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay indebtedness, acquire investments in accordance with our investment objective and strategies described in this prospectus supplement and for general corporate purposes.

    Lucid Capital Markets, LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Clear Street LLC, InspereX LLC, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. are acting as lead managers for the offering.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in this offering or any other securities nor will there be any sale of these securities or any other securities referred to in this press release in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

    A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is on file with and has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained, when available, from the following investment banks: Lucid Capital Markets, LLC at 570 Lexington Ave, 40th Floor, New York, NY 10022, at telephone number (646) 362-0256, or via email at: Prospectus@lucidcm.com; and Piper Sandler & Co., 350 North 5th Street, Suite 1300, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at prospectus@psc.com. The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated July 31, 2025, and accompanying prospectus, dated September 26, 2022, each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contain a description of these matters and other important information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of the Company before investing.

    About Oxford Square Capital Corp.
    Oxford Square Capital Corp. is a publicly-traded business development company principally investing in syndicated bank loans and, to a lesser extent, debt and equity tranches of collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) vehicles. CLO investments may also include warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the basis of a CLO vehicle.

    Forward Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors are identified from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.

    Contact:
    Bruce Rubin
    203-983-5280

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis to Review Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on August 7, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) announced that the company will host a conference call to review the release of its second quarter 2025 earnings report:

    Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025

    Time: 11 am Pacific Time (PT)

    Live Participant Dial In (Toll Free): +1-888-506-0062 entry code 655740 

    Live Participant Dial In (International): +1-973-528-0011 entry code 655740

    Webcast URL: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2211/52764

    Attendees may submit questions during the Q&A (Questions & Answers) portion of the conference call.

    The webcast will be available on the Company’s website (www.aemetis.com) under Investors/Conference Calls, along with the company presentation, recent announcements, and video recordings.

    The voice recording will be available through August 14, 2025, by dialing (Toll Free) 877-481-4010 or (International) 919-882-2331 and entering conference ID number 52764. After August 14th, the webcast will be available on the Company’s website (www.aemetis.com) under Investors/Conference Calls.

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that lower fuel costs and reduce emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel biorefinery in California, renewable hydrogen, and hydroelectric power to produce low carbon intensity renewable jet and diesel fuel. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com. 

    Company Investor Relations

    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations

    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the selection for the All-Russian project “Professional Team of the First” have been summed up

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On August 1, 2025, the results of the selection for the All-Russian project “Professional Team of the First” were announced, the correspondence stage of which is carried out by the State University of Management together with the Russian Movement of Children and Youth “Movement of the First”.

    The project is a comprehensive professional development program, in which about 3,000 curators of primary branches of the “First Movement” at universities and colleges, responsible for educational work and youth policy, students aged 16 to 25 years old, participate in the correspondence stage.

    The correspondence stage will be held in the format of an online course on the topic: “Management of the primary branch of the “First Movement” based on an educational organization.” As part of the course, project participants will undergo training with mandatory study of disciplines, midterm testing and complete project work. Successful completion of the correspondence course gives the right to participate in the competitive selection for full-time training – participation in forums that will be held in eight federal districts of the Russian Federation.

    Participants invited to the online course have already been sent letters with further instructions and access to the Digital Corpus of the State University of Management. You can view the list of those selected according to the instructions.

    We wish everyone fruitful learning!

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by Palazzo Chigi on the EU Court of Justice’s decision regarding safe countries

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    The EU Court of Justice’s decision regarding safe countries of origin of illegal migrants is surprising. The judiciary, this time at European level, is once again encroaching on areas that are outside its purview, in the face of responsibilities that are political in nature.  The EU Court of Justice has decided to hand the decision over to any national judicial authority, not on individual cases, but on the part of migration policy related to the rules governing returns and expulsions of irregular migrants. 

    So, for example, with regard to the identification of so-called ‘safe countries’, it gives precedence to the decision by the national judicial authority, even if this is based on private sources rather than the results of complex investigations that have been carried out by the ministries involved and evaluated by the sovereign Parliament.

    This is a step that should concern everyone – including the political forces that are today rejoicing over the verdict – because it further reduces the already narrow margins of autonomy that governments and parliaments have to legislate on and manage migration. The court’s decision weakens policies to combat mass illegal immigration and defend national borders.

    It is peculiar that this is happening just a few months before the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force, which contains stricter rules, also with regard to the criteria for identifying such countries: this Pact is the result of joint work by the Commission, Parliament and Council of the European Union.

    For the ten months before the EU Pact takes effect, the Italian Government will not cease to seek every possible technical or regulatory solution to safeguard citizens’ security.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Technical mission to Ghana on the deployment of Système Interconnecté de Gestion des Marchandises en Transit (SIGMAT) between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    From the 21st to 25th of July 2025, the ECOWAS Commission conducted a technical mission to Ghana as part of transit reforms aimed at ensuring the efficient cross-border movement of goods in the region. To this end, an IT solution called SIGMAT – “Système interconnecté de gestion des marchandises en transit” (Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit) – was established to enable the electronic exchange of data between Member States.

    Since the launch of SIGMAT in 2019, the Member States that have implemented this tool have reported its significant impact on transit procedures and the benefits it has brought to the countries.

    It is in this context that ECOWAS Ministers from the Member States of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor (ALCO), meeting in Cotonou on the 5th of October 2023, requested the ECOWAS Commission to ensure the prompt deployment of SIGMAT in the five Member States of the corridor. This is to facilitate the smooth cross-border movement of goods along the corridor.

    Consequently, the ECOWAS Commission carried out a technical mission to Ghana from 21st to 25th July 2025 to assess and address the interconnection challenges between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in order to ensure seamless SIGMAT connectivity along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor. The mission brought together technical and functional experts from the Commission, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

    During a meeting with the Commissioner of Customs of Ghana, the Director of Customs Union and Taxation, Mr. Salifou TIEMTORE, on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, reiterated the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission to support Member States in their efforts to ensure the deployment of SIGMAT on all trade corridors to facilitate the efficient movement of goods in the region.

    For his part, the Commissioner of Customs of Ghana, Brigadier General Glover ASHONG ANNAN, expressed the Ghana Revenue Authority’s gratitude to the ECOWAS Commission for this timely intervention aimed at securing transit trade in the ECOWAS region and reducing transit-related fraud that threatens the revenues and security of Member States.

    At the end of the mission, the technical and functional challenges hindering the proper functioning of transit between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana were resolved.

    – on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: On brink of famine, Gazans forced to scour dirt for food

    Source: United Nations 2

    Without fuel, many basic facilities cannot function, from water treatment plants to medical infrastructure.

    Meanwhile, Gazans now on the brink of famine have been reduced to taking desperate measures in their search for food, scouring the roads taken by aid convoys, UN aid worker Olga Cherevko told UN News.

    “While we were driving, I saw an elderly man on the side of the road completely alone, kneeling down, and he was picking up handfuls of lentils that had spilled on the ground from one of the previous convoys that had been passing,” she said.

    “He was picking them up with his hands and just putting them into his t-shirt as this is obviously the only option he has right now to find food because this is how desperate the situation has become.”

    Desperate actions

    The latest reports from Gaza indicate that mothers who are unable to breastfeed because they are not eating enough now feed their babies ground chickpeas, bread and rice, which are not suitable for infants.

    In a social media post, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stressed that “this is a condition that we can prevent,” calling for increased humanitarian access. 

    Separately, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) emphasised that “the health needs in Gaza are immense. A continuous flow of medical supplies is critical.”

    Meanwhile, health workers on Wednesday reported that at least 50 Gazans were killed and 400 others injured while waiting for food near Zikim crossing in the north.

    Ms. Cherevko, who works with the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, explained that her mission to Kerem Shalom on Thursday morning had been delayed at a “holding point” for two hours before being allowed to proceed to the crossing point separating Gaza from Israel.

    ‘Tactical pauses’ are not enough

    Although the fuel supplies are welcome, they are far from enough, she insisted.

    “We need hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel to be entering every day so that we can power even the most basic of our facilities to power, water, sanitation, healthcare, emergency telecommunications and other critical facilities effectively,” she said.

    The announcement of daytime military pauses by Israel last weekend appears to have slightly reduced the amount of time aid convoys now wait for permission to proceed, the OCHA worker noted.

    There has also been a “slight reduction” in security incidents involving Gazans taking food from UN trucks, she said.

    In its latest update on the emergency, OCHA said that four days since the start of tactical pauses declared by Israel, “we are still seeing casualties among those seeking aid and more deaths due to hunger and malnutrition…Unilateral tactical pauses alone do not allow for the continuous flow of supplies required to meet immense needs levels in Gaza.”  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: New NIST Reference Material to Strengthen Quality Control for Biological Drugs

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Protein-based biotherapeutics are drugs made with genetically engineered proteins. These large protein molecules can stick together during the drug manufacturing process to form particles. A team of NIST researchers, including Srivalli Telikepalli (shown here), developed a standard reference material that will help biopharmaceutical companies better detect these particles in their drug products.

    Credit: A. Boss/NIST

    A rapidly growing category of drugs called protein-based biotherapeutics can be used to treat cancers and genetic and autoimmune disorders. These drugs, which usually take the form of large protein molecules, are manufactured by growing living cells that are genetically engineered to produce the proteins. These large protein molecules, however, can stick together during the manufacturing process to form particles that can cause an unwanted immune response in patients. 

    To manage these particles, biopharmaceutical companies need to be able to measure and monitor them. A new standard reference material (SRM) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help them do that. The new material, SRM 1989: Monodisperse Irregularly Shaped Epoxy-Based Particles, consists of three vials containing particles of different sizes: 220 micrometers, 150 micrometers and 100 micrometers. (For comparison, a sheet of regular printer paper is roughly 100 micrometers thick.)  

    “This material will be the first publicly available visible particle standard for protein-based particles in biotherapeutic drugs,” said NIST research chemist Srivalli Telikepalli. “This will help drug manufacturers monitor particles in their products so that they can ensure that those products are safe and effective.”

    The new material, called SRM 1989: Monodisperse Irregularly Shaped Epoxy-Based Particles, consists of three vials containing particles of different sizes: 220 micrometers, 150 micrometers and 100 micrometers.

    Credit: R. Wilson/NIST

    Protein-based particles, which are small but sometimes visible to the naked eye, form because proteins can be unstable. Any stress, like a temperature change or sudden shaking of a drug vial, can cause proteins to clump together into particles. This can happen when the drug products are being purified, packaged, shipped or stored for long periods of time. 

    At biopharmaceutical manufacturing plants, trained analysts visually inspect each vial of drug product. If the vial contains visible particles, it is removed from the batch. If a certain number of vials fail, the entire batch will be discarded. Each failed batch can cost the manufacturer millions of dollars. 

    “Without a particle size standard for reference, errors can occur, as different analysts may perceive particles differently. Because of this, the inspection process can be subjective,” said Telikepalli. “Our new reference material will help make the particulate inspection process more uniform.” The SRM can be included in training kits to mimic protein particles and help train analysts to accurately identify these particles in each drug product.

    Inspections can also be automated using laboratory instruments. Instrument manufacturers can use the NIST SRM to ensure that their instruments are working properly and to improve their accuracy over time. Analysts can also use the SRM to validate their automated inspection process that uses these laboratory instruments to make sure the process is accurate.

    For both manual and automated inspections, a more accurate and uniform inspection process can help ensure that drug batches are not discarded unnecessarily.   

    To make the particles, NIST researchers shined ultraviolet (UV) light onto a silicon wafer coated with an epoxy-like substance that hardens when exposed to UV light. This created a pattern of particles on the wafer. The same technique, called photolithography, is used when creating microscopic electronic circuits on computer chips. The particles were then removed from the wafer and put into a liquid mixture, or solution. This was done at NIST’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, an important center for semiconductor manufacturing research.

    The standard reference material was made at NIST’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology. The process for making the particles, called photolithography, is an innovative technique usually used to create microscopic electronic circuits on computer chips.

    Credit: A. Boss/NIST

    The particles resemble protein particles — irregular in shape and transparent. And crucially, they are all essentially the same size. “Because of our measurement capabilities, we are able to reliably verify the size of these particles with very high precision,” said NIST electronical engineer Michael Carrier. 

    Using a semiconductor manufacturing technique to simulate protein-based particles is an innovation that might only have happened at a place like NIST.

    “NIST has experts in both biopharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturing,” said Mike Tarlov, chief of NIST’s Biomolecular Measurements Division. “This allows us to bring together measurement expertise from across very different domains to solve real-world problems.”

    NIST has produced over a thousand SRMs that support public health and safety and promote U.S. industry. These SRMs help ensure accurate measurements in industries ranging from health and medicine (human urine) to building construction (Charpy Impact Test materials) to semiconductor manufacturing (semiconductor thin film) and many more. 

    NIST also produces several other SRMs for the biopharmaceutical industry, including a monoclonal antibody protein called the NISTmAb and the NISTCHO — a living cell that expresses a version of the NISTmAb protein. All these SRMs support an industry that’s projected to grow from an estimated $666 billion in 2025 to $1,184 billion by 2032.

    SRM 1989: Monodisperse Irregularly Shaped Epoxy-Based Particles is now available for purchase from the NIST Store. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: From ‘God Emperor Trump’ to ‘St. Luigi,’ memes power the politics of feeling

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Stuart J. Murray, Professor of Rhetoric and Ethics | Professeur titulaire en rhétorique et éthique, Carleton University

    Why do images of Donald Trump as a galactic emperor or Luigi Mangione as a Catholic saint resonate so deeply with some people? Memes don’t just entertain — they shape how we identify with power, grievance and justice in the digital age.

    A meme is a decontextualized video or image — often captioned — that circulates an idea, behaviour or style, primarily through social media. As they spread, memes are adapted, remixed and transformed, helping to solidify the communities around them.

    Trump, the meme pope

    Days after Pope Francis’s death in April 2025, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself in papal regalia on Truth Social. The White House’s official X account then shared it, amplifying its reach.

    Trump quickly dismissed it as a joke, but the image lingered.

    Two days later, another emerged: Trump as galactic emperor, blending Star Wars aesthetics with the visual rhetoric of Warhammer 40,000, a popular dystopian sci-fi franchise featuring authoritarian rulers, imperial armies and endless war.

    Trump memes like these once circulated semi-ironically in social media subcultures like Reddit and 4chan under the banner “God Emperor Trump.”

    But what might previously have seemed like absurdist cosplay now carries the symbolic weight of executive power, blending religious and imperial imagery to project Trump as a mythical figure, not just a politician.

    In-jokes

    As I’ve argued in an article on MAGA and empathy, these memes draw on cultural codes not to parody power but to usurp it as instruments of official political communication.

    Fact-checking can’t stop them. We know they are factually untrue, but they feel true and consolidate a shared sentiment among Trump’s base.

    The meme is not a joke — it’s an in-joke only the in-group understands.

    And that’s the point.

    A meme is an accelerant, delivering compressed emotional payloads, short-circuiting debate and reinforcing people’s political identifications. Propelled by algorithms and designed to go viral, memes solicit immediate responses — outrage, loyalty, disgust, amusement.

    Memes don’t ask what’s true or what’s just.

    Instead, they curate — and encode — emotional alignment, replacing liberalism’s democratic ideal of reasoned public discourse with viral attachment: grievance recoded as identity.

    Elon Musk and weaponizing empathy

    On Feb. 20, 2025, days after Trump appointed Elon Musk to head his new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Tesla founder appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering of conservative activists and officials from across the U.S.

    At the conference, Musk brandished a chainsaw, declaring: “I have become the meme!.” An image of him holding the chainsaw later actually became a meme.

    The image projects libertarian efficiency and masculine bravado, but it more than just mocks bureaucracy — it glorifies cutting ties to domestic, global and humanitarian responsibilities.

    Far from being merely a meme, it advances a policy of neglect that intentionally lets others die.

    Experts estimate that DOGE’s purge of USAID could result in 14 million preventable deaths over the next five years, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations whose historical exploitation helped generate the wealth now wielded as power.

    Individuals vs. the collective

    But we are not meant to feel empathy. In early 2025, Musk called empathy “the fundamental weakness of western civilization,” claiming it is “weaponized by the left.”

    Yet Musk doesn’t reject empathy entirely — only empathy for individuals, which he said risks “civilizational suicide.”



    Read more:
    MAGA’s ‘war on empathy’ might not be original, but it is dangerous

    Instead, Musk believes we must have empathy for “civilization as a whole.” Such rhetoric — sacrificing individuals for the collective — recalls a chilling Nazi-era slogan: Du bist nichts, dein Volk ist alles (“You are nothing, your people are everything”). Musk has also drawn criticism for making public Nazi salutes and ethno-nationalist statements advocating for white people.



    Read more:
    How Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok could be helping bring about an era of techno-fascism

    Mangione, the meme martyr

    If Trump and Musk memes stage fantasies of absolute power, Mangione memes reply with fantasies of redemptive rupture.

    Accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Mangione has been lionized in memes that champion vulnerability and social justice, opposing the billionaire class — figures like Trump and Musk — who put profits over people.

    These memes appear to oppose the MAGA meme machine, encoding class struggle as quiet defiance and anti-authoritarianism. Unlike Musk’s chainsaw-wielding bravado, which seems to mask a fragile ego, Mangione memes project a humble, rebellious heartthrob.

    Yet, like Trump and Musk, Mangione has become a brand. His face adorns T-shirts and “St. Luigi” prayer candles, capitalizing on the popular meme that emerged soon after his arrest. This commodification mirrors right-wing meme economies, even if the message differs.

    Emotional saturation

    Mangione memes have helped raise over $1.2 million for his legal defence.

    They don’t just reflect feeling — they organize it, channelling it into cultural, political and literal currency, including a Luigi crypto coin ($LUIGI) and a musical.

    These memes share MAGA meme tactics: relentless repetition and emotional saturation. Instead of encouraging thoughtful debate, they rally communities around shared grievances, acts of defiance and collective faith.

    Feeling our way through the feed

    From MAGA to Mangione, meme-mythologies often function as rationalizations of violence — whether framed as righteous, purifying or revolutionary. But what unites Trump’s papal cosplay, Musk’s chainsaw and Mangione’s martyrdom isn’t their message but their form.

    Whether cloaked in MAGA nostalgia or social justice sentiments, memes that appear to resist power often reproduce the structures that made that power so intoxicating in the first place.

    We’ve seen how official White House and Department of Homeland Security social media memes have become increasingly cruel, sinister, polarizing and even radicalizing.



    Read more:
    ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ showcases Donald Trump’s penchant for visual cruelty

    Meanwhile, some liberals on the left continue to promote what is known as the “marketplace of ideas” — the belief that truth will prevail if all ideas are allowed to circulate freely. But reason doesn’t always triumph over power. And memes aren’t just ideas: they’re technologies that bypass deliberation to shape our feelings, identities and ways of communicating.

    Consumed by media

    We no longer “consume” media: we’re a function of the algorithms and AI powering today’s platforms. Like memes, AI tools like large language models can churn out plausible content that is nonetheless hateful, divisive and patently untrue.

    Musk’s “I have become the meme” therefore reveals a paradox: he claims to master the meme, but no one can control its circulation or uptake. Trump and Mangione, too, are less individuals than avatars — produced by a digital culture that pre-shapes our perceptions of them.

    The violence, however, is very real. If one violent act doesn’t justify counter-violence, it nonetheless structures and occasions it. Each side claims it is just.

    Memes don’t ask: can we intentionally let others die and still be just? Answering this question is nearly impossible in a meme world. The answer will be a meme. And it will be a joke.

    Stuart J. Murray receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. From ‘God Emperor Trump’ to ‘St. Luigi,’ memes power the politics of feeling – https://theconversation.com/from-god-emperor-trump-to-st-luigi-memes-power-the-politics-of-feeling-260388

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Flawed notions of objectivity are hampering Canadian newsrooms when it comes to Gaza

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Gabriela Perdomo, Assistant Professor, Mount Royal University

    The response of Canada’s legacy news media to the Israeli government’s military action in Gaza for more than 640 days points to a problem within major Canadian news organizations, according to a new Canadian book, When Genocide Wasn’t News.

    In the book, journalists — some writing under pseudonyms — say their newsrooms have been severely hampered by a culture of fear and an adherence to a notion of objectivity that no longer serves the public.

    Israel’s relentless military actions in the Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and taking of 251 hostages by Hamas should be prominently featured news. The Israeli Defence Forces’ illegal attacks on children, hospitals and aid workers should also be making constant headlines. But news coverage on these attacks is scarce or misleading.

    I research and teach media, monitor the news and edit an online publication about journalism in Canada. My PhD thesis focused on Latin America and examined how the mandate to be objective can be confusing in times of war. I also explored questions about how journalists understand and apply objectivity in different contexts.

    I found journalists who support peace efforts can easily be accused of being “biased” in favour of those promoting peace.

    Not all wars covered equally

    Not all wars are covered the same. Noureddine Miladi, a media and communications professor at Qatar University, found Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 received far greater coverage in mainstream media than the war in Gaza. Part of this difference in coverage lies in the ability to send reporters to cover events first hand, which is impossible in the Gaza Strip, where outside journalists are banned from entry.



    Read more:
    The chilling effects of trying to report on the Israel-Gaza war

    Another major factor affecting coverage is how newsrooms understand and apply their norms, including objectivity. Journalism production is influenced and impacted by the dynamics of place and power that surround it.

    As Carleton University journalism professor Duncan McCue argues, an unexamined adherence to objectivity can perpetuate colonial points of view. University of British Columbia journalism professors Candis Callison and Mary Lynn Young, authors of a book about journalism’s racial reckoning in Canada, also make this argument.

    Accusations of antisemitism

    Accusations of bias can have an outsized impact on reporting and be used to silence journalists.

    According to some journalists, there is an atmosphere of fear when it comes to reporting on the Middle East in mainstream newsrooms in Canada. Some have self-censored in response to threats.

    Not only do journalists say they are facing threats, they also face a context in which governments, such as the province of Ontario, are adhering to definitions of antisemitism that equate it to criticism of Israel.

    In Canada, news organizations and individual journalists attempting to report on the violence in the Gaza Strip are being accused of antisemitism by groups such as Honest Reporting, according to the Canadian Press Freedom Project. This means almost anyone reporting on the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza will receive hundreds of messages claiming the report is antisemitic.

    Since many scholars and the United Nations Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices have called the Israeli government’s methods “consistent with genocide, including use of starvation as weapon of war,” urgent reporting is needed — and it’s not antisemitism to call out what experts have labelled global injustices.

    Left-wing bias?

    The culmination of decades of this type of criticism of news media has included a right-wing narrative that accuses media of a liberal bias. The trope of the liberal media as a threat has had a steady hold of the public imagination across North America since the Cold War.

    Reporters who focused on stories about human rights, questioned the tactics and budgets of the military industrial complex or challenged the mistreatment of socialist activists as being unpatriotic were accused of having a liberal, left-wing, even communist, slant.

    This isn’t a phemomenon limited to North America. Latin American politicians have a long history of using “left-wing bias” labels as a powerful tool to intimidate journalists.



    Read more:
    How news coverage influences countries’ emergency aid budgets – new research

    What do journalists owe peace?

    Research shows that audiences value objective journalism, or reporting that they deem non-partisan and keeps opinions at bay. But consumers also increasingly value journalism that is empathetic and emotionally resonant.

    After United States President Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, journalism scholars recognized that a major failure of news coverage during the presidential campaign was not calling things what they were. For example, journalists used euphemisms such as “he misspoke” instead of reporting that Trump was lying, contributing to a crisis of relevance in journalism.

    According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Israel-Gaza war has killed more journalistsr than in any other conflict it’s documented. But the allegedly deliberate targeting of journalists in Gaza, of whom at least 225 have been killed, has garnered little attention in newsrooms, despite calls by dozens of independent journalists to make the issue more visible.

    This is another unprecedented set of events that should be reported on for Canadian audiences.

    How will Canadian newsrooms do better? One idea could be that newsrooms join forces to fend off accusations of bias and antisemitism. They could start with reclaiming objectivity as a practice of information-gathering and moving away from objectivity as an ideal of dispassionate reporting.

    They could also embrace, instead of fear, journalism’s liberal roots and reclaim journalism from a standpoint of clarity where actions against the rule of law, abuses of power, war profiteering, crimes against humanity — any illiberal acts — clearly fall on the wrong side of the liberal-democratic balance and therefore demand to be denounced. As veteran CBC journalist Carol Off has said, we need to denounce illiberal acts as anti-democratic ideology.

    Every inhabitant of Gaza remains in imminent peril today, and the media have a responsibility to inform us about it.

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

    – ref. Flawed notions of objectivity are hampering Canadian newsrooms when it comes to Gaza – https://theconversation.com/flawed-notions-of-objectivity-are-hampering-canadian-newsrooms-when-it-comes-to-gaza-260552

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why Donald Trump has stopped some conflicts but is failing with Ukraine and Gaza

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    In yet another twist in his unpredictable decision making, US president Donald Trump has dramatically shortened his original 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to call a ceasefire in Ukraine to a mere ten days. It’s an unmistakable sign of Trump’s frustration with the Russian leader who he now appears to view as the main obstacle to ending the war.

    Progress has been similarly limited on another of Trump’s flagship foreign policy projects: ending the war in Gaza. As a humanitarian catastrophe engulfs the territory, Trump and some of his Maga base are finally challenging Israel’s denials that, after almost two years of war, many Gazans now face a real risk of starvation.

    In neither case have his efforts to mediate and bring an end to the violence borne any fruit. But not all of Trump’s efforts to stop violence in conflicts elsewhere in the world have been similarly futile. The administration brokered a ceasefire between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which the two countries’ foreign ministers signed in Washington on June 27.

    The US president has also claimed to be behind the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May after the two sides had engaged in several days of fierce combat following a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir by a Pakistan-backed rebel group. And, drawing a clear parallel between this conflict and the border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand in July, Trump announced he had pushed both countries’ leaders to negotiate a ceasefire.

    All of these ceasefires, so far, have held. By contrast, the ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, to which Trump contributed in January, even before he was inaugurated for his second term, broke down in March and fighting has escalated ever since. A short-lived ceasefire in Ukraine in April was barely worth its name given the countless violations.

    Mixed record

    Three factors can explain Trump’s mixed record of peacemaking to date. First, the US president is more likely to succeed in stopping the fighting where he has leverage and is willing to use it to force foreign leaders to bend to his will. For example, Trump was very clear that there would be no trade negotiations with Thailand or Cambodia “until such time as the fighting STOPS”.

    The crucial difference, so far, with the situation in the war against Ukraine is that Trump has, and has used, similar leverage only with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. This led to a US-Ukraine agreement on a 30-day ceasefire proposal just two weeks after the now-notorious row between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office.

    The mere threat of sanctions against Russia, by contrast, has done little to persuade Putin to accept whatever deal might Trump offer him. Trump’s threats – which he has never followed through on – did not work in January or May. The Kremlin’s initial reactions to the latest ultimatum from the White House do not indicate a change in Putin’s attitude.

    A second factor that may explain why Trump has had peacemaking success in some cases but not others is the level of complexity of US interests involved. When it comes to US relations with Russia and Israel, there is a lot more at stake for Trump.

    The US president still appears keen to strike a grand bargain with Russia and China under which Washington, Beijing and Moscow would agree to recognise, and not interfere in, their respective spheres of influence. This could explains his hesitation so far to follow through on his threats to Putin.

    Similarly, US interests in the Middle East – whether it’s over Iran’s nuclear programme or relations with America’s Gulf allies – have put strains on the alliance with Israel. Trump also needs to weigh carefully the impact of any move against, or in support of, Israel on his domestic support base.

    In the deal Trump brokered between Rwanda and the DRC, the issues at stake were much simpler: access for US investors to the mineral riches of the eastern DRC. Just days into his second term, Trump acknowledged that the conflict was a “very serious problem”. Congo’s president, Felix Tshisekedi, responded by offering the US access to minerals in exchange for pushing Rwanda to a deal to end the invasion and stop supporting proxy forces in the DRC.

    This leads to the third factor that has enabled Trump’s peace-making success so far: simpler solutions are easier to achieve. Thailand and Cambodia and India and Pakistan can go back to the situation before their recent fighting. That does not resolve any of the underlying issues in their conflicts, but returns their relations to some form of non-violent stability.

    It is ultimately also in the interests of the conflict parties. They have had a chance to make their violent statements and reinforce what they will and won’t tolerate from the other side. The required investment by an external mediator to end battles that have achieved what the warring sides want anyway – to avoid further escalation – is consequently quite limited.

    Complex conflicts

    Getting to any kind of stability in Ukraine or the Middle East by contrast requires prolonged engagement and attention to detail. These conflicts are at a stage in which a return to how things were before is not in the interests of the parties or their external backers. Nudging warring parties along on the path to agreement under such conditions requires a well-designed process, which is absent in Ukraine and failing in Gaza.

    Thanks to funding and personnel cuts, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is now required to perform multiple roles. Trump relies on personal envoys with at best limited foreign policy expertise, while insisting he makes all the decisions. This ultimately suggests that the White House simply may not have the bandwidth for the level of engagement that would be necessary to get to a deal in Ukraine and the Middle East.

    This is a self-inflicted opportunity lost, not only for the United States but also for the long-suffering people of Ukraine and the Middle East.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Why Donald Trump has stopped some conflicts but is failing with Ukraine and Gaza – https://theconversation.com/why-donald-trump-has-stopped-some-conflicts-but-is-failing-with-ukraine-and-gaza-262241

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Five companies shut down for filing false and forged accounts

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Five companies shut down for filing false and forged accounts

    Companies falsely claimed to have hundreds of millions of pounds in turnover and profits

    • Automarket Europe Limited, Integra Group Limited, Maxell Limited, Montana & Montana Limited, and Supermarket Plus Ltd filed false accounts showing turnovers of up to £642 million despite having no genuine business activity 

    • All five companies shared office addresses in South London and Croydon. They also falsely named reputable accountants as auditors, and failed to co-operate with Insolvency Service investigations before being shut down 

    • The companies were investigated by the Insolvency Service as a result of referrals from Companies House following legislation to improve corporate standards 

    Five companies which submitted false accounts showing hundreds of millions of pounds of profits have been shut down following investigations by the Insolvency Service and Companies House. 

    Automarket Europe Limited, Integra Group Limited, Maxell Limited, Montana & Montana Limited, and Supermarket Plus Ltd claimed to trade as everything from supermarkets to car dealerships but no evidence was found of any true business activity. 

    The Insolvency Service investigations came following referrals from Companies House as part of the implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, introduced to improve transparency over UK companies. 

    Companies House now has powers to remove false, misleading or incorrect information from company registers. The Act also strengthens collaboration between the Insolvency Service and Companies House to crack down on the misuse of UK corporate structures. 

    The five companies were all wound-up at the High Court in Manchester on Thursday 31 July. 

    Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Our investigators were concerned that there was a genuine risk that these wildly inaccurate accounts could have been used to mislead potential customers and suppliers into providing credit in the future based on completely fabricated financial information. 

    Protecting the integrity of the Companies House register is crucial because UK businesses rely on this information to make informed decisions about who they trade with, lend to, and invest in. When companies submit false information, it undermines confidence in our entire business environment. 

    By working together with Companies House, we can take decisive action to remove rogue companies from the system. This protects legitimate businesses and delivers the economic confidence that underpins growth and prosperity.

    Investigations found that the companies were connected through a shared director and/or shareholder and registered office addresses in South Croydon and South London. 

    All submitted accounts claiming hundreds of millions of pounds in profits but containing glaring inconsistencies. Each company also falsely named respected chartered accountants and solicitors in the accounts. 

    Automarket Europe Limited claimed a turnover of £327 million and net profit of £198 million for 2022. However, its declared assets jumped from £629,220 in 2021 to £84 million in the following year’s accounts – with no explanation for the increase. 

    Integra Group Limited reported similar figures, claiming £302 million turnover and £186 million profit for 2022. Again, net assets leapt from £602,374 in 2021 to £233 million in 2022. 

    Maxell Limited went even further, claiming a turnover of £440 million and £229 million in profits in 2022. According to its accounts, assets grew from £618,496 to £422 million in one year. 

    Montana & Montana Limited falsely named PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as its auditors across multiple years. PWC confirmed they had never worked for the company and requested the accounts be removed. The company’s supposed assets ranged from minus £20 million to plus £194 million. 

    Supermarket Plus Ltd claimed the highest turnover of all – £642 million – with £330 million profit in 2022. Its assets supposedly increased from £402,431 to £410 million. 

    Despite the filed accounts claiming the companies ran substantial operations, they were written in poor English and provided no evidence of genuine trading activity.  

    All five companies failed to co-operate with Insolvency Service investigations or provide up-to-date accounting records. 

    Accounts filed by Automarket Europe Limited, Maxell Limited, and Supermarket Plus Ltd were also removed from Companies House after being found to be “factually inaccurate and forged”. 

    Adrian Landeg, Head of Integrity, Compliance & Enforcement at Companies House, said: 

    By working closely with our stakeholders we’re now able to utilise the powers in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act to take decisive action where false, misleading, or incorrect information is identified on the register. 

    These powers have also strengthened collaboration with our partners at the Insolvency Service which, as this case demonstrates, enables us to crack down on the misuse of UK corporate structures, improve the quality of information on the register and support economic growth.

    The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator of Automarket Europe Limited, Integra Group Limited, Maxell Limited, Montana & Montana Limited, and Supermarket Plus Ltd. 

    All enquiries concerning the affairs of the five companies should be made to the Official Receiver of the Public Interest Unit: 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ. Email piu.or@insolvency.gov.uk. 

    Further information  

    • Automarket Europe Limited (company number 05700104) 

    • Integra Group Limited (company number 10047540) 

    • Maxell Limited (company number 06912995) 

    • Montana & Montana Limited (company number 07540705) 

    • Supermarket Plus Ltd (company number 08044175)  

    • The Insolvency Service can investigate complaints about corporate abuse by live companies. This may include serious misconduct, fraud, scams or dishonest practice in the way the company operates. Further information on our live investigations can be found here 

    • The Insolvency Service’s new investigation and enforcement strategy will see the agency play a leading role in tackling economic crime and improving corporate standards, including supporting Companies House in maintaining the integrity of its registers 

    • Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available here. 

    About us 

    The Insolvency Service is a government agency that helps to deliver economic confidence by supporting those in financial distress, tackling financial wrongdoing and maximising returns to creditors. 

    The Insolvency Service is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade. 

    Read more about what we do 

    Press Office 

    Journalists with enquiries can call the Insolvency Service Press Office on 0303 003 1743 or email press.office@insolvency.gov.uk (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). 

    Out of hours 

    For any out of hours media enquiries, please contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) newsdesk on 020 7215 2000.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Safeguards Access to Health Care with Bill to Repeal Trump Defunding of Planned Parenthood

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined Democratic colleagues in introducing the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, legislation to repeal the newly enacted Republican ban on Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood health centers.

    “Planned Parenthood is often the only place people can go for affordable, trusted health care.  The ban on Medicaid reimbursements has put 200 clinics at risk of closure, affecting thousands of patients in Florida and millions more across the country, said Rep. Frankel. 

    “As required by federal law, Planned Parenthood does not use Medicaid funding for abortion care. Medicaid reimbursements support preventive and lifaesaving services such as STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, birth control, and HPV vaccinations.”

    “This cruel ban does not exist in isolation,” Frankel continued. “The harm is compounded by recent Republican deep cuts to Medicaid, affordable health coverage, and food assistance. These ugly policies work hand in hand to strip basic necessities from those who can least afford to lose them.”

    On July 28, a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the Medicaid provision, but the ruling is expected to be appealed. The Restoring Essential Healthcare Act would permanently repeal this dangerous measure and restore access to care for millions of Americans.

    The bill has been endorsed by leading organizations committed to reproductive health and rights, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the National Abortion Federation, the National Council of Jewish Women, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, and Physicians for Reproductive Health.

    Senators Tina Smith of Minnesota and Patty Murray of Washington have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Introducing 1 Hour Payday Loans Online from 1F Cash Advance! Experience Instant Approval Loans with No Credit Check and Get Your Quick Cash the Same Day You Apply

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOULDER, Colo., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 1F Cash Advance, a responsive fintech committed to delivering fast, people-focused financial solutions, today announces the nationwide launch of its enhanced 1-Hour Payday Loan product. Designed to support Americans with bad credit facing unexpected expenses, the product offers quick financial relief. It addresses record-high financial stress levels affecting households across the country.

    Get Cash in 1 Hour – Apply for a Payday Loan Today!

    1F Cash Advance leverages AI and machine learning to evaluate a broader range of data points, such as social media activity, online transaction patterns, and utility payments, to assess borrower creditworthiness. This innovative approach eliminates the need for a traditional credit check, a benefit that is appreciated by people with limited or poor credit history who are often rejected by banks.

    Using advanced AI analytics, 1F Cash Advance creates personalized loan packages tailored to each borrower’s unique financial profile and needs. This ensures borrowers receive customized solutions rather than standardized, one-size-fits-all offers.

    “Our 1-hour payday loans are built for speed. You apply online, answer a few quick questions, and hear back in minutes,” says Marsha Welch, financial expert at 1F Cash Advance. “The whole idea is to resolve the emergency immediately before it turns into something more serious.”

    As financial demands become more varied and time-sensitive, 1F Cash Advance has expanded its offerings, developing multiple loan options that address a wide range of everyday challenges:

    Today, the urgency and scale of consumer financial insecurity have intensified throughout 2024 and into 2025. The following statistics illustrate this trend:

    • Consumer prices rose by 3.0% over the year leading up to January 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many families are still feeling the pressure, even though inflation isn’t as high as it was in 2022.
    • About 37% of Americans say they wouldn’t be able to handle a $400 emergency expense, based on a Federal Reserve report.
    • More than 12 million people now rely on short-term payday loans each year. Just three years ago, that number was around 900,000.

    1-hour payday loans fit today’s fast-paced lifestyle, letting qualified borrowers get $100 to $1,000 almost instantly. You receive a guaranteed approval with no credit check and repay the loan by your next paycheck. The goal: to help Americans manage pressing financial obligations, such as rent, utilities, medical bills, or car repairs, without unnecessary delays or burdensome red tape.

    Apply Now for a 1 Hour Payday Loan – Quick Approval, Instant Relief!

    Unlike conventional loans, which often require collateral or an extensive credit history, these cash advances are unsecured and highly accessible. Applicants need only meet basic eligibility criteria: be a legal adult with a government-issued ID, a consistent income stream, and an active checking account.

    1F Cash Advance utilizes automated systems to verify income and banking history in real-time, without relying on full credit reports. Once approved, funds are deposited directly into the customer’s bank account the same day.

    “It’s a practice that keeps doors open to more people, even for those with bad credit history,” says Latoria Williams, founder & CEO at 1F Cash Advance. “In many cases, approvals arrive in as little as 15 minutes, and the money is on its way before the end of the day.”

    “Speed matters when you’re staring down a utility shutoff or an urgent repair,” adds Marsha Welch. “But clarity is just as important. Even a fast form at 1F Cash Advance is still a legal contract.”

    What makes 1-hour payday loans so appealing is their simplicity: one online form replaces piles of paperwork, no collateral changes hands, and everything stays confidential. The company believes it provides a modern alternative to borrowing from friends or paying overdraft fees, especially for households with tight budgets.

    For many, bridging a short-term cash gap with a clear, straightforward option is well worth the service cost. While fees typically range from $10 to $30 per $100 borrowed, responsible borrowing and transparent terms keep the process manageable. Edward Evans, managing editor and money management expert at 1F Cash Advance, argues that clear disclosures and automated underwriting keep the process transparent: “Fast money should never mean hidden terms. Our goal is relief today without regret tomorrow.”

    From the Field: Statistics & Real Voices of Local Managers

    Experts from 1F Cash Advance analyzed data from their offices nationwide to determine the source of online applications. The leaders were Texas, California, Florida, and Mississippi; these four states account for the majority of commission fees. 1F Cash Advance experts predict that this figure will grow even more in 2024 after receiving final data.

    Usage maps highlight strong demand across the South, Midwest, and Western states. Meanwhile, in regions like New York, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Oregon, where lending rules are more restrictive, activity remains minimal.

    “1-hour payday loans requests have increased by about 40% over the past two months. Most are for repairs, vehicle or HVAC, a consistent theme.” – José Ramirez, manager from the Texas office.

    “High cost of living in LA and the Bay Area means urgent needs crop up often. We’ve seen overdraft protections and quick payday solutions become essential tools.” – Priya Singh, manager from the California location

    “Midwestern tight budgets show demand for low-sum advances, typical borrowings are $300–$500, often for auto or rent.” – Mark Walters, loan officer from the Ohio store

    “Tourism jobs with irregular pay cycles push us into gig-focused solutions. Approvals are up 35% year‑over‑year.” – Maria Lopez, manager from the Florida store

    1F Cash Advance has emerged as a nimble fintech leader in an industry now serving over $21 million annually in short-term loans.

    Their early adoption of immediately payout technology, combined with strong compliance controls and credit risk data analytics, positions us for rapid scaling. Key metrics include:

    • Year-over-year loan volume increased by 75% in Q1 2025.
    • Net default rate held below 8%, significantly lower than the 15–20% industry average.
    • Customer retention rate exceeds 60%, with high repeat usage among borrowers with stable repayment histories.

    Regional differences in short-term lending come down to two main factors: what states allow and local economic conditions. Texas and Mississippi have looser rules, so people use 1-hour payday loan services more. New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon have strict laws that basically shut down access.

    The economy plays a big role too. California and Florida have tons of gig workers – Uber drivers, delivery people, restaurant staff – who never know what their next paycheck will look like. In tourist areas like Florida and parts of Tennessee, work is seasonal and people get stuck between jobs. Rural areas down South and in the Midwest deal with bad credit and high unemployment, so folks can’t get regular bank loans.

    Things might change next year. Some Midwest states are talking about copying Illinois and capping rates at 36%. 1F Cash Advance worry’s this could backfire – if rates get too low, people might end up borrowing from sketchy offshore websites instead.

    Rising Demand for 1-Hour Payday Loans: Key Reasons

    All signs indicate that the demand for 1-hour Payday Loans will grow, and there are several reasons for this.

    On May 29, 2025, a federal appeals court allowed President Trump’s 10% import tariff to remain in place while legal battles continued. As a result, many retailers are warning customers to expect higher prices on everyday goods as additional costs are passed through the supply chain.

    And Americans are already reacting. According to 1F Cash Advance, 1-hour payday loan inquiries increased by 19% in just one week following the court decision.

    “When prices rise before paychecks do, families look for fast cash that arrives the right now,” explains Latoria Williams.

    Additionally, the gig economy continues to expand. Upwork’s Freelance Forward report reveals that 38% of U.S. workers, about 64 million people, now earn their main income through freelance or gig work. These workers don’t receive paid time off and often wait for client payments, meaning their income can fluctuate significantly from one week to the next.

    “Freelancers can plan their budget, but they can’t lock in a payday,” says Edward Evans. When a client pays late, even a quick $300 advance can be the difference between missing rent and staying on track with repairs. Technology is making access to emergency funds even easier — another reason why interest is growing.

    How Technology Redefining 1-Hour Payday Loans

    As AI-powered approval tools and real-time access to banking data gain traction, a new era of financial inclusion and responsiveness is emerging. Technologies like FedNow®, the Federal Reserve’s real-time payment service, are paving the way for 24/7 banking, including nights and weekends — a significant step forward in meeting the demands of today’s digital-first economy.

    Artificial intelligence is transforming the way creditworthiness is assessed. Instead of relying solely on traditional FICO scores, modern AI models evaluate a broader range of financial behaviors, such as transaction history, income stability, and bill payment patterns. This shift expands access to credit for millions who were previously overlooked by traditional systems, especially gig workers and individuals with non-traditional income streams.

    The launch of FedNow® brings true real-time payments to the U.S. financial system. For consumers, this means instant access to funds — whether it’s loan disbursements, paychecks, or repayments. For lenders, it enables a smooth and efficient flow of capital, improving both borrower satisfaction and operational processes.

    These innovations are particularly important for underbanked populations and gig workers, who often face inconsistent income and limited access to credit. Borrowers with poor credit can get guaranteed approval through AI-driven decisions and instant funding. Flexible repayment schedules match their payday or gig income, making it easier to manage unique financial needs.

    How These Advances Position 1F Cash Advance

    All this tech progress means 1F Cash Advance can offer 1-hour loan services that actually work. They’re not just promising speed — they can deliver it. Here’s how they stack up against your other options when you need cash fast:

    Feature 1F Cash Advance Traditional Banks Credit Cards Other Payday Lenders
    Approval Speed Within 15 minutes Days to weeks Instantly if approved Same day or next day
    Funding Time Usually within 24 hours or the same day  1–5 business days Immediately usable Often same-day
    Transparency Clear fees & terms upfront Regulated disclosure Hidden fees, variable APR Often vague or misleading
    Credit Score Impact Soft check or none Hard check, strict Depends on usage No credit check advertised
    Accessibility Online, low barriers High credit & income reqs Credit-dependent Widely available
    Loan Amounts $100–$5,000 typical $1,000–$50,000 Based on the limit $100–$1,500
    Repayment Flexibility Flexible terms Strict terms High interest if unpaid Lump sum or rollover fees
    Use Case Fit Emergency, short-term needs Large, planned expenses Ongoing purchases Emergency, short-term
             

    Quick Cash in Just 1 Hour – Payday Loans with Guaranteed Approval!

    Look, what used to be cutting-edge is becoming standard. Everyone expects faster service now, whether it’s food delivery or getting a loan with no credit check. The combination of smart AI approval systems and instant payments means companies like 1F Cash Advance can actually help people who banks won’t touch. And when you need money in an hour, that tech backbone is what makes 1-hour payday loans reliable instead of just another empty promise.

    About 1F Cash Advance

    Founded in 2019, 1F Cash Advance was created to help consumers access the funds they need and overcome everyday financial emergencies. The company operates under fair lending laws and uses encryption technologies to protect customer data.

    Headquartered in Boulder, CO, 1F Cash Advance combines digital convenience with local accessibility. In addition to its nationwide online service, the company operates over 80 physical locations across the U.S., including in Texas, Nevada, Kansas, and Tennessee.

    Committed to transparency and customer care, 1F Cash Advance has earned high trust ratings and consistently positive reviews from its clients.

    Media Contact Info

    Mailing Address

    1F Cash Advance, LLC

    1942 Broadway St., STE 314C Boulder, CO 80302

    Main Office Location

    2770 Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302

    Website: https://1firstcashadvance.org

    E-mail: info@1firstcashadvance.org

    Phone:  (720) 428-2247

    Social Media:

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49624086-d128-46fd-8edb-9d978d3c425d

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Kinetiq Unveils Launch: The First Exchange-as-a-Service (EaaS) Platform for the Hyperliquid Ecosystem

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Kinetiq (the “Company”) is pleased to announce Launch, the first Exchange-as-a-Service (EaaS) platform purpose-built for the Hyperliquid ecosystem. Launch enables any team to deploy their own perpetual futures exchange on Hyperliquid, without the steep technical or capital requirements that previously made it inaccessible.

    By leveraging Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 (Hyperliquid Improvement Proposal 3) protocol and Kinetiq’s battle-tested, fully onchain LST architecture, Launch transforms exchange deployment into a permissionless, modular, secure and open process. This marks a significant milestone in the evolution of decentralized trading, opening the door for more specialized and exotic markets to emerge on Hyperliquid.

    A New Market Primitive: Builder-Deployed Exchanges

    Under Hyperliquid’s HIP-3, deployers can operate custom exchanges but must stake 1,000,000+ HYPE (~$42M USD at current prices) to do so. Launch removes this barrier by enabling crowdfunding through isolated staking pools tied to each exchange. This architecture, featuring exchange-specific LSTs (exLSTs), provides risk isolation, governance control, and new yield opportunities for participants.

    Deployers can focus on market curation, strategy, and community-building, while Kinetiq provides the full technical backend. HYPE holders, meanwhile, can support exchanges aligned with their interests and earn yield from trading activity—creating an entirely new asset class of yield-bearing exchange shares.

    “Launch unlocks a new layer of financial expression on Hyperliquid,” said Kinetiq Co-Founder and CTO, Justin Greenberg. “Teams can now spin up exchanges as easily as stores on Shopify—while backers support visions they believe in, like on Kickstarter.”

    The Launch Model: Combining Shopify x Kickstarter for DeFi

    Launch offers the full stack to spin up HIP-3 exchanges—integrated with crowdfunding rails, validator coordination, governance tooling, and automated fee distribution. Each exchange deployment is risk-isolated, with its own staking pool, exLST token, and validator set.

    This makes Launch the first true EaaS model for decentralized finance, where:

    • Deployers access capital, infrastructure, and instant market access
    • Contributors earn yield, participate in governance, diversify exposure across exchange deployments, and get exclusive benefits on exchanges they contribute to
    • Traders benefit from competitive fees, domain-specific markets, and permissionless access
    • Hyperliquid gains an explosion of new exchange use cases, all interoperable with HyperCore and HyperEVM

    We’ve spoken with tens of teams who all encounter the same bottlenecks around their aspirations for leveraging HIP-3. We’re actively seeking teams interested in deploying specialized perpetual markets. Whether you’re focused on exotic assets, novel market structures, or underserved trading communities, Launch can help bring your vision to life.

    For market makers and liquidity providers, we welcome conversations around bespoke market design, internalized flow opportunities, and strategic alignment through HIP-3.

    About Kinetiq

    The Kinetiq protocol is built natively on Hyperliquid to further staking initiatives around HYPE, the native token of the Hyperliquid blockchain, beginning with fully onchain, non-custodial liquid staking.

    Kinetiq has become one of the fastest growing LSTs, amassing >$750m in TVL (Total Value Locked) within the first two weeks of its launch and cementing its position as the leading liquid staking protocol on Hyperliquid. Kinetiq’s iHYPE deployment is the first HYPE staking initiative crafted exclusively for institutional clientele, and comes ready for immediate usage across institutional integrations both within and beyond the Hyperliquid ecosystem.

    Launch is Kinetiq’s newest product—designed to make HIP-3 exchange deployment permissionless, modular, and scalable. It empowers both deployers and HYPE holders to shape the future of decentralized trading.

    About Hyperliquid

    Hyperliquid is a layer one blockchain (L1) optimized from the ground up for high frequency, transparent trading. The blockchain includes fully onchain perpetual futures and spot order books, with every order, cancel, trade, and liquidation occurring within 70 millisecond block times. It also hosts the HyperEVM, a general-purpose smart contract platform that, like Ethereum, supports permissionless decentralized financial applications.

    For further information, please contact:

    Email: contact@kinetiq.xyz

    Website: https://kinetiq.xyz

    X: https://x.com/kinetiq_xyz

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Encore Capital Group® Announces Findings of its Third Economic Freedom Study

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Encore) (Nasdaq: ECPG), an international specialty finance company, today announced the findings of its third Economic Freedom Study. The latest study surveyed over 6,000 adults in Encore’s largest markets, the United States and United Kingdom, about their feelings toward their personal finances and the economy.

    Respondents were asked what causes them the most financial stress and the best ways to address their challenges, including attitudes toward working with debt collection companies to resolve past-due debt. The latest study also examines credit score awareness and financial literacy. The research was commissioned by Encore and conducted by Morning Consult.

    A detailed report of the findings is available on Encore’s website. Key highlights from the study include:

    • Most U.S. and U.K. adults feel somewhat or very positive about their personal financial futures, but they are less optimistic about their respective national economies. Nearly half (49%) of U.S. adults say their outlook on the future of the national economy is somewhat or very negative, compared to just over two-thirds (67%) of U.K. adults.
    • “Being debt-free” was the most-selected definition of economic freedom for adults in both countries, chosen by 27% of both U.S. and U.K. adults. Being debt-free was the most-selected definition for every generation in both countries except U.K. Gen Z adults, among whom “having the independence to do/buy what I want” was the most-selected definition (25%).
    • While U.S. adults are more aware of their credit scores than U.K. adults, most adults in each country desire a free way to check their credit score. Over four in five U.S. adults (83%) say they know their credit score, compared to just over half (51%) of U.K. adults. Of those who say they know their credit score, roughly half or more in each country report having a “good” or better rating.
    • Nearly three in 10 (29%) U.S. adults and just under one in five (19%) U.K. adults report currently having past-due debt, especially younger and low-income adults. Most adults with past-due debt in both countries say it will take a long time to pay back most or all of their balance.
    • Today, significantly more U.S. and U.K. adults are requesting help to repay past-due debt compared to the 2022 Encore Economic Freedom Study, and significantly more signal intentions to work with debt collection companies to resolve their debt.

    “Our company supports consumers who are actively dealing with financial stress every day, which makes these findings especially important for us,” said Ashish Masih, Encore’s President and CEO. “By understanding how consumers are thinking and feeling about their finances, which priorities matter most to them, and how they plan to address past-due debt, we can better fulfill our Mission to help them on their path to economic freedom.”

    The survey found that as U.S. consumers are accumulating credit card debt at record levels, and U.K. consumers continue to feel pessimistic about their national economy, adults in both countries are facing high economic concern and are focused on building emergency funds.

    “We continue to be focused on meeting consumers where they are, and we’re well-positioned to help them,” Masih said. “We lead with empathy, tailor solutions to pay off past-due debt to consumers’ unique circumstances, always seek to understand the consumer’s needs and provide access to support in times of hardship.”

    The survey’s findings affirm Encore’s approach to working with consumers. For example, about one-quarter (24%) of adults in both countries said that receiving a discount on debt owed would be most helpful to getting out of debt. Nearly the same number in both countries said having more time to pay off debt would be most helpful, followed by learning better financial habits.

    Midland Credit Management (MCM), Encore’s U.S. subsidiary, published its Consumer Bill of Rights almost 15 years ago, and it remains the only one of its kind in the industry. It clearly defines how MCM will suspend collection activities when a consumer demonstrates that they are experiencing significant financial hardship due to medical issues, natural disasters, job loss or other challenges. Similarly, Cabot Credit Management, Encore’s U.K. and European subsidiary, has a Sensitive Support Team in the United Kingdom, which includes specialists trained to work with consumers facing mental or physical illness resulting in significant financial hardship. The team’s goal is to ensure a consumer’s debts don’t become a barrier to their physical or financial recovery or well-being.

    “It is heartening to see consumers prioritizing being debt-free and showing a willingness to seek help, learn new financial skills and work with companies like Encore to achieve it,” Masih said. “The approach we take with consumers, including working with them one-on-one and tailoring solutions to meet their unique needs and circumstances, aligns well with the findings of the study.”

    The Economic Freedom Study online survey was conducted from April 24-May 2, 2025, among 6,406 adults, including 3,192 U.S. adults and 3,214 U.K. adults. The U.S. and U.K. samples are weighted on age, gender, education, race/ethnicity and region to reflect the demographic makeup of their respective adult (18+) populations according to most recently available census data from each country. The margin of error for the total sample in each country is plus or minus 2 percentage points.

    About Encore Capital Group, Inc.
    Encore Capital Group® is an international specialty finance company that provides debt recovery solutions and other related services across a broad range of financial assets. Through our subsidiaries around the globe, Encore purchases or services portfolios of receivables from major banks, credit unions and utility providers.

    Encore partners with individuals as they repay their debt obligations, helping them on the road to financial recovery and ultimately improving their economic well-being. Encore is the first and only company of its kind to operate with a Consumer Bill of Rights that provides industry-leading commitments to consumers. Headquartered in San Diego, Encore is a publicly traded NASDAQ Global Select company (ticker symbol: ECPG) and a component stock of the Russell 2000, the S&P Small Cap 600 and the Wilshire 4500. More information about the company can be found at http://www.encorecapital.com.

    Contact
    Faryar Borhani
    Vice President, Chief Communications Officer
    press@encorecapital.com

    The MIL Network –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: We just wrapped our earnings call. It was a very strong close to our fiscal year. A few highlights…

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: We just wrapped our earnings call. It was a very strong close to our fiscal year. A few highlights…

    We just wrapped our earnings call. It was a very strong close to our fiscal year. A few highlights:   Azure surpassed $75 billion in revenue for the first time this year, up 34 percent year over year. It has been quite the journey from 0 to 75! We have come a long way from Project Red Dog… we now add as much capacity in a month as we did in our first five years!   Super grateful for the trust so many customers have placed in us through the years.   One other big number we shared: more than 100 million monthly active users across our family of Copilots.   We rolled out our biggest update to M365 Copilot this quarter, and we saw the largest quarter of seat adds, with a record number of customers coming back to buy more seats.   Plus, we have Copilots and agents for every role and function, which are all growing fast, from GitHub Copilot for devs (20M users), to Dragon in healthcare (13M physician-patient encounters this quarter).   And with Copilot Mode in Edge, it is exciting to see innovation come back to the browser!   Azure Foundry is our app server for AI, and we’re seeing great momentum.   Foundry offers access to more models than any other hyperscaler, as well as best-in-class tooling, management, observability, and built-in controls for trustworthy AI.   And when we look at just the number of tokens served by Foundry APIs, we processed over 500 trillion this year, up over 7X.   This is good indicator of true platform diffusion beyond a few head apps and services.   You can read more about our results here: https://lnkd.in/gvQd_xNf

    MIL OSI Economics –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: On The Senate Floor, Durbin Urges The Release Of Political Prisoners In The UAE, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, & Guatemala

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 31, 2025

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted the plight of political prisoners in four nations and called for their immediate and unconditional release. These political prisoners have been outspoken in their support for democracy, freedom of the press, human rights, and basic freedoms.

     

    During his remarks, Durbin reflected on past American voices in the fight for democracy, including President Reagan who told the Soviets at the Brandenburg Gate to “tear down this wall,” and John McCain who joined thousands of Ukrainians aspiring for freedom on the Maidan Square.

     

    “From time to time I come to the floor to discuss political prisoners jailed by some of the world’s worst regimes. I have often been joined in efforts to secure their release by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including then-Senator and now Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
    You see, despite periods of retreat on the global stage, the United States has been seen as a beacon of hope for those who want a more free and democratic society, and this American voice has also enjoyed broad bipartisan support,”     said Durbin.

     

    Durbin first highlighted Ahmed Mansoor who has been imprisoned for over eight years in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Mansoor is considered one of the last major human rights voices in the Emirates—one tragically held at times in solitary confinement unable to contact his family. He was arrested under the guise that his social media posts advocating for human rights threatened social harmony.

     

    “Despite dismal conditions of his incarceration, he remains steadfast in his commitment to human rights—even conducting multiple hunger strikes in protest of his jail conditions, the same conditions he spoke out against before his detention. Recently his outrageous 15-year sentence was upheld on appeal. We have strong ties and shared interests with the UAE, but its continued involvement in the horrific Sudanese civil war and incarceration of Mr. Mansoor complicate that relationship. I appeal to the UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to show compassion and allow Mr. Mansoor’s release on humanitarian grounds,” Durbin said.

     

    Durbin then highlighted a political prisoner in Azerbaijan—Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu—who was forcibly dragged from his vehicle with his wife and severely beaten. He was taken to a prison well known fortorture, where he was denied medication and legal representation.

    “His [Dr. Ibadoghlu’s] crime? Investigating and writing on the rampant corruption stemming from Azerbaijan’s oil and gas industry. While he was eventually placed under house arrest in April 2024, he has still been denied a trial, legal representation, and access to adequate medical care, and his family continues to suffer harassment. He is one of the many wrongfully detained individuals in Azerbaijan who should be released,” said Durbin.

     

    Durbin then spoke about a political prisoner in Tunisia, originally one of the most promising nations to emerge from the Arab Spring. Sonia Dahmani, a prominent Tunisian lawyer and political commentator who was arrested in May 2024 for her radio and television commentary. She faces five separate legal proceedings and an additional 10 years pending charges. Her sister, Ramla, was also sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for advocating for her sister’s case on social media.

     

    “Ms. Dahmani has endured appalling prison conditions, including sexual assault, and denial of basic medical care. I urge President Saied: release her on humanitarian charges and drop any remaining charges, including against her sister,” Durbin continued.

     

    Lastly, Durbin spoke about two cases in Guatemala—including the troubling jailing of journalist José Rubén Zamora and legal harassment of anti-corruption prosecutor, Virginia Laparra.

     

    “Their incarceration occurred amid multiple efforts to derail the peaceful transition of power to President Arevalo last year. Both were eventually released from prison to house arrest, but Mr. Zamora has now been sent back to prison and Ms. Laparra continues to face baseless legal harassment from holdovers from the previous regime. Both deserve full release and dropping of remaining charges,” said Durbin.

     

    Durbin concluded, “What we do here matters around the world, for the large and small battles occurring for freedom and democracy. My friend and jailed Russian dissident Vladimir Kara Murza wrote the following from his Russia gulag a few years ago, ‘The prisoner’s worst nightmare is the thought of being forgotten… I always knew how true those words were — and how important were international campaigns of solidarity with prisoners of conscience. I now feel it with my own skin.’ So, let me remind Ahmed, Gubad, Sonia, José Rubén, and Virginia—you are not forgotten… Don’t give up hope. I will continue to be that voice to remind the world of the incarceration and treatment [of the political prisoners.] We need to be a beacon of hope and freedom in the United States.”

    Following the speech, Durbin met with Mr. Zamora’s son, José, and Dr. Ibadoghlu’s son, Emin. They also watched Durbin’s floor speech from the Senate gallery.

     

    Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Introduced Legislation To Protect More Than 13,000 Acres Of Shawnee National Forest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 31, 2025

    The Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act would create 12,700 additional acres of special management areas and 750 acres of wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest

    WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act, legislation that would create 12,700 additional acres of special management areas and 750 acres of wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest. Securing this designation for these acres would offer critical protections to the area.

    “The Shawnee National Forest welcomes thousands of visitors each year, who take advantage of the beautiful views and hiking trails. It’s critical that our natural areas are preserved to ensure that generations of Illinoisans can continue to enjoy all that Shawnee National Forest has to offer,” Durbin said. “I’m introducing the Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act to protect more than 13,000 acres of one of our state’s richest natural resources.”

    “Protecting these wonderful areas in the Shawnee National Forest, including the new Camp Hutchins Wilderness Area, will go a long way to preserving some of the most remarkable landscapes, biodiversity, and water resources in Southern Illinois,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Illinois cares about Wilderness areas in the Shawnee, and we now have a great opportunity to continue protecting these special places for hiking, camping, and wildlife.”

    “These three areas are rich in biodiversity and among Illinois’ most pristine habitats, but they are not currently protected against logging or other commercial activities,” said Barbara McKasson, a leader with the Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club. “Senator Durbin’s proposal will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy these high quality natural areas, and that they will continue to support a rich diversity of wildlife.”

     

    The 12,700 acres of special management areas will be from the following areas: 2,953 acres from Camp Hutchins; 3,445 acres from Ripple Hollow; and 6,310 acres from Burke Branch. The 750 acres of wilderness will be in Camp Hutchins.

     

    The Shawnee National Forest consists of 289,000 acres and its boundaries have been expanded three times since the U.S. Forest Service originally purchased the land in 1933. Roughly 10 percent, or about 30,000 acres, of the Shawnee National Forest is currently protected as wilderness.

     

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC Recalls Member’s Mark Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pack for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    July 30, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    July 31, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes

    Company Name:
    Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Member’s Mark

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Freeze dried fruit

    Company Announcement
    Cartersville, GA – 7/30/2025 – Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC is recalling Member’s Mark Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pack 15 count boxes, UPC 1 93968 50900 2 due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
    No illnesses have been reported to date.
    Products affected are:

    PRODUCT 

    SIZE 

    UPC 

    LOT/MFG CODES 

    USE BY DATE 

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25175

    06/24/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25176

    06/25/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25177

    06/26/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25181

    06/30/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25182

    07/01/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25183

    07/02/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25184

    07/03/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25186

    07/05/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25188

    07/07/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25189

    07/08/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25190

    07/09/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25191

    07/10/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25192

    07/11/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25196

    07/15/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25197

    07/16/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25198

    07/17/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25199

    07/18/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25202

    07/21/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25203

    07/22/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25204

    07/23/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25205

    07/24/2027

    Member’s MarkFreeze Dried FruitVariety Pack

    15 count

    1 93968 50900 2

    25206

    07/25/2027

    The firm discovered the problem via internal testing of their products. The products were distributed between 7/1/2025-7/25/2025 and sold in Sam’s Club retail stores. These products were packaged in foil pouches inside a corrugated box. The lot number and expiration date are located on the bottom of the case. Product was shipped to distribution centers in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, PR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, WY. Consumers who have this product in their possession should not consume the product. They should discard it and may visit any Sam’s Club for a full refund.
    Consumers with questions may contact Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC’s Customer Service at 770-387-0451, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST.
    This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC’s Customer Service
    770-387-0451

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    07/31/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

    August 5, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Accessibility act makes EU accessible for all

    Source: European Union 2

    The EU’s accessibility act came into force in June, ensuring that key products and services – such as phones, computers, TVs, banking and payment services, public transport, e-commerce platforms – are accessible to persons with disabilities. Some 100 million people in the EU live with a disability.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    August 5, 2025
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