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  • MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes for speedy ceasefire between Israel and Iran – MFA /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China pays close attention to the developments in the Middle East, does not want tensions to escalate again and hopes for an early ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

    The Chinese diplomat made the statement while commenting on US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.

    Facts have proven that military means cannot bring peace, and dialogue and negotiations are the right way to solve problems, he said.

    China calls on relevant parties to return to the correct path of political settlement as soon as possible. China is willing to work with the international community to make efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region, Guo Jiakun assured. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hungary to oppose Ukraine’s integration into NATO and EU at key summits – V. Orban

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BUDAPEST, June 24 (Xinhua) — Hungary will try to block Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the EU at key summits of the two Western blocs this week, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on social media on Monday.

    He said Hungary was seeking to prevent the establishment of institutional links between Ukraine and the two associations that could lead to conflict and financial instability in the region.

    Orban described Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO as an “immediate and direct threat” due to the alliance’s collective defense commitments. Ukraine’s accession to the EU, he added, would pose a “constant and indirect threat” that could intensify at any time.

    According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine’s membership in the European Union could have a negative impact on Hungary’s economy, harming the interests of farmers, leading to a decrease in wages, depriving Hungarian citizens of jobs and diverting funds from Hungary to Ukrainian needs.

    Hungary will confidently overcome “stormy waters” with the help of experience and strength, V. Orban commented on the upcoming NATO and EU summits, which will be held this week in The Hague and Brussels, respectively. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to boost consumption with increased financial support

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China on Tuesday released guidelines to increase financial support to effectively boost consumption.

    The document, jointly issued by six government bodies including the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank), outlines a series of measures aimed at key areas of consumption.

    The document calls for increased financial support for the consumption of both goods and services. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2025 and Annual Update

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Current-Account Deficit Widened by 44.3 Percent in the First Quarter

    Current-Account Balance (Table 1 and Chart 1)

    The U.S. current-account deficit, which reflects the combined balances on trade in goods and services and income flows between U.S. residents and residents of other countries, widened by $138.2 billion, or 44.3 percent, to $450.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revised fourth-quarter deficit was $312.0 billion (table A).

    The first-quarter deficit was 6.0 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

    The $138.2 billion widening of the current-account deficit in the first quarter mostly reflected an expanded deficit on goods.

    Current-Account Transactions (tables 1–5 and chart 2)

    Exports of goods and services to, and income received from, foreign residents decreased $3.9 billion to $1.24 trillion in the first quarter. Imports of goods and services from, and income paid to, foreign residents increased $134.3 billion to $1.69 trillion.1

    Trade in goods (table 2)

    Exports of goods increased $21.1 billion to $539.0 billion, and imports of goods increased $158.2 billion to $1.00 trillion. The increase in exports was led by capital goods, mainly civilian aircraft and computer accessories, peripherals, and parts. The increase in imports was led by nonmonetary gold and consumer goods, mostly medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products (see “Additional Information” for a definition of nonmonetary gold under “Goods”).

    Trade in services (table 3)

    Exports of services decreased $4.4 billion to $293.2 billion, reflecting decreases in government goods and services, mostly military units and agencies, in travel, mostly “other personal travel,” and in “other business services,” mainly professional and management consulting services. These decreases were partly offset by an increase in maintenance and repair services. Imports of services decreased $1.8 billion to $217.8 billion, reflecting a decrease in charges for the use of intellectual property, mostly licenses for the use of outcomes of research and development.

    Primary income (table 4)

    Receipts of primary income decreased $22.9 billion to $355.1 billion, and payments of primary income decreased $13.7 billion to $362.7 billion. The decreases in both receipts and payments reflected a decrease in direct investment income, mostly earnings.

    Secondary income (table 5)

    Receipts of secondary income increased $2.3 billion to $49.6 billion, reflecting an increase in private transfers, primarily fines and penalties. Payments of secondary income decreased $8.4 billion to $101.5 billion, reflecting a decrease in general government transfers, primarily international cooperation.

    Capital-Account Transactions (table 1)

    Capital-transfer receipts decreased $2.4 billion to $8.9 billion in the first quarter. The decrease reflected first-quarter receipts from foreign insurance companies for losses resulting from wildfires in Southern California that were lower than fourth-quarter receipts for losses resulting from Hurricane Milton. For information on transactions associated with hurricanes and other disasters, see “How do losses recovered from foreign insurance companies following natural or man-made disasters affect foreign transactions, the current account balance, and net lending or net borrowing?”. Capital-transfer payments increased $0.5 billion to $2.0 billion.

    Financial-Account Transactions (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8 and chart 3)

    Net financial-account transactions were −$299.5 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. borrowing from foreign residents.

    Financial assets (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets by $524.9 billion. Transactions increased “other investment assets,” mostly short-term loans, by $328.2 billion; portfolio investment assets, mostly debt securities, by $128.4 billion; direct investment assets, mostly equity, by $66.8 billion; and reserve assets by $1.5 billion.

    Liabilities (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. liabilities to foreign residents by $843.7 billion. Transactions increased portfolio investment liabilities, mostly long-term debt securities, by $429.9 billion; “other investment liabilities,” mainly short-term deposits and loans, by $358.9 billion; and direct investment liabilities, mostly equity, by $54.9 billion.

    Financial derivatives (table 1)

    Net transactions in financial derivatives were $19.3 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. lending to foreign residents.

      

    Table A. Updates to Fourth-Quarter 2024 International Transactions Accounts Balances

    [Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted]
      Preliminary estimates Revised estimates
    Current-account balance –303.9 −312.0
        Goods balance −326.1 −328.9
        Services balance 76.1 78.0
        Primary income balance 2.3 1.6
        Secondary income balance −56.2 −62.6
    Net financial-account transactions −385.3 −350.8
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Annual Update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts

    The statistics in this release reflect the annual update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts. With this update, BEA has incorporated newly available and revised source data and recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments beginning with 2018. This annual update also reflects the incorporation of (1) BEA’s 2022 Benchmark Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property With Foreign Persons, (2) a new balance of payments adjustment to exports of goods to redistribute estimates for late receipts for Canada from “other goods” to detailed commodities, (3) a new method for estimating other investment assets and other investment liabilities transactions by maturity, and (4) new statistics for transactions, income, and positions related to a repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities. A summary of the revisions to high-level aggregates is shown in table 9.

    Table B. Newly Available and Revised Source Data: Key Providers and Years Affected

    Agency Data Years affected
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Quarterly and benchmark international trade in services surveys 2018–2024
    Annual and quarterly direct investment surveys 2022–2024
    U.S. Census Bureau Revised source data for international trade in goods 2022–2024
    U.S. Department of the Treasury Quarterly and monthly portfolio and other investment surveys 2022–2024
    Benchmark and quarterly portfolio investment surveys 2023–2024
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    More information on the annual update is available in “Preview of the 2025 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts” in the Survey of Current Business. Additional information will be provided in the Survey in July 2025. U.S. International Economic Accounts: Concepts and Methods will be updated in September 2025 accordingly.

    For resources, definitions, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Next release: September 23, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    U.S. International Transactions, 2nd Quarter 2025

    1 U.S. international transactions are presented in current dollars in accordance with international statistical presentation guidelines. For a comparison of current-dollar, or nominal, and inflation-adjusted, or real, measures of international transactions, see “SECTION 4 – FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS” of the National Income and Product Accounts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2025 and Annual Update

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Current-Account Deficit Widened by 44.3 Percent in the First Quarter

    Current-Account Balance (Table 1 and Chart 1)

    The U.S. current-account deficit, which reflects the combined balances on trade in goods and services and income flows between U.S. residents and residents of other countries, widened by $138.2 billion, or 44.3 percent, to $450.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revised fourth-quarter deficit was $312.0 billion (table A).

    The first-quarter deficit was 6.0 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

    The $138.2 billion widening of the current-account deficit in the first quarter mostly reflected an expanded deficit on goods.

    Current-Account Transactions (tables 1–5 and chart 2)

    Exports of goods and services to, and income received from, foreign residents decreased $3.9 billion to $1.24 trillion in the first quarter. Imports of goods and services from, and income paid to, foreign residents increased $134.3 billion to $1.69 trillion.1

    Trade in goods (table 2)

    Exports of goods increased $21.1 billion to $539.0 billion, and imports of goods increased $158.2 billion to $1.00 trillion. The increase in exports was led by capital goods, mainly civilian aircraft and computer accessories, peripherals, and parts. The increase in imports was led by nonmonetary gold and consumer goods, mostly medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products (see “Additional Information” for a definition of nonmonetary gold under “Goods”).

    Trade in services (table 3)

    Exports of services decreased $4.4 billion to $293.2 billion, reflecting decreases in government goods and services, mostly military units and agencies, in travel, mostly “other personal travel,” and in “other business services,” mainly professional and management consulting services. These decreases were partly offset by an increase in maintenance and repair services. Imports of services decreased $1.8 billion to $217.8 billion, reflecting a decrease in charges for the use of intellectual property, mostly licenses for the use of outcomes of research and development.

    Primary income (table 4)

    Receipts of primary income decreased $22.9 billion to $355.1 billion, and payments of primary income decreased $13.7 billion to $362.7 billion. The decreases in both receipts and payments reflected a decrease in direct investment income, mostly earnings.

    Secondary income (table 5)

    Receipts of secondary income increased $2.3 billion to $49.6 billion, reflecting an increase in private transfers, primarily fines and penalties. Payments of secondary income decreased $8.4 billion to $101.5 billion, reflecting a decrease in general government transfers, primarily international cooperation.

    Capital-Account Transactions (table 1)

    Capital-transfer receipts decreased $2.4 billion to $8.9 billion in the first quarter. The decrease reflected first-quarter receipts from foreign insurance companies for losses resulting from wildfires in Southern California that were lower than fourth-quarter receipts for losses resulting from Hurricane Milton. For information on transactions associated with hurricanes and other disasters, see “How do losses recovered from foreign insurance companies following natural or man-made disasters affect foreign transactions, the current account balance, and net lending or net borrowing?”. Capital-transfer payments increased $0.5 billion to $2.0 billion.

    Financial-Account Transactions (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8 and chart 3)

    Net financial-account transactions were −$299.5 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. borrowing from foreign residents.

    Financial assets (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets by $524.9 billion. Transactions increased “other investment assets,” mostly short-term loans, by $328.2 billion; portfolio investment assets, mostly debt securities, by $128.4 billion; direct investment assets, mostly equity, by $66.8 billion; and reserve assets by $1.5 billion.

    Liabilities (tables 1, 6, 7, and 8)

    First-quarter transactions increased U.S. liabilities to foreign residents by $843.7 billion. Transactions increased portfolio investment liabilities, mostly long-term debt securities, by $429.9 billion; “other investment liabilities,” mainly short-term deposits and loans, by $358.9 billion; and direct investment liabilities, mostly equity, by $54.9 billion.

    Financial derivatives (table 1)

    Net transactions in financial derivatives were $19.3 billion in the first quarter, reflecting net U.S. lending to foreign residents.

      

    Table A. Updates to Fourth-Quarter 2024 International Transactions Accounts Balances

    [Billions of dollars, seasonally adjusted]
      Preliminary estimates Revised estimates
    Current-account balance –303.9 −312.0
        Goods balance −326.1 −328.9
        Services balance 76.1 78.0
        Primary income balance 2.3 1.6
        Secondary income balance −56.2 −62.6
    Net financial-account transactions −385.3 −350.8
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Annual Update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts

    The statistics in this release reflect the annual update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts. With this update, BEA has incorporated newly available and revised source data and recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments beginning with 2018. This annual update also reflects the incorporation of (1) BEA’s 2022 Benchmark Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property With Foreign Persons, (2) a new balance of payments adjustment to exports of goods to redistribute estimates for late receipts for Canada from “other goods” to detailed commodities, (3) a new method for estimating other investment assets and other investment liabilities transactions by maturity, and (4) new statistics for transactions, income, and positions related to a repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities. A summary of the revisions to high-level aggregates is shown in table 9.

    Table B. Newly Available and Revised Source Data: Key Providers and Years Affected

    Agency Data Years affected
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Quarterly and benchmark international trade in services surveys 2018–2024
    Annual and quarterly direct investment surveys 2022–2024
    U.S. Census Bureau Revised source data for international trade in goods 2022–2024
    U.S. Department of the Treasury Quarterly and monthly portfolio and other investment surveys 2022–2024
    Benchmark and quarterly portfolio investment surveys 2023–2024
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    More information on the annual update is available in “Preview of the 2025 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts” in the Survey of Current Business. Additional information will be provided in the Survey in July 2025. U.S. International Economic Accounts: Concepts and Methods will be updated in September 2025 accordingly.

    For resources, definitions, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Next release: September 23, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    U.S. International Transactions, 2nd Quarter 2025

    1 U.S. international transactions are presented in current dollars in accordance with international statistical presentation guidelines. For a comparison of current-dollar, or nominal, and inflation-adjusted, or real, measures of international transactions, see “SECTION 4 – FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS” of the National Income and Product Accounts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF Graduate Research Fellow’s work on light contributes to nanodot breakthrough 

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Americans spend a lot of time on their screens. The images on those screens are made of pixels — tiny dots that represent a single point of color. Scientists from Penn State, including NSF Graduate Research Fellow Nicholas Trainer, recently discovered a process that can make the images on phones, monitors and TVs even brighter.

    The Penn State research shows that light emitted from 2D materials can be changed by embedding a second, very small (80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair) 2D material inside them, called a nanodot. By controlling the size of the nanodot through a process called quantum confinement, scientists can change the color and frequency of the emitted light.

    Credit: Nasim Alem, Penn State University

    On the left is an illustration of the experimental setup from this study. Molybdenum diselenide nanodots, represented by red triangles, are embedded in tungsten diselenide and encapsulated by hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) on top and bottom. A focused electron beam, shown in green, in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is aimed at the structure. The emitted light is collected to generate an intensity map. On the upper right is a dark-field STEM image of the molybdenum diselenide nanodot embedded inside tungsten diselenide. The contour of the nanodot is marked by dotted green lines. On the lower right is an artificially colored light emission intensity map of the same region, with the localized emission from the nanodot clearly visible

    “Think about how OLED [technology used in our digital screens] displays work,” says Saiphaneendra Bachu, lead author of the study. “Each pixel has its own tiny light source behind it, so you can control the exact color or brightness of each one. This lets the screen show true black and accurate colors like red, green and blue. If you improve this process, you make the picture much sharper and more vibrant.”

    Improved quantum computing has implications for fields ranging from cybersecurity (it could make one’s online presence, transactions and the wider web more secure) to developing new materials and drugs to improving the efficiency and accuracy of artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms.

    The nanodot discovery will have uses beyond sharper and more efficient displays on screens. The “quantum confinement” that the scientists achieved with the nanodots creates a type of fundamental particle called an “exciton” that transports energy but doesn’t carry a charge. Excitons influence how semiconductors behave, and being able to precisely control the excitons (which this new development allows) can lead to faster and more secure quantum computing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Hartford Receives $500,000 from The Hartford to Support Student Housing Scholarships

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The UConn Foundation has received a $500,000 gift from The Hartford to provide housing scholarships for students in a new residence hall on Pratt Street in Hartford, set to open in fall 2026.

    The gift underscores The Hartford’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable for local students. The scholarships will help ensure that students with financial need can access the new apartment-style housing, which will accommodate 200 students and mark a new chapter in UConn Hartford’s growth.

    “I am deeply grateful to The Hartford for their generous gift to the UConn Hartford residence hall,” says Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, UConn Hartford’s campus dean and chief administrative officer. “This investment in our students is also an investment in Hartford’s future. Together we are helping to create a more vibrant, dynamic downtown where students can live, learn, and contribute to the city’s growth.”

    The University is currently transforming a former law office at 64 Pratt Street into a vibrant residential space, creating a community-focused living experience for qualified students in the heart of Hartford.

    “We are proud to continue our partnership with UConn Hartford – an institution that shares our commitment to the city we call home,” says The Hartford’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Claire Burns. “By supporting housing scholarships for students, we are removing financial barriers and providing students with greater access to opportunities. This gift not only supports students in their academic journey but also contributes to a more active and connected community.”

    This is The Hartford’s second major gift to UConn in recent years. In 2021, the insurance company gave $1 million to create The Hartford Scholars Program, which provided financial support and mentoring for 50 UConn Hartford students.

    The student housing support will help address a pressing need on the Hartford campus, where about 86 percent of students received some form of financial aid last year. Approximately 58 percent received federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to the neediest students.

    In a survey, about 70% of UConn Hartford students said they would like student housing, but it would need to be affordable since many live with their parents.

    UConn’s presence in Hartford continues to grow as the University deepens its ties with the capital city. This fall, the University will open a new café in the downtown campus in the former Hartford Times building. UConn also recently opened a research center near PeoplesBank Arena, formerly known as the XL Center.

    Support the Hartford Residential Scholars Enhancement Fund.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Vibrant Partnership: UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport and Hartford Public Schools Support Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Over 20 Years

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport has been supporting Connecticut children, families, and educators for decades, promoting healthy eating and physical activity through impactful educational programs. Although the campus-community partnership has connections throughout the state, it has partnered with one Hartford elementary school since 2005. For the past nine years, that school has been Fred D. Wish Museum School, where UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport (UConn HNS) works alongside students, staff, families, and community partners to offer more than 600 educational program sessions a year.

    “UConn HNS people bring such an impactful energy to our school community,” says principal Kesha Ryan. “They know our students, and our students know them, which is a real credit to the investments they make to build positive relationships. It’s an extensive partnership in that their presence is a part of our everyday activities. Our staff and families can depend on their staff and programs, our students have fun and learn about healthy eating and exercise, and we maintain regular collaboration in support of the students and community of Wish School.”

    The hundreds of sessions at Wish School span all grade levels and are offered during the school day, after school, and as schoolwide initiatives. The educational sessions focus on a variety of topics: nutrition lessons based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate initiative, hands-on healthy snack prep and tastings, active games, sport-sampling, and literacy skills.

    UConn students receive hands-on experiential learning while leading programs at Wish School. (UConn HNS photo)

    In addition, past schoolwide initiatives that UConn HNS has supported have included new recess equipment, indoor and outdoor recess campaigns, new policies such as healthy classroom checklists, the integration of positive behavioral interventions and supports, teacher appreciation days, family events, cultural celebrations, field trips to UConn, activities surrounding National Nutrition Month in March, and support for the growing Wish Media Club.

    The vibrant partnership has a lot of moving parts that require collaboration to ensure everything continues to work effectively. Logistically, staff, schedules, school committees, and lesson plans all have to align, while also allowing time for feedback and evaluation to support improvement.

    “We take a lot of pride in our ability to build meaningful relationships with individual people, while also maintaining lines of communication and systems that allow for us to serve as a strong and reliable partner,” says Patricia Bellamy-Mathis ’11 (BUS), ’13 MSW, who is UConn HNS’s director of partnerships and programs. “Being part of the fabric and culture of Wish School requires a great deal of time and investment, but the impacts show themselves every single day.”

    The partnership doesn’t go just one way, however, as UConn students receive hands-on experiential learning while leading programs at Wish School. Every year, UConn HNS recruits and funds 10-12 graduate assistants completing master’s and doctoral degrees across multiple University programs. To date, more than 100 graduate students have benefited from professional development through UConn HNS.

    UConn HNS people bring such an impactful energy to our school community. They know our students, and our students know them, which is a real credit to the investments they make to build positive relationships. &#8212 Kesha Ryan, principal of Fred D. Wish Museum School

    “We bring together a group of graduate students who all show up every day at Wish School committed to cultivating an environment that is full of fun, connection, and learning,” says Veronica Jacobs ’16 (CLAS), who currently leads 12 graduate students at Wish School. “The strength of our team lies in our graduate assistants coming from several academic disciplines with varying career goals, and in our ability to challenge and support each other to become better professionals. One moment we are celebrating the successful delivery of a lesson and in another moment, we are critically reflecting on creative ways to improve our programs. The intention of our efforts shows in the joy of our Wish students as they walk the halls with us, compete against us in a relay race, or see us in the community.”

    “Welcoming UConn students into our Wish family each year is always exciting,” Ryan says. “While they support our students with health education and bring positivity to our community, we are able to support their experiential learning and growth as future educators, social workers, health professionals, and more. As a team, we are shaping future professionals both at the elementary and collegiate levels. It’s a win-win partnership.”

    UConn HNS is housed within the Neag School of Education and works closely with students in the School’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s (IB/M) teacher preparation program. These future teachers gain practical experience working in Wish School, as well as the opportunity to conduct educational research.

    “UConn HNS provides education students unique opportunities to grow in their community skills,” says Austina Lee, an assistant clinical professor at the Neag School who supports the IB/M program and its students. “The co-teaching model wherein they collaborate with peers from across specialties, the professional development sessions that inspire innovative approaches, and the community engagement that open their eyes to the lived experiences of students and their families all coalesce to inform robust inquiry and practical research. IB/M students who participate in HNS graduate with a depth and breadth of experiences that expand their instructional skills and enhance their expression through the art of teaching.”

    Sarah Lockwood ’24 (ED), ’25 MA shows Wish School students her decorated mortarboard during the school’s 2025 Grad Walk. (UConn HNS photo)

    Several special events throughout the year bring UConn and Wish students together and cultivate extra joy for the community. Every May, Wish School celebrates the UConn students who are graduating with the annual Grad Walk. Wish School students and staff line the hallways of the school to cheer on the graduating Huskies that worked there. Another annual tradition is Wish School Field Day, which involves the whole school every June and acts as an introduction to UConn HNS’s new summer team. UConn students lead and play alongside the children in such activities as relay races, tug-of-war, foursquare, parachutes, hula-hoop competitions, and soccer games.

    New this year was the Healthy Wish School Walk-A-Thon, which was created to celebrate a year of fun, physical activity at the school. Led by UConn HNS staff and hosted in the outside play area of Wish School, all students and staff were invited to participate throughout the day in a one-mile walking course that included activities along the way for hydration, healthy snacks, and a jump rope challenge. By the end of the day, Wish School students and staff combined to walk more than 440 miles.

    “UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport’s long-standing relationship with Hartford Public Schools, and specifically Wish School, exemplifies the potential and power of ‘town-gown’ partnerships,” says Neag School Dean Jason G. Irizarry. “I’m proud that UConn HNS’s ongoing efforts across the state recently earned them the 2025 Staff Team Award in the Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship. I also congratulate them on their outstanding recent fundraising efforts, including winning the President’s and Provost’s Project Leaderboard Challenge during UConn Gives 2025. The dedication of UConn HNS’s staff and students changes lives across Connecticut, ensuring adults and children can access nutrition and physical activity education.”

    To learn more about UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport, visit huskynutritionsport.education.uconn.edu.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Vibrant Partnership: UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport and Hartford Public Schools Support Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Over 20 Years

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport has been supporting Connecticut children, families, and educators for decades, promoting healthy eating and physical activity through impactful educational programs. Although the campus-community partnership has connections throughout the state, it has partnered with one Hartford elementary school since 2005. For the past nine years, that school has been Fred D. Wish Museum School, where UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport (UConn HNS) works alongside students, staff, families, and community partners to offer more than 600 educational program sessions a year.

    “UConn HNS people bring such an impactful energy to our school community,” says principal Kesha Ryan. “They know our students, and our students know them, which is a real credit to the investments they make to build positive relationships. It’s an extensive partnership in that their presence is a part of our everyday activities. Our staff and families can depend on their staff and programs, our students have fun and learn about healthy eating and exercise, and we maintain regular collaboration in support of the students and community of Wish School.”

    The hundreds of sessions at Wish School span all grade levels and are offered during the school day, after school, and as schoolwide initiatives. The educational sessions focus on a variety of topics: nutrition lessons based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate initiative, hands-on healthy snack prep and tastings, active games, sport-sampling, and literacy skills.

    UConn students receive hands-on experiential learning while leading programs at Wish School. (UConn HNS photo)

    In addition, past schoolwide initiatives that UConn HNS has supported have included new recess equipment, indoor and outdoor recess campaigns, new policies such as healthy classroom checklists, the integration of positive behavioral interventions and supports, teacher appreciation days, family events, cultural celebrations, field trips to UConn, activities surrounding National Nutrition Month in March, and support for the growing Wish Media Club.

    The vibrant partnership has a lot of moving parts that require collaboration to ensure everything continues to work effectively. Logistically, staff, schedules, school committees, and lesson plans all have to align, while also allowing time for feedback and evaluation to support improvement.

    “We take a lot of pride in our ability to build meaningful relationships with individual people, while also maintaining lines of communication and systems that allow for us to serve as a strong and reliable partner,” says Patricia Bellamy-Mathis ’11 (BUS), ’13 MSW, who is UConn HNS’s director of partnerships and programs. “Being part of the fabric and culture of Wish School requires a great deal of time and investment, but the impacts show themselves every single day.”

    The partnership doesn’t go just one way, however, as UConn students receive hands-on experiential learning while leading programs at Wish School. Every year, UConn HNS recruits and funds 10-12 graduate assistants completing master’s and doctoral degrees across multiple University programs. To date, more than 100 graduate students have benefited from professional development through UConn HNS.

    UConn HNS people bring such an impactful energy to our school community. They know our students, and our students know them, which is a real credit to the investments they make to build positive relationships. &#8212 Kesha Ryan, principal of Fred D. Wish Museum School

    “We bring together a group of graduate students who all show up every day at Wish School committed to cultivating an environment that is full of fun, connection, and learning,” says Veronica Jacobs ’16 (CLAS), who currently leads 12 graduate students at Wish School. “The strength of our team lies in our graduate assistants coming from several academic disciplines with varying career goals, and in our ability to challenge and support each other to become better professionals. One moment we are celebrating the successful delivery of a lesson and in another moment, we are critically reflecting on creative ways to improve our programs. The intention of our efforts shows in the joy of our Wish students as they walk the halls with us, compete against us in a relay race, or see us in the community.”

    “Welcoming UConn students into our Wish family each year is always exciting,” Ryan says. “While they support our students with health education and bring positivity to our community, we are able to support their experiential learning and growth as future educators, social workers, health professionals, and more. As a team, we are shaping future professionals both at the elementary and collegiate levels. It’s a win-win partnership.”

    UConn HNS is housed within the Neag School of Education and works closely with students in the School’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s (IB/M) teacher preparation program. These future teachers gain practical experience working in Wish School, as well as the opportunity to conduct educational research.

    “UConn HNS provides education students unique opportunities to grow in their community skills,” says Austina Lee, an assistant clinical professor at the Neag School who supports the IB/M program and its students. “The co-teaching model wherein they collaborate with peers from across specialties, the professional development sessions that inspire innovative approaches, and the community engagement that open their eyes to the lived experiences of students and their families all coalesce to inform robust inquiry and practical research. IB/M students who participate in HNS graduate with a depth and breadth of experiences that expand their instructional skills and enhance their expression through the art of teaching.”

    Sarah Lockwood ’24 (ED), ’25 MA shows Wish School students her decorated mortarboard during the school’s 2025 Grad Walk. (UConn HNS photo)

    Several special events throughout the year bring UConn and Wish students together and cultivate extra joy for the community. Every May, Wish School celebrates the UConn students who are graduating with the annual Grad Walk. Wish School students and staff line the hallways of the school to cheer on the graduating Huskies that worked there. Another annual tradition is Wish School Field Day, which involves the whole school every June and acts as an introduction to UConn HNS’s new summer team. UConn students lead and play alongside the children in such activities as relay races, tug-of-war, foursquare, parachutes, hula-hoop competitions, and soccer games.

    New this year was the Healthy Wish School Walk-A-Thon, which was created to celebrate a year of fun, physical activity at the school. Led by UConn HNS staff and hosted in the outside play area of Wish School, all students and staff were invited to participate throughout the day in a one-mile walking course that included activities along the way for hydration, healthy snacks, and a jump rope challenge. By the end of the day, Wish School students and staff combined to walk more than 440 miles.

    “UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport’s long-standing relationship with Hartford Public Schools, and specifically Wish School, exemplifies the potential and power of ‘town-gown’ partnerships,” says Neag School Dean Jason G. Irizarry. “I’m proud that UConn HNS’s ongoing efforts across the state recently earned them the 2025 Staff Team Award in the Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship. I also congratulate them on their outstanding recent fundraising efforts, including winning the President’s and Provost’s Project Leaderboard Challenge during UConn Gives 2025. The dedication of UConn HNS’s staff and students changes lives across Connecticut, ensuring adults and children can access nutrition and physical activity education.”

    To learn more about UConn Husky Nutrition & Sport, visit huskynutritionsport.education.uconn.edu.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Allies step up multinational capability delivery cooperation

    Source: NATO

    Increasing transatlantic defence industry production capacity is imperative to meet higher defence investment demand signals and support NATO’s enhanced deterrence and defence effectively.

    Multinational capability delivery initiatives are a cost-effective way of acquiring capabilities at speed and scale, which some Allies would not be able to do alone. 

    This proven and valuable approach is gaining new momentum as Allies work to meet NATO’s newly agreed capability targets.

    At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in The Hague on Tuesday (24 June 2025), Allies signed a number of new multinational projects and expanding existing ones.  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and the United Kingdom committed to the joint acquisition, storage, transportation and management of stockpiles of defence critical raw materials, including through recycling existing products. 

    This High Visibility Project will help facilitate access to a sufficient supply of defence critical raw materials such as lithium, titanium and rare earth materials, which the Allied defence industry requires to deliver the capabilities needed to keep people safe. It will also help make NATO less vulnerable to supply shocks and reduce reliance on external providers. The project supports the implementation of NATO’s Defence Critical Supply Chain Security Roadmap, agreed by NATO Defence Ministers in June 2024.

    The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) programme also reached a new milestone, with Denmark and Sweden joining this initiative. In addition, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the acquisition of two additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, raising the current fleet to 12 aircraft. Launched in 2012, the MMF programme is an example of effective NATO-EU collaboration, supported initially by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and currently managed by NSPA. The fleet provides participating nations with critical capabilities in air-to-air refuelling, strategic airlift, and aeromedical evacuation.
     
    Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden also broke new ground in supporting the further integration of new technologies in military operations, announcing the establishment of the first NATO Innovation Ranges. These are a key pillar of NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan, which Allied Leaders are expected to endorse at the NATO Summit, and which aims to expedite innovation adoption, leverage new technologies at speed to deliver on capability targets, and increase production capacity through the inclusion of non-traditional suppliers in the defence industrial base. These ranges will enable Allies and NATO to test, refine, and validate new technological products in operationally realistic environments. 
     
    The NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO), NSPA’s governing body, also signed a partnership agreement with Australia. The agreement will allow Australia’s participation in the full range of NSPA activities and services, including, but not limited to, the fields of acquisition, logistics, operational and systems support and services. This is an important milestone in NATO’s cooperation with partners around the globe.

    At the signing ceremony, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska also praised the conclusion of several new framework contracts by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) since January 2025, worth 4.7 billion euros, for critical munitions sourced from across the Alliance.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Allies step up multinational capability delivery cooperation

    Source: NATO

    Increasing transatlantic defence industry production capacity is imperative to meet higher defence investment demand signals and support NATO’s enhanced deterrence and defence effectively.

    Multinational capability delivery initiatives are a cost-effective way of acquiring capabilities at speed and scale, which some Allies would not be able to do alone. 

    This proven and valuable approach is gaining new momentum as Allies work to meet NATO’s newly agreed capability targets.

    At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in The Hague on Tuesday (24 June 2025), Allies signed a number of new multinational projects and expanding existing ones.  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and the United Kingdom committed to the joint acquisition, storage, transportation and management of stockpiles of defence critical raw materials, including through recycling existing products. 

    This High Visibility Project will help facilitate access to a sufficient supply of defence critical raw materials such as lithium, titanium and rare earth materials, which the Allied defence industry requires to deliver the capabilities needed to keep people safe. It will also help make NATO less vulnerable to supply shocks and reduce reliance on external providers. The project supports the implementation of NATO’s Defence Critical Supply Chain Security Roadmap, agreed by NATO Defence Ministers in June 2024.

    The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) programme also reached a new milestone, with Denmark and Sweden joining this initiative. In addition, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the acquisition of two additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, raising the current fleet to 12 aircraft. Launched in 2012, the MMF programme is an example of effective NATO-EU collaboration, supported initially by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and currently managed by NSPA. The fleet provides participating nations with critical capabilities in air-to-air refuelling, strategic airlift, and aeromedical evacuation.
     
    Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden also broke new ground in supporting the further integration of new technologies in military operations, announcing the establishment of the first NATO Innovation Ranges. These are a key pillar of NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan, which Allied Leaders are expected to endorse at the NATO Summit, and which aims to expedite innovation adoption, leverage new technologies at speed to deliver on capability targets, and increase production capacity through the inclusion of non-traditional suppliers in the defence industrial base. These ranges will enable Allies and NATO to test, refine, and validate new technological products in operationally realistic environments. 
     
    The NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO), NSPA’s governing body, also signed a partnership agreement with Australia. The agreement will allow Australia’s participation in the full range of NSPA activities and services, including, but not limited to, the fields of acquisition, logistics, operational and systems support and services. This is an important milestone in NATO’s cooperation with partners around the globe.

    At the signing ceremony, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska also praised the conclusion of several new framework contracts by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) since January 2025, worth 4.7 billion euros, for critical munitions sourced from across the Alliance.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. and Qatari Forces Successfully Defend Against Iranian Ballistic Missile Attack on Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base

    Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

    TAMPA, Fla. – Today, U.S. forces, alongside our Qatari partners, successfully defended against an Iranian ballistic missile attack targeting Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base near Doha, Qatar.

    Thanks to the professional, competent, rapid and coordinated response of U.S. and Qatari forces, the ballistic missile attack was defeated by U.S. and Qatari Patriot batteries and there were no casualties to American or Qatari personnel.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. and Qatari Forces Successfully Defend Against Iranian Ballistic Missile Attack on Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base

    Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

    TAMPA, Fla. – Today, U.S. forces, alongside our Qatari partners, successfully defended against an Iranian ballistic missile attack targeting Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base near Doha, Qatar.

    Thanks to the professional, competent, rapid and coordinated response of U.S. and Qatari forces, the ballistic missile attack was defeated by U.S. and Qatari Patriot batteries and there were no casualties to American or Qatari personnel.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • South Korea special prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for ex-President Yoon

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    South Korea’s special prosecutor asked a court on Tuesday to issue an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, an investigator said, as a probe intensified over the ousted leader’s botched bid to impose martial law.

    Yoon, who is already facing a criminal trial on insurrection charges for leading the martial law declaration, was arrested in January after resisting authorities trying to take him into custody, but was released after 52 days on technical grounds.

    The martial law attempt shocked a country that had prided itself on being a thriving democracy after overcoming military dictatorship in the 1980s and triggered a snap presidential election to pick Yoon’s successor amid bitter political infighting.

    The new warrant is on a charge of obstruction, a senior member of the special prosecutor’s team of investigators said.

    Yoon had refused to respond to summons for questioning as required under criminal procedures and investigators would “not get dragged around” by him, Park Ji-young, a deputy to the special prosecutor, told a televised briefing on YTN TV.

    Lawyers representing Yoon said in a statement they had not been served a proper summons after the special prosecutor was appointed and that the former president would respond once it was served in a legal manner. Yoon had been under investigation by the police and the state prosecutors’ office on a number of charges stemming from the failed attempt in December to impose military rule.

    In January, Yoon initially resisted an attempt by investigators trying to execute a court warrant for his arrest, holed up in the presidential residence while his security service led by officials loyal to him barricaded the gates.

    The special prosecutor was appointed just days after liberal President Lee Jae-myung took office on June 4 after winning the snap election called after Yoon’s ouster in April and has launched a team of more than 200 prosecutors and investigators to take over ongoing investigations against Yoon.

    Yoon is fighting the charges against him that include masterminding insurrection, which is punishable by death or life in prison, claiming he had declared martial law on December 3 to sound the alarm over the threat to democracy posed by the then-opposition Democratic Party.

    (Reuters)

  • Russian missile attack kills nine, damages passenger train in southeast Ukraine

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region on Tuesday killed at least nine people, damaged civilian infrastructure and wounded dozens of train passengers, officials said.

    The two-wave strike killed seven in the regional capital of Dnipro, said governor Serhiy Lysak, where the blast wave also shattered train carriage windows and showered passengers with broken glass.

    Nearly 70 people including 10 children were injured, he said, adding the numbers could still rise. Two people were also killed in the town of Samar, around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from Dnipro, the state emergencies service said.

    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Kyiv’s Western partners to respond to the attack. NATO leaders are currently in The Hague for an alliance summit, where President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hopes to secure more military support against Russia’s full-scale invasionlaunched in 2022.

    “It is a matter of credibility for allies to step up pressure on Moscow,” Sybiha wrote on X.

    He added that schools, kindergartens and a hospital were also damaged in Dnipro. Officials did not provide details of damage in Samar.

    Russia has stepped up air strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, particularly its capital Kyiv, where 28 people were killed on June 17 in the deadliest such attack this year.

    Another 10 people were killed in air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Monday.

    (REUTERS)

  • Kremlin rejects charge it did little to help Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Kremlin on Tuesday pushed back against criticism that it had not done enough to back Iran, saying it had taken a “clear position” by condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

    President Vladimir Putin has condemned what he called “unjustified” U.S. attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, with which he signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January. He said on Monday that Russia would try to help the Iranian people, although he gave no specifics.

    Iranian sources told media earlier this week that Tehran had not been impressed with Russia’s support so far.

    Asked about comparisons to the toppling last year of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, when Moscow refused to send troops or more air power to keep its ally in power, the Kremlin said some people were trying to spoil the Russian-Iranian partnership.

    “Russia actually supported Iran with its clear position,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had appreciated Moscow’s stance when he met Putin on Monday.

    It was still too early to assess the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, Peskov said.

    “Some information is coming through the appropriate channels, but it is still too early,” Peskov said. “Hardly anyone has a clear understanding right now.”

    Asked about a Reuters report that Araqchi had brought a letter to Putin from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Peskov said there had been no written document handed over.

    “The fact that there were certain messages from the Iranian leadership is true. But this Reuters report is not true,” Peskov said.

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region.

    “If it has really been possible to achieve a ceasefire, then this can only be welcomed,” Peskov said, adding that Qatar had helped to broker the ceasefire.

    “This is what the Russian Federation has been calling for since the very beginning of this conflict. Therefore, yes, this can and should be welcomed, and we hope that this will be a sustainable ceasefire.”

    (Reuters)

  • Union Minister pays tribute to Kanishka bombing victims in Ireland on 40th anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, paid homage to the victims of the Air India Flight 182 tragedy at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork, Ireland, on Monday. The commemoration marked the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Air India Kanishka flight, which claimed 329 lives on June 23, 1985.

    Minister Puri signed the Visitors Book at the memorial and led a high-level delegation comprising senior legislators from Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Delhi. The delegation represented the Government of India at the solemn commemoration event hosted by the Mayor of County Cork, Councillor Joe Carroll.

    The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin, and Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree. Families of the victims also joined the ceremony, held in the coastal village of Ahakista, where debris from the ill-fated flight had been found.

    Speaking at the event, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri laid a wreath at the memorial and paid tributes to the victims. “The bombing of Air India AI 182, an act of terrorism, was a stain on humanity,” he said. He also acknowledged the support extended by the people of Ireland during the aftermath of the tragedy. “We pay tribute to the community of Ahakista and the people of Ireland for the spirit with which they rose to the occasion in solidarity with the families of the victims,” the Minister noted.

    Canadian Minister Gary Anandasangaree said, “The bombing of Air India Flight 182, 40 years ago, remains the single worst act of terrorism and mass murder in Canadian history.” Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the incident as “cruel and horrific,” stating that “the passing of time does not dim the scale of loss and that atrocity.”

    As part of the visit, the Indian delegation also participated in a solemn ceremony organised at the Embassy of India in Dublin. The Minister addressed the gathering of victims’ families and members of the Indian diaspora, reiterating India’s unwavering support for the bereaved families.

    Minister Puri emphasized the need for global unity in fighting terrorism. “India remains firm in its commitment to combating terrorism and calls for strong international cooperation and understanding on this global threat,” he said.

    The Air India Flight 182, operating on the Montreal–London–Delhi route, was bombed mid-air by Canada-based Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa on June 23, 1985. The attack killed all 329 people on board, making it one of the deadliest aviation terror attacks in history.

  • 10 years of AMRUT: A decade of urban transformation in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India marks a significant milestone as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) completes 10 years since its launch on June 25, 2015. Introduced as a transformative initiative to improve the quality of life in urban areas, AMRUT has focused on delivering basic infrastructure and services—especially water supply, sewerage, urban mobility, and green spaces—to citizens across 500 cities and towns.

    Over the past decade, AMRUT has redefined India’s urban development landscape. The Mission prioritized inclusive planning, targeting the urban poor with a strong focus on providing universal access to tap water and sewer connections. A notable feature was the allocation of up to 2.5% of project costs towards developing parks with amenities for children and the elderly, thereby enhancing the livability of cities.

    A total of ₹77,640 crore worth of State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) have been approved under AMRUT, with ₹35,990 crore committed as Central Assistance. Projects worth ₹79,401 crore have already been completed, and ₹72,656 crore has been expended. The Mission’s core areas—water supply, sewerage, septage management, stormwater drainage, non-motorized urban transport, and the development of green spaces—have brought about tangible change in urban India.

    In the area of water supply, the Mission has facilitated the augmentation of water systems, treatment plants, universal metering, and the rejuvenation of water bodies. Special provisions have been made for difficult areas, including hilly and coastal regions. Similarly, sewerage projects have focused on underground networks, rehabilitation of old systems, and reuse of treated wastewater. Faecal sludge management and the mechanical cleaning of septic tanks and sewers have also been addressed to improve sanitation outcomes.

    Stormwater drainage projects have reduced urban flooding, while the urban transport component supported the development of footpaths, ferry services, cycle tracks, and multi-level parking. Capacity-building programs have strengthened both institutional and individual capabilities within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), enabling better governance and service delivery.

    Building on the foundation of AMRUT, the government launched AMRUT 2.0 on October 1, 2021. The expanded version covers all ULBs across the country and aims to ensure water security and self-reliance. It seeks universal coverage of sewerage and septage management in the original AMRUT cities, with a total indicative outlay of ₹2.99 lakh crore, including a Central share of ₹76,760 crore over five years.

    Under AMRUT 2.0, 3,568 water supply projects worth ₹1,14,220.62 crore have been approved, including 181 lakh new tap connections and 10,647 MLD of water treatment capacity. Additionally, 1,487 projects have been equipped with SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) technology for efficient monitoring.

    In the sewerage and septage sector, 592 projects worth ₹67,607.67 crore have been approved, adding over 67.11 lakh new sewer connections and 6,739 MLD of sewage treatment capacity. Innovation has also been a key pillar, with the Technology Sub-Mission under AMRUT 2.0 shortlisting 120 start-ups for pilot projects across 82 cities.

    Together, AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 have sanctioned 14,828 projects worth ₹2,73,649 crore, of which works worth ₹1,12,368 crore have been physically completed. The total Central Assistance allocated is ₹1,02,786 crore, with ₹47,625 crore already disbursed. Over 2.03 crore households have been provided with tap water connections and 1.5 crore with sewerage connections. Additionally, 544 water bodies covering 9,511 acres have been rejuvenated.

    Innovative initiatives like ‘AMRUT Mitra’ have engaged over 10,000 women from Self-Help Groups in monitoring and awareness activities. The ‘Drink from Tap’ initiative has seen 381 projects worth ₹23,490 crore sanctioned, likely to benefit 8 lakh households. More than 90,000 individuals—including contractors, plant operators, plumbers, youth, and officials—have been trained to support capacity-building across states.

    As AMRUT completes a decade, it represents a paradigm shift in India’s urban development narrative—one that combines infrastructure growth with inclusivity, sustainability, and improved quality of life. With its strong foundation and the launch of AMRUT 2.0, the Mission continues to pave the way for resilient, future-ready cities that cater to the needs of all citizens.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: RBI to conduct 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under LAF on June 27, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on Friday, June 27, 2025, as under:

    Sl. No. Notified Amount
    (₹ crore)    		 Tenor
    (day)    		 Window Timing Date of Reversal
    1 1,00,000 7 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM July 04, 2025
    (Friday)

    2. Further, on a review of evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided not to conduct the 14-day main operation on Friday, June 27, 2025, for the ensuing fortnight.

    3. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/584

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Promoting gender inclusion in cybersecurity: OSCE holds first expert workshop as part of Mentorship programme for women cyber professionals

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Promoting gender inclusion in cybersecurity: OSCE holds first expert workshop as part of Mentorship programme for women cyber professionals

    Promoting gender inclusion in cybersecurity: OSCE holds first expert workshop as part of Mentorship programme for women cyber professionals | OSCE

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Promoting gender inclusion in cybersecurity: OSCE holds first expert workshop as part of Mentorship programme for women cyber professionals

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Promoting gender inclusion in cybersecurity: OSCE holds first expert workshop as part of Mentorship programme for women cyber professionals

    Promoting gender inclusion in cybersecurity: OSCE holds first expert workshop as part of Mentorship programme for women cyber professionals | OSCE

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drones strengthening city centre policing

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Control room integration supports community safety and police response

    Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police Joint Operations Unit has integrated Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology to a police control room in the first trial of its kind in the UK.

    For over a year the joint operations unit has been testing the DFR concept with trials at the Isle of Wight Festival and Victorious Music Festival in Portsmouth.

    Drone as first responder (DFR) will see a network of drones positioned in urban areas providing 24/7 fast-response ‘eyes in the sky’ for incidents reported to the emergency services. Using the latest ‘drone in a box’ technology, drones will have take-off and landing boxes on the roofs of selected buildings. The drones sit waiting for a call to launch coming from the police control room. When the decision is made to deploy a drone, it will be remotely launched and fly to the incident in less than two minutes.

    In Southampton, a drone is situated on a rooftop where it can be deployed from the force control room to give a real time picture of incidents. Not only does this enable the effective deployment of policing resources, but it can also track suspects leaving the scene and record footage for evidential purposes.

    In future, the drone will be able to team with neighbouring DFR drones to keep watching the original scene while another drone undertakes other tasks, such as following a person of interest leaving the area. DFR drones can also conduct handovers when battery levels mean they need to return to their base to recharge.

    At the end of the task, the DFR drone will return to its landing area and the weather-proof box will close so it can be charged and prepared for its next mission. 

    Superintendent Taryn Evans is strategic lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council Drones team. She said:

    “Our DFR trials have gathered significant pace over the last year with each one testing out how we can best exploit the potential of drones to support policing and improve the safety of our communities.

    “This latest trial shows how DFR integrates with ‘business as usual’ policing. The drone can be remotely deployed from the control room as a key resource in responding to incidents, supporting both community and officer safety.”

    Superintendent Adrian Hall is Joint Operations Manager for Thames Valley Police and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said:

    “We’ve already seen DFR enhancing our policing response to a number of live incidents and each one has further demonstrated its value for both now and the future in keeping our local communities safe.

    “As we move forward, our focus remains on safety and integration, ensuring that our emergency response capabilities are not just effective but also safe and reliable when it matters most.”

    Over the last year the NPCC has been running DFR trials in Norwich, Southampton, the West Midlands and Gravesend. The various trial sites have been testing different aspects of the overall DFR capability in differing environments: 

    • In Norwich the trials are primarily focused on the safety of the drones, connectivity between components of the DFR eco-system, and the way they avoid over-flying uninvolved people on the ground. They are leading on the integration of drone parachutes.
    • In Southampton, the trials are integrated with the Department for Transport’s Solent Future Transport Zone project and have involved testing feeds from radar and other aircraft and drone detection equipment that facilitates the safe use of BVLOS drones.
    • In Gravesend and West Midlands the trials have focused on the feed of DFR video into control rooms, how it links with systems such as number plate recognition, and the advantages DFR gives to officers handling motorway, public order and firearms incidents.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrives in Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov Airport in Moscow.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrives in Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov Airport in Moscow.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrives in Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov Airport in Moscow.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrives in Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov Airport in Moscow.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy President Paul Mashatile in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY1Jd5S2LkU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy President Paul Mashatile in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY1Jd5S2LkU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Online Workshop “Exploring Taiwan’s Digital Nomad Visa”

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Taiwan has unveiled its Digital Nomad Visa, offering global talent a fresh opportunity to work remotely in a vibrant setting.
    To promote this initiative and highlight Taiwan’s appeal for professionals, the National Development Council is hosting two online workshops. These sessions will cover eligibility, application procedures, and real-life insights from digital nomads in Taiwan. The first session targets Europe, while the second is tailored for Australia and New Zealand.
    The Australia session is scheduled for July 11, 2025, at 11:30 AM (AEST). Join to explore Taiwan’s talent policies and TALENT TAIWAN services!
    Registration:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeACc2Fjhfjtcxu7IKb-FK7Wy8MVBFdcE5F6GZhpFo3ZVMeMw/viewform

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Volta Finance Limited – Net Asset Value(s) as at 31 May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Volta Finance Limited (VTA / VTAS)
    May 2025 monthly report

    NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION, OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

    Guernsey, June 24, 2025

    AXA IM has published the Volta Finance Limited (the “Company” or “Volta Finance” or “Volta”) monthly report for May 2025. The full report is attached to this release and will be available on Volta’s website shortly (www.voltafinance.com).

    Performance and Portfolio Activity

    Dear Investors,

    In May, Volta Finance’s net performance reached +3.3% bringing the performance from August 2024 to date to +10.7%. Our investments in CLO Debt and CLO Equity recovered some of their post-liberation day volatility due to improved market sentiment.

    May saw a more positive macroeconomic environment, helping markets recover most of the losses from the previous month. The 90-day tariff rollback from Washington towards China signaled a pause in the U.S. Both European and US Equity markets rose sharply, while credit indices showed a V-shaped recovery. U.S. 30-year Treasury yields rose above 5% for the first time since October 2023 after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating. Although yields fell back later in the month, this jump reminded investors of ongoing worries about fiscal health.

    In terms of macroeconomic data, US inflation was encouraging as CPIs cooled to 2.3 % year-on-year while the euro-area inflation held at 2.2 %. Impacted by tariffs, the U.S. Q1 GDP contracted by an annualized 0.3 % due to pre-tariff stockpiling, while the Eurozone experienced growth of +0.3% quarter-on-quarter, supported by resilient demand in the Services industry. Labor markets also showed positive figures on both sides of the Atlantic, with the euro-area unemployment rate reaching a record-low of 6.2 % notably.

    Credit markets performed strongly in May. The European High Yield index (Xover) was around 50bps tighter and closed 300bps. On the Loan side, Euro Loans closed almost 1pt up at 97.80px (Morningstar European Leveraged Loan Index) while US Loans closed c. 1 pt up at 96.70px. The primary CLO markets were active again, with levels tightening across the capital structure, notably with BBs in the Mid +500bps. In terms of performance, US BBs total returned +3% on the month. For comparison, US High Yield returned +1.7% in the same period while Euro High Yield was down +1.3% and Global Loans up +1.5%.

    In terms of loan fundamentals, default rates remained steady at 4.4% in the US (including Liability Management Exercises) but we noticed an uptick in downgrades with 12% of B- exposures downgraded down to CCC category by S&P in the US loan market.

    Due to ongoing uncertainties, we consciously decided not to fully reinvest our 16% cash position at the end of April. We ended May with c.10% of Volta’s NAV in cash, with capital deployment into €10.7m of CLO debt tranches as well as into our 2 warehouses. Our European CLO warehouse was converted into an effective CLO Equity at the end of the month. In addition, Volta Finance’s cashflow generation remained stable at €28.1m equivalent in interests and coupons over the last six months, representing close to 21% of May’s NAV on an annualized basis.

    Over the month, Volta’s CLO Equity tranches returned +5.9%** while CLO Debt tranches returned +2.8% performance**. The dollar slipped to a six-week low against the Euro at $1.15 per Euro with very limited impact of our long dollar exposure in terms of performance (-0.02%). In this uncertain macroeconomic environment, we have kept our net long USD exposure at c.13% to limit the potential for margin calls.

    As of end of May 2025, Volta’s NAV was €271.8m, i.e. €7.43 per share.

    *It should be noted that approximately 0.24% of Volta’s GAV comprises investments for which the relevant NAVs as at the month-end date are normally available only after Volta’s NAV has already been published. Volta’s policy is to publish its NAV on as timely a basis as possible to provide shareholders with Volta’s appropriately up-to-date NAV information. Consequently, such investments are valued using the most recently available NAV for each fund or quoted price for such subordinated notes. The most recently available fund NAV or quoted price was 0.17% as at 30 April 2025, 0.07% as at 31 March 2025.

    ** “performances” of asset classes are calculated as the Dietz-performance of the assets in each bucket, taking into account the Mark-to-Market of the assets at period ends, payments received from the assets over the period, and ignoring changes in cross-currency rates. Nevertheless, some residual currency effects could impact the aggregate value of the portfolio when aggregating each bucket.

    CONTACTS

    For the Investment Manager
    AXA Investment Managers Paris
    François Touati
    francois.touati@axa-im.com        
    +33 (0) 1 44 45 80 22

    Olivier Pons
    Olivier.pons@axa-im.com
    +33 (0) 1 44 45 87 30        

    Company Secretary and Administrator
    BNP Paribas S.A, Guernsey Branch
    guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com 
    +44 (0) 1481 750 853

    Corporate Broker
    Cavendish Securities plc
    Andrew Worne
    Daniel Balabanoff
    +44 (0) 20 7397 8900

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    ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

    Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market for listed securities. Volta’s home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

    Volta’s Investment objectives are to preserve its capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its Shareholders through dividends that it expects to distribute on a quarterly basis. The Company currently seeks to achieve its investment objectives by pursuing exposure predominantly to CLO’s and similar asset classes. A more diversified investment strategy across structured finance assets may be pursued opportunistically. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

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    ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS
    AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,800 professionals and €859 billion in assets under management as of the end of June 2024.  

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    This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris (“AXA IM”), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the “AIFM Directive”) of Volta Finance Limited (the “Volta Finance”) whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM.

    This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are “U.S. persons” for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

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    This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

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    This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “anticipated”, “expects”, “intends”, “is/are expected”, “may”, “will” or “should”. They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance’s investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance’s actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements.

    Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved.

    The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM’s belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results.

    The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such.

    Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide – 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive.

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    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • Nari Shakti Festival brings Mahabharata’s Draupadi to life on Dubai stage

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Dubai witnessed a vibrant celebration of Indian culture and women’s empowerment, as over 100 classical dancers performed Nari Shakti, a grand thematic dance spectacle that attracted a multinational audience of more than 2,000 both onsite and online. The production was entirely conceptualized, organized, and executed by women, with most props and costumes handmade. It was supported by several reputable organizations, including the Indian People’s Forum Cultural Council, Trescon, Indian Women in Dubai, Gulf Gelathiyaru, Karnataka Sangha Dubai, and UAE Tamil Sangam.

    The production brought to life the story of Draupadi, a central figure in Mahabharata, dramatizing the war of Kurukshetra between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Through vivid costumes, dynamic choreography, and evocative narration, it conveyed the triumph of good over evil and the empowering strength of women. A highlight was Agni Kanye, an ambitious Bharatanatyam performance conceived by Guru Iswarya Bharadwaj, featuring 15 intergenerational acts with dancers aged five to fifty, celebrating the continuity and collaboration within the arts.

    As part of the evening’s celebrations recognizing the contributions of women, the title of Nari Shakti was conferred on three women whose work and character embodied the spirit of feminine strength. The honourees were Karthika Vaidyanathan, a Carnatic singer and Filmfare Award winner; Puja Unni, a classical dancer; and Renuka Parameshwar, a Carnatic music teacher. They were honoured for their positive societal impact and for exemplifying the resilience and power symbolized by Draupadi.

    Underlining the event’s inclusive spirit, the programme also featured performances by Divyangs alongside the main acts, highlighting the UAE’s ongoing commitment to fostering a tolerant and inclusive society where artistic expression transcends boundaries of age, nationality, and ability.The event reinforced Dubai’s growing stature as a global hub for culture and the arts. More than a platform for talent, the show served as a tribute to the UAE’s efforts to advance global artistic expression and provide spaces where creativity can thrive.The Nari Shakti festival demonstrated how cultural events can serve multiple roles, preserving traditional art forms, promoting cross-cultural harmony, and advancing social causes.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FSB report confirms dire consequences of Protocol

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement from TUV leader Jim Allister:-

    “Today’s FSB report, “Windsor Framework Realities” confirms from an objective business standpoint the worsening economic consequences of the Irish Sea border – the very border some stooped to lies to try and pretend was gone!

    “The findings that 58% of those trading from GB to NI report impeding frictions and 34% of firms having stopped trading between GB and NI, confirms how much by design the Protocol is reorientating our economy away from its natural and essential GB alignment. When 78% of NI businesses responding to the FSB survey declare negative impacts from the Protocol, then if government cared anything for the integrity of the UK and its internal market, it would act.

    “When taken with the NISRA figures on trade diversion, it is clear we are long past the point when HMG should be acting under Article 16 of the Protocol. But, sadly, this government is so beholden to the EU that it will readily sacrifice NI business in favour of placating Brussels.

    “Things need not be as they are. There is a ready made solution in ‘mutual enforcement’, but Starmer and co care only about edging the whole UK back under Brussels’ control.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –